Hope

Character(s): Momoshiro, Kaidoh, Oishi, Ryuzak-sensei
Summary: Ryuzaki-sensei has her doubts that Momoshiro and Kaidoh will be able to work together as team leaders. Oishi thinks it will work out in the end.

"Oye, idiot. Where did you put that training menu?"

Momoshiro looked up from where he was tying his shoe. "Training menu? The one for the freshmen?"

Kaidoh made a dismissive sound. "What other menu is there?"

"Why do you think I took it? You probably lost it somewhere. Don't blame me if you can't keep track of things."

Kaidoh's hackles rose immediately. "What do you mean, 'I lost it'? You were supposed to hold it until today's practice."

Frowning, Momo answered, "That's not how I remember it, Mamushi."

From a distance, Oishi stood with Ryuzaki-sensei and watched the two young men banter, a confrontation which abruptly devolved into a wrestling match when Momoshiro realized he'd been sitting on the notebook the whole time. The woman crossed her arms. "Maybe we made the wrong choice assigning them to drill the freshmen."

Oishi scratched the back of his neck. "They do have an unusual way of collaborating."

"You call that collaborating?" Ryuzaki-sensei snorted. She shook her head in disgust. "I don't know."

"Quit trying to strangle me! We're going to be late getting started!"

"If we're late, it's your fault!"

Sighing, Seigaku's vice-captain said, "Well, they need to get used to working together. Next year the team will need them to be leaders, and neither of them can do it on their own."

Ryuzaki-sensei hummed in agreement. "You're right, of course, but can they do it?"

Finished arguing for the moment, Momo and Kaidoh stood and walked toward Court D, where the freshmen students were waiting. Momo addressed them first, hands on his hips. "Alright. Start with fifty laps around the grounds."

The response was reflexively widened eyes, panicked expressions. "Fifty!" protested one of the boys.

"Did he stutter?" Kaidoh demanded. His audience blanched, and as a body, they shook their heads. "Then get going!"

As they took off, Momo commented, "Scary, Kaidoh. You don't think that was a little harsh?"

"Says the guy who lets himself be challenged by first years. Do you think you'll win their respect that way?"

Momo huffed a laugh. "They can't play tennis if they're dead, you know."

"You're the one who started them out with laps."

"I thought you'd like that," Momo said. "Running, running, running. That's all I ever see you do."

"You haven't been complaining lately. Be thankful I let you come with me."

"Let me? Geez. Why do you always have to pick a fight?"

"Me pick a fight?"

From a distance, Oishi and Ryuzaki-sensei continued their surveillance, and despite the bickering, the older woman's shoulders eased. She glanced beside her. "Alright, so they're morons. But maybe it will be okay."

"Surprising, isn't it? It was the same when they first played doubles together. I thought you and Tezuka were just trying to teach them a lesson, but somehow they make a good combination."

"Balance," Ryuzaki-sensei suggested wisely.

Warm certainty grew Oishi's chest as he watched Momoshiro punch Kaidoh's arm affectionately and then dodge the answering swing. He chuckled, thinking of the bright future of the Seigaku tennis club. Those two had come a long, long way. When the time came, he would trust them to pick up where he left off.

Nodding, he gave his benediction: "The team will be in good hands."

Author's Note:

Based on episode (113) Atobe the Beautiful wherein Momoshiro and Kaidoh's bickering isn't always what it appears to be. Despite the difficult start they had, I think that once these two find their footing, they'll make excellent leaders. Not that they don't have their work cut out for them with such an novice team to build on once the seniors graduate…