Hey guys! Been a while since I wrote something new, but I couldn't resist after I saw a few drawings of Tenma with wet hair. Look it up on the internet, it's pretty funny XD
Anyway, this story is set a short while after Galaxy ends.
Disclaimer: don't own
Hope you enjoy!
''This sucks.''
The statement from Kariya attracts a few dirty looks from his teammates. ''Oh really,'' comments Midori sarcastically. ''You think we hadn't noticed yet?''
Kariya just shrugs, looking back out of the door of the soccer building. ''I am not looking forward to practice,'' he mutters.
''Neither are we,'' agrees Hayami, a sour look on his face. ''Can't we skip practice for once?'' he begs, but his coach shakes his head.
''Nope, no can do! This won't stop us!'' grins Endou and the whole soccer club groans.
Now, the cause for their current predicament…
It's raining.
Usually, a little rain wouldn't stop the Raimon Eleven from playing their favorite sport. Unfortunately, it's not a little rain – it's positively pouring. Again, usually this wouldn't stop them, since they would just use the inside field, but that's currently unavailable since somehow the crazy members of the team thought it was a good idea to use it as a battle ground for a paintball war.
But that's a story for another time.
Anyway, this means that they have to use the outside field and Endou won't let them skip practice, despite the awful weather. So, with great reluctance, the members of the soccer team make their way outside, shivering in their short-sleeved uniforms. ''I hate rain,'' complains Nishiki, shivering as a droplet of water rolls down his neck. ''Ugh, that's cold!''
His words only earn a few annoyed grumbles, everyone too caught up in their own misery to do more than that. Endou, however, is having none of it. ''Come on guys, I thought you were tougher than this. It's not even that bad – I remember how my team once had to play in a field made of mud!''
He gets a few disbelieving looks from the teenagers, but no one reacts vocally as they have reached the bench. The teens gratefully take shelter, but the boys know that they'll have to go out in the rain soon again. The managers busy themselves with preparing towels and water bottles, grateful that they will have shelter during practice.
After a few more minutes, there is no reason to delay the inevitable any longer and the rain has stopped a bit. That doesn't mean they like it, though, for the teenagers cluster together, watching the rain with clear disdain.
One look from their coach, however, and Tsurugi to step out into the rain. Seeing their ace forward stepping out from under the small roof convinces the rest of the team to follow them. So, shivering at the cold droplets of water falling from the sky, they grudgingly make their way to the field.
From there on, practice continues much like usual – they quickly pair up in order to start their warm ups and soon after they start their real training. It's clear though that the teenagers are all miserable and cold, the water damping their uniforms. Luckily it's not pouring anymore, but that doesn't change much.
Their moods lighten a bit when Endou announces they're going to have a practice match. It's not like it's all that rare for them to have one, but it's still one of the favorites in training for everyone. Training matches are always fun and competitive and the losing team often ends up with the chores of cleaning up the field once practice is done.
Since they have sixteen players in total, the teams are formed of eight players each. One of the team has always Tenma as captain, since that's his official role, and the other team usually switches between Shindou, Tsurugi, Kirino and on very rare occasions, Sangoku.
Today Shindou acts as the second captain and soon, both teams are playing vigorously, both trying to win. Not only because it's always a challenge, with the ever changing practice teams, but also because no one likes to clean up in the rain.
Eventually they have a break in order to catch their breath and get some much-needed food and water. All players sit down on the grass, grateful for the small roof offering them shelter from the rain. The managers hand out food and drinks and the team quickly falls into a cheerful chatter, while Haruna and Endou move away a bit so they can talk peacefully without getting wet.
Tenma watches his team with a slight smile, glad to see that, despite their earlier miserable states, his friends seem to have cheered up majorly. He grins cheekily as he watches Kariya and Kirino tease Tsurugi about his hair – his ponytail is hanging down sadly, the rain causing the weight to increase so much that its usual gravity-defying style has all but disappeared.
Then the captain looks around, seeing a few of their balls lying quite far away from the field. They're not always careful with the direction of their shots, and then they're often too lazy to pick the balls up again. With a sigh, the brunet crosses his arms and walks out from under the roof.
''Tenma, where are you going?'' the captain turns around at the voice of his childhood friend. Aoi is looking at him, a frown decorating her face. ''You haven't even eaten anything yet!''
The brunet shrugs and shoots her an easy smile. ''I'll eat in a minute, after I pick up those balls,'' he gestures vaguely towards the right.
''You sure? It seems the rain is getting worse…'' Aoi trails off, throwing a look at the dark clouds high above.
Tenma just smiles reassuringly. ''Well, if you want to get soaked, be our guest!'' yells Kariya, joining the conversation and earning a slap from Kirino.
The brunet sighs good-naturally and then turns around, not answering his tealheaded friend. He quickly gathers the balls scattered over the field and then scans the rest of his surroundings. An annoyed frown decorates his face as he spots one ball lying a little farther away – shot by Tsurugi, of course.
With a frustrated frown, the young captain quickly runs up the stairs that lead to the rest of the school grounds, shivering as the rain increases. Seems like Aoi's prediction is right, for the water pours from the sky again and ends up soaking his entire uniform.
He quickly spots the ball and runs towards it, wanting to get out of the rain and get some food as soon as possible. He swiftly grabs it and sighs in annoyance as a lock of brown hair falls in front of his eyes.
Tenma pushes it away but it falls right back. He blinks, first in surprise and then in realization, and groans. ''Ugh… seriously?'' he mutters, annoyed, as a droplet of water drips from the lock of hair and onto his face, rolling down his cheek.
He starts walking back to the staircase, a sour look on his face. Once he reaches the field again, the brunet drops the ball next to the others and makes his way to the bench, pushing another lock of dripping wet hair out of his face. Not that it really helps much, for it immediately falls back, sending drops of water rolling down his cheek.
The brunet quickly ducks under the safety of the roof, hiding from the pouring rain. His teammates don't immediately notice him, too caught up in their conversations and food to pay the new arrival much attention. Aoi, however, does see him.
The girl stares at him for a moment, the sour look on his face, his soaked uniform and the way his usually wavy hair hangs down his face, creating a bob-like hairstyle. Her childhood friend glares at her, but the manager doesn't care.
No matter how many times she sees it, it still stays funny.
A grin stretches on her lips and grey eyes narrow. Aoi's grin only grows and she covers her mouth with her hand to hide it. Her composure breaks completely when Tenma's glare intensifies, and a helpless laugh escapes her lips.
This catches the attention of the other people present and all eyes turn to look at her in curiosity. The brunet, however, simply glares. ''Mou, Aoi! It's not funny!'' he shouts in frustration, surprising his friends with his arrival. Before his teammates manage to get a look at him, though, Aoi's laugher intensifies and catch their attention again.
The girl manages to get out a few words through her laughter. ''It is!'' she says, her eyes sparkling in amusement. ''You look ridiculous!''
This time, the Raimon team does turn to look at their captain and more than a few jaws drop in shock at the sight of him. For a few moments, the teens just stare at the brunet, until Aoi's laughter starts affecting them.
A chuckle first escapes Shinsuke's throat and the small keeper soon bursts out laughing, his teammates quickly following at the ridiculous sight of Tenma's soaked hair. The brunet blushes in embarrassment and glares at them, though it looks more like a pout.
''Guys, stop it!'' he whines – yes, whines, because the situation definitely allows for that – but he is ignored. ''Seriously!'' he crosses his arms, though his friends still don't listen to him.
The captain sighs and shoots his team another glare, resigning to the fact that they will not stop laughing if he orders them to. Instead of trying to get them to stop, he walks towards the bench and grabs a water bottle.
He drops down on the grass, crossing his legs, and takes a sip of his water, watching his teammates with an insulted expression. The laughter is dying down now and the brunet pouts, still a bit flushed in embarrassment.
Aoi recovers first and hands her friend some food, still with an amused smile on her face. Tenma thanks her but doesn't stop his sulking as he enjoys his meal. ''Y-you really look ridiculous,'' says Kariya when he stops laughing, wiping tears from his eyes.
The rest of Raimon, who have calmed down by now as well, quickly agree to the tealheaded defender. ''For once I agree with Kariya,'' says Kirino, chuckling a bit.
Tenma just pouts again. ''It's not that funny,'' he mutters, earning disagreements from all of his friends. He sighs, pushing a lock of dripping wet hair behind his ear. ''It's annoying. Whenever it gets like this, it takes hours to dry and it always gets in the way,'' he complains. ''Not to mention, I always end up freezing because the water is so cold!''
That earns him sympathetic looks from his friends. The brunet shivers as a drop of water rolls down his neck, as if to emphasize his point. ''This is why I don't like going out without an umbrella when it's raining,'' he grumbles, shivering again as more drops follow.
Suddenly a towel is dropped on his head, covering his face. The brunet blinks, surprised, and pulls the towel away from his eyes to look at the one who dropped it. Tsurugi stares back, a small, amused smile on his lips as he watches the soaked form of his best friend. ''Dry off, you look miserable,'' he tells the brunet, not unkindly despite his harsh words.
Tenma stares at him in surprise for a moment but then quickly does as ordered, rubbing his hair so that the worst of the water is removed and then simply letting the towel lie on his head. This earns him a few more amused grins, as a towel-covered Tenma is barely better than a bob-hair Tenma, and the brunet huffs indignantly.
A few minutes later, the team has settled down again. The conversations from before pick up again as they enjoy their food. ''So,'' says Shindou eventually, turning to look at his young captain, ''you get a whole other hairstyle when it gets wet.'' He raises an eyebrow, an amused smile decorating his face.
The brunet pouts again. ''Yes. It's the worst.''
''How come it looks so different?'' asks Hamano curiously. ''Do you use gel?''
Tenma looks almost insulted at that. ''My hairstyle is completely natural, thank you very much!'' he tells the older midfielder. ''Have you never suffered from soaked hair before or something?''
''Of course,'' sniggers Kariya. ''It just doesn't look as ridiculous!'' The brunet flushes again and quickly pulls the towel over his head so that his face can't be seen. His tealheaded friend just grins mischievously. ''I mustache you a question.''
Tenma groans, his embarrassed blush hidden by his towel, as his other friends chuckle at the pun. ''Kariya, I swear,'' grumbles the brunet, but his complaint goes ignored.
''Why are you hiding your face?'' asks the tealhead, his mischievous grin growing. ''It almost looks like you want to curl up and dye!''
This earns another wave of laughter from a few of the players while the other teens just smirk in amusement. ''Kariya,'' Kirino says and the others look at him. ''Are you trying to be funny again?'' the tealhead rolls his eyes, already expecting a scolding from the older boy.
''It's not very hair-larious.''
Kariya's head snaps up and he stares at his upperclassman in shock. The pink-haired boy simply grins back, his smirk growing when he hears an exasperated groan coming from his captain.
''I didn't know you were one for puns, Kirino,'' remarks Hamano, grinning brightly.
The defender just shrugs, smirking. ''What can I say? It's growing on me.''
His words earn a few chuckles, especially when Tenma makes a sound somewhere between a whine and a sob. Sangoku seems to feel sympathetic, for he decides to interfere. ''Enough with the teasing, guys.'' At the pouts and whines he receives from his teammates, the keeper sighs good-naturally. ''I mean it. Cut it out.''
Everyone stares at him for a second and before long, they are all laughing again. Hidden under his towel, Tenma's cheeks are still flushed, but he is saved from further embarrassment by their coach. Endou, having been in a serious conversation with Haruna until now and so not having paid attention to the teenagers, quickly calls his team together. ''Listen up, guys,'' he tells them, an uncharacteristic frown on his face. ''It seems like the rain is not going to get any better and I don't want any of you to get sick, so practice is suspended for today,'' he tells them.
The teens share relieved looks at the information that they don't have to play in the cold weather any longer. The braver ones quickly run out into the rain in order to gather the things they used for training, but soon all of them are safe under the roof of the bench again.
Endou grins at their quick and efficient work. ''Alright, that's all. You can change and go home,'' he tells the teenagers. Then his eyes fall on a certain brunet, whose face is still covered by a towel. ''Tenma?'' when the captain doesn't respond, the coach turns his curious eyes towards the rest of the team. ''What's with him?''
They share cheery glances and it's Shindou who answers, a teasing tone in his voice and an amused smile on his face.
''Oh, he's just having a bad hair day.''
Tenma groans.
Aw, poor Tenma, being teased by his teammates! But I simply couldn't resist... XD
I hope you guys enjoyed this. I've gotten a few requests for this fic and I'll start working on them soon, don't worry. It's just that I started this one-shot a while ago and I found it on my laptop so I decided to finish it and put it up.
Anyway, until next time!
- Yara Meijer