(A/N: Thanks to everyone that gave reviews. Sorry not much was explained in the first chapter, but then again it is the first chapter. Yes this is going to be a STRAIGHT fanfic. There are plenty of yaoi/shonen-ai stories with authors that write very well. I'm just trying to add a story for those that like straight pairings. My goal for this story is to try something different: try to stick as close to the characters as possible, so that you can get a feel for the characters. As for relationships, will it be just an Oishi pairing? Maybe yes, but then again, seems like someone else is interested in her. (ah the confusion arises!) )
Disclaimer: PoT/Tenipuri owned by Konomi Takeshi and I don't own any.
Chapter 2: A Chance Encounter
At the Tanaka Residence, Reiko was up early preparing breakfast for her family.
"Otousan, Mika-chan!" Reiko shouted. "Breakfast is ready!"
Reiko's dad and Mika, a girl about 7 years old, came down to the table while Reiko placed breakfast on the table.
"Ittadakimasu." All three said before starting to eat breakfast.
"Otousan, why do we have to go to school? Didn't we just end school back in America?" Mika said in a complaining tone.
"That's because Japanese schools start in April and not September." Her dad replied. "I know it's suppose to be summer vacation, but please try to adjust" (A/N: If you were wondering, its around June)
"Mika-chan, you aren't the only one who has to go to school. Let's both try to make the best of it okay?" Reiko smiled at Mika
"Okay Nee-san" Mika said as she continued to eat breakfast.
"How is school going for you Reiko? Make any friends?"
Reiko nodded. "Yup! School doesn't seem too hard. I made some friends in my homeroom. Some of the girls let me share their books in class since mine haven't arrived yet. A few of the guys I ate lunch with play on the school's tennis team. I haven't gotten around to see how well they play, but they must be good since they said they were regulars. But so far, I really like this school." Reiko turned to Mika "So how about you Mika-chan? Is school going alright?"
Reiko and Mika both talked while their dad listened. Both of his daughters were talking cheerfully to each other. "They seem much happier. Perhaps it was a good idea to have moved back." Their dad thought.
Reiko looked at the time and noticed it was running late. She quickly finished breakfast and put her dishes in the sink. She picked up her bookbag and lunch.
"Otousan, Mika-chan. I'm heading out now. Your lunches are on the counter."
"Nee-san, what's with the tennis racket?" Mika pointed to the tennis racket that Reiko was also carrying.
"Oh, I talked with the girls' tennis coach a few days ago and she said I could try out for the girl's tennis team today. I might be out late."
"Reiko, are you sure that's a good idea?" Her dad said with a worried look
"Otousan." Reiko smiled to her dad. "I know you're worried about what happened before. Besides, the girls may be different. I might be able to make some friends on the team." "Ittekimasu" Reiko exclaimed as she left the breakfast area.
"Itterashaii." Both her dad and Mika said.
As Reiko was about to leave the front door, she took a quick look at a picture near the door and smiled. "Ittekimasu…okaasan" She whispered. Reiko left the house and walked to school.
Meanwhile…
At morning tennis practice, the regulars were practicing drills on Courts A and B. The second and third years were working on their swings on Court C, while the first year members were collecting tennis balls. Eiji noticed that his doubles partner wasn't very focused.
"Oishi" Eiji exclaimed. "You really look outta it this morning. Something wrong?"
"I'm fine Eiji. I had an awkward sleep last night" Oishi yawned. "I've been having some weird dreams lately"
"Eh?? What were they about? Were you dreaming about a girl?" Eiji snickered
"BAKA! Of course not!" Oishi yelled and turned red. All of the other members stopped and turned to look at the loud commotion that was caused. Oishi couldn't help but turn an even brighter red. "Sorry about that everyone" Oishi went back to doing drills pretending that nothing happened.
Still, Oishi couldn't focus well. This entire week he's been having a series of dreams. Last night's dream woke him up in a cold sweat. That dream was an "incident" that he had blocked out and tried to forget for many years. Even when he tried to go back to sleep he couldn't. "Maybe I should go to the doctor and find out what's wrong with me" Oishi thought
"Oishi! Watch Out!" Oishi looked but it was too late.
SMACK
A tennis ball smacked him in the head and he fell to the ground.
"Oishi!" Kawamura exclaimed as he rushed over from the other side of the court. "Sorry for hitting you. Are you alright?" Oishi rub his head and got up "Its alright Taka, it was my fault for not paying attention"
"Do you want to visit the nurse?" Inui asked. "I'm fine. Please don't worry over me." Oishi told everyone.
"Hsss….." Kaidoh said "He should be more careful or…"
SMACK
Kaidoh got hit in the face with a tennis ball
"Yare Yare" Momo exclaimed. "You have to pay attention mamushi!"
"Stupid powerhouse! You did that on purpose!" Kaidoh yelled back.
"It's gonna be one of those days" Echizen thought.
Eventually practice did resume.
"Minna!" Tezuka yelled a little while later. "Morning practice is dismissed!" Everyone went back to the clubroom to get changed for school.
"Oishi" Tezuka said in his usual cold voice as he saw Oishi walk by him. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine Tezuka. My mind has been wandering" Oishi said as he apologized again. "By the way, I'll be at practice this afternoon a little late. I have some papers I need to take care of with the class rep." Oishi walked to the clubroom with everyone else and changed to go to class.
PRINCEOFTENNISPRINCEOFTENNISPRINCEOFTENNISPRINCEOFTENNISPRINCEOFTENNISPRINCEOFTENNIS
The rest of the day passed by quickly. The school bell ran and all the students left to go home or to club activities.
"Reiko-chan!" Eiji exclaimed. "You want to walk with us to the tennis courts since you have to go there?"
"Arigatou" Reiko said to Eiji "Sorry but I have to meet with the teachers and pick up my books since they came in today. Perhaps some other day okay?"
"No problem. See you later then" Eiji waved to Reiko. "Lets go Fuji" Eiji and Fuji left to go to the tennis courts.
"Reiko is quite an interesting girl." Fuji said as they walked down the hall.
"Eh? You think so as well? She's so kawaii and cheerful. I like talking with her"
Fuji nodded "Yes. She's quite cheerful" Fuji then lowered his voice "but she's hiding something"
"Hm? What did you say?" Eiji asked in confusion.
"Oh nothing" Fuji smiled pretending he didn't say anything of importance.
"Oh I see. I hope she makes the tennis team."
"I'm sure she will. I have a feeling."
Meanwhile, Reiko left the classroom and meet with various teachers to pick up books for all her classes. She went back to the classroom to put her books away. As sad as it may sound, she really should have taken Eiji's offer because she never been to the tennis courts before.
"Crap" Reiko thought. She looked out the window but didn't see the tennis courts on that side. She could run around the school, but the school was pretty huge and she thought she might get even more lost. "Stay calm" Reiko whispered to herself. She came out of her classroom and thought her best bet would be to ask someone that was still around. Reiko noticed a guy down the hall that was leaving his classroom. She noticed he was carrying a tennis bag. "What luck!" Reiko thought excitedly as she walked up to him.
"Ano…sumimasen" Reiki said to the guy she saw (which just happened to be Oishi).
Oishi looked and saw a girl carrying a bookbag and a tennis racket. Oishi noticed how cute she looked and couldn't help but blush a little.
"Konnichiwa" Reiko said to Oishi "I'm new here and I was wondering if you know which courts the girls tennis club is at"
"Um…I know where they are" Oishi then realized he had to go to the tennis courts. (A/N: poor guy can't focus). "Since all the courts are near, how about we go together?"
"Hontou? Arigatou gozaimasu" Reiko bowed politely.
Oishi suddenly felt this weird feeling inside of him. He wasn't sure what it was, but for some strange reason, it was as if he felt he had a similar conversation like this before. Oishi just stood there with a confused look wondering where and when.
"Um…is something wrong?" Reiko said with a puzzled look.
Oishi snapped back to reality. "Gomen, my mind has been wandering recently." Oishi realized he didn't know her name. "Oh I never got your name."
"Ah gomen. My name is Tanaka Reiko, but you can call me Reiko"
Then it hit him. The girl standing in front of him was the one from the dreams he was having. He took another close look at her and realized that the little girl he knew from back then, was right in front of him! Or maybe he was wrong? Oishi didn't know what to do. Maybe the lack of sleep was confusing him. "Is this the same Rei-chan I knew from before?" Oishi thought to himself.
"Rei-chan?" Oishi didn't realize he said that out loud. Reiko blushed a little and when Oishi saw that he blushed a bright red. "Wow…I haven't been called that in a long time." Reiko laughed. "I remember though…there was a boy from my childhood that used to call me that. It's been so long, I wonder what that boy has been up to?" She stopped. "Sorry about ranting on. By the way, I never did hear your n…"
"Oishi!" The class rep. ran up to him. "I forgot to give you these forms. Could you do these tonight and give them to me tommorow?"
"No problem." Oishi took the forms from the class rep. whom then ran down the hall. Oishi turned back to Reiko and noticed she had a shocked look on her face.
"Are you Oishi Syuichiroh?" Reiko said in a shocked voice.
"Hai" Oishi smiled at Reiko. "It's been a long time hasn't it Rei-chan. You look the same as always."
"Syu-kun!" Reiko said excitedly. She dropped her stuff and gave Oishi a hug. This seriously caught Oishi off guard. Even with no one in the hall, having a girl hug him, even if it's his childhood friend, turned Oishi face a tomato red. Reiko couldn't see. She was too happy to see her old childhood friend again.
"Sorry about that Syu-kun." Reiko said to Oishi, who looked like he was about to faint. "I couldn't recognize you at first. Must have been the hairstyle (A/N: LOL. If you recall from the anime series, Oishi each school year had on a different hairstyle). Reiko looked at her watch. "Ah look at the time, we better get going. You can lead the way Syu-kun." Reiko said as she smiled.
Both Oishi and Reiko walked down the hall to the tennis courts.
To be cont.
(A/N: I hope that this one was a little bit better. I know its still in the introducing part but don't worry, you'll find out what those promises are (that is if people continue to read, and give me reviews saying they want to read more *hint hint* ). There are some things left hanging, (ex. "incident") but will be explained in a later chapter. Some play interesting parts (*shocking spoiler* LOL ). Give a review. Reviews give me motivation to write more. I welcome all suggestions. Onegai shimasu!
Preview of what's to come: Reiko tries out for the team, some past revealed, and…a match up?