Bokura no Kokoro de
Disclaimer: If you would believe it, I don't own Tenipuri
Summary: "Why do we have so many people who hate to lose on our team?" It's not that Seigaku can't be defeated. Seigaku refuses to be defeated, in and outside of their own team.
Notes before reading:
This fanfic is set in a kind of AU-Tenipuri universe; the characters are in high school, not junior high. When you read this, none of the anime or the manga has happened. I will be starting kind of slow, to get into the fic, and hopefully build it up so that it gets a bit more interesting. Live with me until then, please?
Oh, one last thing – the title translates freely into 'inside our hearts' and I'll leave the meaning of that to your own imagination.
XXX
Bokura no Kokoro de
XXX
On the first day of school, Fuji Syusuke arrived at seven thirty. The bell for homeroom would ring at eight forty, but that didn't matter, because he was here to familiarise himself with the school grounds. He was dressed in a crisp, white shirt with black pants and a black blazer, emblazoned with the Seishun Gakuen school crest on the breast pocket. On the collar of the blazer was a silver badge with a single 'I', that showed he was in the first year.
His first day of senior high and the teen wasn't exactly tingling with anticipation, but he had a feeling that the next three years here were going to be full of worthwhile challenges, unlike junior high. Sure, he was going from senior back to freshman and would have to start calling people 'senpai' again, but that didn't matter. He was here for the thrill of competition.
He took a walk around the school grounds, making a mental map of the buildings, fields, the fountain and the tennis courts. Especially the last one, which was where he intended to get his thrill.
As he rounded the corner to the tennis courts, he discovered that he wasn't the only one who was here early on the first day. A tall, broad-shouldered teen was inside one of the courts, dressed in the white shirt and blue pants that marked a first year, a white tennis racket clutched in his left hand. There was an empty basket by his feet and balls had been scattered everywhere on the other side of the net.
Fuji was intrigued. This boy was obviously passionate about tennis, to be here so early on the first day just to practice. He felt slightly disappointed that he had missed the boy's practice, but a tugging curiosity that made him wonder just how good this boy was and how long it would take to beat him. Because Fuji would beat him – it was just a matter of how much effort he had to put in.
The boy set down his racquet and began to gather the balls up. Deciding that he would need help, Fuji pushed open the gates.
"Sumimasen. Do you need any help there?"
The boy looked up at him, placing the balls into the basket as Fuji picked up a stray ball at his feet and examined it. As the distance between them lessened considerably, Fuji noticed that the boy was slightly more than a head taller than him and wore rimless spectacles over dark brown eyes.
"I'll manage. Thank you for the offer."
His voice was deep and it was curt, but it sounded more out of habit than deliberation. Fuji smiled, his eyes closed as they always were, tossing the ball into the basket carelessly and getting it straight in. The boy's eyes narrowed.
"My name is Fuji Syusuke," Fuji introduced, holding out a hand. The boy took it warily and they shook hands. "Freshman."
"Tezuka Kunimitsu," the other replied. "Freshman."
They were stating the obvious, because both knew just from the clothes they wore whether they were freshmen or not. It was common courtesy that made them do it. Tezuka examined Fuji carefully as the other bent down to pick up more balls from the ground.
Fuji was lithe, but well-built. He had the calloused hands of a tennis player, but quick, nimble fingers of a musician. His eyes remained firmly closed even when he was walking around, which proved to be very strange. A smile seemed to be permanently on his face, a sunny smile you could help but like.
"You don't have to pick up the balls," Tezuka pointed out. "I said I'd manage."
"We'll be doing a lot of ball picking as freshmen," Fuji replied cheerfully as he dumped an armload into the basket. "I'm just getting practice."
On that first day of senior high, Tezuka decided that there was something that set Fuji apart from everyone else as they silently made their way around the court, picking up tennis balls.
"Arigatou."
XXX
Kikumaru Eiji craned his neck to look around at the other students lined up around him. They were standing in class order, after having found out their classes from the lists posted up on the noticeboard, and were waiting for the staff and headmaster to file in. He had been put in class 1-6, but there was no one from elementary school that he knew.
He was about to topple over and crash into the person in front of him, when a firm hand caught him by the collar and tugged him back into standing position. Turning back to thank the person, he was met with warm, green eyes.
"Hoi, thank you, nya," he said sheepishly.
"No problem."
"Kikumaru Eiji," he introduced, sticking out his hand. The other boy took it. "Nice to meet you."
"Oishi Syuichiroh," the other replied.
Eiji was already busy inspecting Oishi's hands, even before the other had had a chance to get the words out of his mouth. Oishi looked decidedly nervous.
"W-What are you doing?" he asked.
"Hoi, you play tennis? Or any other sports?"
"Tennis and volleyball, actually," Oishi replied, a little astounded. "How did you know?"
"Hoi, you have calluses on your palms," Eiji pointed out. He traced them with a finger. "And you've been playing hard for a while too, nya?"
"Four years, actually."
"Really?" Eiji's bright blue eyes widened happily. "That's cool! Same here! Are you going to join the tennis club, or the volleyball club? I want to join both, but I think tennis is better."
"You play too?"
"Of course! Can't you tell?"
They were interrupted by the arrival of the staff body, who had filed in sometime during their talk. The deputy headmaster cleared his throat and the students settled down in their class lines. The headmaster came up to the microphone and addressed them all.
"Welcome, students, to another year at Seishun Gakuen. There are a few things I would like to address before you are dismissed to your homerooms to receive your timetables for this year.
"Firstly, club registration will begin at noon, after the timetables have been given out. You will come back into the hall if you want to join a club. A maximum of two clubs only, as there have been some problems with past students who have signed up for too many and have dissatisfied their school records and attendance. A reminder to club captains to set up before noon.
"Next is for the first years. The senior buildings are out of bounds and you will need a teacher's written permission to use classrooms, laboratories and other normally unsupervised areas outside school hours. If there are any problems, the seniors will be there for you to ask.
"Lastly. I'm sure the second and third years will recall the incident between two of our students last year, who violated school regulations and the dating policy, as well as several students who, without school permission, got part-time jobs. I am stressing the importance of the no-dating and no part-time jobs policy, as this affects your attendance and school records and your parents will have to be contacted if you are found to be violating either of these policies.
"After I dismiss you, you will make your way quietly to your homerooms. For first years, a senior will be happy to show you the way. Dismissed."
XXX
Kawamura Takashi made his way through a sea of students to get to classroom 1-8. He elbowed his way past the others, who were at least a head shorter than him – then again, he was tall for his age – apologising all the while. He had no trouble at all adjusting to being a freshman again. Apologising and acting demure was a part of his personality, after all.
When he reached the classroom in relatively one piece, he sighed in relief. He slid open the door and noted that the teacher hadn't arrived yet. There was no one he recognised from his old school, though he had hoped that Akutsu would have miraculously appeared at Seigaku, rather than going to Yamabuki. He would rather be bullied by him than be alone.
He chose a seat near the doorway, next to the corridor window. As soon as he had sat down, the teacher walked in.
"You, there," the teacher said, pointing to him.
"Hai, sensei!"
"Until we have elected class representatives, you will be in gakkyuiin, understood?"
"H-Hai!" The teacher nodded and walked to his desk at the front of the room, standing on the raised platform. Kawamura bolted up from his chair. "KIRITSU!"
The other students jumped to their feet at the call. This had been drilled into them since elementary school, but it was also Kawamura's first time to be the class representative.
"REI!"
"Ohayou gozaimasu, sensei!" the class said in unison, bowing low.
"Ohayou." The teacher gave a small bow in return.
"CHYAKUSEKI!"
They all sat back down again, Kawamura with his heart hammering in his chest. He hadn't done that before, but he had seen countless people do it. The teacher seemed to think that it was all right, so he breathed a sigh of relief.
"I will now call the role."
After the role was marked, Kawamura was motioned up to the front again and the teacher handed him a stack of papers for him to hand out. It was this year's timetable. He went around the classroom, handing them out to each student. One of the boys at the back stuck out their foot and he tripped, but the papers didn't scatter because of his firm hold on them. He picked himself up and finished the job with no more little incidents.
The teacher then introduced himself as Mika. He was a tall, not very friendly looking man with greying hair and an angular, proud face. His steely grey eyes seemed to just penetrate through the students and it made Kawamura gulp every time they were turned on him.
"I don't tolerate nonsense in my class," Mika-sensei said curtly. "Don't act up, do everything that you're told to do and we'll get along fine."
XXX
The noon bell rang and many students were glad to be able to leave. That was the structure of the first day – opening ceremony, handing out timetables and other things in homeroom and then dismissal. What many students were looking forward to was going to sign up for the extra-curricular clubs.
There were students milling around the entrance of the hall, some of them just wandering aimlessly in and out, looking for friends or wondering what club to choose. Inside, there were tables set up around the edge of the hall where the captains and vice captains would sit behind and sign people up.
The majority of the students were gathered around the tennis club, Seigaku being the prestigious tennis school it was. The captain was a friendly, scraggly looking young man who had a white bandage – or bandanna, it was hard to tell – around his forehead and strangely circle-shaped spectacles.
"Minna-san, gather around if you want to join the tennis club!" he called good-naturedly. "We have two lists you can sign up on, so no pushing please!"
And students swarmed around, eager to sign up to the most prestigious club in school, one that was famous around the district for being one of the best. The people at the back thought that it would be almost impossible for them to even reach the list by the time registration was over, but they were saved by some unexpected people.
"Now that holidays are over, we'll have to start daily training in the mornings and afternoons!"
"Yeah and we'll have to run at least thirty laps a day!"
Two of the senior Regulars – as the other students could tell by the jerseys and jackets – were talking loudly off to the side. They were wearing unconvincing, despaired looks on their faces, complaining loudly at the immense commitment being in the tennis club would require. Some of the students already began to drift away from the table, looking for clubs that didn't require perfect attendance or in-depth commitment.
Fuji caught the captain's eye and saw him wink. A smirk spread across his lips in understanding.
"Sasuga, tennis club's captain," he muttered to himself.
"Hoi, what's going on?"
A redhead appeared beside him, blinking in confusion at the sight of the crowd at the table gradually thinning. He had, in tow, an equally confused black-haired boy and they just approached the table slowly.
"The Seigaku tennis club doesn't need slackers," Fuji said simply.
He strode forward and put his name down on the list. When he was done, he glanced up at the captain, who smiled down at him.
"Fuji Syusuke?" Fuji nodded. "Welcome to the club."
"Arigatou, senpai."
"Yamato, the captain," the senior corrected.
"Hai, Yamato-buchou."
Fuji managed a small bow before he walked away again, smiling all the while. He had noticed that Tezuka's name was already on the top of the list. This was going to be an eventful year ahead.
XXX
Japanese translations:
Sumimasen– excuse me
Arigatou – thanks
Hai – yes
Sensei – teacher
Gakkyuiin – class representative, sort of class prefect/captain, teacher's aid
KIRITSU – 'rise': the class rep says this when the teacher walks into the room and everyone has to rise to greet the teacher
REI – I don't know the exact translation, but when this is said, the students have to bow to the teacher
Ohayou gozaimasu – Good morning (formal)
CHYAKUSEKI – when this is said, the students sit down again after greeting
Minna-san – everyone (polite form of minna)
Sasuga – that's just like/as expected of . . .
Senpai – way to greet students with seniority over you (being politically correct here, because there's not only male seniors in the school!)
Buchou – club captain (only because the 'bu' means 'club' and the 'chou' means leader – chou can be used as in shyachou, company president)
Comments? This is my first time trying to write a tennis-related Tenipuri fic, because I tend to bend towards writing AU. AU gives me a lot more freedom.