Disclaimer: I own nothing
A/N: italics means thoughts or emphasis on that particular word. I trust that you will know when is which ;)
Warnings: Some couple hints. and a little OCC - especially for Ryoma.
Ryoma gave his cap a final tug, took his racket and ambled towards the courts. Rapid footsteps were heard from behind him. Oh no, Ryoma groaned as a pair of arms half strangled him and knocked his cap askew. "Itai, Kikumaru-sempai. Let me go." A scowl and a futile attempt to wiggle free from the death grip.
"Hoi chibi! Saankyu for the cakes earlier on nyah, even though I have quite a tummy ache after that!"
Ryoma looked at the red head that was bouncing about and smirked. "That's because you ate too much." Ignoring Eiji's wails about Ryoma being mean, he glanced at the other sempai who had eaten just as much – Momoshiro. Hmm? Weird, I could have sworn that glutton was swinging his racket at that spot a moment ago. Why, I was even walking to his direction to throw a sarcastic remark about his swing. Calmly, Ryoma looked around for his sempai without trying to be obvious. Why? Because I would hear no end of it if the word gets out that I have actually a spark of caring-ness in me.
Ryoma half-shuddered at the thought of Horio proclaiming, "As I've said before, with my 2 years of experience in tennis, I know what is going through tennis players' minds! In Echizen's case, he is worried about Momo-chan-sempai! Hehe, my 2 years of experience never fails me!" Lost in thoughts, he never noticed he was surrounded… by the two bottomless pits. One glomped Ryoma, while the other poked his cheek.
"Ne, Echizen, looking for me? Hehehe!" Momoshiro stooped to ask whilst poking the shorter boy's cheek. Having enough of this madness, Ryoma was just about to explode.
"Kikumaru, Momoshiro, 30 laps!"
Ryoma heaved a sigh of relief and smirked at his sempais. Tugging on his cap, he knew what would provoke those two most… "Mada mada dane". He took his red racket and went off to get his new practice schedule from that creepy Inui-sempai who was supervising over Kaidoh.
"Ano, where's Fujiko?" Kawamara asked, rubbing the back of his head a little, "We were erm…supposed to practice our doubles today…" He looked around sheepishly, as Ryoma shrugged and studied his schedule.
Inui took out his green notebook, flipped to a certain page and proclaimed, "Being trapped by fan girls and boys- 18.45 percent. Calling his little brother Yuuta – 69 percent. Going to cause or causing trouble- 87 percent." Shutting his notebook close before the inquisitive Eiji could peek over Inui's shoulders.
"Fshuuu…" Kaidoh was quite glad of the interruption although, as a rule, he hated having his training sessions to be disrupted. However, Inui's attention was a tad too intense for his liking. He walked a little way off, continued practicing his swings while keeping a ear open for the conversation.
Pouting a little at the failure to peep, the red head waved his arms about, "I saw Fuji walking towards the sensei's office! Aaa, maybe he's going to apologize to our Mathematics teacher or something!"
"Che." The regulars turned around to see their stern buchou with his arms crossed looking at them. "Socializing? Everyone, 20 laps!"
"NANI!" Eiji and Momoshiro, having finished their thirty laps a few minutes ago, were exhausted (Momoshiro was just too winded to argue with that Mamushi. If only he had a few more minutes to rest…) and they need to run another twenty laps? Does Kami hate them that much? Where did all the justice go? Both of them were still grumbling in their hearts when Oishi jogged over.
"Eh, Tezuka, don't you think you should be more lenient to Eiji and Momoshiro? After all, they just finished 30 laps. Now you want them to run another 20 laps, which will make it 50 laps. What if they get too tired? When one is too tired, his resistance to illness will drop. So when it drops, he will become more vulnerable to germs and bacteria. So, …"
"Kikumaru, Momoshiro, 10 laps" Oishi worried too much for his own good sometimes, Tezuka hid a twitch of his left eyebrow; thank Kami that I managed to cut in when he takes a breath. With that, he glared at the two tired boys who dragged their feet off.
"Saa… someone having PMS?"
Oishi turned his worried gaze over to the newcomer while Tezuka (being Tezuka) remained motionless. "Oishi, help the freshmen with their swings." Taking a hint from the buchou, Oishi went off (clucking like a mother hen) to assist the freshmen.
After waiting Oishi to be out of earshot, Fuji asked Tezuka, "Saa… aren't you going to ask where your koi went?" A light giggle brushed Tezuka's stiffened shoulders gently, almost lovingly. Keeping his mask in place perfectly, the buchou replied with a curt no. A momentary display of disappointment showed on Fuji's face before it was replaced with his practiced smile as he stood beside Tezuka to watch the regulars finishing their laps.
"How come Fuji-sempai always doesn't get punished?" Momoshiro whispered to Ryoma out of the side of his mouth. The younger boy frowned, inched away a little and pointed out the fact that Oishi didn't get punished either.
Momoshiro, not noticing Ryoma's movements, leaned towards him, "Demo Oishi is fukubuchou! This is unfair! Fuji-sempai should be punished for being late! Just because Fuji-sempai is more good looking than me…" that's true, Ryoma stared up at his sempai who was leaning closer and closer without realizing it, and a better tennis player, you are still mada mada. Ryoma thought with a smirk. "…overall, I still think you are cuter, Echizen." Yup, that's about right. What? Did Momo just say I am cute? Ryoma hid his slightly red face underneath the shadow of his cap.
"Daijobou desu ka? Are you blushing, Echizen? Muahahaha!"
"Get lost baka Momo-sempai. You smell." Ryoma gave the perspiring boy a shove in the opposite direction.
"Oi, although you look like a rose doesn't mean you smell like one yourself Echizen!"
"Nani? O'chibi look like a rose?" Several pairs of eyes turned to look at Ryoma, who was still slightly red. "Nyah, did O'chibi apply too much blusher? Hahaha!" Ryoma blushed a little more as everyone laughed (saved for ice Tezuka.)
" Hmmm, an excessive amount of makeup? Saa…this seems to be an excellent time to tell you some good news," the ever-so-angelic-looking tensai said. All the regulars looked at him, feeling worried; the only good news from Fuji is no news at all.
The sapphire eyes widen. "I have signed the regulars up for Opal's Grooming Session."
Various outbursts of reactions met the news. Everyone on the courts turned to look at the Regulars. Oishi, feeling worried that something was wrong, jogged over again.
(A/N: Time to guess who's who!)
"Hmmm. I heard that less than 0.5 percent of the school cohort has heard of that session. A surprising idea, but nevertheless, it might be a good place to collect some ii data."
"Fshuuu, I'm not going. I have training."
"……mada mada. I'm not going either."
"Ano, Fujiko, I ..eh, don't think…it's a good idea. I need to help…my father"
"NANI? Grooming session? I don't need it! Hmm, maybe I could get a few tips on some new hair styling methods instead of just spikes…."
"A grooming session? Ah, maybe it will be good that we care for our appearances too…"
"because we are going to Nationals, and we will be on TV nyah!"
"………"
Fuji smiled at his fellow teammates, "There's no way you are not going. I had paid the registration fees and it is not refundable. Besides, those not going will have to drink Inui's Special Spicy Fuji Tea Remix, Version 2.1. I have several jars of them in my cupboard" Mutterings of not drinking that mysterious concoction were heard all over. Fuji just smiled sweetly and continued, "Of course, you won't know that you will be drinking it. It could be .. err.. accidentally…poured into your food and drinks." Everyone paled slightly at this ominous threat.
Guess it was safer to turn up for the grooming session. Besides, since Inui had said that very few people heard of the workshop, so how embarrassing could it be when most likely only the Regulars will be there? Furthermore, one short session was better than a long term fear of drinking something bad like Spicy Fuji Tea Remix.
"When would that be?"
"This Saturday."
Gomen if it seems a bit messy about the thoughts and speech mixing part. (The part where Momo is talking and Echizen is thinking etc.)
Will the Regulars turn up for the workshop?
What will happen next?
Will there be more couple hints?
Thanks for reviewing :)