Disclaimer: I own no part of Tennis no Oujisama (Prince of Tennis). Damn.
Warnings: Short. No-pairing FRIENDSHIP fic. Though, you know, if you really want to, you can misconstrue it as ShishidoOotori. I'm not stopping you.
Summary: (ONE SHOT)(Introspective short.) There are two constant things in Ootori Choutarou's life.
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Constants
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There are two constant things in Choutarou's life.
The first is something that he's inordinately proud of: The Scud Serve. It can't be returned, and he knows it. And he's proud of it.
And it can't be returned. It just can't.
Except that is has. It's been---No, not just returned.
Absolutely defeated.
And in this moment, Choutarou feels that—that empty ache that's so terrible because it makes him feel sick inside. It's like a loss of faith, of stability, of—of a constant.
His Scud Serve…
"Choutarou."
But—there's… There's always that second constant.
Shishido-san looks at him and smiles—grins, actually, that grin that Choutarou recognizes so fully.
"You did well."
Choutarou's eyes widen momentarily before returning to normal. He smiles.
"Okay."
Shishido-san grins again and…
And Choutarou realizes that really, the only infallible constant that he ever had was this.
Maybe he'll ask Shishido-san to help him overcome this obstacle, as well.
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.notes.
…Cute as Shishido Ryo and Ootori Choutarou are, this was meant to carry the friendship theme. But you know, that may have gone to hell.
Another introspective short that came to me in the middle of watching episode 112. Er. I really fiddled around with the situation, though...
Review, please, please, please. I need to hear it.
--raspberry-苺