A/N: Give one heart some time of heal and it'll look like it's never broken…especially when you've found an adhesive to keep it together in the form of a new found love…you will wish that it'll be HIM….
Pairing: OishiRyo
'' for thoughts, short flashbacks and SF
"" for dialogs
Previous chapter:
It took Oishi a few more seconds before he can entirely recover. He clenched the semi-wet hanky in his hand and took a deep breath. He stepped out of the supply closet and took a deep breath….
"Arigatou…."
It's the first practice session for the Seigaku Tennis Club after the spring break. Oishi sighed and scanned the tennis court with a smile, seeing the bulk of their members. "We do have a lot to handle this year ne, fukubuchou." Fuji suddenly spoke up behind him. Oishi just smiled. "I know." He murmured while staring at two familiar scowling faces no far from where he stood.
"Baka mamushi!" a spiky-haired sophomore snarled towards his un-identical twin brother. His fists are curled up while his violet eyes are turning into an angry shade of purple.
"Shut up peach. Fshuu…" a boy with similar short black hair snapped back, glaring at him with snake-like eyes.
"Takeshi, Kaoru... enough." Oishi snapped at the twins with his hands on his hips. "Aniki…" the two murmured in unison.
"I still can't believe you told us they're twins." Takashi Kawamura said while shaking his head.
"Ii data…" Sadaharu Inui murmured as his jut down notes on his trusty notebook. "It's fun to record data from twins." He added.
Fuji inhaled deeply as he scanned the court. "We do have a nice bunch this year." Oishi nodded and scanned the crowd himself. Second years are practicing while first years have started doing their duties. It was not long before the scarlet rays of the sun descended upon them.
"Ok guys! Start cleaning up!" Oishi yelled. "HAI!"
Meanwhile...
"So you think you'll like this place?" Couch Ryuzaki asked the young boy who's staring out the window. Silence met the coach's question.
"I will be including you in the ranking selections on Wednesday. Make sure that you attend the morning practice." She added. She's getting really frustrated in trying to get this kid talk. He's so much different from his father.
The door opened and a bespectacled boy came in with short golden brown hair. "Sumimasen, Ryuzaki-sensei." He bowed to show respect. He stared at the boy wearing a white cap. "Tezuka, I would like you to meet a new member of our club." The coach stated. With this, the young boy turned around and faced them.
'Now, now, he's not that impolite as I have thought' the old woman mused.
The young boy took off his cap, showing them a crown of greenish black hair. His cute greenish brown eyes blinked a couple of times before bowing. "Tezuka, meet Echizen Ryoma. He just arrived from US.
Tezuka stared at the young boy in front of him. 'Echizen? So he must be…' "Yoroshiku!" Ryoma greeted.
"Ryoma, meet the captain of Seigaku's tennis club, Tezuka Kunimitsu."
"Yoroshiku!" Tezuka greeted back. "From now on you're going to take part in morning practices and club activities as well. You will render respect to you senpais, be it that they're sophomores or seniors. You're in Japan already. " Ryuzaki-sensei said.
"Hai." Ryoma nodded.
"Now Tezuka, he will be taking part in the ranking selections next Wednesday." The woman turned to the older kid. "Sumimasen Ryuzaki-sensei, demo…." Tezuka started to protest but his coach cut him off. "I know…the tradition. But it's ok to bend the rules sometimes, right?" she said.
"But…" "No buts Tezuka-kun. You go and take Echizen to meet the rest of the members."
"Hai." Tezuka gave in. with that, he saw the young boy took his training bag and bowed to Ryuzaki-sensei. He followed his suit and led the way out of the classroom.
"Let's see what you've got, Ryoma Echizen." Ryuzaki-sensei murmured, watching the retreating back of the two kids.
Meanwhile…
"Ne captain, what's ranking selections?" Ryoma suddenly asked, breaking the silence. The older boy stopped his tracks to stare at his kohai.
"It's the occasional competition within the club to pick out the deserving members to become a regular." He replied.
"Ah like try outs for varsity teams ne?" he added.
"Unn…"
Ryoma shrugged and silence engulfed them once more.
Tennis Courts…
"What's taking Tezuka so long?" Oishi said warily. He had had their kohais lined for quite a while up since Tezuka told him Ryuzaki-sensei has something important to say.
"What's taking Buchou so long?" Takeshi complained. They've been standing for quite a while now. "Kudasai baka momo." Kaoru murmured. "Baka mamushi!" Takeshi snarled.
"Takeshi, Kaoru, 10 laps around the court after dismissal!" a familiar voice bellowed behind them. The twins' jaws dropped upon hearing the orders from their stern Buchou who was standing behind the pile.
Tezuka came forward with a small kid in tow. Everybody stared in bewilderment especially Oishi when the face of the young boy came in view.
" IT'S HIM!" A pair of green eyes widened in disbelief. The young boy looked up to scan the faces in front of him. Those set of green eyes caught sight of Oishi.
"It's him…" greenish brown eyes blinked a couple of times. Fuji cannot miss that one. He stared curiously between his friend and the short newbie.
"Ii data…" he heard Inui murmuring from behind him.
Collective murmurs can be heard from the members that suddenly came to a halt when the two stopped in front of them.
Oishi felt his chest tightening upon the sight of Ryoma. Three years had passed and yet he can never forget those eyes, the hair and those lips from which caring words that soothed him in his time of grief came from.
"Attention Seishun Gakuen tennis club members." Tezuka started and the rest stiffened their posture. "This is Ryoma Echizen. He just arrived from America today and he will be joining our club from now on. "
Ryoma bowed to show them his respect. "Nice meeting you senpais and fellow freshmen."
"As orders from Ryuzaki-sensei as well he will take part in the ranking selection this Wednesday."
Gasps can be heard from the rest, the others are gaping at Ryoma in disbelief. "Not fair! I have to years of experience and I'm not even allowed to take part in the selection!" one freshman complained. "That's because you still stink Horio." A sophomore snapped at him.
"Are you sure Tezuka? I mean its tradition." Inui said. Ryoma just continued staring at Oishi who was in turn staring at him in awe.
"Buchou! Not fair!" Takeshi yelled. "Fshuu…." Kaoru hissed.
"ENOUGH!" Tezuka bellowed and this got everyone to calm down. It was even loud enough to make Ryoma and Oishi snap back into reality.
"It's sensei's decision. No buts." He said while adjusting his glasses.
"Ii data…"
"Wow…i-it means that kid is good." Kawamura said shyly. Ryoma took his cap off showing then his unusual black hair with green undertones.
"Today's practice is over. I still expect the Oishi twins to do their laps. Everyone be early tomorrow for the morning practice. Regulars, stay for a while. Dismiss!" Tezuka said.
"Arigatou, minna-san!" the rest bellowed and bowed, showing their respect to their Buchou. It took a couple of minutes before the court was deserted. The other members can't stop gaping at Ryoma and murmuring to themselves.
The regulars crowed around Ryoma now. "Regulars, go introduce yourselves." Tezuka murmured while eyeing Oishi but with no avail the fukubuchou is still in a daze.
'I can't believe it….he's back. Why am I feeling strange towards him? I don't understand why I feel…happy to see him again. He….his name is Ryoma….him….'the same thoughts still occupied Oishi's head.
"Aniki…" Takeshi hissed. "Ii data…Oishi's reaction didn't change a bit…what a data…." Inui said while scribbling madly on his notebook. Ryoma's lips curved up into a smirk at the reaction of his "old friend named pretty eyes".
"Aherm!" Tezuka cleared and Oishi snapped back into reality. "w-what?" he blurted.
"Aniki, you're supposed to introduce yourself." Kaoru pointed out. They heard a light giggle at the back and they saw Fuji's weird smile once more…' Oishi…now that's priceless. I wonder why…' Fuji thought while studying Ryoma.
Oishi felt his face burn up a little. "Uh…." He started. "He's Oishi Syuichiroh. He's the fukubuchou and a senior as well." Fuji said, giving Oishi a smile. "He's the mama of Seigaku!" Takeshi chirped in. "Fshuu…." Kaoru nodded in agreement.
"Mama eh?" Ryoma's brow arched up while giving Oishi an amused smile. This time Oishi turned scarlet red and reached out to give twin blows on the head of his dearest twin brothers.
"Ouch!" they cried in unison. Almost everyone smiled in amusement. "Nice to meet you." Ryoma lend out a hand. Oishi blinked a couple more times before his hand reached out to clasp with Ryoma. The moment that their skin made contact, a warm feeling rushed up their bodies. Ryoma's eyes locked in with Oishi's, both of their hearts beating in unison.
"Ok now my turn!" Fuji broke their warm connection. "Gomen…" Oishi suddenly retrieved his hand from Ryoma's.
'Fufu….too many interesting data...' Inui mused, seeing the instant connection between the shorty and their fukubuchou.
"Hello! I'm Fuji Syuusuke in year three as well." Fuji flashed him his swoon-worthy smile. 'Urgh…creepy…´ Ryoma shivered as the thought ran through his head. "This is Kawamura Takashi, "He continued pointing at the boy with short light brown hair with side burns. The boy waved shyly at Ryoma. "H-hello…" he muttered shyly. "He's in year three too and he's a very good sushi chef, right Taka?" Fuji turned to him, flashing his sweet smile. With this Kawamura blushed heavily. "Fujiko…" he muttered. "Aw such a sweetie…" Fuji cooed. Ryoma's brow arched once more. 'Is he gay? Ohhhhh…..' realization dawned on Ryoma.
"Ne, then I better try you're dishes sometime, ne sempai?" Ryoma asked. "S-sure." Kawamura scratched his head shyly. "Moving on…" Tezuka muttered.
Inui adjusted his reflective glasses and cleared his throat. "I'm Inui Sadaharu from year three as well. Nice meeting your Echizen and be prepared since I'm going to gather data on you from now on. It's has a 42 chance that you will not have a hard time fitting in from the initial attitude you showed when you came in. but it'll give us 58 as well in the probability of getting enemies and fan girls with such air…" "Inui…" Tezuka cut him in. "Yes?" The other bespectacled boy looked up to their captain. "You're doing it again." Tezuka murmured. "Oh sorry…heheheh..." Inui chuckled.
"He's always like that." Fuji whispered to Ryoma.
"Our turn! Hurry!" an overjoyed Takeshi piped in. "Fshuu…" Kaoru hissed.
"Ok, ok…I'm Oishi Takeshi a sophomore…I'm the great trump card of Seigaku! Nice meeting you Echizen!" Takeshi said with a burst of ego, only to be inflated by a "Fshuu…."
"Yey to the self-proclaimed baka momo." Kaoru muttered. "Waddaya want mamushi!" Takeshi glared at him twin brother. "Takeshi, enough." Oishi said firmly. Takeshi crossed his arms across his chest and gave a hearty "phhffft!"
"I'm Oishi Kaoru, a sophomore as well. I don't like annoying kids and annoying twin brother. Mess with me and I'll give you a piece of my mind." Kaoru's eyes glinted in malice. "It's not nice to threaten our new member Kaoru." Fuji scolded him. "Fshuu…." Kaoru hissed again.
Ryoma looked at the two curiously. Tezuka read the young boy's reaction. "Twins." He said.
"Ohhhhh….."
"Welcome to the crazy world of Seigaku Tennis Club, Echizen." Oishi finally got the courage to speak up.
"Unn…" Ryoma nodded.
"And you have to start drinking milk from now on…two bottles a day. That might give us a remedy to you height problems." Inui added. A twitch of annoyance appeared on Ryoma's forehead.
"Fufu…ii data…" Inui added. He took out a beaker full of green-colored liquid. Somehow, a shiver went up Ryoma's spine. "Why do we don't we drink as a welcome toast for your arrival Echizen?" An evil glint flashed in his bespectacled eyes. Ryoma saw how almost all of the regulars except for Fuji and Tezuka fidgeted and started to back away. "Go on." Inui gave Ryoma the beaker. "Just a sip Ryoma." Fuji added.
"Don't do it Echizen!" Takeshi warned him. "Huh?" Ryoma opened his mouth and Inui shoved the beaker to him. Echizen abruptly closed his mouth and adjusted his cap. "Mada mada dane, senpai." With his he dashed out of the court. "Ja! See you tomorrow!"
They were frozen for a moment, staring at the fleeting image of the freshman.
"Now this will be a very nice bunch in deed." Fuji murmured.
Oishi smiled and shook his head. 'I must be getting crazy. I haven't felt this like ever since Eiji….'
"You must be forgetting something, Takeshi, Kaoru…" Tezuka adjusted his glasses. "What is it Buchou?" the two asked in unison.
"Ten laps around the court! Move!"
The twins set off grudgingly to do their captain's bidding. Kawamura and Tezuka already went inside the clubhouse leaving Oishi, Fuji and Inui to look after their kohais.
"Ne, Oishi-kun." Fuji started. "Hmmm?" Oishi glanced at his. The tensai smiled and said. "Give one heart some time to heal and it'll look like it's never broken…"
"Fuji…" Oishi sighed.
"Yes… especially when you've found an adhesive to keep it together in the form of a new found love." Inui added. The two walked towards the clubroom leaving their fukubuchou in a daze once more.
A/N: whew! Round two won! So you found out that Momo and Kaidou are twins here and the other paring is Fuji/Kawa….hmmm….what next? Please review!
