A/N: Alrighty, here is another chapter for all. This is a little bit longer than the other chapters but I think it still remains interesting. Whatever the case, I had fun with this one. Mizuki, Yuuta, and Fuji make their appearance. Isn't that exciting? Anyhoo, happy readings!
I don't own Prince of Tennis.
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"Jiroh, slow down! Ore-sama does not want to have to run to keep up with you!"
Jiroh stopped running then whirled around to face Atobe.
"Fine."
He stood still while Atobe caught up with him again. They both began walking towards the street courts once again only much slower this time. Atobe looked over at Jiroh who was fidgeting.
"Don't tell me you're going to be like that the rest of the way there?"
"But Atobe! You never know who might show up at the courts. What if it's somebody who's really hard to get a hold of and we need to pla-… interview him or something?"
The buchou snorted at Jiroh's response.
"Right. Like that's your sole reason."
They continued walking for a while in silence when Atobe chanced a glance to his side. If it were not for his superior skills he would have tripped right then and there at the sight. Jiroh was still walking, but was pouting. Atobe was not one to be swayed by such childish expressions, but this was different. This went beyond that. This was just obscenely cute.
"Fine. Why don't you go ahead and see if there's anybody even at the courts?"
"Hmm? Okay! Don't take too long!"
He was stunned at how Jiroh perked up so suddenly at something so simple. He let a small sigh escape his lips as he watched the other boy hurriedly run down the sidewalk.
"He's like a puppy or something…Don't continue that thought…"Jiroh, on the other hand, was not really thinking of anything but who he might meet at the courts and get to play. Additionally, he had a small hope that nobody was really there and he might be able to get Atobe to play a match with him. However, his thoughts were suddenly interrupted as he approached the street courts and heard an interesting conversation.
"Well, well. We meet again, Fuji Shusuke! I hope you're ready because I challe-"
"How have you been, Yuuta? I hope you're being treated well."
"Yeah, everything's been fine, Aniki."
"Hey! Pay attention! As I was saying, I-"
"Hey! Fuji!"
Fuji turned around to face the roadside. Jiroh was standing there waving madly at him. The Seigaku tensai smiled and waved back. That was all the invitation he needed. In a mater of seconds, Jiroh was sprinting towards him.
"Ah, so it's Jiroh Akutagawa from Hyotei."
Jioh paused and looked at the person speaking. The boy was standing and looking at him while twirling a strand of hair around his finger. Jiroh thought he might have seen him somewhere before, but nothing came to his mind.
"Who are you?"
"Wha-…I'm Mizuki Hajime, Manager of the St. Rudolph tennis club."
Mizuki stared expectantly at Jiroh who just stared blankly back at him.
"Sorry, still don't know."
"Well you should since-"
"Hey, Fuji. If you're not too busy, do you wanna play a quick match with me?"
Yuuta glanced over at his teammate and had to hide a small grin when he saw Mizuki's expression. Once again, Fuji managed to totally ignore him and other players did not even know who he was.
"Hey!"
Jiroh briefly paused at the exclamation and looked at Mizuki again. This time however, his eyes grew big and he smiled.
"Wait, I know you!"
Mizuki was shocked at first, but quickly regained his composure.
"Well of course you-"
"You're the Yuuta I played at the regionals!"
Yuuta was surprised that he was remembered. In a way, he was proud that somebody knew who he was and not as Fuji's younger brother. But in some other ways, he was not so proud since this was the same person who beat him in fifteen minutes.
"How're you doing, Jiroh?"
"Great! Oh hey, after I play Fuji, can I ask you guys a couple of questions for a school report I'm doing with Atobe?"
"Sure."
"Cool!"
Fuji smiled, Yuuta just nodded his head, and Mizuki looked so proud.
"Of course you can ask me anything, Jiroh. After all, my overall knowledge can be quite valuable."
Jiroh tilted his head as though he were trying to remember something important and then looked innocently back at Mizuki.
"But you're not on Atobe's list."
That last comment sent Mizuki whirling. Fuji had to suppress a chuckle as Yuuta watched in semi-horror as his teammate entered into his denial/plotting mood.
"Not on Atobe's list?…No that can't be right…Even if it were, that just means I have to make myself and the team more well known…I'll just have to increase the training regime and then we'll see who's on who's list…"
Yuuta patted Mizuki's shoulder comfortingly. The manager did not seem to notice as he continued to mumble about planning something. Fuji continued to smile as he motioned towards one of the courts.
"That one's open. How about we play there?"
"Great!"
"Jiroh!"
Everybody stopped in their tracks and looked over at the source of the voice. Atobe was standing imperiously just as he always does. He walked over to where Jiroh was walking off with Fuji.
"Fuji."
"Atobe."
He then looked at Jiroh and sighed. The other boy was looking at him with huge puppy dog eyes.
"Fine. Just don't take too long."
"You got it!"
He nodded to Fuji and let them get ready for their match. Yuuta and Mizuki came up beside him to get a better view. Atobe was watching Jiroh get out his racket and start warming-up when he suddenly felt someone standing too close to his side. He looked out the side of his eye and noticed Mizuki standing smugly right there.
"What do you want and why are you invading Ore-sama's personal space?"
"I was just curious as to this list of names you have. Apparently you're doing a project that requires you to interview certain individuals."
"Yes. We plan on gathering some data to complete a project and yes, I do have a general list compiled…Why, who are you?"
Yuuta thought for sure that Mizuki was going to collapse at being forgotten three times in the last few minutes. When he glanced over at his teammate, Mizuki's eye was tqitching uncontrollably.
"I'm Mizuki Hajime, Manager of St. Rudolph tennis club."
"You don't say…ore-sama will come back to you. Anyways, Yuuta, while Jiroh is playing your brother, I might as well start asking you."
"Uh, okay."
Mizuki watched as Atobe immediately disregarded his presence and began asking a series of questions. He then looked over at the courts and noticed that Fuji and Jiroh had begun their match. At long last, he could not take it anymore.
"Stop ignoring me! You're going to make me very angry and you don't want to see me angry!"
Yuuta and Atobe looked at Mizuki. He began to laugh in a half-crazed manner.
"He's got a point. He's not exactly the greatest person to be around when he's upset."
Atobe merely gave a small nod and then he finally remembered who Mizuki was.
"Ah yes. Mizuki Hajime. That's right. Ore-sama remembers you now."
Those few words snapped Mizuki out of it and brought him back to his normal composed self. He stood confidently once again twirling his hair around his finger.
"You're the one Fuji so soundly defeated."
What confidence he regained was shattered. He fell to his knees in defeat. Yuuta walked over to him and patted his back sympathetically.
"See? Now you know why I really don't like being called 'Fuji's little brother' and what not."
Mizuki did not seem to hear the odd consolation from Yuuta. He continued to stare at the ground.
"Who cares if that's how you're known?"
They both looked up at Atobe who seemed to be completely ignoring them by watching Jiroh and Fuji's match intently. However, he had difficulty pushing them out of his hearing and decided to do something about it. Yuuta and Mizuki looked questioningly at him. Atobe sighed in annoyance.
"If you don't like how you're known, then do something about it. Forget what others are going to say and just do whatever you need to do."
"You're right!"
Mizuki startled Yuuta as he jumped straight up again and struck a gallant pose.
"This just means that I need to work them harder and longer until St. Rudolph and Mizuki Hajime are known throughout Japan!"
Yuuta watched almost embarrassed as Mizuki began nodding his head as though he already were planning something.
"Ore-sama's brilliance with words has triumphantly uplifted another soul…However, is he always like this?"
Yuuta could only nod his head. At long last, they were finally able to concentrate on the match.
"1-1, 15-0!"
Serving the ball was Jiroh. He once again was preparing to serve and volley. Fuji shifted his position and got ready to return. After serving the ball, Jiroh began to dash towards the net and Fuji returned the ball at Jiroh's feet, but as usual, he somehow managed to turn his wrist and return just barely over the net.
"C'mon! You guys gotta have something else than that!"
Fuji smiled at the other boy who was energetically preparing to serve again. The same event occurred just as it always did. Soon, the game was over. As they were changing sides, Jiroh stopped Fuji midway.
"Hey, Fuji! Will you use that disappearing serve thing again? Please!"
"Sure."
"All right! I'm gonna get it this time! Hey, hey, Atobe! Are you watching! Isn't this soo cool?"
Atobe gently nodded his head and then motioned to the other side of the court.
"Jiroh! Pay attention."
The other boy quickly turned around and was practically quivering in anticipation. Fuji bounced the ball a few times, then brought his racquet behind him. With a powerful turn of his wrist, he sent the ball spinning and on its way down, the tensai hit the ball and sent it flying.
Jiroh watched him serve and brought his racquet back. He watched the ball intently and concentrated on its position. As soon as it was about to reach him, the ball suddenly seemed like it was in multiple locations and then disappeared right as he swung. There was a soft thud as the ball hit the wall and rolled. Jiroh looked behind him and noted the location where it landed.
"That was incredible! It's cool no matter how many times I see it! Alright, I'm ready, do it again!"
"He's an energetic one isn't he?"
Atobe looked over at Mizuki's blatantly obvious statement and stopped himself from rolling his eyes. The St. Rudolph manager then turned to Atobe in a business-like manner and began his trademark-recruiting plan.
"I'm sure such energy seems so wasted at such an upright, calm team such as Hyotei. How about he comes over to St. Rudolph and find a suitable outlet for his energy there?"
Yuuta could not help but let a huge sigh escape his lips. The team manager sure was something else. He noted how Mizuki would be the only person in the world who would dare try to take somebody away from Hyotei and Atobe. He could not wait to hear the answer.
"No deal. Ore-sama's teammates are not for sale. Unless ore-sama tells you they are for sale, you will not go anywhere near them. And, ore-sama's word is absolute."
Mizuki chuckled nervously at the odd response. Whether it was because Atobe was now staring coldly at him or just because the answer was just not normal, nobody knew.
"Of course. I shall keep that in mind…"
"2-2."
The three boys turned their attention back to the game when they heard the score. Yuuta saw his older brother on one side of the court smiling like he always did and Jiroh was still bouncing around even though he never managed to return the serve.
"Whaaa! Atobe, Atobe! I was soooo close to getting it this time!"
Jiroh came bounding up to Atobe and began practically bouncing around him. The whole while, Atobe just stood there calmly and looking straight ahead as he was bombarded by the other boy's enthusiasm. While Jiroh replayed each and every moment to Atobe, Fuji walked over to where they were standing holding his cell phone.
"Jiroh. I'm sorry, but I have to cut our game short. I have to meet my sister in a few minutes."
The other boy stopped bouncing around as he stared back at Fuji.
"Really?…Oh well…Hey, let's do it again! We need to finish and I really want to get that serve!"
His depression stayed but for a moment as it was suddenly replaced by his normal cheerful, energetic personality.
"Oh wait, what about what we were going to ask them, Atobe?"
Atobe thought about it for a moment then whipped out his own cell phone.
"How about I just get your phone number and I'll ask you about it later?"
"Sure."
After a few moments of recording each other's phone numbers, Fuji turned towards Yuuta and smiled.
"Yuuta, Sister and I are going to go for lunch. How about you join us?"
Yuuta looked at his older brother and then at Mizuki who was currently standing slightly to the side trying to look like he was doing something important.
"I think I'll pass. Tell her I said 'hi' and everything is going good."
Fuji looked surprised for a moment, then shot a quick glare at Mizuki, and then smiled again.
"Alright. Take care, Yuuta."
Mizuki watched somewhat surprised as Fuji walked away without Yuuta. He looked over at his teammate questioningly.
"Weren't we going to go over some more techniques and drills, Mizuki?"
Yuuta smiled at Mizuki who quickly regained his normal composure and grinned.
"Yes, of course, I have many wonderful ideas that will definitely give St. Rudolph an edge."
"Mizuki!"
He turned around at the sound of his name. Atobe still had his back towards him and his cell phone out.
"What's your number?"
Mizuki looked startled for a moment before he gave his phone number.
"Be sure and answer it."
The other boy smirked and twirled his hair.
"Of course. I always answer my phone and-"
Yuuta watched as Mizuki continued to talk but Atobe and Jiroh were already walking away. Jiroh was still energetically recalling every moment of the short match to Atobe who was still patiently listening.
"C'mon, Mizuki. We should get started."
"Oh right. Let's go, Yuuta."
Atobe glanced over his shoulder at Mizuki and Yuuta who were now busily talking about something.
"Hey, Atobe?"
"Hm?"
He looked over at Jiroh who was now smiling albeit, in a much calmer manner.
"That was nice of Yuuta, don't you think?"
"I suppose."
"Mizuki seemed really happy that Yuuta was staying with him. After he smiled at him, Mizuki seemed to be himself again."
"And your point?"
"Smiling says a lot. Hey, Atobe, don't you think it's nice?"
Atobe stared at Jiroh for a moment. The other boy was still smiling happily at him. He allowed a small smirk to grace his features as he looked ahead again.
"You have no idea."
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A/N: There you have it, chapter four. I love Mizuki. Does anybody else love him? I love how he's always twirling his hair or scheming something. He's so much fun. Anyways, enough about that. Did you all enjoy it? I hope you did because I had fun writing it. I swear, Atobe and Jiroh have to be one of the cutest things ever created. Well, enough on that, hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading!
