Disclamer : Still not own Tennis No Ohjisama. Hibino brothers belong to Heiuchi Natsuko.
Words in /….: someone's thoughts
Words in Italic : flashback
Dedicated for Ishka-chan. Thank you to support me and always be patient to my poor English.
A Half-Second Dream
Chapter 4 : The Man Who Reaches Victory With His Own Hands
Days passed. For the non regular members, the days passed peacefully. But for the Regulars, there was a thick tension around them. There was a silent agreement between them to not say anything about Fuji's birthday or about what they found out about him. And Fuji did the same.
Deep inside everyone knew the glass that was already broken could never be repaired again. Eiji was questioning himself over and over if he was wrong. That maybe he should leave it and not push Fuji like that. So they could keep the friendship between them.
/No./ Eiji said determinedly. /I didn't do anything wrong! We'll be graduating in less than two months! And I just found out that the friendship that I have with him was just a façade. If I didn't do anything, this relationship would end after we graduate. Fuji's friendship is so precious to me. I can't afford to lose it/
Eiji was worried. Graduation was near. All the third grades have already given a form for them to fill what high school that they wanted to go to. The forms would guide the school's counselor to help them to reach their goals or suggest other schools that were more suitable for them.
But Fuji didn't collect his form. Eiji knew it. He kept nagging his smiling friend about what school did he choose. Well, the truth was he kept nagging all his friends about their chosen schools. He was overjoyed that all of Seigaku third grades decided to go to Seigaku High School. Of course Tezuka didn't say anything to him. Eiji found out about it from Oishi. He knew his gentle partner would never say no to him.
Fuji just smiled his usual smile when Eiji asked him about it. He even frowned playfully like he was still thinking about it seriously. Eiji knew that his best friend already had lots of scholarship offers from many school. Even famous schools like Rikkadai High School and Hyoutei High School. But he kept hoping that Fuji would choose Seigaku for the sake of their friendship.
Even at the last moment of collecting the form, Fuji's form still blank. Their teachers asked him about it. He said he still couldn't decide his mind. And then one time that he said he lost the form so the teacher gave a new one for him. Eiji knew he would get scolded if he was in Fuji's shoes. For being late in collecting the form and for losing it.
But Fuji got away from it. The teachers only asked him to make up his mind fast so he could concentrate on what he chooses. Eiji couldn't understand why it was so hard for Fuji to choose. Didn't their friendship mean something to him? Didn't he want to play tennis with them again? But if Fuji thought less of their friendship, why didn't he choose any scholarships that he preferred most?
These past days made Eiji rethinking again about his friendship with Fuji. It hurt him a lot to realize that he didn't know anything about Fuji. The friendship that they had was only a façade. Time was running out, and he knew he needed to do something. And he needed to do it fast. He had a feeling that Fuji would leave them if they didn't do anything to break the façade.
Deep inside he was glad that he brought the matter to the surface. There were a lot he had found lately. And everyone seemed to place this matter as their top priority. Eiji knew it wouldn't be good for him to think too seriously about matter like this. He was easily distracted and not so good at concentrating on one matter. Others helped him to focus. And surprisingly they gave good suggestions too. It was weird to know that other schools were interested and wanted to help to. All he had to do now was to wait.
---
It wasn't easy to capture Echizen Ryoma's interest. Other than tennis, the only thing that seemed to occupy young genius' mind was Karupin. But after he joined Seigaku's tennis team, he found that there was one more thing added on that list.
It was the name Fuji Syuusuke.
Ryoma couldn't decide what it was that made his thoughts often wander to the ever-smiling boy. Fuji wasn't too noisy. He never showed anything that made him special. He wasn't the loud but friendly type like Momo-senpai. And he was definitely not a hyperactive clown like Kikumaru-senpai. And he wasn't a worrywart that always made a fuss like Oishi-senpai.
He never put a grumpy face that scared everyone off like Kaidoh-senpai. Nor did he make everyone uneasy with his genius like Inui-senpai, what with his evil notebook. Well, Inui-senpai wasn't technically a genius. But he was definitely smart. Otherwise, how could he play such a complicated style as Data Tennis? And- Ryoma cringed- keep inventing poisons he lovingly called juices? His brain just wouldn't stop coming up with those eerie concoctions.
And Fuji-senpai was not like Tezuka-Buchou either. Ryoma had always thought that Tezuka-Buchou was a lot like himself. Maybe because of the way they both treasured peace, as peaceful as they could get being part of Seigaku's No Normal Person Allowed Tennis Club. But Ryoma inwardly mused that he was at least more expressive than Buchou. But then again… Buchou's usual stoic face was what made his gentle smiles precious and rare.
Unlike Buchou, Ryoma had no qualms about yelling (if not completely ignoring) anyone who annoyed him. He mocked idiot grown ups that underestimated him, and would go as far as teasing his own senpais merciless. Well, except for Buchou, of course. It was hard even for Ryoma to make even the tiniest crack in that stoic poker face that his Buchou so loved to wear.
/Probably not to ruin his reputation./ Ryoma snorted.
Back to Fuji-senpai. Fuji-senpai was a quiet person. But he wasn't anything near the shy Kawamura-senpai. He always put a smile on his face that gave an impression of an angel. An angel with black wings. The quote there's a blade between a smile was something that could describe Fuji-senpai better.
The tensai just seemed to give off this eerie aura. He could scare people to the point that they wished they were never born, should they ever cross his path. It wasn't that Fuji-senpai was cruel and cold-blooded. Ryoma knew that, perhaps just as much as Yuuta did. He was just too possessive when it came to what (and who) were important to him.
He knew Fuji-senpai for almost a year now. Fuji-senpai was so possessive about his family, especially his hot-blooded younger brother. Ever since he met Fuji Yuuta, Echizen felt somewhat relieved that he was an only child. That was, until the incident with Kirihara. That was when he found out that he was on the list of Fuji-senpai's most important people.
/It's not just me. Maybe all of the regulars are./ Ryoma mused with a light smile.
Speaking of smiles… Most people found Fuji-senpai's smile unnerving. This was probably one of the reasons why Ryoma was more at ease with Buchou than the tensai. At least Buchou was… more predictable. He could more or less tell how Buchou would react about this and that. But then, there was still the fact that he spent relatively more time with Buchou than with Fuji-senpai so…
But Fuji-senpai was different. That was one thing for sure.
Yes… He may be unpredictable. But he was still different. And that was what made him special.
Fuji-senpai always did things the opposite from what was expected. That scared everyone because they couldn't predict his actions. His strange taste, as well as his twisted jokes ranked him as number one in The Most Scary Regulars A Sane Person Should Never Mess With poll.
Yet people were still drawn to him. It wasn't that he tried so hard to draw them near. He had the aura that made people unable to turn their attention from him. He didn't joke nonsensically nor chatter non-stop and cheerfully like Kikumaru-senpai did, nor did he treat people so friendly like Momo-senpai. He just smiled casually. Just that. Just a smile. And that drew people to him like a moth to a fire.
Ryoma knew he was curious to find out anything he can about Fuji-senpai. That was the tendency people when people got to know Fuji Shuusuke. They would develop this curiosity and would want to know him better. Ryoma couldn't forget the plushie, pillow and key holder designed like Karupin- all hand-made by Fuji-senpai- that said senpai gave on his birthday, and was soon followed by a pair of tennis shoes the following day as a Christmas present.
One thing that he didn't like about being born on December 24th was that people always had a tendency to overlook his birthday, as they were all very excited about Christmas. And Fuji-senpai, who worked so hard on a birthday present, made him feel that his birthday wasn't so insignificant after all.
But what surprised him more than the handmade presents was the meaning attached to it. Somehow, Fuji-senpai saw right through him, even though he never said anything to anyone and just shrugged off his birthday like it didn't matter.
But Fuji-senpai didn't let it go. He was determined to make what Ryoma thought was insignificant something so special. Of course, what better way than to nearly give the poor kid a heart attack by conspiring with the regulars (yes, even Buchou) to throw a surprise party for him.
Fuji-senpai, albeit sweet, was just too… weird.
---
Tezuka looked calmly at Inui who cornered him at their club. He didn't ask but just waited for the data player to talk. And he didn't wait for long.
"Yukimura had contacted me. He suggested that we should organize Fuji's birthday presents. That's why Fuji wouldn't get the same presents from more than one person. I think it is a good idea. I had list Fuji's suggestion birthday presents from Kikumaru. I have Oshitari to be the person in charge for Hyotei. Fuji-kun would be the person in charge for St. Rudolph."
"Good work.'' Tezuka nodded.
Inui seems a little hesitated to say what he wanted to say next.
"Fuji-kun asked me to tell you something. After the National, the tennis acitivities has reduced. Most of the third grades already resign to concentrate to their exams. Only we - the regulars – that still active. Fuji-kun asked me if you could lessen the practice especially in the week of his birthday."
"Since his parents would come at February 15th, he wanted to make them happy to have the whole family present. So his parents would be happy and have a bigger chance to let him has the party. In the past two years, Fuji mostly skipped the dinner because of practice. He would come home late. At that time he would be too tired that he would hang out with his family only for awhile before he went to his room to finish his school homework and got ready to sleep. Then he would went to school earlier for morning practice. Practically Fuji would only had lessen time with his parents. Only at Fuji-kun birthday that he would came home on time for the dinner."
There's an awkward silence. Tezuka twitched slightly.
"Did you tell him?" Tezuka asked softly.
Inui paused for a moment.
"I didn't. But my respond was slower 25.95 percentage than it should. That was what made Fuji-kun realized there wasn't any extra trainings at that time."
"It seems that Fuji's relationship with his parents is not in a good term." Tezuka stated thoughtfully.
Outside of the club room, the young pillar went silently. He had long forgotten what he had planned to do when he went to the club room.
---
They joked as nothing ever happen between them. They were on their way to Kawamura's Sushi shop. Kawamura had offered them a treat for a celebration after Tezuka announced Momoshiro as the new Buchou and Kaidoh as Fukubuchou. It was a wild gambling since everyone knew that both second grades always acted like cat and dog since the moment they met. And some of them were even expecting that Ryoma would become the next captain.
But Tezuka had made up his mind. Ryoma would continue to be Seigaku's pillar, and Tezuka didn't want to burden the young prodigy with a responsibility more than he already had. That way, Ryoma could play freely and surpass his limits.
Ryoma didn't seem to mind either. Somehow, the regulars got the feeling that Ryoma understood. That was how things were whenever one looked at Tezuka and Echizen together. They gave off this feeling that their communication often went beyond words.
Now everyone couldn't wait to see how those two rivals will settle their differences and guide the new batch of Seigaku's tennis team towards the next year's Nationals.
When Kawamura said his offer, his friends took it almost instantly. Nobody wanted to waste the chance to eat all you can get at Kawamura's Sushi. Of course he knew the danger to offer a treat to his friends with bottomless stomachs. But lately the tension among regulars was unbearable for him. He hoped that this would be an opportunity to melt the tension and unity them again.
"Oh, Eiji, you're really need to stop." Oishi desperately tried to calm down his hyperactive partner. "You could crash with someone."
Eiji had been bouncing happily since Kawamura told the offer. He couldn't wait to get to Kawamura's Sushi quickly. He talked merrily to Fuji and Oishi who walked beside him. And he even turned himself to face Ryoma who walked behind him to ask him to be hurry, still walking while he did it. Only that he steps backward and not forward because of his position.
Oishi's warning had just been said when Eiji crashed with someone and fell. The little boy that Eiji bumped into had fell, making one of his knees bleed a little. The little boy cried.
"Unyaa! Gomenegomenegomene…." Eiji said it non stop as he helped the little boy to stand.
Oishi quickly rushed to help them.
"Oh dear. We should clean the wound or it could get infected." Oishi said worriedly. "Let's come to that park and clean it in the fountain."
"My ball," the little boy refused to go, still crying.
Kawamura handed his a soccer ball.
"Is this your ball?"
The little boy took the ball protectively. Looking at the brown hair little boy that held his ball made a déjà vu feeling flew back to Fuji. He kept silence as he studied the little boy as Oishi cleaned his wound. Ryoma kneeled beside the vice captain and offered his handkerchief to tie on the kid's knee as a makeshift bandage.
"Oishi, he won't stop crying." Eiji said devasted. His tears were threatening to fall.
"There's a 48.65 percentage that he was crying because of Kikumaru's crashed on him. The other was because of something else. After all he was already crying when he collapsed with Kikumaru." Inui said calmly.
"What? You already saw him that time and didn't warn me?" Eiji yelled furiously. "I thought I had really really hurted him!"
"What's wrong? What makes you so sad? You can tell us." Oishi said soothingly.
That made the little boy cried harder. Everyone was frustrated for they weren't used to deal with little children, especially crying little children. Fuji kneeled right beside Ryoma and wiped the kid's tears with his handkerchief. The little boy looked cautiously but relaxed after he saw Fuji's gentle smile.
"What's your name?"
"Katsuhiko."
---
"We will go the National! And win! There's no losing in my dictionary!" the dark brown hair boy said determinedly.
"Oh yeah, sure. The first place on the National was already booked for you." Koji said teasingly.
"What? Don't you sure about your own ability?"
"Of course I'm sure. But soccer is a team work game. We chose this new school which didn't have the soccer club. It was us who asked permission from the head master to create the soccer club. We don't have a couch and the three of us are the only capable player at the club. We should practice and teach them at the same time. And now you said we would go to the National!"
"So your point is?"
"Katsu, the summer championship is about three month from now! Do you really expect to win that championship with these unskilled players? You should take this summer championship as a practice to prepare them for the winter championship."
"We will win the summer championship and the winter championship!" Katsu said stubbornly.
"Argh! Shuu, you should talk some sense to him!"
"Katsu said we will win the championships. So we will win the championship." Shuu said sweetly.
"That's my man!" Katsu slapped Shuu's back happily.
"You both are nuts!" Koji grumbled.
"Do you know something? My name is a strong and powerful name. Katsu means victory, Hiko means man. So Katsuhiko means the man who reaches victory with his own hands. You see, Koji, we will win the championships!"
"Because you are the man who reaches victory with his own hands?" Koji said amused.
"Yep! You know what? You should always aim for the moon. Even when you couldn't reach it, at least you would reach the stars."
"Where did that enthusiasm go just now?"
"No, silly. I still think we could win. I just want you to remember always to aim higher. Not barricade yourself with 'I can't'! You don't know what you'll miss because of that!"
Katsu took his hands on Shuu and Koji's shoulder.
"One day, Shuu, Koji, we would be the one who lead Japan to win the world championship!"
The other two nodded solemnly.
---
"…ji… Fuji!"
Fuji was startled. He looked at his friends who looked at his worriedly. He forced his smile.
"Daijoubu ka?"
"Daijoubu, Eiji. Just thinking about Katsuhiko's name."
"My name? What is it about my name?" Katsuhiko asked confusedly.
"It's a really good name." Fuji smiled.
"I don't want to have a good name." Katsuhiko frowned. "I just want to be healthy and big and strong like my brothers."
"What's wrong, Katsu-chan? Are you sick?" Eiji asked with concern.
"I'm fine now. It just that when my mom gave birth of me and Yoshi-nichan, I was born very weak. Tatsu-nichan said they thought I wouldn't make it. He said it was a miracle that I made it. They were overjoyed because of it. But I was still weak and so I couldn't grow up as tall other kids that my age. Even though we are alike, Yoshi-nichan is taller than me."
"He even plays soccer better than me, better than any kids that our ages. He is already choosed as the regular even though he is still in fourth grade. It's not fair! He was born 5 minutes earlier than I was. Why could he be better in everything than I am? Tatsu-nichan and Masa-nichan also good soccer players. Tatsu-nichan already get scout by famous soccer team in Germany. He would be the first Japanesse soccer player that goes international! Why is it only me that couldn't be a good player?"
The regulars except Fuji looked at each other. The little boy story somewhat reminded them to Fuji's brothers' story.
"My older brothers are good soccer player. I couldn't defeat them. So I try so hard to be a goal keeper. Because I want to be the one who stop their shoot. But everyone doubts me. They said I'm too small so I should try to be forward or middle forward instead. I refused. At the practice game with other school, I couldn't stop the ball. I tried to see where the ball headed but I was too late. I know they talked behind my back that I'm not suit in GK position. That they were doubted me has related with my brothers. They weren't being fair! That boy is a six grade! It's understandable if I couldn't stop his ball!"
"Maybe you should listen to them. I don't think I have seen a keeper who has a small body. Hey, maybe you could start to play tennis. It's really fun you now. And size is not important. Look at Ochibi! Even though he is small, he could beat any opponent. Even the opponent was twice the size of him, nyaa!" Eiji exclaimed.
Katsu bit his tremble lips.
/Oh no. It seems that he would burst in tears again./ Oishi thought panicked.
Fuji took his hands on Katsu's shoulder.
"It's okay to cry you know. Just let your sadness flow out with your tears. Then after the tears stop, you should move on. You should try again harder and harder till you reach your goal."
"Katsu-chan, if you really want to be a GK there's one thing you should remember. You would fail to catch the ball if you move to catch it once your opponent had kicked it. As you grow older, your opponent would also grow older. His shoot would be much stronger and much quicker."
"Then what should I do?" Katsuhiko asked frustrated.
"You should predict to where your opponent would direct his shoot. Look at the direction his eyes would glance. It would help you to know where he wants to direct his shoot. But as you grow older, you would find that your opponents become better. They would use their eyes to deceive you. They would glance to other direction to fool you."
"So to read direction from their eyes would just be your first lesson. The second and crucial lesson is to know the direction from his body movement. Even though eyes could be deceiver, his leg movement and also his shoulder movement would let you know the true direction is. You just have to learn to read the body language of your opponent."
Katsu looked at Fuji in awe while the regulars looked at each other. It was beyond them that Fuji was knew soccer that well.
"And I think it wouldn't hurt you to play at FW, MF and DF for awhile. So you would know the way they think when they face some situation. That would help you become a good GK. Cause you know how your opponent thinks. The goal area would be your sanctuary that no one could break in."
"Oniichan, do you really believe that I could be a GK?" Katsu asked with hopeful eyes.
"Of course you can. There's nothing possible if you really believe in yourself and wouldn't give up easily. After all you have a good name. A powerful name."
"My name? You said it before. What is it about my name?" Katsu asked curiously.
Fuji kneeled in front of him and flipped Katsu right hand with his left hand. He started to write Katsu's kanji name in Katsu's palm using his finger.
"Ka-tsu means victory." Then he wrote the other word. "Hiko means man. So Katsuhiko means the man who reaches victory with his own hands. You said that you were born very weak ne? I see that your parents really care about you. That's why they gave you the stronger name. Your name is fill with they wish, they prayer. They prayed that you wouldn't give up. That you would hold on and alive. And you did. Otherwise you wouldn't stand in front of me ne? You're truly a fighter, Katsu-chan, and you're definitely not weak."
Katsu looked at Fuji solemnly. Tears threatening to fall.
"What is Yoshihiko mean?" He finally asked softly after a long silence.
Fuji started to write another word at Katsu's palm.
"Yo-shi means good. Yoshihiko means a good man."
"So I'm the one who has a stronger name." Katsu whispered.
"It seems that your brothers are really good in soccer ne? Ask them about Latin America soccer. I think the style really suits you. It would help you to become a good GK."
"There is style in soccer?" Katsu asked interested.
"There're Europe style, Latin America style, and of course Japan style that almost everyone here uses it."
"What's the difference?"
"Well, usually when you receive a pass with your chest, in Japan's style you would let it fall to the ground, let it rolls forward a little before you kick it. There is 4 steps till the ball was kicked. Europe style cuts it to 3 steps. You took the ball with your chest, let it fall to the ground, and you kick it. Latin America style is much shorter. You took the ball with your chest and kick it before the ball even touch the ground."
"It's quicker!" Katsu said, fascinated.
"Yes. Latin America style has a quicker rhytme and even heated matchs. If you could learn it, it would help you a lot to become a GK."
"Even though that I'm short?"
"You would find a way to cover your weakness and change it as your advantage with this style."
"So I would be the great GK in Japan?"
"No." Fuji smiled when he saw a disappointed look at Katsu's face. "You'll become the great GK who lead Japan to win the world championship."
"Hontou ni?" Katsu asked brightened.
"As long as you never ever give up. After all you are Katsuhiko ne?"
"The man who reaches victory with his own hands?"
"Hai."
Suddenly Katsu leaped and hugged Fuji tightly.
"Arigatou, Oniichan! I would never ever give up. I promise!"
Katsu bowed his head then started to run enthusiasm. All the sad feeling he felt had disappeared. Fuji smiled softly.
"You know a lot about soccer." Tezuka stated it rather than asked.
"Only enough to let me enjoy the World Cup." Fuji said calmly, pretending like it wasn't a big deal.
"Mou, I still think it would be easier if he choose tennis instead." Eiji pouted.
"Eiji, there's something in soccer that only soccer players would understand about it's passion. And there's something in tennis that only us the tennis players would understand about it's passion."
Ryoma lowered his cap to hide his smile- a smile only Tezuka and Fuji who were standing close to him didn't miss. Tezuka nodded with a rare, gentle smile of his own.
The others too could see Fuji's reason. Of course. What truly mattered was what they really loved, not what others told them do.
"Do you think it's wise to promise him something big like that? He would be devasted if he couldn't make it." Oishi was worried.
"I didn't promise him an empty thing. I said he would reach his dream if he try harder and never give up."
"If he already tries harder and yet he fails? You must admit that it would be hard for him if he doesn't have the skill." Oishi argued.
"Did you see the way he react when he clashed with Eiji? He could get hurt much worse if his reflexes aren't fast enough. That's how he lessens the damage of their clash."
"Oniichan!"
They turned to the shout direction. Katsu had used his hands as a megaphone from afar.
"Oniichan! What's your name?"
"Fuji! His name is Fuji Shuusuke!" Eiji mimicked what Katsu did and yelled at the top of his lung. The regulars flinched because of how loud his voice was.
"My name is Hibino Katsuhiko. Watch out for me, Fuji-niichan! I'll lead Japan to win the world championhip!"
They watched him ran till he was just a small dot afar.
"Well, he'll definitely do it." Fuji smiled gently.
"Because he is Katsuhiko?" Ryoma asked softly.
"Because he is Katsuhiko." Fuji said solemnly.
"Hmmm… I don't know about the name, but like Fuji-senpai said, he'll make it if he tries hard enough." Ryoma said to no one in particular. "His brother reminds me of my dad."
Tezuka inwardly agreed.
/Sometimes, when people pull you down, you just become more stubborn. When people call you weak, you don't settle for anything less than proving them wrong. And that never giving up attitude is your best point./
It flashed for but a fleeting moment, but Fuji didn't miss the pained look on Ryoma's eyes. His hand moved instinctively and landed on Ryoma's shoulder. "But look at where you are now."
Ryoma tugged his cap down, shifting uncomfortably.
---
"Oreesama doesn't care about the cost! Oreesama wants the newest innovation laptop! Price is not a matter. And make sure it has already fills with the last upgrade system and has photography program in it, you got that?"
"I think a laptop would be too much for a birthday present. Especially for someone that not even your closest friend."
Atobe jumped. He placed the phone back while glared at Hyoutei no tensai.
"Don't you know how to knock?" Atobe snapped.
"Well, don't think that we would pay the same amount for the laptop." Oshitari said casually.
"Who said that the laptop would be the present from us all?"
Oshitari lifted his eye brow.
"You're being generous. How touching. Then our presents would follow the list. I'll let the others know that laptop already taken from the list." Oshitari said mockingly.
"What are the other choose?"
"Inui-kun had given me the list of the books and cds that Fuji-kun already have. Interesting subjects, I said. The books Fuji-kun has I mean. Most Hyoutei members chose books. I told them the new scientific books that newly released also told them where they could get dictionaries with various languages. Fuji-kun would be very happy if Kikumaru-kun was right about his favorite things. I'll send the book lists to other schools to make sure they wouldn't buy the same ones. And I found a rare cactus that I think would delight him."
Long after Oshitari left the room, his sarcasm was still playing inside Atobe's head. Yes, he admitted that a laptop would seem too much for someone that he couldn't even said a friend. But he couldn't think of anything else. He had wanted to give the smiling tensai the greatest present he would ever have.
He didn't know if Fuji still remembers him. If the boy still remember their first meeting. The match that they had about 5 years ago. Atobe Keigo was used with people's attention that focused on him. He was a talented player that had shined since he was young. He came from a rich family. His father's company is one of the biggest companies that mean a lot to Japan's economic.
When he attended a junior tournament for individual 5 years ago, he had beated his opponents merciless with his insight. People around him had worshipped him. Then he had to against Fuji. He still remembered the thought that he had when he first saw him.
Fuji Shuusuke was a small little boy that made him thought he was years younger from him. He seems so fragile that he could break easily. Not to mention the boy had an effeminate look that made him thought he was just a little girl back then.
Atobe knew he had underestimated him. Who wouldn't when you find out that your opponent was a fragile petite boy who only learns tennis for about 6 months when the competition was held? Especially when you had learn tennis since you were 6 years old. It was a great shock for him that Fuji had beated him 6 – 0 in a flash. He didn't even have a chance to get a point. He felt humiliated. Fuji had beated him badly. Atobe Keigo never once who accepted defeat openly. He was furious.
Even so Atobe admitted Fuji's strength. He had stated his respect for the petite boy. He even had invited him to join Hyoutei when it was his time to enter Junior High. That's when he found out that they were both nine years.
Yet Atobe couldn't forget the humiliation. He had determined to make it even when they met again. He had trained harder with famous tennis players as his personal coaches. He couldn't wait till the next tournament to pay back the favour. Yet at the next tournament he couldn't find Fuji. And at the next tournament.
Fuji seemed to have just vanished. But Atobe couldn't forget the boy. He still needed to pay back the favour. Every once and two he would think of the little tensai, about what did he do right now.
Then they met again their second times in Junior High. Atobe knew it was him from the moment he laid his eyes on Fuji. The same beautiful face, the same tender smile. Atobe felt offend that Fuji had refused his offer back then and instead joined Seigaku.
It was at that time that he learnt about the other person beside Fuji. Tezuka Kunimitsu. People had talked about him since last year as he was the only first grade that became Seigaku's regulars. Atobe couldn't see what was so special about it. He was too became the regular in his first grade. Along with Yukimura, Sanada and Yanagi, the fifth of them was published as the new rising stars.
It was a surprise to see Fuji again. And to see him again with the Seigaku regulars led by Tezuka no less. That triggered something in Atobe's memory. Back then at their first match, Fuji was accompanied by two boys. He couldn't remember the boys' face. The friendly match with Rokkaku made him finally recognized that the white hair boy was Saeki Kojirou because of the resemblances.
He couldn't remember the other boy. Only that the boy had a dark brown hair. He thought he found the answer from the way Fuji looked at Tezuka, from the gentle smile that was directed to the stoic boy. He knew right then that Fuji was worshipped Tezuka. Then he found out that Tezuka had started to learn tennis when he was eight years old, the same time when Fuji started to learn.
And Atobe was jealous. Fuji didn't even show a sign that he had recognized him. Atobe was furious. Fuji was the only one who had beaten him so badly. He had trained so hard just for a rematch with the tensai. He wanted Fuji to acknowledge him. He was longing for Fuji to look at him as someone who was equal. To have the tensai's respect. Somehow along the line Fuji Shuusuke had became someone that he had respected.
His furious was directed to Tezuka. He wanted so hard to win from the stoic boy. He wanted to humiliate Tezuka as the way Fuji had humiliated him before. Then perhaps Fuji would look at him. Fuji would notice his existence. The match that they had ended not the way he wanted it to be.
When Tezuka fell down in pain, Fuji was running to him with the other regulars. But Tezuka commanded them to back to their sit. Atobe couldn't forget the way Fuji looked at him. If the look could killed… He felt like an idiot. He had done so far and the result was opposite from what he expected.
Tezuka's persistence to continue the game made him felt more unconfident with himself. He lost his spirit to fight back and almost decided to surrender. But Tezuka's determination snapped his common sense. He couldn't give up. Fuji would only think less of him if he did. He should keep fighting to honor Tezuka's spirit. Yet he didn't feel happy when he had won.
Tezuka had congratulated him with all his heart. He felt more like a loser. He asked him for a rematch when Tezuka's shoulder was fully recovers. He thought it was the only way to ease the guilty feeling that he felt. He was relief when Tezuka agreed.
Tezuka's call to ask him to help Seigaku's training was a chance that he never dreams to be given to him. He agreed with it and pretending it was for the sake of a rematch with Tezuka later. So he dragged all Hyoutei's regulars with him.
Fuji was ignored him. He acted like Atobe wasn't there. And that's hurt so much. All he wanted was for Fuji to acknowledge him as his rival and yet the boy treated him like he wasn't even there. But his match with Echizen led to a better result. Fuji had nodded his silent thanks to him. He felt like he was the lucky person in the world.
But he still couldn't ignore the fact that Fuji thanked him for Echizen's sake. Why…?
He was surprised to find out at the street tennis court that Fuji Shuusuke was truly a mystery. He knew that he became more intrigue to find out more about Fuji as someone who had gained his respect. He found out that he was more than willing to do anything to make the tensai felt happy. He just didn't know how to do it without make his friends misunderstood his reason.
---
Sanada Genichirou met Fuji at the junior tournament 5 years ago. He was one of the favorite players at the tournament. The other was Atobe Keigo. Although Atobe had learned tennis a year longer than he was, Sanada had a confident with his ability.
Back then, he played tennis just for an exercise. He was more interested in martial art, especially kendo. Tennis was one of the sports he did in order to practice his martial art. He wanted to know how far he could used his martial art in normal activities.
Sanada had a confident in his martial art that he wouldn't lose to Atobe. Even though the latter had longer experience in tennis than he was. Then the unpredictable thing happen. Atobe was losed to an amateur. And he lost so badly to the other boy.
It had surpised him to find out that Atobe's opponent was a petite little boy. The strong expression that he got was his opponent's appearance could be mistaken as girl. But experiences in martial art made him cautious to not judging Fuji from his appearances.
He found out about how talent Fuji was. Fuji showed him skills that could match a pro. He moved so fast in grace. It seems that Fuji was riding the wind. Fuji beated him with a technique that was adopted by Sanada to create his famous shoot, Fuurinkazan. It was Fuji who made him changed his opinion about tennis. Tennis wasn't a tool anymore for his martial art.
The game ended in 6 – 4. Yet Sanada was not satisfied. He knew his ability was almost equal to Atobe. Yet his score was much better than Atobe. He got the feeling that Fuji didn't show all his power at that much. Sanada was offended. He was determined to show Fuji the progress he had in the next tournament. He would make Fuji regretted to ever underestimate him.
Yet he couldn't find Fuji in the next tournament. And the tournament later. Sanada wasn't really good in remember someone or something. Although he wasn't as bad as Echizen. Sanada admitted that he and the boy were both the same. They were hard to get impressed. Yet when someone or something got their interest, they would focus on that someone or something.
But it didn't mean that he remembered Fuji's name. Before the mactch, he didn't really care about his opponent's name. After the defeat, he was too determine to train himself to go further so he forgot to ask his opponent's name. He thought he would find out about his opponent's name. But the boy had disappeared.
At his last year at Elementary School, he heard the names of Yukimura Seiichi and Tezuka Kunimitsu as the new promising tennis players. Lately, Atobe and him had been the stronger single players for players under twelfth. So it was naturally understandable that the reporters really had been so enthusiasm about these new two players.
Sanada didn't have a chance to have a match against those two. His opponent was Atobe. The match ended as tie but it had left some damage to the players. They both were too exhausted that they couldn't continue and must called forfeit. So nor him or Atobe could attend the match against the winner from the other block. He had heard later that Tezuka won the championship because Yukimura was forfeited.
He was taken off guard when he met Yukimura Seiichi that attended the same school as him in Junior High. Yukimura effeminate appearance had mislead him as the opponent that he had 3 years ago. Plus his bad memory made him unsure if the petite boy he met before was Yukimura. He thought the name was familiar though.
He had confronted the boy only to find out that he was wrong. There was only one thing that was right, Yukimura was a strong opponent. Just like the petite boy that he met before. Sanada also found out that the reason for Yukimura to forfeit at the tournament against Tezuka was because of his health.
Yukimura had praised his opponent high. He said that Tezuka was a very cautious boy. It was a rare thing to find in a boy at his age. Yukimura had jokingly said that Sanada had the same maturity with Tezuka in the way he acted that sometimes made people thinks they were older than they age. It seems that Tezuka was very hard to himself. He was started to learn tennis at his eight years and he had pushed him hard to be the best. He didn't join any tournament before he felt his play already reached his standart. That's why people only heard about Tezuka's name just a year before.
Sanada knew he had found the mysterious boy at the match against Seigaku. It was then that Sanada realized he why Yukimura's name sound familiar to him. Because his bad memory had readjust the word Fuji to Yuki in Yukimura. Fuji had shown a great skill when he fought against Kirihara. There was a strong determined based on his furious when he fought Kirihara. He knew it was because Kirihara had hurted Echizen before.
It shocked him and everyone there when Fuji's disability to see was reveal after his won. Fuji was never failed to fascinate him. Yet he felt that something was not right. That Fuji's improvement should be much better than what he had showed there. He admitted that he was a little disappointed about that fact. Maybe Fuji had used all his ability when he was younger and now had reached his border?
"Sanada."
Sanada turned to his Buchou questioningly.
"Thinking about the birthday present for Fuji-kun? Well, think about it carefully. After all this is a present for someone who has make you love tennis."
So Yukimura had known. He always knew that the gentle boy was a good observer. He thought Yukimura already figured out that Fuji was the boy that made Sanada curious for years even though he had already forgotten the boy's name and even face.
"I will."
---
Yuuta glanced nervously toward his parents at dinner. They still talked about the funny things that their experienced aboard. Yumiko said something once or two while Shuusuke just smiled casually. Well, at least Shuusuke was there.
He thought he knew the reason why his brother was there. Shuusuke said he would go to Kikumaru's place to help the red head to study for final exam. Yuuta was disappointed but he chose to shut his mouth. But then Shuusuke lightly said that he would cancel his appointment.
Somehow Yuuta knew that his brother had notice his uneasiness and could guessed that he was needed something. So Shuusuke did what he always did when he faced that situation. He didn't ask nor offer his help. He just stayed to provide Yuuta support if he needed it or if he asked for it.
Yuuta was relief that his brother knew him too well. There's a twinge feeling in his heart when he remembered that he would do something that would make his brother unhappy. But he just couldn't back down now.
"Uhm," Yuuta coughed a little. "Otousan, Okassan, Saturday is my birthday. Uh, could I invite my friends for a little party?"
He finished his speech in a second and looked hopefully at his parents.
"But, Yuuta, how about our special dinner? Don't you want me to cook all your favorites and have a nice talk like usual?"
Yuuta was panicked when he saw his mother's disappointed. Yumiko frowned. He knew that his sister was suspicious to him. Her stare warned him about the consequences he should pay if he breaks the promise she asked him before.
"Of course I love too. But my friends want to celebrate my birthday. I don't want to disappoint them too. So maybe we held the party at Sunday? Then we still could have dinner together."
"A party right before the school days? I don't think so, young man." His mother lifted her eye brow.
"Then maybe we could readjust it. Let's have a family's lunch instead of dinner so Yuuta could have his party." Shuusuke smiled gentle.
His parents looked at each other unsure.
"Oh, please let him be, Otousan, Okaasan. After all he is the birthday boy. Beside, you've been aboard for a year now. Don't you want to look what has change here? Beside, I had won a dinner at Versailles, the new French restaurant, for two people. You two should give it a try."
"Oh well, if you said so."
---
"Thanks, Aniki."
"Anytime, Yuuta. Need any help with the party?"
"Oh, no thank you. My friends would help me prepare it. They just asked me to ask permission too."
"Included that purple boy?"
"Aniki,' Yuuta sighed. "His name is Mizuki-san."
"I don't think I could remember it, Yuuta." Fuji smiled sweetly. "His name is too common."
"Need help to contact Versailles, Shuusuke? And let me pay a half of it okay?" Yumiko said softly after she cornered them.
"Huh? Didn't you say you won a dinner at Versailles?" Yuuta asked confused.
"He just helps you to get permission, Yuuta."
"Oh." Yuuta looked at Shuusuke guiltily. "Aniki, I…"
"It's okay, Yuuta. It's your birthday. You should have fun. Consider it as our birthday present for you." Fuji winked.
---
Tsuzuku…
Argh, this is too long. I knew I should break it into 2 chapters instead one. Don't you think so?
Sorry, I kept babbling so long about soccer. I watched Tenipuri and saw that Fuji had won in a tournament when he was younger. Yet people didn't recognize him when he enter Seigaku's tennis club. It was when he smashed back a missball that made Tezuka started to notice there was something in Fuji.
So this is my version about it. Fuji only entered one tournament before he vanished. So not many people recognized him. I won't tell the reason why. It should be in the next chapters. Beside I need to make Fuji good in one more sport than tennis where he was famous along with Katsu and Saeki.
I had read many soccer mangas so I think it would be safe to let Fuji be a good soccer player than other sports that I'm not really familiar with the rules. In later chapters I would only mention a little about soccer. Don't worry. I wouldn't turn this fic into a soccer fic.
I love the story about Hibino twins in Offside (Heiuchi Natsuko's manga). They rivalry is similar yet different from Fuji's brothers. The manga is released longer before Tennis No Ohjisama. But in this fic, I made Katsu becomes younger than Fuji. The talk about how to catch the ball was what Tatsuhiko said to Katsu when he was depressed. About soccer styles, it was what Katsu learnt at Brazil later. I just made him knew sooner.
And no, this is not a TezuFuji. Tezuka was happening to have a dark brown hair like Katsu. But their personalities were really different. And it isn't AtoFuji too. Fuji had humiliated Atobe so hard that made Atobe couldn't forget him and crazy to be seen as an equal. I already decided that I would stick to friendship. I would let the possibilities open at the end so you could pair Fuji with the one your chose in your mind.
Gomen ne : I'm sorry (Eiji just said it over and over in a breath )
Daijobu ka: are you allright?
Daijobu : I'm alright (the shorten way to reply to the question above)
Oniichan : big brother (but they could be used to address someone that was a little older than the speaker)
GK : Goal Keeper
FW : Forward
MF : Middle Field
DF : Defend Field
Hontou ni: Is it true?
Hai : right
Arigatou : thank you
Hyoutei no tensai : the prodigy from Hyoutei
