A/N: Hi one and all. Thanks for the reviews (^_^)
This chapter is long. I don't like long, but it was super fun to write so I forgive myself!
PS: Yokoishi calls Shikawara, Taichi. Instead of saying Ta-chi or Taka-chan, or even Shi-chi! She calls her Taichi! Simple as that.
Edit: No, I'm not as perfect as I like to think I am :( 13.8.09
Disclaimer: If you have any complaints with the Prince of tennis manga or anime, please contact Takeshi Konomi. He will be happy to hear from you!
Chapter Sixteen
"Yay! We're finally here! I'm so excited!" Yokoishi cheered as the team entered Shikinomori Sports Park. She gave Kikumaru a high five and carried on cheering.
The weather was in their favour. The skies were clear, the winds barely felt and the air crisp. They were all good conditions for playing short and prolonged games. In total they were to play three games out of the four other schools had to play. As long as they came second or first, they were likely to move on to the City tournament. But knowing their determination, second best wasn't an option.
With Fuji and Arai leading the large group they made their way to the designated courts. Many, if not all the girls from such other schools watched and took note of the Seishun girls as they walked with their heads high, and a powerful aura emitting from them. Murmurs began to ring through the park. The usual big names were heard the further they got into the park.
"Oh, they're talking about us now, Captain." Umeko Kikoishi smiled, wondering what exactly they all muttered about.
"With good reason." Arai said with her head held the highest.
"Well, we should at least not disappoint their expectations." Fuji added.
"As if we would!" Yokoishi grinned.
"Hey?" Suzu came round the front, now in her new kit and shinning like the rest of them. "Are the boys coming down to support us? You know, a little school support?"
All curious eyes landed on Fuji. If only, she thought. How good it would be if Tezuka could come and watch her play a game in this tournament... oh and her team... of course...
"Oi!" A booming voice startled the girls and the crowd around.
They turned quickly to the registry table to see their angry sensei with hands firmly placed on her hips.
"Morning, sensei." They all greeted.
"If you have time to ask stupid questions then you have more then enough time to run around the whole park ten times!" They all gasped. "The boys have their own games to focus on and I expect no less from you lot. Remember, my reputation is on the line this year."
"Ours as well, sensei!" Jinhana mentioned as a matter of fact.
"Just don't lose!" Was sensei's final word on the matter and her team responded with a loud "Hai sensei!"
Ryuzaki-sensei handed Fuji a clipboard with a leaf of paper on it. Fuji happily took them and read over the details quickly. Their first school was Mizunohuchi Junior High. In the background she could still hear Yokoishi cheering and encouraging the non-regulars to cheer with her once the games had started.
"Fuji-chan?"
Fuji glanced up from the clipboard to see Kikumaru tiptoeing closer to her before whispering in her ear. "I think we should encourage the boys to come and watch our games, don't you think? Hmm?"
"Don't let sensei hear you?" She looked back down at the order of play.
"Oh, like you're not interested. I know you, and I know that you should at least ask him, right? Right?"
Fuji lost focus on the names in front of her and played out the scene in her mind. The words she would use, the tone of their voice and the expression on their faces were all vivid in her mind, and it played out exactly as she thought it would. Her asking nicely and Tezuka refusing in a monosyllabic manner. The only thing she could get out of the encounter would be a clear opportunity to tease him a little... well, that wasn't such a bad idea in itself.
"Hmm? I know you like the idea." Kikumaru purred, but Fuji kept her cool. "Maybe if we ask Sai-kun, he'll invite Oishi – oh... Oishi-kun will come..." The thought struck her for a second. "and... and then Tezuka-san… might… come..." She completely lost her train of thought.
"Kikumaru-san!" Ryuzaki-sensei yelled. "You look as if you're doing nothing important."
She jumped back to life. "I was only helping." and with that she darted off with the rest of the team.
Fuji chuckled and handed the clipboard to the man at the registration desk. She stood for a moment to remind herself of the truth. Tezuka was supporting her in his own personal way. All he had to do was tell her not to be careless and there was enough meaning in that that she didn't need much more...
… but it would be nice if he turned up to at least one game.
"Come on, Captain." The ever-cheerful Yokoishi called. She had everyone in a circle and they had their palms on top of one another's. Now all they needed was Fuji's hand to complete the team.
She hurried over and placed her hand on top.
"Who's going to make it to the number one spot?" Chanted Yokoishi.
"Seigaku!" They chanted back.
"Who's going to be the first to the Nationals?"
"Seigaku!"
"And who looks the sexiest in their tennis dresses!"
They laughed but they still cheered. As they moved their heads they all punched the air and the regulars entered the courts. They set their gear down before standing in line by the nets, opposite Mizunohuchi. They were a team that came across as indifferent. Oh yeah, Fuji remembered this school last year. For some strange reason they didn't play too seriously, almost as if they were in protest to being entered. They must not have wanted to play last year. Thing didn't seem to have changed this year.
"Pfft! Is this the best of the district?" Arai groaned.
Kikumaru giggled while Suzu rolled her eyes.
The umpire laid down the rules: There were to be five matches and each will play a one set match. The team with the highest wins will move on to the next round. He called the names of the players and the order in which the games would be played and they were able to start.
"Woo! Do it for the team! Go Seigaku! Fight Seigaku!" Yokoishi shouted.
"Wow Yokoishi-chan is really excited." Suzu said quietly.
First up was none other then The Rose and The Humming Bird against Mizunohuchi doubles 2 pair, who didn't look too bothered about their match.
"I wonder what's up with Mizunohuchi?" said Shikawara.
"Who cares. As long as it's an easy win, I'm not bothered." Arai slide down in her seat.
"Go Nariko-senpai and Jinhana-senpai! Don't let me down!" Yokoishi yelled.
Fuji noticed Ryuzaki-sensei twitching whenever Yokoishi yelled out louder then the other voices. Fuji found this amusing. Any time now Ryuzaki-sensei would explode.
"One set match, Mizunohuchi to serve."
Though they looked lacklustre, the Mizunohuchi girls began to show some enthusiasm. Fuji, Arai, Kikumaru and Ryuzaki-sensei were playing particular attention to Nariko to see how she faired with Jinhana in this match. Fuji had every intention of watching, but she felt a heavy, piercing glare travel up her arm, neck and the back of her head. What on Earth? She told herself it was nothing and even tried ignoring it. With so many people around, it could be any one of them. This sharp and prickly stare soon began to scratch her skin. Her shoulder began to rise. It almost felt masculine. Weird enough to say, but she felt as if she had felt this feeling before. If it's a boy, who? Could it be... no. No way would he be here. Tezuka wouldn't be here... would he? No... then again...
She shook her head and tried to focus on the game. She couldn't. The feeling grew more and more intense. It wasn't Tezuka, she knew that now. His stare was powerful but it was never so piercing. Then who? She turned around sharply, disturbing the two sitting next to her.
"Nervous, Captain?" Arai murmured. "What you looking for?"
Fuji couldn't see very far but she could feel that that person's gaze had weakened and now disappeared. She wiped her neck. Even though there were guys around, whether from schools or not, their soft expressions couldn't have produced those dagger-like glares.
"Nothing, Leiko-chan."
Kikumaru leant over and whispered in Fuji's ear. "Did you feel that too?"
Fuji nodded as she flicked a glance to her friend.
"Hoi... that was too intense, like someone cursed us."
"You never know."
"Hey! If you have time to talk about nonsense, you better win your game in five minutes." Ryuzaki threatened.
"Sorry."
They got back into the game. Nariko's initial unease began to fade once she was comfortable with Jinhana's rhythm. They were up 3-1. The good thing was that Jinhana was smiling. Fuji has been on the wrong side of the English Rose and those thorns were as sharp as the glare that scaled her body.
Before long, doubles 2 had finished with a good score of 6-2. Everyone in the team was happy with the score with all if not most of the praise going to Nariko.
Next was Doubles 1, which ended as quickly as it started. All thanks to Arai. Her boredom brought out her aggressive game. Those multiple smashes and offensive shouting disrupted Mizunohuchi game.
"Very impressive you two. I expect nothing less." Ryuzaki grinned from ear to ear. "Where's Shikawara-san?"
"Here, sensei."
Takara Shikawara stood up straight after reaching into her bag for her favourite violet racket. She swung it around so the frame rested on her shoulder.
"Can I have fun or do I have to take things seriously, sensei?" She asked.
"Come one Taichi! Make it 3-0! Fight Seigaku!" Yokoishi was heard over everyone in the park.
Ryuzaki-sensei had had enough. She shoot up and faced Yokoishi. "If you don't calm down, you'll never set foot on this court again as nothing more then a silent mascot."
Though a daunting thought to everyone who heard it, nothing could extinguish Yokoishi's optimism. A new glint beamed in her eyes.
"Can I really be a mascot? Can I be... a money cat or a Chinese dragon! I wanna be a dragon, Seishun's dragon!" She went on and on.
Ryuzaki-sensei slapped her forehead. What a mistake! She tried her hardest to ignore Yokoishi's screeching. "Just win Shikawara-san."
"Yeah, I'll win for the team."
Shikawara pushed her oval glasses up and dipped her head as she turned onto the court.
"Such a damn show off." Arai grumbled.
"No, she just has a cool swagger, that's all. Nothing bothers Shikawara-san. She's just like that." Nariko said in her defence.
Arai tutted. "A cool swagger? Give me a break, she just thinks she untouchable." She grabbed her sports bottle and sipped on it noisily.
Shikawara shook the hand of her opponent and couldn't help but say something immodest.
"It's great that we can play, but it's a shame you're going to lose."
That jolted her opponent and made her retort back. "Don't say that before we've started."
Shikawara smiled and turned away. "I'm only telling the truth."
"Seishun Academy to serve. One set match."
Shikawara readied her serve. "Sorry Izumi Asahi from Mizunohuchi, but I can't play with you today."
She played a fast and cutting serve that, once it hit Asahi's racket, it split the strings and snatched it from her grip. Her racket flew across the court until it hit the fence. Silence settled on and around the court, (except for the sudden burst of intense bliss from Yokoishi).
The umpire told Asahi she had one minute to retrieve a new racket or she would have to forfeit the games. By default it would go to Seishun Academy. For ten seconds she stood stunned at the state of her racket. One of her teammates yelled at her to get another racket but she admitted to only bring one racket. Twenty seconds gone. Asahi asked her team if they would loan her theirs and they out right refused. They didn't want their gear to suffer the same fate.
"Damn show off." Arai continued. "What good is it to get that serious? At least win a set Kouhai." She said with intentions of belittling.
Shikawara glance over. "Gomen nashi, Obaasan…" She said while grooming her nails.
"What did you call me!"
"Touchy, touchy."
"Cool it you two." Ryuzaki-sensei interrupted.
The umpire announced the forfeit of Izumi Asahi-san and by default, Seishun got the point. Yokoishi lead with the cheers and Shikawara went to shake hands with her reluctant opponent.
"Sorry I broke your racket. That was not my intentions."
Asahi sighed. "Some how I don't believe you."
"I'll buy you a new one Asahi-san."
"I won't hold my breath."
Shikawara chuckled and went back to her team. She stood in front of Ryuzaki-sensei.
"Can I at least have fun next time, Sensei?"
"Shikawara-san... " Ryuzaki-sensei sighed. "You didn't have to be that serious, but a default win is still a win. Good job. You get the award for the fastest win."
"So, can I slack off and chat with Nishi-chan about curses?"
Now Ryuzaki glanced at her. "Don't push your luck."
Fuji and Kikumaru giggled amongst themselves before the next match began.
"She is a character isn't she Fuji-chan." Kikumaru tugged on Shikawara dress as she walked by.
"Did you enjoy my match senpais?"
"I wouldn't call it a match but yes it was entertaining." Fuji said.
Next up was Ai Suzu. Before she started Fuji got up to give her a little assurance.
"I'm just going to get a drink before your game. What ever you do, keep it basic, don't draw it out and definitely don't play or do as Shikawara-chan did."
Suzu didn't know if she would keep the second one but she agreed to the others and patted Shikawara on her back. Fuji made her way out the gates and was instantly pounced on by Yokoishi.
"What's wrong, senpai?"
"Nothing, I just need a cold drink."
"Oh, great idea. Can you get me a warm beverage? My cheering voice is dwindling even before I've cheered for you Fuji-senpai." She reached into her pockets and took out 700 yen of loose change.
Fuji agreed to this and went off to the venting machine she remembered seeing on her way in the park. On her way, she received encouraging comments from those watching, especially on Shikawara's game.
Once at the vending machine, she got herself an energy drink and for Yokoishi anything that didn't have caffeine in it.
Fuji was on her way back when that prickly feeling scaled her back again. She turned quickly wanting to see who caused it. She opened her eyes slightly. That feeling seemed to come from a group of girls in a light grey and white, two piece tennis gear. But it clearly didn't belong to them. Though, there was a rather large guy standing in front of them and another smaller guy with his jersey thrown over his shoulders and his hands on his hips as he spoke with the girls, who all seemed to swoon over him. Maybe it was him, but she did not recall a gaze like that from him before. When she turned back to return to her courts she nearly bumped into a young girl dressed in a pretty lilac dress. Fuji stepped back. This young girl stared up softly with wide pink eyes and short curly magenta hair. The suddenness of her appearance startled Fuji (no way could this beady-eyed kid have produced that glare.)
"Hi Onee-san. This is for you from Onii-sama."
Fuji blinked. She hesitated at first when the little girl revealed a red envelope to her. She took it slowly and thanked her. The girl smiled, giggled and they ran off into the crowd. How strange. Now with two cans in her hand and a vivid red envelope, she hurried back to give Yokoishi her drink. Yokoishi was quick to comment on the card but Fuji dashed behind the gates and sat with her bag. She tucked the card under her stuff and popped open her drink. Where it went unnoticed by her other team mates, she couldn't hid the red from her natural red headed friend with amazing cat-like curiously.
"I saw it." Kikumaru said.
"Oh, what did you see?"
"Who gave it to you?"
"A bright eyes girl."
"Boo... how boring. I thought it was a confession."
Fuji ignored her and went back to the game. The only person she wanted a confession from was Tezuka and that wasn't going to happen any time soon...
"Well she ain't doing bad but she's taking the world to finish... " Arai, in boredom continued to moan.
"What's the score?" Fuji asked.
"I don't care." Arai flopped back on the fence and closed her eyes.
Suzu 's game really did take too long. She duped her opponent into that rally she did so well. The game was to her advantage because her stamina was that great.
Forty minutes later, an easy-breathing Suzu reached out to shake the red and quivering hand of her opponent who couldn't even thank her for the match.
"Come on, win it quick, Captain." Said Arai, only now opening her eyes.
"Whatever you say Arai-chan."
The umpire called for the last game to commence and Fuji made sure she played it at a comfortable pace but quickly so they could move on to the next round. It was a shame her opponent wasn't so skilful. It explains why Shikawara knocked the racket out of Asahi's hand and why Arai was bored out of her mind. Fine. Let's finish this quick so even she could have a more challenging game.
"Games, set and match. The game goes to Seishun Academy. Singles 1, Sumiko Fuji. Final score is 6-0. Seishun Academy have advanced to the next play-offs."
They finished as they started by facing Mizunohuchi Junior High and shook their hands.
"Ohmigod, we won? We won! Seigaku! Woo! Yeah, you did it, guys!" Yokoishi applauded as they walked off the court. She encouraged them to have a group hug to which they all agreed.
The team went over to the board to see who they were to play next.
Sunanobori Danini
Somehow Fuji's mind wasn't totally on the anticipation of their game. All thoughts and questions gravitated to the red envelope in her bag.
...tbc...
A/N2: Well that was fun!
Chapter 17: Who is staring at Fuji and what's in the red envelope.
