Title: Day 1: First Try
Author: shy-hinata
Rating: G
Summary: Atobe's troubles are just beginning when he shows up at Fudomine's doorstep
Warnings: Written from Shinji's POV
Disclaimer: I don't own PoT

Ibu Shinji here. I'm a student at Fudomine, and I play tennis for possibly the greatest captain in all of Kantou, Tachibana Kippei. His sister Ann is in my class and hangs out with the tennis team a lot. She's a great player too, though with a brother like Tachibana-san, it's not a surprise. The whole team thinks of her as their sister too. Well, except for Kamio, because he likes her in a way that isn't what you would call brotherly. In any case, you can understand then that I, like all the other Fudomine regulars, are a little protective of our Ann-chan. Doesn't help that she's gotten even prettier since junior high (I told Ann-chan that it would look nice if she grew her hair out just a bit more). The number of guys we've had to screen for her has gotten pretty crazy. If it weren't for us, I think Tachibana-san would've had an aneurysm by now. Unfortunately, Kamio looks like he's going to lose it every time he sees a guy approach Ann-chan. So, I guess he has the aneurysm for Tachibana-san. I don't know why he doesn't' just ask Ann-chan out himself to save himself, and all of us, from those episodes. Or maybe he's afraid that Tachibana-san will beat the crap out of him.

Now, where was I? Oh right. Protective of Ann-chan. I know that spying isn't something that people usually do, but when I saw that arrogant buchou from Hyotei at our front gates approach Ann-chan as she was leaving, I just had to do something. The look on Ann-chan's face told me that I probably didn't need to worry, but you can never be too careful. After all, you never know what rich brats think they can get away with.

I'm not being nosey or anything, but hiding in the bushes behind the gate is the best place for me to find out what was going on without intruding. After all, I know how independent Ann-chan is; she doesn't always like it when we fight her battles for her.

"If you're here to see aniki, he's busy. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm on my way home."

Heh heh. Ann-chan is the best as dismissing people like that. A quick one liner and off she goes. Hmm…except it looks like that slimy Hyotei buchou isn't letting her leave just yet.

"Well then, it's a good thing I'm not here to see your onii-san. I'm here to see you. If you don't have an appointment right now, how about we take a walk together?"

Grrrr…okay…I'm this close to jumping out of the bushes and tackling him. Does he really think that smooth voice and come-hither look is going to work on Ann-chan. Oh. Wait. He must think they'll work or else he wouldn't be doing it.

"How about we don't. If you have something to say to me, just say it now so I can be on my way."

Ann's got her arms folded across her chest. That's a sure-fire sign that she's getting pissed off. Go Ann-chan!

"What's the rush? Surely there's no need to spend the day cooped up doing homework. Just a walk, that's all I ask."

"If you have time after club activities to be so leisurely about things, then perhaps Hyotei's much touted academic standards are all talk."

Ouch. Ann-chan's really good at this. Mental note: don't get on Ann-chan's bad side.

"Now I must insist that you get out of my way. Unlike some people, I don't get picked up from school by a chauffeur, and actually have to catch a train to get home."

Zing! Oh man. Have I ever mentioned that if Ann-chan was really my sister, I'd be so proud of her? Maybe I should tell Tachibana-san about this, except he'd probably be upset that I was spying on her, and then he'd get that throbbing vein thing going on his forehead at the thought of Hyotei, so maybe it's best not to say anything.

I guess even the Hyotei buchou can be left speechless by Ann-chan. I think this is the first time I've seen him do the double-blink-wide-eyes thing. Looks like Ann-chan is taking that as her cue to scoot past him and…

"Wait! Please!"

Is it just me, or does he sound kinda desperate? Oh. My. Goodness. I can't believe he just did that. He just reached out and GRABBED ANN-CHAN'S ARM! Dammit! If only I wasn't tangled up in these bushes!

"Would you kindly let go of my wrist?"

Ann-chan's voice is so icy that even I can feel it in my veins.

"Hmm…This reminds me that time at the street courts. You know, you never did fulfill your end of the bargain. Kabaji and I did beat everyone there at the courts."

"Correction. You never did beat Momoshiro-kun and Kamio-kun. Maybe I need to refresh your memory, but you two defaulted the match."

Guess his hold on her wrist wasn't that tight after all. Ann-chan was able to shake it free and march off on her way. Man, I wish I had a camera with me; the look on that Hyotei buchou's face is just priceless. It'll be a cold day in Hell before we let the likes of him get anywhere close to Ann-chan again.