Seigaku Ranking Journals
Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis is created by Takeshi Konomi. I do not own it.
A/N:
NO FLAMING allowed!
Beware of SPOILERS for Episodes 52-53 and Genius 116-118. This chapter is centered on them.
The 3rd day after the ranking tournament was a long day where many things happened, so it will be split into 2 chapters.
3rd Day After Ranking Tournament – Part 1
Fukawa Kimiyoshi and Izumi Tomoya – Gyokurin Chuu Tennis Club regulars
Since Gyokurin never made it past the District Tournament, we no longer have any serious matches to look forward to. We could have won against the Momoshiro-Echizen pair of Seigaku since they have no clue in doubles. However, we underestimated them and did not expect their unusual strategies.
This afternoon, Momoshiro played without a partner so he wouldn't have to split the court in half or use strange signals as he did with Echizen in the district tournament. However, he boasted that he could play against doubles with singles. Well, he was not lying since he had defeated our team two-by-two.
We don't know why he suddenly became so frighteningly angry. He slammed balls at us and into the basket until a girl from Fudomine appeared. She seemed to be the key to calming him down. As they talked, we decided it was time to leave.
XXX
Tachibana An
With the Kantou Tournament around the corner, how could Seigaku not have practice for three days in a row? Seeing Momoshiro-kun's sudden irritation spiraling out-of-control, I hit a shot behind his head. He really hasn't been himself.
I asked him about his club activities, and the Gyokurin pair froze when I mentioned "guys like them." I informed him that Nii-chan's team has been practicing hard and preparing to win against Yamabuki and Seigaku, especially after having to forfeit in the prefecturals semifinals due to that accident.
Why couldn't Momoshiro-kun stop calling me "Tachibana-imouto" when he knows I have a name? He saw me as a fool and went easy on me during street tennis until I protested. Finally, his expression and play seemed to be full of the spirit I remember.
Unfortunately, those trash boys from Hyotei were staring at us. They really make me sick, especially Atobe-san! It's as if he wanted to pick a fight! Momoshiro-kun and I were ready to team up for doubles against them when Echizen-kun arrived. They continued to taunt Seigaku and Fudomine until the first year Seigaku regular offered to challenge that narcissist buchou. That coward then led his team away, boasting how they would crush our teams in the Kantou Tournament.
Afterwards, Momoshiro-kun treated his teammate and me to burgers. We tried to convince Echizen-kun that it was all right to show his true feelings, but he kept denying his concerns for his best friend. As Momoshiro-kun complained, that guy is a brat!
It was fun eating burgers and talking about plans for the Kantou and National Tournaments. We would like to face Hyotei again. Those trash boys definitely need to be put in their place. We all wish for the downfall of the current champions, Rikkaidai, but it is Fudomine, not Seigaku, who will be the new champions.
Oishi-san's phone call afterwards confirmed that the Seigaku Tennis Club was eagerly waiting for Momoshiro-kun's return. He really isn't aware about his importance to the club.
XXX
Captain Tachibana Kippei – Fudomine Chuu Tennis Club captain, 3rd year
My imouto seemed happy despite complaining about the Hyotei regulars at the street tennis courts. I guess meeting some Seigaku regulars cheered her up. I'm not surprised that Hyotei is seeking revenge on us for defeating them in the prefecturals. They are a bunch of bad losers who are so full of themselves. An reported that Seigaku players are eager to face Hyotei and Rikkaidai, and so are we. The only difference is Fudomine, not Seigaku, will win the Nationals. We are ready to pay Seigaku back for the district tournament.
XXX
Momoshiro Takeshi
Why didn't I hide myself behind the trees during lunch today? While practicing swings at the pond, I felt eyes on me from the roof above, and thought I heard "mada mada dane," which could only mean Echizen was spying on me. Girls calling out "Ryoma-kun" confirmed it. I felt one of them approaching, so I quickly left. Besides, lunchtime was about to end.
This afternoon, I defeated Gyokurin players two-by-two, and finally it was the pair Echizen and I faced in the district tournament. Fukawa and Izumi teased me about my lack of doubles skill and splitting the court in half last time. Well, they just don't want admit that they are bad losers.
Not feeling heated up really irritated me after a few games. That was when a tennis ball hit me in the back. I turned around to find Tachibana-imouto asking me about club activities and updating me on the Fudomine Boys Tennis Club.
After the Gyokurin players left, we hit a few shots, and Tachibana An was angry when I called her "Tachibana-imouto" and went easy on her. She accused me of seeing her as a fool, and said that I haven't been myself. I guess she's right, and soon I discovered my bad habit of misjudging opponents by appearance, losing pace, becoming negligent, and forgetting the Challenge Spirit.
When I finally hit a strong dunk smash, she happily commented, "Somehow, you seem more like yourself." That was when we noticed players from Hyotei spying on us. As they taunted Seigaku and Fudomine, a doubles pair wanted to challenge us, so Tachibana-imouto and I agreed to team up.
Suddenly, I heard my best friend accusing me of slacking off. I did want to play a game against that Hyotei pair, but Echizen is hopeless in doubles. Even worse, he really doesn't respect me as a senpai, calling me a wild boar and horse. His offering to challenge Atobe-san once again reminded me about the Challenge Spirit. However, that cowardly, conceited buchou refused, bragged, and left with his team.
I thanked An-chan and decided to treat her and Echizen to burgers. Though it had been obvious that the brat had been worrying about me, he continued to deny it, even when we told him that it was all right to reveal his feelings. He and Buchou really need to do that.
At A-Hamburgers, we talked about the upcoming Kantou and National Tournaments. We really want to overthrow Rikkaidai as the current champions and defeat Hyotei after those insults they made.
I wasn't surprised when Oishi-senpai called afterwards since he is always worrying. I quickly let him know that I was all right, and will return to practice tomorrow. After three days of not communicating with the team, it makes sense for them to worry and check on me. However, I also have a feeling that something bad has happened. I'm not sure what… probably Buchou being ready to punish me with many laps, so I better get there early tomorrow.
Thanks to Isamu asking about the ranking tournament, my whole family knows about my losing my regulars position. Fortunately, my parents were understanding and encouraged me to do better.
XXX
Mr. Momoshiro
Our oldest child seems to be back to his old self. My wife and I were worried that he might have been sick since he wasn't eating as much for the previous three days. Thanks to Kokoro and Isamu asking him about school tennis matches after dinner, we finally learned that he was depressed over losing his regulars position. We assured him that it was all right, and told him to try harder next time. Though Takeshi was already in good spirits, we reminded him that he could always talk to us about his problems.
XXX
Momoshiro Isamu – Momoshiro's younger brother, Seigaku Elementary School, 1st grade
Nee-chan and I suddenly remembered that Nii-chan's school just had tennis matches. I thought Nii-chan would win, but no! He lost! This means he is not strong like me.
XXX
Momoshiro Kokoro – Momoshiro's younger sister, Seigaku Elementary School, 3rd grade
I didn't know something has been wrong with Nii-chan lately until tonight. Isamu suddenly asked about Nii-chan's tennis matches, which I had forgotten about. He lost his regulars position, but Otousan and Okaasan said that everyone loses sometimes, and he just had to try harder. I've heard we can't always win, but I hope he wins next time.
XXX
Captain Atobe Keigo – Hyotei Gakuen Tennis Club captain, 3rd year
Seigaku's Momoshiro must be weak if he has been fooling around at the street tennis courts instead of his school. He was playing street tennis with An-chan today, and they sure were upset at Hyotei. Oshitari and Mukahi were ready to challenge them to doubles when Seigaku's first year regular arrived.
That lucky rookie must have become a Seigaku regular by beating that delinquent, Akutsu. Well, that would have been easy since almost anyone could win against a monster who doesn't practice. This means that the Seigaku regular is weak, too, but he sure has the nerve.
How dare he call ore-sama "Monkey King"! He wanted a match with me, but ore-sama decided that we would save it for the Kantou Tournament where ore-sama will personally crush him. Hyotei will have revenge on Fudomine for the prefecturals and Seigaku for last year. Then ore-sama will make sure we win the Nationals!
XXX
Horio Satoshi
What has Momo-chan-senpai been doing? According to my two years of tennis experience, he has lost interest in tennis and quit the club. Otherwise, why would he leave his jersey folded, then not show up for three days? Why would no one believe me? Everyone is worried about Momo-chan-senpai, but Echizen is being cold about it. Well, I'm not surprised.
We were scared three times during lunch break. First, Oishi-senpai caught us talking about Momo-chan-senpai. Well, he only told us to drop the subject. We were relieved and laughing how lucky it hadn't been Kaidou-senpai, and speak of the devil… he was there, so we ran. Finally, Kikumaru-senpai startled us, but he didn't seem to mind talking about Momo-chan-senpai's absence.
Kaidou-senpai did not like overhearing our discussion about his rival during afternoon practice, but fortunately, he just ordered us to pick up balls. Oishi-senpai really shocked us. Though known to be nice, he was mad at everyone this afternoon. He even yelled and smacked Kikumaru-senpai when he teased Momo-chan-senpai for slacking off. It was hard to believe that the Golden Pair was really beating each other up. Oh no! We have some serious dispute! Well, I, Horio, with two years of tennis experience, will get Momo-chan-senpai back and the Golden Pair together again.
XXX
Katou Kachirou and Mizuno Katsuo – Seigaku Tennis Club members, 1st years
During lunch, while wondering Momo-chan-senpai has not attended club activities for three days in a row, Oishi-senpai asked us to drop the subject. Horio said that he has lost interest in tennis and quit the club, but we shouldn't think such things. We wonder if he is all right. Ryoma-kun is so close to him, but he does not seem worried, which is typical.
What was Kaidou-senpai doing in the cafeteria if he brings his own lunch? We had to run as fast as we could when he overheard us talking about him. At afternoon practice, he ordered us to pick up balls and quit discussing his rival.
To our surprise, the usually nice Oishi-senpai seemed angry with everyone, and even smacked Kikumaru-senpai for teasing Momo-chan-senpai, causing the Golden Pair to break up. Well, Fuji-senpai did say that Oishi-senpai cares about the club more than others do, and is very worried about Momo-chan-senpai, so he was upset. We can't believe that just a ranking tournament would cause one problem after another. What are we going to do now with our best doubles combination cancelled, Momo-chan-senpai not around, and everyone miserable?
XXX
Kaidou Kaoru
Che... Stupid first years! They talked about me behind my back during lunch, then ran away. Fshuuu… They even had the nerve to mention that idiot Momo this afternoon until I ordered them to pick up balls.
It seems as if they are not the only ones who are dumb. Che… Oishi-senpai yelled and shoved Kikumaru-senpai across the court. Fshuuu… They are no longer playing doubles together. Kikumaru-senpai chose Echizen as his new doubles partner, and Inui-senpai asked me to be Oishi-senpai's. Why me? Why did I have to be part of their problem? Fshuuu… The senpais even continued to fight during our game until Buchou made them run 20 laps.
Actually, where is that stupid Momo? He hasn't been around for three days. Fshuuu…
XXX
Echizen Ryoma
The Golden Pair broke up just because Oishi-senpai shouted and knocked Kikumaru-senpai over. Then I had to be part of their dispute because Kikumaru-senpai forced me to be his new doubles partner despite the fact that I don't play doubles. They even had to fight during the game until Buchou punished them with 20 laps. Che… Stupid senpais! Mada mada dane!
Why do people keep asking me about Momo-senpai when I do not know anything? Stupid Horio and his so-called two years of tennis experience! He said that our powerhouse has lost interest in tennis, but what does he know? Mada mada dane! Momo-senpai was practicing swings by the pond during lunch, then slacking off at the street tennis courts with Tachibana-imouto and Hyotei regulars this afternoon.
The Hyotei regulars were teasing Seigaku and Fudomine, and two of them wanted to play against us. How could Momo-senpai complain about my lack of doubles skills if he just runs around like a wild boar? Well, the doubles pair would definitely be easy to beat so I offered to challenge the Monkey King, but that coward quickly led his team of sore losers away, boasting how Hyotei will beat Seigaku.
On our way to grab some burgers, Momo-senpai, along with Tachibana-imouto, kept bothering me about my concerns for him, and said that it was all right to show my feelings. I swear I wasn't worried! They know that I usually sleep on the roof during lunch and play street tennis sometimes. What was so special about my doing it today? Mada mada dane!
I wasn't surprised when Oishi-senpai called since all what that guy ever does is worry. Momo-senpai said that he'll be returning to practice tomorrow. I was right when I told the others that he would return sooner or later.
I played against my dumb oyaji after I got home. I swear I'll beat him someday! I'm ready to make that Monkey King cry in the Kantou Tournament. Rikkaidai will also no longer be the champions.
XXX
Kawamura Takashi – Seigaku Tennis Club regular, 3rd year, power player
I wondered what was up with Oishi today. Fujiko did say that he cares about the club more than others, so he would definitely be worried about Momo. Well, that makes sense.
Eiji's plan to cheer everyone up backfired when he joked about Momo slacking off after being dropped from the regulars. When our fukubuchou scolded him, the hyperactive boy continued to joke until his partner hit him. Oishi apologized, but I think his partner was too angy to hear it. When he tried to help Eiji up, the acrobat slapped it away and announced that he wasn't playing doubles with him anymore. I tried to calm them down, hoping that the reasonable half of the Golden Pair would help settle things, but he agreed to cancel the combination.
Inui's suggestion of different partners for possibly better pairs only made things worse. Eiji dragged Echizen into the mess, and Inui asked Kaidou to team up with Oishi. I thought about stopping them, but Fujiko said that it would be interesting to watch. The Golden Pair continued to argue until Tezuka arrived to punish them with laps.
Fujiko and I tried to reason with Eiji by explaining Oishi's feelings and how jokes could become hurtful in certain situations. However, that stubborn boy just took off, refusing to listen. Well, he did have a point: though Oishi was yelling and angrily slamming balls at me during practice, he didn't push me to the ground. Still, he was overreacting. We knew that our fukubuchou would attempt to settle their dispute, so we told him to just go home and not worry about it since he couldn't do anything with Eiji behaving that way.
Though I tried to push the tennis club issues out of my mind, they wouldn't leave me alone as I helped Oyaji with the restaurant. Several times, he caught me not paying attention, and I once almost dropped some plates. What happened to Momo? I hope he is all right, and will return. He has really made everyone miserable by not showing up, and today, things have gotten worse. I guess Fujiko and I would have to get together and improve our doubles play since the Golden Pair is now history. How could a simple thing like the school ranking tournament lead to so much trouble?
XXX
Fuji Syusuke – Seigaku Tennis Club regular, 3rd year, genius and counterer
It was very obvious to everyone that Oishi was really irritated this afternoon. We watched as he yelled and hit balls at Taka-san with more strength than necessary. Our fukubuchou cares about the club two times more than the others, and would definitely be worried about Momo. How else would he be known as "the mother of Seigaku"? Still, his bad mood was probably due to more than just Momo's absence or the tennis club's low spirits. Something else must have happened during the day.
Eiji's attempt to hide his worries and raise everyone's spirit backfired because he went about it the wrong way. I know my classmate likes to play around, but Momo is most likely still taking the loss of his regulars position hard, and would definitely not like to hear his senpai teasing him for slacking off. That's what Oishi was trying to point out, but our best friend wouldn't listen, and teased him for wearing his shirt inside out.
I understood that it was too much for Oishi, but we were still shocked when he struck his doubles partner. He then apologized and offered his hand, but Eiji angrily slapped it away and announced that they were not playing doubles together anymore. He mostly likely didn't hear the apology. Taka-san tried to soothe them, but Oishi just went along with the decision, probably because he knew that trying to convince Eiji would only make things worse.
Inui suggested that they try changing partners at times to see if they would discover better combinations. It was interesting to watch Eiji and Echizen play against Oishi and Kaidou, but the Golden Pair just continued their quarrel until Tezuka appeared and assigned them laps. Inui must have collected some good data, but he wouldn't share.
Taka-san and I tried to inform Eiji that Oishi meant no harm, and how jokes could be taken too far, but he was too stubborn to listen. Knowing that the mother of Seigaku was definitely going to brood over the problems, we advised him against following Eiji as he took off. If his partner is refusing to communicate, then he cannot do anything about it. My classmate can be as difficult as my otouto sometimes.
Taka-san and I have played Doubles 2 several times, but we usually lost, and I didn't feel the thrill in those games. However, we all have the duty of bringing the championship to Seigaku, so we will just have to work harder, in case we lose our best doubles pair. Knowing my best friend, he probably behaved that way out of anger, and will likely be more cooperative by morning. I'm sure Eiji didn't mean what he said, and really knows that Oishi did not intend to hit him. As they say, "Too close for comfort."
It's hard to believe that a ranking tournament could have such a terrible impact. Well, even something very simple could greatly complicate things. I really hope nothing is wrong with Momo, and that he returns. That would really help.
XXX
Inui Sadaharu
There is a 99 percent chance that Momoshiro is still depressed over the loss of his regulars position. He has been absent from the Seigaku Tennis Club for three days now, and the club's spirit has been dropping by 30 percent each day. By today, members were practicing with only 10 percent of it.
Oishi truly cares about the club 200 percent. That's one reason why he is known as "the mother of Seigaku." He was really irritated this afternoon: 90 percent of it must have been due to his worries about Momoshiro and the club, and the other 10 percent, personal reasons. He was hitting balls at Kawamura with 120 percent power. I am 100 percent sure that his bad mood caused him to shout and shove Kikumaru 10 meters across the court when he teased his partner-in-crime for slacking off.
There was an 80 percent chance that Kikumaru was just trying to improve the mood, but used the wrong words. The probability of him impulsively breaking up the Golden Pair out of anger was 95 percent. Oishi just went along because he knew that the chance of keeping the pair together was only 5 percent. The probability that our fukubuchou has added Kikumaru to his worries is 100 percent, but the chance of that acrobatic player talking to him the rest of the day, 0 percent.
I suggested experimenting with different partners to see if we could discover better combinations. Unfortunately, Echizen is hopeless in doubles, even if he teams up with or plays against the Golden Pair. However, Kaidou has a 50 percent chance in winning doubles. The Golden Pair can play both singles and doubles, even when angry.
By the end of the day, the club's performance had dropped 150 percent. The chance of Seigaku winning the next tournament in the current situation is 1 percent. Horio stated that Momoshiro has lost interest in tennis, but 30 percent of his words usually end up being false. There is only a 5 percent chance that he is right.
I knew something had to be done so I remained until Echizen left the clubroom. There was a 95 percent chance that he was worried and searching for his best friend, and the probability that he will be correct on the location was 60 percent. Our first year regular did find Momoshiro at the street tennis courts, along with Tachibana-buchou's imouto and six Hyotei regulars. Momoshiro seemed to be back to himself 80 percent, and the probability of Tachibana An's role in it was 95 percent.
I did expect the Hyotei regulars to tease Seigaku and Fudomine with 100 percent arrogance, and there was a 90 percent chance that they would offer a challenge. Momoshiro was making the right decision to team up with Tachibana-chan instead of Echizen, because that would raise the chances of winning by 80 percent. I was also 100 percent sure that Echizen wished to challenge Atobe-buchou, which made Momoshiro 85 percent back to his old self. The conceited captain refused, bragged, and led his team away. He said that he would personally crush Seigaku in the Kantou Tournament, but I think that is only 20 percent true. The other 80 percent is most likely due to cowardice.
There was a 75 percent chance that Momoshiro would treat Echizen and Tachibana-chan to burgers, so I proceeded with my data gathering. Both second year players asked the first year about his worrying about Momoshiro, but Echizen denied worrying (99 percent chance) and uttered his favorite phrase (100 percent chance).
I was going to inform Tezuka about our missing teammate, but Momoshiro's cell phone rang when he and others had walked 50 meters away from A-Hamburgers. There was an 80 percent chance that it was Oishi, and the powerhouse reported that he would be at practice tomorrow. This meant I did not have to call Tezuka about it because probability of the mother of Seigaku doing it tonight was 90 percent. Momoshiro seems 95 percent back to himself now.
According to the information I gathered this evening, the club's spirits should increase by 70 percent tomorrow, especially with everyone back. There is a 99 percent chance that Tezuka will be assigning many laps for punishment so I have better finish preparing my new juices. I will need about 5 liters of the Inui juice special high grade deluxe and 1 liter of the Inui juice of alertness.
To be continued…
A/N:
Translations based on subtitles:
Okaasan – mother
Otousan – father
Nii-chan – older brother
Nee-chan – older sister
Imouto – younger sister
Otouto – younger brother
Oyaji – another way of saying "father," translates to "old man"
Buchou – captain
Fukubuchou - vice-captain
Senpai – senior
Kun – honorific for boys
Chan – honorific for girls or children
San – general honorific, can be translated to Mr., Mrs., Miss, or Ms.
Ore-sama – Captain Atobe's way of referring to himself
Mada mada dane – "no, not yet" or "you still have a ways to go" (Echizen's favorite phrase)
Fshuuu… - Kaidou's favorite hissing sound, earning him the nicknames of "Snake" and "Mamushi"