Pairing: Fuji x Atobe
Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis does not belong to me
Part: 8/?
Warning: Few background facts AND sequential orders of events regarding the characters have been altered.
A.N: Much thanks to all regular readers who had been following and reviewing this story for this long. So here is another early update as a sign of my appreciation.
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"Game set and match 6-2, winner Atobe."Announced Sakaki.
"As much as it pains me to admit it, I can't imagine Atobe losing in tennis." Said Oshitari with a look of disguise in his face.
"Yeah, you would never have guessed that Atobe just started tennis 3 years ago." Said Gakuto.
"You two talk too much." I said confidently as I grabbed my sport jacket.
"Single 1 will be Atobe and Single 2 will be Taki." Said Sakaki.
"I can't believe he only played tennis for three years and he is this good already." Said a fellow tennis player.
Another by stander said, "I guess some people are just blessed with natural talent. I mean we all had been playing tennis since we were in little kids and we were nowhere near Atobe's level."
"Imagined what he would be like if he had started played earlier." Said the first player.
Another third year join the conversation and said, "Maybe he will surpass Tezuka."
"Wait, did you say Tezuka as in Tezuka Kunimitsu?" I demanded.
One of them said, "Yeah, Tezuka Kunimitsu, the captain of the Seiguke team and most likely your opponent for the upcoming match."
I smiled and couldn't believe my good fortune, "I guess I made the right choice when I challenged Taki for the spot of single 1."
One of the first year said, "But Atobe-senpai, Tezuka-senpai had never lost any official or unofficial tennis match."
"Neither have I." I could feel my smile getting wider as I walk through the door. I could hear the rest of the Hyotei tennis team gossiping, but I couldn't care less. I already know who my opponent was and I will win.
….
Amazingly, Jirou was wide awake and said, "Next week's match will be an interesting one."
A first year asked, "Jirou-senpai, who do you think will be single 2 for Sekguke?"
Jirou thought for a second and then said, "It will probably be Fuji Shusuke."
"You mean Fuji Shusuke, the tennis prodigy?" Asked the first year again.
"Yeah, I heard he had won all his matches too both official and unofficial." Someone remarked.
"I wonder who will come on top, Atobe or Tezuka on next week's match." Said a third year Hyotei player.
"Atobe-senpai is bit too pompous for my taste but there is something about him that makes me want to believe in him." Jirou said.
"No point in pondering now when we can just wait for next week's match." Said Taki.
"Hey Oshitari, do you think the Fuji Shusuke that they are talking about is the same Shusuke that Atobe had been looking for?" Asked Gakuto.
"You are probably right Gakuto because the chance that there is another guy named Shusuke who played tennis, is a prodigy, around our age are slight to none." Said Oishitari.
"So should we tell Atobe that he will finally get to meet Shusuke after all these years on Saturday?" Asked Gakuto.
"No, I think Atobe would appreciate the surprise. That and I would like to see how Atobe would react to this sudden change of plan." Oshitari smirked with an evil sparkle in his eyes.
"Hah, Oshitari, you are so evil." Laughed Gakuto.
"No, I am not evil. I am just bored and having a little fun at Atobe's expense. I mean after all it is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am not going to let it slip." Said Oshitari.
"Let's go Oshitari. I am hungry and I am in the mood for some strawberry cake." Gakuto grinned as he tries to drag Oshitari away.
…
The limo ride home was interesting. I forget why I left Oshitari and Gakuto but I am sure they will manage to find their own ride home. Tezuka. I am still uncertain about this Tezuka person. I wasn't expecting to encounter him this soon. Tezuka, the only name that Shusuke had mention during his stay and that annoys me. I had planned on looking for Shusuke first, but right now I need to take care of this Tezuka issue.
Even thought, Shusuke won't be there to see the match, I still want to beat Tezuka for Shusuke. I am starting to look forward to Saturday's match more and more because right now I have this burning desire to win and crush Tezuka.
Saturday: Seiguke vs Hyotei
"Listen up everyone, Hyotei is different from the past school that we had played against. In term of ranking, Hyotei is above Seiguke but I know that we will won today's match. So don't be careless." Said Tezuka as he walks off with a stern look on his face.
"Hah, same good old Tezuka buchou, I guess rehab hadn't changed buchou's attitude at all." Joked Momoshiro.
"Idiot." Murmured Kaidoh.
"What did you said viper?" Yelled Momoshiro.
"Now guys, our opponents today is Hyotei not each other." Said Oishi as he try to make peace between Momoshiro and Kaidoh.
"Inui, I had been meaning to ask you something." Said Fuji.
"You mean the new players from Hyotei?" Remarked Inui as he adjusted his glasses and open his notebook.
"Yes, is it true?" Asked Fuji.
"There are supposed to be three new tennis players that just transferred to Hyotei from America and their names are Oshitari Yuushi, Mukahi Gakuto and Atobe Keigo if I am not mistaken. Oh and I am never wrong." Said Inui as he wanders off to write down more data in his notebook.
"Could it be him? Atobe Keigo?" Whispered Fuji.
"Are you finally here? Are we going to be rivals?" Question Fuji with a smile on his face.
"Everyone listen up, Hyotei had just submitted their players for this match. Single 1: Atobe Keigo, Single 2: Taki Haginosuke, Single 3: Kabaji Munehiro. Double 1: Oshitari Yuushi and Mukahi Gakuto. Double 2: Ootori Choutarou and Shishido Ryou. Reserve: Hiyoshi Wakashi." Announced Tezuka.
"Hey Oishi, why are their captain Taki in the Single 2 spot and who are Atobe, Oshitari and Gakuto?" Asked Eiji.
"Inui?" Asked Oishi as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"The three unfamiliar names are the new transferred students from America. Rumors have it that they challenged the regulars of the Hyotei team and won against the regular so Coach Sakaki decided to give them the regular positions." Said Inui as if it was common knowledge.
"Tezuka, I want to play in Single 1." Said Fuji out of nowhere.
Tezuka look up at the Fuji and finally said, "I can't let you do that Fuji, not without knowing what this Atobe person is capable of. Now that will be end of discussion."
"We will begin today's match with single 3, Kabaji Munehiro from Hyotei and Kawamura Takashi from Seiguke." Announced the referee.
"BURNNING !!!!!!" Yelled Takashi.
Oshitari look on with an amusing smile and said, "Seiguke seemed like an interesting school right Atobe?"
"Hey, Oshitari who is single 2 for Seiguka by the way?" Asked Gakuto knowingly.
Oshitari turned and stare at Atobe right in the face and said, "Someone named Fuji Shusuke. I heard he is a tennis prodigy that had never lost a match."
I don't believe it, "Shusuke went to Seiguka?"
Gakuto leaned over to Oshitari and whispered in his ear, "Do you think we went too far, Oshitari? I mean we know that he had been looking for his old friend ever since we came to Japan."
"Hey, Atobe are you still there?" Asked Oshitari with an uncertainty in his voice.
I smiled and realized that thing couldn't had gone better even if I planned it myself, "Never better and shouldn't you guys get ready for you first official match as Hyotei's new number 1 double?"
"Let's go Gakuto. We were only wasting our energy worrying about that pompous jerk." Said Oshitari.
"Yeah, I can't believe I was worry. Baka Atobe. Stop scaring us like that." Said Gakuto as he ran after Oshitari.
The matches before single 2 and single 1 seemed to be a blurred. The outcome for single 3 was a draw because somehow the two power players had both hurt their hands. The outcome for double 1 was in favor of Hyotei, I guess Oshitari and Gakuto were both still angry at me and took it out at their opponent. But the silver pair double of Hyotei lost to Seiguka's golden pair.
Wait, how did I know their nicknames? I guess even in state of unconsciousness I can still hear the screaming of the crowd. Next up will be Fuji verse Taki. I had never seen Fuji played, but somehow I know Fuji will come up ahead.
"Ahhh, it is all down to the two singles' matches." Yelled Horio frantically.
"But Horio, Fuji-senpai and Tezuka buchou are playing in the last two matches …………….." Said Kato.
"Hahaha, yeah we will win for sure." Interrupted Horio.
…
"Single 2 matches will begin now." Announced the speaker.
"Go Fuji-senpai !!!!!!!!" Yelled the Seiguka's cheering squad.
Over at the Hyotei's side, I can hear scream of "Go Taki-senpai !!!!!!!"
"Yay Taki buchou !!!!! "
"Hyotei !!! Hyotei !!!!"
"Seiguka !!! Fight Fight !!!!"
….
Frankly, the screams are giving me a headache and I just want the match to start.
"Hey, Atobe who do you think will win?" Asked Oshitari.
"Shusuke." I said without a hesitation in my tone.
"Jesus, Atobe, you do realize that you are suppose to be cheering for you own school, which happened to be Hyotei and not Seiguka." Said Gakuto.
I look over at Oshitari and Gakuto and said, "I am not some dame cheering squad. I just have this feeling that Shusuke is better than Taki."
Fuji looked over at the stand and there was Atobe, sitting there, watching as if he was the king of the world. Fuji smiled and looks at his opponent Taki and said, "Let's have a good game for the crowd, Taki buchou."
Taki felt a cold shiver down his spine from Fuji's supposedly friendly smile, but quickly turn his attention back to the tennis match.
"The next serve will disappear." Said Fuji as he proceeds with his special cut serve.
"Is he stupid? That serve is supposed to be a surprise." Commented Oshitari.
"15-0."
Fuji smiled and said, "Did it disappear?"
"30-0"
"40-0"
"Game 1-0, switch court."
The crowd went wild and the shouts started to echo through the field.
"What is that?"
"Did you see serve, Fuji Shusuke, the tennis tensai?"
"Yeah, I can't believe he has such an incredible serve."
….
"Fuji, I will return the favor and keep my service game." Said Taki.
The game proceeded and with Shusuke's triple counter he was able to surpass Taki quite easily.
"Shusuke was obviously the better player." I said as the match progress.
"Atobe, don't you think you were being a little bit biased?" Asked Gakuto.
"Actually, Gakuto, I think Atobe was quite accurate with his judgment. Fuji was a level above Taki." Said Oshitari.
"Winner: Fuji Shusuke 6-2." Said the Referee.
"Single 1: Tezuka Kunimitsu from Seiguka and Atobe Keigo from Hyotei will start now." Stated the Referee.
"Atobe, I don't have any advice for you but I take it you are going to win." Said Sakaki.
"Of course, I never lose." I said as I walk confidently to the court.
"The winner will be Atobe." I declared to the crowd.
I can't and will not lose.
Not in front of Shusuke.
Not if my opponent's name is Tezuka Kunimitsu.
TBC..