I just realized that in Japan, school does not start in September. It starts in April when the cherry blossoms are blooming. The first semester is April-July, the second is Sept.-Dec. and the third is Jan.-March. Thus, this chapter is TOTALLY out-of-place. So, read if if you feel like it, but it's DELETED, I just... don't feel like deleting it. (If that makes any sense to you.) It's entirely fluff anyway, and I'm not the type of author who typically writes fluff. (!#$&, why did I have to learn that right AFTER I wrote this friggin' chapter?)
Chapter Eight: Onii-chan's Birthday
Inner Kin: Ah, that's right, it's the highly anticipated highlight of the year, Tezuka Kunimitsu's birthday! Confetti and balloons all around!
Inner Taro: T.T I can't believe she kicked me off of introducing the chapters. Hogging the spotlight, neh?
Inner Kin: Hmph. You're just jealous because you're not in this chapter.
Inner Taro: -.-U
Zzzz.
A vein bulged on Kin's forehead as the fly flew past her ear.
Zzzz.
Kin continued reading the book, ignoring the pestering buzzing.
Zzzz.The enormous house fly landed on the bridge of Kin's nose. For a moment, Kin and the fly stared at each other. The blood-red ominous eyes glared back, magnified a hundred times, showing her a miniature reflection of her oblivious self.
Predictably, after Kin realized that there was a bug biting her nose, she freaked and spazzed. Screaming, she slapped her nose, but only succeeded in knocking herself over. She shrieked again when she stared at herself in the mirror with a humongous black fleck on her nose.
Grabbing her book, she slammed it everywhere in the direction of the fly, berserk in her bloodthirsty revenge.
Crash.
Bonk.
"Itai!"
Scream.
"Get back here, teme-"
The ruckus, furniture crashing and screams from the other room attracted her older brother's attention. 'What is it now? She can't possibly be trying to kill herself, can she?'
"Kin, are you okay?" he called, his voice hiding a trace of genuine concern.
"I'M GOING TO SQUASH YOU!" Sighing, he returned back to burying his nose in the book. 'I'll take as a yes.'
---15 Minutes Later---
Unscathed, the fly flew out the corner of the screen window, probably where it came from.
Exhausted and simmering in frustration, she propped onto bed, her entire room in upheaval and disarray. 'I can't believe that fly got away after everything I did.' On the ground, she noticed that a calendar had fallen out from her drawer. She picked it up, noticing the fact that October seventh was circled. She scratched her head, trying to recall why she marked it. In small handwriting, it said, 'Onii-chan's Birthday.'
"AAHHH!" she screamed in fright, "Onii-chan's birthday is tomorrow and I totally forgot! What do I give him?"
Inner Kin: Calm down, Kin-chan. What would onii-chan do?
"Well, he'd probably buy me some tennis books, take me out shopping, give me a die-hard present, etc. Okaa-san would take us out to my favorite dango shop, otou-san would increase my allowance, and ojii-san would give me some hand-me-downs."
Inner Kin: Okay, let's try something different. What does he like doing?
"Pffth. Well, that's easy: tennis. Well, he does like hiking and being outdoors," she frowned, "But that doesn't help me much."
Inner Kin: Does anyone else know about his birthday?
"Well, knowing onii-chan, only our family knows and nobody else... that's it! You're a genius!" She jolted from her bed, a smile etched from ear to ear.
'Hehehe... Onii-chan, you're going to have a birthday you're never going to forget.' Rubbing her palms together and cerulean eyes glinting, a new plan concocting in that ramen-filled mind of hers.
---Later---
'Tomorrow is a Sunday, after all, which is perfect. However, without Seigaku's tennis team, it won't be nearly as brilliant.'
"Oi, Fuji-kun, there you are," she stood up from the bench, waving. "Sorry for calling you out like this so suddenly."
"I don't mind. You sounded anxious on the phone," he smiled cheerfully.
"Well, Fuji-kun, it's a secret, so you can't tell anyone else, okay?" she reciprocated the smile, while inside she was bursting from machination.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Come here," she waved a finger and put her lips to his ear. A few whispers and Fuji's sparkling blue eyes opened in surprise.
"I see. What are you planning?"
More whispers. Nods. Scheming. A decision.
Evil eye glints, perfectly in synch.
"Well then, let's get the rest of our team ready, neh?" Fuji smiled, picking up his cell phone.
---The Next Day---
Kin flew around his room with a pair of gossamer green and black wings. She had transmutated into a mammoth house fly, complete with a hook and tongue that reminded him of the Reaper. Whizzing around, she destroyed all of his soap, towels and ripped apart his books and homework. Suddenly, her round metallic eyes spotted his new racket, and she sat on it smugly as Tezuka gaped in horror as the strings snapped from her tremendous weight-
Beep. Beep. Bbbbeeeeepppppp.
Tezuka slammed his alarm clock silent. His head immediately went over the events for the day. It was October seventh, but he doubted anyone but his mother would remember. If Kin remembered, that'd be nothing but a miracle.
'That was a disturbing dream.' To reassure himself that Kin had not magically transformed into a fruit fly overnight, he peeked through her door, surprised to find that Kin was not there; she had already woken up and left. 'Kin waking up early on a Sunday? Maybe miracles do happen after all.'
He turned to wash his face, and he was amazed to find that the bathroom was sparkling clean. Kin had neatly re-organized her side of the bathroom and she had washed his towels. 'It's just a coincidence. Nothing more.' Kin abhorred everything that came close to chores; their mother must have coerced with grounding or bribed her with sugar. 'Probably both,' he mused as he rinsed his face and completed his morning ritual.
"Ohayou, Kunimitsu," his grandfather greeted from the kitchen table.
"Good morning," he greeted politely in return. Just when he was about to grab a water bottle, Kunihazu pointed to a steaming mug in the corner.
"That's for you," he said curtly. 'My favorite tea?' The young prodigy breathed in the scent and took a sip.
"Arigatou," he thanked.
"Don't thank me, thank your little sister. She went through the bother to buy it with her own money yesterday," he smiled, his eyes not lifting from the newspaper. 'Kin? I suppose you remembered my birthday after all.' After he finished the cup, he put on his Mizuno shoes, starting his daily run.
---10 Minutes Later---
"Come on, we've got to get all of these decorations up before onii-chan returns," Kin said, grabbing box by box of confetti and banners. She grabbed the dozen helium balloons and hung them around everywhere.
"Where should I put this?" Fuji shouted from the kitchen, waving around banners.
"How about the entrance?" she responded after taping up the wallpaper. The doorbell rang and Kin rushed to answer it.
"The piñata has arrived," the man answered, pointing to a truck.
"Excellent," she smiled mischievously. Things were finally coming along.
---Meanwhile---
"You are the 100th visitor to step into this door today. Congratulations, it's your lucky day!" a huge pink cat slapped Tezuka on his shoulder.
"Suminasen-" Tezuka started, but Momoshiro quickly cut him off.
"As a reward, you get a 10-people all-you-can-eat buffet pass to Kawamura Sushi! However, this pass expires today, so you better use it now! So, going with your Seigaku buddies, neh?" Momoshiro elbowed Tezuka in his kitten outfit.
"Eh, senpai? How long do I-" Echizen started in his mini blue rabbit outfit, but Momoshiro slapped his hand over his mouth and started wrestling him.
"Well, congratulations and enjoy the meal!" Momoshiro said and ran off into an alley at the speed of light. Tezuka sighed and stuffed the coupon in his pocket. 'I wonder how the word leaked out about my birthday. Hm, there's only one person who could have done this... that Kin.'
---10 Minutes Later---
"Momoshiro-san, Echizen-san, did you give him the coupon?" Kin asked.
"Hai," Momo replied, taking off the costume.
"I still don't see why you had to pull me into doing it too," Echizen sighed, embarrassed to be seen removing his bunny outfit.
"That's okay, Ryoma-kun," Kin laughed, "You look cute in that." She pulled his cheek (which was surprisingly soft) and Ryoma blinked at her, his cheeks turning slightly pink.
"Hey, don't I look cute in this as well?" Momoshiro said jealously, knocking over Echizen. Kin just smiled. Boys were so simple-minded.
"The decorations are done. We just have to wait for Tezuka to come back," Fuji said, brushing his hands.
"My, my, what's all this ruckus? Young people are very energetic, aren't they?" her grandfather came from his quaint room.
"We're just preparing for onii-chan's surprise birthday party, that's all," Kin answered.
---Two Hours Later---
"Fsshhh."
"Fsshhh."
"Fsshhh."
"Stop that 'fsh'ing already, Viper! You're making everybody nervous," Momoshiro yelled at Kaidoh, who yelled back.
"Arrgh. Where is onii-chan? He should have been home a long time ago!" Kin muttered impatiently, pacing the decorated green and blue room. 'I went through all this trouble yesterday and he isn't even coming HOME?! Why, the nerves of him...'
"Why don't you try calling him?" Ryoma suggested.
"Ah, right. Why didn't I think of that?" Kin frowned and grabbed a phone.
Beep. Beep. Beep.'Onii-chan, pick up.' "Ah, onii-chan! Where are you?" she asked excitedly.
"At the tennis courts. Nande?" he replied firmly.
"Are you trying to pick a fight, Viper?" Momoshiro was practically climbing all over Kaidoh.
"Just see if you can touch me without-"
"Hey, guys, can you be quiet here?" Kin shouted, but to no avail.
"What's wrong? Are there people home?" Tezuka asked, hiding his suspicion.
"No, of course not. Just come home, okay?" Kin asked, blocking her other ear. "Hey, stop it! You're ripping the banner."
"..."
"Just come home, okay? If you don't, I'm going to break your racket." With that, she hung up. 'Whew, that was close.' "Hey, don't peek at the cake!"
Seeing the incredible ruckus of having the entire Seigaku tennis team over, she sighed. This was going to be a long day. 'Gosh, such inconsiderate guys. How does onii-chan stand these people?'
---At Lunch---
"So that's how it is?" Tezuka sighed. 'Who do they think I am?'
"Ah, Kin-chan went through a lot to prepare for the party," Eiji agreed, putting an arm around her.
"I-It's nothing, really," Kin sweatdropped. 'It wasn't supposed to go like this. Not at all.'
"Well, everyone, wait up! Let's take a picture," Kin called as she readied the camera.
"Come on, guys, say 'wasabi'," she held up a piece sign.
"3, 2, 1..."
"You can't make me say it."
"Come on, Echizen, be a good sport."
"WASABI!"
Click.
"Yosh! Everyone can choose whatever they want to eat!"
"Are you serious, Taka-san?"
"Absolutely!"
---Afternoon---
"The goal is to crack open the piñata from that line using a racket and a ball with any technique or serve," Kin elaborated.
"Demo..."
"What is it?" she asked, nodding smugly and pleased at herself for such an ingenious idea.
"Isn't that piñata kind of big?" Eiji pointed.
"Big? What are you talking about?" The piñata was a bright yellow tennis ball hung above the fence, two meters long and wide.
"The first person to crack it open claims the prize! So, who will be the first contestant?"
"Yosh. This is a piece of cake. After all that sushi, there's no way I can lose," Momoshiro stepped up.
"Hehehe," Kin rubbed her palms together. This was getting interesting.
---Trial 1: Momoshiro---
Kaidoh lobbed the ball to Momoshiro.
"Yosh! Dunk Smash!" he yelled as he smashed the ball into the ground. The ball bounced up with incredible speed and power.
"Ah, hai, there is no doubt that Momoshiro's all-powerful power tennis will win!" Kin called from an imaginary microphone.
The ball spun like crazy... and missed. Everyone sweatdropped. 'The target is huge. How could he have missed?'
"Hehe," Momo cringed, rubbing his head. 'What did I do wrong?'
"Pathetic. What are you doing, baka?" Kaidoh insulted him.
"If you think it's so easy, you try it!"
---Trial 2: Kaidoh---
"Fsshhh." 'With the right angle and certain amount of pressure, the ball should crack it open easily.'
Preparing himself, he said, "Snake!"
Swish. The ball bounced on the court and headed the side of the piñata directly.
Everyone blinked, staring at it in anticipation. The ball fell, but the piñata didn't even budge.
"Who's the baka now, eh?"
"Teme..."
"That's enough, you two! I'll settle this," Oishi sighed and picked up a racket.
---Trial 3: Oishi---
"With absolute precision, Oishi's special move tricks everyone! Watch as Oishi's Moon Volley pinpoints the piñata," Kin announced.
'Just concentrate and aim for the middle of the piñata.' He slid his racket on the ground. "Moon Volley!"
Pok.
Swish.
"The p-pinata didn't move," Eiji twitched, "That's okay, Oishi! I'll go next, nya!"
---Trial 4: Eiji---
"That's right. A crazy yellow piñata is nothing compared to Eiji's renowned acrobatics," Kin alleged, "It's literally just child's play to him."
"Yosh. Toss me a ball, Oishi. Kikumaru Beam!" He hit with a smile, fully confident. "Eh? No way! The piñata fell just when the I hit the ball?"
Smash.
"I told you it didn't stand a chance against my Dunk Smash!"
"Be quiet, Momo-senpai," Ryoma protested.
"Hmm... judging from my data, the fall was caused by abnormal wind strengths and a catalyst of Kikumaru's Beam. When hit at this angle, it will rebound and crack open..." Inui digged through his notebook.
---Trial 5: Inui---
"That's right. That crazily heavy piñata will be easily calculated to self-destruction from Inui's infallible computations," Kin smashed her fist against her palm.
"Hm." Inui tossed the ball up, ready to serve. 'It's perfect. Now that it's on the ground, I just have to smash the seams and it will buckle. Chance: 100 percent.' Inui's glasses glinted.
Pok.
The tennis ball piñata bounced slightly from the impact, but otherwise there wasn't a scratch on it.
"No way. It's even beyond Inui's judgment," Eiji blinked.
"I-It's illogical," he gulped and huddled to a corner to re-assess his observations.
"It's okay, guys. There's got to be a way," the happy-go-lucky Fuji said with a cheerful smile.
---Trial 6: Fuji---
"When the prodigy Fuji Syusuke puts his mind to something, there's no stopping him. He'll defeat that piñata to a pulp," Kin alleged.
"Ready, Fuji-senpai?" Momoshiro asked, preparing for the Dunk Smash.
"Hm." His eyes glinting, everyone gasped.
"Higuma Otoshi!"
"Yosh! Look, it's working!" As the ball spun on the piñata, forming a dent, everyone stared at it hard, as if they could make it explode by glaring at it. Then it fell over, barely leaving a dark spot.
"It's hopeless," Inui decided, assessing the situation, "That piñata is too heavy and too large for a tennis ball to break it."
"Here, Taka-senpai," Ryoma said, handing Takashi a racket.
---Trial 7: Kawamura---
"LET'S GO, BABY!" He swung the racket around frenziedly, feeling invincible like he could take on the world.
"There's no way he can stand Kawamura's incredible strength, the greatest power tennis player in Kantou!"
"That's right. You're nothing!" he pointed accusingly at the piñata.
"BURNING!" Everyone was confident this time, nodding smugly. The piñata was like an eggshell when it came to Seigaku's powerhouse.
Smack.
The ball smashed against the piñata and blew it away while it spun through the fence and left a considerable hole.
"This is pointless," Ryoma sighed and turned to leave.
"Hey, if it's so easy, you try it!" Momo protested, handing him a racket.
---Trial 8: Echizen---
"Well, here goes."
"Echizen Ryoma is famous for his extremely sharp Twist Serve. Will he prevail while all others have failed?" Kin declared histrionically.
"Che." He tossed the ball into the air and pounded it.
"That's it. The Twist Serve. You did it, o-chibi!" Eiji cheered.
"I wouldn't be too sure about that," Oishi sweatdropped.
"Nani? It only left a mark. Looks like you're no good either," Momo rubbed Echizen's head.
"Itai! That hurts," Ryoma groaned.
"This is not what I planned. Not at all." Kin sighed.
"Yudan sezu ni ikou."
"Ah, buchou?" Everyone turned in surprise to see the birthday boy.
---Trial 9: Tezuka---
'For not even Kawamura's strength to break it, the skin must be incredibly tough. However, there's certainly a weak spot somewhere.'
"Come on, onii-chan! If you can't do it, no one can," Kin cheered.
Entirely confident, he tossed the ball and hit a perfect serve. Everyone stared in anticipation. The ball smashed against the middle, spinning at the seams. The ball fell, but the piñata didn't change at all.
"I told you from the very beginning that this was pointless," Ryoma tilted his hat down.
"Matte, look!" The piñata split in half at the seams into two equal split parts and dozens upon dozens of yellow tennis balls fell out.
"Sugoi, buchou!" everyone exclaimed.
"You're the best, onii-chan!" Kin hit his shoulder. "Well, our amazing buchou wins the prize: a full year's worth of tennis balls!"
"Tennis balls?" Everyone sweatdropped at the sight of an ecstatic Kin.
---20 Minutes Later---
"No peeking, onii-chan! You're cheating," Kin pouted as she covered Tezuka's eyes with her hands.
"3, 2, 1..."
She removed the headband covering his eyes.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BUCHOU!" Everyone cheered heartily. Kin nodded smugly at the wonderful job she had done. The entire room was decorated in green and blue, Tezuka's favorite colors. Confetti, banners, balloons, but the thing was that everyone helped to plan her masterpiece.
Overwhelmed by the attention, he sighed. 'I appreciate what Kin's done, but I'm not cleaning this up.'
"Come on, you've got to open our presents and then there's the cake that Eiji baked!"
"Onii-chan, I even prepared your favorite eel unacha," Kin wrapped her arms around his neck. "Open wide!" She stuffed a bite into his mouth. "How does it taste?" Inwardly, for the first time in a long time, Tezuka smiled. Some people never change.