An elderly woman stepped onto the green courts that were surrounded by tall, looming fences. She donned a pink track suit and had long mahogany hair in a ponytail.
Tezuka, the older one, and Oishi both noticed her and she waved them over. They walked over to her and shared a few whispered words. Ryoma, Katsuo, and Kachiro looked over to the taller trio before turning back to picking up balls that were strewn all over the courts.
"Ne, Ryoma-kun?" Kachiro Kato looked toward the younger Tezuka. Ryoma gave a grunt in acknowledgement but did not look up. "I was wondering, with the ranking matches next week and all, if your brother was going to enter you into them to see you'll become a Regular."
"Whatever Aniki does, Aniki does. He's the captain."
Kachiro was caught off guard, as long as he had known Ryoma- all of two weeks- he had never spoke more than one sentence to any of the freshmen trio. But he just nodded and plopped some of the fuzzy spheres into the red basket next to him.
--
"Tezuka?" Oishi called to the silent captain who was a few seats away from him in the empty classroom from his spot next to Ryuuzaki-sensei.
All he received was a grunt to know that Tezuka was listening.
"Are you going to put Ryoma-kun into the ranking matches?"
"…"
Oishi faulted for a moment. Tezuka was tapping his mechanical pencil on the desk in what could only be called 'indecision'.
Three whole minutes of silence encompassed the room.
"…Hai," Tezuka finally said as he wrote his brother's name into the section for Block D on the match forms.
I hope this isn't a mistake. Tezuka thought when he stapled the forms together. Yudan sezu ni ikō.
--
A group of first to third years were crowded in front of the huge white board to look at who played who and at what time.
"What the heck is this!? Momo! Did you know that there's a first year in the list?" A second year named Arai said to his classmate.
"Ah, yeah, he's Tezuka's little brother."
"What!!!??? Isn't that favoritism?"
"Yeah, just because they're related doesn't mean that the little brat gets the special package!"
Various people started to get angry, and then he came.
All went silent as Ryoma walked up to the board and found his name there. He must have blinked about a hundred times in two seconds because his dark emerald bangs lifted and resettled on his forehead.
"Eh, Mitsu did put me in the matches. He said that he would rather commit suicide. How odd, the little liar. Or maybe he lacks the ability to make such a major descision. He is fickle…" The hairs on his neck stood on end as he felt a dark aura. He shut his mouth and looked around before catching his brother in the third floor window. He just smirked and lowered his cap before walking away.
Arai looked stunned as he had heard the little brat think out loud. "Wait, Buchou said that he wasn't going to put him in?"
"Yup, but under my advice, he did."
Everyone turned around and bowed. "HAI RYUUZAKI-SENSEI! OHAYO GOZAIMASU!"
--
"Next match is the Tezuka-Kaidoh match!" People swarmed over to court C where there were two figures at the net.
And right now, Ryoma really- no I mean really hated his height. This guy was just so damn tall!
--
Ryoma returned the ball and smirked when he saw his sempai bend down to hit the ball. That sneaky little bastard! He plays like his father and brother. He's what Ryoma called a 'Stamina Guzzler Player'. Corny right? Too bad, he doesn't care.
Anyway, a 'Stamina Guzzler Player' was someone who purposefully hit the ball in a way that…well…caused their opponent to lose stamina. The definition is in the name!
This Kaidoh guy kept hitting this Snake Shot and had Ryoma running all over the court. Withing running all over the place, Ryoma thought up a plan.
Keep hitting low balls and lure the Viper into a state of false security. Make him think that he's the one winning and then BAM! Ryoma'll turn the tables on him.
Damn, he hit another Snake Shot. Ryoma let out a ragged breath as he sprinted to the other side to hit another low ball. Sweat trailed down his face. His breath was iradic and harsh. This was a battle of stamina.
I know this shot! Damn my memory to Hell! Where did I see it before? What was the name of it? Ryoma thought as he executed a smash. A picture of a magazine popped into his head. Yes! The Buggy Whip Shot!
Ryoma waited until the perfect opportunity. There. Ryoma brought his arm back and dragged it forward.
ZZZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!
The crowd gasped in awe.
"Game and match! Tezuka 6-4!"
Silence reverberated throughout the courts. People were in awe and surprise. How could that little first year brat win against someone as scary as Kaidoh!?
--
"Ahh, congrats Ryoma, oh, I knew you could do it! And you too Mitsu! Because you're such a good captain, you and your brother can both reach your Pinnacle together. OOOOHHHHHH!!!" Rinko squealed and hugged both of her sons.
"Rinko, they're turning blue." Nanjiroh said while shoving rice into his mouth. Rinko stopped in her hugging and looked at her husband with that blank look. Yeah, that one, where her eyes are wide open and she just stares. Nanjiroh stopped eating and put his rice bowl down while still looking at his wife of eighteen years.
And they looked at eachother.
And the brothers looked at their parents.
Nanjiroh rose and waved a hand in front of Rinko's face.
"Rinko, hello, are you there?"
"Usu."
Kunimitsu looked at his brother. Ryoma nodded and together, they grabbed their plates and leaned against the wall.
They began eating and then….
….Oh GAWD! OH GAWD! IT BURNS!!!! IIIIIIITTTTTTT BBBBBBUUUUURRRRRRNNNNNNSSSSSS!!!!!
Kunimitsu and Ryoma ran out of the dining room. Ryoma was screaming bloody murder and Mitsu was trying to hold down his food.
They ran up the large flight of stairs into their room and sat on Mitsu's bed and turned on the TV. They had some hope that maybe- just maybe- what they witnessed would be forgotton. No such thing happened.
Their mother…
…Their father…
…In the dining room…
…Sucking face…
…Passionately.
Muahahahahah!!! I feel evil! Soon, very very soon, I shall introduce my first OC!!! ;] - Pix!