"Lying about the truth"
Summary: The reason of Niou changing into Tezuka and Shiraishi in the final of the national.
Author's Note: I had this huge debate of whether I should have this story in "Chapters", it was initially meant to be in "Chapters" and the original version actually have Tanako Ashita coming out but when I finished it, I changed my mind. But then I changed my mind again. So I then put Ashita back in. Because in the end, even when I leaved out Ashita, this story is still not fully about Niou, but about Shitenhouji and Shiraishi, and you really have to know Chapters and Sacrifice. Although I decided to put it in my random one shot collection as it doesn't seem to fit in chapters either- yet I don't think it can be an individual one shot under Niou.
Overall, I think this sort of shows how Niou sees Shiraishi.
When I first saw Niou, I actually didn't really like him much although later on I find him to be a very interesting character. However, the finals of the nationals result in my really liking him now. Due to his actions of transforming into Tezuka and then Shiraishi, I now see him in a completely different way.
I now think that Niou is actually quite a noble character, and hopefully this story will be able to express my view.
Completed: April 30-May 5, 2008
Whenever Niou was accused of doing something he would laugh and claim that he had a reputation to live up to.
Niou did not really hate or dislike Sanada, but the other annoyed him more then a bit, and since Sanada was very easily fooled, he becomes Niou's favourite target. Although he was finding their new kohai very interesting to pick on as well.
Right now, however, he was focusing on annoying Sanada- the other was absolutely convinced that Niou was using the projector in the clubroom to watch his own films. But he had no proof because whenever he entered, he would find the trickster innocently watching videos of numerous players with a notebook being filled up.
"Do you really enjoy aggravating Genichirou so much?" Yanagi asked as he entered with a video tape in his hand.
"I should have guessed that you would be able to work out what I really am doing." Niou chuckled out. "But Yanagi, I have a great reputation to live up too. I can't let others know that I actually do a lot of work."
"Have it your way." Yanagi said simply. "Since I think this will help us I won't do anything."
Right now, Niou was looking at the recording of this year's Kantou regional, which Rikkai won against Hyoutei with relative ease. Niou was actually gathering data in his own way.
"I think Seigaku's Tezuka Kunimitsu will do, but you probably already know this." Saying so, he stopped the video. "But I am having problems with my second choice. You know that I don't really want to imitate any of you three, but this really limits my options."
"There's Hyoutei's Atobe."
"Please, I do have dignity." Niou answered with a roll of his eyes. "I am not going to go around saying something so embarrassing."
"What about one of the two wings of Kyuushu? Tachibana Kippei or Chitose Senri." Yanagi 'suggested' as he slid the tape he brought into the VCR, although he did not press play yet.
"Running around and yelling is just not my style."
"What about the other…"
"Look Yanagi, I know that you already have someone in mind."
"As to be expected of you. I suggest 'the bible'."
"The bible?" Niou repeated this with a slight frown. "You are not suggesting that I become a westernised version of Sanada, are you? Reading the bible while he does his meditation."
"The bible is a title that is given to Shiraishi Kuranosuke, the buchou of Osaka's Shitenhouji Chuu. They had a win in the kansai regional that is as glorious as our own win." Yanagi explained without even needing to look at a notebook. "He was the only first year regular in his school last year and he has been making a reputation for himself even more this year due to his tennis- it is said to be perfect."
"Perfect tennis huh? That does sound very interesting." Niou admitted. "Shitenhouji Chuu…I haven't really heard of them before."
"Shienhouji Chuu is a public school in Osaka and their tennis club used to be just above average- occasionally getting into the nationals if they had a particularly good performance in the Kanai regional. However, they began to grow in strength when Watanabe Osamu became their coach at the start of the last school year. Watanabe Osamu is actually an internationals levelled tennis player who would have made a name for himself if he did not suddenly quit."
"Alright, let me judge for myself." Niou said, interrupting Yanagi- being one of the few who could do this- as the other's data can be pretty long as well.
They didn't start from Shiraishi's match, but the beginning of the finals. When he first saw Shitenhouji's doubles two, Niou almost wander whether Yanagi could actually make a mistake.
But once the game begun, the strange pair revealed themselves as very good doubles players because they have a very high amount of mutualism in addition to their skills.
They might appear as comedians but their skills were certainly not limited to it. In fact, he felt that they blended that with their tennis, making it a rather formidable tool.
The doubles one game turned out to be very different, but the result was similar.
"Shiraishi Kuranosuke is playing next for some reason, since he usually plays singles one." Yanagi commented when Shitenhouji gained another glorious victory. "This should be the deciding game, I will be most surprised if it isn't."
The following game was certainly one of the most impressive one that Niou has seen. Even though there was nothing particularly special in Shiraishi's move with the exception of a spinning smash, he still managed to dominate over his opponent with great ease.
"I am impressed." Niou admitted. "But this does not seem fun. It is very plain."
"I thought you didn't want to imitate Atobe." Yanagi replied dryly as took out the tape and placed it on top of the tape Niou had marked.
"There is a difference, Yanagi, between over the top and basic necessity."
Rikkai's attention on Shitenhouji was certainly not wasted because even though Majinofuji was the official runner up of the nationals, all the participators acknowledged Shitenhouji as the second strongest team.
A year passed since that day and they were at the nationals once more, they might be regarded as lucky as their opponent in the semi-final was the weakest out of all the four schools, although it was not as if any one of them were worried in the slightest way.
Which was probably why Yanagi backed up Yukimura's decision. Niou knew that it would work out for them in the end but he still didn't fully approve. His reason was rather personal as he felt bad for his close friend.
Yagyuu was a capable singles player too but he rarely gets to display his skills due to the others in their team.
Strange as it was, playing doubles with Yagyuu made them end up as being good friends despite their great differences. Perhaps part of his indignation was also due to the fact that Yagyuu was very acceptant about all this.
"This will help Kirihara-kun and I will not look bad when the truth is revealed." Yagyuu said simply. "Well, Niou-kun, should I make it 6-1 or 6-2?"
"Do whatever you want." Niou muttered. "I am going to take a look at Seigaku and Shitenhouji's game."
Despite everything, he still preferred to not watch his friends lose.
The regulars of Rikkai were often accused of being proud to the stage of being over confident but this was not fully true as they did acknowledge their rival's strength. But like most kids, this would not always be said out aloud.
Regardless of the outcome in the other semi-final, they admit that they would have a worthy opponent. They would not be pulling this trick if Nagoya Seitoku was not their opponent.
The game this side has just begun and conveniently for Niou, Shiraishi Kuranosuke was playing against Fuji Shuusuke.
Niou managed to imitate these two target's skill rather well, but he rarely used this as he usually did not need to do so. In fact, the last time he felt the need to use it was in last year's semi-final, and he might have if he actually had to play their doubles one game.
To describe Shiraishi's perfect tennis as not being exciting was a major understatement. To put it simply, it was really boring- but yet it filled up many of the weaknesses he saw in numerous other player styles.
This game served as another proof of how useful perfect tennis was: 4-0. One simply did not expect this kind of score to be shown at this stage with these people.
Three days later, Niou was playing against Fuji Shuusuke in the deciding game for Rikkai. He appeared the way he always was- cocky to the stage of over confidence, but deep down he was actually quite troubled.
Tezuka had his limits, especially when Fuji found a way to counter many of his moves. In addition to this was the fact that Niou felt his left hand getting sore- from his practices he knew that he had to stop soon because continuing was too dangerous and it did not result in an automatic win.
It was logical to transform into Shiraishi, who has actually beaten Fuji. But Niou did not really want to do this. He initially just felt bored in his first few attempts of playing perfect tennis but as he repeated it he started to really dislike it.
The boredom increased to the stage when he questioned why he was going this.
No doubt this was the same for Shiraishi, if not worse since the others did this in every one of his game. Thanks to Yanagi, Niou managed to see some of Shiraishi's game when his old style was used and this made Niou even more confused.
But now he could: it was the same reason that would result in him transforming into Shiraishi.
The most important thing was to win for their school.
"There is no weakness in Rikkai's three consecutive wins," he said softly, "The one who wins is the winner."
They managed to achieve their goal of winning for the third time but it was not due to him or Marui and Jackal. In the end, it was Yukimura who won for them.
The celebration at the yakiniku restaurant was planned for the night but everyone all had something to do until that time. This suited Niou as he had a lot of stuff to think about.
Without knowing why, he found himself walking toward a tennis court even though this was his main problem. When he saw Oshitari Kenya there, Niou suddenly had the idea of playing against Oshitari Kenya as Shiraishi.
Luckily for him, the other seemed to be waiting for Shiraishi as he greeted the now disguised Niou with the following words: "You are back rather quickly. Let's have our game now."
"Alright," he said, as he prepared for the other's serve.
Oshitari Kenya was actually a very good player and Niou was suddenly reminded of Shitenhouji's infamous joking pair. His main weapon was not his sole weapon.
But Niou still won, although this did not make him extremely cheerful because he much rather win the earlier game.
"So I still would not be able to beat you that day." Kenya muttered before he stretched out his hand. "Thank you, Niou-kun."
"What bit gave me away?" Niou asked as he slipped from his disguise.
"Well, I'll be honest. You are not as good as Shiraishi. But the most tell tale sign is your behaviour."
"My behaviours?"
"Shiraishi doesn't talk that much in a game. There has been occasions when the only time he spoke in the game was at the start and at the end. He's just that type of person."
"But I am not that type of person." Niou muttered to himself as he started to walk away.
As he walked down the stairs he passed Konjiki Koharu, one of the joking tennis players along with a girl who he did not recognise. Since Niou was not above listening to other people's conversations he carefully hide away, as he was sure that there would be something revealing.
"Did you just have a game with Rikkai's Niou Masaharu?" Koharu pointed out.
"With Niou Masaharu's Shiraishi."
"And yet you still lost? This really shows that Niou Masaharu alone is a very good player. It is a pity that he plays that way because unlike Yuuji, his imitation become a transformation, which make us forget that they are his own skills."
"I admit, my purpose of playing with him is a bit like Seigaku's Fuji. I thought that playing against him will proof something in regard to Shiraishi.
"But he is not Shiraishi." Kenya continued slowly. "I keep on thinking about the fifth and sixth counter. I could see that Shiraishi was panicking at the very start but unlike Niou, he quickly stopped. To be honest, Shiraishi was probably more calm then me in the semi-finals."
"So tennis is a bit like karate too. Being calm is really important." The girl said.
"I think that is important in any thing because being calm gives you better judgement." Kenya said. "Although I lied to Niou- what immediately gave him away was the fact that I know Shiraishi and Yuuji should be coming back together and he would have some sort of explanation if he did not come back with Yuuji."
"And his perfect tennis, Kuranosuke says that he will never play that again." The girl added.
"That is why I pretended to not recognise him because I want to be able to have a match with Shiraishi when he plays his perfect tennis- yet he is quite determined in never playing that again."
For some reason, Niou suddenly started to laugh and he actually felt like his old self again: he was eager to trick someone.
"Oshitari Kenya, you actually dares to con the trickster." He muttered with a wide smirk. "I should give you many interesting memoires of Tokyo."
"Niou!"
"Yukimura?"
"Don't worry, it is not time to meet up yet." The buchou of Rikkai assured him. "But I've been looking for you."
"To do what?"
"To help me buy some souvenirs for my little sister. Sanada is not good at such things; Jackal's taste is not really suitable for a girl; Bunta and Akaya's answers will just be food; Yagyuu always pay full price while Yanagi…"
"Is too embarrassing for most." Niou said after he first made sure that their other team mates was not around. "'Considering that this metal is one of the cheapest while the actual object is made by cheap labour, I think your cost of goods sold is only xxx dollar, but since you are the seller you do have to make a gross profit. Yet I still think a yyy in mark up is too high."
"That is why, so can you help me?"
"Of course." He said. "I have to buy some…souvenirs myself."
"Thank you very much then, Niou."
Niou's automatic reply died when he realised the impact and seriousness behind these seemingly light hearted words. Yukimura was not just thanking him for what he would do, but for what he did earlier on today.
And that could only be due to one thing.
They were not like Fudoumine or Seigaku, who openly and even lavishly display their affection and friendship, but to suspect them of being bond by nothing other then the desire of winning was wrong.
"It is no more then what I should do." Niou answered simply.
This was how they show their emotions.
Author's Note: This is basically my interpretation of Niou's character- I really think that he is a character who works a lot but always hide this, making sure that no one can see this. In 40.5, the thing that Niou have to do everyday is actually studying and revising.
As for shitenhouji, well, I seriously can't believe that a school who made into the semi-final twice in a role and faced the winners of both round, is not strong and just got their place due to luck. For some reason, which I can's really explain, I really believe that Watanabe played a main role in increasing Shitenhouji's strength.
As for Kenya's actions, this relate to my fan fiction- he and Shiraishi had a rivalry that started from their first year, although the rivalry was really from Kenya's side.
Lastly, the talk between Yukimura and Niou, I really think that there is a friendship between the regulars but just because they don't do it in a really dramatic way, there is no proof that it doesn't exist. I think they just show their friendship in a different way.