Disclaimer: The Prince of Tennis and its characters are property of Takeshi Konomi. However, this plot and any original characters belong to McGrady. This story is rated T for language and minor sexual content.
Author's notes: Thanks to Amazing, Lilmissmex, Otakugal, Dreaming, Red, Train, Yuki, Mitsu, Indistinguishable, Cinpii, Three, and Jac for reviewing! The agent in this story is supposed to be both annoying and comical; he represents the creeping materialism in American society today. Also, some reviewers disliked how I portrayed Sakuno. My main response really is that my story is a seven year time-skip, providing enough time for characters to change; from age 13 to 20, almost everybody changes drastically.
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"Ninety-nine percent of everything done in the world, good or bad, is done to pay a mortgage." -Nick Naylor
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Karma: How the Tables Have Turned
by McGrady
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Arrogance Asks Innocence
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September 1
Dear Diary,
I recently woke up from an eight-hour nap, and I'm still tired. Darn you, jet lag!
When I woke up, I found that a blanket was draped over me. I definitely don't remember the blanket, so I deduced that Ryoma gave it to me. That was nice of him, I suppose. But it doesn't make him any less of a jerk. Hmph.
Anyway, immediately after I woke up, I jumped into the shower. Ew, my body was so disgusting after the flight and the nap! But I still noticed how clean the bathroom was. As a girl, I can appreciate a clean bathroom, and I can appreciate living with someone who keeps the bathroom clean. But Ryoma is still a jerk. Hmph!
After my shower, I found a simple Japanese meal and a note from Ryoma. Apparently, he made the meal for me. Sure, it was a nice gesture. But, he's still a jerk. Hmph!
Speaking of the jerk, I'm not really sure where he is. The sun is going down now, and his note said that he was out and that I should call him ASAP. I'd better get on that soon…
Love,
Sakuno
ooooo
While his roommate ate the meal he prepared, Ryoma Echizen was shopping. Even though he was the male sex symbol of Japan, even though he did "man stuff" like watching sports and eating steaks, Ryoma was wearing his nerd garb and was shopping. Pushing his nerd glasses up the bridge of his nose in an unmanly fashion, he perused the produce aisle for fruit which his roommate might enjoy.
He had been shopping all day since she arrived. Her image lingered in his thoughts as he shopped for posters, lamps, and plants to adorn their apartment. He cared highly, for a reason unknown, to keep his kitchen full of fresh food and his room lively with greenery and garnish. Did he suddenly care because of Sakuno Ryuzaki?
That's ridiculous, thought Ryoma, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. After all, why would he go to such lengths simply to please Sakuno?
ooooo
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Ryoma Echizen: "Echizen speaking."
Sakuno Ryuzaki: "Hey, Echizen. You told me in your note to call. What are you doing?"
Ryoma: "Shopping."
Sakuno: "Aw, I wanna go shopping!"
Ryoma: "Ryuzaki, I asked you to call because I need you to be available tomorrow night from roughly eight thirty to eleven."
Sakuno: "Tomorrow night? I'm meeting with my friends tomorrow night, I can't. Sorry, Echizen!"
Ryoma: "You can and you will be available tomorrow night."
Sakuno: "… What do you mean by that?"
Ryoma: "I have an interview with ESPN tomorrow. We have to go to a television station in the center of Philadelphia."
Sakuno: "Aw, but I wanna meet with my friends! Can't you leave me behind? I haven't seen my friends in so long, and I'm dying to see them again! You don't need me to be there with you!"
Ryoma: "Yes, I do. The paparazzi will be there. And besides, we have a contract."
Sakuno: "…"
Ryoma: "…"
Sakuno: "Grrr… fine! I'll just reschedule!"
Ryoma: "Good. I'll see you –"
Slam!
Dial tone…
Ryoma: "… I'll see you when I get back…"
Dial tone…
ooooo
Karupin is a highly intelligent feline. His favorite human is the black-haired male whom he intimately knew as his loving caretaker. He understood that the new room, which he and his caretaker occupied, would be his new residence. He recently noted a female human with brown hair accompany his caretaker into the room; when he saw the female immediately go to the bed and sleep, he assumed that she would live with his caretaker and himself.
He was snoozing when a disturbance woke him. It was the smell of human food and the female's voice. He sat up to see the female sitting at a table, speaking into a cell phone. She looked angry as she growled and spat a final word into the phone.
"Fine!" she said. "I'll just reschedule!"
She took the phone from her ear and resumed her meal in frustration. Words like "contract," "Echizen," and "jerk" slipped from her muttering mouth. Karupin chose this time to make himself known to the female.
"Meow!"
The female paused. She looked around the room. "Huh?" she said aloud. "What was that…"
He jumped off the couch, scurried under the table, and leapt onto her lap. "Meow!"
The frustration on the female's face vanished in an instant. She clasped her hands with joy. "Karupin!" she cooed. "Hi, kitty! How are you?"
His ears perked at being called "kitty." The older male human, who appeared to be his caretaker's father, often called him "kitty," and the older male often was irritating enough to deserve a bite to the toe. Did this mean that the female would be equally irritating?
Disrupting his thoughts were human fingers stroking his fur and scratching behind his ears. The fingers, belonging to the female, were gentle and caring in a way unlike those of his caretaker. Karupin deduced that although she called him "kitty," this female meant him no harm. She, Karupin decided, will get no bites to the toe.
To express his approval, Karupin reached up to her face and tickled her face with his whiskers. In his experience, his caretaker enjoyed this gesture and would give him a reward along the lines of soothing belly rubs. He was delighted in her response, to raise him off her lap and cradle him in her arms against her bosom.
"Karupin," she said softly with a grin. She daintily patted a finger against his wet nose, withdrawing her finger before he could playfully swat it with his paws. "Why can't Ryoma be as cute and cuddly as you?"
He simply nestled his head into her warmth and purred. He would enjoy living with this female, he concluded.
ooooo
"Good evening, and welcome back to the halftime show of the Philadelphia Eagles versus the New York Giants. We're here now with Ryoma Echizen, Japanese tennis superstar. Good evening, Ryoma, how are you?"
"Good evening, I'm well, thank you."
"Ryoma, of course, the tennis world is still experiencing the aftershocks of your retirement. Can you share with us how retirement has treated you, and your thoughts on a future comeback?"
"Retirement is good. My body's taken a beating from all the tournaments and travel on top of the rigorous training regimen my coach designed for me. I feel I might be able to play more tennis in total because of this retirement, so a future comeback is definitely possible."
"Good to hear! How about your injuries? You've recently released a statement about how you've taken on many injuries."
"Yes, the injuries. I had bone spurs in my ankle which I thought wasn't too serious, but I ended up having minor surgery on it. I've also recently been diagnosed with a stress fracture in my left wrist, a groin strain, and knee tendinitis. So far, that's it, but there may be more to come soon… who knows, I'm doing my best and hoping for improvement."
"Ha ha! Well, it's nice to see you're still being positive. Can you give us a pick for the US Open?"
"Hm… I'm going to have to say Federer and Venus Williams for singles. For doubles, I really can't say, it might be too early."
"Alright, and you have a prediction for the football game?"
"Heh… they're down ten right now, but I'm still pulling for the Eagles."
"Okay, thank you! Ryoma Echizen, everybody!"
"Thanks for having me."
"Back on the gridiron, we have a report from the Eagles' locker room…"
ooooo
September 2
Dear Diary,
I'm so bored! Bored, bored, bored! I'm at the TV station with Ryoma, who just finished the interview and is talking to some people. He's been particularly aloof toward me recently, since I told him that I didn't want to go to the interview with him. Why does he hate me so much? Sometimes, I feel like he's trying to flirt with me, like when he picks on me. And then he goes ahead, all condescending and cocky, and says something stupid and thoughtless.
I must admit, though, this interview was interesting to see. It shed a bit more light on what Ryoma was up to since he left Japan and went pro. Five years of constant, high-intensity tennis? Too much for little old me! He's got way too many injuries, too. Kind of almost makes me feel bad for him, if I try to forget about how much money he has.
He also said on TV that he picked Federer. Well I'd pick Nadal. Nadal for the win. Ordinarily, I would love to discuss a possible Federer versus Nadal match, but not with Ryoma. I feel like disagreeing with Ryoma about who will win the US Open will lead to an unnecessary argument. I've come to realize that most of our conversations turn into unnecessary arguments. Ryoma's tongue has a talent for ticking me off like nothing else can.
Sigh… I think I need to be nicer to him. Sure, he made me cry, broke my heart, gave me nightmares. But that doesn't mean I have to sink down to his level. Living with a jerk is tough – I need to find a way to rise above it.
So that is my new goal. A kindness campaign. To be nicer to him. Yeah. We'll see how long that lasts…
At least our third roommate, Karupin, is nice!
Whoops, looks like Ryoma just finished and is headed my way. We're finally going home now! Gotta run!
Love,
Sakuno
ooooo
Ryoma Echizen had just finished his interview, and was leading Sakuno Ryuzaki to the television studio's exit. When they reached the last door, Ryoma peered out the window into the city night.
"Ryuzaki," said Ryoma, his eyes searching the dark landscape, "when we go outside, we need to hold hands."
Sakuno recalled her latest resolution, to be more civil with Ryoma. This would be a good chance to begin her new kindness campaign.
"Why do we need to do that?" asked Sakuno.
"Paparazzi," said Ryoma simply. He crossed his forearm over hers and laced their fingers together. Her small hand's warmth sat comfortable against his palm. Her fingertips against the back of his hand sent jolts up his arms. Ryoma's spine turned rigid, her skin against his feeling foreign and sensitive. His eyes went wide as he carefully adjusted his fingers, monitoring their position as if conducting an experiment.
However, Sakuno used to constantly fantasize about holding hands with him when they attended Seishun Academy. Perhaps her fantasies prepared her for the feel of his hand with hers, because she was hardly as shocked as Ryoma evidently was. She directed unimpressed eyes and a flat expression at Ryoma. "Are you just gonna stand there like a dork who's never held a girl's hand?" she said dully. "Or are we at last gonna leave this place and get a taxi?"
Ryoma could feel his face flushing as he heaved the door open. Instantly, flashes of clicking cameras, shouts of reporters, and hefty microphones attacked the pair. In his usual brisk manner, Ryoma plowed through the noise, camera flashes, reporters, and equipment, dragging Sakuno behind her. Sakuno squeezed his hand, bringing more heat to his cheeks and more speed in his step. At the curb, they quickly hailed a taxi, climbed into the backseat, and finally escaped the raucous paparazzi. Sakuno dropped Ryoma's hand like it was a stone.
After buckling her seatbelt, Sakuno rubbed her eyes and cursed the camera flashes under her breath. As the taxi merged into traffic, she watched the night lights pass.
She did not know it, but Ryoma was watching her. He eyed Sakuno's hand resting on the seat between them. His gaze then went up to her face, illuminated by the passing city buildings and lights. Her face was sleepy, unsmiling, unremarkably neutral, but somehow still cute. He wondered how she would react if he held her hand again. Shifting in his seat, he quickly devised a plan to reunite his fingers with hers, and without a second thought, put it into action. He placed his hand inches beside hers, and slowly, surreptitiously, he slid his hand outward to close the gap.
Sakuno unexpectedly felt a brush of skin on her fingers and instinctively withdrew her arm. She looked down and saw that Ryoma's hand had just barely touched hers. Her blank face, she saw that he wore an undecipherable expression. His eyes were shrouded by his hair. His mouth appeared to have hardened.
Suddenly, a synthetic ringtone sounded. Ryoma reached into his pocket and answered his cell phone.
"Echizen speaking."
She ventured to study him further, her eyes still glazed with indifference. She saw him register the voice of the caller, growl, and hang up without another word. "Stupid agent," he mumbled, suppressing his frustration. His handsome features glared out the window as he shoved the phone back into his pocket. "Always calling me…" With a heavy sigh, Ryoma allowed his eyelids to close and his head to wearily fall against the window.
He actually looks miserable, thought Sakuno. Seeing a more personal, emotional side of the stoic Ryoma shocked her. She recalled her latest diary entry, her promise of a kindness campaign toward Ryoma, and realized that her kindness was poor thus far. Are you just gonna stand there like a dork who's never held a girl's hand? That line was what she had asked him. That line was hardly kind; it was belittling.
Despite her instincts, Sakuno made an effort to undo her previous blundered line. She eased her brow and tried to wear a grin.
"Echizen?"
Ryoma turned to her. Her friendly expression, which he had not seen since middle school, shocked him. Since he met her again after five years in the bubble tea café, the only expressions of Sakuno's which he had witnessed were of anger, irritation, disdain, and boredom. At the sight of her curved lips and soft eyes, he felt his own frustration seep away. "Hm?"
"Why do you answer the phone like that? By saying, 'Echizen speaking'?"
Ryoma paused a moment. He blinked. "I'm not sure," he said truthfully.
Sakuno chose her words carefully. Be nice, she chanted to herself. "Don't you think that when your callers hear that, they might possibly feel it's… pretentious?"
Ryoma shrugged a shoulder. "No," he said simply.
Sakuno saw conviction in his heavy stare. She returned her gaze out of the window, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. Expressing kindness towards Ryoma is a difficult task, she realized, when he insisted on obtusely defending his rude mannerisms.
After minutes of riding down the city streets, a silence overtook them, and Sakuno savored it. Her heavy eyelids closed, and her head fell back against the seat. Jet lag had caught up to her. Finally, a long and boring evening with Ryoma was drawing to a close, and she could get a moment to rest…
"Ryuzaki."
Sakuno wanted to hit him. Could he not see that she was trying to sleep? She opted to ignore him, hoping he would go away…
"Ryuzaki."
… but alas, she had no such luck. All memory of her kindness campaign vanished. Irritated eyes snapped opened. "What!"
"Thank you for coming with me."
Sakuno flinched. She had almost yelled at him when he merely wished to thank her.
"Oh… no problem."
ooooo
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Ryoma Echizen: "Echizen speaking."
Nanjiro Echizen: "Hi, Ryoma! I'm so happy right now!"
Ryoma: "Old man… what's going on? I told you not to call me at this time of the day! I had to step out of my first class to answer the phone! The professor must already have a bad first impression on me…"
Nanjiro: "Whoops! Heh heh, sorry my son, but his is important! I got a call from the longtime Seishun Academy tennis coach, Old Lady Ryuzaki. That old hag told me some pretty interesting stuff. She said that she was shopping for books when she saw a picture of you and her granddaughter on the cover of a magazine. You two were holding hands. You two are dating?"
Ryoma: "Me and Ryuzaki?"
Nanjiro: "No, not you and Ryuzaki! Why would you and Old Lady Ryuzaki be dating? That's gross! You and Ryuzaki, honestly… I mean you and Ryuzaki's granddaughter!"
Ryoma: "… Yes. I know. The granddaughter's name is also Ryuzaki."
Nanjiro: "… Oh… heh heh. Yes, you and the young Ryuzaki! You two are dating, no?"
Ryoma: "… It's complicated…"
Nanjiro: "It's complicated? What's that supposed to mean? If it's not a 'yes,' then it has to be a 'no.' You two aren't dating?"
Ryoma: "Well… I don't want to say… say that we aren't dating… but it's a stretch to say that we are… wait, why the hell am I telling you this!"
Nanjiro: "Ha ha, because I'm the mastermind of love and women! Okay, okay, so it's complicated, I guess I can accept that. I bought the magazine, and I'm impressed. Young Ryuzaki is very pretty! She's become quite the woman! The way in this picture she's clutching your hand for her dear life…"
Ryoma: "…"
Nanjiro: "What, you don't think she's quite pretty now? Why were you guys holding hands, then?"
Ryoma: "…"
Nanjiro: "Ah, Ryoma, you're no fun! Just like your mother… I just wanna say, if you and Young Ryuzaki are going to go all the way, then you need to be proactive! Like how it was with me and your mother…"
Ryoma: "Eh? You and Mom? What happened?"
Nanjiro: "Your mother fell in love with me at first sight! Ha ha! No, but really, your mother is the kindest, most beautiful woman. If she didn't take any initiative, we may have never married, you may have never been born, and I may still not have her in my life today. I'm extremely fortunate that your mother chose to marry a loudmouthed, womanizing, idiotic slob like myself."
Ryoma: "…"
Nanjiro: "She's the one who chose me, who went out of her way to get me. I am thankful for her initiative every time I see her, every time I see you…"
Ryoma: "…"
Nanjiro: "Anyway, Ryoma, my point is that you need to seize the day. Your mother did it and we made you. Someone has to take the first step, and it might as well be you! If you do it, maybe you two will give me and your mother some grandchildren! Ha ha ha!"
Ryoma: "Ha… that'll be the day…"
Nanjiro: "Whatever the day is, you need to seize it, my son! Good luck with classes!"
Ryoma: "Yeah… thanks, Dad…"
ooooo
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Sakuno Ryuzaki: "Hello?"
Sumire Ryuzaki: "Hi, Sakuno!"
Sakuno: "Grandma! Hi! How are you? How's Japan?"
Sumire: "Everything's fine! How are you?"
Sakuno: "I'm excited to hear from you again, Grandma!"
Sumire: "I just had a discovery that I want to discuss with you. I found a magazine cover with you and Ryoma Echizen on the cover. You two are holding hands. Ryoma even looks like he's blushing!"
Sakuno: "… Me and Echizen? What! We're on a magazine cover!"
Sumire: "It's a tabloid, and yes, you're on the cover! You two make such a cute couple!"
Sakuno: "Whoa, whoa… Grandma, Echizen and I are not dating!"
Sumire: "Oh, really? That's why I was calling, to see if you two were… well, never mind. But Ryoma here, he looks so flustered, it's very cute… are you sure you two aren't dating?"
Sakuno: "Yes, Grandma!"
Sumire: "Oh, that's a shame… you used to like little Ryoma so much! It was so cute!"
Sakuno: "… Please don't remind me, Grandma… I told you about how Ryoma treated me in the airport when he left for America…"
Sumire: "Oh… oh, what a shame… I always had childishly thought that you two would get married… It would have been such a cute wedding…"
Sakuno: "Grandma!"
Sumire: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry… I'm just a little disappointed. Little Ryoma was a cute kid, obviously more attractive now. His underwear ads are everywhere! He's become much more of an idol recently, and I really don't know why… considering he just retired, I don't understand his recent popularity at all! So you two are definitely not dating?"
Sakuno: "Definitely. Not dating at all."
Sumire: "But then why are you two holding hands?"
Sakuno: "… People probably just edited the photo so it looked like we were holding hands…"
Sumire: "Oh… So you don't even like him a little?"
Sakuno: "No, Grandma! I hate his guts! He's such a jerk!"
Sumire: "Now, Sakuno, that's not nice! Maybe he's changed since he left after middle school!"
Sakuno: "…"
Sumire: "Oh, Sakuno, but you just have to see the way Ryoma is blushing on this magazine cover! It's so cute!"
Sakuno: "… I have to go, Grandma, I'm sorry… I'm very busy. Today is the first day of class, and I have to go soon."
Sumire: "Oh, I understand… bye, Sakuno, I hope to hear from you again soon."
Sakuno: "Bye, Grandma, love you…"
ooooo
Ryoma Echizen sat in his philosophy class, wearing nerd glasses and nerd attire, sitting on the edge of his seat. His energetic professor's shouts completely captivated him.
"And then you need to seize the day!" the professor bellowed, waving his arms animatedly. His voice echoed in the lecture hall. The aging professor's surprising agility and his large motions roused passion in each of his students, especially the bespectacled Japanese student in the front row. Ryoma was given the fuel of a magical lecture from a mad professor, and his body pumped with adrenaline that was matched only during his world championship tennis matches. His father, who was wiser than Ryoma acknowledged, and his philosophy teacher, who was the craziest but most inspirational man Ryoma had ever seen, had both in a single day impounded the same message into Ryoma's mind.
Seize the day. Carpe Diem. Life is short. The future is promised to no one…
The professor's voice buzzed in Ryoma's ears as he gathered his effects and left the lecture hall. Seize the day… seize the day… Ryoma decided that today, he would seize the day. The adrenaline, the passion drove him – nothing could block his path.
"What do you want?" asked the professor, his voice still in Ryoma's ear. The voice continued as Ryoma left the building and stepped onto campus. "What do you want?"
That's easy, thought Ryoma. His brunette roommate wearing her simple summer dress and simple grin appeared in his mind. He wanted to ask Sakuno Ryuzaki to be his girlfriend.
"Be honest with yourself!" said his professor. "You fool only yourself! Look into your soul and find the truth!"
Ryoma was now telling himself the truth. He liked Sakuno Ryuzaki. He did not know when, could not comprehend why he, the cold-hearted professional, finally fell for a plain girl. The way she treats him like an ordinary person instead of a famous athlete, the way she cuddles and hugs Karupin and makes him jealous of his beloved pet, the way she grins when she sees the autumn blossoms and the rising sun, the way her hand fit into his, the way she was perfection embodied in imperfection: he liked it all.
"And when the truth presents itself, ACT! MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR WORLD TODAY!"
Ryoma threaded his way through the crowded campus. He was a man on a mission. His mind raced with scenarios and outcomes. A headline flashed before his eyes: Ryoma Echizen is TAKEN, dating mysterious college girl.
"The time will come for you to make a decision," said the professor, "and you will instantly know the right choice! You then need only to not hesitate, but INSTIGATE!"
Before he knew it, he was standing in front of his apartment door. He suddenly noticed that his back was drenched in sweat. His skin was clammy, his fingers shaking, his breath ragged, his heart racing. By now, his brain was no longer orchestrating his body – he was riding the wisdom of his father and his professor. He fumbled with the door key and shoved the door open.
Inside was Sakuno, sitting by the table, looking from her book to see the wild sight of a disheveled Ryoma Echizen. She saw his eyes underneath his nerd glasses reflect a mysteriously bold light.
Seize the day.
"Sakuno!" said Ryoma, his voice dry and strained. "Will you go out with me?"
ooooo
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Author's notes: Sorry I took longer to write this chapter. It's twice as long as my other chapters, so I guess it just took twice as long to write. As always, please review! Comment on anything and I'll be grateful.