When Kirihara Akaya found out Yukimura was creating a Tennis club he knew exactly where he wanted to go to school next year. No, he knew where he needed to go to school. It wasn't that he missed being teammates with Yukimura, Sanada and Marui or anything! That definitely wasn't it. He just still had some unfinished business with the ex-Rikkai demons.
Without a second thought, Kirihara Akaya made plans to go on a 'college visit' and investigate Yukimura's new team. The Wednesday before the University division Kanto tournament, instead of heading off to school like normal, he took a bus all the way from Kanagawa to Tokyo. The buses were running early, and Kirihara managed to arrive at 7:40am, just 20 minutes before Yukimura's team was set to begin practice.
"Dang, I could have slept in for like 20 more minutes." Kirihara mumbled to himself, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He made his way over to the street courts where Yanagi told him Yukimura's team usually practiced. A strange sign was posted on the gate:
These courts have been reserved from 8:00 – 9:00am by the Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Culinary Arts Tennis Team. There is another set of street courts just 10 minutes away by bus. [see map and detailed directions below]
Any questions please contact Yukimura Seiichi [123-4567-8900]
Kirihara didn't bother to keep reading the sign, because it was a little long and in calligraphy which was all swirly and hard to read. Kirihara looked up to see that, although there was still 20 minutes before practice officially began Sanada was, of course, already there running laps around the courts.
"Sanada, it seems we have a guest."
Kirihara turned his head to find he was merely steps away from his ex-captain. How creepy. Where was Yukimura hiding all that time?
"Kirihara don't slack of on your new duties as Captain of Rikkai High!" Sanada scolded from across the courts (still running his laps).
"I'm not! We're taking a day off!" Kirihara insisted. He wasn't irresponsible, he texted the whole team that morning telling them not to come to practice. It's good to have a rest day every now and then.
"A day off?! It's a Wednesday, Tarundoru!" Sanada bellowed. This year was Kirihara's first year being a captain all on his own, and Sanada wasn't liking how things were turning out. [Being captain of Rikkai-dai's Junior high division didn't count, because Yukimura had still micromanaged everything from the high-school division.] Kirihara was going to tarnish the Rikkai name, bring shame upon himself, his family, and worst of all Yukimura as a former Rikkai-high Tennis club captain….
"I'm on a college visit, and I wanted to check out Captain Yukimura's new Tennis team. Maybe if you guys are lucky, next year the great Kirihara Akaya will come here and join your team!" Kirihara boasted
"But Kirihara, this is an auditioned school and you don't have any artistic talents." Sanada stated bluntly.
"Sanada…" Yukimura warned. Shaking his head slowly. Let the kid dream a little.
"Not true!" Kirihara retorted. "I got a B+ on my recorder test, I can audition on that!"
Five minutes before practice was set to start some of the other members begun arriving.
Upon seeing Kirihara Marui accidentally spit out his green apple gum from the shock. "You! You jerk! That was my LAST piece of gum!" Marui fumed. Sanada had a rule about bringing 'sugary substances' on the courts, so Marui unfortunately didn't have any backup gum. Yukimura had been kind enough to allow Marui to have one piece of gum per practice, but stupid Kirihara practically forced him to spit it on the ground, the nerve!
"He's on a college visit, apparently." Yukimura informed, hopefully they would still be able to start practice on time despite the minor distraction.
"Look everyone is back together again!" Kirihara commented joyfully, ignoring Marui's distress. "Well, almost everyone…Niou-senpai, Jackal-senpai, Yagyuu-senpai, and Yanagi-senpai are missing" Kirihara remarked, counting the names of his former teammates on his fingers. "Too bad."
At the mention of Jackal's name, Marui's mood further began to sour. He crossed his arms glaring poignantly at Kirihara, "Jackal's still fixated on going to college in Brazil, even after I told him about our cool awesome tennis team."
"Forget about Jackal! You have a new doubles partner now, right?" Kirihara reasoned. He was either not noticing or pretending not to notice Marui's annoyance, it wasn't too clear.
Marui glanced to his right where Jirou was standing…wait no…sleeping? Akaya's right, Jirou's a great doubles partner! Oh…who am I kidding! I really want Jackal to move back already… Marui sighed reluctantly
"How is Jackal by the way? I haven't heard from him in a while." Yukimura remarked coolly.
"Oh…right. He told me to tell you guys 'hi' like last week, but I was extremely busy writing my "Theory of Cooking Yummy Things" essay. I didn't have time." Marui lied. Actually, he just plain forgot.
"The one you stole from Wikipedia?!" Sanada roared.
"Well…the thing is…"
Kikumaru watched as the Rikkai alumni and Kirihara chatted animatedly about cool things, feeling a little bit left out of their reminiscing session. He looked around for Fuji, only to remember Fuji always came late on Wednesdays, because of his early morning Cactusology class. Just my luck…
"It's just as Renji's data predicted…90% chance you all would be-"
"Inui! I've missed you!" Kikumaru shouted with glee, cutting off Inui's rambling with a big warm hug. It was so NICE to see a familiar ex-Seigaku face.
"Ah! Kikumaru get off of me, please." Inui said, shoving the red head's arms off his shoulders. "Yukimura, Renji asked me to deliver this to you. He's unable to make it today. He's….feeling a little under the weather. "
"I'm sorry to hear that. Give him my regards." Yukimura said sympathetically taking a small slip of paper from Inui.
"Lemme guess, you gave him one of your gross juices, and now he has a stomachache!" Kikumaru yelled, pointing a finger of accusation towards the data man. Maybe he didn't actually miss the Dataman after all.
"There is only a 70% chance that it was my Inui juice. 30% chance it was the pasta he ate for dinner last night!" Inui argued. Why did everyone always have to hate on the Inui juice?
Yukimura looked down at the slip of paper Inui handed to him. There was only one sentence written on it. There is a 90% chance you will play against Rikkai-dai University in the Kanto tournament this weekend. This type of thing didn't really warrant a messenger. Maybe email or text would have been more efficient.
Looking at Yukimura's expression, Inui spoke up, "I know what you're thinking." turning his gaze towards Kirihara he continued, "Actually, I'm really here to talk to Kirihara. I believe Renji's exact words were 'Tell Akaya, he's required to submit paperwork to the office before going on a college visit, otherwise he will be marked absent for all of his classes. If Akaya misses one more Classical Literature class, he will be at risk for failing and put his entire tennis team in jeopardy."
Kirihara didn't even question why Yanagi was still keeping so many tabs on him. At this point, it was just kind of part of who he was.
"What? I have to fill out paperwork?!" Kirihara yelled in bewilderment.
"Of course you have to fill out paperwork! Did you think you could just randomly take a day off school whenever you felt like it?!" Sanada asked in astonishment.
"Um…yeah I did. I remember that's what Niou-senpai used to do…" Kirihara trailed off, shuffling his feet on the ground.
"Niooouuuu!" Sanada yelled as if Kirihara had brought up a very painful memory.
"Now there's a name I haven't heard in a while. I wonder how he's doing." Yukimura mused, looking up at the sky thoughtfully.
Niou Masaharu had been missing since his 2nd year of high school and a multitude of rumors had accumulated on the subject of his disappearance. At first, Kirihara hadn't been sure who to believe. Sanada had said Niou went abroad far far away. Yukimura had simply said Niou dropped out of school. Marui had said Niou joined a gang! [A gang of space-pirates that is] Yanagi had said Niou became a secret spy! It took many months of careful contemplation for Kirihara to figure out the real answer. Niou dropped out of school to go abroad far far away, all the way to the North Pole. There he joined Santa's secret gang of elves. It makes perfect sense, because Niou hates sunny weather and the heat, so naturally he would want to move somewhere colder.
Kirihara smirked triumphantly, realizing he was the only one who knew the truth about the trickster. However, an annoying dataman's voice quickly interrupted his happy thoughts.
"This isn't the time to be smiling, Kirihara. 90% chance that your classical literature class will take place sometime within the next hour. 80% chance the bus will be running late. 85% chance that—"
"Ahhhh! Guys I have to go!" Kirihara yelled, sprinting off in a panic towards the bus stop.
"You owe me a pack of gum!" Marui yelled after him, but it was too late, Kirihara already ran away.
At the Kanto Tournament
The stands in the Kanto tournament were packed…with supporters for Rikkai University. Kirihara was feeling very torn about taking a seat with the Rikkai-university students. The other team had his good rival-friends Sanada, Yukimura, and Marui. The Rikkai university team just had some upperclassmen that he didn't know very well, but because he was the captain of the high school division he was required to watch every university game and try to learn a few things to bring back to the team.
Looking up into the stands Kirihara thought he saw Yagyuu. Yagyuu was the only person Kirihara knew that actually decided to attend the Rikkai University division. Kirihara wondered what Yagyuu was doing in the stands, maybe he missed playing tennis? After Niou 'disappeared' Yagyuu quit tennis and took up golf again. Yagyuu was talking to some very cool looking guy in a suit, with dark shades and a hat. He looked like he could be a spy! Or maybe a rich businessman! Whatever the case, he looked very out of place at this university tennis tournament.
Yagyuu had heard from Yanagi that Yukimura had started up a tennis team with Sanada at their art school. It sounded interesting, so after an intense golfing practice he decided to have a look. [not that he missed tennis or anything] He was tired from all of his golfing, so he decided to sit in the shade, which just so happened to be near the Rikkai-University students.
Yagyuu looked to his right and realized the man sitting next to him looked very familiar, but he couldn't remember where he knew them from. The man was wearing dark glasses, a suit, a fedora, and had white hair. White hair? Yagyuu seemed to remember, way back in the days he used to play tennis, like, 2 years ago, he had a doubles partner who looked just like that.
"Niou?"
"Yagyuu? It's been a while."
"Did you come to see Yukimura's new tennis team as well?"
Niou didn't answer that. "It looks like Yukimura's school didn't bring many fans. Maybe you should go help them out."
And then Niou just got up and left.
Kirihara watched Yagyuu and the cool guy walk away. He desperately wanted to chase after them but couldn't with all of the University upperclassmen watching.
Reluctantly, Yagyuu got up from the shady spot to join the only two people which had come to support Yukimura's team: Oishi and Ootori
Oishi and Ootori were the only people that came to cheer for the Art University tennis team, and they didn't even attend the school. Yagyuu arrived to find them both holding self-made pom poms and cheering loudly
"Hooray, Hooray! A-R-T U-N-I-V-E-R-S-I-T-Y"
Finally, it was time for Yukimura's team to face off against their first opponent, Rikkai University. Some of the Rikkai University members were attempting to hold back laughter upon seeing the Art University's pretty lilac uniforms with a beige stripe. However, these are Rikkai University students, many of which are former Rikkai high and Junior High students and all too familiar with Yukimura's special abilities. Meeting eyes with Yukimura's smiling face, the captain of Rikkai University shakily spoke up:
"We forfeit!"
"That was lame" Shihido commented.
"That team doesn't deserve to wear mustard yellow jerseys…" Yukimura mumbled to himself.
No one dared to mention the fact that it made perfect sense for the Rikkai University division to wear mustard yellow jearsys, just like the junior high and high school divisions.
"Yukimura, what's the next school we're up against?" Kikumaru jumped around excitedly.
"Tokyo Doctor University or TDU"
"But, that's Oishi's school!" Kikumaru exclaimed, only to find Oishi was now missing from his cheering station in the stands.
"Yes, I know, that's why it's a good thing we have you on the team, Kikumaru, since you know his playing style the best out of all of us." Yukimura replied
"We're best friends though. Besides, I don't very much feel like playing against Oishi today. Maybe someone else can do it." Eiji sulked
"I'll gladly—" Mizuki began, only to realize no one was listening to him
Poor Mizuki, no one ever listens to him.
~O~O~O~
"Will the doubles 2 teams please make their way on to the courts?"
"This is the UH pair's first match! I'm so excited!" Eiji cheered, somewhat back to his normal happy self.
The Tokyo Doctor University's doubles 2 team and Marui walked on to the court, but Jirou was nowhere to be seen.
"Will the rest of the Art University's doubles 2 team please enter the courts? You have 5 minutes."
"Tarundoru! Where is Akutagawa?" Sanada asked in frustration. It was a complete loss of face to lose like this!
5 minutes quickly passed as the team searched in a frenzy for Jirou, only to find him asleep under a large shady tree. The team was forced to forfeit their first actual match. Yukimura was not amused.
"Akutagawa! Wake-up!" Sanada yelled, resisting the urge to slap Jirou awake. He had broken that habit long long ago in high school…But, if Jirou didn't wake up soon he would have to resort to the dreaded tickling, which was just plain embarrassing.
Lucky for Sanada Jirou woke up without having to be tickled!
"Huh? Is it my turn to play already?" Jirou asked, dazed.
"It's over, you slept through it, come watch Shishido and Kikumaru's match." Sanada stated gruffly
"What? But Marui and I are doubles 2? Doesn't that mean we play second?" Jirou asked, confused.
Was he serious? How many years had he played tennis? "This is your first time to play doubles in an official tournament, isn't it?" Sanada sighed. Jirou was, after all primarily a singles player.
"It's you!" Kikumaru pointed in alarm. "Oishi, how could you replace me as your partner with him? I feel so betrayed!"
"Eiji I-I" Oishi stuttered. I had no choice! The coach made me! Ah!
"Gakuto? I didn't know you were on the tennis team." Shishido remarked.
"Same goes to you Ryou. Moreover, you're paired up with Mr. Loser Jumper over there. I actually feel sorry for you!" Mukahi laughed evilly.
Kikumaru started with a serve, a quick serve that flew straight by Mukahi Gakuto's straight bob of hair and nearly into Oishi's face. Luckily he caught it and sent it back to the other courts
"Hey, I bet you two don't even have a very good team name. We're the Gilver pair! I thought of it all by myself" Kikumaru huffed
"That's great, Eiji. You're right, we haven't got a team name yet." Oishi said, trying to relax his ex-partner. They weren't on the same team anymore, but he still didn't like to see Eiji all worked up like this.
"3 games to 4, Oishi Mukahi leads"
This is bad, we're falling behind. I have to do something! Shishido thought.
"How about 'weird hair pair?' " Shishido smirked, waiting to see his friend Gakuto's reaction.
"Ryou! You take that back!" Mukahi yelled, losing concentration and smashing the ball into the net. Dang it! My hair isn't weird. It's cool and handsome you jerk.
"15-0"
Normally Oishi would have said something to try and comfort his partner, but he was to busy thinking about the meaning behind 'weird hair pair.' Did that mean Shishido thought Oishi's hair was weird too? Did Eiji? Was it time for another haircut?
Lost in thought, Oishi missed the tennis ball coming right towards him.
"Ah, my bad!"
If Oishi's partner had been Eiji, he would have said something along the lines of 'never mind, just try again next time.' But, Oishi's partner was Mukahi, who screamed "God, get a grip loser!"
Oishi looked over to the other side of the court for some sympathy from his ex-partner and friend, only to find Eiji and Shishido laughing at something. Were they laughing at him? Was Eiji laughing at the hair he put so much time and effort on?
No, of course Kikumaru wasn't laughing at Oishi. But, Oishi didn't know this. And, with Oishi's overly worrying nature combined with Mukahi's hotheaded personality it goes without saying the rest of the game went in the Gilver pair's favor.
"Game and set. Shishido Kikumaru Pair 6 games to 4."
"You are such a jerk, Ryou!" Mukahi seethed.
"Congratulations, Eiji!" Oishi tried to force a smile, but his feelings were still hurt from when he thought Eiji was laughing at him.
"Oishi! Don't be sad! I'm sure next time you'll win!" Kikumaru comforted. "Maybe it would help if you got a different doubles partner…" He added in a whisper, shooting a suspicious glance in Mukahi's direction.
…..
"I'm so pumped for singles 3 guys!" Kikumaru announced upon arriving back with the team
"I wonder who the other team will be sending out..."
"According to my data, it's not anyone we've faced before. Probably an upperclassmen fufufu," Mizuki chuckled, twirling a strand of hair.
"Actually, Mukahi told me Oshitari's playing in singles 3. I believe his exact words were 'Just wait for Yuushi to kick your butts in singles 3!' " Shishido said, in a perfectly high-pitched whiny imitation of Mukahi.
"Oooh Oshitari is here? Now it makes sense why Mukahi is going to Tokyo Doctor University. I always thought he wanted to be a professional skateboarder or something."
"Yup. Gakuto is pretty close with Oshitari's family who happen to be doctors. Oshitari's dad said he could pull some strings and land Gakuto a good job if he graduated from medical school."
"Huh? That's not nearly as exciting as what I was thinking…" Kikumaru pouted in disappointment.
"Yeah, I thought it would be more along the lines of you and Ootori's relationship," Marui joined in.
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?!"