"He is rather good looking" Oshitari Yuushi commented after school in the cafeteria.
"Who?" Genjirou took a bite of his sandwich. The best thing about Hyoutei was that they had food available all day long and Genjirou loved it.
"That guy who keeps staring at you. Yamato Yusuke" Yuushi replied.
"Uh...yeah, cool" Genjirou said.
"Have you no interest in anyone here?" Yuushi asked.
"Not really. I don't judge anyone on looks. I'd rather get to know that person first and then start a relationship" Genjirou replied.
"Then how about Atobe?"
"Eww, no. That's like dating my brother"
"Jesus, how is it so hard?"
Oshitari Yuushi was a definite playboy, Genjirou mused. He was handsome with longish blue hair and cunning eyes that were hidden behind round glasses that Genjirou figured out had no prescription. Yuushi had a hot body with muscled arms and a six pack to boot. His tan skin made him look even more appealing. Girls drooled over him and some guys too.
"You've been getting a little more bulky so attention's riveted on you" Oshitari commented.
"I suppose" Genjirou swallowed the last of his sandwich and then stood up. He said his goodbyes to Oshitari and headed up to the library.
The library had now become his favourite place in the entire school. While Atobe barked orders at the tennis players for two hours after school, Genjirou absorbed himself into books learning as much as he could about history and literature. His first training session had been brutal and Gen'emon scolded him for not having enough knowledge about Japanese history. The blond would never understand about the different fighting techniques if he did not know the history behind them.
Someone tapped on his shoulder and he looked up from his book. A small, tiny girl stood in front of him. He had seen her around school frequently and knew immediately from her tie colour that she was a freshman. She was also Toru's younger sister. She was absolutely adorable with her large eyes and pouty pink lips. She smiled shyly at him before bowing.
"My name is Nakamura Yuki, senpai" She said sweetly.
"Nice to meet you, Yuki-chan" Genjirou replied.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your reading, senpai, but would you please help me stack these books up on the top shelf. I'm afraid of climbing on the ladder" Yuki requested.
"Of course, Yuki-chan. Anything for a cute little sweetheart like you" Genjirou stood up.
"Senpai, you're making me embarrassed!" Yuki pouted.
"That's because you're being so cute"
Yuki flushed and then looked away with a shy smile. Genjirou chuckled at how embarrassed she could actually get. This was another thing he loved about Japanese girls. They had their way of being so shy and innocent without it being rather overly sweet. It was some sort of technique they had mastered somehow and he was sure that girls in England or America would be totally jealous of this talent. Genjirou climbed up the ladder and then took each book Yuki handed him to place on the shelf.
"Genjirou?"
Genjirou glanced over at the ground and then spotted Fuji. He could feel himself grow even more happy than he currently was. He had not been able to see Fuji in three solid weeks since the funeral.
"Fuji, I'll be right down. Give me a minute" Genjirou hurriedly stacked the rest of the books and then stepped down from the ladder.
"Thank you, senpai!" Yuki bowed and hurried off.
"Who was that? She's cute" Fuji commented.
"My classmate's little sister. She had library duty today and I helped her stack the books on the higher shelves since she was afraid" Genjirou explained.
"I've missed you so much, Genijrou"
"What are you doing here? No one's allowed here except visitors and students"
"I'm actually a visitor. My school tennis club regulars have come here for practice matches with Hyoutei's tennis club" Fuji replied.
"So Atobe must be down in the courts" Genjirou concluded.
"Atobe? Do you know him?" Fuji asked.
"When I was younger and living in England, Atobe and I were best friends. We attended the same school and then he moved to Japan after elementary school. We met again after four years. Doesn't that sound amazing? I live at his mansion instead of at the dorms. I should be at the dorms but he pulled me out and forced me to stay" Genjirou replied.
"That does sound amazing. Let's go down to the courts. You can watch me play" Fuji said.
Genjirou followed him out and then felt Fuji take his hand. At first he felt like snatching his hand away and then glanced at Fuji. Fuji wasn't looking at him but was simply smiling to himself. Genjirou didn't bother asking him anything. He did know that Japanese males were close so if he held hands with Fuji, no one would really care. They got to the courts and Genjirou sat down at the bleachers.
He waved to Atobe who nodded to him before turning to his vice captain Hiyoshi Wakato. Genjirou knew many of the tennis players at Hyoutei but he took some time examining the players from Seigaku. He noticed Fuji talking with a rather excitable red head who reminded Genjirou strangely of a little cat. Then he noticed a tall and well buit player with black spiky hair. Whatever he was saying could be heard in the entire court since he was so loud.
He spotted some other players but they didn't really stand out to him. He stiffened when he saw a tall young man with spiky hair and glasses staring right at him. Genjirou had seen this person before around Kaganawa High but he would usually see him with Yanagi, Genichirou's close friend. Standing right next to the guy with glasses was a short but well built player with a blue and white bandanna.
"Damn, Seigaku have rather distinct players" Genjirou commented out loud.
He heard a loud snore and then turned around. Lying on a seat two levels above his was Atobe's close friend Akutagawa Jirou. The sleeping player was good at something Atobe called serve and volley but other than that Jirou spent his time during practice just sleeping which suited everyone just fine. Genjirou turned back around and then began watching the practice matches.
The guy with the bandanna was first and Genjirou had to admit he was a good player. He handled the most difficult shots rather well and one of his shots literally went around the net pole onto the opponents court. Genjirou let out a low whistle of admiration and heard Jirou wake up from behind him.
"Practice already started?" Jirou rubbed his eyes.
"They're having practice matches with Seigaku, Jirou" Genjirou replied. Even thought Jirou was a third year, Genjirou didn't bother with honorific at all.
"Is Fuji here?!" Jirou literally lit up like a thousand watt lightbulb.
"Fuji?" Genjirou raised a blond brow.
"Fuji Syusuke! The genius of Seigaku! Is he here?" Jirou looked around and then raced down to the courts excited beyond belief.
"Why does he want to meet Fuji?" Genjirou wondered.
He watched Jirou run over to Fuji and then chatter away excitedly. Fuji was smiling and answering him as calmly as he could. Genjirou then caught Atobe waving him to come down and he stood up.
"You called?" Genjirou asked.
"How did you wake up Jirou?" Atobe asked.
"He woke up on his own and I told him Seigaku players were here. He got excited and ran down to Fuji" Genjirou replied.
"That kid is still the same immature admirer he used to be"
"Admirer?"
"He doesn't seem to realise it but he develops fan crushes for any tennis players he admires. From Seigaku he absolutely loves Fuji Syusuke. From Rikkaidai, he loved Marui Bunta" Atobe explained.
"That's rather sweet"
"It's sweet now but I'm afraid when he finds out about the genuine feelings he has for Fuji and Marui and both of them refuse him, he might be hurt beyond belief" Atobe replied.
"Atobe, you care a lot for him, right?" Genjirou realised.
Atobe started and then looked over at Genjirou. Genjirou smiled and patted his old friend's shoulder.
"Kei, if you truly care for him then you shouldn't hold back. Go ask him out! Try and get to know him! Impress him!" Genjirou said.
"I doubt he notices anything I do" Atobe seemed morose but then lightened up when Jirou came running up to him, begging him to let him play Fuji in a match.
Genjirou seated himself on the bleachers and watched the matches. He was right in saying that Seigaku had distinct players. All of them had their own unique skill and ability but one person stood out in particular. He looked like a freshman but he played tennis like a professional. At one particular shot, Genjirou let out a shrill whistle. The player stopped and then looked around. Genjirou waved and the player smirked.
After the match was over, the player walked over to Genjirou.
"Judging by your looks, you're foreign. I'm Ryoma" the player said in unaccented English.
"Genjirou. It's quite a surprise to find a Japanese speaking fluent English like you" Genjirou patted the seat next to him.
"I was born in America. I moved here when I was twelve" Ryoma replied.
"I was born in England. I just moved a few months ago"
"You attend Hyoutei which means you're either rich or ridiculously talented. Which is it?"
"My family situation is a bit tense and so my father sent me here. I'm here to learn and nurture my talents" Genjirou replied.
"What talents are those?"
"I sing, compose songs and dance"
"Do you play tennis?" Ryoma asked.
"I used to back in England with Atobe but I stopped playing after he left" Genjirou admitted.
"Well then, let's get started" Ryoma grabbed Genjirou's hand and dragged him down to the courts.
"What is with Japanese and hand holding?" Genjirou wondered.
Ryoma handed him a spare racquet and then grabbed a few tennis balls. Genjirou was at a loss at what to do.
"Let's try your forehand first. Stretch out your entire arm and then swing" Ryoma demonstrated and Genjirou followed right after. The movements feel natural and familiar and soon he and Ryoma began a short one set practice match.
"Go easy on me. I haven't played in years" Genjirou said with a grin.
Ryoma served easily and Genjirou caught it with a stretch of his arm. Ryoma soon had him running all over the court trying to score a point. Genjirou volleyed the ball wherever he could and Ryoma followed the ball like a magnet. Then Genjirou saw the ball in his line of sight and then decided to show off a little. He broke out a dance move he had learned in class this morning and hit the ball with his back to the net. The ball went high in the air and hit the ground.
"Love 15!" Hiyoshi cried from the high chair.
"I actually got a point?" Genjirou turned around and saw all the players including Ryoma staring at him in shock.
"What?" He blanched.
"You just did the Higuma Ootoshi" The red headed excitable player from Seigaku said.
"The what?" Genjirou asked in confusion.
"That's one of my special moves. How did you do it? I usually bring a cord ball to the net and then use it to do the move" Fuji explained.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I just used a dance move that I had learned during class and luckily Ryoma didn't react fast enough" Genjirou said.
"You used your dance skills to make your own tennis move. That is brilliant" Atobe exclaimed.
Genjirou sweat dropped. "You are all too tennis obsessed for your own good"
"It was a nice move. Will you teach me?" Ryoma asked.
"It's easy" Genjirou demonstrated his dance step and Ryoma effortlessly copied it.
"Incorporating dance in tennis. I would never have thought of it" Yuushi commented as he watched Genjirou teach Ryoma.
"He's different from us, Yuushi. He's unique" Fuji commented.
"I saw the two of you holding hands when you came on the courts. Mind telling me what was going on then, Fuji?" Yuushi's glasses glinted in the sunlight.
"You're going to have to wait and find out, Yuushi" Fuji's smile widened as Genjirou handed the racquet back to Ryoma and then walked towards them.
"Fuji, I know a really nice cafe outside of the school with really good sushi. Will you come with me? My treat?" Genjirou said.
"Of course. Anything for you, Genjirou" Fuji replied.
A lightbulb went off in Oshitari's mind as Genjirou bounded off towards the bleachers. Fuji's gaze lingered on the blond before turning and walking away towards Kikumaru Eiji.
"Well, well, isn't this a strange turn of events" the tensai pushed his glasses up his nose with a mischievous smirk.
Sorry for the late updates. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter.