Disclaimer: I don't own Tennis No Ohjisama/Prince of Tennis. If I did, we'll finally get to see Jiroh play against Atobe, and maybe Sanada VS Yukimura too...
Author's Note (Somewhat Urgent): It was once explained to me that Koukou actually means 'high school' in Japanese. Hence the usage of Seishun Koukou (Seishun High School). However, I'm debating whether to call it 'Seikou' or just continue with the familiar 'Seigaku', so if you all have any preference, please do inform me! Also, as of today, I still haven't thought of any pairings, but if you think my fic implies any... well... Once again, thank you for reading, and enjoy!
Summary: Seishun High School: The team is finally complete again, thanks to the return of freshman wonder Echizen Ryoma from America and 3 ex-regulars joining the tennis team again. Besides winning Nationals and being a regular again, manager Inui Sadaharu has a new resolution: obtain an assistant (a.k.a. guinea pig) to aid him. Fortunately (for him) he finds one in the form of the unsuspecting new sophomore entering Kaidoh's and Momo's class this year. Thus begins the tale of...
The Manager's Assistant
Chapter Two (a.k.a. Just Who Are You?)
"Ohayou, Tezuka."
"Ah," Tezuka Kunimitsu nodded as he took a seat on the bus departing for Seishun High School, his face maintaining its emotionless look as he responded to his vice-captain's greeting.
Seated on the right side of the aisle separating them, Oishi Syuichiroh smiled, then resumed his engaging activity of staring out the window. Alas, term break was over already…
Kikumaru Eiji was (metaphorically) on Cloud Nine. In fact, he was happy enough to be alert and bounding up and down the path leading to the male tennis locker room. Why, you may ask?
This called for a simple answer: His favorite brand of toothpaste was being restocked today, and just in time too; he'd finished up the last tube shortly before school this morning. Eiji grinned joyfully; he was so going to purchase more toothpaste right after today's practice!
And so we leave Seishun's resident acrobat and move on…
(In case you're wondering the reason/s for Eiji to be at the clubroom so early in the morning, it's because he's waiting for his doubles partner there. Let's just leave it at that, ne?)
"93.6 chance that the team would… enjoy my latest brew…"
Er… perhaps Inui Sadaharu shouldn't be bothered while in the midst of conducting tests…
The third-year genius, Fuji Syusuke, was currently in his own class, History textbook open on his pristine desk with his ever-present smile on his handsome (to his fan club, at least) features. A sudden noise caught his attention, and he greeted the occupant of the desk next to his with a relaxed "Ohayou, Taka-san".
Kawamura Takeshi, sushi chef-in-training, returned the greeting politely as he took his seat, depositing his weathered bag on the floor. The bell would ring anytime now, he thought…
"What's that, you snake?"
"Hiss… I called you an ahou, you moron!"
"Then you're a dim-witted viper!"
"What's that, peach-head?"
"Baka mamushi!"
"Anata no yarou!"
"WHY YOU-"
"That's enough, Momoshiro, Kaidoh! Take your seats now!" The verbal fight came at a standstill at the sight of one of Seishun Koukou's most formidable teachers marching into the classroom, her face setting off clear warning bells in everyone's (especially the two sophomores in question) minds. Momoshiro 'humphed' before sitting down; Kaidoh scowled, storming off to his own spot at the back of the class. The other students just found their respective places as the English teacher took attendance, then immediately begun the first lesson of that year…
… well, until a knock sounded on the front door exactly 8 minutes after the bell had rung.
The minute Tori Hsia Fen walked into the sophomore classroom, all eyes turned to him.
He looked like the archetypal male student at a glance: short black hair, rimless spectacles and a sharp face with an apprehensive smile present. Height wise, he was not too tall but not too short either, with a supple figure and somewhat fair skin included. His voice, when he greeted their sensei in English, had an accent noticeable to those in possession of sharp hearing.
"Good morning teacher, I'm sorry for entering class late. I got lost on my way to visit the administrative office this morning." The female educator gave the black-haired newcomer a contemplative look before beckoning Tori over.
"You're new, aren't you? Well, a quick introduction will suffice and then take your seat." The sophomore nodded, then turned to face the inquisitive looks of the class. Tori mentally sighed (he disliked anything even remotely resembling public speaking) before clearing his throat to begin.
"Ahem. Good morning, I'm Tori Hsia Fen. I just moved into this neighborhood last week, so I'm still not used to this area…"
It was official: Seishun Koukou was one of the best schools he had ever been to.
Tori had already met and been introduced to at least 96 percent of his classmates by lunchtime. Luckily for him, they were generally nice, polite, friendly and helpful. He wondered, though, why most of the females often giggled, smiled or blushed more in his presence; it was rather creepy, and occasionally sent goose bumps up the new student's arms. The guys stuck to back pats (or back slaps, like a certain spiky-haired player that Tori couldn't remember the name of) and inquiring various tidbits of information such as where did he come from, what race was he, could he speak Japanese and et cetera. Tori calmly answered all questions in considerably fluent Japanese with a small grin etched on his features.
Hey, just because his whole introduction had been said in English didn't mean he couldn't speak Japanese!
"Are you coming to tennis practice today, Ryoma-kun?" Classes for the day had officially ended a minute ago; it was by chance that both Sakuno and Ryoma were classmates that year, and so had taken seats somewhat nearby to each other. The soft-spoken girl had just asked what was a rather important question to Ryoma, so he considered it for all of two minutes before nodding once.
Sakuno merely smiled in response then hoisted her brown bag to her shoulder. She called out a gentle "Mata ashita, Ryoma-kun" before exiting the classroom, leaving a slightly shocked Ryoma to his own devices.
'… Did Ryuzaki just do what she did?'
Tezuka watched the courts from his own classroom, window ledge serving as a temporary (and not safe, but he ignored that fact) seat while he analyzed the members doing warm-ups below.
"Tezuka, have you started choosing who will compete in next month's ranking matches?" A familiar voice sounded from the doorway, and Seishun Koukou's current male tennis captain turned his head back far enough to notice the two figures observing him. He gave a slight nod in acknowledgment of their presence, skillfully masking all signs of surprise at the identity of the second person (that is, if he was even surprised).
"Oishi." The player in question smiled; he was too used to Tezuka's monosyllabic speech to take offense at such a curt reaction. Tezuka continued with a greeting-cum-query to the other individual in the room. Said person was leaning against the wooden door, goggles, as always, hiding his eyes.
"Konbanwa, Yamato-senpai. What are you doing here?"
END OF CHAPTER TWO