Disclaimer: I do not own Tennis no Ohjisama and Card Captor Sakura, especially each anime's characters. Iwase Kumiko-san, Yasuhiro-kun, Maeda Hideki-san, Furuya Akiyoshi, Furusawa Maya and the Reverie Cafe are my own creations. Any similarities with real people and/or places are unintentional and coincidental.
This chapter is dedicated to Mistress Hydrangea and hikao-chan who never fail to remind me to update. Kit2000, dear, this one's for you too. Cheers!
The Sadist of Seigaku
Chapter 21: Limitation
"Oi."
Fuji Syuusuke looks up from his seat at the breakfast table to find Shitenhouji's captain staring down at him.
"Ei."
"It's been a while since we last saw each other," Shiraishi comments before secretly winking at the prodigy. "How long has it been?"
Fuji chuckles at the question, feigning innocence. "I already lost count, Shiraishi. How have you been?"
"Me?" Shiraishi pauses as he looks at the bewildered gazes of his teammates. "I'm okay. We're okay, although our group's rather surprised that Ryuzaki-sensei invited us for breakfast."
"Ah. It's not everyday you get invited to dine with your opponent."
"Hn."
The two continue to converse while the onlookers stared.
"I did not know Shiraishi-senpai is friends with the genius of Seigaku," Zaizen Hikaru comments to no one in particular.
Ishida Gin, who is the nearest to him, shrugs nonchalantly. "Get used to your captain being friendly, Zaizen. Besides, we do not just make opponents out of other schools."
"We also make friends out of them, ne, senpai?"
"You get the hang of it."
Before Zaizen could comment any further, the breakfast table turned quiet when Ryuzaki Sumire appears and settles on her seat at the table.
"Let's go eat breakfast."
And so, they all did. After graces were said, the Seigaku regulars and Shitenhouji regulars started attacking the food at the table while the Ryuzaki ladies stared at their antics. While the table was equally divided between the two groups, everyone is in unison in getting his own fill from the breakfast table.
"I'd say, breakfast is going to be one interesting event, ne, Sakuno-chan?"
"Hai, obaa-san!"
"Eh? Look, Yuuji-kun! The cookie is in the shape of a chrysanthemum flower in bloom! It's so pretty!"
"Hai, Koharu-chan. It is really pretty," Hitoji enthusiastically agrees as he receives the chrysanthemum-shaped cookie his doubles partner handed to him. "I have never seen a cookie made to look like art."
Breakfast has been an interesting event indeed as the tennis players found themselves as unexpected onlookers at random displays of...oddity. Yes, oddity is the right term. A while ago, former opponents Fuji Syuusuke and Shiraishi Kuranosuke are talking like they were the best of friends. A good ten minutes ago, Echizen Ryoma and Tooyama Kintaro are engaged in a deadly dance of "pass-the-food-to-me"; and then, just a few seconds ago, on-and-off partners Konjiki and Hitoji are blabbing about the wonders of a flower-shaped cookie.
Zaizen Hikaru just sighs at it all.
"Ne, the cookie is actually very pretty, if I do say so myself," Chitose tells himself but it was loud enough for the others to hear.
At that, each tennis player picks up his own serving of the flower-shaped cookie
There is nothing extravagant with the object's coloring – it being pale yellow and all – but what is eye-catching about it is its intricacies and the techniques involved in making it.
And while the players are busy checking out the food item, Ryuzaki Sumire smiles to herself before giving her granddaughter a knowing glance.
"Hmmm...the texture is similar to that of a fortune cookie," Momoshiro comments before smelling the food item. "And it smells as sweet as a fortune cookie."
"Oh! A fortune!" Kintaro jumps on his seat before breaking his serving of the cookie in half.
All eyes focused on the cookie in the red-head's hands, but instead of finding an ominous-looking white piece of paper, they find a pale blue one instead.
"Ne, Kin-chan, is there something written on the paper?"
At his senpai's prompting, Kintaro examines the thin piece of paper.
He never found any character in it.
"Eh? It's a blank," he says before slumping back on his chair with a pout on his face.
Silence ensues in the table before Echizen decides to break the ice. Copying Kintaro's actions, he breaks his serving of cookie into two.
Out came a red piece of paper.
"Red?" Oishi asks, to which the tennis prince could only answer with a noncommittal shrug.
After Echizen, Tezuka and Fuji simultaneously break their cookies into two, and then, the others started to follow.
One by one, blank sheets of colored paper drop on their plates. It was like looking for the "it" player in a game of hide and seek, but the "it" could not be found.
"It's a code."
All eyes turned to Fuji who held his piece of paper like a cursed item.
"Yes, it is a code."
Then, they all turned to Ryuzaki Sumire.
"The piece of paper inside your fortune cookie corresponds to your opponent for today's mock match. Those who got purple papers will play doubles two. Those who got black papers will play doubles one," she begins before looking at the first foursome – Zaizen, Ishida, Kaidoh and Kawamura – who are holding purple pieces of paper.
"Those who got the red pieces of paper will play singles three."
"Eh? I would be facing Echizen?" Chitose stares at his piece of paper before staring at his would-be opponent.
"That's pretty interesting," Inui comments.
Echizen just smirks at them.
"Those who got the orange pieces of paper will play singles two."
The group was quiet for a while until Shiraishi raises his piece of orange paper.
"This is my lucky day," he tells the others. "I get to play with you, Tezuka."
A subdued hush was heard from the group until it became excited.
"Those who got the pale blue ones will play singles one."
The excitement turned to amazement when they see the two people holding a pale blue paper each.
"This is going to be really interesting," Zaizen blurts out.
"Just imagine the Sadist and the Man from the Wild playing against each other."
"Ne, senpai, please do your best later, okay?"
Sakuno looks up at her senpai who is diligently wiping the last plate with a towel. "I know this is just a mock match, but the Shitenhouji players seem really serious about...these games."
"Saa...I have seen Kintaro-kun play but I haven't faced him even in a practice match," Fuji answers vaguely. "This would prove to be enlightening."
Sakuno absent-mindedly nods before turning off the faucet. "Obaa-san said something about Tooyama-kun being like Ryoma-kun."
"Really?"
"Uhn," Sakuno answers positively before turning reflective. "Obaa-san told me about their match three years ago, the one that ended up as a draw. It was like a match of two people who really enjoyed tennis. While they express their enthusiasm for the game differently, Ryoma-kun and Tooyama-kun love the game in itself."
Fuji was silent for a while. "Yes, but that was not the defining moment for Echizen."
Sakuno blinks at him. "Oh, you mean the Tenimuho no Kiwami?"
"Yes. He achieved that during his battle with Yukimura, and not with Kintaro-kun."
The two were silent for a while, with Sakuno gently wiping the edge of a glass. Another seconds passed before she settles the glass down.
"The Tenimuho no Kiwami is the last door to the state of self-actualization, ne, senpai?"
Fuji gazes at her hazel eyes before nodding.
Instead of shying away from his intense stare, Sakuno looks up at him.
Before her is one of the best players of his generation, but while he is considered a genius, he is overshadowed by his fellow players who have reached Muga no Kyochi. She does not understand the hype associated with the three doors and all, but what she knows is that at the back of his mind, Fuji Syuusuke is also thinking of when he would reach that state.
Because no matter how people see him, reaching the height of his potential as a tennis player is what really matters.
"Syuusuke-senpai has made the first step in unlocking his potential, ne? When Syuusuke-senpai discovers what tennis really means to him, he can also unlock the three doors, ne?"
Fuji's stare darkened further. She is trying to coax something out of him, he feels feverish already. And no, it is not physical desire. It is a foreign kind of longing he has been searching all along.
Something foreign he wants to discover right now.
"Do you think it is possible for me to reach my potential?"
Sakuno's gaze is reaffirming.
"Hai."
"Three hours to go before the mock matches."
"Are you serious in keeping count?"
Inui turns around to find Chitose Senri standing behind him.
"Not really, but I get more excited when I keep tabs on things."
The blue-haired player smirks at the response before leaning on the railing.
"The line up for the matches will make things entertaining, to say the least. How Ryuzaki-sensei came up with something like fortune cookies and ending up with such matches will forever be a mystery to me."
Inui's eye glasses shimmered. "Well, as they say, things happen for a reason."
"Hn. You actually believe that?"
"I guess I do," the data guy replies as he closes his notebook.
"I do too, you know. And somehow, I get this feeling that something big is going to happen today."
Events seemed ominous to some of the players, but while the atmosphere is becoming thick with excitement, it is also being marked with impatience.
Hours dragged as slowly as possible as if time were mocking them.
And so, in order to restore their rhythm, each player separated ways to do some venting.
While most decided to warm up outside, others are left inside the rest house to catch up on some quiet time:
Tezuka is drinking tea inside his room, while Echizen is spending his time lying on his bed, doing nothing. Inui is walking up and down the hallways while Chitose is reading a book.
Sakuno sighs as she looks up at the clock. It read ten thirty in the morning – still a good hour and a half before lunch time and another two and a half hours before the mock matches. She looks at the kitchen where everything needed for the next meal is nearly prepared. Then, she looks at the window where she hears the sound...
...of wood being chopped.
"Hmmm...this is the sight any fangirl would pay to see."
"Watch your mouth, Zaizen."
A sarcastic smirk. "Live a little, Ishida-senpai. I don't understand why they are chopping wood, but if I were that snooping creep from St. Rudolph, I would not miss the chance of snapping a few pictures for me to sell. You see-"
Before his kohai could speak any further, Ishida Gin grabs Zaizen Hikaru by the collar and drags him back to the house...
...leaving Shiraishi Kuranosuke and Fuji Syuusuke to chop wood...
...in all their muscled glory.
"Pardon my kohai for his ramblings. There are times he gives me the creeps."
Fuji chuckles at the comment before splitting a piece of wood into two.
"It is quite alright. I don't mind him calling that guy from St. Rudolph a creep."
Shiraishi pauses for a moment before shaking his head. Sometimes, he just finds Fuji's humor rather odd.
"By the way, could you tell me why we are chopping wood in the twenty first century?"
Fuji splits another piece of wood with his axe before wiping perspiration on his face.
"I just thought this would be a good way to exercise. Besides, Sakuno-chan may need this to cook with."
"Sakuno-chan, eh? Kin-chan would be devastated to hear how familiar you are with the auburn-haired cutie."
Shiraishi was gifted with a sardonic grin.
"He should just learn to live with it."
Instead of hearing a scoff, Fuji finds himself half-amazed at the sight of Shiraishi laughing.
It took a few seconds before the Shitenhouji captain's laughter died down to mere hiccups. "I'm sorry 'bout that man, but that was rich, coming from you."
"I am not offended, if that's what you're worried about."
Shiraishi smirks before settling down his axe. "Yare, yare...it's just that people don't take Kintaro seriously, and I don't really blame them. The kid could be a pain in the butt most of the time."
Picking up another piece of log, the platinum-haired captain settles it on the platform for another whack.
"But take this as an advice from me. When you play him, play him as if he were Tezuka."
He picks up another log and settles it on the platform, but instead of splitting it into two with his axe, Fuji does the honor with his.
"There is no room to underestimate a kid who has also opened Muga no Kyochi."
"Clumsy senpai," Zaizen mutters to himself as he leaves a half-conscious Oshitari Kenya lying down under the shade of a grandfather tree.
The events leading to the other Oshitari player's collapse was a funny but disappointing one. One moment, Zaizen Hikaru was calculating the best angle to attack Inui Sadaharu, and then the next thing he knew, a hard tennis ball knocks out his senpai.
Their untimely demise from the competition could have been avoided if only Oshitari did not play "catch-the-ball-first" with him.
As he treads the path away, muttering some 'baka senpai's' along, he hears a thunderous shout from the tennis court.
"GO BUCHOU!"
The shout came from both sides of the court and it pumped the adrenaline to whoever heard it.
Standing at the center of the court are two of the top players of senior high school tennis. It is a novelty for all of them to see, and even if it were just a mock match, it is still a match worth watching.
"Who do you think will win?"
Kikumaru whispers to Oishi, a hint of apprehension in his voice.
It is already Tezuka's game to win, and securing the next rally would assure victory on his side. Then again, his opponent is a man of surprises – capable of turning events to his favor.
Before Oishi could give a reply, Shiraishi throws up the tennis ball to serve, all the while aiming for the blind spot just a few inches from Tezuka's right foot. His prey immediately recognizes the cunning gaze of the predator, but instead of biting the bait, Tezuka stands on his ground.
In a blink of an eye, the yellow-green tennis ball flies past Shiraishi's part of the court and straight to Tezuka.
In a blink of an eye, the Seigaku captain twists his body to the right and returns the ball with a rising shot.
With nimble feet, Shiraishi dances his way to where the ball bounced and does a return, only to find Tezuka waiting for him by the net.
With unspeakable grace and speed, Tezuka executes a perfect drop shot that Shiraishi failed to return.
"Tezuka Kunimitsu wins, six games to four!"
"I think you have your answer, Eiji," Oishi whispers back to his friend.
The red-head pouts at the reply. "Hmmm...you did not answer me immediately after asking you, Oishi. That is still called cheating."
Oishi could just sweat drop at the accusation.
While the two were doing some light bantering, the others enthusiastically greet a seemingly worried Tezuka.
Fuji is the first one to notice the crease in his friend's face.
"Wipe that frown off your face, buchou. I'm going to play a match, not marching to my death sentence."
"Hn."
Fuji chuckles at Tezuka's monosyllabic reply.
"Is that the only thing you can say to me?"
There was silence between the two.
"Just give it all you've got."
A small smile
"Of course."
"Ne, ne, genius-chan, let us enjoy playing tennis, okay?"
Fuji smiles genuinely at the childish behaviour Tooyama Kintaro is displaying. The game has not started yet but he could feel from his side of the court the excitement coursing through his opponent's veins. Call it cliché, but that is what he is feeling.
A select few made him excited – Tezuka, Echizen, Atobe, Shiraishi – but this one is different.
He is utterly happy to play tennis
For the first time in years, Fuji pauses right before a game is about to start.
Have I ever felt this happy to play tennis before?
He watches Tooyama do flips and jumps at his side of the court. To some, the kid may appear bragging, but to Fuji, the kid is doing those things as a physical manifestation of the joy he is feeling.
Just because he can play tennis
When he was younger, he decided to play tennis as a past time. Then, his reason evolved to being that he is good at it, and that he is way better than others at it. When he saw Tezuka, he saw a challenge he could and should conquer; and when he saw Echizen, he saw a genius he could match up with.
"One set match, Tooyama Kintaro to serve."
"Ano, is there something wrong with Syuusuke-senpai?"
Sakuno murmurs to herself, unknowingly catching the attention of the other regulars. She was not expecting a reply, but she received a sympathetic glance from Tezuka.
Whatever she wanted to say was swallowed by the speed of the tennis ball that went past them.
"15-0!"
Silence ensued in the court, with Taka muttering something like "the ball went through the court mesh" after a few seconds.
Fuji tragically fought for each point for the first part of the match. While he could catch up with Tooyama, the difference between the two players is rather marked.
Unseen to everyone, images and voices floated in Fuji's head – from when he was in middle school to his little chat with Sakuno just a few hours ago.
Who he is as a tennis player, his playing style and his potentialities can be answered by one thing.
As corny as it sounds, everything boils down to what tennis really means to him.
He was feeling feverish by the time he was at the height of his train of thought. Unfortunately, he was not allowed to delve into it further when he felt a hard and round thing whack his cheek.
"Fuji-senpai!"
That was when he realized he is crashing to the bench behind him.
"You okay, Fuji?"
"Syuusuke-senpai..."
"Oi, Fuji!"
"Genius-chan!"
Blue eyes snapped open at the pathetic nickname given to him. Mustering all his strength, Fuji Syuusuke stands up, wipes the bruise on his cheek and patting his clothes clean.
Then, he gives a good look at his teammates and all the important people to him.
It was a rather solemn moment to say the least, and as the prodigy walked past his favorite kohai – but not before pinching her cheeks – everyone of them could feel the sudden change in his aura.
"Oi! Genius-chan! I'm sorry okay? I did not mean to hurt you a while ago!" Tooyama Kintaro screamed at the top of his lungs, tears nearly brimming from his eyes.
Fuji is silent but he kept on walking until he is a foot from the red-headed Shitenhouji player.
Every one went silent
Even loud-mouthed Tooyama found himself shivering at the steady gaze the prodigy is giving him
And mind you, he could feel his knees shaking not from excitement but nervousness
His fears were relieved when Fuji puts a hand on his head and pats it like an adult does to a child
"Thank you very much, Kintaro-kun."
"Two games all."
A collective sigh could be heard from the Seigaku side of the court, but the tension came back when Tooyama makes a sudden declaration.
"Oi! Genius-chan! Let's go all out!"
They all blinked at his suggestion.
Fuji smirks at his opponent before throwing the ball high up to the air...
...to execute a kohou.
Tooyama grins hysterically at the perfect execution of a copied movement, excitedly running to the other side of his court to return the ball. Stretching back his right arm, he hits the oncoming ball with his racket with an enormous force that could even match with that of Taka and Ishida Gin.
The ball bounces back to the enemy court with a resounding thud, only to be returned to him with equal force.
If he were someone else, Tooyama would have cowered at the increasing strength and speed of Fuji's returns.
But he would not have this any other way
Fuji Syuusuke, Sadist and Genius of Seigaku, is keeping up with his wild version of tennis.
He could not be any happier.
"Do you see that, Tezuka?"
The handsome captain turns to Inui, prodding him to continue.
"Fuji's returns are getting stronger and faster with every return. That is saying something considering he is the leanest among us."
All eyes turn to validate Inui's claims, and lo and behold, it is true.
A ghost of a smile is drawn on Tezuka's and Echizen's lips.
Sakuno, on the other hand, just stared at her senpai in astonishment.
It took a while before she could find the voice to utter her next words.
"Syuusuke-senpai has just opened hyakuren jitoku no kiwami."
"Aish..."
Tooyama lets out an odd sound upon hearing the result of the match.
"Fuji Syuusuke wins, seven games to five."
The red-head blinks several times before realization dawns on him
"I lost."
Shiraishi lets out a sympathetic smile before patting his kohai on the head. Meanwhile, Ishida Gin clamps Zaizen Hikaru's poisonous mouth before obscenities could come out.
"That's okay kid. The Nationals will be this Saturday. There is always room for another victory."
Tooyama just blinks again, before he started chuckling.
Then, to the horror of his teammates, his chuckles turned to bawls of laughter, so much so that Seigaku's attention is on them as well.
Tooyama continued on laughing before stopping abruptly. Jumping on his feet, he makes a mad dash to where Fuji Syuusuke is standing and promptly hugs the prodigy until they fall on the floor because of his weight.
"Fuji-senpai!"
"Genius-chan!"
Instead of shoving the seemingly monkey boy off of him, Fuji allows the boy to sing incoherent phrases of joy before peeling Tooyama off of him.
"Na, na, genius-chan! You were so great! You opened the first door of Muga no Kyochi in just a few minutes! You're really a genius!" Tooyama ranted again and again much to Fuji's amusement.
While Fuji could utter a retort to that, he clamps his mouth shut and allows the smaller boy to indulge in a fit of ranting until Shiraishi lands a noogie on his head.
After that, the Seigaku regulars promptly pounced on their prodigy with Ryuzaki Sumire proudly looking on.
Now that the genius has opened one door, she could not wait for the next possibilities, especially when he reaches the state of self-actualization.
The Seigaku regulars are in a celebratory mood, what with their victory at the mock matches as well as Fuji's unexpected opening of the hyakuren jitoku no kiwami.
With Kawamura Takashi leading, the pack of teenagers treads their merry way to the kitchen where the food is stored.
"One order of umeboshi!"
"An order of tuna sushi!"
"Another order of umeboshi!"
"Tempura!"
Fuji chuckles at his teammates who had reduced Taka to an order-taking man.
"Eh? Poor Taka-senpai. I should help-eep!"
Before she could make a move to the kitchen, Fuji grabs Sakuno's hand and leads her to the living room. Once they are in the main room, he plops himself on the couch and gently pulls his favorite kohai down to sit beside him.
Sakuno blushes at his actions. Conquering her shyness, she looks up at her senpai only to be gifted with his serene facade.
"Syuusuke-senpai looks happy."
Fuji pumps her fist onto his before leaning on the couch and closing his eyes.
"I've never felt this way before, Sakuno-chan."
His voice was soft but strong to her ears. When she did not talk, he took it as his queue to continue.
"Kintaro-kun taught me a lot today."
She genuinely smiles at his statement.
"I am so happy for Syuusuke-senpai," she whispers.
But before she could elaborate any further, a cry for help disrupts her.
"SAKUNO-CHAN!"
It was the voice of someone in dire need of help in the kitchen.
Blushing in embarrassment at the scream and at Fuji's deep chuckles, Sakuno abruptly stands up only to notice yesterday's newspaper sitting innocently on the coffee table.
Blood immediately drained away from her face and her whole body stiffened at the words written in bold.
Ryuzaki Sakuno: Is she the next Furusawa Maya?