Wintersalad │ Disclaimer: I do not own "Prince of Tennis" or any referenced translations. │ Written: 09/15/10 │ Posted: 9/15/10 │ Last Edited: 05/04/11

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Genius 005: The Dusty Racket

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Katsuo glanced back in his seat, annoyed at the breathy yawn that sounded for the seventh time this morning. He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion as his line of sight met with the drowsy-eyed first-year who stood out in his memory as a talented and bold tennis player. Though the lackadaisical air about him always seemed to hang around his shoulders, the small boy seemed to be too tired for someone who just started their first semester. Though the young athlete obviously had to be fit, his face seemed too pale and his body seemed too slim. Whenever Katsuo noticed him outside of the tennis club, the boy would either be napping or looking for a nap.

"Mizuno-san! Echizen-san! Is there any particular reason that the two of you decided to have a staring contest in the middle of my class?"

Brought out of his stupor, Katsuo blinked with horror as he finally noticed the intent gaze of dark golden eyes on him. As red reached his ears, Katsuo swiftly turned to face the front, embarrassed at having been caught rudely staring by not only the teacher, but Echizen as well. Just how long had he been staring?

As the class ended and everyone started packing, he noticed Echizen move deftly out of the room. Didn't they have club practice after this? Where was he going without them?

…Though now that he thought about it, he wasn't even sure Echizen knew they were in the same class together until today. His head drooped down as he pondered over the past few days. He couldn't recall a single instance where Echizen had shown an interest in the first-years. Though there was that girl, Ryuzaki Sakuno…he blushed.

"Why are you so red, Katsuo?" Horio asked as they changed in the club room. "Aren't you going to change?"

Blinking, Katsuo wondered what was wrong with him today. He was caught daydreaming twice already! He wondered how and when exactly they arrived at the club room. Echizen appeared to have already changed and was sitting on the locker bench, tugging on his laces. He narrowed his eyes at the thin limbs sticking out of the boy's attire. Really, whether Echizen acknowledged his existence or not, he'd better start making sure he was eating lunch properly. Goodness knows Horio couldn't care less and Kachiro was too star-struck to say much of anything besides praises.

"Gah! You're sitting on Arai-sempai's jacket!"

Ryoma stopped her movements to glance down to where she sat. "Ah... So?" She watched as Horio increased his dramatic movement to emphasize the magnitude of the current problem. "Arai-sempai's already out to get you! He seems to really believe in the seniority system1 and you totally disregarded everything about it! What are you going to do when he finds out you not only messed up his jacket, but sat on it?"

Sighing, Ryoma sighed and closed her eyes while getting up. She had enough on her mind already, enough to lose sleep over, and Arai just simply didn't even reach the radar of her worries. Hearing a slight snap, she opened her eyes to look at the floor to see a racket beneath her foot. Eyes widening, she quickly stepped back to lift her foot off and bent forward to reach for it.

"That's a really old racket," one of the three freshmen said.

She should really start making an effort in remembering their names if they were going to insist on hanging around her so much.

Turning the handle over, Ryoma inspected the racket. The frame was heavily battered and the strings were loose. Smoothing her hands over the dusty frame, she eyed the racket with an offended air, sprinkled with a bit of sadness. Who would leave a racket on the floor and in such a poor state?

"Eh, well, it's a good thing it isn't Arai-sempai's or you'd really be getting it from him," Horio scratched the tip of his nose. "Anyways, let's go. Just leave the racket. Today's practice for first-years is a marathon. I, for one, am confident about running, hehe-

Eck!"

There was a soft thump as the loud freshman bumped into the taller body of Arai. "Watch it, you monkey!"

With mouth pursed in distaste, Echizen laid the racket against the corner behind the lockers. Stepping away from the bench, the teen tugged the customary white cap over dark bangs, shading closed eyes while walking past the second-year. "Yo."

"Tch!"

What the hell was that kind of greeting?-! Fuming, Arai glared one last time at the retreating backs of the first-year entourage before walking in the club room.

"That's the kid? The cocky first-year who showed you up in front of the captain and club?" asked a fellow second-year who entered in with Arai.

"Yeah. I'm not going to let that brat get-

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Ah-h! Who…Who messed up my clothes?-!"

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They all turned their attention to the mussed-up clothing sitting on the bench with wariness. Arai and his temper...

"Dammit! Nothing's going right around here! Did you see his attitude? That "Echizen Ryoma" brat! I'm going crazy here! And I even overheard one of the kid's friends talking about going against the captain! Ugh!" Arai grabbed his uniform and crumbled it in his hands before making a motion to throw it against the floor, stopping just short of doing so, and moving to sit heavily upon the bench instead in a frustrated, angry manner.

"Hey, you don't think they're going to go for the ranking matches right? I mean, I heard he was good, so he might even get a spot before us…"

"Shut up! What the hell is that bullshit?-!" Arai bit out. "There's no way that I'm going to let that pass!"

Unsettled, one of the second-years glanced around the room. If Arai was left steaming without an outlet, things could get dangerous. Spotting something that might just work to distract his friend, he called their attention, "Hey, isn't this Echizen's?" The group of second-years gathered around the locker. "Woah, look at this! The smart-ass's got three rackets even though he's just a freshman! That punk!" He could understand a little why Arai disliked the kid so quickly.

"…" Arai stared at the rackets in his friends' hands with a calculating gleam in his eyes. Glancing towards the side, he smirked as he spotted something interesting.

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"Hey guys…give it here. I've got an idea..."

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Arai and his friends watched as the freshmen finished their laps, collapsing to the ground with heavy breaths and sweat. Well, all except for the target of their attentions. They grinned, knowing that the next exercise was swinging practice. And being the oh-so-kind sempai's that they were, they've brought one for Echizen who'd left his rackets behind.

"Oy, Echizen. Did you forget to bring your racket?"

Looking back, the small first-year replied, "Not really…"

"You sure have guts freshman," Arai drawled as he walked towards the first-years. "Not bringing your racket for practice! Are you trying to skimp out just because the captain and vice-captain aren't here?"

Eyebrows raised, the addressed freshman turned to look up at the lanky teen. Ignoring his jibes, the freshman gazed with interest at the wrinkled jacket the sophomore was wearing. Miffed at being scolded for what appeared to have been an irrelevant concern, the short tennis club member was about to turn to look for Horio when Arai issued his challenge.

"If you're that confident, let's have a match since we're at practice anyways. But since you don't have a racket…"

"Arai!"

The sophomore turned to catch what was thrown to him. "Oh right! Use this one!" He tossed the battered racket left in the club room to Echizen.

"That's-!" Horio started.

"How could anyone play with that?" Someone by the freshman's side continued. "The frame even makes a weird clattering sound…"

"So, are you going to play? Mr. Big-shot?" Arai sneered.

"Ah-h, Arai's bullying the first-years again…," an observing third-year sang as he scratched the plaster on his cheek. "Just look at the way he talks..."

"What should we do?" another asked, pushing up his glasses as he closed a notebook to focus on the situation at hand. "Should we stop him?"

"The captain and vice-captain will be here soon. The captain's not going to let this go when he sees."

Behind the two, Fuji slowly opened his eyes and grinned. "Yeah…" Oh, how lovely the little freshman looked with smoldering eyes! And another test so soon, without his initiative! Aqua eyes watched with amusement as Arai continued to goad the tiny first-year. Really, what an annoying little fly he is. Ah, but oh well, he performed well in coming up with such an interesting show for him to witness, so he'll forgive the second-year this time around. Though Fuji didn't confirm the child's qualifications fully just yet, he felt certain that the little one will meet his expectations, so it was perfectly permissible for him to feel possessive of his teasing rights over the child.

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"Hahaha!" Arai cackled. "If you comply, maybe those three precious rackets will come out!"

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"…!"

Fuji noted the sudden sharp streak in the child's eyes. His grin dimmed as he considered the implications of Arai's statement and the first-year's reaction.

"H-hey! Echizen! Where are you going?"

Sighing, the subject of everyone's attention replied, "There are some weaklings who can only think of dirty methods to play."

"…" The smile was gone from both his face and eyes as Fuji steadied his gaze on the tense back of a small child marching towards the court. Though no accusation was vocalized, he read the allegation written loudly across a clouded face and clenched hands. Feet planted apart and shoulders thrown back, fury and determination screamed at him.

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Yet louder than all the screams of rage and resolve was the whispers of resignation and hurt.

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"Hurry up.

Let's do this."

Taking in the charged form in front of him once more, Fuji pushed for calm and creased his eyes and smiled.

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"Let's see how this turns out, haha."

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End Genius 005

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A/N: So I probably won't be able to update as quickly and regularly as I have, but I will strive to post at least one chapter per week, hopefully two. I'm still trying to balance out my time and the current one isn't working too well. I rushed the first few chapters in order to meet expectations for a story that's not just a script-version of the manga. I'll slowly reveal more parts of the foundation of this story as the chapters go on. The differences will show more clearly as the story develops. For now, it's still really just the introduction, but hopefully I've helped ease everyone in.

Again, I greatly appreciate and anticipate reviews from everyone. They give me feedback on how I'm doing and how I should proceed. Thank you for your support.