Never give up

By: Jyra

Disclaimer: Do not own Prince of Tennis. If I did, I wouldn't be writing this. Instead I'd be laughing about how I've created one of the best mangas in the world…

Said I'd update quickly! This one is for Monte Carlo and is based off the second round match between Safin and Hewitt. The commentary on Sky Sports was really interesting. Basically they were saying that although Hewitt may not be the most naturally talented player, he has a brilliant tennis brain that can outfox his opponents. And that made me think of Inui! So here it is...

Oh, and there is more cute pillar fluff at the end because I really couldn't help myself and the last couple of chapters have been way too serious and I needed to lighten the mood!

Note: At the time of publishing this, Nadal is leading 5 games to 1 in the third set of the final against Djokovik. By the time you read this, hopefully Rafa will have won!

.Pillar pair.

.X.

The match was not fun.

Everything was wrong. The sun was blistering down on the red clay courts, his favourite racket strings had snapped and the linesmen were obviously conspiring against him. If anyone though Ryoma had gone into brat mood at this moment, he'd be the first one to agree.

It was, Ryoma told himself, as his serve was returned, not his fault. It was his opponent's fault. Obviously. An opponent he should have easily beaten by now, an opponent he had beaten when he was 12 years old and an opponent with not even half of his tennis skills.

Yet the first set had still gone to tie break and Ryoma was losing 6:3. One more point and Lleyton Hewitt would take the first serve and Ryoma would be forced to play another two sets to secure his place in the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters.

Which was so not what he wanted.

What he wanted was a ponta, Karapin and a game with an opponent who didn't remind him of Inui.

'I wouldn't call Hewitt and exceptionality talented player but you have to admit, he has one of the best tennis brains in the game'

'So would you say Echizen is the more talented of the two?'

'If we can put it down to something as simple as talent, undoubtedly yes.'

The commentary Ryoma could faintly hear was starting to annoy him. Probably because it reminding him that he should not be facing a set point.

Taking a swing at the ball as it bounced towards him, he hit it straight down the line. Or at least he would have had the ball not ended up in the net.

'Well that's what I'd call a surprise. Echizen Ryoma loses the first set on an unforced error'

'But there is still another two sets to be played and you've got to remember this is Echizen Ryoma, that guy can turn a match around when he wants to and he's got a good record on clay. In fact I'd say in his half of the draw, the only guy who can match him is Nadal.'

'He definitely came into this match the favourite. Their head to head record is directly in Echizen's favour and you can' forget that this is the guy who beat Hewitt when he was world number one aged 12. But if you ask me, it looks like he is having trouble coping with Hewitt's play style.'

Inwardly Ryoma was sulking. He was in an even worse mood. A win was wanted. No, a win was needed and he would have to find away to overcome this so called 'tennis brain'. Obviously just playing was not enough. He would have to find another way around. The ball girl handed him his bottle of water, which Ryoma took. Surprisingly, he felt a piece of paper stuck to the bottle. Glancing down, he realised it was a small piece of note paper, folded over twice. Opening it, Ryoma smirked, before refolding and placing the paper into his tennis bag.

Two sets later and Echizen Ryoma walked off the court victorious.

'What a match! What a match'

'Now that was the tennis you want to see played every day. Ryoma Echizen seemed like a different player after that first set. He held back in the first set and the momentum seemed with Hewitt but matches like that are what tennis is all about.'

'You could see the distance, and not just in terms of rankings, between the two players. Hewitt put up a good fight but he's just not at his best anymore.'

'Even at his best, he'd of had a hard time winning that match. If Echizen continues to play like that, he'll be looking at his first final of the clay court season. He might honestly be the best player in the world at the moment. A good season could leave us with a new world number one.'

'I don't know about that. He's just reclaimed the number two position and there is a good distance between him and Tezuka. Unless Tezuka had a really bad run, I think it will be another couple of years before Echizen is able to overtake him. And you're got to remember, Tezuka is a couple of years older than Echizen anyway. The boy has time on his side.'

Unseen to both the commentators, poking out the top of Echizen Ryoma's tennis bag was a white slip of paper. If the camera had zoomed in, it would have picked up two words, written in Japanese.

Zettai makeruna

Never give up

XXX

Omake:

'Ryoma.'

'Ryoma...'

'Echizen!'

'I've got ponta...'

'I'm holding Karapin hostage.'

'I'll pull out of the tournament.'

Finally Echizen Ryoma stopped pretending to be asleep on the white lounger on the private beach where he was currently relaxing after the game. Rolling over onto one side and removing the dark sunglasses, he started up into the face of a glowering Tezuka.

'Buchou...?'

'Echizen. Ankle now.'

Signing, loudly to make sure Tezuka heard, Ryoma propped himself up and listed up his left foot.

'See? Nothing. I'm fine.'

Tezuka's face remained in a scowl, his arms crossed across his chest.

'You were limping'

He spoke sharply but Ryoma could hear the concealed concern behind his words. Smiling to himself, Ryoma grabbed one of Tezuka's hands, pulling him down onto the sun lounger with him.

'Maybe a massage would help...?'

Tezuka allowed himself to be pulled down but still remained scowling.

'And I'll get the therapist to check it when we get back.'

Tezuka's face relaxed a little.

'And I won't tread on it until my next match.'

Finally Tezuka seemed happy (not that his facial expression changes) and allowed Ryoma to move himself so he was practically on top of him. As the boy got comfortable, he felt Ryoma whisper in his ear.

'Which means you're going to have to carry me back to the hotel.'

X

Just a note: The Japanese I used for the words 'never give up' is probably wrong. I don't speak Japanese so I had to trust Google...sorry!