HI world. It has been sometime! Thank you to the fans who have supported this story thus far! :D Appreciates! Arigatou. You have no idea how much its means to me for each and every review! 3
Here is the continuation of tennis ACE. :D In the upcoming weeks, I will find opportunity to make use of the new bookcover function and make an original bookcover for tennis ACE! :D Do look forward to it sometime soon~~~~~
Yep just a little recap: Fuji got hold (and exploited) Ryoma's secret and now he's back with tennis.
Here is arc 2: ranking matches and regulars.
Title: RANKING MATCHES!
Is Ryoma going to break the conventional and be the first freshman to join like the manga? Or not?...
BTW this is going to be a 2 in 1 update! :D ENJOY!
"All gather!" Oishi's occasional loud voice got everyone's attention. Quickly and swiftly because a certain imposing looking buchou was on scene, everyone dropped whatever they were doing and gathered in the center of the first court in neat rows and columns.
In 5 minutes, all the rowdy activities of the courts ceased and everyone stood to wait for instructions or announcements.
"It has been 1 month since the start of the year and I am sure everyone knows what happens at this time of the year." Oishi said.
Everyone knew. It was the time where the whole half year's effort was to be matched seriously with the players within the tennis club in the fight for regular positions. For this day, many 2nd years had practiced endlessly.
"for the first years who may not know, every year twice we hold ranking matches. There are matches where we will be selecting the regulars from." Oishi explained briefly. Then addressing the club again, he continued.
"This year, as usual, all 2nd years and 3rd years, regular or not, will be participating in the ranking matches."
"Eh? We don't get to participate?" One of the freshman whose eyes have been glittering with excitement a few moments before asked aloud.
That earned him a chorus of jeering laughter from a certain group of 2nd years - the Arai gang.
"Oi! Oi. You are only FIRST YEAR! Join the ranking matches? Don't pull my leg!" He said loudly causing the first year who had asked the question to flush in embarrassment.
"For first years," Arai sneered. "You are going to do STAMINA training and help us PICK THE BALLS. That's good enough for know-nothings like you…."
"Arai. " His friend from his gang whispered urgently, tugging at his sleeves. "What?" Arai hissed back, pissed that his friend that disturbed him from his fun.
The Arai lackey pointed to Tezuka buchou standing and looking even more imposing than before. The laughter died in Arai's throat as he shifted his attention away from the first year.
If it wasn't for Tezuka buchou there, Ryoma would have gone over to the other side of the court where Arai was standing and give him a piece of his mind. Most of the 2nd years looked uncomfortable at what just happened. They were fidgeting slightly and darting their eyes around, except Kenji (the younger brother of the high-school tennis buchou who had superb skills but was not motivated in tennis). Kenji just stared right ahead as if he was physically there but mentally not. With unblinking dark black eyes, he just stood there and stared in front of him, as if nothing had happened.
"Ahem." Tezuka started, easing the awkward silence. "The match-ups have already been drawn. As usual we are having 4 blocks, the top 2 of each block will be selected as the regulars. All 2nd year and 3rd year are allocated into the matches. 1st years, you will be continuing with your training and preparation. Matches will come in the next year so keep working at it. That's all."
"In light of tomorrow's ranking matches, we will be ending practice now for today. Do check your allocated matches. The list has been posted at the tennis club noticeboard. Ryuusaki sensei, anything you want to add?" Oishi asked.
"Just keep hydrated and take care of your body. Of course, the regulars will be participating in the preliminary qualifying rounds for our area so do treat the ranking matches with seriousness."
"YES!" The group responded.
"Good. Then you all can be dismissed." Ryuusaki coach finished and the group broke formation dispersing to clear up the courts.
TITLE: First day of the ranking matches
Part 2 in the 2-in-1 update!
Bright and early, as always Ryoma awoke from his sleep to the din of the house. It was the first day of the ranking matches and even though first years weren't involved. Oishi had made it a point to 'remind' them that basic training (which means running and cardio) continued and watching matches are also a form of learning.
So it became compulsory even for the first years to go.
After the usual breakfast, Ryoma picked up his school bag and headed out without a word. Ryoga, followed after him, still yawning and bleary eyed.
"heard rumors and word going around that you've joined the tennis club?" Ryoga started as the two walked 'together' towards school.
Ryoma glared at Ryoga.
"Hey! Don't get angry at me! It's Fuji-kun right? Heard it from Hitoshi buchou." Ryoga snickered. "I've always disliked that Fuji kohai but hey, he's quite entertaining, no?" Ryoga grinned to himself.
Ryoma stayed silent, seething.
The topic was dropped.
Ryoma's entry into tennis club was a secret to the Echizen household while not say a guarded secret, just that Ryoma didn't talk about it and neither did Ryoga. Ryoma presumed his parents just thought he decided to go to school to study or something. They hadn't bothered to ask about him coming home later than usual.
As Ryoma entered the school gates, a good 10 min after his brother, the middle school courts were already high with action and tension.
There were 4 session of ranking matches split into 2 days. The first day had 2 sessions: morning (at present) and in the afternoon (after school). The last 2 sessions would be held the following week.
Almost everyone had gathered and even the first years, despite not being allowed to play, caught the excitement in the air and many were talking animatedly about what was to come.
Ryoma walked into the unusually busy clubroom and ignored all the hustle and bustle around him. Changing quickly, he laced his shoelaces and slipped on his glasses. As far as he was concerned, the morning session held no exciting matches. The first match involving a regular only started in the afternoon.
"Ne Ryoma-kun!" Kachiro called out as he entered the room. He was already changed and ready for the first tournament match.
Ryoma nodded a greeting at him and watched the other two of the trio standing outside the clubhouse just beyond the open door talking animatedly. Well Horio was doing most of the talking anyway.
"Have you guys seen the matchup?" Horio asked when Kachiro and Ryoma came within earshot.
Kachiro shook his head. Neither had Ryoma.
"Hmph. As I thought… This morning lineup are mainly the non-regulars but there are some quite interesting characters on the court today!"
"Hmm who are they?" Katsuo asked.
"For starters, court B we have Hitoshi Kenji! According to my information," Horio began in his arrogant and self-important voice 'He is the brother of the current high school buchou! AND… he is also the son of THAT Hitoshi pro senshi!"
"Wuah!" came the united response from Katsuo and Kachiro. "Isn't he super strong?"
Horio shrugged. "Self-evidently. He had won a crazy number of trophies and award since he was young! This is his first ranking match and I'm sure a lot of seniors are going to keep a tab on him. Even though he was only freshmen last year, he was chosen to represent the club in a smaller scaled interschool competition."
"Sugoiii!"
"Hmph. This kind of info is easy for me to attain." Horio stuck his chin up. Somehow during his long monospeech, a group of other lingering freshmen had gathered around him, making up a sizable crowd. Ryoma had by then already used his special fade away technique and disappeared somewhere.
"Oi first years!" came a rather pissed voice from behind the group. The group turned to look, only to see Kaidoh - the senior part of the regulars who had an extremely scary air around him. He had just came out of the clubhouse door and stood with his head apart, hands in his pockets and a yazuka-like face.
'FUSHIII. MOVE IT." He hissed at them and the group scattered in all directions in fear and panic.
"All gather." came the call.
All the activity around the courts centered around Oishi who had called. "Now we will be starting the ranking match first session. Players who have matches in the first round please do your warm ups. Allocated umpires please make your way to the respective courts. First years, follow me and we will be starting your training. The first match will being at 7.30 sharp."
Ryoma watched the beginning of the best of 3 set matches as he and the rest of the freshmen did they jogging around the courts. They were supposed to run 15 rounds, up from the last 12 rounds and it was well into the 9th round already when 7.30 came.
Ryoma was on his ninth, not sweating too much yet and definitely not panting for breath like most of the other freshmen were beginning to. This morning, Oishi-fukubuchou didn't set a time limit on the run so Ryoma was taking his time. That being said, he was still way ahead of majority of the freshmen.
As he rounded court B, he saw Hitoshi Kenji-senpai. His stature was tall, an advantage in tennis no doubt and he had a strong firm build. The first round was Kenji's service game.
Kenji served a slice serve to the corner of the opponent's court. Clean and well-grounded in basics. Ryoma slowed his jog to watch.
The opponent was someone Ryoma didn't recognize by vaguely had the impression that he was also a second year. Both of them seemed not very close to each other and were feeling each other's tennis out.
The serve was returned. It was a strong return but the form of the opponent was weak.
Kenji's opponent was opposite of him. While Kenji's style was one that was well grounded in foundation, making clean and precise strokes, his opponent's form had much to improve although his power and variety of strokes were comparable.
"Oi Ryoma-kun! We are going to leave you behind." came a call from one of the freshmen running. Ryoma took his eyes off the match and continued his run.
"Hmm Kenji's form is really well grounded and developed." came a comment from Eiji who was standing outside Court B with a few of the other regulars: Oishi, Momoshiro and of course Inui.
"I concur. His strokes are very clean, precise with little waste of movements." Inui said as he scribbled on his notebook.
The regulars and most of the seniors had expectations for Kenji. For one, his family name - the Hitoshis had always been well-known in the pro-tennis world. Another, his brother's magnificent talent. All the seconds years and third years knew the strength of his brother's tennis.
"Hmm? He looks very normal to me." Momoshiro said. "don't strike me as a very powerful opponent. No flashy moves…"
"Tennis isn't about flashy moves you know, Momoshiro-senpai." came a new voice - Echizen's. The group of senpais turned to look at the shorter new member.
"His form is good. Must have take tons of practice to master. But he's a low risk player. Doesn't move from the baseline, waiting for opponent to make mistakes. He doesn't aggressively attack or aggressively defend." Ryoma said as his golden eyes pierced with focus at Kenji, now opposite him as he stood with other regulars. Then shrugging, he added in a couldn't-be-bothered tone, 'boring tennis."
"Oichibi!" Eiji exclaimed and proceeded to glomp him.
" 're done with your run?" Oishi asked.
"Yea."
"Hmpf. You are pretty fast ne... for a shorty?" Momoshiro said in a friendly tone, ruffling Ryoma's hair while laughing.
Ryoma gave a tiny sulk but said nothing.
"Well, Ryoma's analysis is sound. Kenji's physique is well built for tennis. He isn't making good use of them at all. I don't think he's lacking the skills." Inui continued.
"It's motivation." Oishi said confidently.
Indeed, from the viewpoints of this observer group, Kenji doesn't look like he was trying very hard. Unlike the focus and piercing glare, fighting spirit of his opponent even though the opponent was much weaker than him, Kenji didn't seem to be particularly in a competition. He was playing as though everyday warm up... as though it was a mere practice.
"Game set and match. Hitoshi Kenji. 6-3."
The two players shook hands and left the courts.
Teehee! Ryoma isn't going to be joining the ranking matches... too bad. But... something else is going to brew... (secret) D
I love it when Ryoma shows his cool side and he is getting closer to the rest of the regulars! Yay!
Keep tuned! Shiroi Mi