There was little he loved more than the sounds of tennis. The thud of balls as they impacted against racquet strings, the squeak of trainers against hardcourt, the shouted counts of the freshmen as they ran through drills. A small smile (indecipherable to most) curved Fuji’s lips as he noted how, when it came to tennis, they hadn’t changed. Horio was bragging to the other new kids about his five years of tennis experience and how he’d been a regular on the Seigaku Junior High team for a full month. The two boys, Katsuo and Kachiro , that had been his…victims…in Junior High were nowhere in sight. They had either decided to drop tennis or went to a different high school. Either way, Fuji didn’t care. Everyone already knew that Echizen had transferred to America and he was the only freshman any of the regular’s held any interest in. Besides, formal sign ups only began in a week’s time. This was a trial period for potential members in order for them to decide whether they would really be interested in the club. High school tennis was, after all, notoriously difficult.

Momo was paired against Arai (who had, unsurprisingly, been one of the many people who simply followed Seigaku’s ladder system). The powerful second year was showing off his new and improved Dunk Smash and Fuji couldn’t help but smirk as the ball went through the fence surrounding the courts, burning a perfect hole through the thin metal. Next to him, Tezuka’s fingers twitched as he watched the match and Fuji knew the captain was fighting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. Momoshiro’s power had only increased over the years and he was now one of the hardest hitters in high school tennis. However, his control had not improved accordingly and the fences still bore evidence of this. Tezuka had been quick to spot this fact last year when Momo was still a freshman and had immediately sent the younger man to Inui for specialized training. While the second year had improved drastically, his lack of control would always be his weakness.

“Momoshiro!” Tezuka barked, “Go and do drills with Inui!”

Momo glanced over to where his Senpai was waiting in front of various colored cans used for the drill tat simultaneously trained your reflexes and precision since they had to make the ball land in the can. Inui was smirking, a jar of frothing black liquid in one hand and the younger man immediately paled.

“Ano…buchou?” Momo scratched the back of his neck and sent a pleading glance Tezuka’s way.

“Now!” the captain ordered, the sun glinting the thin silver frames of his glasses.

Fuji didn’t bother to stifle his laugh as Momoshiro practically saluted before scampering away. Tezuka glanced down at his friend, eyes narrowing slightly for a moment before he turned and strode away. Fuji actually laughed out loud at that, not missing the way Tezuka’s shoulder’s stiffened slightly at the tensai’s obvious amusement.

“You seem to be in a good mood Fuji,” A mild voice said and the shorter boy turned to find his vice-captain smiling at him.

“Aa,” the blue-eyed boy agreed but didn’t elaborate.

The duo turned back to the courts and were confronted by the sight of Eiji enjoying himself at the second year’s expense. The non-regular was running from one end of the court to the other and was barely managing to keep up with the varied balls sent his way by his senpai. Fuji turned back to Oishi to comment on the game but paused when he saw the look on the taller boy’s face. Oishi was looking at his doubles partner with what could only be described as overwhelming tenderness. Piercing blue eyes turned contemplative as they turned to regard the red head. With a bit of effort he could see what Oishi might find attractive in the acrobat. Eiji was…well he wasn’t handsome but he was…cute. The omnipresent band-aid, vibrant hair and creamy complexion, and the beaming smile that always graced Kikumaru’s face made him attractive…in a child-like sort of way. Personally, Fuji thought that Seigaku’s golden pair would make a great couple. Oishi was the only person apart from Tezuka who could get Eiji to sit still and listen and Eiji only ever listened to Tezuka because he didn’t want to do laps. Inspiration struck the devious prodigy when he saw Oishi’s smile turn slightly wistful.

“Kikumaru’s grown really well,” Fuji noted, keeping his voice light, “He’s really cute now.” He pretended not to notice the way his companion paled and spluttered, almost stumbling even though he’d been standing still.

“I…uh…I h-hadn’t noticed,” Oishi choked out but Fuji didn’t even blink at the way his voice was barely audible.

“Really?” the shorter boy replied, “I would have thought you would. Everybody else has you know.”

“Th-they have?” If Oishi’s eyes were practically bulging out of their sockets as he turned to his friend, consumed by shock and forgetting to feign nonchalance (however unsuccessfully).

“Aa,” Fuji nodded, “I think I overheard Arai once saying that he though Eiji had a nice ass,” the prodigy added, sending a silent apology to Arai for the lie. It was the only way he could think of to spur Oishi into action.

“Fuji!” Oishi almost fell over from shock for the second time in the space of five minute. “Y-you shouldn’t say things like that.” His face had turned bright red and he opened his mouth to say something else but apparently thought better of it because he turned and stomped off, embarrassment practically emanating from him in waves.

“Ne, what’s wrong with Eiji? He looks pretty mad nya?”

Fuji turned to find Kikumaru standing behind him, his features scrunched with curiosity.

“Maybe you should go find out if he’s okay?” Fuji suggested, satisfaction coursing through him when Eiji bounded off to do just that.

The feeling only increased when, a short time later, Kaidoh went to the clubhouse to get his spare racquet and came stumbling out, empty handed, barely a moment later. He was deathly pale and mumbling incoherently about kissing and doubles partners. Nobody could get him to elaborate and he refused to back into the clubhouse. Fuji simply smiled and handed Kaidoh his racquet since the tensai typically brought at least three out. Tezuka glanced and Fuji then directed his narrowed gaze in the general direction of the clubhouse before deciding that he really didn’t want to know.

~O

A lone figure stood in front of the gates to Seigaku Junior High. The sun glinted off inky hair, picking out emerald green highlights. A red polo draped across broad shoulders and chest, emphasizing a lean waist where it was tucked into distressed jeans. The denim clung to long, strong legs and a large racquet bag was slung comfortably over one shoulder. The boy’s other hand was tucked into one of his pockets as he regarded the school for a moment. It was late enough that the majority of students had already left with the exception of those required to stay back for club activities. A smirk curved full lips and golden eyes gleamed before he strode purposefully through the gates, confidence clearly etched in the long lines of his body.

When he got to the tennis courts, Ryoma stood for a moment watching the sight that greeted him with no small amount of nostalgia. He could see the freshmen running through drills. The second and third years were having practice matches with the regulars randomly paired up with non-regulars. Inui was playing with a short boy with spiky red and dark glasses. The boy was a third year, by the looks of it, and he made up for his lack of stature by jumping into his shots and had what appeared to be an unpredictable game. However, Inui was returning every shot while spouting out endless lists of percentages. Ryoma scowled a little. He hated data tennis. Fuji looked thoroughly bored against a player who looked equally bored even though was being completely thrashed. Then again, very few presented even a slight challenge for Seigaku’s resident prodigy. Kikumaru was playing against a lithe second year that showed promising speed. The boy raced to retrieve a ball returning it on the stretch and still managing to get it in. It was an impressive return but Echizen judged that Kikumaru was probably playing at about 80% but was still winning comfortably. Oishi was actually calling out advice to his opponent: a small and timid looking boy with oversized glasses. Ryoma couldn’t help a small smile of affection at that. His senpai hadn’t changed a bit. Oishi would always be the other hen of the group. Ryoma’s eyes narrowed a little as he found that Oishi and Eiji were playing on adjacent courts and would frequently shoot each other smiling glances. The amber eyed youth wasn’t nearly as blind as he led people to believe and he knew exactly what those glances meant. Still, it would be fun pretending he didn’t. Momo was paired with Arai and Echizen could help but sweatdrop when he realized that Momo-senpai was baiting Arai-senpai as they played. Kaidoh, who was on the next court over, stopped his ‘match’ with a third year who was practically too scared to even move to yell at his nemesis for being an ‘obnoxious pain in the ass’. One of the infamous Momoshiro-Kaidoh fights quickly ensued and the regular dropped what they were doing to break the two up. They were only partially successful since the non-regulars had also stopped their practice and were cheering on the two.

This was the scene that Tezuka walked on to and, unsurprisingly, the entire club found themselves assigned triple-digit laps. The captain was still as strict and as much of slave driver as always. Ryoma’s heartbeat sped up a little as he eyed the tall, commanding form of his captain. He’d spoken to Tezuka just yesterday but hadn’t told him he was back in Japan. He wanted to surprise him. Unbeknownst to everyone else, Ryoma and Tezuka had kept in touch once the older teen had graduated from middle school. In fact, their relationship was much closer than anyone would ever suspect. Echizen must have lost himself in thought for a moment because the next thing he knew, the regulars were collapsing in an exhausted heap. Everyone else had long given up and had already been dismissed. Ryoma chose that moment, padding up to group so that he approached from behind Tezuka. Everyone else, however, had a clear view of him.

He was standing almost directly behind Tezuka when Inui and Kaidoh noticed him first, their eyes widening in surprise. Fuji was quick to catch on to their expressions and turned to find what had caught their interest. His eyes actually opened, relaxing into a smile as his own surprise quickly faded. Oishi’s reaction was more comical. He gaped at Ryoma, word deserting him.

“Ne Oishi, what are you looking at nya?” Kikumaru peered determinedly around the courts before his gaze landed on Ryoma.

“Ochibi!” Eiji squealed, immediately glomping the younger teen.

“Echizen!” Momo wasn’t far behind and Tezuka spun around with speed that would put Fudomine’s Kamio to shame. Unfortunately, Echizen was completely buried under the maniple that was his senpai-tachi and missed it.

“Echizen, you sneaky little brat! When did you get back?”

“Just this morning Momo senpai,” Ryoma replied, straightening his tops which had become un-tucked from his jeans during the enthusiastic greeting.

“Ne, Ochibi, does this mean you’re joining the tennis club again?”

“No,” Ryoma replied, his gaze meeting Tezuka’s briefly, “I’m can’t because, technically, I’m already a Pro.”

“Yosh! That’s our Ochibi nya!” Eiji yelled, glomping Echizen once more.

“It’s good to see you again Echizen,” Oishi smiled, pulling his partner away from the younger teen.

“Arigatou, Oishi-senpai” Echizen replied, his gaze flitting to Tezuka’s once more. He was the only person who had yet to say anything.

“There is a 97% chance the subject has returned in order to continue his education, a 50% chance he is here on vacation. Subject has grown 15.42 centimeters and is approximately 20% more talkative…”

Ryoma turned away slightly in an attempt to ignore Inui’s mumblings and the way he was scribbling furiously into his notebook. It took all his willpower to not look at Tezuka again. He was being way to obvious again. Unbeknownst to him, Fuji had not only picked up on Echizen’s frequent glances to their captain but had also noted that Tezuka’s gaze had yet to leave their favourite freshman.

“Are you free right now Echizen?” the blue-eyed prodigy asked, “We should all go and get something to eat.”

“I have no plans Senpai,” Ryoma replied.

“Yosh! Let’s go minna!” Kikumaru grabbed Momo and Oishi’s arms and proceeded to drag them to the clubhouse to shower and change, “I’m so excited nya! We haven’t seen Ochibi in ages!”

The team slowly filtered off, making Echizen promise to wait for them and soon he found himself alone with Tezuka. Ryoma found himself at a loss for words. It had been so long since he’d last been face to face with Tezuka but now that they were together again, he found himself frozen. Instead, his gaze wondered over the chestnut hair and inscrutable chocolate eyes and he noted that Tezuka’s expression was as inscrutable as ever. Ryoma sighed slightly, lowering his gaze. It seemed like Tezuka wasn’t as enthusiastic about this reunion. At least, not in the way Ryoma wanted him to be. The next thing Echizen knew, a heavy hand settled on his shoulder and his eyes flitted upward to meet the older teen’s gaze. Their was only a hint of a smile at the corner’s of Tezuka’s eyes and mouth but it was enough.

“Echizen,” Tezuka’s voice was deep and made Ryoma’s heart beat just that little bit faster, “Welcome back.”

“Arigatou buchou,” Ryoma smiled, inordinately glad his voice managed to stay steady.

“Perhaps you could still help with the team in a training capacity?” the older boy suggested. He knew it would be torture for the younger boy to attend school and not be able to play.

“I’d like that,” Ryoma replied, a rare grin curving his lips and Tezuka found himself smiling back.

They stood like that for long moment, just smiling at each other and Echizen was suddenly very glad his mother insisted he come back to Japan to finish his education. He had a feeling that this was going to be an amazing year. Tezuka’s finger’s gently squeezed his shoulder.

Oh yes. It was going to be a really amazing year.