Five Shades of White [Prince of Tennis: Seigaku team, Tezuka, Fuji]
title: Five shades of white.
fandom: Prince of Tennis
characters: Seigaku team, Tezuka, Fuji.
wordcount: 1293, but that includes definitions too.
notes/summary: Tezuka and Fuji debate the Singles 1 position and both luck out in different ways.
-
a. IVORY
-
ivory; noun
"ivories", Slang:
a. the keys of a piano or of a similar keyboard instrument.
b. dice.
-
They never would have gotten to this point on a normal day; Ryuuzaki Sensei would have decided the players in the matches, perhaps with a little of Tezuka or Inui's input, and her word would have been final, until Seigaku had one of their usual upsets and unexpected happenings. But Sensei was unwell, and left to their own devices, Tezuka had unexpectedly produced a bottle of vodka and he and Fuji had begun to trade shots. Fuji had been amused at first by the alcohol, though it was easy to see this wasn't a habit so much as an attempt at spontaneity, and soon became hysterical after getting himself accidentally almost-drunk.
Luckily Tezuka was in much the same state. The decision of who was to be playing First Singles in the match wasn't intended to be decided by who could handle their first taste of drink better, and never would have worked if it was. But now that they were relaxed, their arguments as to why they should each be the one to do it would flow more freely.
Except Fuji was busy; he had noticed the piano in the corner of the room, which belonged to Tezuka's mother, and was trying to tap out a tune. Tezuka narrowed his eyes while he concentrated and tried to discern the music, if you could call it that. It sounded like... Chopsticks.
Fuji might have been an excellent tennis player, but he was no musician. Tezuka told him so.
"It sounds now like you're on my side," he replied amiably, "is that not a good reason it should be me to play?"
"Your sister reads tarot, doesn't she?" Tezuka asked, "let's leave it to the hands of fate."
He opened his fist to reveal two dice, which he let fall to the floor. They rolled backwards to him.
"Zero-Shiki," Fuji smiled, unphased, "but I thought these were dice."
"They are numbered." Tezuka pointed out.
"Is this really about fate, or skill?" Fuji asked carefully. Tezuka just looked at him.
-
b. BONE
-
bone; noun
5. "throw a bone", a small concession, intended to pacify or quiet; a conciliatory bribe or gift: The administration threw the student protesters a couple of bones, but refused to make any basic changes in the curriculum.
-Idioms 14. "feel in one's bones", to think or feel intuitively: She felt in her bones that it was going to be a momentous day.
16. "make no bones about", b. to have no fear of or objection to.
17. "to the bone", b. to an extreme degree; thoroughly: chilled to the bone.
-
"Fujiko-chan," Eiji dashed towards Fuji, eyes wide and full of anticipation, "Inui said he believes you decided Tezuka is playing in Singles 1?"
"Yes, we did," Fuji nodded. "We all know Tezuka is the better player, after all."
It was a reasonably quiet exchange, but Tezuka could hear it if he ignored the murmurs of the freshman practicing and the other Regulars having their minor debates. I may not be the better player. He thought to himself. We both know that. Why don't you try?
"So... Why did you debate it in the first place?" Eiji asked suspiciously. "It's unlike you."
Fuji shrugged. "Tezuka offered me a chance, we discussed it. I'm fine with the outcome."
"Oh, of course!" Eiji grinned. "Tezuka can't lose! We all know that."
"Well then, there's no need to worry, is there Kikumaru?"
Eiji was left speechless for a moment, realising he would get no real answers from Fuji. And from Tezuka? It was impossible to even try.
-
c. GHOST
-
ghost, -noun
2. a mere shadow or semblance; a trace: He's a ghost of his former self.
3. a remote possibility: He hasn't a ghost of a chance.
7. "ghost image", a secondary image, esp. one appearing on a television screen as a white shadow, caused by poor or double reception. Photography; a faint secondary image in a photographic print resulting from reflections within the camera lens.
-Idiom22. "give up the ghost", to die; to cease to function or exist.
-
"According to my data," Inui began, "this is an unbalanced match. I don't believe this player was the one they intended to play Singles 1 originally."
"What? Why?" Eiji asked.
"He's just... Nowhere near Tezuka's level."
"It's almost a insult." Fuji said softly. "He's shaking."
"Huh?" Everyone's eyes went quickly to the opponent, who was indeed shaking, if only slightly at the knees.
"He's not going to win!" Horio exclaimed, folding his arms across his chest. "I bet he doesn't even get one point."
"Hey now, it's not even begun yet," Oishi said reproachfully, frowning a little.
"You never know what to expect."
The comments from Seigaku's side were almost more concerned than their opponents. Inui looked around and began to feel suspicion growing inside.
"You sense something too?" Fuji asked quietly, but the ever-perceptive freshmen also heard.
"What, Inui-senpai?" They asked.
"I don't know," he replied. "But, something. Let's wait for the match to begin."
As the rest of the team looked to the court, Inui pulled out his notebook thoughtfully. Fuji's eyes narrowed.
-
d. CHALK
-
chalk, -noun
4. a score or tally.
8. to make pale; blanch: Terror chalked her face.
-Verb phrase
11. chalk up, a. to score or earn: They chalked up two runs in the first inning.
b. to charge or ascribe to: It was a poor performance, but may be chalked up to lack of practice.
-
"0-1."
"0-2."
"0-3."
"0-4."
"Perhaps you were wrong, Inui," Oishi said carefully, "it seems to be going all Tezuka's way. And though his opponent has stopped shaking, there is no colour in his face."
"No, I still believe something is amiss." Inui replied. "The data speaks for itself, but data can change."
"Data can be skewed," Fuji said. Inui stared at him, and then at the player on the court.
"You're right." He said. "You have never allowed me to collect data on you. Perhaps that is what's wrong; we don't know this player's true form."
"Standing still and shaking!" Horio insisted. "It's the Captain's reputation: it has scared his opponent past being able to play."
"15-0!"
"...What?"
"Tezuka dropped a point?"
"On his own serve, too."
Fuji opened his eyes. "He was attempting to lure Tezuka into a false sense of security. And not just Tezuka, but everyone. Leading us all to believe he was a less-than-average player."
"That's so underhand!"
"Eh, it won't work," Echizen shrugged. Everyone looked at him, Fuji smiled.
"Tezuka will not be thrown off; he never underestimates anyone." He explained to the others. "If anything, he does the opposite. He draws out the hidden potential in us all. The direction of the wind has not changed."
"It wasn't even startled," Echizen agreed.
-
e. SNOWY
-
snowy
-adjective,
5. immaculate; unsullied.
-
"15-15!"
"Tezuka is back!" Momo shouted excitedly.
"What else would you expect?" Inui replied.
"15-30!"
"15-40!"
"Game, Seigaku's Tezuka, 0-5."
"One more game and Tezuka will have won!" Eiji cried out.
"Even if his opponent could reach Deuce," Fuji began, "Tezuka would take the final points and the game. Funny that the score will show no points against him in the end."
"Yeah, especially after his opponent managed to get that one." Echizen pointed out. He and Fuji shared an ironic smile.
"Game and Match, Seigaku's Tezuka, 0-6."
The team and the supporters began to cheer, so loud that Tezuka could barely hear himself think. He approached the net and spoke firmly to his opponent.
"You should try harder sooner. Pretending you are what you are not will get you nowhere."
He got a surprised but accepting look in return, and the two shook hands. Tezuka made his way to the sidelines, every member of the team watching him as he approached Fuji.
"Next time," he began, "you can play Singles 1. I will play your Singles 2 match; it was far more challenging."
-
fandom: Prince of Tennis
characters: Seigaku team, Tezuka, Fuji.
wordcount: 1293, but that includes definitions too.
notes/summary: Tezuka and Fuji debate the Singles 1 position and both luck out in different ways.
-
a. IVORY
-
ivory; noun
"ivories", Slang:
a. the keys of a piano or of a similar keyboard instrument.
b. dice.
-
They never would have gotten to this point on a normal day; Ryuuzaki Sensei would have decided the players in the matches, perhaps with a little of Tezuka or Inui's input, and her word would have been final, until Seigaku had one of their usual upsets and unexpected happenings. But Sensei was unwell, and left to their own devices, Tezuka had unexpectedly produced a bottle of vodka and he and Fuji had begun to trade shots. Fuji had been amused at first by the alcohol, though it was easy to see this wasn't a habit so much as an attempt at spontaneity, and soon became hysterical after getting himself accidentally almost-drunk.
Luckily Tezuka was in much the same state. The decision of who was to be playing First Singles in the match wasn't intended to be decided by who could handle their first taste of drink better, and never would have worked if it was. But now that they were relaxed, their arguments as to why they should each be the one to do it would flow more freely.
Except Fuji was busy; he had noticed the piano in the corner of the room, which belonged to Tezuka's mother, and was trying to tap out a tune. Tezuka narrowed his eyes while he concentrated and tried to discern the music, if you could call it that. It sounded like... Chopsticks.
Fuji might have been an excellent tennis player, but he was no musician. Tezuka told him so.
"It sounds now like you're on my side," he replied amiably, "is that not a good reason it should be me to play?"
"Your sister reads tarot, doesn't she?" Tezuka asked, "let's leave it to the hands of fate."
He opened his fist to reveal two dice, which he let fall to the floor. They rolled backwards to him.
"Zero-Shiki," Fuji smiled, unphased, "but I thought these were dice."
"They are numbered." Tezuka pointed out.
"Is this really about fate, or skill?" Fuji asked carefully. Tezuka just looked at him.
-
b. BONE
-
bone; noun
5. "throw a bone", a small concession, intended to pacify or quiet; a conciliatory bribe or gift: The administration threw the student protesters a couple of bones, but refused to make any basic changes in the curriculum.
-Idioms 14. "feel in one's bones", to think or feel intuitively: She felt in her bones that it was going to be a momentous day.
16. "make no bones about", b. to have no fear of or objection to.
17. "to the bone", b. to an extreme degree; thoroughly: chilled to the bone.
-
"Fujiko-chan," Eiji dashed towards Fuji, eyes wide and full of anticipation, "Inui said he believes you decided Tezuka is playing in Singles 1?"
"Yes, we did," Fuji nodded. "We all know Tezuka is the better player, after all."
It was a reasonably quiet exchange, but Tezuka could hear it if he ignored the murmurs of the freshman practicing and the other Regulars having their minor debates. I may not be the better player. He thought to himself. We both know that. Why don't you try?
"So... Why did you debate it in the first place?" Eiji asked suspiciously. "It's unlike you."
Fuji shrugged. "Tezuka offered me a chance, we discussed it. I'm fine with the outcome."
"Oh, of course!" Eiji grinned. "Tezuka can't lose! We all know that."
"Well then, there's no need to worry, is there Kikumaru?"
Eiji was left speechless for a moment, realising he would get no real answers from Fuji. And from Tezuka? It was impossible to even try.
-
c. GHOST
-
ghost, -noun
2. a mere shadow or semblance; a trace: He's a ghost of his former self.
3. a remote possibility: He hasn't a ghost of a chance.
7. "ghost image", a secondary image, esp. one appearing on a television screen as a white shadow, caused by poor or double reception. Photography; a faint secondary image in a photographic print resulting from reflections within the camera lens.
-Idiom22. "give up the ghost", to die; to cease to function or exist.
-
"According to my data," Inui began, "this is an unbalanced match. I don't believe this player was the one they intended to play Singles 1 originally."
"What? Why?" Eiji asked.
"He's just... Nowhere near Tezuka's level."
"It's almost a insult." Fuji said softly. "He's shaking."
"Huh?" Everyone's eyes went quickly to the opponent, who was indeed shaking, if only slightly at the knees.
"He's not going to win!" Horio exclaimed, folding his arms across his chest. "I bet he doesn't even get one point."
"Hey now, it's not even begun yet," Oishi said reproachfully, frowning a little.
"You never know what to expect."
The comments from Seigaku's side were almost more concerned than their opponents. Inui looked around and began to feel suspicion growing inside.
"You sense something too?" Fuji asked quietly, but the ever-perceptive freshmen also heard.
"What, Inui-senpai?" They asked.
"I don't know," he replied. "But, something. Let's wait for the match to begin."
As the rest of the team looked to the court, Inui pulled out his notebook thoughtfully. Fuji's eyes narrowed.
-
d. CHALK
-
chalk, -noun
4. a score or tally.
8. to make pale; blanch: Terror chalked her face.
-Verb phrase
11. chalk up, a. to score or earn: They chalked up two runs in the first inning.
b. to charge or ascribe to: It was a poor performance, but may be chalked up to lack of practice.
-
"0-1."
"0-2."
"0-3."
"0-4."
"Perhaps you were wrong, Inui," Oishi said carefully, "it seems to be going all Tezuka's way. And though his opponent has stopped shaking, there is no colour in his face."
"No, I still believe something is amiss." Inui replied. "The data speaks for itself, but data can change."
"Data can be skewed," Fuji said. Inui stared at him, and then at the player on the court.
"You're right." He said. "You have never allowed me to collect data on you. Perhaps that is what's wrong; we don't know this player's true form."
"Standing still and shaking!" Horio insisted. "It's the Captain's reputation: it has scared his opponent past being able to play."
"15-0!"
"...What?"
"Tezuka dropped a point?"
"On his own serve, too."
Fuji opened his eyes. "He was attempting to lure Tezuka into a false sense of security. And not just Tezuka, but everyone. Leading us all to believe he was a less-than-average player."
"That's so underhand!"
"Eh, it won't work," Echizen shrugged. Everyone looked at him, Fuji smiled.
"Tezuka will not be thrown off; he never underestimates anyone." He explained to the others. "If anything, he does the opposite. He draws out the hidden potential in us all. The direction of the wind has not changed."
"It wasn't even startled," Echizen agreed.
-
e. SNOWY
-
snowy
-adjective,
5. immaculate; unsullied.
-
"15-15!"
"Tezuka is back!" Momo shouted excitedly.
"What else would you expect?" Inui replied.
"15-30!"
"15-40!"
"Game, Seigaku's Tezuka, 0-5."
"One more game and Tezuka will have won!" Eiji cried out.
"Even if his opponent could reach Deuce," Fuji began, "Tezuka would take the final points and the game. Funny that the score will show no points against him in the end."
"Yeah, especially after his opponent managed to get that one." Echizen pointed out. He and Fuji shared an ironic smile.
"Game and Match, Seigaku's Tezuka, 0-6."
The team and the supporters began to cheer, so loud that Tezuka could barely hear himself think. He approached the net and spoke firmly to his opponent.
"You should try harder sooner. Pretending you are what you are not will get you nowhere."
He got a surprised but accepting look in return, and the two shook hands. Tezuka made his way to the sidelines, every member of the team watching him as he approached Fuji.
"Next time," he began, "you can play Singles 1. I will play your Singles 2 match; it was far more challenging."
-