Who: Yukimura Seiichi and Marui Bunta
What: Marui picks up his basket of candy, and they go to play a short game after a picnic.
When: The day Yukimura arrived at camp.
Where: From Yukimura's room to the tennis courts
Rating: G
Comments: This took a veeeeeeeery long time. Comments are welcome.
He was definitely excited to see Yukimura. The sudden appearance of his former captain had been a top moment for Marui's day. Walking rapidly down the hall, Marui stuck his head into the room first, then proceeded to let himself in. "Yukimura," he called out excitedly, searching out the other boy and then the basket of candy. There were priorities but that didn't mean that Marui could help himself.
Going over to the boy first, Marui offered Yukimura a smile. "I thought I was going to be stuck with Niou and Yagyuu as company forever." Heavily dramatized words. Right now, his smile was growing too large but that didn't matter.
Yukimura smiled at Marui's words.
"Of course not, and even if I hadn't come, Yanagi will be coming soon." He sighed. Sanada and Jackal were the only ones who hadn't know when they'd be coming, although Sanada had said something about three weeks.... Handing Marui the basket of sweets, he gestured towards the door, already holding his tennis bag.
"He is?" Marui perked up at that. Taking the basket, Marui peered at it curiously. Mmmm all good stuff. He knew he liked Yukimura for a reason. "It'd be nice to see him again too. Now we just need Sanada, Jackal, and Akaya." He counted off the remaining team mates while walking towards the door.
"Oh!" Marui paused. "I left the picnic basket outside. I can't carry both though." He gave Yukimura a meaningful look. "Can I leave this here for a while longer? I'll pick it up on my way to my room later.
"Alright, " Yukimura responded, smiling. Heading out the door, he grabbed Marui's arm and pulled him out with him.
"Aah!" he cried out, almost losing his balance when Yukimura tugged on his arm. Quickly recapturing his footing, he hurried along with the other boy. "Wait, the food!" Marui said, leaning in to snag the basket sitting outside the room. His tennis bag was waiting there too, and he pulled his arm free a moment to sling it over his shoulder. "I feel like a bellboy."
“You do?" Yukimura asked absently, taking Marui's arm again, "where are we going to have the picnic?"
"We should just have it by the tennis courts since we're going to be playing after." Marui let Yukimura lead the way, though he wondered if the other boy knew where the courts were. Probably. Knowing Yukimura, he'd gone there before going to his room.
Yukimura grinned, leading the way to the tennis courts, pulling Marui along behind him.
When they reached the courts he stopped suddenly, and felt Marui run into his back. Taking the basket from the other boy, he set it on the ground, sitting down beside it.
He hadn't appreciated the sudden stop. Marui thought Yukimura probably did that deliberately. Holding back the urge to pout childishly, Marui plopped down as well. "How long ago did you decide you'd come here?" Pulling open the picnic basket, Marui set out the cloth, making a big show of bringing out all the food.
Presentation was half the fun and all.
"As soon as I got here, of course," Yukimura replied, watching Marui set out the food. Smiling when Marui finished his presentation, Yukimura complimented the spread, the grabbed a plate for himself.
"I meant, how long ago did you decide you'd come," Marui repeated, beaming a little at the compliment. He picked up a plate as well, setting it on his lap once it was full of tidbits of food. "You can't have just come without knowing you were planning on staying," he said, going back to the conversation.
"Ah. That. Well, I decided I'd be coming about a week ago, but my parents couldn't drive me here until today." Yukimura said, after swallowing his food.
He took a bite of his sandwich before speaking. "You should have said something! I bet we could have tied up the rest of the guys and dragged them along between the two of us." They were just that good.
Yukimura grinned, "I'm sure Sanada would have made himself very scarce." Marui did have the most interesting ideas... perhaps he'd be taking Yanagi aside sometime to ask him how much rope they'd need to tie up all the regulars and where they'd be able to conduct the experiment.
"Not if he didn't know what was coming." Marui helped himself to one of the cookies set out before grimacing at Yukimura. "I guess he'd probably pick up on it..." He took a bite and then set the cookie back half eaten. Moving his plate off his lap, Marui lay back on the grass. "Do you think this camp is a good idea?"
"I don't know... it's interesting, to say the least." Yukimura responded, "Perhaps you could fill me in on what's happened over the time I wasn't here? It might make some things clearer."
Marui offered a shrug from where he was laying. His head lifted a bit as he met Yukimura's eyes. "I've only been here a few days. Yagyuu too." He wet his lower lip quickly, letting his head fall back on the grass. "Niou is probably your best bet on getting information. Unless you want to ask someone from the other schools.
"I suppose I'll ask around then. I heard something about the pool being cleaned... what was that about?" Yukimura asked, sitting in his spot, racket bag lain carefully beside him.
Blinking rapidly, Marui continued staring at the clouds. "From what I heard, Niou dumped bleach into the pool. I don't know who got bleach on them or what it did to them but it kept everyone out for a while. The Fudomine captain decided he'd be nice and clean it but apparently he doesn't know how to add water back into the pool so there's still no swimming." Yawn. Yukimura's lap looked nice but Marui was feeling too lazy to attempt sneaking over. He should probably force himself to sit up.
Yukimura blinked. "Oh," noticing that Marui was looking rather tired, he patted his lap and said: "you can sleep on my lap for a bit if you want. I'm sure it would be much more comfortable than the ground."
"I probably shouldn't sleep though," Marui said, all while inching closer until his head was resting securely on the other boy. "or else I won't feel like running before
heading to my room." He considered what he said. "Plus, we're going to play right?"
"We will," Yukimura said, smiling, "but I'm sure a little rest won't hurt." Playing with Marui's hair, he settled himself more comfortably on the grass.
Well, if he ended up feeling too tired, he could always eat some more of that sugary stuff before heading on the courts. Marui closed his eyes, telling himself he wasn't going to nap...but kind of drifting anyway.
After waiting awhile, just sitting with Marui's head in his lap, Yukimura shook him off, and pointed emphatically toward the tennis bag sitting on the grass near Marui.
"Why don't we start now, since we should warm up and stretch before playing." So saying, he grabbed his bag and headed towards the gate to enter the courts.
"I thought you said a little rest wouldn't hurt," Marui grumbled. He'd just been on the edge of sleep too and he rubbed his face to shake the feeling away. Moving to his feet, Marui picked up his tennis bag and followed Yukimura into the courts, his fingers combing through his hair as he looked them over.
Ignoring that last comment, Yukimura set his racket in the boundaries of the fence, and exited the court again to start with some laps.
"Come on, Marui. We wouldn't want you to cramp up during a game."
Deciding not to be snippy, Marui simply dropped his bag near Yukimura's racket and left the court as well. "I should have known that with you here, there wasn't going to be any slacking." His tone was teasing, it felt good to run.
Grinning as he ran, he responded "Of course you're not allowed to slack. You are, after all, at a tennis camp, and why would you want to get out of practice and loose a match here?" Turning at the corner, Yukimura started on his second lap.
"We're at a tennis camp but no one has told me to play since I got here." Marui quickened his pace in order to keep up with the other boy, wanting to keep talking. "I wouldn't have gotten out of practise though," he added. "I was playing."
"Good," Yukimura responded continuing on his fourth lap.
Really, it was getting to be too much effort to keep up a conversation. Instead, Marui shut up and ran alongside the other boy, deciding to let his brain shut down on what he was doing and concentrate on the match they were going to have.
After a total of 15 laps, Yukimura stopped, and re-entered the court, doing some wrist and arm exercises. When he'd finished stretching, he took up his racket and gestured to the first court.
"One set match. You serve."
Right. Marui pulled out his racket as well and took up the court Yukimura had gestured to. The racket felt lighter than it normally would but then, he wasn't wearing weights. Pulling out a tennis ball from where he'd snuck it into his pocket while he walked, Marui waited for Yukimura to be ready and then served. He wondered idly how many games he'd be able to get in before his captain crushed him. Nah, he'd go for a win.
Retuning the ball easily, Yukimura sighed. Was it just him, or had Marui had gotten slower, and lees powerful, come to think about it
"Marui, you've gotten slower. Have you been wearing your weights every day? Maybe I should increase the weight on everyone, if they all play like this now." He called over the net.
Marui frowned at the figure across. He needed to stop thinking, Yukimura could pick up on anything. "I'll start wearing them tomorrow," he called back, snapping bubbles twice for good measure as he returned the ball back to the other court. He didn't feel as if he had gotten slower. Yukimura was just being picky. Still....he should probably do something to show that.
Returning the ball to the inside of the left corner, Yukimura frowned. Marui should be wearing the weights all the time, even in his sleep. He had noticed the conspicuous lack of weights though.... Perhaps it was time to have a conversation with the other boys from his team, to find out if they'd been wearing their weights.
Running towards the ball, Marui tried one of his drops. Yukimura seemed distracted and while that was a bad thing, there was no reason why Marui shouldn't take advantage.
Seeing Marui try one of his drops, Yukimura dashed up to the net and returned it, still wondering whether or not Niou and Yagyuu had worn their weights as they should. Still contemplating, he watched absently as the ball fell and bounced out of the far right corner of Marui's court. Marui needed a new exercise schedule.
His lip was not jutting out childishly. Seriously, there had been something wrong with the water because he was feeling too sulky to be good for him. Yukimura's move had caught him by surprise and that was all. Marui served his next ball quickly, moving towards the net.
Returning the ball with a lob, not very surprised that the force behind it was slightly larger than before, Yukimura moved back to the middle of his court, watching to see what Marui would do his return.
He smashed the lob, his eyes rising to meet Yukimura's with a suddenly cheerful grin. It was hard not to get caught up in the game, especially since Yukimura seemed to be in the mood to humour him.
Yukimura grinned, getting into position to return the smash and managed to return it, although it had been a slight challenge. Sending the ball high in a second lob, he smiled and watched it fall behind Marui, right on the baseline.
Marui's eyes had been on the ball, and he'd taken a few steps back but seeing he wasn't going to make it, he paused. "Eh," Marui muttered, then swooped down to pick up the ball. This wasn't going to work if he kept playing like that. The next serve was sent to the opposite side of the court from the last, and Marui went for the net again, intent on getting into his regular volley play.
Yukimura, seeing Marui heading to the net, returned the serve to the back, wanting to see whether Marui would be able to play baseline. Waiting for Marui to return it. Yukimura pondered on the merits of more weights, versus making everyone rune up and down the shrine steps a few times with out stopping.
Not liking being driven back, Marui quickly shot towards the baseline to catch the ball, sending it back with a resounding smack of ball against racket. He could practically see the wheels in Yukimura's mind turning and he would have grimaced if he weren't intent on watching for Yukimura's next move. He had moved forward again, wanting to distract Yukimura from whatever he was thinking.
Absently lobbing the ball over Marui's head, straight at the baseline, Yukimura continued thinking of more way to train his boys
Marui smashed it back to Yukimura, wondering how the boy could concentrate on sending him back while scheming at the same time. It wasn't right.
Continuing to ponder, Yukimura got into position and once again returned, this time to the left corner of the baseline. Maybe if he increased , the weights, gave them a week to adjust, and then made them jog up the shrine steps?
This entire game was probably just so Yukimura could make him run, Marui thought morosely. Deciding to stop wondering (or trying to stop) Yukimura from his plotting, Marui sent a drop shot towards the other court, staying where he was.
Moving towards where the drop shot would land, Yukimura sent it to Marui's court, low enough to skim the top of the net before dropping on the ground in front of said net.
Groaning, Marui tried to get to it before it hit the ground but he'd stuck to the baseline and he was too far to reach it in time. Another point to Yukimura. Marui snapped another bubble with his gum, moving his racket to his other hand for a moment so that he could rub his palm against his shirt.
Watching him rush towards the ball, Yukimura decided that no, Marui would definitely never be a dash specialist.
It was probably a good thing that Yukimura was doing this, Marui restrospected. At least, it meant that with the captain picking out a new exercise schedule for him, Marui wouldn't let himself slack or embarrass himself against the other students. Still.. maybe he should stop thinking so much of only the offensive. Not being able to reach that shot had been obnoxious. Marui tossed the ball up in the air and caught it again, sending a slice serve Yukimura's way.
Yukimura, seeing the serve coming, moved into a position where the ball would be bouncing towards him and returned it, aiming for the area beside Marui's left foot. Absently moving back to the centre of his court, Yukimura wondered how much weight he'd need to add to their ankles to make them faster than that dash specialist of Hyoutei‘s.
Reaching down for the ball, Marui sent it back to the other boy's court, forcefully. He wanted to drive Yukimura back enough for him to reach the net again. The other boy's continuously pushing him back had just made him want to play that way more. He was sure he'd be able to make any shots sent back in time.
Moving back, Yukimura returned the ball with a topspin, wondering it Marui would notice in time to adjust his position. Absently wondering if Yanagi would be arriving soon, he moved back to the centre of the court.
He'd been watching for the next move, and when he saw it, Marui moved in to take it quickly with a rising shot.
Expecting something similar, Yukimura was already in postion and returned the ball easily to the right corner of the baseline.
As soon as the last shot was played, Marui gave Yukimura a half smile and then moved towards the grass. He'd known from his first shots that he wasn't in the shape to win. He just hadn't expected to come out looking so bad. Throwing himself down where they'd been picnicking earlier, Marui made a sound of exhaustion and reached for one of the water bottles in the basket. Yukimura hadn't even played seriously.
Yukimura, following Marui out of the court, watched serenely as Marui drank his water.
"You need to increase the weights after you start wearing them all the time again. Your moves have gotten sloppy and you've gotten slower."
"Yeah," Marui replied, not looking at the other boy. "Well, that's what this camp is supposed to be for, right? To keep me in shape. He moved his arm out towards the other boy, motioning for him to sit. "How long do I have before I need to add the extra weights?"
"A day at the most." Yukimura said, still smiling serenely.
"I haven't been wearing them for a while though," Marui protested, thinking the other man would have at least given him a week or so.
Yukimura smiled menacingly.
"That would be a problem then. It's yours, not mine though, so I'll give you two days, then you get double your weights."
Groaning loudly, Marui fell on his back, staring up. "You're a killer." But, it was all for the sake of winning, so Marui stopped whining about it after a moment and sat up again to pack up the food.
"You doing anything interesting later?"
"Not really." Yukimura responded, helping to pack up the food.
"Oh," he said, and then stood up. "I'll probably go look for my weights then." Marui reached for the basket. "You'll play me again in a bit?"
Like, when he'd had time to improve maybe.
"Sure." Yukimura responded, glad that Marui was going to be wearing his weights again.
Marui nodded, heading back to towards the school. He didn't wait to see if the other boy followed or not. Yukimura would do what he wanted, he figured.
Following Marui, Yukimura wondered how many days it would take to get used to the extra weights be fore he could send Marui on a run up and down the shrine steps.
"Remember, you still have to pick up that basket of candy from my room." He reminded.
He'd actually forgotten about that. Marui paused indecisively as they reached the building. Then stepped forward again. "I'm going to leave this in the kitchen first. No use carrying this thing up and down the stairs with me."
"I'll see you when you come to pick it up then." Yukimura said, turning in the direction of his room.
It took him a while to reach Yukimura's room. There had been a detour to the restroom and then he was in front of the other boy's room, knocking briefly before letting himself in.
Looking up from the book he'd been reading at Marui's knock, Yukimura gestured towards the basket in the corner of his room.
"Thanks." Crossing the room to where the basket was, Marui picked it up and held it under his arm, his gaze moving to where Yukimura was reading and then turning away to the door. "I'll see you later," he said, and exited.