To The Community from Your Tenifriend
Title: The Last Word
Characters: Atobe and the Hyoutei regulars
Rating: G
Summary: Hyoutei goes on vacation before the Nationals start.
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Tennis no Oujisama © Konomi Takeshi, et al.
A/N: I hope you like this - there isn't that much summery fun, but there is comradeship.
The only hitch, which was trivial, took place on their way to the airport. The limousine driver asked for permission to take a detour because the highway ahead of them was clogged with traffic; he had heard the news from the radio. "It will take a little longer, Keigo-bocchama, but I assure you we won't be behind schedule."
"Maybe you should consider having your own landing pad on the roof," Oshitari said as the partition between them and the driver's seat went back up. "So that your plane can take off straight from your house. I'm sure you can arrange something like that."
"Planes, private or otherwise, would look more imposing on a proper runway than if it takes off from the roof of a building, no matter how grand." Atobe did not raise his eyes from the live weather report on the laptop screen. "And it's so much more in style to travel in leisure. Making haste gives the impression that you're at the mercy of the weather, and can't enjoy your vacation as fully as you should have."
Shishido sniffed. "Next you'll tell us your plane travels so fast that changes for the worse in the weather won't affect the flight at all."
"If it's the truth, never be afraid to say it."
This summer was Atobe's last in junior high, and he had planned to celebrate it with the other Hyoutei regulars. They, Atobe stated, were going to spend the following week on the beach; without being told, his teammates understood that he meant an excursion to a foreign country, because Japanese beaches would be too mundane for Atobe. Some of them suspected he was doing this partly for the public relation value - going abroad for vacation was always a prestigious thing to do, not least for junior high students - but none mentioned this aloud, Atobe being Atobe. Thus, documents were duly processed, suitcases were packed, and this morning they set out from Atobe's house after having breakfast together. ("I have to make sure no one suddenly gets sick from food poisoning or other such banal afflictions.")
"I bring my racket with me, just in case it rains or something," Ootori said, adding, "There will be indoor tennis courts where we're going, won't there?"
"You all know me better than to assume I couldn't get a hotel that hasn't got indoor tennis courts in it, I believe." Atobe clicked on the keyboard, and the weather report flickered, changed into news about the stock exchange. "I've a little work to do now, so until we get to the airport, give yourselves something to do. Nothing too time-consuming, though, since all my family's vehicles, including this one, are built for speed."
---
The trip was somewhat noisier than they had anticipated because, contrary to general expectation, Jirou managed to stay awake the whole time and commented with passion on virtually everything, from Mukahi's new PSP, bought especially for the occasion, to the in-flight movies. Even after the plane touched down and they got off, Jirou's enthusiasm showed no signs of simmering down. Then Atobe remembered that for Jirou this, too, was his last summer in junior high.
Bali was jam-packed with tourists - hordes of nuclear and extended families, teenagers, couples - since it was also the vacation season here. Jirou lapsed back into sleep on their way to the hotel, and Kabaji drew openly amazed stares when he slung Jirou over his shoulder and walked into the lobby carrying both their luggage. (Atobe carried his own for a change) All of them went to their separate rooms after Atobe announced they would have a short practice session every day from four o'clock until dinnertime.
"You're not saying you've reserved the hotel's indoor tennis court on a daily basis, just for our group?" Shishido asked, resigned rather than incredulous.
"We must perform well at the Nationals, so we're not going to spend the entire vacation only having fun and doing nothing else. But you just gave me an idea. I wonder if we can reserve another court somewhere, when we get bored of the one here."
---
The local food was an intriguing lesson in itself, but as the boys were not really inclined on a gastronomical adventure, they mainly chose to observe from afar. Shaved ice, when found, came in various shapes and tastes, which piqued the interests of Jirou, Mukahi and Ootori to different degrees. Atobe, never one to indulge in plebeian delights, kept a list of internationally acclaimed restaurants in Bali handy. Oshitari went to watch a few traditional dances, not at all put off by the fact that the female dancers mostly wore clothes that covered them all the way to the ankle. Shishido checked out shops that sold T-shirts, and ended up with denim cutoffs.
---
At the end of the fourth day's practice, Mukahi suggested that after dinner they all go to the beach, which would be less crowded than during the daytime. This turned out to be true; there were no kids running about, and of random tourists there were very few. The seven of them walked along the shoreline, the sea washing over their bare feet before retreating, a distant satellite blinking in the dark gray sky, to which Hiyoshi paid surreptitious attention.
"Well?" Atobe said after they had walked on for ten minutes.
Mukahi glanced at him. "Well what?"
"Is there no purpose to this jaunt other than to stretch our legs?"
"No. Although walking like this is good for recharging. Even you have to admit that."
Jirou ran past the others, skipped to a halt, resumed his running, stopped again. "I wish we were in Japan," he said to no one in particular. "I miss the fireworks."
"Jirou," Atobe said, with a kind of well-rehearsed patience, "we could always buy some here if you want."
"Yeah, but in Japan we would've brought fireworks in the first place." Jirou peered up, scratching at his cheek. "Huh," he said after a moment. "Guess I'll still have the whole three years of high school if I really need to see fireworks during summer nights. At least here I get to swim a lot."
They were silent, the Nationals looming large before them, dwarfing the importance of picturesque memories. "We could practice here on the beach, I suppose," Atobe mused. "Training ourselves to see in the dark and move on uneven ground, and all that."
"The other teams must also be practicing hard right now," Hiyoshi murmured.
"That's a given." The day when they received the special recommendation to go to the Nationals glimmered at the back of Atobe's mind. More than a day of acknowledgment, it was the beginning of a test - one that Hyoutei would pass with blazing colors, no questions asked. A smile passed across one corner of his mouth. "Also a given is that no one would profit from their training better than we will."
Characters: Atobe and the Hyoutei regulars
Rating: G
Summary: Hyoutei goes on vacation before the Nationals start.
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Tennis no Oujisama © Konomi Takeshi, et al.
A/N: I hope you like this - there isn't that much summery fun, but there is comradeship.
The only hitch, which was trivial, took place on their way to the airport. The limousine driver asked for permission to take a detour because the highway ahead of them was clogged with traffic; he had heard the news from the radio. "It will take a little longer, Keigo-bocchama, but I assure you we won't be behind schedule."
"Maybe you should consider having your own landing pad on the roof," Oshitari said as the partition between them and the driver's seat went back up. "So that your plane can take off straight from your house. I'm sure you can arrange something like that."
"Planes, private or otherwise, would look more imposing on a proper runway than if it takes off from the roof of a building, no matter how grand." Atobe did not raise his eyes from the live weather report on the laptop screen. "And it's so much more in style to travel in leisure. Making haste gives the impression that you're at the mercy of the weather, and can't enjoy your vacation as fully as you should have."
Shishido sniffed. "Next you'll tell us your plane travels so fast that changes for the worse in the weather won't affect the flight at all."
"If it's the truth, never be afraid to say it."
This summer was Atobe's last in junior high, and he had planned to celebrate it with the other Hyoutei regulars. They, Atobe stated, were going to spend the following week on the beach; without being told, his teammates understood that he meant an excursion to a foreign country, because Japanese beaches would be too mundane for Atobe. Some of them suspected he was doing this partly for the public relation value - going abroad for vacation was always a prestigious thing to do, not least for junior high students - but none mentioned this aloud, Atobe being Atobe. Thus, documents were duly processed, suitcases were packed, and this morning they set out from Atobe's house after having breakfast together. ("I have to make sure no one suddenly gets sick from food poisoning or other such banal afflictions.")
"I bring my racket with me, just in case it rains or something," Ootori said, adding, "There will be indoor tennis courts where we're going, won't there?"
"You all know me better than to assume I couldn't get a hotel that hasn't got indoor tennis courts in it, I believe." Atobe clicked on the keyboard, and the weather report flickered, changed into news about the stock exchange. "I've a little work to do now, so until we get to the airport, give yourselves something to do. Nothing too time-consuming, though, since all my family's vehicles, including this one, are built for speed."
---
The trip was somewhat noisier than they had anticipated because, contrary to general expectation, Jirou managed to stay awake the whole time and commented with passion on virtually everything, from Mukahi's new PSP, bought especially for the occasion, to the in-flight movies. Even after the plane touched down and they got off, Jirou's enthusiasm showed no signs of simmering down. Then Atobe remembered that for Jirou this, too, was his last summer in junior high.
Bali was jam-packed with tourists - hordes of nuclear and extended families, teenagers, couples - since it was also the vacation season here. Jirou lapsed back into sleep on their way to the hotel, and Kabaji drew openly amazed stares when he slung Jirou over his shoulder and walked into the lobby carrying both their luggage. (Atobe carried his own for a change) All of them went to their separate rooms after Atobe announced they would have a short practice session every day from four o'clock until dinnertime.
"You're not saying you've reserved the hotel's indoor tennis court on a daily basis, just for our group?" Shishido asked, resigned rather than incredulous.
"We must perform well at the Nationals, so we're not going to spend the entire vacation only having fun and doing nothing else. But you just gave me an idea. I wonder if we can reserve another court somewhere, when we get bored of the one here."
---
The local food was an intriguing lesson in itself, but as the boys were not really inclined on a gastronomical adventure, they mainly chose to observe from afar. Shaved ice, when found, came in various shapes and tastes, which piqued the interests of Jirou, Mukahi and Ootori to different degrees. Atobe, never one to indulge in plebeian delights, kept a list of internationally acclaimed restaurants in Bali handy. Oshitari went to watch a few traditional dances, not at all put off by the fact that the female dancers mostly wore clothes that covered them all the way to the ankle. Shishido checked out shops that sold T-shirts, and ended up with denim cutoffs.
---
At the end of the fourth day's practice, Mukahi suggested that after dinner they all go to the beach, which would be less crowded than during the daytime. This turned out to be true; there were no kids running about, and of random tourists there were very few. The seven of them walked along the shoreline, the sea washing over their bare feet before retreating, a distant satellite blinking in the dark gray sky, to which Hiyoshi paid surreptitious attention.
"Well?" Atobe said after they had walked on for ten minutes.
Mukahi glanced at him. "Well what?"
"Is there no purpose to this jaunt other than to stretch our legs?"
"No. Although walking like this is good for recharging. Even you have to admit that."
Jirou ran past the others, skipped to a halt, resumed his running, stopped again. "I wish we were in Japan," he said to no one in particular. "I miss the fireworks."
"Jirou," Atobe said, with a kind of well-rehearsed patience, "we could always buy some here if you want."
"Yeah, but in Japan we would've brought fireworks in the first place." Jirou peered up, scratching at his cheek. "Huh," he said after a moment. "Guess I'll still have the whole three years of high school if I really need to see fireworks during summer nights. At least here I get to swim a lot."
They were silent, the Nationals looming large before them, dwarfing the importance of picturesque memories. "We could practice here on the beach, I suppose," Atobe mused. "Training ourselves to see in the dark and move on uneven ground, and all that."
"The other teams must also be practicing hard right now," Hiyoshi murmured.
"That's a given." The day when they received the special recommendation to go to the Nationals glimmered at the back of Atobe's mind. More than a day of acknowledgment, it was the beginning of a test - one that Hyoutei would pass with blazing colors, no questions asked. A smile passed across one corner of his mouth. "Also a given is that no one would profit from their training better than we will."