Haruka's Fanfic Journal

This is the result of a 15-minute prompt challenge. The prompt is stated at the end of the ficlet.

Try, Try, Again (Prince of Tennis)

By Haruka (haruka@eastlink.ca)

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Shishido Ryoh had been working toward this day for a long time in private. Well, almost private – as usual, his Doubles One partner, Ohtori Choutarou, had been there with him every step of the way.

Choutarou was giving him a secret smile now, and Ryoh tried not to grin back. He didn’t want to clue anyone else in.

“All right,” said Sakaki Tarou as he finished giving his team of Hyotei tennis players a rundown of upcoming tournaments. “Today I want to give all of you a chance to play against people who aren’t your usual opposition. Doubles players will be playing as singles for this practice.”

Ryoh shifted in place. He’d thought that he and Choutarou would be playing against Yuushi and Gakuto, the Doubles Two pair, but okay, it didn’t matter. The fantastic new serve he’d been working on would surprise ANY opponent.

“Shishido-san!” Choutarou hissed. “Coach is talking to you!”

“Huh? What?” Ryoh looked guiltily toward Sakaki, who was frowning.

“I hope you plan on paying more attention to your practice partner than you have been me, Shishido-kun,” he said sternly.

“Yeah, I will. I mean, sorry,” Ryoh said hastily. “Who am I playing against?”

“Me.”

With a sinking feeling, Ryoh turned toward the voice of Atobe Keigo, the team Captain. He tried not to lose confidence – his new serve was still a great one and might just take Atobe by surprise.

It did – for about as long as it took for Atobe to see it once. Then the Ice Emperor returned it with such ease that one would think a five-year-old had tossed the ball to him underhanded. The point was called Atobe’s, and another couple of points later, he had the first game and it was his turn to serve.

He never had the chance, though. Ryoh was so frustrated that his new serve had been broken so easily that he hurled his racquet into the net.

“Shishido!” Sakaki barked. “Off the court and run laps until I tell you to stop! Maybe that will burn off your negative energy!”

Ryoh saw Choutarou’s glance of pity and worry before he set out. He knew his new serve couldn’t compare to Choutarou’s famous 200 km Scud Serve, but it had been the best he could do and he knew it was good – at least, until he faced Atobe. It was embarrassing to have failed so quickly. Choutarou had been so proud of him, too. Now he’d seen him lose the game and his temper like a poor sport.

He was on his tenth lap when he passed by Atobe as he was drinking from his water bottle between games. “If you’d control your emotions better, that serve might have had a chance,” he paused, smirking a little, “at least, against someone other than me.”

Ryoh stopped jogging to study him. “You really think so?”

“The change in line-up threatened you,” Atobe said and shrugged. “Not that I blame you, since it was me this time, but work some more on the serve. Maybe next time, you’ll get more than one point off me.”

Shishido didn’t know about that, but he did know it was generous of Atobe to acknowledge that ANYONE might have a chance against him.

“Shishido, I haven’t told you to stop,” Sakaki warned.

Ryoh gave Atobe a firm nod and resumed running. Maybe the other boy was just having a rare moment of compassion, but either way, he couldn’t give up now. He’d ask Choutarou to work with him some more and maybe some of the other guys, too. Even Atobe, if he’d deign to do so.

After all, they were a team, and if his serve could be perfected so that it posed a threat outside Hyotei, it would benefit all of them.

--

(Prompt – Broken)

(2007)

Prince of Tennis belongs to Konomi Takeshi.

This fic is not to be re-posted.