Second Finals
(Or:
Why Kamio Should Be the Next Captain of Fudoumine)
A
Prince of Tennis Fanfic
By
Jaelle
Rating: G. Humour.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Setting: A year after the series takes place.
Summary: One year on, the
second years are now third years and Captains of their respective
clubs, and it's Finals time again.
"Congratulations," Momoshirou had to grit his teeth to get the words
out, but he managed eventually. "It was a good game."
Kirihara
grinned at him evilly as they shook hands over the net. "It certainly
was. It's too bad we won't be seeing you guys at the Final round this
year."
He deliberately raised his voice on that last sentence
and tilted his head slightly to view the reactions of the rest of the
Seigaku team. Most of the newer members were about ready to spit tacks,
but Echizen and Kaidou just stared at him stone-faced. Che, no fun.
"Yeah, too bad," Momoshirou growled. "Guess it's down to you and
Fudoumine this time around."
"I'm
looking forward to it," Kirihara admitted. "We haven't matched up
against them this year, but I hear their Captain's pretty good."
Momoshirou stared at him and his mouth twitched. "You haven't played
him before?"
"No," Kirihara frowned. "Why?"
"Oh," Momo's mouth twitched even more strongly. "Nothing. Just... I'm
gonna look forward to that match."
**
"Hope
you enjoy this, Momoshirou," Kirihara murmured as he stepped onto the
tennis court and glanced into the stands. "Rikkai will definitely win
this year!"
He locked eyes with his former Captain and
smirked. The look on Yukimura's face was approving as he strode towards
the net and his opponent. This was it. The final round of Japan's
Junior High Tennis Competition, between Rikkai Dai Fuzoku and Fudoumine
Chuu. Doubles Two and Singles Three had gone to Fudoumine, Doubles One
and Singles Two to Rikkai. And now, here he was in Singles One.
Kirihara stretched out his hand and grinned bloodthirstily. "It's a
pleasure to once again get to play a Captain of Fudoumine."
His opponent clasped his hand firmly and looked at him through steely
eyes.
"So
it's you, the one who hurt Tachibana-san that one time. So arrogant,
clearly had it far too easy in life, like Echizen. Shouldn't have an
easy time of it, it makes people rude, although I think he'd be rude
anyway, what with grabbing people's grip-tape, even though he got to it
first on the shelf, I don't think it's fair. Ah, but Echizen's not
here, is he? Oh wait, I think I saw him watching. That's good, he
should see this. Why aren't you saying anything? Probably too busy
thinking about the game. I should devote myself to that too. Hmm...
yes."
Kirihara gaped at the other boy. "Um... what?"
"But
if I spend too much time thinking about it, I might get distracted when
I need to react. A conundrum. Ah, could this be some clever
psychological trick? Surely that's only to be expected of Rikkai.
Challenging."
As Ibu Shinji began another section of
interminably long monologue, a small part of the audience was trying to
stifle hysterical laughter.
"Didn't anybody warn him?" Ann asked, clutching her sides and shaking.
Momoshirou coughed frantically, his eyes watering. "We wanted it to be
a surprise."
Kamio
probably would have added something but, as he had a fist stuffed in
his mouth to bite back the laughter, wasn't capable of it.
Echizen's
only outward sign of amusement was the wide smirk on his face. Turning,
he addressed the man standing beside him. "I've been wondering this
year, is this some kind of strange payback?"
Tachibana Kippei
had an angelic expression on his face. "I don't know what you are
talking about, Echizen-kun," he said innocently. "Shinji was totally
deserving of the position. I assure you, the process of choosing the
next Captain of Fudoumine was totally fair and well-reasoned."
Echizen's eyes narrowed. "Really? What process was that then?"
Tachibana avoided his gaze and pretended to be vastly interested in the
referee's attempts to get the game started.
"Tachibana-san?" Echizen prodded.
"I had them draw straws," Tachibana admitted.
Momoshirou
was the first one to crack, and the entire group nearly suffered the
indignity of being thrown out of the Finals for disrupting the match.
Fortunately, Shinji talked so long that they were able to get
themselves back under control in time.
End
A/N:
Responding to something Meg was saying about Kamio and
vice-captaincy made me think of this situation, and then I just had to
write it.
Kc_rumors wrote a hilarious prequel to this fic, which you can read here.
There's also a different variation on it here.