Deafening Silence ( prince of tennis) (#wattys2016)

6

Rikkaidai Fuzoku Tennis Courts

If there was one thing Roko hated even more than being called 'mute boy', it was the attention that resulted from the name. He couldn't stand it whenever he walked past and literally everyone in the tennis club stared at him. He would rather be labelled 'mute boy' when people's backs are turned, whispering in groups, rather than everyone staring at him with a curious intensity.

It wasn't that people's stares made him nervous - that would mean he cared about their opinions - but being under the spotlight was the one thing he hated more than anything. He didn't want their attention, he didn't need it. Attention seekers are those who are deprived of attention because no one really wants to start a conversation with them. But Roko was the opposite of an attention seeker, because while attention seekers were ignored, he was focused on like he was the centre of the universe.

And that was what irritated him. They looked at him because he was mute, they looked at him like he was an exhibit at a museum, because for some reason they couldn't help but find it fascinating that someone was unable to talk. He was an alien to them.

He wasn't a human to them.

And that was the big disadvantage of being mute - social prejudice.

Roko tried to blend in the best he could, swinging his racket back and forth along with the other freshman at a steady pace, since Sanada had left to scream at his own team. Inwardly Roko was ecstatic about not seeing Sanada this period, his relationship with him had not improved at all. But Roko knew that Sanada was the only person in the entire school who knew sign language - because the world is just cruel - so in a way he had to develop a good relationship with him, since there was literally no one else he could communicate with.

He utterly despaired when he came to that realisation. He did want to clean the slate with Sanada, but it seemed every time Roko looked at him Sanada would look back at him with an expression like he had just murdered his cat. This message was clear as writing in the sand, and so Roko had no choice but to give it time, because it was either give up and spend the rest of middle school alone, or befriend his new arch nemesis.

Roko knew that Sanada was still punishing him for his ill treatment to Yukimura. It seemed that Sanada knew he was mute, but didn't care. He was just the type of person who didn't let things blow over so easily. Roko himself never disliked Sanada for his 100 lap punishment; he knew that he should have given some sort of indication that he could not speak, but had simply chosen not to. It wasn't a conscious decision, but more a reflex built up on years of trying to communicate with people who didn't know sign language.

Roko had also decided that he had forgiven Yukimura for the position he put Roko in. It wasn't a realisation like he had with Sanada, but rather because there was no mention of 'Echizen Nanjiroh' from anyone. That meant Yukimura had chosen not to tell anyone about his father, which pleased Roko immensely, so he had chosen to let the matter drop.

The swings had finally ended, and there was still 30 minutes left before the end of the school day. A non-regular third year who was supervising seemed satisfied with them, and nodded to himself several times.

"A five minute break, and then you're all running laps!" he called out to the freshmen.

"Hai!" they all chorused, while Roko said nothing.

It surprised him how quick the day had gone by. It seemed that when one thing ended, another thing began. First he was the sworn enemy of the entire tennis club - which he still kind of is, minus the regulars except Sanada - then he was Sanada's English partner, which at first he was bothered about, but then realised that Yukimura was trying to put them together so Roko had someone to talk to. The realisation made Roko sort of happy, but not really, since Sanada was his partner. Then he got kidnapped, and then he became the son of a legendary tennis pro for about 30 seconds. And now he was basically back to square one.

Ryoma, was your first day this chaotic? He wondered.

Seishun Gakuen Tennis Courts

Ryoma, in fact, had had a pretty good day, not particularly exciting or interesting, just good.

Well, as good as a day can be with an annoying ginger next to him constantly screaming and chirping about his two years of tennis experience, and a loud brunette girl who had nothing better to do than constantly scream 'Ryoma-sama' at the top of her lungs. And then there was some annoying reporter who basically stalked him on the tennis courts, constantly talking about 'Echizen Nanjiroh's son'.

Then there were some loud-mouthed, irritating second-years who tried to con his apparent friends and succeeded, only to have Ryoma come along and sort their problem for them since they were too bad at tennis to hit a can with a tennis ball, closely followed by a meaningless tennis match with a regular that had a sprained ankle. After he had figured it out the match became pointless to Ryoma, so he simply continued in the hopes he would do something worse to his ankle and go away.

And then Ryoma had a run-in with several other regulars, including a red-headed Kikumaru -something, who screamed at the sight of him and leapt on his back, sending Ryoma plummeting to the ground while the third-year bounced on top of him like nothing had happened. The third-year then swiftly decided that he was now called 'Ochibi' with no thought or shared opinions added to it, only making Ryoma want to punch him even more.

Actually, Ryoma had a pretty weird first day.

So when the bell rang and the day officially ended, Ryoma could not be happier. Before he could hear the protests of the red-head he had grabbed his bag and bolted from the courts before the captain could even dismiss them. He would probably get laps later for that, but frankly he didn't care. He just really wanted to go home right now.

Thankfully, the walk home was far quieter than the rest of his day, and Ryoma had some rare peace to reflect on things.

Roko should be at the train station by now, he thought to himself.

He had never liked the idea of Roko going to Rikkaidai. He said he'd chosen it because of its academic standards and high-quality sports equipment - which Ryoma had to admit, were far less abundant in Seigaku - but Ryoma had known his brother far too long to think that they were the only reasons that Roko had decided to leave. Nanjiroh had done everything he could to dissuade Roko - he explained that Seigaku is where is he first played tennis competitively and that he knew the coach well - but Roko was unmoved by it. When Roko has made a choice, it's hard for him to change his mind. He's just stubborn like that.

Like you, you mean? The voice in his head asked. Ryoma scowled. As much as he hated to admit it, he never wanted Roko to leave him. They had practically been each other's shadows for most of their lives, and they were about as similar to each other as brothers could be. One would say that they were different in the sense that Ryoma is so loud and wilful, but if you knew Roko like he did, you'd see the things he wants to say in his eyes but can't. Even though Roko can't verbalise it, he and Ryoma think the same things.

When Roko chose to go to Rikkaidai, Ryoma did not protest, for the simple reason that it was pointless to. Roko would never change his mind unless he was given a very good reason to. He took a small sense of happiness that at least his mother backed Roko up, saying that Rikkaidai would guarantee a good education. Ryoma didn't think he could stand it if everyone in the family was against his brother.

Actually, what bothered Ryoma most is that they were at opposing schools. He knew that Roko was going to become a regular - with his skills on par with Ryoma's - and Ryoma knew that he was going to become a regular himself. Eventually, they would end up playing each other in an official tennis match, and Ryoma didn't like that. He wanted to be able to talk to his brother openly about everything and look at him and smile and laugh at Roko's pout whenever someone would ruffle his hair because he was the 'cuter brother' of the two. He didn't want to see Roko as an enemy on the tennis courts, but that seemed to have already begun and Ryoma knew he couldn't stop it now.

Echizen Household

"Taidama!" he called out before depositing his shoes on the floor. Nanjiroh instantly appeared around the corner, pervy magazine in hand.

"Ah, seishounen, how was your first day?" he asked. Ryoma sighed.

"Weird. I got glomped by a hyper active third year, screamed at by a guy in my class about his tennis experience, and some reporter stalked me the whole day" he said nonchalantly. Ryoma proceeded into the living room and dumped himself on the couch, dropping his bag onto the floor.

"Reporter?" Nanjiroh asked, now looking up from his magazine.

"Yeah", Ryoma replied, "he really wanted to meet Echizen Nanjiroh's son". Ryoma noticed how his dad stood a bit straighter at that, and his expression changed to a scowl.

"Just ignore them, they'll go away" he said.

"I plan on that" Ryoma replied flatly. His father then grunted and walked off; leaving his son sprawled on the couch.

Ryoma just continued lying out on the couch with his head buried in it for a few minutes, not thinking or doing anything. He then heard a soft 'mew' and looked up to see Karupin rubbing his head off his bag. Karupin was a large Himalayan Spotted Cat that had white fur with a large brown spot on his face and large, beady blue eyes. Ryoma smiled.

"Karupin" he said softly, sitting up and picking the cat up and putting him on his lap. Karupin immediately curled around and lay on Ryoma's lap, and Ryoma smiled softly and stroked his head and flanks, with Karupin leaning into the touch.

"How have you been today, Karupin?" he asked sweetly. Karupin looked up and gave a loud 'mew' as a response.

"Good huh?" Ryoma continued, "Did you get into any trouble?" Karupin meowed quietly.

"Good, I hate it when you go wandering around and causing trouble" Ryoma replied. Karupin then started to rub his head off Ryoma's open hand, and Ryoma couldn't help but feel warm. But then Karupin noticed something, and started looking around the room searching for whatever he was thinking of. Ryoma sighed.

"Roko's not home yet" Karupin's head snapped towards him.

"Mew?" Karupin asked.

"He went to a different school far from here, so he'll be back later than me" Ryoma explained. Karupin didn't react; he just stared at Ryoma with those huge beady eyes and an innocent, uncomprehending look.

"I know, I don't know why either" Ryoma said, stroking Karupin's head again, who leaned back into the touch. The soft purring Karupin emitted helped lighten Ryoma's mood, but it didn't stop the feeling of doubt in his stomach that built up without the reassuring presence next to him.

Do I actually miss him that much? Ryoma wondered.

Finally! After 6 chapters I've finished the first day! This is going to take forever -_-'