Tennis no Ojou-sama: A Prince of Tennis Fan Fiction

CHAPTER 97: Acquaintances

Four years ago, Summer

Akashi Seijuro, twelve years old... Sitting on the desk of his study room, bent over a book, his tutor hovering right behind him... The same old scenario that played every afternoon.

It was a task that he did everyday after school. Well, to be more accurate, it was his direct appointment right after basketball practice.

"Practice at Teiko is taxing... But it is never boring." He always told himself. As a matter of fact, it was the only limelight of his day-by-day routines, the only thing breathing vigor to his mundane life.

He had been doing good since his mother passed away. Actually, he had been doing better for the past two years without her. Even when his mother was still alive, he was already performing at his best at everything, may it be school, his extra classes or basketball. But now that she's gone, he seemed to take his capabilities to greater heights.

Whether it was to bury himself in activities to get over her passing quicker or to answer to his father's unrelenting expectations despite the tragedy they just overcame, it didn't really matter to Seijuro. After all, it was already in the past.

What matters is that he's winning... Over competitions... Over examinations... Over life. Life itself is winning. His father raised him that way. And Seijuro obeys him because he believes that his father speaks the truth.

"Listen, Sei-chan..." His mother once told him, placing her gentle hands on his shoulders and staring deep into his eyes. "Shouri wa subete ga arimasen. (Winning is not everything.)"

"Jigau da yo, Hahaue. Shouri wa subete janai kamo shirimasen kedo, hitsuyo mono desu. (That's wrong, Mother. Winning might not be everything but it is necessary.)" Twelve-year old Seijuro answered. "It matters in a lot of things... Usually the most important ones in life. Winning will grant you almost everything in this earth." He thought as he scribbled down another formula on his paper.

All of a sudden, his father entered the room. Akashi stood up and bowed. "Good afternoon, father." He said.

"Good afternoon, Seijuro. I see that you're working hard today as well." Masaomi greeted back.

His tutor greeted him and Masaomi talked with her for a second before she bowed out of the room.

Seijuro looked curiously at his father. It was the first time he interrupted a lesson. "Is there something wrong, Chichiue?"

Akashi Masaomi cleared a space on the table and sat down on it. "Seijuro." He called.

"Hai." He answered.

"How do you feel about going overseas for a week?" Masaomi asked his son.

"Overseas?" Seijuro asked. "What for, father?"

"Well, it's summer after all. You have a lot of leisure for vacations. It's in London, England." Masaomi replied. He looked squarely at his son. "But of course, it's not all play."

Seijuro gave a sarcastic smile inside. Of course it won't be purely leisure... It's his father that arranged it, after all. "Is there something that I have to do?" He asked with a cheerless smile.

"Do you remember Fujioka Ryouko-kun?" Masaomi asked.

"Fujioka... Ryouko, desuka?" Seijuro blinked, trying to recall the name. "Ah." He said as he finally remembered her. "That small girl in mother's funeral." He said.

Masaomi nodded. "That child is currently in London right now."

"I thought she lives in America. Did her family move or are they there for a vacation?" Seijuro asked. He didn't know exactly on what category he could place the memories he shared with that girl. She was with him on the last day that his mother was healthy and she was present on the day that he sent his mother away. Also... Seijuro's eyes darkened. She was there at his last moment of weakness. After that, Seijuro vowed never to show tears in front of anyone ever again.