autumnleaf16

The third year of this fan fiction is much longer then the other two years, I spent five chapters in doing the third year, while I only spend a total of five chapters in write about the second and first year, so I decided to split the third year chapters into two, the first part will be when he is still in Osaka, while the second part will be when he is in Tokyo.


Author’s Note: In this chapter the rest of Shitenhouji’s team will finally be coming out but they wouldn’t be playing that a large role, and for the sake of the story I’m going to change Kintarou’s arrival. I’m not sure whether he is a new student or not but it seems that he might be, for this story he isn’t.


Third year: the new tennis team

The tennis club started with the arrival of their two new stars: Chistose Senri and Tooyama Kintarou. Chitose was immediately given the credit he deserved as he had already established a reputation for himself in Shishigaku. Tooyama Kintarou was noticed as well, but for to the wrong reason.
Trouble happened only a few weeks after the start of this school year. Shiraishi was playing against Chitose while Oshitari was taking his turn of looking after the first years when the loud scream broke out.
Nodding apologetically to Chitose, Shiraishi broke away from their match in order to investigate.
“Oshitari, what happened?” Shiraishi asked briskly.
He felt much more confident as the captain this year not because of his previous experiences, but because he was the unchallenged captain. Nor did he feel reluctant to demand something from his vice-captain, as they were in the same year. It was not easy to order someone about when he would acknowledge them as his elders in his mere address.
A very frightened first year immediately ran up to hide behind him for protection, his face very pale; he began to mumble something about not wanting to die, as he was only joking.
Turning to the direction that the scared boy came from, Shiraishi almost chocked. The wires of the fence next to Tooyama Kintarou were actually bent outward, and judging by the position of the young boy’s fist, he must be the one that caused this.
“A strength that might be able to rival with Ishida’s,” Shiraishi said.
“So that’s the situation.” Oshitari quickly explained, having finally recovered from his shock as he actually saw Kintarou damaging the fence.
“Well…” Shiraishi’s attempt of establishing authority was stopped by another shout of horror.
Much to their surprise, it was from the seemingly fearless Kintarou.
“Poisoned claws!!!” Kintarou yelled out, pointing to Shiraishi’s left arm. Since the weather was relatively hot, Shiraishi took off his jacket, which naturally left his bandaged left arm completely exposed.
“Poisoned claws?” Shiraishi repeated in puzzlement before he suddenly smiled, as he was remembering his cousins’ reaction when they first properly meet. His aunt had to spend a long time calming them down. He probably shouldn’t scare his cousins with the threat of untying the bandages if he gets really angry, but his aunt was the one who started this in the first place.
Speaking of his cousins, one of them once made him read out this manga about a martial artist who had some sort of poisoned hand that he hide by bandaging it. They ended up spending quite sometime starting at his hand long after he finished reading to them, debating whether it was black or poisoned.
He used to think that the oldest one would soon outgrow this belief, but he might be wrong, as he was face to face with a first year junior high school student who appeared to truly believe that his left hand was poisoned.
This could be a good way to control Kintarou, especially when he was obviously not someone who was easily restraint, and judging by his unusual strength, it was probably wise to have a way to prevent him from going berserk other then asking Ishida to physically do something.
He decided that he would do what he did with his cousins- he went along with their stories without contradicting or openly agreeing with them, so he was not really lying.
“Tooyama, what was said to you is wrong and I will punish him. But you shouldn’t damage school property or threaten him. Do not make me use this,” he said easily with a wave of his hand when the boy in front of him prepared to protest.
The seemingly fearless Kintarou must genuinely believe that Shiraishi’s bandaged hand was poisoned as he nodded with out any further complain due to the threat. The other first year was clearly so relieved at being saved that he would have agreed to do anything that Shiraishi demanded.
“The punishment will be helping me to clean up the tennis clubroom after practice for an hour.”
“You are going to clean up the club room?” Chitose asked in some surprise.
“I always clean it as I am the one that uses it the most.” The captain of Shitenhouji said in a matter of fact tone.
This was his standardize punishment, although he almost considered ordering them to run around the nearby fields, which he heard was what a certain school in Tokyo do.
But the main reasoning behind his action was that he did not want or like disrupting pre-existing schedules. Making them stay behind to help him clean the court and clubroom was quite successful, as most did not like having to remain in the school for the purpose of cleaning. This also gave him more time as his overall cleaning on Saturday afternoons would not take so long.
Of course, he didn’t need to do almost all the cleanings himself, but he believed that he should do most of the proportion as he was the one who used the tennis court and club room the most. Yet he believed that the overall cleaning should be done by others too, since it involved things like cleaning all the lockers and shelves.
This also help him to know some of his own club members more, and it would certainly be interesting to be acquainted with Tooyama Kintarou.

The other first year was still frightened of Kintarou despite the presence of their captain, so he volunteered for the more difficult task of scrubbing the clubroom’s exterior, leaving Shiraishi with Kintarou to divide the inside chores between them.
Kintarou was obviously the very opposite, as he began to chat very intimately upon seeing the school’s past photos and medals within the very first five minutes, not even bothering to address Shiraishi with any suffixes.
“I want to be in the team too!“ Kintarou said, staring at the trophy that proved Shitenhouji being third in the nationals last year.
“Most schools usually don’t let first years be on the team, although…” Shiraishi began, but was forced to stop as Kintarou interrupted him once more. Most would call him disrespectful, but Shiraishi didn’t really mind as he felt that Kintarou was probably like that with almost everyone- so it was not a direct insult towards him.
“Why not? I’m really good, I really am!” The first year protested. “I’ll show you!”
Before Shiraishi even says anything, Kintarou charged out of the room with his precious racquet. Shiraishi gave a slight shrug before he followed with a smile, taking his own tennis racquet.
Kintarou was certainly very bold but was that really a bad thing? He himself lacked the boldness of standing up to rules and if he did not play against these seniors due to chance, he might never have ended up on the tennis team during his first year. Despite his self-doubts about being the captain, he knew that he was an asset in his first year, even if he and his captain lost the match that would have took them to the semi-finals of the Kansei Regional, which would have let them go to the nationals that year.
He certainly didn’t see why a first year should be forbid to try for the team if he was really good, especially if they already had previous knowledge of tennis. Sometimes a first year could easily have played tennis longer then a third year.
He him self started playing at a very young age, although he technically didn’t get any proper trainings until elementary school.
Was telling the truth an act of arrogance? Shiraishi wondered as he just managed to prevent Kintarou from scoring. The younger boy was certainly very good.
He was also gifted with this incredible strength despite being so petite. Shiraishi was aware that if he had not saw what Kintarou did to the fence and prepared himself, then his racquet would have been knocked out of his grasp more then once.
They stopped after the hour passed, and this was one of the few times when he was not bothered about not having finished something that he set out to do. He was also completely unsure about what the result might end up as, it was certainly the hardest challenge he had since the last nationals.
“You do deserve to try for the team.” He said between struggling for breath, although Kintarou did not appear to be affected “I…I’ll work something out.”

After being the captain for more then a year, he had enough experience with his coach to know that the answer to most questions would be “go and do it if you think it is a good idea.”
Nonetheless he still headed toward the coach’s office.
Although some of the regulars on the team last year and the year before that would call their coach by his given name Osamu with an affectionate chan, Shiraishi still tended to address him as ‘Sensei.’
“Let me guess, you are here to tell me that you want to let Tooyama Kintarou try for the team.” Watanabe said easily, showing that he was fully aware of all that was happening.
“Yes, I played a match with him yesterday, and he is very talented.” The captain said. “But I don’t want to do this in a way that will single him out…”
“As you were? Shiraishi, he’s not like you. He is not going to care.”
“This is not just for him, but for any future first years like him or me. After all…” Shiraishi began the result of a night’s pondering. He was really reassuring and explaining to himself as the reaction after his long speech was what he worked out even before he entered.
“Is that what you told the one who was my captain more then a year ago? When he told you that he wanted me to take part in the end of the year match?” Shiraishi suddenly asked rather bitterly, pausing at the doorway. Perhaps it was due to his nervousness at the changes he would soon impose, or maybe it was anger at the seemingly lack of support, that finally made him realize this. “Did you really not know what I did not understand at thirteen, or what my captain did not foresee at fifteen?”
If he was looking at his coach then he would see the strange expression that appeared. If he would not interpret it as guilt, then he could not deny that it was regret.
“But did you not do a good job as the captain last year?” Watanabe quickly asked.
“So Shitenhouji’s tennis team is the most important thing to you- their coach.” Shiraishi whispered.


Third year: Shiraishi’s final decision

Should Shitenhouji’s tennis be his ultimate first priority, since he was the captain? Shiraishi asked himself as he took out his precious photo. He and Ashita had posed for this photo after she received her birthday present from him. He had shyly put his arm around her waist, while she placed one of her hands over that hand of his, and used her other hand to pull the ribbon he just tied onto her hair forward.
“Should I go this far for tennis?”
No, not for tennis, he corrected himself, this is for my team. For my school, and of course, for my captain.
He thought of Ashita’s words to him that evening- she was probably right as he would be quite happy if he was in his captain’s place. But somehow he just couldn’t convince himself of this.
He wasn’t sure whether he wanted to devote himself to tennis completely, since it meant giving up all the others things that he liked: spending time with his cousins, hanging around with his friends, and most of all: being with Ashita.
She once asked him why a captain’s win or lose was so important, when she found him in a rather low mood after he lost a match. He told her that it was because a captain’s action reflected his whole team.
It was also really difficult to lose as the captain because he felt that he let his team down, and things were often worsened by being in singles 1- where his result would determine their overall win or lose.
Most of all, no one really comforts the captain, or even tell him that he was not to blame. He was the one expected to do these things.
His third year team mates last year were all kind, but since he was their captain they easily forget that though his skills at tennis might be better, he was still less experienced in areas like common sense.
Additionally, he felt so bad and even guilty as he did not always use perfect tennis last year, he might have been able to win more and things might be different. But he didn’t take the opportunity of bringing his team further as he did not like the method.
Was he not obliged to act in the interest of his team when he chose to be their captain?
“I own them this.” He finally decided. “So I must do everything I can in order to win this year.”
His decision was finally made, as the last of his doubts were resolved.
“I am so sorry…Ashita. But I have to devote myself to tennis completely, and it is not just to always play perfect tennis.”

Telling his aunt that he probably couldn’t spend much time looking after his cousins this year was less difficult then his other task. An elder was more likely to understand his wish of focusing on his school work and tennis. Although like many adults, they did not believe that in this situation, he would really do all that he said he would.
He wanted to break the news to Ashita in a very mild way, as he truly cared for her. He still wasn’t sure whether he was in love with her, but he knew that she was not just a friend to him. He was very certain of the fact that he liked her the best- and that such liking was probably the closest he was feeling towards love right now.
But he had to break up with her and to delay it would only hurt her more. He finally decided that he would do it the next time he saw her, so he should have the whole of tomorrow to prepare himself.
Those who were close to him and those who were highly skilled in tennis could realize that he was rather occupied during their practice, He was not playing with his usual skills, and everyone in the tennis club knew that Shiraishi was not someone who would do things by half when tennis was involved.
“Did you fight with Tanako-chan yesterday?” Konjiki asked slyly as their captain walked past with the list of the tennis team for this year.
Later on, Konjiki described the glare Shiraishi gave him to Hitouji as ‘ten thousands times more scary then a Medusa’s petrifying stare.’
“Tanako-chan?” Chitose asked curiously as he lined up with the rest in order to hear the results being announced.
“His girlfriend…” Konjiki started speaking, but wisely stopped when he saw Shiraishi turning to his direction.
“….and finally, Tooyama Kintarou.” Shiraishi ended his reading by announcing that those who were not in the team could all go home now.
He managed to arrange some sort of match for the first years and it was actually not as troublesome as he had anticipated, as only less then half of the first years believed that they had the ability to try for the tennis team. He and his vice-captain just had to witness a few matches, before they decided who should be allowed to do what they want.
As Shiraishi had guessed, Kintarou ended up being the sole first year on the team.
He really should have showed more enthusiasm during the reading as his two closest friends in the tennis club were in the team again, while Ishida Gin did succeed in being on the team this year.
“We truly have a very good team,” Shiraishi continued to his new team mates. “This is why we must all work hard in order to reach…Ashita?”
“In order to reach tomorrow?” Chitose, Zaizen and Kintarou repeated in puzzlement at his strange turn of speech. (For those who doesn’t; know, Ashita is also the word for tomorrow, and in her case, she really was named after the word tomorrow, The kanji of her name is the kanji for tomorrow.)
“Ah…Tanako Ashita is here.” Konjiki and Hitouji announced.
“In order to reach the nationals and eventually…” Shiraishi continued, deliberately focusing on his team mates, instead of the person outside the court. Although he was cursing what ever cause that made her come now, especially after his resolve.
He already felt really bad for what he decided to do, but Ashita worsened it by simply holding his hand without any reproach. He almost wanted to just let everything continue.
No, I can’t do that, he told himself before he turned to Ashita. “We need to talk”
“We do.” She agreed with a nod.
“Let’s talk in the tennis clubroom.” This was a very significant decision as these past glories would not fail to remind him about what he had to do.
His resolution wavered once more when he noticed her clothing: it was that sakura patterned yukata- what she wore when she went to the festival with him: their first date, and her hair was tied with the hair ribbon he gave her.
“I thought the karate club is not having any activities this Saturday.” He began, fiddling with his racquet.
“We don’t. But I come to see you.” She said, smiling slightly. “With the exception of our class, we hardly see each other this year. No…it started every since you returned from the nationals. I know that you want to win, Kuranosuke, but aren’t you being a bit too obsessed? Tennis is important, yes, but it shouldn’t literally be everything. You can not play it every single moment of your life.”
“Ashita, I have to make it everything because my goal is to take the team to the finals of the nationals.” He told her. “It is not an easy goal, so I must do almost anything.”
“Kuranosuke…”
“Almost anything and everything, Ashita, I truly like you so much but I have to do what I will do because…”
“Because you feel guilty when you didn’t do anything wrong at all.” She snapped, her hands now clenched together, as she guessed what he would soon say. She did consider whether he would go this far, but she never believed that he would.
Especially when she decided to prevent this by being absolutely understanding and forgiving. She could understand his devotion to tennis and even admire him for it, since she did feel the same thing for karate.
“But to dump me because of this?” she whispered, almost crying. “How…why don’t you count how many hours we actually spend together outside school time? It isn’t much, Kuranosuke, and it is getting less. Nor have I ever demand you to be with me”
“But as long as you are there I will be tempted to spend time with you instead of using that time to practice.” He told her. “This is why I have to break up with you.”
“Kuranosuke, you are an idiot!” in the midst of her anger she had to grab something to prevent her hands being used in the wrong way, and the closest thing happened to be his tennis racquet.
He knew that she didn’t take it and swung it with the intention of hurting him, as she could easily send him to the hospital just by her knowledge of karate. Nonetheless, to be hit in the stomach with a tennis racquet does hurt quite a lot, so he still let out a cry.
This must have made Ashita aware of what she just did as she quickly threw the racquet away and turned to him in great concern: “Are you alright?”
“I am.” He assured her. “But Ashita…”
“Goodbye Kuranosuke,” she interrupted him with a rather cold voice, but tears were actually streaking down her face. “Unless…unless you want to tell me that you were lying, that it was just a joke. It would be a really malicious joke but at least it means that you are not breaking up with me.”
“I would never joke about something like this.” He stated steadily, although his voice was very sad.

Unlike the others, Konjiki and Hitouji did not leave, as they were truly concerned for their friend. They first saw Ashita walking out of the clubroom in tears- she raised her hand to wipe her face with the sleeve of her yukata, but as she was now sobbing so violently, she was actually shaking.
Luckily, she did not notice them at all.
They found Shiraishi half slouching on the ground, half leaning against one of the lockers, his tennis racquet at the other end of the room- as if he threw it there. He wasn’t crying, but his expression was so desolate that they both wonder how he managed to control himself.
“We broke up.” He finally said when they hoisted him up and forced him to sit on one of the benches instead. “And no, I don’t want to talk about it.”
The two very close friends gave each other a quick glance before they nodded, deciding to tell their other friend the truth. To let him know that this was all his own fault would make him feel even worse, but he could only gain forgiveness if he knew what he did wrong.
“Well, it can’t really be that a surprise, can it?” Hitouki began, making his tone as kind as he could, “You guys used to go out once every week, but starting from the holidays you probably only see her outside school on an average of once every month.”
“So you can’t really blame her for dumping you.” Konjiki added.
“She didn’t dump me, although I think it would be better for her if she did.” Shiraishi corrected, his voice very low and he seemed even more upset.
“You broke up with her?” the two of them yelled out in sheer disbelieve.
He nodded, as it was too late for him to reverse this now.
“You idiot!” Hitouji said angrily, “Shiraishi, most girls in her situation would probably have dumped you a few weeks ago!”
“How can you break up with her?” Konjiki demanded at the same time. “Don’t you know how lucky you were? She is so understanding.”
“I did it for our tennis team, I have to take us to the nationals no matter what. And one way to do it is to make sure that I will win my matches.”
Shiraishi staggered up in order to pick up his racquet and return it to its rightful home- which was also where he usually put the photo of him and Ashita. He spent some moments debating whether he should throw it away, but decided against it.
If anything, it would serve as a reminder.


Author’s Note: So what happened to Shiraishi is that during his second year he decided that he would play perfect tennis as that would give his team a more likely chance of winning, and therefore reach the nationals. This year he decided to break up with Ashita because, as he said, she would distract him. And I think it was also because he knew that she might talk some sense into him and therefore he might change his mind.
As I said before, some how I want to make Konjiki and Hitouji his closest friend in the tennis club, I think most would assume that he and Oshitari would be closer and I do think that they are pretty close judging from the manga but I don’t know…for some bizarre reason I just think that he is actually really close with Konjiki and Hitouji.
Many sources say that Watanabe is some times referred to as Osamu-chan, but somehow I’m letting Shiraishi calling him sensei, although I’m not sure whether he does call him Osamu-chan, I only know that Kintarou definitely does, but Kintarou is not a really good example. And Oshitari is referred to by his last name, because I think the only reason he is referred to by his first name in the manga, is due to the fact that there’s another Oshitari in Tokyo, so calling him Oshitari will be too confusing. But since Oshitari Yuushi is probably not coming out in my story, I will be referring to Oshitari Kenya as Oshitari. A side note: I really like the bit the two cousins talk in genius 246/wild 2, because (I’ll use their first name to avoid confusion) while we can sort of understand Kenya- since Kintarou is in his school and team, I can not help but to think about the following in regard to Yuushi: ‘what are you boasting for? Ryoma is not even in your school!’ Which is what Atobe said. 
As I said before, my knowledge of tennis is pretty much zero- if not minus something- so I still don’t really understand why Shiraishi’s perfect tennis is boring or whether he can choose to play perfect tennis or not. I like to think that perfect tennis is just one of the ways he play and that if he doesn’t want to, then he can actually not play perfect tennis and still be really good at tennis, just not as good. As for Ashita’s comment about tennis not being everything, what she means is that he is so obsessed that he seems to be ignoring literally everything else.


Third year: departing for Tokyo

Shitenhouji certainly managed to distinguish them self this year, starting from taking first place in the Kansai tournament again with a clean sweep. This then automatically place them into the nationals.
As the captain of his team, Shiraishi was obliged to go to Tokyo before the rest of the team and club in order to attend a meeting with all the other captains of the teams that would be participating in the nationals.
Everything- ranging from their lodging to permission slips- were arranged, but he was still a bit worried due to one a particular person.
“And make sure that Kintarou can get to Tokyo safely.” He instructed Oshitari one last time.
“Shiraishi, he’s in junior high school! I think he does know how to take the train.” His vice-captain said with a roll of his eyes. “I swear…in regard to that kid you are almost like the vice-captain of Seigaku that Yuushi told me about. Why do you have such a concern for him anyway?”
“Because he couldn’t even label Osaka on the map correctly.” Shiraishi pointed out, placing his luggage down. The two of them had run all the way here with his belongings as a way to use this time as ‘training.’
“You even make sure that he does his homework. Seriously, should you be bothering about that?”
“I shouldn’t, but because he is like…”
“Please don’t say ‘your self’, as nothing can be furtherer from the truth.”
“No, he definitely does not remind me of myself,” Shiraishi laughed out at the absurdity of Oshitari’s words. “But he’s like a younger brother to me-I feel obliged to look after him. A bit like my cousins…”
No sooner had he mentioned them, they appeared and all four tried to grab the two empty seats beside him- yelling out that they want to keep Kuronote-niichan company.
“Well…I better go then,” Oshitari decided, “Say hi to Yuushi for me if you somehow see him and actually recognizes him.”
This was similar to what had happened almost a year ago, only that it was his mother who accompanied him to the train station. She insisted on waiting for the train to Tokyo with him, but in order to not embarrass him, she brought her sister’s four children to make it appear as if she was only there due to his cousins.
But she was unable to get out of work today, like his father, so the task either fell to his aunt or uncle.
The main difference was that Ashita was not here. He was truly glad of his cousins’ presence as they forbid him to think about her due to their numerous chatters.
“Why doesn’t Kuronote-niichan come and see us anymore?” the second to youngest protested, crawling over her sibling in order to hug him by the neck, since she was still young enough to do this.
“I have been very busy due to school.” H e told her.
“But Kuronote-niichan always used to see us in the winter holidays.” Another protested.
“I have to practice tennis because I am going to compete with people from other parts of Japan. But tell me,” he quickly changed the subject, referring to their new babysitter, a cousin from their father’s side. “What is your new neechan like?”
“She is mean!” the youngest finally sobbed out. “I want Kuronote-niichan or Ashita-neechan!”
The oldest one quickly tried to hush his siblings upon seeing Shiraishi’s changed expression, as children were actually very perceptive.
“But doesn’t Ashita-neechan like Kuronote-niichan anymore? Or don’t you like her anymore?” one of them still asked. “Otherwise, why can’t we talk about her?”
“I…I still like her, but she is angry with me because I…” Shiraishi began, knowing that he would have to explain to them soon enough as she accompanied him on this job too often.
“Is it because you haven’t been visiting her?” one of them said.
“I guess that is one way of putting it.” He muttered. “Oh, the train will be here in five minutes…”
“Kuronote-niichan, you should make her stop being angry with you by spending a lot of time with her,” the second youngest continued, not releasing her hold on his neck. “That is how we will stop being angry with you for not coming to see us.”
That will only work if she doesn’t hate me now, Shiraishi thought sadly.
They still shared a desk, but what had once been something that they were very glad of, had become something that they both dread. Going to class and sitting together was very awkward as she usually refused to look at him, let along speak to him. Because he was rather young he did not understand that this might be a sign of her still caring for him, his actions still hurt her as she still likes him.
Nor did he know how he should react. He could not pretend that nothing happened, but he didn’t want to hurt her again.

Ashita was about to go home when she suddenly remembered that she hasn’t brought all the things her siblings asked her to buy. Perhaps they purposely gave her this errand of buying a month’s supply in order to keep her occupied, as today was the day Shiraishi was departing for Tokyo. About a year ago, she was waiting for his train with him. She could still remember how nervous he was.
She hoped that his cousins would be with him, to prevent him from brooding too much. She still cared for him greatly as she still liked him.
Her siblings had been paranoid about her ever since Shiraishi broke up with her, and she could not blame them, as her mother had showed them that what you felt at fourteen might never go away.
As for their reaction to him…
“His action is simply something that we cannot understand.” Her sister had whispered to her brother when they thought that she was finally asleep, after having spent the whole night crying. “As he is doing what we failed to do.”
“That is true, the reason we gave up tennis after senior high school was not because of our lack of money, or the death of tosan and kaasan. It is because we were not prepared to go that far, to be that devoted to tennis as to make it everything.”
But they failed to understand that his sacrifice was not for tennis, but for his team, Ashita thought as she took the bag from the cashier. She knew him well enough to be fairly confident that he would not be playing his perfect tennis if he was not such a responsible captain. Nor would he dump her in order to improve his skills almost zealously.
“Well, if it isn’t Tanako-chan. Fancy meeting you here.”
“Sensei.” She said politely as she easily recognized Watanabe Osamu by his rather distinguished hat.
Her tone was rather cold as she wasn’t sure if she liked the coach, because she too realized that he should have foreseen what they did not at thirteen: letting Shiraishi be the captain in his second year would have negative consequence as well.
“I don’t have many regrets but one of them is that I did not forbid Shiraishi to participate in his first end of the year match, or help him when he became the captain.” Watanabe admitted. “But Tanako-chan, could any one have foretell that Shiraishi would go this far?”
This was true, as Shiraishi’s desire to win for his team was so extreme that it was almost an obsession. He wasn’t just making it his priority, he was also eliminating anything that might distract him from it.
“Isn’t he leaving Osaka today?” Ashita said, ending her train of thought. “Well…I’m sure that the tennis team will do really well since their captain is so devoted.”
The young girl was obviously still rather reluctant to talk to him, so Watanabe decided to move to the point. This really was a chance meeting, but he was actually going to look for Tanako Ashita the next day.
“Here, take this.” He said as he pressed an envelope into her hand. “This contains a two-way ticket from Osaka to Tokyo, a pass that will let you attend any games in the nationals, and lastly- the address of my aunt-who you can stay with during you time in Tokyo as you will probably not want to stay in the lodge with all the other boys.”
“Why…why are you giving this to me? Kuranosuke…Shiraishi and I are…”
“I want to mend things. I probably played a huge role in what happened to Shiraishi, so I am responsible for what he did to you.” Watanabe admitted. “I can tell you now that Shiraishi still feels the same way about you, he often looks at the photo of you and him when he thinks that no one will notice.”
“I still like him so much too, but what he did to me…”
“Tanako-chan, let me put it this way. Imagine that you are the eldest child who somehow ends up being the only bread winner. You are at an age when you can leave school and make quite some money- but you refuse this as you want to continue studying. As a result, you only earn some money due to a part time job, which is just enough to prevent great poverty. Then you graduate and is offered two jobs- one pays considerably more but requires you to go to a foreign place, which means that you have to leave your boyfriend.
“Do you understand what I am saying?”
“I would take the job that pays more as I would feel that I am obliged to do this as my own want prevented my family from having a better life at that time.” Ashita admitted reluctantly. “But it is still different. Kuranosuke…Shiraishi took his team to the semi-finals of the nationals, as well as being the winners of the Kansai regional’s.”
“But is it similar enough to make you consider going to the nationals in Tokyo?”
“I will think about it.” Ashita decided. “But it doesn’t mean that I will go.”

Once on the train, Shiraishi took out the book that Konjiki, with some help from Oshitari, made for him. It consist brief data of all the captains and co-captains that will appear in the nationals. He first tried to see if there was anyone who was like him- who was also the captain since last year.
He frowned at the names Sanada and Yukimura. While he hoped that Yukimora would be able to recover from his illness, because you would simply wish that for almost anyone, he was not fond of Rikkai at all. How hypocritical it was for them to criticise his own team last year for the mere fact that he was the captain when their three strongest players were in the same year as him.
Not that he could like them this year, if these data was accurate. It was true that he often lecture his team about the importance of winning, and did almost everything he could in order to win, but there was a fine line between expectation and result. He strongly disagreed with the idea of punishing any loses- because there was no one who could never lose.
The same logic prevented him from liking Hyotei. He thought that their method of removing someone from the school team was even more stupid then Rikkai’s vice-captain slapping anyone who lost. Regulars gained their title due to being the best, and to replace them with some one not as good due to a small mistake was extremely foolish.
The ringing of his phone started him because the ring tone was one that he hasn’t heard for more then half a year now- the one that he used for Ashita’s texts and calls.
All she said was ‘Good luck.’, but that was enough for him, especially when she only talked to him out of necessity in class. The last time that she willingly spoke to him was on the day that they broke up.
He didn’t know why she sent this message to him, it was probably not an sign of forgiveness, or even an acknowledgment of understanding. But nonetheless she wished him good luck, and that was enough to make him even more determined.
He would like to give her a very long reply, as there was so much that he wanted to tell her, but that would be going a bit too far. So he simply sent the following to her.
‘Thank you.’

Author’s Note: Well, as I said before, I really think that Shiraishi sees Kintarou as a younger sibling, and like many others, I think that Kinarou’s academic learning is probably not very good- I thought the end of OVA 14 is really cute. Shiraishi’s reaction when Kintarou asked him what does that word mean. “You haven’t really been studying, have you, Kin-chan?”
Note- the conversation with his cousin, since they are quite little (the oldest one is only eleven) I have been trying to give them words that children their age would use.
I think Kawamura mentioned in the OVA that Shiraishi is pretty fast so somehow I can see him receiving some advice from Oshitari and maybe training with him a bit.
Lastly, Shiraishi’s view on Hyotei and Rikkai, I admit- they are my views too. But I don’t think that him saying this is too out of character. He doesn’t punish his team for losing or anything, and the rest of his team all seem to be able to acknowledge defeat well enough. And as I said before, I really don’t think winning is literally everything to him, as he wasn’t that happy about his win to Fuji. If he really thinks that the most important thing is winning, then he would be celebrating hard out. As for what I said about Rikkai, this is in the manga, not in the anime. In the manga Sanada actually hits anyone that lose, but then- his own team mates accepts this too. They think this is right. And Sanada makes his own team mates hit him when he lost. Nor did he take their award in the regional as they only accept first. Sanada is actually portrays as a very different character in the anime- he doesn’t hit anyone and he seems more polite, more likeable.
This is sort of random but Shiraishi give me an impression of one of those people who would be very scary when he loses his temper- as he usually seems so amiable…Maybe a bit like Fuji…