autumnleaf16

I’ve decided to put this fan fiction up since I’ve received some good review about it, and cause lately my blog has been about Prince of Tennis.

Title: Sacrifice
Written at: June 27-July 14 2007
Category: general
Summary: An attempt of examining the character of Shiraishi Kuranosuke. Contains spoilers.

Author’s Note: this story was quite difficult to write because it is about a character who we know very little of- but I wanted to do it, as I think Shiraishi does not get the credit that he deserve. He is actually pretty mature, and he doesn’t really trash talk- unlike many of the others, and he even scolds his team mates for going too far, and his whole reason of playing perfect tennis seem to be due to the sake of his own team, not so much himself. So this is my attempt of exploring his character, my attempt of explaining why he ends up the way he did.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.


First year: the beginning of everything

Smiling widely due to the results of his practice, Shiraishi Kuranosuke began to tidy up the empty tennis club, it was natural that he should do this if he was allowed to use the tennis court when everyone else was gone.
He was also very happy at being in such a great school- most of the seniors in the tennis club were so miraculously nice that he sometime wonder whether that was just part of some long farce.
Not only was the sole first year in the regular tennis team spared from any humiliating entrance ritual, the other members were all very understanding about his wish of doing extra practices in order to be as good as them.
He’ll be having his first proper competition soon and he just hoped that he would perform well enough to not make the captain regret doing the extreme act of putting a first year in the team.
The sky was darker then it should be, as he always timed himself really well- the sky should only be dark when he reached the main street.
The answer was soon apparent, his watch had stopped.
He could only hope that the time was not that late, since the latest rumour was that some delinquents had begun to hang around their school during the late night.
Perhaps he did take too long, as there was a shadow hovering near the tennis court.
Clutching to his precious tennis racquet with one hand and holding his wallet in the other, he decided to run for it. If things get bad then he would throw the wallet- which only contained money now- as a means of distraction. If that fails then he would try and defend himself with the racquet.
Luckily, the person happened to move a bit forward, which allowed him to see them.
It was a girl who was probably the same age as him. The way that her hair was carefully tied back by a ribbon with her uniform worn in the proper way made her rather pretty in a dainty way, and she certainly appeared harmless. She did not look like the images he associated with delinquents: girls with very long skirts or boys in torn and ripped uniforms.
“Hey…” he called out, relieved that she seemed to be as startled of him as he was of her.
“Are you a member of the tennis club?” his nod made her even more nervous as she clutched her hands together. “I wasn’t doing anything bad! I just wanted to look at the tennis court.”
He was now convinced that she wasn’t one of the delinquents he had been warned about so he walked up to her, no longer preparing to break into a run any second.
“Are you a member of the female tennis club?”
“Me? Oh no, I don’t even play tennis.” She answered quickly. “I’m in another club, but I suddenly wanted to take a look at the tennis court because my neechan and niichan used to play tennis here. But how come you are still here when everyone else is gone?”
“I was doing some extra practices.”
“Are the seniors in the club slaving you away?” she asked in horror. “One of the seniors told me that many of the seniors in the tennis club make their new comers pick up all the balls and tidy the room when everyone else is gone.”
“No! The seniors in the tennis club are all really nice!” he corrected her hastily, “I really did want to do some extra practices.”
“Oh, I guess you are like me then. That is why I am still in the school. By the way, which way are you heading to now?”
“The train station.”
“I’m going there too, so let’s walk together! That’ll be safer.”
He naturally nodded, and he suddenly remembered what they had been taught to do at school- which was something that they have both ignored.
“My name is Shiraishi Kuranosuke, I’m a first year in class B.”
“I am Tanako Ashita, a first year as well. I’m in class C.”
And that was how it started.

Even though they had both walked alone in the dark a few times before, the two of them were still rather nervous in the empty school. In order to convince themself that they really were making some progress in walking, they began to ask each other questions in order to show that time was passing.
“I live with my neechan and niichan,” she began. “Neechan works in a department store while niichan is training to be a teacher.”
“I don’t have any siblings but I often have to look after my younger cousins.”
“My worst subject is history.”
“But that’s my favourite and best subject. My worst is…”
They were beginning to lose their initial fears when they spot the three teenagers that leant against the school gate. Judging by the way they were dressed, as well as the numerous swear words that were escaping from them, the two junior high school students gave each other a nervous glance.
They wanted to sneak out, but the three delinquents purposely blocked their way. Shiraishi began to try and unzip his bag as inconspicuous as he could in order to be able to use his racquet as a weapon.
Maybe he could help Ashita to escape by distracting them.
“Well, what have we here?” the leader said casually as he bent down to examine their latest victims. The smoke of the cigarette made the two of them cough and upon seeing this, the three delinquents all laughed maliciously.
“Seems that we captured some snotty kids.” One of them announced. “And this little punk here even have some sort of racquet- must be some rich kid.”
“I am more interested in the girl.” Another began.
Shiraishi never worked out just what exactly happened next. He only knew that he was trying to get his racquet out in order to hit them when he noticed Ashita raising her hand from the edge of his vision.
The next thing he saw was the leader of the gang falling backward, crashing into the school gate.
“Are you…” the other two delinquents began, only to be interrupted by their companion’s angry cursing.
“Just go and get that little bitch!”
They probably did try, but somehow they ended up being punched severely before they too were tossed away, almost knocked unconscious due to the force of the crash.
Taking Shiraishi’s hand into her’s, Ashita began to run in order to leave the three delinquents as fast as they could. Even though she showed herself to be rather capable at protecting them, she was still a little girl.

“I am in the karate club.” Ashita explained, as the two of them waited for his father and her sister to come to the police station. “I’ve been doing karate since I was four.”
“Like me and tennis! I was four when I started too!” this coincidence made them both laugh, but Shiraishi quickly stopped as he recollected that he haven’t thanked her yet.
“Thank you for…” he began sincerely.
“You would have done the same thing.” She interrupted him. “So neither of us should be thanking the other.”
That was when Shiraishi decided that he wants to be good friends with her.

Shiraishi was naturally given a most severe lecture by his parents; his teacher; his coach; both the captain and vice-captain of the team of the tennis club, as well as most of the seniors in the school tennis team for being so careless.
But many of his peers regarded him as a hero due to the spread of rumour.
“Is it true that you beat them all up just by using your tennis racquet?” one of his following first year in the club asked eagerly as they prepared to leave the club.
“No, no, that wasn’t me.” He hastily explained. “It was Tanako Ashita. She wasn’t using a tennis racquet either, but…”
“So a girl had to rescue you? What a sissy.” Someone said.
The tennis club was not perfect, because even though most of the seniors acknowledged Shiraishi’s presence graciously, since he did beat them without displaying any arrogance, many of the first years resented him.
Especially those who were from Class A- they often consider themselves to be superior then him due to achieving a higher grade.
“She…” he began indignantly, angry on her behalf.
“Tanako Ashita is the rising star of the karate club. She has beaten many of the seniors in the club.” The recitation of Konjiki Koharu interrupted all of them. Right now he was the only first year from Class A in the tennis club that Shiraishi did not dislike, since he happened to be the only friendly one. “I doubt that any of us in the tennis club can win against her in such a fight.”
As no one was able to deny this logic, the troublemakers left, taking some satisfaction in shooting them a nasty glare each.
“Do you actually know her?” Shiraishi asked. “Tanako Ashita?”
“No, I just remember a lot of things. I also know where the karate club is,” Konjiki said rather slyly. “You want to go there right? It should be interesting since they are having a semi-competition today.”

Like many inhabitants of Japan, Shiraishi has watched martial arts on TV now and then, but he did not really understand it, especially if there was no commentary. However, he recognized Ashita, and judging from the surprised mummers, she seemed to be doing quite well.
“Her opponent is one of the third years who has competed in the regional last year.” Konjiki explained for both Shiraishi and Hitouji, who decided to come along as well.
As she prepared to leave after having bowed to her opponent, she suddenly noticed the three out of place boys there, they were all carrying tennis racquets but they were obviously cheering for her. Upon seeing Shiraishi, she smiled and waved rather shyly at him.
“Are they your friends, Tanako?” the captain asked curiously as he handed a towel to the younger girl.
“I guess so.” She muttered. “Well…I know the one in the middle.”
“I suppose I can be generous and let you talk to him for about five minutes before you begin to study for the history test. I know, I know,” the captain continued, hushing her protests, “You are thinking that I have no right to make you study. But Tanako, your history mark is simply too drastic, so my duty as a captain includes increasing it.”
“And also because our coach happens to be a history teacher.” The vice-captain added in dryly. “And threatens to not let you compete if you don’t improve.”
Ashita reluctantly grabbed the history text book that the captain held out before she made her way to Shiraishi.
She suddenly felt very nervous, and so was he. This was not unnatural as they were only twelve years old, having only recently left the world where the opposite sex was your greatest enemy.
“Hello Shiraishi, were you watching?”
“I was told that the karate club is having a competition today and remembering what you said, I though it might be interesting…Eh, are you going to the library like this?” he suddenly asked as he noticed the book in her hand.
“Ah…Tanako Ashita’s worst subject is history. In fact, she didn’t even pass the test last month. Her mark was…”
“Who asked you?!” Ashita snapped furiously, while Shiraishi shot him an angry glare.
“For someone with such a remarkable IQ you can be quite dense.” Hitouji commented dryly. “But Shiraishi, isn’t history your best subject?”
“Oh, you did say that!” Ashita recollected. “Do you think that you can help me then? I really have to do better in history.”
He was more then happy to be able to help her in anyway. Even though she did not even want him to thank her about what had happened, he still greatly desired to do something for her.

First year: the captain’s decision

Shiraishi’s first year passed happily enough- he was able to achieve a good enough grade to remain in the same class next year, as well as continuing to distinguish himself in tennis. He played double with his captain in official competitions, but it was clear that he was capable at playing singles too, as he has beaten some of the seniors on the team as the year approached its end.
He had new friends was well, both in his class and in the tennis club. He managed to become good friends with Konjiki and Hitouji, as well as staring to become acquainted with the mostly silent Ishida Gin.
Also, he and Ashita had ended up as rather good friends ever since he helped her to pass her history test, and it seemed that due to the improvement of her history marks, she might actually end up being in his class next year. The two of them would often talk after his practices in the early morning- he was no longer allowed to use the school’s tennis court in the evenings due to the delinquent incident.
That was not a bad thing, as there were less people around in the morning. Many people loved to tease him for spending so much time with a girl. But luckily they never ended up being really serious or harmful.
Right now, the four first years were playing doubles at the rather empty court, as most of the seniors were occupied with their tests. They were all completely unaware of the fact that all the regulars in the team were observing them from the seemingly empty club-room, discussing their future.
“These four will probably all manage to end up being in the team next next year, if not the next year.” The vice-captain said confidently. “Shiraishi will definitely remain in the team all three years.”
“I think he might even become the captain in his third year.” Another third year commented out.
“No,” the captain said softly, “No, I don’t want that. I want him to be the captain from next year. I want to let him participate in the end of the year match.”
“I can accept this easily if he beats me, and the same thing can probably be said for the other second years. Most people accept his presence in the regular team because they played against him and lost. And he probably will have the most amounts of wins in the end of the year match,” the only second year in the team said rather easily, “He have the talent, but more importantly, he have the desire of wanting to excel in tennis and the determination to practice so much in order to achieve this.
“However, do you really think that the first years can accept this? You’ve already give him a lot of privileges by letting him join the team. Since they have not played against him properly, they will not really understand that he deserves these privileges.”
Shitenhouji’s tennis team choose their captain by a match that was held between all the second years that wants to be the captain at the end of each year. There have been times when first years were allowed to join the match due to special permissions from the captain, but they usually did not end up as the captain.
“It is true that this system usually prevents our seniors mistreating the juniors.” The vice-captain began, “but it worsens the relationship within each year. As mentioned, many of the first years are already jealous of Shiraishi. The sad truth is that because we are not abusing him, they can let them self be jealous.
“That is true, you can not be jealous of those who are welcomed into the team by violence and abuse, even if they are having privileges.” The captain agreed. “But I have decided, I will let him be the captain from next year by allowing him to participate in the end of the year match.”
“Are you sure about this?”
Upon hearing this voice, all of the members of the tennis team quickly stood up to greet their coach. Their old coach had decided to leave and his replacement seemed to be a rather unqualified young man with little experience, his rather lazy attitudes worsened the team’s perception toward him. However, he soon proved himself by beating all of the regulars two at once due to his experience.
He also had the tendency of turning up whenever they least expected, as well as appearing when they were sure that he would not.
“Shiraishi is a suitable choice as the captain next year.” The current captain reasoned. “This will be a good thing…”
“For Shitenjouki’s tennis team.” Their coach said. “But for the young boy’s sake, I hope that you will not make him enter the end of the year match.”
“But…”
“Because he is a responsible boy, he should not be made into the captain next year.” The coach repeated once more. “If you make him into the captain next year- and I think we all know the truth, he will beat everyone else- it will profit the tennis team, but it will not be a good thing for Shiraishi himself.
“I am not the captain or even a member of the tennis team, so this choice is yours completely as I do not have the right to interfere. But I hope that you will all think about this very carefully.”

Outside, Shiraishi was still playing tennis wit his friends very happily. There was no other competition left saved for the school’s end of the year match, and since he was only a first year, despite being a member of the tennis team, he did not regard it as something that should concern or worry him.
“I still think this is cheating.” He laughed, picking up the ball that failed to be served across the net. “You two are preventing me from playing properly by doing that!”
“Then maybe we can have a chance to be on the team next year!” Hitouji laughed back. At this he and Konjiki both hugged the other once more.
“So you two plan to beat all the other seniors by making them laugh so much that they can’t play properly?”
“Well…it is a strategy!” Konjiki said. “And since you, who plays double with the captain against other schools, seem to be affected then we probably have quite a good chance.”
Shiraishi was about to try and serve once more when he felt a sudden tap on his shoulders.
“Sen…sensei!” Like most of the members in the tennis club, their coach’s tendency of suddenly creeping out was not something that one could easily get used to.
“Your captain and vice-captain want to talk to you.” The coach said. “I’m not really sure what about though. But for your sake, I hope that it is not something important.”
This was not the first time he spoke weirdly, so Shiraishi didn’t really bother to ponder about his coach’s strange words.

As to be expected, the captain and vice-captain were both standing beside the trophies that represented the school’s past glory. He always paused to admire them and dreamt of seeing his own name there one day so that another in his position years later would wish for what he has done.
“Ah, Shiraishi, we were just discussing your perfect tennis.” The vice-captain began easily.
So that was what they wanted to talk to him about. He had got the idea of seeing what would happen if he played tennis by the rules and only by the rules- to do all that was required without any additional actions. This idea came to him because he never liked wasting much time due to unnecessary gestures, and did have a reputation of doing things methodically.
“The vice-captain told me that you said that you don’t really want to continue experimenting with the idea.” The captain said. “Even though you are playing really well with it, and even succeeded in beating him by it.”
“I don’t like it. I don’t like perfect tennis because it is not fun. It is really boring. Yes, I did beat the vice-captain, and I did feel quite happy about it.” He added rather apologetically. “But I didn’t enjoy the process at all.”
“But surely the result of winning is very important.” The captain pressed on. The two of them were not being unkind on purpose because their own playing style was too different, so they could not understand why a perfection that resulted in winning would be such a bad thing. “Surely some sacrifice is necessary sometimes?”
“Do you mean that the end does justify the mean?” Shiraishi said out aloud, remembering the debate that happened in his history lesion a few days ago. They had to discuss whether a certain lord was right in rebelling against his own brother due to the knowledge that his brother would not be a capable ruler, even though he was a very good man.
But that’s nothing like this, he thought.
“Well, at least think about it carefully before you decide to give it up completely. It really is such a good idea. But that’s not what we want to talk to you about. The main point is this,” the captain decided, finally having made his decision, “We want you to take part in the end of the year match because both of us, as well as many others in the tennis team, want you to be the captain next year.
Shiraishi often believed that he would have refused their wish if he had the chance to go back to that day, as he was forced to learn the full amount of sacrifice that one was required to do in order to be worthy of the title of Captain by the hard way.
But he was only thirteen when the seemingly tempting possibility was offered to him. Not only did he accept it eagerly and happily, he was even secretly hoping that he might win and end up as the captain even though he would only be a second year.
Intelligence was not the same thing as wisdom, so both Konjiki and Hitouji were truly happy for him, while Ishida offered a sincere good wish. Like him, none of them truly understood what the consequence of being captain was.
When Ashita arrived, he immediately told her his news.
“Really?” she said in wonder, immediately clapping her hands. “Then you will definitely be the captain, because I am sure that you will beat everyone else.”
“That’ll be nice but almost all of the second years will be participating.” Shiraishi pointed out, not wanting to be over-confident.
“Then let’s celebrate for the mere fact that you are allowed to take part!”
Laughing, they all agreed, as they could only see this possibility being a good thing.

About a month later, Shiraishi was playing for the title of Captain. The rule was simple- every candidate would play against everyone else, and the two with the highest amount of wins would compete for the title of captain with the loser being the vice-captain.
He did not use his perfect tennis, although he continued to experiment with it due to his captain’s insistence. He was very grateful to all that the captain has done for him so he decided that he should oblige.
The match was very intense and both players were exhausted when it finally ended. Shiraishi just managed to win, the truth was that it might have been better if he didn’t because to be vice-captain when he was only in his second year would still be distinguished enough, and it would not include so many responsibilities.


Author’s Note: Alright, the first two chapters are done, and they are both set in his first year- I guess I’m trying to explain and examine all that has happened to make him the way he ended up as.

Tanako Ashita is an OC, my invention. But she’s not a Mary Sue, I think I just happen to write about OC stories a lot. In my story I’m describing most people by their last name, which is I believe how it is done by the manga, but since Ashita is an OC, I am describing her by her first name- also because I really like her name. However, with the exception of Shiraishi later on, she is addressed by her last name.

Obviously, the way their school chose their captain is my own invention, and I am sure that not all school are really abusive to their juniors. Since both Seigaku and Fudomine have this problem I decided to not make Shitenhouji like that- and I think most of his team members are quite nice to their first and second year so I like to think the way the seniors treat Shiraishi is possible. But then the juniors are not so nice to each other

Well…as I said before, the hard thing about writing this fan fiction is that we don’t really know much about Shiraishi. However, the bit about the meat-eating competition kind of shows that in general he doesn’t like wasting time, and does tend to be methodical. I tried to show this by mention how he always carefully time himself and all that. And another hard thing is that due to the way the characters are drawn it is really easy to forget that they are in junior high- I often have to remind myself of that. So I have tried to show he and Ashita, in these two parts, as very young- almost like children, but it isn’t easy.