Tennis Matches

Doubles

A/N: Whoops guess this is a one-shot series now.

(Karashuu Prompt Day 3 - Ice Skating; though I'm not sure this qualifies.)

Pt 2 of the One-shot series: That universe where Karma and Asano are brothers and everyone else suffers because of it.

***

Karma tugged on the collar of his blue polo-shirt, feeling too hot as the sun beat down on them at the tennis tournament. He fiddled with his racket while he stood next to his brother while a bunch of other kids who were competing in the nine to ten years matches filtered around getting ready.

"It's too hot!" Karma complained, hitting his racket on the ground.

Gakushuu glared at him. "Don't do that."

Karma grimaced, glaring at him before crossing his arms. "I don't get why mom couldn't come."

Their mother always brought them snacks to eat and tasty drinks.

"She's busy." Gakushuu replied dismissively, looking at the other opponents.

Karma scoffed. "More like she just doesn't wanna be near dad." His brother looked a little surprised like Karma was too stupid to notice how much their parents hated each other. "Where's dad anyway?" He swung the racket. "He's taking forever."

His older brother looked annoyed, standing still while he fidgeted. "He's signing us in, there might be a line." Gakushuu grabbed his collar to yank him back when he waved the racket too close to other people. "Stop it, you're gonna knock someone out!"

Karma rolled his eyes. "Yeah so?" He's knocked plenty of people out; he remembered the last martial arts competition when their father had been proud when he'd knocked his opponent unconscious and praised him when he'd broken another's ankle. "They shouldn't be in the way."

Gakushuu's brow furrowed, but before he could reply, their dad walked over, gaining their attention.

"I've signed you in," their father said, looming over them. Still dressed like he usually did while being principal of the private school he ran, like it wasn't his day off; Karma could never understand how he could wear his suit in such a heat, but then again there were lots of things about their father that didn't make sense. "Your first match is in forty minutes."

Gakushuu nodded curtly, looking serious like usual. "Alright."

Karma swung his tennis racket back and forth and looked up at their dad. "Who are we against?"

Their father glanced to the side at a pair dressed in lime green and white. "The taller one Yamamoto and the shorter Ohayashi. They've never made it passed second place."

"Hm." Gakushuu scrutinised the two boys. "Well, this should be good practice."

Karma grinned, punching his shoulder. "Yeah, it'll be easy!"

"Karma." Their father's voice cracked like a whip, making the red-head tense and look up in fear. "Nothing in life is ever easy, what did I tell you about becoming complacent?"

Karma hunched his shoulders up, holding his racket to his chest like a teddy bear. "Um...not to?" He grimaced when his dad's gaze narrowed. "That it's bad because..."

"Because the strong can become weak if they lower their guard," Gakushuu informed promptly.

Their father's gaze softened. "Exactly." He raised an eyebrow at Karma. "And considering how long it took you to master tennis, Karma, you have no room for complacency."