One Nil to You (A Prince of Tennis Fanfiction)

Chapter 12

August 17, 2012

Nogawa Park — Nomizu, Chofu, Tokyo

Morning

Families from Chofu, Mitaka and Koganei poured into the west-city's synthetic suburban patch of wildness and filled the air with the sizzle from their barbecue grills. Students from the International Christian University and American School in Japan, whose schools bordered the park, were enjoying their summer vacation with their friends after they had finished their homeworks, having ice cream or kakigori while strolling around the new forest Musashino.

Violet Faroush, with her sunflower blonde hair that gleamed underneath the sun and her perfect bronze skin, stood out amongst everyone in the park. Several heads even craned as she passed by, while those who brought their cameras snapped a picture of her.

She stopped in her tracks upon approaching some girls of her age who were sitting underneath a tall, shady tree and chatting over their cold drinks.

"Excuse me..." she spoke in English.

"H-Hey, wait... I can't understand English that well yet," one of the girls whispered to her friend. "You talk for me, Nami-chan."

"Uh... Um... M-May I help you?" Nami stammered in English.

"Which way to Den-en-chofu?" Violet inquired.

The girls were puzzled.

"I want to meet Juri Anastasia Romanovros." Violet added.

Kanto Junior Japanese Selection Team Training Camp — Assembly Hall

Morning

"Everyone, for the past days you have spent here in this training camp, you all have worked your hardest to prove yourselves worthy, but as you all know since the first day, only seven shall take the honor of a position to be in the Eastern Junior Japanese Selected Team." Coach Sakaki spoke to all the junior high school students from the podium. "And the students to play as Japan's representatives for the East-West Goodwill Games are: Atobe Keigo of Hyotei Academy, Sanada Genichiro of Rikkai University Junior High Department, Momoshiro Takeshi of Seishun Academy..."

"Alright!" Momoshiro exclaimed while pumping his fist into the air.

"Shut up, jughead, we're still in the middle of a meeting here." Kaido hissed in a low voice.

"Jealous much, Viper?" Momoshiro teased with a huge smug on his face.

Kaido scoffed. "You're just gonna embarrass Japan this Sunday."

"What'd you say, Viper?!"

"Fshuuu!"

"Hey, that's enough you two." Oishi scolded.

"Hmph!" the two sophomores instantly turned their backs to each other.

Coach Sakaki continued the announcement, "Sengoku Kiyosumi of Yamabuki Junior High, Shinjou Reiji of Josei Shonan Junior High and Echizen Ryoma of Seishun Academy."

"What's going on? Isn't it supposed to be seven members in a team?" Yuushi asked, perplexed as the others.

"Only six were mentioned." Shinji mumbled.

"If that's the case, then perhaps the American team only has six players on their team as well." Mizuki presumed.

"So it'll be two doubles and two singles games only?" Kirihara wondered.