Her (Yukimura Seiichi x OC x Tanegashima Shuuji)

SEVENTEEN: The very long year

"And we're holding hands everywhere we go because?" Satomi glanced at Shuuji with skepticism.

"Simply because you're mine, and everyone here needs to know it."

"By everyone you mean..."

"Yup."

"You men are such petty creatures." She teased.

"We try our best." He jested.

Shuuji was proud, here he was, second seed in the entire U17 camp, and now, finally, the girl of his dreams was his.

Flashback: Rikkaidai Fuzokuchuu Year Two

"Rikkaidai sure is huge eh" a tall, white-haired, Osaka boy wandered around the prestigious campus.

"Ahh~ where are those tennis courts?" He was meant to meet his cousin, but Tomihara Ken was nowhere to be found. "That idiot AHHHH."

"Heheh~"

He turned to face the source of the giggle, and there she stood.

"That sure was a huge sigh," were angels singing? "you lost or something?"

Snapping out of his daze he replied, "A-ah! Yeah as a matter of fact I am, would you be able to tell me where the tennis courts are?"

"I can do you one better, I can show you." She smiled.

"What is this feeling? Why's my heart beating so fast. Wow, she's beautiful..."

"Hey! Hurry up slowpoke!"

He realized that he was trailing far behind the smaller girl, running to catch up with her.

"So, I'm Ishihara Satomi, yoroshiku!"

"Tanegashima Shuuji desu, yoroshiku~" he was, he didn't know what he was, he was dazed. "Kanagawa girls sure are something..."

"So what're you doing here Shuuji-kun?"

"Shuuji-kun?" he was rather baffled at her use of informalities, "Eh, I'm in town visiting a cousin, maybe you know him, Tomihara Ken, he's a first year in the male tennis club!"

"Tomihara, Tomihara, ah! Tomihara! The tall boy with the specs right?"

"Haha! That's a rather general description but yes, that sure does sound like him." Shuuji laughed.

"Hahaha, sorry I'm not that familiar with the first years yet, I'm more acquainted with the regulars on the boys' team, those in my year of course, in fact my boyfriend is on the team!"

"...oh...of course the pretty girl has a boyfriend..."

"A-ah yes don't worry I'm alright!" he smiled, reassuring the girl. "I realize you've been doing most of the talking, question asking..."

"You wanna contribute some conversation then?" she joked.

"Wanna hear a joke?"

"Try me."

"So there's a guy named Jack, and he loves to cook. And he possesses the ability to cook any cuisine you can think of, French, Chinese, you name it!"

"Oh god I think I know where this is going."

"Hush now Shuuji-sama is speaking. Anyways where was I? Ah yes, so Jack goes on to work in many restaurants, however earning a mediocre wage due to the fact that his food wasn't the crème de la crème. As time goes by, the various restaurants realise that they can hire chefs that are actual aces in their various cuisines, and so they give Jack the boot. After being fired more times than he cared to acknowledge, Jack decides that he should finally ground himself in a single cuisine. During which point he travels to India and begins tutelage under the best chefs in the country. Over time, his knowledge and skill in Indian cuisine fortify him as one of the best Indian chefs out there, thus he became Jack of all trades and master of Nan."

"Pf-pfft HAHAH, that was the longest lame joke ever!"

"But hey! It was funny wasn't it?"

"I guess it was." She grinned. "Well, we're here!" she said somewhat triumphantly as she gestured to the sports hall in front of her.

"IT'S HUGE!"

"HAHA! Well I guess you could say it is, but it needs to be huge to accommodate both clubs."

"Both clubs?"

"Yup both the male and female tennis clubs train here, we share the space like one big happy tennis playing family!"

"We?"

"Oh! Didn't I tell you? I'm a regular on the girls' team!"

"Hmm, I should have figured."

"Well, I gotta go back to class, I had a real nice chat with you Shuuji-kun." She smiled, "Bye bye! And thanks for the lame joke!"

"Bye bye..." he waved as her slender figure retreated, "May we meet again..."

Present day

"What's with that smile?"

"Oh nothing much, just thinking about the day we met."

"hmm? You mean that day at Rikkai?"

"Mmmm~"

"Wow, can you believe that was what, just over a year ago? Who knew then we'd end up here~" a gentle smile crept onto her face. "I still remember that lame joke of yours, it was awful."

"IT WAS A GOOD JOKE!" he laughed, "Coincidence is a beautiful thing babe, I'm glad I met you there and then." "That very long year ago..." his thoughts trailed off.

"B-babe?" she blushed.

"Yeah, you're mine now~" and they smiled.

A/N: filler chapter filler chapter filler chapter. but yay! this was how Shuuji and Satomi met. also LAME JOKE APPRECIATION!! ❤️ I apologise for the short chapters, but I promise once I'm back in full swing it'll be better! help a girl out with some inspiration tho, what do you guys want to see happen! ❤️