Happy birthday Zaizen! Aw, this is my second birthday story for him. I can't believe I did it! XD

This chapter is actually a sequel for the previous chapter and tells about his real birthday.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Prince of Tennis.

Sorry for bad English.

My Teammates Are Idiots: The Day After

No, I'm not infected by their idiot-syndrome. I'm a genius, and you know that a genius isn't idiot.

July 20th

Zaizen Hikaru lazily opened his eyes. Peeking through his eyelids, he saw morning sun shone through the curtains and lightened up his bedroom. He rolled to the side, taking his hand phone from a table next to his bed. He flipped it opened and saw the clock. It was 6:20. Half-heartedly he rose from the bed. He took his school uniform from a wardrobe then proceed to the bathroom.

After ten minutes, he had finished dressing up and was preparing text books he used for today's lesson. Then something caught his attention: the piling presents he had gotten from his teammates yesterday. He looked at them, maybe there's something he could use today. Though those guys had misremembered his birthday, they had had good intention. They had prepared presents and even tried to throw a party for him (which had been screwed, thanked to their own idiocy). Anyway, it might be a good idea to use some of the presents. At least he should show them some appreciation, shouldn't he?

Let's see… First of all, a pair of rollerblade from Kenya. They were quite cool, he must admit, though it was impossible to wear it at school. Well then, thanks Kenya-senpai, he might try them sometime in the future.

The second present was… err… from Koharu. He swore he would never ever use that bloody towel. Right, he wouldn't use it even if the world ended. So, thanks Konjiki-senpai, may this towel rest in peace in the deepest, darkest part in his wardrobe.

Next was a harinsen from Yuuji. He was 100% sure he would be anything but comedian so it would get a special place in his wardrobe alongside with Koharu's towel. Thanks anyway.

Gin's mini Buddha statue was a good quality one. He appreciated his senior's effort to give him such an expensive thing and decided to put it in the living room since his father seemed to like that kind of thing.

About a pair of Chitose's-special-ultra-heavy geta was just… not his thing. He knew the senior intended to give him something useful for tennis training and he did appreciate that. Oh well, he might use it someday. Right. He might.

The leopard pajama, he knew he would never wear it. It would be deadly embarrassing! Heck, the whole family would surely laugh at him. Thanks and sorry, Kin-chan, your pajama would be a permanent resident in the wardrobe just like the idiotic couple's.

Osamu's present was a super size of instant soumen. Geez, had that old man actually intended to make him use his own present for his birthday (delayed) soumen party? Was it what people call by kill two birds with one stone?

The only present he found useful and normal was the one given by Koishikawa: a new black earphone. Black wasn't his favorite color but he could still use it nevertheless. He took it out of its box then put it inside his pants' pocket. It was good to know that there was at least one sane person in the team.

The last one was a box of bandages. Only God knew what he would do with them…

After reviewing all of the presents, he looked at the clock. It was already seven o'clock. Gosh, he was gonna be late. He quickly went downstairs. He was about to enter the kitchen when his whole family suddenly sung happy birthday and congratulated him. He was stunned, even his little nephew had woken up early only to celebrate his birthday. He also noticed that his mother and sister-in-law had prepared a little extravagant breakfast.

Well, missing the morning practice once in a while wouldn't hurt, would it?

The afternoon practice had ended earlier than usual. Shiraishi called Zaizen to clubhouse, questioning the younger boy why he had been absent during the morning practice. After giving a not-so-convincing excuse, Zaizen got a short lecture from the unpleased captain. Shiraishi forgave him without giving any penalty though, since he was the birthday boy. He didn't know whether he should be happy with that or not, since it had been his own birthday that had caused him ended up missing the morning practice.

Zaizen sighed as he watched Shiraishi left the room. What's the big deal? He had only missed the practice once but he had already had to listen to some boring lecture. Maybe because today was his birthday? If it hadn't been, he doubted anyone would have even noticed that he hadn't been there.

This birthday thing had somehow become quite annoying.

He scratched his head and made his already messy hair became even messier. 'Forget it.' He told himself. He walked to the exit door then opened it. There, he saw his teammates were preparing the nagashi soumen party. Osamu-chan was installing the bamboo gutter, helped by Chitose, Koishikawa and Gin while Shiraishi and Kenya were preparing the foods. Not far from them, Koharu and Yuuji were doing something Zaizen didn't wish to know (they were supposed to prepare the water though) while Kintarou was whining next to Shiraishi, asking the captain if the soumen was ready or not every 10 seconds.

Well, at least there were also good things about his birthday…

Or not.

Kintarou was overexcited, which was a bad thing and Shiraishi failed to calm him down. He jumped around impatiently AND accidentally hit Kenya. At that time, the speed star was running on his full speed, planning to get the dipping sauce he left in clubhouse as soon as possible, thus he lost his balance and bumped into the half finished bamboo installment. It crashed onto the ground. Trying to dodge the bamboo, Gin stepped back without noticing that Koharu and Yuuji were right behind him...

And with some loud wreck, crack and crash sounds, everything was ruined.

Zaizen stared at them in disbelief.

Great, his teammates were absolutely idiots.

Around thirty minutes later, everyone was enjoying the long awaited nagashi soumen.

Wait! What?

"Delicious!" Kintarou cheered as he sipped a mouthful portion of soumen and sauce at the same time. "Those white clothes are amazing! They can unite the broken pieces of the bamboo pipe and fix it! What are they exactly?"

"You better not know that, Kin-chan." Kenya, who was standing next to the kid, replied.

"Eeh? Wh- ARGH! You took the one I've been aiming for! That's unfair Kenya! It's mine!"The redhead complained, already forgot about the white clothes thingy.

Swiftly, Kenya dodged every attack from the boy in attempt to get the soumen. "No speed, no life." He said proudly.

The other members only smiled and laughed seeing their friends' antics. On the other end of the long bamboo gutter, Shiraishi and Zaizen talked about the thing Kintarou had forgotten.

"To think that you would use the bandages I gave you…" The captain began.

"Sorry about that, Senpai. At first I only planned to keep them in the clubhouse," Zaizen replied. A moment later, he added in a serious yet sarcastic tone. "Well, who knows if someday some of the members become insane and start killing each other on the courts?"

Shiraishi chuckled hearing the second year's statement. "But still, using bandages to fix nagashi soumen's bamboo gutter. Who would think they can be that useful?"

Zaizen smirked.

"Genius, isn't it?"

Again, happy birthday, Zaizen.

Guys, please review and show him some love! |D