A/N: Holy crap, how long has it been? 5 years? Sorry I've been busy with life and well I have a backlog of games. I haven't forgotten about my unfinished stories though. Well enough of that and let's start and I hope this satisfies you for another 5 years lol. It's been awhile so my writing skills may seem weird.
Disclaimer: I don't own POT and credits to the translators for translating the fanbooks.
Chapter Twenty-One: Pair Puri 7
"I get the feeling it's been a long time since the last chapter." Zaizen said while he, Hiyoshi and Kaidoh walk out of their room together towards the dining area for breakfast.
"Huh? Chapter?" Kaidoh asked.
"Yeah. I've heard the author was feeling lazy and that there was a lack of translations for the fanbooks so she can't gather materials to continue this fic." Hiyoshi answered.
"Author? Fic? What are you guys talking about?"
The two just ignored Kaidoh's questions and he was about to snap when the door in front of them suddenly opened and out came a flustered Ryoma whose shirt was messed up.
A voice shouted from inside their room was heard, "Why are you running away little brother?"
"Enough with that little brother stuff! I can change my clothes on my own!" Ryoma shouted back.
The onlookers sweatdropped at the scene.
Zaizen and Hiyoshi continued on their way seeing it was just another normal day at camp but not before Zaizen took a quick shot of a messed up Ryoma and posting it quickly on his blog.
"Don't be so stubborn Koshi- I mean little brother. Just let me help you change your clothes or we'll run out of food!" Kintaro exclaimed.
"I can't believe I'm saying this but I'd prefer it if you just called me by that weird name." Ryoma sighed.
"Aren't you two the same age? I'm sure he can change his own clothes." Kaidoh said, trying to help his teammate out.
Kintaro would not listen and pulled on Ryoma's clothes as Ryoma desperately clung onto it.
"What's with all the noise? You woke up Catherine!" Kirihara suddenly shouted at them. His room was just across their room.
Ryoma, Kaidoh and Kintaro just stared at him. I mean, how can a stuffed toy even wake up?
Kirihara pointed at them accusingly, "Hey, what are those looks for? I know what you're thinking! You thought my Catherine is just some stuffed toy huh! Well she's not! She's alive in my heart!"
The three just sighed and Kaidoh continued on his way to the dining area while Ryoma went back inside the room and Kintaro finally just gave up the clothes changing.
"Hey! Don't ignore me! Wait, even Kintaro?" Kirihara continued shouting even when no one's listening to him.
~xoxoxoxo~
Some time later in the day in the lounge, Ryoga is sitting on the sofa reading some manga when Tanegashima came by.
"Yo! So, when are we gonna take a look at that book you picked up?" he said.
Ryoga looked up from his manga and tilted his head a little, "Book? Oh yeah that! I remember."
Then he pulled the said book out of nowhere.
"Woah! Where did that come from? Are you some kind of magician?"
"Heh. I did looots of stuff before the old man Byoudouin found me."
"Old man? Aren't you the same age as him?" Tanegashima sweatdropped.
While talking, Oni arrived. As soon as the two saw him, they stared long and hard at Oni.
Oni stared back at them and asked, "What's wrong? Something on my face?"
Ryoga pointed a finger and said, "Well, not on your face but on your shoulders..."
"GEH! It's the brother stealer!"
And there, sitting on Oni's shoulders, was Tooyama Kintaro.
"Brother stealer? You and Tokugawa are the ones stealing him from me in the first place!" Ryoga exclaimed. "Anyway, what are you two doing?"
"Well, Occhan told me that every time he sees me, he remembers the kids back at the orphanage. So I told him he can be my older brother. I have Koshimae as my younger brother and now I have Occhan as an older brother." Kintaro explained with a huge innocent smile on his face.
"Shouldn't you be calling him Onii-chan instead?" Tanegashima asked.
Ryoga smirked, "Heh I see. Then that also makes him my older brother."
"Oni has always been everybody's big brother though." Tanegashima said.
Yukimura, who was walking by, heard the conversation and commented, "If Oni-san is Tooyama-kun's older brother then that makes Sanada Oni-san's father."
Tanegashima laughed, "Oh yeah! Sanada has a soft spot for this kid doesn't he. Then if Oni-san's everyone's big bro then that makes Sanada everyone's father."
Sanada, who was hiding in the corner, actually overheard the whole conversation but is unable to make a move because he can't possibly slap people who are way older than him and someone he respects so much.
"By the way, I can't help but notice Bunta's face in that book." Yukimura said as he pointed to the fanbook Ryoga was holding.
As if on cue, Marui and Jirou appeared together.
"Huh? I heard my name." Marui said.
Ryoga raised the book and said, "Ah this? Perfect timing. We were about to check it out."
Akutagawa Jirou School Life
7:00 Rises from bed after his older sister yanks off his futon, breakfast
8:50 Goes to school (falls asleep twice and is absent from morning practice)
9:00 1st Period: Japanese II - Classics (dozes off)
10:50 Recess: Dozes in the library
11:00 3rd Period: Social Studies I - Geography (dozes off)
12:00 4th Period: Music - Classical Appreciation (dozes off)
"Geez Jirou-kun! All you do is sleep." Marui commented, "Shall I share my sweets for that sugar rush?"
"I'd love to have Marui-kun's homemade sweets!" Jirou licked his lips.
"Err no. I didn't make them. I can though."
12:50 Lunch Break: Forgets his bento and gets Atobe to treat him
13:10 Afternoon nap under the shade of the tree in the courtyard
14:00 Carelessly oversleeps and is late for 5th Period (English Conversation)
17:50 Falls asleep on his way home and is discovered by Atobe, who sends him home by limousine
18:00 Dozes off while tending to his family's cleaning store
19:00 Is awakened by Mukahi, who brought over some side dishes to share
21:00 Falls asleep while doing practice volley swings in the yard
22:00 Is discovered by his older brother, who puts him, fast asleep, back to his room
"Atobe has a soft spot for him huh. I see." Yukimura smiled.
"You really are two-timing you monster!" Kintaro accused.
"NOOO! I swear I only have eyes for you Marui-kun!" Jirou wailed and clung to Marui's waist as he knelt down.
"Hey stop that! Get up! I really don't care." Marui said as he tried pushing Jirou away from him.
"Really though, how many hours of sleep do you need in a day?" Tanegashima scratched his head.
"He's lucky everyone cares about him. Otherwise we would be seeing you asleep on the streets all dirtied up like a homeless person." Ryoga commented.
Marui Bunta School Life
5:50 Rises from bed, makes a bento
6:30 Wakes up his little brothers and has breakfast together with them
7:00 Goes to school, eats sweets after morning practice
19:30 Plays pro wrestling with his little brothers
"Sweets early in the morning? That's not good for your health and what are you doing riding on Oni-san's shoulders, Kin-chan?"
Shiraishi appeared out of nowhere with Shishido and Choutarou.
"Occhan is my older brother from now on Shiraishi!" Kintarou proudly exclaimed.
"I need my sugar." Marui answered. "Badly."
Shishido commented, "You and Jirou are similar in a weird way. One's addicted to sleeping and the other's addicted to sweets."
"But, taking care of your brothers is a wonderful thing." Oni smiled.
"Yes. Bunta is good in taking care of others." Yukimura boasted.
"Shishido-san is good in taking care of other people too." Choutarou added.
"Choutarou please keep quiet." Shishido, who was clearly embarrassed, looked away.
Jirou: Then, then! 'Tsunawatari (Tightrope-walking)'. I want you to teach me how to hit that!
Marui: Oh, suddenly starting with that? Jirou-kun, that's a litte...difficult. First, just the steps...
Marui: Get up there by going 'gu!' with your right leg, and when you're at the net use a 'shuwa!' with your knee. Then, the really important thing is the way you use your wrist, definitely. The moment you hit the ball with your racquet, do a 'fuwaan' and hit a 'ponyo!' to the net.
Shiba: ...haaaa?
Jirou: Eh~~, there, it's 'fuwaan'?! I thought surely it should be 'powaan' there!
Marui: Ah~ no, no. If you go 'powaan', when you hit it at the net it doesn't go 'ponyo', it becomes 'bonyon~'.
Jirou: Ah, so that's how it is~! As expected of Marui-kun! Truly truly awesome~~!
Shiba: What?! This conversation between the two of them, did they really make it happen?
"It's amazing how they can understand each other. One day, Shishido-san and I will reach that level of understanding." Choutarou said, amazed and jealous of their level of understanding.
"Heeehh! I see, I see! So that's how you do it!" Kintaro excitedly said.
Marui smiled at Kintaro and proudly said, "How was my move? I'm a genius right?"
Jirou gasped and exclaimed, "A rival!"
Shiba: (What kind of talk have those two been having, all this time? Geez, there's no way I can do an article on this! ...Oh, under Marui-kun's bed, there are some hastily hidden magazines and bags...I wonder, what on earth could they be?)
Marui: ...and then, that's with a 'pyun!' and...wait, what are you doing, Shiba-san?!
Shiba: Ohhh? What are you so nervous about? How suspicious~ (Speaking of things junior high school boys would hide and not want you to see...it definitely has to be 'that'. I'm excited!)
Jirou: Ah! That is, 'that'?! This is bad, don't look at it!
Marui: Wait! Don't take them out!
Shiba: Don't get in my way! Eh!...This, what is this? 'Jump SQ' and 'Weekly Shonen Jump' and then cookies and chocolate, gum and marshmallows...
Marui: Ahh, she saw! I'm begging you, please don't tell Sanada! And the coaches too...I beg you!
Shiba: (The things he hid were things like manga and sweets? Hey, don't raise my expectations like that...)
"Huh? What was she expecting?" Kintaro innocently asked as he looked down on Oni. He was still riding on his shoulders.
"Porn obviously." Ryoga immediately answered with no filter in his words.
Oni twitched and before Ryoga can react, he was already on the ground, unconscious. I leave it to your imagination what Oni did to him but one thing's for sure. It hurts real bad.
"What's p-" Kintaro was about to ask but Shiraishi covered his mouth.
"Kin-chan, just forget about it. It's one of those forbidden books that transports you to another world where you can't ever come back from. You don't want to be transported right? Else you'll never meet your loved ones ever again. Do you want that?" Shiraishi lied with a straight face.
Kintaro's eyes looked terrified as he nodded vigorously and Shiraishi slowly removed his hand from his mouth.
"Good boy." Shiraishi smiled.
Yukimura chuckled, "You're really good with people. Even with Akaya. He admires you greatly."
Sanada, who was still hiding in the corner, finally came out to show himself and slapped Marui.
"TARUNDORU! Didn't I tell you to surrender all your snacks and other unnecessary objects to me?" Sanada scolded as Marui rubbed his cheek.
"You were there all along? NOOOO! My snacks!" Marui cried.
Words for the Two
Oshitari― Jirou is really cheerful, it's great, isn't it. His smile can somehow... make you feel cleansed.
Oni― Watching them play so cheerfully, it just makes me remember my days as a kid.
"What does he mean by that? Is he dirty?" Kintaro innocently asked.
"Have you even heard his voice? So sensual, so dirty!" Tanegashima exclaimed.
Kintaro tilted his head, "What does sensual mean?"
Oni's mouth formed a line and he blankly stared at Tanegashima. Tanegashima gulped and took a glance at Ryoga's lifeless body and quickly shut up.
"Just forget about it for now Kin-chan." Shiraishi sighed.
Kintaro blinked and said, "Okaaay. Then let's talk about Occhan's message. You really miss your kids huh?"
"They are not my kids but yes, I miss them." Oni sadly smiled.
Kite― It seems like Akutagawa-kun is wide awake when it comes to Marui-kun's matches, doesn't it? He is asleep for everything else though...
Kirihara― Marui-senpai has watched over me ever since I joined the club. But when he spontaneously eats sweets, it's seriously freaky!
"BECAUSE MARUI-KUN'S SO COOL!" Jirou excitedly shouted as he jumped up and down.
Marui, who was on the ground still mourning over his sweets, immediately stood up and sparkles formed behind him as he said, "Of course! I'm always cool. I'm a genius."
"Oh he recovered." Shiraishi said.
"What's this though?" Marui stood beside Tanegashima, who was holding the book after Ryoga passed out, and pointed at a certain message, "What did Akaya mean when he said I'm freaky? He's the freaky one in devil mode."
Kintarou― Whether it's "magic volley" or "tightrope-walking", both are cool~! I want to try it too!
Krauser― The both of them hit volleys like magic, don't they. Niou-san said the two of them were magicians.
"YOU GUYS ARE MAGICIANS? SO COOL!" Kintaro shouted rather loudly, right next to Oni's ear.
Oni flinched a little but just let it go. He really likes the kid after all.
"You like it? I'll gladly teach you since you seem to understand my genius-ness." Marui proudly exclaimed.
Jirou gasped, "I was right! He's a rival!"
Kintaro just tilted his head and formed a question mark above his head.
Koharu― Marui-kun is kind of my type, being handsome as he is That strong look, brimming with confidence, is hot~!
Marui shivered. Shiraishi facepalmed. Kintaro made a disgusted face. Yukimura just smiled.
Sanada― Marui! How could you have brought confectionery into the training camp! Tarundoru! Bring your bag to me!
And thus, Marui's despair came back while Sanada just stared sharply at him.
'I'll be raiding his room after this.' Sanada thought.
Shiita― Marui-senpai is awesome, and he often watches over my training. I admire him very much~ (de yansu)!
Jackal― Saying a word to you now after all this time is kind of embarrassing. Well, thank you for everything, Partner. Please watch over me from here on too!
Tezuka― You cannot be an athlete with just talent. The present them are most likely the results of the build-up of their efforts.
Yanagi― I believe he has a 5-year-old and an 8-year-old younger brother. Marui helps out even during club activities because he takes good care of people.
Yukimura― During my stay in the hospital, I was saved considerably through Bunta and Akaya's cheerfulness. I extend my gratitude once more, thank you.
"Awww these guys are so sweet. They lift my spirits up." Marui smiled and faced Yukimura, "I didn't know you felt that way. Thanks to you too."
Niou― We are in the same club and the same class, aren't we. Perhaps, we may even be together until high school and university~
Momoshirou― Is it true that Marui-san is good at pigging out!? I can't lose either, I just can't!
Yagyuu― Marui-kun's play is magnificent. However, you shouldn't chew gum on the courts.
"And my mood worsened again. I don't wanna be a victim of Niou's pranks in high school and uni! I'm not pigging out and I chew gum when and where I want!" Marui pouted.
"You should hold back on the sweets Marui-kun. I can already see the fat building on your tummy." Shiraishi said as he pointed at Marui's stomach.
"ARRRGH! You just had to say that! I have a complex about that you know!" Marui answered.
"Then just quit with the sweets and give them to me instead." Kintaro suggested with a grin.
"No way."
"Right. There's no way now cause I'll be taking them all." Sanada added.
Marui felt despair creeping up again and he fell down to the ground.
"NOO! Marui-kun don't die!" Jirou knelt beside him, "Don't you worry my dear friend, I'll be hiding sweets for you!" Jirou assured but Marui just let a tear drop from his eyes and said, "It's no use hiding it if you're shouting it to the world Jirou-kun..."
Kabaji― Jirou... senpai... please... be awake... during practice.
Kamio― The other day when I went to the shops, I saw him minding the shop at a dry cleaners! Though, he was sleeping, of course!
Zaizen― That Jirou guy, why is he always that sleepy? Seriously unbelievable.
Taki― Jirou is our mood-maker, I believe. Although he's usually just asleep, he's noisy when awake.
Shiraishi sweat dropped, "It's all about sleeping. Too much sleep isn't good for your health though."
Kintaro scratched his head, "You keep talking about health this, health that."
"Health is very important. It's -"
"Uh uh! I don't want another health lecture!" Kintaro jumped off from Oni's shoulders and ran away.
"AH! Kin-chan, wait!" Shiraishi shouted as he ran after Kintaro.
Witness Talks
Eyewitness M-san (Marui)
Everyone had a partner pride contest!
Ohtori and Oshitari and Yagyuu were arguing about how much better their own partnerships were.
Eyewitness J-san (Jackal)
Everyone had a partner complaint competition...
Shishido and Mukahi and Niou were all talking about how much of a nuisance their partnerships are
"Shishido-san..." Choutarou started. Shishido gulped.
"So I'm a nuisance to you?" he continued with a frown on his face looking like he's about to cry.
Shishido raised his arms in defense, "No! I didn't say that! Jackal just worded it wrong. I swear Choutarou! Hey wait! Why are you running awaaaaay?"
Choutarou ran away before Shishido can explain himself and he chased after him.
"Oh it's a breakup." Tanegashima stated. "That's that though."
"Well that was rather fun." Yukimura smiled.
"I'll excuse myself then." Sanada said as he headed straight towards Room 204.
Marui quickly rose up from his despair pose and shouted, "Wait fukubuchou! Have mercy on my sweets!" and then he ran after him.
"AHHH! Marui-kun wait for me!" Jirou followed after.
Yukimura and Oni just shrugged as the former followed his teammates while the latter goes back to the tennis courts to train.
Tanegashima took a quick look at the still unconscious Ryoga, shrugged and left the scene.
A little while later...
Ryoma and Zaizen were walking together and talking about how much of a pain their senpais were when Zaizen suddenly tripped on something and he fell down with a bang.
Ryoma quickly took a pic of it as a way to get even after all the things he has done.
"Heh. I see now Echizen. You dare challenge me huh." Zaizen said as he noticed Ryoma took a picture of him falling down with style.
"I'm just trying to get even." Ryoma shrugged.
Zaizen sat up from his position and took a look at what he just tripped on and saw the dead body (not really) of Ryoga.
"What happened to him?" he asked.
"Who knows. Probably just did something stupid like always."