"Next game, Seigaku, Echizen and St Rudolph Mizuki!" Tension filled the air and I started to breath slowly, 'I came this far, I can't be discovered now'…
"Oy! Echizen!" Startled, I looked up, and as always it was Momo sempai. "Hurry up! And go for it!"
"Hai, hai" I replied back with my usual straight face.
"Which side?" Mizuki sempai asked me
"Rough" I answered automatically without giving it any thought.
"Smooth" Sempai smirked. 'Kuso'…
"Game Start! St Rudolph Mizuki service game." The referee yelled out as my heart started pounding. Here I go…
----------------------------------------------------Game-------------------------------------------------------------------
"There it is! Drive B!" Horio cheered from the crowd. *ponk* *ponk* *ponk*…
"Game set! Match won by Echizen Ryoma 6-4!"
"KYAAAA! RYOMA SAMA!" "Ochibi! Bravo! Bravo! Bravious!!!!" "Echizen!" with that the Seigaku tennis club and it's supporters came rushing down.
"Ch…Choto!" Mizuki sempai glared at me panting, his shirt soaked in his sweat.
"Seigaku is cheating!" Sempai declared in a loud and sure voice. *Doki* *Doki* Kuso… he couldn't… he shouldn't… how… why…?!
"What are you talking about? As you see this court is filled with specters and it'd be no use for you to argue…" As expected of the captain, Tezuka sempai told him off easily. I'm safe… for now…
"Ah… I see you haven't realized yet… Interesting." Mizuki Sempai smiled a sickly deadly smile "Well then, I guess I'll let you guys figure it out." With that, St Rudolph left the court laughing joyfully. The instant I felt relieved, I felt nervous again with everyone's eyes on me.
"H… hey… What's with the 'your hiding something' look?" I tried to joke, sweat running down from my neck.
"Echizen, we're going to have a 'little' talk. Come." Ordered Tezuka sempai, and without realizing I let out a 'chet'…
"what did you want to talk about captain? I'm thirsty, and I really want a drink so…"
"Echizen, are you hiding something from us?" he asked glaring at me intensely…
"What are you talking about? I'm not hiding something…"
"Ok, I trust you…" Great… Seriously… Great…
"Manda, mada, dane…" I retorted feeling guilty.
*Everyone walks to the locker room*
"Echizen, aren't you gonna change?" Horio asked me
"Why bother? I'm probably going to practice at home again anyways so…" I answered back like I usually do while staring off into space.
"Yea… but still..." He said looking down. The fact that Horio 'cared' irritated me. I held back my urge to punch him while I was still sane and walked away without looking back.
----------------------------------Next Morning---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Beep* *Beep* *rustle* *click*….. "WAHHHHHHH!!! I'M LATE AGAIN!!!"
----30 mins later----
"Sorry I'm late captain" I told Tezuka sempai trying to catch my breath.
"Echizen! As punishment, 20 laps around the court!" He yelled at me, glaring at me with his super sexy eyes…
"Uh, Hai!" I replied back. 'Che, as if I didn't run enough already…'
"Echizen! Not fast enough!"
"Ha… Ha…." *dosh…*
--Eyes Opens--
"Where am I?" I asked glancing around my surrounding.
"O… Ochibi! Hey everyone! He's awake!!" That was so Eji sempai, he's just like a kid
"Echizen!" and with that, all the regulars swarmed around me.
"You scared us you bastard!" I flushed.
"o… did I? There's nothing wrong with me, I'm fine!" (It's just that my vest is too small for me now, that's all…) I added in my head. Out of all the people around me, the coach's glare caught my eyes.
"Everyone out." Ruzaki sensei muttered
"But…"
"OUT!!"
"Yes!" everyone left.. *gulp*
"Ryoma…" Ruzaki sensei looked at me closely.
"yes…?"
"you're a…" I knew what she would say…
"yes…" Ruzaki sensei covered her face with her hands
"Why?" she was finally able to ask after a long silence.
"Because the girls team is weak and lazy. I'm good enough for the guys team aren't I? I'M IN THE REGULARS!" I stared to panic with tears streaming from my eyes
"Nanjiro mentioned that he had a son though…"
"He means my brother, that idiot! He's DEAD, LEAVING ME ALL ALONE!" Ruzaki sensei's eyes were filled with tears. "I promised him… That I would go to the nationals, to fulfill a dream HE couldn't" I chocked out.
"Nanjiro is aware of this situation?"
"yes…"
"*Sigh* okay. I'm going to keep this a secret from everyone except for Tezuka. Keep trying your best Ryoma." She said with a thumbs up. I released the breath I was holding.
"Thank you…" was all I could manage to say.
"It's fine… try to get some rest. I'll send the others in. They seemed to be worried…"
"Okay…"