Disclaimer: I do not own The Prince of Tennis

Indifferent

If there is one thing that Keigo Atobe was certain of, was the fact that the entire female population would always fawn over him. No matter where Atobe went he could count on some girl to be there, batting her eyes in his direction. The girls from school, saleswomen, even the maids in his household would go the extra mile to please him. Atobe knows that he is irresistible. However, there is always one odd one out. This individual is a scholarship student named Riko Hayashi. A short, tiny thing that barely came up to Atobe's chest. Besides her height, everything else about her is pretty ordinary. Her straight black hair, and expressionless brown eyes did give Riko a plain Jane look. So what was it about her that had sparked Atobe's interest? It was the mere fact that this Riko didn't worship the ground that he walked on.

Atobe stared at her from his spot in the classroom, a scowl gracing his face. He did not like having interest in another that has no interest in him. Though Atobe couldn't help but to pick out a few things about her. Like right now while they where on break, she had not moved from her desk to converse with others. Instead she choose to read from some thick hard back book that looked to be dated back to the 19th century. Atobe didn't find this weird, for he doubt any of the other girls would welcome her into their groups. After all, Riko Hayashi was just a commoner. She was only able to attend Hyoutei because she was academically excellent. With out that scholarship of hers that was no way that that girl could afford the tuition.

Another thing that Atobe noticed was that the girl seemed to be completely isolated of her surrounds, and she seemed to like it that way. He had only ever seen Riko with her nose in a book. Atobe had a feeling that unless she could read words in someone eyes, she wouldn't even hold eye contact. But what really made his thoughts turn was when Riko would roll her eyes at his admiring fans while they complied with his every whish. Who did that puny little twerp think she is to roll her eyes at his loyal fans? Atobe didn't know, but he knew that he had to get her to fall in line with the other girls. Just because it bugged him there was one girl out there that didn't care about him.

Riko signed a heavier sigh and leaned back in her desk chair, and let her eyes wander around the classroom. She watched as he classmates where flashes the newest designer jewelry and watches, often studded with gems, getting more annoyed by the second Though her annoyance reached the maximum when her eyes rested on Atobe Keigo. The most arrogant male in the school, neigh that world. Riko had never met anyone like him until she had entered this school. With all these brainless bimbo clinging onto his every whim. She was sure that had even saw one girl pull out one of his used tissues from the trash can, and hold it close to her heart. It was utterly repulsive. It was even more disgusting that with just the snap of his fingers Atobe expected to world to jump for him. How cares if he is good at playing tennis? Who cares if he is the heir to the richest family in Japan? Apparently, this who'll school cared, with the exception of Riko. Riko had came to this school with the sole purpose to get a got education so it would be easier to get a scholarship for high school, and then one for university. It was her dream to become a top children's doctor, and only a high level of education could get her there.

However, Riko's father had other plans for his only child. Mr. Hayashi owned a ramen shop, and was a very traditional man. He believed strongly that a woman's place was in her husband's household, not in a law firm. While he had not supported Riko in her academic dreams he had been just as excited in her scholarship, as any other parent would be. Though not because it meant that his daughter was ridiculously smart to have earned a free ride to Hyoutei. Mr. Hayashi full believed that his daughter had cheated to get into this fancy school, though he wasn't upset. A rich school meant rich male students, and a good chance that his Riko could catch the eye of one of these students. And Mr. Hayashi could see to it that his only child had married into a good family. For although he did not agree with her wishes, he still wished for his daughter's well being.

Riko signed once more, before snapping her eyes back to her book. 'Dad would be just thrilled if I somehow caught Atobe's attention', Riko thought, though is sent shiver of disgust down her spine, as she imagined being stuck to that man for a lifetime. Slowly she turned the page of her book.

Final the long school day had ended, and Riko was heading home. Though to get home she would have to pass the dreaded tennis course, and hear to cheers of fan girls once last time for the day. Just as any other school day Riko tried to block out their irritating yelling with one of her trusty books. Books that where filled with stories that could take her far away from the life she was living, far away from the school. However, since she was so observed in her reading Riko failed to hear the "Heads up!" that was yelled in her direction. She stayed in the little world of her book until a stray tennis ball smacked her, with the speed of a hummingbird, right in the middle of her fore head. The ball had been shot with so much force and speed that it knock poor Riko down on her back, and sent her book flying until it landed face open, wrinkling some pages. Black spots danced in Riko's vision, as she lay disoriented on the pavement, wondering what had just happened.

A series of running feet, pounding on the ground only made her head hurt more, that she had to close her eyes in pain, and did not notice the hyoutei tennis club had surrounded her. "I think you knock her out cold, Hiyoshi," said Ohtori to the karate tennis player. Hiyoshi only grunted in reply, it wasn't like he had killed the girl.

Atobe was the last of the team to make it over, and was quite shocked to see that the victim of the stray ball was none other that Riko Hayashi, that girl that had been processing his though for the was week.

Still completely unaware of all the boys standing over her, Riko let out a small painful whimper before her body became totally limp. It was obvious to the team that she had just lost conciseness. Atobe sighed at what a trouble this girl was becoming. "Get some of the freshmen to drag her over to the benches. Ore-sama will not shorten tennis practice for some girl." He said before heading back to the courts. His teaming followed behind him with only a few spared glances to Riko. Who was still lying dead to the world, waiting for the freshmen to come and drag her to the benches. Her book lay forgotten on the pavement, just like it's owner.