Hi minna! I'm so sorry I haven't updated The Echizen Bride… But I will, I promise! I wrote this fic when I wrote The Echizen Bride, but I haven't post it on FF. So I guess this is a perfect opportunity to upload this one, while I'm working on the other. Btw, I know Rikkaidai Fuzoku doesn't have any manager or assistant, but have mercy on me…

Prince of Tennis belongs to Konomi-sensei

THE RIKKAIDAI ASSISTANT GIRL

It was after the Kantou finals when all the Seigaku regulars were leaving. They overheard a conversation between a girl and one of Rikkai second year ace, Kirihara Akaya. The girl wore Rikkaidai Fuzoku girl's uniform and she was very beautiful.

"You're really unbelievable, Aka-chan… How many times did I tell you, no more violence! If Sei-chan hears this… he'll be very upset! "

"So don't let him hear this… ", Kirihara said stubbornly. "The guys won't tell, so you won't tell him too… "

"Hah! You can't order me around like that… Really, you don't respect your senpais… ", she sniffed.

"Pleaseeee…. ", begged Kirihara.

"Okay, I won't tell him…if you apologize to Fuji-san and Tachibana-san!"

"WHAT! No way… "

"You'll do that, and I promise Seichii won't hear any of these… "

"Arggghh…. Why on earth you always giving me a hard time! I don't have to do that, and that's it! Bye… ", with that, Kirihara walked away. The girl looked upset and ran after him. They could still heard them quarrelling along the way.

The Seigaku regulars amused at the sight.

"Nyaaah… Fuji, who's that girl, eh? Is she one of your fangirl from Rikkaidai… ", Eiji snickered, followed by Momoshiro.

"Well, if she is…I'll be happy! ", Fuji smiled. "But I have no idea who she is… beside, she did say about Tachibana too… "

"There's 89 chance that she refered about Kirihara's violent action to Fuji and Tachibana… ", Inui scribbled in his book.

"She seems close to Kirihara ne? She did call him Aka-chan… ", Oishi pointed out. Everyone looked at each other and began to laugh. Aka-chan… that little demon has a very cute nickname!

They immediately forgot about the incident, although some of them, namely Eiji and Momo, still giggled every time they remember about 'Aka-chan'. Until three days later, when a commotion occurred in the Seigaku Tennis Court. The girl they saw few days ago was dragging Kirihara Akaya and asking permission to meet Fuji Shuusuke. Oishi made everyone except the regulars to run 20 laps around the court, and then asked them and the regulars to follow him to the club house.

"I'm so sorry, Oishi san… ", the girl bowed deeply to Oishi. "I didn't mean to disturb the practice… Sumimasen… ". And she forced Kirihara bowed too.

"It's okay… ", Oishi smiled. She's a guest anyway, and Oishi was a polite young man. "Is there anything we can do? "

"Ah yes… ", she smiled brightly. Almost everyone-except a certain freshman-hold their breath. She's certainly very pretty. "My name is Nakamura Hikaru, a third year on Rikkaidai Fuzoku… I'm here with Kirihara Akaya in a good will… right Akaya?"

Kirihara grudgingly nodded. The 'i-was-forced-to-do-this' was written all over his face.

"Fuji-san… I'm here to… to apologize… I'm sorry I hurt you in our last match…"

Fuji smiled, his eyes still closed. But he looked delighted.

"It's okay… my eyes are fine now… ", then he added, "Thank you very much, Aka-chan… "

Everyone in the room burst out laughing. Even Kaidoh and Echizen snickered at the nickname. Kirihara looked angry.

"Hey… who give you permission to call me… to call me that… "

"Nakamura-san here calls you that, right? So it's okay for me, ne? "

Hikaru giggled. The guys were right. The tensai of Seigaku was very amusing.

"Aka-chan, don't be mad… you're the one who hurt him, so it's ok… he has rights to call you like I call you… I give him permission! ", she said out loud. Kirihara pouted. He glared everyone in the room.

"Guys, by the way, you can call me Hikaru, or Hikaru-chan, I don't mind… I'm the team assistant. Yesterday I didn't watch the finals due to Seichii-chan's surgery… ", she glanced at Kirihara. " Though I was quick enough to catch this little brat when the guys reported his action to one of your players… ". Kirihara glared at her comment.

"How's Yukimura-san? ", asked Oishi.

"He's doing great! He said, he'll be ready to go against Seigaku at the Nationals! And how's Tezuka-san? "

"He's doing just fine… He'll too be ready for the Nationals… "

"Well anyway… ", suddenly she stopped and her mouth forming'O'. "Hey… you're the freshman who beat Gen-chan! Ano…Echizen Ryoma… Kawaii… ",she glomped him. Jawsdropped from everyone. Echizen blushed and tried to get away from her tight grip. Being glomped by a girl certainly different than being it by Momo-senpai and Kikumaru-senpai!

"You're so cute…. ", she squelled. "Can I call you…emmm… Ryo-chan… yes… it fits you perfectly… "

"Yadda! ", Echizen said furiously.

"Heheheh… Ryo-chan… it's a cute name for you… ", Momo grinned.

"Hmmmm… ", Fuji placed his index finger in his chin. "Then you can call me, Shu-chan, Momoshiro Momo-chan, Eiji-chan, Kaidoh is Kaoru-chan, Kawamura is Taka-chan, Oishi is… Shuiciroh-chan…and Inui… Haru-chan! What do you think, Hika-chan? "

"YOU SHOULD BE ASKING US! ", came the reply from the Seigaku regulars.

"Ooohh… Shu-chan…its so kawaii… ", she had starry eyes. Everyone sweatdropped and Fuji opened his eyes.

"See… I told you guys… ". Ugh… that threatening looks!

"Ryo-chan, would you like some cakes? I always bake many cakes for Bunta-chan… I'll deliver some tomorrow afternoon, kay? ", she ruffled Echizen's hair, much to his annoyance.

"I hate sweet stuffs… ", he glared at her.

"Echizen! It's not nice to refuse a senpai's offer… ", Momo elbowed him.

"Yeah… you never refuse my treats… ", followed Eiji.

"… ", glared, glared, glared.

"Thanks for the offer, Hika-chan… We'll be happy to see you tomorrow… ", said Fuji, ignoring the looks-can-kill from Echizen.

"Okay… ", she looked excited. "See you later minna… You too, Ryo-chan… ", she hugged him again. Echizen turned to crimson red.

On the way to Kanagawa, Kirihara looked unhappy. Why does he have to mingle with the enemy… the one that beat them! And worst; now their happy-go-lucky assistant girl is totally crazy about that freshman who knocked out Sanada-fukubuchou. How he'll be pissed when he finds out…

"What's wrong, Aka-chan? "

"Hikaru-neechan, the guys won't be happy if they know we dangle with Seigaku… "

"Why not? It's nice to add new friendship! Plus they're good guys… Anyhow, you'll accompany me to Seigaku again tomorrow Aka-chan! "

"NANI!"

So, that was the start of a new relationship between the Seigaku regulars and Rikkaidai's assistant manager. Sometimes after practice, Hikaru would pop out out of nowhere and chasing Echizen to eat her sweet cakes. Usually Kirihara tags along with her. When Hikaru occupied with the others, Kirihara would challenge one or two regulars to a game of tennis. Mostly he targets Fuji and Echizen. Slowly, everyone sees that he's kinda enjoying the new friendship he develops with Seigaku. But of course he won't admit that! But there's one thing always bugging their mind: How on earth Hikaru and Kirihara could get away from Rikkai's own heavy trainings? Doesn't she have team to manage? And how does Kirihara have time to spend other than for his own training schedules? Not to mention Kanagawa is quite far from Seigaku (about 20 km or more). Really, it's such an enigma…

Today was one of those days when Hikaru and Kirihara showed up after practice. The non-regulars were heading home, but they greeted her and Akaya sinced they showed up almost regularly in Seigaku, every member of the tennis club knew them well.

"Hi Hika-chan… ", Eiji glomped her. Hikaru smiled. In Rikkaidai, only few people glomping at her like Eiji did. Only Marui, Niou and Kirihara who usually do that. The others were too strict to do that. Well, Seiichi usually hugs her, not glomping at her like that… she giggled.

"Ne, Eiji-chan… Do you and the guys have any business after this? I have a favor to ask… "

"Sure… what favor? We're not busy after this… "

"Aka-chan and I had been trying to meet Tachibana san from Fudomine the last couple of weeks, but we can't have his address from anyone of his teammates. Apparently, they're still very angry… "(Glaring at Kirihara)

"Hmmm, Tachibana-san's address… ", suddenly Inui came out of nowhere and started flipping out his precious notebook. "Here, I have it… ". He shoved it to Hikaru.

"Ah… sankyuu Haru-chan! ", she squelled happily. "Eh…what's this… you have all the address of every tennis team members of the Kantou region? Sugoi… "

'Scary… ', thought Kirihara and the other Seigaku regulars.

"You're going to go to Tachibana-san's house, Hika-chan? Can we come along? ", asked Fuji, definitely interested. Kirihara sulked. Fuji's just wanted to see him apologize to Tachibana Kippei!

"Of course you can… we'd be glad to! Right, Aka-chan? ". Kirihara growled.

So, the Seigaku regulars, Hikaru and Kirihara marched to Tachibana Kippei's house. It turned out that he was living not so far away from the street tennis court. That explains why Tachibana An always seen at the tennis court. Hikaru rang the bell and they waited patiently. A woman, maybe Tachibana's mother, opened the door and looked surprise to see a bunch of kids from another school standing in her front door.

"Yes? What can I do to help? "

"Good afternoon… ", Oishi stepped forward. "We are from the Seigaku Tennis Club, want to visit Kippei san… "

"Oh, I've heard a lot about your team from Kippei and An… ", she smiled. "But Kippei's still hospitalized now… You can visit him now, An is there too… "

Then she gave them Tachibana's Hospital and room number. Hikaru sighed in relief, it's lucky they decided to ask Seigaku for help. Who knows what would happen if Aka-chan was the one who asked!

Along the way to the Hospital, which is accidentally Yukimura Seiichi's Hospital too, Hikaru chatted animatedly with Eiji and Momoshiro. Fuji tugged Kirihara and whispered,

"Does she always like this, Akaya-chan, always concerns about everyone's welfare? "

"Yup! ", Kirihara nodded. "She's the same as your Oishi-san, but sometimes in annoying way… She worries just too much!" Fuji looked thoughtful after hearing Kirihara's comment. Then he smiled.

Finally they arrived at the County Hospital. Hikaru bought two bouquets of roses, one for Tachibana, and the other for Yukimura of course. The guys were excited because they haven't got the chance to visit Tachibana after the incident. Hikaru also looked happy because she could visit Tachibana and Seichii-chan. But not Kirihara… He felt doom was coming to him, because he would be scolded by BOTH Tachibana AND Yukimura-buchou… And maybe his teammates would mad at him too for making friends with Seigaku…. Oww crap..!

TO BE CONTINUED….

There you go... Hope you'll like it! Reviews please... Thank You!