Yukimura Seiichi waved goodbye to his clubmates and started his trek home. Snow started its yearly fall, making him smile and wrap his scarf tighter around his neck. It's been 5 months since Rikkaidai's second consecutive win on Nationals. As a second year, he was able to play against many schools in the country, every time fueling him with excitement. He looked at his shaking hand and smiled as he still felt the happiness of winning Nationals.

As he passed by the neighboring park, he noticed a girl standing under a streetlight wearing only a thin spring dress. It was as if she was freezing herself. Her red hair was slightly covered with the contrasting white snow. Her hands were clutched together in front of her chest, looking like she was praying to the moon. Being the gentleman he is, he walked up to her and wrapped his scarf around her neck. She opened her eyes and tilted her head at him, her green eyes piercing through his blue eyes. Yukimura blushed and rubbed the back of his head in nervousness. "Um, uh, I saw that you were standing in the snow without any jacket on so I thought you were freezing."

The mystery girl smiled and grabbed his hands. Her actions made his blush turn into a deep red as he stared at the smiling girl. She let go of his hands and started to run around, looking like a child in winter wonderland. She grinned at him and motioned for him to join her. He smiled and placed his bag on the bench as he calmly walked up to the bouncing girl. "Ne, what's your name?"

She gave no answer except a smile. She curtsied in front of him, hoping that he'd get what she was doing. With a confused smile, she sighed and grabbed his hands. She placed one of his hands on her waist and held the other. She gently placed her hand on his shoulder and led him to a waltz. Yukimura chuckled and twirled her, making her grin. She gave a silent giggle and let him lead.

The dance went on 'till a small crowd surrounded them. When they stopped, they saw their audience and blushed when they started to applause. "It seems like they like our performance, ne?" Yukimura said as he picked up his bag. He smiled at the grinning girl and held out his hand. "Would you like to have some hot chocolate with me?"

The red haired girl shook her head and ran away from him. When she was a good distance from him, she gave him a wave and continued her journey. Yukimura raised his eyebrow and shrugged. He looked at the falling snow and smiled. He let the snow melt on his outstretched hand. Shaking the water off, he continued his trek home.

"What an interesting girl…"

-X-

It was the new school year as it was obvious from the blooming cherry blossoms. Students old and new walked to Rikkaidai Fuzoku Chuu, chatting up with old friends or soaking up the beach scene before them. A group of boys stood out from the walking students. Some of the females squealed and waved at them while some boys stared at them with admiration or envy. Ah yes, Rikkaidai's infamous tennis regulars. The captain, Yukimura Seiichi smiled and nodded at the waving girls, making them faint. Marui Bunta and Niou Masaharu were teasing their only junior regular, Kirihara Akaya, making their vice-captain Sanada Gen'ichirou yell at them. Yagyuu Hiroshi, Yanagi Renji, and Kuwahara Jackal sighed and continued walking to their destination.

Rikkaidai came into view and in minutes the welcoming bell rang. The regulars went on their separate ways. When Yukimura entered Class 3-C, his blue eyes widened at the sight of the person sitting next to the windows. 'It's her, the girl I met a few months ago.' As if someone called her, she turned around and widened her green eyes. She then smiled and stood up. Her uniform and red hair was slightly swaying as she walked up to him. She grabbed his hands just like she did a few months ago and grinned. The Child of God smiled and twirled her, expecting to hear a giggle. When he didn't, he raised an eyebrow at her. She just gave him a smile and skipped back to her desk before anyone could see the closeness between them.

In a few minutes, their classmates entered the room, wondering who the new girl was. Many had tried to get her into a conversation, but it was futile for all she gave them were smiles. The teacher entered the room when the final bell rang and smiled at the daydreaming student. When she felt a pair of eyes on her, she faced the front and smiled. The teacher motioned for her to come to the front. Taking out her student list, she wrote down the girl's name on the board as the said girl walked up and smiled at everyone. "Everyone, this is Tsugimiya Akane. I trust that you all be courteous to her, especially since she's mute," a few murmurs erupted and many stared at her still smiling face. "Well since you already have claimed the spot next to the window, I trust that you won't be daydreaming in any classes, right, Tsugimiya-san?" She blushed when the class laughed and gave her teacher a peace sign. Akane skipped back to her seat and sat up in attention, making her teacher laugh. "Hai, hai, now everyone…"

Yukimura stared at the attentive girl and placed his chin on his palm. 'She's a mute? No wonder she gives people smiles rather than spoken words.' He continued to stare at the girl until he heard a book fall on his table. The senior jumped and looked up to see his smiling teacher.

"Yukimura-kun, is there a reason as to why you're staring at Tsugimiya-san rather than listening to me?" The class laughed, making him blush. "I'll let it go since it's the first day but I trust that you won't ever do that again?" He nodded and tried to sink under his desk. "Ah, young love…" His teacher mumbled as she walked back to her desk.

-X-

When the final bell for the day rang, Akane stretched her arms in the air and sighed. She packed up her things and was about to leave when someone wrapped his arms around her and gave her a bone-crushing hug. "Aka-chan!"

Yukimura looked up from his book and raised an eyebrow at the volley specialist. He saw that Akane was trying to get out of his grasp and chuckled as he decided to help the poor girl. "Marui, I think Tsugimiya-san needs to breathe."

Marui let go of Akane and smiled at her slightly dizzy face. She shook out her dizziness and smiled at him. She patted him on the head, making him pout. "Mou, I told you not to do that anymore!" She gave him a silent giggle and continued to pat him on his head, despite the fact that he's a few centimeters taller than her. He gently grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles, making her blush. "Ah, I still have that effect on you!"

"Everyone has that effect on her, Marui," Yagyuu said as he entered the room. "Besides, it's weird to see two cousins act like lovers."

Marui pouted and gave his cousin puppy eyes. "Ne, it's not weird that we're acting like lovers, ne, Aka-chan?"

She raised an eyebrow at him and slowly nodded, as if deciding whether or not it's the right decision. Marui smiled and hugged her again. "Yay! Aka-chan and I are lovers!" Jackal grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him away from his cousin.

"Hai, hai now let's go before Sanada gets to the courts before us. Yukimura-buchou, we'll see you there." Yagyuu followed the two, leaving only Akane and Yukimura in the room. She smiled at him and grabbed his hands like before. He smiled and twirled her again, watching her make a silent giggle. He got his tennis bag and held out his hand.

"Would you like to come to the tennis club?" Akane shook her head and dashed out the room. She waved goodbye and left the captain to his thoughts. Yukimura chuckled and looked outside the window. He watched her smile to other students as she continued to run out of the school and into the streets.

"I think this year will be interesting…"

A new story yet it's still Prince of Tennis...

Nah, Yukimura invaded my mind lately so I decided to vent him out by writing a story! :D

Reviews fuel my inspiration! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis