Ryoma Echizen was tossed into the air as the Nationals ended with Seigaku as winners. He had done it. He had beaten Yukimura Seiichi, Child of God.

Correction, she had done it. Because Ryoma Echizen was a girl, hidden from everyone's knowledge. Even the data players couldn't figure it out due to her flat chest and high pain tolerance for her annoying period cramps.

As the stadium was cleared and only Seigaku was left to revel in the glory of their win, an unexpected event occurred. Laughter. Cold, cruel laughter from Momoshiro Takeshi.

As he wiped away tears from his eyes, he pointed a finger at the young girl, sneering at her.

"Did you really think we were ever your friends? Now that Seigaku's won, you can leave and die for all we care."

Ryoma blinked before it registered in her mind. Her eyes widened in disbelief. As her gaze hastily scanned the other members of her team for reassurance it wasn't true, and when she didn't find any, her expression became blank. A still calmness overwent her entire being. She tilted her head, not seeming worried at all.

"So it's true?"

Her question was directed to her buchou, the one who wanted her to become the 'Pillar of Seigaku'. Not as if she planned on staying at the school anymore if the answer turned out wrong.

Tezuka's lips curled into a condescending smirk. "Yes, it was all a plan to win. You are not needed anymore."

Ryoma smiled back sweetly. Nodding her head to her 'captain', she turned to the others, clasping her hands behind her back. Her lack of surprise made them fidget, worries rising about the plan.

"You guys hate me as well?"

A chorus of yes's and some nods answered her immediately. Ryoma didn't let her smile falter for one nanosecond. Fuji's eyes were open at this point when he blatantly asked outright and upfront,

"Why are you so relaxed?"

Ryoma leaned back on her heels, poking her two pointer fingers together with a pout. She looked off to the side.

"Well, I already had my suspicions. And besides, it's not as if you're going to be basking in your glory for long, right Monkey King?"

From his hiding spot, Keigo Atobe stepped out with a camcorder in his hands. His usual cocky grin was gone, replaced by a sour, twisted smile of anger.

"All on camera Ryo-chan. And stop calling Ore-sama such a crude name!"

Ryoma rolled her eyes as a playful smile blossomed on her lips.

"Awww, but it's such a fitting name!" She grinned her wild grin, something the Seigaku regulars had not witnessed often.

Ryoma turned and faced her old 'friends'. She stared at them as her smile became a sad frown, as if reminiscing memories. She started with the future sushi chef first.

"You were an amazing actor, even letting me into your family's restaurant. But even though I know your true intentions behind every false smile now, I'll still think of the times you showed a passion for the sport we have in common."

The data master next.

"I hate your style of tennis, it's constricting and difficult to beat. You make it as if your subjects can only live up to a certain potential. You're obviously wrong, humans never stop evolving, just as how I don't intend to either. But I will be waiting for the day you realize that everything, anyone, and even you yourself, can exceed your data."

Then came the hissing, humanoid-snake.

"... I really don't understand how, but even as deceptive as you are, Karupin really likes you. I suppose that and how you endlessly trained to raise your endurance will stick around in my memory for a while."

Her favorite person she used to eat burgers with.

"I must have made you go broke with all the times you paid for me. Maybe that's why I won't accept your lies as easily. You were so nice to me, how could I have been fooled? I ignored the signs from the beginning, idiot me. I won't forget our friendship, no matter how fake it was."

The 'mother-hen' of the team.

"You were always running yourself into the ground with worry for everyone. Was that all an act as well? If so, you're a damn good actor. I think for me, it was your caring for everybody that will be hard to not keep as a memory."

The cat-like third-year next.

"So nice towards me, though I still don't understand why you had to give me such an… unattached nickname. Was it simply easier to refer to me as a small person than to acknowledge I was in fact, human? Anyways, your loudness and simply your personality, even if it was a huge facade, will be something I hold dear."

The sadist, the blue-eyed tensai, the one who now frowned.

"To be honest with you, you scared me at first. You were immune to those sludges considered juice and you always had on such a charming smile. It made me so nervous around you, it was as if you'd drop everything at once and my whole perception of you would be a lie. Though, I suppose that is true now, huh? You had such wonderful smiles and beautiful eyes that will stay with me until the lies finally sink in."

Last one, the captain, the Pillar of Seigaku, the one who hurt her the most.

"... I really did like you. You were someone I could look up to, someone I wanted to play an endless match against. You said you wanted me to support Seigaku, be the pillar of support, but I don't even know if I'll come back here next year. Maybe I'll be dead by then. There's not a thing about you that I won't remember."

With a resolve as solid as glass, Ryoma held her head up as she gazed over the people she trained with, the ones she called her teammates.

"Goodbye until we meet again, for then i shall greet you as if we have never met before. I hope you all will understand now,"

She smiled in such an innocently, sweet and pure way that they shivered from her close to perfect mask.

"That you never cross an Echizen."