Author's note/Disclaimer:
I do not own The Prince of Tennis. I'm just a big fan of it, that's all. Hope you will enjoy my own version of The Prince of Tennis as I've enjoyed writing it!
P.S.
I'm back! This is Tennis no Ojousama at your service but known as Watapon12 by now since I've decided to change my penname.
I'm very sorry if I haven't updated this for months now. I'm so sorry. I've just readjusted the plot for this one.
I hope that your long waits will be worth it. And I hope you all are still here with me.
I've adjusted the first chapter by the way.
Now, on with the story.
Happy reading everyone!
I've edited some parts of the story once again to make some parts clearer. And lastly, I've changed the title from 'Unaccepted Truth' to 'Pride vs. Prejudice'.
Warning:
Characters might or might not be OOC. It varies to the situation.
PRIDE VS. PREJUDICE
MATCH 1
A guy with dark green hair and chestnut eyes, in a white shirt with red stripes on some parts of his shirt and black shorts together with a white Fila cap looked very exhausted and is really catching his breath. His name is Echizen Ryoma. He is in the middle of a match against a girl in his age division. Both are around twelve years old. The girl has short pink hair, her eyes covered by her full bangs because she is looking down while bouncing the ball. She is wearing a blue clothed headband matched with a blue dress for tennis. She is ready for her winning serve in their one set match with their score of 5-1. There is no sign of tiredness in her face neither she is sweating too much.
'Am I going to let Yamada-chan crush me once again?' crossed to Ryoma's head desperately. 'No! I am not going to let it happen again! Even if it is already 5-1, I still have a chance. The game is not yet over!'
The girl named Yamada, whom Ryoma had addressed, turned to her opponent from the other side of the court, showing her beautiful face and called out, "Echizen-kun!"
Ryoma turned to her.
"Are you sure you still want to continue this match in that condition?"
"What?" Ryoma blurted out in surprise
Yamada smirked.
"If you think you can still win me with this score of 40-0 and in that bad form of yours, well you're wrong. You can never win a match with me," Yamada said confidently, mocking Ryoma at the same time.
Ryoma glared at her but the fear and doubt can be seen in his eyes.
"Come on and serve that ball already," Ryoma shouted in his most brave voice that he can give during that time. He seems very serious in beating Yamada even though the match is already one sided and there is only a percent chance left for him to win.
"As you wish," Yamada said sadistically. She threw the ball in the air to serve it.
An alarm clock suddenly rang loudly which irritated a teen who is sleeping soundly. He turned off the alarm clock. He slowly sat up on his bed, revealing a jade green haired teen and his chestnut eyes slowly opening, as he yawned and rubbed his eyes, then a Balinese/Siamese cat jumped unto his bed and greeted his master. The boy sat up and greeted his cat with a pat and said sweetly, "Good morning, Karupin." The cat jumped down from his bed. His face shifted from being happy to serious and said to himself, "I dreamed of it again. But why?" He then let out a frustrated sigh.
Suddenly hard and impatient knocking can be heard on the door from the outside which is more like banging. Each knock getting louder and louder as a teen outside used her knuckles which resulted to banging. The weird thing she looked a lot like the occupant of the room, a her version of him but older. She has long dark green hair which is tied low and chestnut eyes.
"Hurry up and open the door, Chibisuke!" she shouted protestingly at Ryoma's door.
Ryoma stood up and put on his slippers. "Yeah, yeah. Coming," he responded irritatingly.
He opened the door and met Echizen Kuroyuki's flaring eyes, his older sister. She is a year older than him.
"What do you want, nee-san?" Ryoma asked sleepily, rubbing his right eye.
"What the-?" she blurted in disbelief. "You're not yet dressed? It's already six thirty! You better hurry or we will be late in our morning practice!" Kuroyuki said in a shock and demanding voice of an older sister.
"Yeah. Yeah," Ryoma responded sleepily.
XXXPRIDE VS. PREJUDICEXXX
It is already mid-November in Japan. Cherry Blossoms that suppose to be pink-colored are now turning slightly brown and are starting to fall on the ground like confetti's because it is already fall season. It is, also, the same to those other trees.
In Seishun Gakuen, even though it is still very early, noises can be heard inside the school product of the different sports clubs that are having their morning practice. This school is very famous because of their strong tennis club.
Two figures appeared standing outside the school grounds, staring at the school. The first figure at the left is a guy teenager tall; at around 5'9, he has high spiky black hair and has a well-built body and carrying a tennis bag strapped by his shoulder. While the other figure at the right is a girl teenager which is very short since she is just below his shoulder in height. The girl has long pink hair that the length is reaching her waist and has side bangs. The older guy is only a year older than her.
"Lil' Sis," Takeshi said to get, as he addressed, his little sister's attention.
The younger teen turned to him with blank, unreadable green eyes and calm face. She is a serious person but softens when her brother is around.
"You're here in Seigaku for the second time, you are now here to study and not only to come for a visit," Takeshi said excitedly and with a grin.
"You're right," the girl agreed in a soft but steady tone of voice. "Let's get going, Aniki. You still have your morning practice."
"Do you want to go with me to the tennis courts?" he offered. "I'm sure you're excited to see what's new there. Also, I'm sure that the senpais will be very happy in seeing you again. They'll be very surprised seeing you here," Takeshi said excitedly.
The younger teen just ignored what Takeshi said and went ahead to the campus.
Takeshi's excitement was broken because his little sister just ignored his invitation. He looked worriedly at her.
"Sakura…"
XXXPRIDE VS. PREJUDICEXXX
Takeshi escorted the girl to her respective classroom for she is a new student there and Takeshi is a junior and had been studying in Seigaku since he was a freshman.
"Ah! Here's your name: Yamada Sakura," Takeshi read gladly as he seen his younger sister's name on the class list outside 1st year 2 classroom.
"You're in class 1-2," Takeshi said gladly and grinned at the girl.
"Thank you, Aniki," Sakura said in a thankful voice and offering him a small smile.
"No problem, Lil' Sis," Takeshi grinned at Sakura again.
"Oh, before I forget. After class, I'll tour you around Seigaku so that you can familiarize the place and-," he then winked at Sakura. "You won't get lost," Takeshi said in a brotherly voice except for the last sentence for he said it to tease Sakura.
"Look who's talking. Am I not the one who is supposed to say that?" Sakura said half-smiling.
"Oh, no you don't. I am the earlier occupant of this school, so I know this school more than you do," Takeshi countered then smiled cheekily.
Sakura just shook her head while giving out one of her rare and true smiles which is usually reserved for her Aniki.
Takeshi suddenly lightened up because of the younger sibling's action and said, "See. I made you smile again. Don't be too serious, ne? You're too young for that and besides, enjoy life and smile always while you're still a youth, ne?" Takeshi then ruffled Sakura's hair playfully.
"Hey! Stop it, Aniki!" Sakura said irritatingly but chuckling softly at the same time.
"That's it. Keep on smiling. You might have not noticed but every time you smile and every time I see you happy, I'm also happy. Remember that."
Sakura's smile suddenly faded. She looked down at what Takeshi said because she knows deep inside her that it would be hard for her to do it. Before the older one would notice her change of emotion, she looked back up to him, masked with her expressionless face.
"I'll go ahead now. I think you should also get going or else you will be late."
"Oh, right," Takeshi scratched his head and laughed.
"I'll be back in lunch time. Hope you meet new friends. Bye, Lil' Sis!" Takeshi waved goodbye to Sakura and went away.
Sakura went inside the classroom. There are no students yet since it is just almost seven and the class will start by eight thirty. She sat in an armchair beside a window. She then noticed that the view of the tennis courts can be clearly seen from there.
At the tennis courts, all of the members of the Men's Tennis Club: regulars and non regulars, are starting their morning practice. The Girl's Tennis Club's regulars are, also, joining them in their practice.
"After running practice, all of you are going to the courts to have a match against one another. The match will be boys versus girls," Ryuuzaki-sensei, the coach of the Boy's Tennis Club, announced to them who is standing beside Inui Sadaharu, which was once a Seigaku regular, and Shigeno Sandaime-sensei, the coach of the Girl's Tennis Club.
The regular members of both tennis clubs were surprised of Ryuuzaki's announcement.
"What? But we'll still be very tired after this. We cannot give a good performance," Eiji blurted surprisingly while running.
"That is the purpose," Shigeno-sensei informed. "Through this practice, your endurance and stamina will be tested if how long you can take after a very exhausting 30-lap running practice."
"He's right," Sadaharu agreed. "And to those members who will not be able to finish a lap after a minute, they're very lucky because they will be the first ones who will be going to try this-," he held up a pitcher of green juice that looks like very toxic and cannot be drank. Trust me, you don't want to try it if you'll have a chance to see it. "My new and improved Inui vegetable juice," he introduced devilishly together with the usual evil grin.
The members were suddenly flushed when they saw the new juice of Inui. They already had encountered some of the juice that Inui invented after he had been expelled from being a regular member. He volunteered himself to be the manager of the team for a while. They do not want to drink any of Inui's juices again because…, I think you already know what I mean.
"This juice is tastier than my last inventions I'm sure you will all enjoy this," Inui said, still keeping his evil grin.
Some squealed but all trembled with fear.
"I would not want to drink that," Ryoma said.
Everyone was surprised of Ryoma's outburst.
"I agree with you, Chibisuke," Kuroyuki said, agreeing with his brother.
"Fsshhh…," Kaoru said, even though his face is scary, it can be seen deep down that he is scared to drink the juice
"It looks very toxic. It looks like it cannot be drunk," Syuichiroh stated the obvious, trembling slightly.
"I would never want to drink it again over my dead body, nya!" Eiji shouted trembling.
"For the first time, I agree with you, Kitty," Kimiko said, agreeing with Eiji.
Syuusuke chuckled. "What are you all saying? It looks very delicious."
Everyone looked at Syuusuke as if he had lost all of his sanity, but if I were you I would agree with them.
Kunimitsu shook his head in disagreement and just decided to run faster.
As soon as everyone saw that their Buchou is ahead now and each second he managed to expand the distance, they took it as the cue to start running faster if they do not want to die yet in the glass of Inui's toxic and poisonous vegetable juice.
Sakura just smiled while watching their morning practice from above.
She suddenly froze.
No, she's definitely not enjoying this! She shook her head, as if letting the thought fall down from her head and bringing herself back to her control. She sighed. She did not think that this will going to be very hard for her to do.
"Stop, Sakura," she whispered to herself cautiously. "You're in total control and you know it."
XXXPRIDE VS. PREJUDICEXXX
It is almost time for class and sports club members are now changing in their school uniforms and going inside their classrooms.
Ryoma and Kuroyuki stopped outside a classroom.
"I'll go ahead now. Be good and don't do stupid things, ne?" Kuroyuki said in a demanding voice.
"I don't do stupid things," Ryoma said in reply. "You're the rebellious one," Ryoma continued, returning to what Kuroyuki said.
Kuroyuki glared at Ryoma.
"What?" Ryoma asked innocently.
"Just go in already so that I can go," Kuroyuki said while pushing Ryoma inside the room.
"Alright! Alright already! Stop acting like a kid."
"Hah! Who are you referring to? Me or yourself?"
"Who do you think am I talking to?"
Kuroyuki just stuck out her tongue to Ryoma in reply and added, "See you later, Chibisuke!" Then ran away.
Everyone in the room gave Ryoma a weird and funny look after they had witnessed the, how should we put this? Amateurish exchange. Involuntarily, he bowed his head low and blushed in embarrassment, "Childish big sisters."
He then started to look for a seat but there was only one seat left which is beside a girl near a window.
"Okay, good. I will be sitting beside a girl and it looks like she's new here. It's like I have any other choice," Ryoma said to himself. He approached the girl and asked, "Excuse me, is someone sitting beside you?"
The girl is looking outside. She looked at the chair beside her and shook her head lightly. "No. No one's sitting here."
She suddenly looked up as she heard the boy in front of her gasping audibly. The girl, who all this time maintained an emotionless face, allowed a surprised look show in her features.
"Yamada-chan?"
"Echizen-kun?"
Both said at the same time as Sakura stood up from her seat.
Both became silent, the noisiness of the room disturbing the silence and sudden commotion between the two teens, registering the sudden happenings.
"What are you doing here?" Again, both questioned each other at the same time.
"I'm supposed to be the one asking you that question," Ryoma finally asked first, hint of anger can be heard from his voice. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at the States."
"That is none of your business," Sakura replied casually, her voice sounding almost cold and hostile.
"Don't worry. I don't mind," Ryoma shot back. "Just remember that I came to this school first and not you so you find another seat in where you can sit. I do not want to sit beside you."
"It does not matter at all. I came here first and since there are no seating arrangements in this class, everyone can sit wherever they want. If you do not want to sit beside me, it's your problem to find another one. First come first serve basis," Sakura said calmly and sat back down to her seat.
Ryoma gritted his teeth in frustration as the bell rang and the teacher for the first period went inside the room. Everyone went back to their seats. After a brief exchange of greetings, the students sat back down.
Ryoma, with nothing to do anymore, sat on his seat beside his least favorite person in all his life. Of all the people in this class, why does it have to be her? What's bothering him most is: what is she doing here in Japan? Is she staying here for good?
No, it can't be. He bickered himself.
How could she leave the States if she is already at the peak of her prominent tennis career? What's going on in here?
So many questions came to him all at once and neither of them he can answer.
He observed her at the corner of his eyes as he saw her taking out her notebook from her bag.
"Since you're already here," Ryoma started again as he looked at her, "Why don't we have another match?" he challenged, deciding to drop all the questions by now and not miss the opportunity that he had been waiting for since he had transferred in Japan for another match. "I'm telling you, I've become stronger now and this time I'm going to beat you. Later after class, how about it?" he challenged confidently.
"Sorry but I do not play tennis anymore," Sakura answered casually her attention still on the teacher in front.
"What?" Ryoma blurted in a high-pitched whisper in surprise. "What are you saying? What do you mean?"
"Like I said," she turned her head to her long time rival and met his surprised and astonished chestnut orbs. "I do not play tennis anymore. I've quitted it already," she said in all honesty and with emotionless face and turned her attention back to the teacher talking in front.
"What? But why? I do not understand. What made you do it?" Ryoma suddenly felt panicky and could not help himself in asking many questions at the same time.
"You're too good to quit, Yamada-chan," Ryoma said to her weakly, but he doubted if she had heard him, as she stood up and went in front of the class when the teacher called her to introduce herself to everyone.
He looked at her in a patronizing and desperate expression Even though they are rivals, he felt that it is a waste in losing a very remarkable tennis player in the world of tennis like Yamada, and most especially, he does not want to lose a rival not that he has not beaten yet.
See you next match…
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