The bell rang and class was finally over for the day. Everyone filed out, and as usual, Ryoma and his friends were headed for the tennis courts. Sayomi quietly trailed behind Ryoma as she always did, but today she decided it would be different.

"Ryoma Echizen!"

"...Who are you?"

"My name is Sayomi. Sayomi Shihobu. I'd like to play a match against you in tennis."

"Is she serious?" he muttered to himself in english.

"Don't you mutter 'is she serious' in english and not expect me to understand! I come from Canada and I'm fluent in english too!"

As english was their first language, Ryoma began speaking to her in english.

"Calm down."

"I want to play against you in tennis."

"Sayomi, do you even know who that is?!" Kome hissed.

"Of course I do."

"Are you sure you want to play against him?"

"Kome, I'm sure about this."

"So Ryoma, do you have the time to play a quick match with me?"
"Sure."

By the time they arrived at the tennis courts, Horio and Kome were frantic.

"You aren't seriously going to play a girl are you?!"

"You're not really planning for play Ryoma Echizen are you?!"

"Why shouldn't I?" Ryoma and Sayomi replied at the same time.

"She's a girl, Echizen!"

"He's Ryoma Echizen!"

"So?"

"So she's...well she's...she's a girl!"

"So he's Ryoma Echizen!"

Sayomi sighed and handed her coat to Kome. She put her hair into a ponytail and pinned her bangs to the side.

"One more thing, Ryoma."
"I'm listening."

"I want to play for a prize."

"What prize?"
"If I win, I get a date with you." Sayomi smirked.
"And if I win?"

"You win whatever you want."

"If I win, you have to cut your hair." Ryoma smiled wickedly.

Horio and Kome gasped. Everyone knew how much Sayomi loved her knee legnth hair and how long it took her to grow it out.

"Sayomi, are you sure about this?"

"Yeah, Shihobu, you're always talking about how you love your long hair and how you'd never cut it!"

Sayomi thought for a long moment.

"Deal."

Horio and Kome gasped again.

"But Shihobu, you know you're going to lose!"

"I have faith in you, Sayomi."

"You know as well as I do that she's going to lose!" he whispered.

"Well excuse mefor trying to be optomistic!"

Sayomi cleared her throat.

"You might be whispering, but I can still hear you!"

"Sorry." both said at once.

"Seriously, Shihobu, do you really want to do this?"

"Will you stop asking me if I'm sure I want to do this?! If I didn't want to do it, I wouldn't have asked!"

"Don't blame me when you have to cut off your hair..."

"Kome!"
"Sorry."

"Are you ready to start?"

"I'm ready."

As Ryoma casually strolled onto his side of the court, Sayomi timidly stepped onto hers. As she got into position, it was as if you could see her personality changing. The grip on her racket strengthening, the determination burning in her eyes, the desire to win igniting her soul. Ryoma spun his racket.

"Call it."
"Smooth."

"It's rough, I choose."
"Who's serving first?"
"You are."

Sayomi served a quick, but not very powerful serve, which was easily returned by Ryoma.

"More power." Ryoma said.

Sayomi returned the next ball with all her stregnth and hit it just past the line.

"Too much."

Sayomi continued returning his shots, using the tips he was giving her, and matching him point for point. Soon it was time to switch courts, and Ryoma's turn to serve. He served regularily, Sayomi again matching him point for point. Finally, he decided it was time for the twist serve. She tried her best to return it, the ball barely making it over the net. Ryoma had a perfect opportunity to lob it to the back of the court, so that Sayomi wouldn't be able to reach it. He hit the ball deep. Too deep. The ball went just past the line. Both walked up to the net and shook hands.

"I'm impressed, Sayomi-chan."

"Thank you. I did much better than I thought. I was afraid I'd have to cut my hair."

"Well, looks like you don't. But what's more impreesive is that you managed to do it with your right hand."

"How did you know that I'm-"

"So where am I taking you for our date?"

"How about we just hang out at one of our houses?"

"Sounds good to me. Whose house and when?"
"Yours maybe? And I guess tomorrow?"

"What time?"

"I guess we could walk home together and just walk over to your house."

Horio and Kome looked at each other, unable to understand what Ryoma and Sayomi were saying.

"What do you think they're talking about?"

"I don't know, I don't speak english!"

"Well neither do I!"

"So what do you think they're saying?"

"Good job? How should I know?!"

Ryoma and Sayomi glanced at their friends and laughed.

"We were talking about the match." Sayomi translated.

"Which was amazing, you managed to beat Echizen!"

"Shut up, Horio! You make it sound like she was bound to lose!"

"Well she kinda was!"

"I'm still standing right here!"