Am I Too Late?
[A/N]: I DO NOT OWN PRINCE OF TENNIS OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS. THIS IS ONLY PURE FANFICTION.
He took a sip of the can of grape juice he was holding as he stepped out of the airport
"It seems nothing has changed"
It's been five years since he left for America. It's currently spring in Japan; he looked up and held out his hand to catch a cherry petal he hasn't felt for five years. Yes, our so-called Prince of Tennis is now grown up, eighteen to be exact. It's not surprising that at this age he's already a pro tennis player and has won the Grandslam one year after another. On his back he carried the tennis bag with his name printed on it carrying his second can of Ponta and headed out to visit Seishun Academy.
He walked around the tennis courts, looking at the courts let the memories of five years ago flash in his head. He reminisces those days when he was called O-chibi and was constantly held by his Senpai Eiji and Senpai Momo. He remembered those days when he challenged their Captain Tezuka, that time when he played a match with Fuji in the rain. The time he beat Inui before he became a regular. Those times when he watched his calm Senpais like Kaidoh and Oishi run off after drinking Inui's special vegetable juice. Those moments when he handed his Senpai Kawamura his racquet and would then change his personality. He definitely wouldn't forget Arai-senpai and his three freshman comrades, Kachiro, Katsuo and Horio. And let's not forget, the so-called president of his fanclub, Osakada Tomoka and her shy little friend with extremely long hair… Ryuzaki Sakuno. Then all those moments flashed in his mind; her hair flowing in the breeze whenever she stood there watching him from outside the courts. And those moments when he passes by and catches her practicing by herself hitting and missing the ball… He remembers it all very clearly..
He let out a long sigh and reached in his pocket, he took out his hand and in it was a letter, the reason why he came here in the first place. It was a letter from Mr. Inoue, now the Editor-In-Chief of the monthly Pro-Tennis Magazine.
"Dear Mr. Echizen,
May I please first congratulate you with your recent win in the U.S. Open this year. Because of that, the International Committee of Professional Competition would like to invite you, along with other professional athletes of different sports to a grand press conference which will be held in Tokyo next month. The venue is at the brochure given along with this letter. We will be very glad if you could attend this press conference.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Mamoru Inoue,
Editor-In-Chief of Pro-Tennis Magazine, ICPC Committee Member"
"I didn't even know that his first name was Mamoru… Oh well, I came a week early. I wonder what I should do now," he mumbled in his thoughts. He decided to head back to his house in Tokyo to unpack. But as he walk around the Tennis courts he stopped to see three familiar figures inside the court.
"Ah!" he yelled in surprise
One of them, who was sitting at the referee's chair, heard the short scream. He looked at the where Ryoma was and his eyes immediately widened.
"Ah! Y-you're… Echizen! " the one with the semi-unibrow yelled
The other two at both sides of the court stopped and looked his way.
"It is! It is Echizen!" the one with the hair in the shape of a coconut husk spoke
"It really is him!" finally the tall one with a nearly shaved head similar to Oishi's yelled aloud.
They all ran towards him and took him a few moments to recall their names.
"Ryoma-kun, it's been so long since we've seen you!" Kachiro exclaimed
"Yeah, without you Seigaku became much quieter," Katsuo stated
"Was I the one making all those noise, I believe it was Momo-senpai and the others," Ryoma retorted
"Yeah ! Well speaking of the senpais, ever since they graduated, I Satoshi Horio, with seven years of Tennis experience, bravely took over the responsibility and became this team's Captain!" Horio said proudly bragging about his role as Seigakus new Captain.
"Are you guys sure this team is fine with him being the captain?" Ryoma stated in a monotonous way.
"What is that supposed to mean Echizen?" Horio yelled
"Echizen?" a voice from nowhere suddenly yelled Ryoma's name, "C-could it be? R-ryoma-sama! Ryoma-sama it is you!" the squealing voice drew closer as they saw a girl figure running towards them.
"O-Osakada? What are you doing here?" Horio screamed in surprise
"I came by to visit you guys! But when I saw who's here… Kyaaaaa~ Ryoma-sama long time no see~" Tomoka squealed!
"Oi! Don't act like that in front of me!" Horio ranted
"Why shouldn't I?" Tomoka stuck out her tongue and pointed it at Horio
As the two argued aimlessly for minutes, Ryoma realized that the gang was complete-ALMOST complete.
"Horio, Kachiro, Katsuo, Osakada…" Ryoma mumbled to himself
"Eh, Ryoma-kun what are you murmuring over there?" Kachiro asked in curiosity
" . . . and Ryuzaki? " Ryoma continued to mumble
" Ryuzaki? " Katsuo asked
"Yeah… it appears s-she's the only one who isn't here. W-where is she?" Ryoma asked with a hint of hesitation as he asked his question.
Tomoka and Horio's arguing suddenly paused. Their smiles changed to tiny frowns followed by a long sigh.
"What's the matter?" Ryoma asked
"It's just that…" Horio spoke
"Ryuzaki is…" Kachiro continued
"She's now..." followed by Katsuo that left Ryoma hanging
"She's what? Cut to the chase!" Ryoma demanded for an answer
"Ryoma-sama, she's no longer with us" Tomoka finished their sentence with a hint of sadness in her eyes along with the rest of them.
[A/N]: Hope the first chapter wasn't too boring for you ! (^_^) anyway this is just the beginning so please read and review (^_^) This is just my first fic so I'm a newbie at this! Gomenne!