Bold- English

This will take place in High School. I mean, half the guys look like college students, so it's not that big of a deal. So everyone who's 14 will be 17, 13 will be 16, and 12 will be 15, roughly. And this starts right at Ryoma's first match with his team.

"Are you going to go now, sweetie?"

"Yes, Mom."

"Wish him luck for me, will you?"

A laugh. "Of course, Mom."

"Have fun!"

"I will!" The girl threw her purse onto her shoulder as she headed out the door, not bothering to lock it since her mother would be home. Her hands rummaged through her purse one last time to make sure that she had enough money for her fast drinking brother. Maybe he should drink some water instead. "I can't believe that little shit left without me."

"Achoo!" A young boy sneezed loudly, startling his nearby teammates.

"Shit, Echizen!" An elder boy recoiled from the noise, dramatically over reacting to startling sneeze. "You sick or something?"

"Momo! Quit teasing the baby!" A red head laughed at Echizen's glare towards his elder. He turned to smile at Echizen, only to find the said boy glaring at him now. "Eh!? Ochibi!?"

A light brown haired tensai merely smiled at his team members. "I don't think calling Echizen baby isn't going to make him stop glaring, Eiji."

The black-haired freshman kept glaring at his elders; he already started getting horrible flashbacks back in America. Echizen groaned when his teammates kept bickering to themselves over what his nickname was to be. He didn't think Fuji actually cared what his nickname was; that tensai just wanted to watch Echizen sit and writhe in pain over his childish nickname that Kikumaru would bestow upon him.

The freshman backed off from his now arguing team. Tezuka and Oishi should be with Coach Ryuzaki who was currently turning in the line up for today's event. Kaido was off readying himself for his upcoming matches while Kawamura and Inui were discussing some of Kawamura's playing tactics. Ryoma had no idea where the Freshman Trio and he didn't want to know where they were. Sometimes he could barely handle them.

Ryoma stopped by the park vending machine, silently pondering over the idea of partaking in a nice, cold Ponta. He licked his lips. This was his only vice, his only addiction other than tennis. The freshman watched a bead of condensation roll down the glass pane of the vending machine. His hand reached into his large pocket, fumbling around in empty fabric only for him to realize that he left his wallet resting on his bed. His shoulders dropped in disappointment.

"Need some money, cutie?"

Ryoma turned himself away from the delectable drinks and faced the voice. A black-haired girl stood before him, wearing jean shorts and a loose tank top. Black liner framed her gleeful eyes and a light pink was covering her smug lips. In her hands was her wallet, a cute Japanese cat change purse. His mood immediately worsened. "What are you doing here?"

Her mouth shaped themselves into a mocking shocked expression. "I'm here to watch you! Ugh, you're so rude! And how dare you leave me behind!"

"You're the one who didn't bother to wake up on time."

"You were supposed to wake me!" The girl spun on her heel, walking off to find a staff member or an assistant who was running the event. She knows that Ryoma wouldn't tell her where the courts he would be playing on were located. The boy made a grunt behind her and she gave an exasperated sigh. The girl turned her head. Ryoma was pointing at the vending machine, a small pout on his lips. She pointed a well-manicured finger at him. "You have to tell me where you're playing."

"Fine, Akina-ne."

She sent him a smug smile, handing over a few yen to the younger teen. "You know, I'm a bit surprised you told Mom and Dad not to come. I thought that you would want them to see you play."

"They'll see me play at the National Finals."

Akina let a laugh escape her, absolutely loving her brother's overwhelming confidence. After Ryoma had gathered his change and his drink, together they headed back to where his team was probably worrying about him. Her brother walked in silence, still upset he gave in to his elder sister, while she chatted on with her day at the airport.

"Oh my god, it was so cold. I was absolutely freezing in there," Akina waved her hand in an exaggerated manner. "Oh! I forgot to congratulate you on your position as a regular!"

"Thanks," Ryoma mumbled out, barely distinguishable, as he sipped on his Ponta. He just wanted his sister to shut her trap and not embarrass him in front of his team members. And speak of the devil. The entire pack was waiting for him by the benches, even the Freshman Trio. Shit. He thought he could introduce her slowly. Before he could open his mouth to warn her, the hyperactive red head opened his mouth.

"Ochibi!" Kikumaru waved his hands in the air, bringing all Seigaku attention towards himself and the Echizen pair. He squinted his eyes at the female teen walking with their baby regular. Kikumaru waved his friends over. Ryoma started to die inside. "Eh? Hey guys, who's that?"

"Holy shit!" Momoshiro eye's widened when he caught sight of the girl beside him. "He disappeared to pick up a girl? That little shit."

Ryoma groaned internally. Now his captain and his coach were watching him return with his sister.

"Echizen, who's that?" Fuji finally confronted the pair.

"Akina—"

The younger Echizen was shut up by his sister wrapping her arms around his smaller frame and gave him a squeeze. "He's my brother. I'm sure he's talked about me at some point. I want to thank you guys for taking care of him for me!"

"Sister?!" Momoshiro shouted out, alerting every Seigaku Tennis Club member in the approximate radius.

Fuji let out a small laugh, while the rest of his team freaked, aside from Tezuka and Ryuzaki. "I'm afraid he's never told us anything about you."

Akina paused, her eyes narrowing as she slowly turned to her brother. Ryoma pulled down his hat; his eyes never met hers. "You ass."

"There was never a good time."

She rolled her eyes. "You just don't like talking about me. Cause I'm better."

"Are not."

"Yes, I am." Akina turned back to his team. "So you guys are getting ready for a game?"

"Yes, Akina-chan." Kikumaru bumped himself into the conversation, excited for another Echizen.

Oishi's eyes widened at Kikumaru's open name calling. The Seigaku mother didn't know how Echizen's sister would react to the casualness of Kikumaru. "Eiji, you can't be so casual."

He was instead met with her laugh. She waved her hand. "It's fine. I prefer my first name anyways. I just want to know what position he's playing, then I'll get out of your guys' way."

"Yes, please leave," Ryoma mumbled. His side was met with an elbow of his sister's.

Kikumaru beamed. "No, it's fine. You can stay here!"

Ryoma glared at his senpai. He was being way too friendly. And he didn't want his sister around him when he was playing. Hell, he didn't even want her to be here today. The freshman was playing doubles today and who knows how long Akina would tease him if he lost this match.

"Ah," Oishi began. He gestured to Momoshiro who waved. "He's playing doubles with Momoshiro."

Akina's jaw dropped before pulling into a smile. She threw her head back and laughed while her brother wished to disappear from the world. The Seigaku team, freshmen and regulars alike, all began to feel an uneasiness rise in their stomachs when they heard her laugh. She stopped her laughing and gave them a smile.

"Seriously, what's he playing?"

"…Doubles," Oishi's face sunk. "Second Doubles."

Akina's laughing face immediately fell off when she took notice of the regulars' uneasy expressions. "Oh... You guys weren't joking."

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