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Misunderstanding

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Chapter One:

Appearance

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Summary: Sakuno's eyes opened wide in shock. Echizen Ryoma, her Ryoma was hugging her senpai, the same senpai that went on a date with Eiji. A whole lot of misunderstandings ending up with more complications… What is happening?

A/N: Konnichiwa, mina-san! Here's the first chapter. The idea came to me while thinking of how much Fuji loves and cares for his brother. I hope you like it. Please read and review.

Disclaimer: I do not own PoT or any of its characters.

Wake up, go to school, listen to the teachers, converse with students, ace quizzes, recite when asked to, go to tennis practice, go home, do some homework, sleep, then do it all over again... this is pretty much the routine I've gotten used to. It's the routine I have now mastered after years of performing it. It is the routine I continue to perform with this smile that cover up who I am.

This is how life is to me- a boring routine. Nothing and no one could ever keep me entertained, not even Echizen.

Upon opening the door to my house, I immediately spotted my younger brother's shoes. Sensing that something was wrong, I quietly removed my shoes and tiptoed to his room.

Why is he here? He only comes home during the end of the month.

I saw a beam of light coming out of his partially open door. I peeked inside and saw Yuuta sitting on the edge of his bed, looking down on the floor. Something was really odd. I was tempted to enter the room but decided not to when his phone rang. I watched as he answered the call.

"Hello?" He paused, listening to the person on the other end of the line.

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine," he answered, his voice cracking. I knew it then that he had been crying. "You shouldn't be worrying about me."

Who could he be talking to?

"I can handle myself. He's there with you, right? Go to him."

Who is he?

"You don't need to apologize. It wasn't your fault. I need to go. Bye." He ended the call. I watched him as he stood up and tossed the phone unto his bed.

Shouldn't be worrying… go to him… not your fault… the conversation was quickly making sense to me. Could it be?

I opened the door without knocking. I went in and stared at him. He was staring at his phone, not seeming to have noticed me despite of the noise the door made when I opened it. I searched his face, not knowing what exactly it was I was looking for. Then, I saw his eyes. I saw the sorrow and the pain.

It couldn't be… could it? I had to confirm it first.

"Yuuta?" I spoke softly.

He turned to me, surprised. "Aniki?"

"What happened?" I asked, hoping that he would prove me wrong.

Instead, he looked down on the floor and stayed silent.

"Did your girlfriend break up with you?" I pried, trying to confirm my theory.

He looked out the window. His eyes seemed to see something other than the backyard. "Something like that," he said, walking to the bathroom.

Taking advantage of the fact that he was taking a shower, I took his phone and searched for the name of the latest caller. Returning the phone on the bed, I left the room.

I memorized the name of the girl that would suffer for what she did to my brother. I allowed a smile different from the usual one I wear to form in my lips. At that time, I knew my eyes were burning with anger and I was smiling sadistically.

I will make her suffer.

-/-/-/-/-

"Ryoma-kun, wake up!" A girl said as she shook the tennis prodigy.

"Ugh...," he groaned as he sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"Get up and get ready. Nanako-san is preparing breakfast," she said as she walked out the room, closing the door behind her.

Ryoma stared at the door for a few minutes before standing up and taking a shower. After a few more minutes, he walked out of his room dressed for school. He had his tennis bag slung on his left shoulder and was heading down the stairs to the dining room.

"Ohayou gozaimasu, Ryoma-san!" Nanako greeted him as she served him his breakfast.

"Ohayou," he murmured as he took a seat. "Where is she?"

"She's dressing for school," Nanako answered before going to the kitchen.

"Itadakimasu," he murmured before eating. 'Going to school with her, huh?' he thought.

Enjoying his favorite Japanese style breakfast, Ryoma didn't notice the time pass by.

"Eh! Ryoma-kun, you're still here?" the same girl that woke Ryoma up exclaimed as she appeared by the door, wearing the Seishun High School uniform complete with the bag on one hand. "Don't you have your morning tennis practice?" she asked before realizing that he was no longer there.

Ryoma was already at the doorway, putting on his shoes, when the girl saw him. He slid the door open and spoke, "Ittekimasu."

"Eh? Wait for me!" the girl said, dashing to the doorway and sliding her shoes onto her feet. "Bye, Nanako-san!" she said, waving before leaving.

"Take care, both of you," Nanako said as she slid the door close.

-/-/-/-/-

"They say there's a second-year transferee. Do you think it's a male or female?" Eiji asked enthusiastically as he and Fuji walked toward the tennis courts for their morning tennis practice.

Fuji continued to walk silently as if he had not heard his friend's question. Maybe he really didn't.

"Fujiko?" Eiji spoke looking at his friend.

Fuji walked on, staring ahead.

"Fu-ji-ko?" Eiji spoke a little louder stepping in front of Fuji.

"Oh. Gomen, Eiji," Fuji apologized upon realizing what had happened. "What were you saying?"

"I asked you if you think the second-year transferee was male or female," Eiji said, walking again.

"Saa… I guess we'll have to wait to know for sure. But I'm guessing the transferee's a girl," Fuji answered, walking beside Eiji.

"Nya, I'm thinking he's a boy." Eiji said, disagreeing with his friend. Then, he smiled at the idea that popped out of nowhere. "Nya, Fujiko, wanna make a bet? If you lose you have to wear the female uniform to school for one whole day."

"Okay, then. If you lose, you'll have to ask her out on a date." Fuji said, keeping his smile in place.

"Eh?" Eiji said, blushing. He thought to himself, thinking of his chance of winning. Then, beaming brightly, he spoke, "Deal!"

"This would be interesting…," Fuji said, smiling.

"Y-you're smile is creepy," Eiji stuttered, trembling ever so slightly.

"Yeah, I know," Fuji responded as he entered the clubroom.

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Ryoma sighed. "Why are you following me?"

"What do you mean? I go to the same school as you now. Remember?" the girl walking behind Ryoma said as she went to his side. "Besides, how else am I gonna get there? I don't know the way."

"If you're going to follow me, walk faster."

"I'm matching my pace with yours."

Ryoma smirked. "Wanna race?"

The girl smiled deviously. "A race it is."

As soon as the girl said that, the two of them sped up and were running to school, disturbing the peaceful morning of the people they passed by.

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"Everyone assemble!" Ryuzaki-sensei said and every member of the club immediately gathered around her.

"Okay, as everyone knows the tournament is near. So, all of us has to work hard and practice. Understood?" the coach said, looking at the members.

"Hai!" they chorused.

"I believe that everyone is also well aware of the fact that Anna-sensei has resigned leaving the girls' tennis club in my care. Meaning to say, I won't always be here to help you unless someone else would be left in charge of them. So, I expect everyone to do their best and stay focused." Ryuzaki-sensei added.

"Hai!" another chorus was heard from them.

Running as fast as he can, Ryoma arrived at the place where everyone was assembling. Seconds after he did, came running a female. Both of them were panting hard. After a few more seconds, Ryoma straightened up and tugged on his cap.

"Mada mada dane." He smirked at the girl who still had her hands on her knees, panting.

"Cheater," the girl said as she composed herself and stood straight. 'Ooops…' she thought as she realized that the other members and the coach were eyeing the two of them. "Sorry for disturbing your practice," she said as she bowed.

"Oi, Echizen! Why didn't you wait for me?" Momoshiro's loud voice was heard, making them turn their attention to him. "I went by your house," he said as he approached Ryoma. He was late… again.

"Che," Ryoma muttered.

"Momoshiro-senpai and Echizen-san always come to school every day. So, why did Echizen-san come here with… a girl?" a freshman whispered to someone. Unfortunately, his whisper was loud enough for the regulars to hear.

"Saa… Echizen, won't you introduce us to your girlfriend?" Fuji smiled.

-o0o- End of Chapter –o0o-

A/N: Here ends the first chapter. Thank you so much for reading and please let me know what you think of it by leaving a review. Comments, suggestions and even flames are welcome. Anonymous and signed reviews are accepted.