I do not own Prince of Tennis, I would love to but I do not. The characters will be slightly OC and Ryoma would be an even better player anda good brother. This is my first prince of tennis fanfic, enjoy.
Chapter One
Ryota cleared his plates before saying thanks. "I will be going now, Nanako-chan" He said with a smile.
"Your brother hasn't even woken up yet" Nanako said as she chopped some onions and garlic, no doubt angry at Ryoma who was always sleeping in.
"Aniki school is near Nanako-chan, Mine is very far"
"You could have gone to Seigaku with your brother, why Rikkaidai?"Nanako asked gently, she was like that always having that kind air around that made you just want to confide in her.
"Rikkaidai has one of the best educational standards in the country" He waved her goodbye and left the house lost in his own thoughts. Rikkaidai hadn't been his first choice but his brother had subtly suggested it. First, he had felt sad that his brother didnt want them to attend the same school, but he had seen the reasoning there. Ryoma must have thought that a different environment will help him play tennis again but he didn't understand, he just didn't.
He boarded the train and soon arrived at Rikkaidai. The school was huge like Three times the size of his school in America. He fumbled his bag for the school map, he followed the direction to the classroom, Class 1B only to see few students scattered around, he glided into his seat wondering if he got the timing wrong.
"Hi" A pink haired girl smiled at him.
"Good morning "
"I am Hitoyi Erika, what's your name"
"Echizen Ryota"
The girl started to make other introductions about herself when Ryota decided to ask her,"Hitoyi-san, Why are the student so few?"
"Oh, they are at the clubs" She said in a dismissive tone, "Students must join a club and some clubs don't accept late comers so"
"Excuse me, Hitoyi-san"
Ryota sped off. He had to join the tennis group. After walking down the hallway, he remembered that he had forgotten his map.
He looked around, he had to ask the current person,this was the first day of school, many 2nd year student would easily send one on a merry go round journey. Finally a really tall but fit boy strolled past him, " Gooodmorning, Senpai" He greeted. He had read that Japan was really touchy with respect. "Please could you show me where the tennis courts are"
The boy groaned, "Another tennis fan, why do the tennis club always get it all? I am Kigami katusya, Vice Captain of the basketball club"
"Hai"
The boy led him to a nice building, two boys were outside chatting, "Yagyuu-kun, Niou-kun"He waved to them, "Your freshman, don't forget, boy, the basketball team is always ready to receive you"
Ryota breathed in deeply before bowing, "Goodmorning, Yagyuu-senpai, Niou-senpai, I am Echizen Ryota, I want to join the tennis team"
Niou looked at the boy, "First years are on the courts already swinging their rackets"
"Hai"
Another boy came rushing towards them, "Niou-Senpai, Yagyuu-senpai, Sanada-Senpai and Yukimura-senpai is coming"
"Are you sure Kirihara" They asked though they did not wait for any reply before rushing to the back of the building. He had not had time to make adequate research on this team. He went to the courts. There were twelve tennis courts, some students were playing practice matches. The place was noisy and rowdy, in a moment thought here was total silence. Two boys entered the courts, The one in front looked frail, almost feminine, his jacket thing off his shoulders, gentle smile was playing on his lips, the second was quite the opposite, he had a face that looked like it was carved from stone yet his body posture showed a subtle defiance to the frail one.
"Welcome to Rikkaidai tennis club, I am Yukimura Seiichi, Captain of this club,here you will be trained beyond your limits. We have just one motto. Win. Losing is not permitted, so recite it reflect on it repeat it to yourself till its the only thing you hear when playing.Have a nice day. Regulars come"
Ryota intercepted them before they joined up with other regulars. " Good morning bouchou, fukubouchou" He bowed slightly, "I am Echizen Ryota, a first year, I wish to join the tennis club as a manager"
Yukimura looked at the boy, black messy hair with green tilts and the green eyes, apart from his beauty he surely didn't possess any aura that would make him worthy of notice yet...
Sanada cut off his thinking by furiously saying, " This tennis club has no use for managers"
"Sure"
"Yukimura" Sanada turned to him surprised.
"The fan girl mangers were troublesome but this is a boy and the paper work is getting tedious, This way we can focus on tennis, you would do the rest, won't you, Ryota-kun"
"Hai, I would do my best "
"We will be in your care then, Renji-kun, please show Ryota-kun around the clubhouse, he is our new manager"
Immediately they left, Sanada rounded up on Yukimura, "Why did you do that?"
"There is something about him, I think he will be quite interesting "
"Is that why you sent Yanagi with him, to find out why he is interesting?"
Yukimura just smiled before going to talk to other regulars.
Yanagi watched the boy as his eyes took in every detail, the boy was very observant. "This is the club house" They entered the first floor, "It has showers, lockers and areas where the players change "
Ryota nodded as he took in the area, "There are in prime condition"
Yanagi nodded, " We have cleaners that take care of the club "
They climbed the stairs, Yanagi had to admit it felt weird opening the door to a non-regular."This second floor holds weight-training facilities and other stationary exercise equipment as well as several cages with tennis pitching machines"
He looked at the boy as he went around inspecting all, he knew his way round the room no doubt.
"I need to see the club records room" He told Yanagi.
"Sure, have you managed club before?"
Ryota looked at the boy indecisively, he hadn't doesn't mean he don't know how to , He was organized, good with paper work, smart, and knew quite a lot about coaching tennis, he knew he could do a nice job."No, but I can do it and I will do a good job"He said confidently
Yanagi nodded, "So do you know the basis of tennis?"
The boy looked so affronted, he had to stiffle a laugh, "Of course, it would be unsightly if the manager of a sports club don't know the ins and outs of that club"
He escorted him to an office filled with files and a stack of document on the table, "Forms of the freshmen, don't worry, before the week ends they will be cut down by half"
"Che" Ryota said before sitting down, "Thank you for showing me around, Yanagi-Senpai"
Yanagi nodded and left, he walked down to the courts where the regulars were still lounging around, Tommorrow, their practice will begin.
"Renji, have you finished showing our new manager around"
Kirihara jumped up, "A new manager, is she cute?"
Sanada restrained from slapping the exuberant boy, it will not be a good way to start at the year.
"It is a he, Kirihara-kun"
Mario jawned loudly,"Is there any reason we have a manager all of a sudden, bouchou?"
"No, What can you tell us about him, Yanagi"Yukihara asked with a smile
"He seemed organized and knew what he was doing"
"Is that all" Niou asked, "Dont tell me that's all you found out, eh Professor"His eyes were sparkling mischeviously
"His name is Echizen Ryota, that name sounds very familiar" He fished out a notebook and glanced through it before looking up at his teammates.
"You must all know theSamurai from Sakura Land"
"Yes"Kirihara gushed, "He was really famous, I watched his matches when I was really little but he had stopped playing then"
"Yes, He is probably one of the greatest Japanese tennis player in the world, he won dozens of tournament, was invited to the Grand Slam but he retired after the match and disappeared, His name was Echizen Nanijiroh" There was a moment of silence though Yanagi was disturbed by the smile on Yukimura face.
"Wow, Manager-san's father is a pro" Marui said.
" Not only that, Echizen Ryoma, or as he is called in America, the Prince of Tennis. He has won countless tournaments and competitions. He is described as a tennis prodigy, there was a rumour he was invited to US Open last year."
"Wow, How on earth do you know this things" Jackal asked
"I saw it on the news, thought it will be important"
"So Manager-sam is from a tennis family"
"Hai"
"Why is he not playing, Should we ask him?"
"Perhaps he broke his leg or injured his hands, Nevertheless it is not polite to ask"Yagyuu, ever the gentleman tried to say.
Yukimura just smiled before clapping his hands, "Alright everybody, Fifty laps" He knew that Ryota-kun would make his last year interesting.
