Disclaimer: I obviously do not own Prince of Tennis.

Author's Note: This is my first solo fanfiction that didn't completely suck (well in my opinion). Please feel free to leave creative criticism of what you think. Much appreciated. Enjoy~

False Happiness

Prologue: Suppressing Anger

It wasn't like I could possibly be jealous of her, I mean, she was my best friend. She was everything to me. I don't know…maybe I wasn't everything to her. It was just strange in that way which everything turns out. But as I was sitting in class, at the front of the classroom, I could hear her- the innocent giggles floating among the students- which oddly caused me to cringe and my fingers that unconsciously clenched into fists. She didn't even care that she had his attention. Him. The utmost popular one- the one who completely and perfectly represented Seishun Gakuen.

He was just…different. With a fake smile plastered on his face that with came forced happiness, came every girls' heart.

Maybe even mine.

I coughed.

But that's irrelevant…

I couldn't help but despise today since the teacher of our science class simply chose this day to have the patience to deal with the swooning girls hovering over the only Fuji Syuusuke and the love-struck boys flowering over my friend, Shigeta Haruka.

They were perfect for each other, I'll give them that. They were just…gorgeous- with their personalities pretending to "love life" and their consistent carefree attitudes. They honestly did deserve all the overwhelming attention they received maybe too generously.

It was even stranger, considering the fact that neither one of them denied the attention. They welcomed it with open arms, depending fully on the attention to keep up the mask of flawlessness.

They were everything anyone would want to be. Prodigies. Geniuses. Nothing short of anyone's expectations.

The bell rang, indicating the end of class. I smiled weakly, reminding myself briefly of the quiz tomorrow and the lecture earlier that I was, unfortunately, not paying attention to.

"Hey Haru-chan!" I shouted slightly, waving to attract her attention. She glanced at me, rotating her body from her conversation and waved back.

I saw her eyes flicker back to the tall figure standing beside her awkwardly.

"Ahh…hello Fuji-san," I smiled politely, "I'll leave first." I headed out of the room, giving them the alone time they wanted. Well, giving Haru the alone time she wanted.

I dragged my feet through the overcrowded hallways, attempting to avoid anyone who would abruptly appear in front of my path home.

It wasn't her fault. She didn't do it on purpose, right? We usually walked home together since we live in the same neighborhood, but I couldn't blame her. After all, who wouldn't want to spend their afternoon socializing with Seigaku's one and only tennis tensai?

I smirked, refusing to answer my own unspoken question. The overwhelming feeling of loneliness overtook my body, and I gripped my stomach, to keep my balance and ease the subtle pain.

I halted at the bus stop, standing under the green maple tree that produced spotted shadows across the cool cement.

We walk home together, only because it gives us time to catch up with one another, despite the fact that we share the same classes. Well, almost all the same classes. I'm taking physical education, she's taking an art class, but it's not too much to catch up on. We just like…talking.

She likes the attention, I like listening. We balance each other out. It's as simple as that.

The bus stopped in front of me with the tires squeaking slightly as it abruptly froze on the concrete. I hopped up the three short stairs and placed myself lazily into a seat near the front.

I felt the bus jerk soon followed by the sound of the doors flying open. An old man holding a cane entered the bus slowly and stood near the entrance. I glanced around the bus, realizing there were no empty seats remaining, I stood up, and moved towards the end of the bus. None of the others were going to stand up, I could tell. They were selfish.

Okay, that was shallow, but what else could I think? I mean, they were those exact people who pretend to be engaged in an 'interesting' conversation, appearing completely oblivious to anything happening within a ten-foot radius.

Just as I reached forward to grab the metal pole, the bus staggered forward, consequently leading to my misplaced footing.

In other words, I fell. Not far, and not hard. Just enough so that my back slammed against the rear of the bus and my head made a forced contact against the solid glass window.

"Itai," I mumbled, still leaning against the wall. I opened my eyes and noticed that surprisingly, no one was staring at me. How strange? I'm not important enough to care about, huh? Maybe I was right about the ten-foot radius hypothesis. I shrugged off the thought and stepped off the bus swiftly determined to escape from the evil machine that just so recently caused me pain.

Smack.

"Oww," I said loudly this time since the number of bystanders decreased from about twenty to two, and I wouldn't be labeled as some "crazy Japanese girl".

"Sorry," I muttered indifferently, frustrated that this was my second collision in the last three minutes.

I looked up. He was…well…okay looking I guess. Better than average, but nothing special. Purple-gray hair and a strong build, nothing too uncommon around the Japan area.

"Don't you dare touch me you filthy peasant!" Okay, he was nice until he opened his mouth. I just stood there, unaware of what to say. What was I supposed to say? 'Yeah, sure, okay whatever you say'?

HA! As if. I frowned. Something was seriously wrong with him. That is no way to say 'are you all right?' or 'it's okay' in any language whatsoever.

"Hey," I started, my mood flaring, "you know how I said sorry a few moments ago? Yeah, it is officially invalid as of," I paused for effect, "now."

He stood there, his mouth hanging wide open. Wait, he wasn't someone important, right? Not a celebrity or famous movie star?

"No one talks to Ore-sama like that!" he exclaimed with his arms crossed and his eyes focusing onto my own.

Okay…awkward. So, there's a guy standing in the middle of the sidewalk with sharp, piercing eyes focusing on yes, me.

Yeah, not crazy at all. I rolled my eyes, and did the most sensible thing I could think of on the spot. I stuck my tongue out. At him.

I honestly cannot think of a single thing I did wrong to deserve this kind of afternoon. I mean, I've been a good, supportive person. What else does the world want from me? A perfectly wrapped present with pure gold ribbon? Well, hopefully not.

"You're not even worthy of my time," he declared, apathetically.

Not worth his time? He's not worth my time! Stupid people acting all innocent with their stupid little brains thinking absolutely nothing!

Oh well, I didn't need jerks like him in my life. I turned around and walked towards my street. Approximately two blocks away, a total of five minutes.

I didn't even look back. Yes, he is that horrible of a person.

And to think, all this could have been avoided if Haru had walked home with me instead of deciding to flirt with mister I'm-so-popular. She was so going to pay.

I walked up my driveway, currently empty of cars, unlocked the dead bolt and pushed the door open.

"Tadaima," I stated automatically, slipping off my shoes and throwing my backpack into the corner of the living room.

"Nee-san!" my younger sister, Kiku shouted while stumbling out of the dark hallway. She ran into my arms and I hugged her, pressing her cheeks against my own.

"Where's Nii-san?" I asked suspiciously. She simply pointed towards the door, indicating that he wasn't home.

That irresponsible, reckless, immature, careless so-called-older-brother. He is going to be long past dead as soon as I get my hands on him.

I swept Kiku into my arms and hastily put my shoes on while swinging the door open widely.

Who would even dare leave their four-year-old baby sister home alone? Didn't he know the consequences? Of course he did- he just didn't care. Typical high school behavior.

And lucky for me, I knew exactly where he was. I walked swiftly up the stairs to the park and thrown into shock as the tall fluorescent lights blinded me for a few seconds.

I saw Katsuro standing in the corner of the street tennis courts talking to some of his 'friends'. Well I assumed they were his friends, considering that he's too much of a jerk to have any real friends.

That was mean, I'll admit it. But it's also mean to leave your defenseless baby sister at home-alone.

I smirked evilly. Revenge was all mine.

I stalked over to where he was standing and tapped him lightly on the shoulder. He turned around mechanically and frowned. I just stood there with my arms crossed and my foot tapping lightly on the solid pavement.

I raised my eyebrow hinting that his excuse was taking too long and patience was not included in my vocabulary.

His eyes shifted from top to bottom, meaning that he was thinking. I just stood there, currently occupied with the idea that he could think if he wanted to.

"C'mon Miho-chan," he said playfully, ruffling my hair in the process, "I have a life, you know."

I glared at him, frowning distinctively. He was such a jerk. Why did I even bother putting up with this? It's just a waste of time. And I like my time packaged and safely stored away for later.

"Play a game with me," he coaxed.

I was…well shocked. First, he's here saying that he 'has a life,' implying that he wants nothing to do with me, and now he wants to play me. Confused? Maybe. Try perplexed, bewildered, baffled, yeah, all of those work.

"It's just tennis," and I couldn't do anything except nod slightly and grab the racquet he was holding out to me.

So what did you think? Good? Bad? Tell me what you think please!