Hello! This is my first fanfic :) Please R&R so that I can improve. Thanks!

Ryoma sat on the bench, wondering how to announce the terrible news to his senpais. They were going to be surprised, if not shocked! He could almost see their faces, jaws wide open and their eyes as big as those of a goldfish. He let out a sigh. This was going to be a really difficult day.

"Okay everyone, gather up."

Ryuzaki-sensei has just entered the court along with Tezuka. All the members of the tennis club gathered up quickly, not wanting to neither see the anger of the woman nor run laps because of their captain. Though kind and friendly, she was really strict when it came to discipline and training.

All the members of the tennis club she was really strict when it came to discipline and training.

"I have some news to tell you. We are going …"

She was interrupted by the sound of the gates being opened again. The creaking sound made the coach think that it was high time to do something about that, but now was not appropriate. She had to present the new boy who had just entered on the court to the other members of her club.

"You're late!"

"Gomen, Sumire-chan but I had… errr… some sort of accident. I got lost."

"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?!"

But the boy had already walked past her and was now walking towards the youngest of their regulars. What would she do about him? She sighed. During her whole career, she had had to deal with that family of idiots and she guessed, it was not to be over soon.

"Hey midget! Funny to see you here. Didn't they tell you that you were too short to join this club?"

Calm down, Ryoma. Calm down. You are not to lose you temper because of him. Ryoma simply lowered his cap and mentally tried to ignore the presence of what represented the devil himself.

"Yes, I was saying. We are going to have a new member as from today. Everyone, I would like to present you to Echizen Ryoma."

"Hi everyone! Please take care of me."

Silence.

Their reactions were just as Ryoma had expected. Everyone had that stupid expression of shock on their faces. What was even more embarrassing, instead of welcoming the newcomer, they were all watching Ryoma, as if waiting for some explanations but of course didn't get any.

Practice started and everyone could see that the new guy didn't only have the same name as the freshman but was as talented as him when it came to tennis. Due to Inui's special menu, they didn't have a single minute to talk but for being a newbie, he sure didn't get caught into Inui's trap; having to drink the Inui juice if ever a mistake was committed. He had been able to run all those laps and had finished at the same time of the regulars and had also been able to return every ball that had been thrown to him.

Inui was always looking for guinea pigs to test his new concoctions and it wasn't that the tennis club lacked any. He always found someone… He had thought that the new guy was interesting and would have made a nice victim but again, he was too cunning for that. He knew exactly what was expected of him and what would happen if he didn't live up to it.

Everyone went back to the changing rooms, relieved that practice was finally over and they could now have some spare time for themselves. And also, they could get their freshman to spill up the beans about the newcomer. They had seemed to know each other.

"O-chibi, do you know the new member? Related to him? Inui, do you know anything?" Eiji asked.

They had all finished changing and were now sitting a bit to rest. Ryoma made as if he didn't hear anything and continued to play with the strings of his racquet.

"This is interesting. It doesn't reside in my data. This could prove to be real precious information." Inui was looking at Ryoma, waiting for some reply.

Tezuka still hadn't come back. He had been asked to stay behind by Ryuzaki-sensei and so had the newcomer. He should know something, given that he was the captain. As for Fuji, no one would really say what he was thinking for that ever-lasting smile on his face didn't really tell much about him. Kaidoh was leaning against the wall, 'Fssshhing' as always. He had played against the new guy today and had lost against him. He acknowledged him as an Echizen but still wanted to know who he was really. As for Oishi and Kawamura, they were throwing worried looks at everyone.

Momo couldn't take it anymore.

"Echizen! Come on, tell us who he is. And don't you say you don't know him. You have the same name and you even look alike!"

True enough, the two Echizen Ryoma's resembled a lot. Those same golden eyes, that same dark hair, that same arrogance surrounding them and yes, that same talent for tennis. The only difference was the difference in height. The older Ryoma who was in his third year of junior high at Seigaku was about the same height as Tezuka and the freshman was well… really… really… short. In brief, it could be said that he was an older version of Ryoma.

"Never seen him."

"Now now, don't be such a brat, tell us!"

"Midget! Don't you dare go without me. I still don't know the way home."

Ryoma's nightmare had just joined the group along with Tezuka. He guessed he wouldn't be able to hide anything now that the big mouth in person will tell everyone. But why didn't I want them to know? I guess I didn't want to be linked with that guy's stupidity…

"Then you shouldn't come with me. With some luck, you'll get lost and I'll never see you face again."

"What did you say, midget? Little Dwarf!"

He was now pulling the little boy's cheek under the amazed eyes of the others.

"A dwarf is already little, baka! Leave me alone!"

"Ano… Echizen-san, but could you tell us how you are related to Echizen?"

Oishi, the mother hen of the club couldn't really allow two members to fight with each others, not that anyone would be hurt in this case. He only wanted to know the truth really soon. He had imagined the worst. Maybe he was the son of the mistress of Ryoma's father or he was someone who wanted to be known as The Echizen Ryoma or …

"Oh! The little dwarf didn't tell you? Should have known it!" he said, letting go of Ryoma to turn to the others. "I'm his older brother."

"Ehhhhhhhhh! Older brother?! O-chibi you had an older brother?!"

"Echizen, why didn't you tell us anything?"

"Fsshhh…"

"Hmmmm… maybe you could tell us about Echizen when he was younger. This would be real good data."

"You can come at my sushi shop at any time. You'll get free sushi!"

"Are you the son of Echizen's father's mistress?"

"Eh?! Erm no. We share the same father and mother, though the midget doesn't want to accept it."

Fuji turned to Tezuka.

"Did you know about it?"

"Yes, Ryuzaki told me before practice."

It was already late enough, so everyone went back home, listening to what Ryo-nii had to tell about his younger brother and the latter hiding his face under his cap. He was already part of the group now and all Ryoma could do was bear with his company. It wasn't that he hated his older brother but he hated his stupidity and the fact that he always was teasing him.

When they reached home, they were greeted by the sound of balls being hit on the court. Only two persons who could play tennis could be home at that time and the two boys rushed to the court knowing already knowing what scene they were about to see; that of a girl with really long dark hair and golden eyes playing Echizen Nanjirou.