This is cdgal, previous fallen-night. I know it's been a year long since my last update... and I'm sincerely sorry about it. I think you, readers, have waited enough, and I've better to update my chapter, before I'm forgotten. -.-;

Here I would like to thank my editors, Eternal.Angel, kaykay692 and shemeno. Without them, I won't know where I made mistakes on; and without their suggestion, this story will not be this perfect. You three are the best of the best!! Thank you!

Before the chapter, there's something I would like to announce: first of all, I've decided to switch back to Ryoma instead of Ryoko. I could see that not many people are fond of this transsexual change. Now since that there are some editors willing to take their time helping me editing; and I, will pay my debts to them by making the story more interesting with my best effort, hope you all like this version more.

Second of all, also the last of all, there may have an OOC-ness in some of characters. I'll try to see what I can do to prevent this from happening; even if there is, I try to lessen them as much as I can.

Ok, enough talking. Now let's start rolling


--Chapter 1--

"Ryoma? Are you awake yet?" a yell from the Echizen residence caused the person in bed to stir. "Isn't today the day?"

"I don't know, and I don't care!" came the muttered reply.

"What are you saying? You'd better get up soon; otherwise you'll be late!" called the mother, Rinko, who wouldn't approve of her son to be late for his first day of school. Instead of receiving a reply, she was met with a snore, and that was the final blow from her.


" ECHIZEN RYOMA!"

"Damn that old lady..." complaint Ryoma yawning. Yesterday had been a hectic day. His family had just moved in the previous day. Who knew that unpacking and exploring the new environment would make Echizen Ryoma dead tired? To add on more irritation, who would have thought that the distance of the two, United States and Japan, would be THAT far...

As Ryoma took another glance at his wrist, the thought of this morning's event made him groan. Thanks to that old lady's ploy, he realized that it wasn't 8.30am, but it was actually only 8. He gave another yawn before continued his way to class.


When he was passing through the campus, he heard a yell, "Echizen!" Wearing an uninterested expression, Ryoma stopped his pace before turning his head to see who was calling for him.

The caller, who was unaware of the meaning to that expression, thought this Echizen person would react a recognition when hearing upon the calling and expected a response such as 'It's you.' or 'You are...?'. However, instead he received a "Do I know you?"

"I'm Horio. Don't you remember the Horio from your class?" the consequence of underestimating Ryoma was to be greeted by a silent glare, then a cold shoulder. Finally Ryoma just turned and headed on his way.

"Wow... they weren't kidding when they said Seishun Gakuen has the best facilities ever! Hey, Echizen! Have you decided which club activities you're going to participate? I heard that Seigaku is famous for its Tennis Club, and that's why I'm joining there..." apparently the duo was walking past the tennis court. However Ryoma, being a cocky brat, wasn't listening to anything that Horio was saying.

Ryoma was glad that he and Horio didn't walk the same path to school. He didn't want to die of boredom; nor did he want to be deaf in the beginning of school term. He preferred thinking than to listening to an annoying guy, which was exactly what the cat-eyed boy was doing now. Unfortunately, it didn't last very long, when a shout reached his ears. It turned out that a group of high school students were swinging a racket, which Ryoma could tell didn't belong to them; but instead belonged to a crying girl.


"Give it back." Ryoma said defiantly. The older boys turned, shocked to see a little kid glaring at them.

"Huh? What did you say?" One of the boys glared at Ryoma in warning; but the latter continued to challenge them.

"I said 'Give it back'."

"Who do you think you are, kid?" the head of the gang, smiled mockingly. It was obvious that they were about to pick a fight, or was it Ryoma, who initiated it? It was then one of the taller boys noticed what the others had not noticed of and there came a whisper amongst the group.

"You're from Seigaku?"

"That's none of your business."

The leader of the group laughed. 'This kid has guts. Even if he's a little kid, he still wouldn't back down. How interesting!', the leader thought.

"I'm Wataru Suzuki from Aoyama High. Yoroshiku."

Ryoma reached out to the awaited hand. Rather than introducing himself, he demanded for the racket. The leader, Wataru, seemed to notice that and was amused by the kid in front of him.

"I like you!" Wataru gave a laugh before continuing. "How about a match? Just you and me." he suggested before he turned serious.

Ryoma, normally wouldn't take on the bet but he couldn't disappoint the child either for she had a desperate look on her face. Without a choice, he took the challenge.


"Game, Wataru. 3 games to love." Wataru Suzuki wasn't satisfied even though he was leading the game. He knew the kid, who was now servicing their fourth game, wasn't putting all of his strength into the game. Though what he didn't know was that it had been ages for Ryoma had played tennis and therefore the score, for him, was reasonable.

"Onii-san!"

A cry zapped Ryoma into reality. Turning to the source, he understood what had happened there. That Wataru guy somehow, without his noticing, signaled his friends to take the child as a threat in order to make him play seriously. Ryoma sighed at being forced to play seriously. As if the real Echizen Ryoma had awakened, the game had finished in a blink of an eye and that had been witnessed by a group of Seishun students not far from the free tennis court.

--End of Chapter 1--


Glossary:
Seigaku: short for Seishun Gakuen

Yoroshiku: nice meeting you

Onii-san: big brother


Final edited: 13th August

Next on "A Strength Called Friends": Ryoma finally gets to meet the Regulars. And what's with the match with him and Buchou, Tezuka? Who will win the match? Please stay tune on Chapter 2