Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis and this is a fan made story. =P
His cousin had left him. His cousin was the only protection he had had, and now, she was gone. Ryoma scratched the back of his ear with his racket restlessly, stepping from side to side inside the locker room, only part way paying attention to what Momo sempai was caring on about. It was getting late, only he and Momoshiro remained. The sempai was going on and on about Saint Rudolph's and some other schools to look out for. The 7th grader didn't really care because he was just going to whoop their ass anyway- regardless of their schools reputation. Suddenly Momo paused waving his arms around frantically, and it was then that Echizen realized that he was supposed to answer some sort of question.
"I SAID WHY AREN'T YOU GETTING CHANGED!"
"Che" Ryoma paused setting his racket down and readjusting his cap, going back to his own inner musings while Momo continued with his long winded speech. The 7th grader sat down on the bench next to the lockers than busied himself with putting his racket back into its bag, pretending to struggle with the zipper for awhile. Muttering beneath his breath and nodding to Momo sempai's exaggerated charades appropriately. Anything to buy time. But he could only take so much time putting away his racket. The prince slowly took off his shoes first, purposefully untying the strings and loosening them all the way up before his foot fell out of its rubber casing. Shoes were always a safe option to start with. Only they never bought enough time. Never. Pausing for a moment to figure out what should come next, he slowly peeled off his socks. Socks were safe as well. There in front of him were bare sweaty feet. Perfect. He opened up his bag once more pulling out some foot powder then began rubbing his feet all over. The perfect time waster. But once again Momo sempai was being too perceptive for his own good.
"Come on Ryoma we don't have all day. I'm paying for your burgers! I think your feet can go without powder just this on time." by now Momo was already in his after school clothes, "besides we didn't even run that many laps today and you were slacking off anyway- running so slowly when we all know you can run faster."
Ryoma exhaled loudly, trying not to sound nervous, in truth it was killing him to run even as fast as he had. The special juice wasn't helping his stomach out either. He was just so tired. He didn't think he'd gotten any sleep at all the night before. "Madda madda dane" he replied trying to make himself appear alert and succeeding.
"Ugh, fine then, whatever. I'm going to go get a soda from the vending machine. Meet you there." Momo smiled then leaped over quickly grabbing Ryomas hat and making a mad dash for it. "I know you'll change faster now!" He shouted on his way out, nearly tripping over his own two feet as the door swung shut behind him.
Perfect. No one was there. Ryoma quickly grabbed his clothes then slipped into the restroom stall. One couldn't be too cautious after all. First, a pair of jeans. He missed being able to wear shorts, especially in the hot summer weather, but he had to do what he had to do. The pants were baggy and loose. Dad definitely did not know how to shop for clothes. He hadn't had to wear jeans since last winter, while he was in America. He needed new clothes- he missed his cousin already. Once he was in his jeans he grabbed a plain white t-shirt and an old coat hanging it up on the stall hook. He then practically threw off his Sagaku Regulars jacket and undershirt and reveled in the cool air. He was always so hot and stuffy- it felt nice being able to cool down a bit. He could feel the sweat all over his body making him sticky and somehow colder. The open air was enough to make him happy, if only for awhile. A small odder drifted towards his nose causing the teen to hold his breath a bit as he reached down into his bag for a stick of deodorant. Cheap deodorant. He had asked his father for more money to buy something decent but all he had was a hundred yen. So he made do scraping money up from under couch cushions and laundry bins. It didn't even smell that good, but it was better than musty sweat he supposed. He quickly slipped on the white t-shirt followed by a black hoody frowning slightly as he felt himself baking once more. It couldn't be helped he supposed, he couldn't let them know. By the time he stepped out of the stall he looked like a want to be gangster because nothing quite fit and everything on his body was covered from head to toe. He could be hiding a knife anywhere on him. He laughed a bit to himself at the thought. Sometimes he wished he had the courage to stab someone. But he was cowardly, weak, and stupid. It was so much easier to run.
And then somehow he found himself in front of the vending machines with a rather tall Momo sempai wrapped around his shoulders and grinning. His hat snuggly fitting atop his head once more. The moron was now chatting amusedly about a rumor he had heard. Some person or other was dating some other person or other. He could care less. They were about to walk on when Momo stopped abruptly turning to face the younger boy,"Hey we're not in that big of a hurry, you should grab yourself a Ponta it's so hot outside today." the teen paused leaving ample time for Ryoma to interrupt him.
"No I'm fine."
"Really" the elder asked quizzically, "It must be like a hundred degrees under that jacket. Take it off I'll carry it for you." the teen smiled hitting the younger boy on the shoulder playfully, not noticing the way Ryoma flinched at the contact.
"No it's fine" the boy grit out trying his best not to yell and scream at his sempai for asking too many damn questions. It's not like he didn't want a soda he just didn't have the money. His dad wasn't exactly great at remembering to give him money, and ever since his cousin left there was never any food in the house to pack for lunch and never any money in his wallet either. He just wanted to get to the burger-joint Momo sempai was paying for and fill his gut. He had skipped lunch. Just like he had the day before. It was probably going to become a regular thing he supposed. Unless he stole from his dads wallet, but, he shuddered at the thought. No never. He missed his cousin already.
And somehow Ryoma was on the back of Momo's bike hanging on for dear life as his crazy sempai whizzed down the road toward their favorite fast food joint. Ryoma was already thinking of his order, 5 cheeseburgers, a large Ponta, 2 orders of large fries, and an ice-cream. His tongue drooled at the thought of it. All he had had for breakfast was a bit of left over rice. He was starving. He thought back to his cousin's bento lunches. He never really thanked her enough for that. He wished he had thanked her more for taking the time to cook for him. His cousin had left to study at an American University. He wasn't expecting her to leave until fall but the school wanted her to attend during summer for some sort of orientation for foreigners or whatnot. She wasn't in their home that long. Not nearly long enough. He knew is cousin was supposed to be staying at his house in Japan temporarily, but not that temporarily. Ryoma had only lived in Japan since spring when the school year started. He was mentally kicking himself, why did she have to go? Was god mad at him? No, he calmed down trying to think rationally, she just didn't know. She didn't know what he had to go through in America, and or how it would start all over again when she left. Well it already had.
And then, somehow, they were there. Ryoma practically flew off the bike and banged open the door to the restaurant. Food. He had almost forgotten what true hunger felt like. Almost. The smell of grease and sugar greeted his nostrils leaving him in near tears. 'Hurry up Momo' he mentally chided not caring that his sempai had to lock up his bike outside first. All he cared about was getting his burgers. Hopefully he could start a war with momo over who could eat the most again. Then if he played his cards right he could sneak a few hamburgers into his bag and-
"Ochibi, it's time to order what do you want?"
Yes he needed to start a war, "I'll have 2 cheeseburgers" Ryoma started watching the employee type in the numbers somewhat happily.
"And I'll have 3"
"Make that 4"
"What I can't do two at once," the female worker began only to be interrupted by Momo-
"5 and a large fries"
"6 and 2 large fries and a Ponta"
"We don't have Ponta he-" The girl spoke up only to be interrupted.
"Coke then."
"Make my 6 burgers quarter pounders instead and add a large coke and an apple pie" Momoshiro cut in.
"Mine as well only 2 apple pies."
"Add an ice-cream cone to my order"
"Add a double fudge Sunday, Large" Ryoma glared.
"Make my cone large chocolate dipped!"
By now the girl looked ready to faint as she had manned two cash registers and couldn't keep up with the requests, "So uh that's 6 quarter pounders, 2 large fries, a large coke, 2 apple pies and a large fudge cone for him, and the same for you only a large fudge Sunday?"
"Right"
"Right"
The girl let out a sigh of relief as Momo handed over some bills and the receipts began to be printed up, "that's a lot of food" the girl remarked handing over the receipts after having drawn circles around the order numbers.
"We work hard" Echizen spoke up.
"What are you talking about you didn't even run today."
"But I had to-" the pair began to argue gathering a fairly large crowd of spectators until their order numbers came through.
"Arogato!" Momo spoke up grabbing two trays off the counter as a lady called "Numbers 442 and 443" for the third or fourth time; the pair having not heard thanks to their constant bickering. Ryoma snatched his tray out of his sempais hands eagerly nearly forgetting to set it down before he tore into his first burger. He had succeeded in his mission. He most likely had enough food for dinner, breakfast, and possibly lunch tomorrow. If he played his cards right.
Yuck, he paused, American food for breakfast. And not only that but old stale hamburgers for breakfast. He frowned, food was food. His mom always cooked American food and his cousin too. No he couldn't think about that, he bit a huge chunk out of his quarter pounder in thought, that was all over.
The prince wanted to laugh as he watched Momo slowly turn green before rushing off toward the restrooms. He had over eaten again. Ryoma stuffed his leftovers into a paper bag than placed it securely in the front pocket of his backpack while Momo was gone. He wondered idly if he would get food sickness if he ate it later, but shook such thoughts out of his head. Food was food. Surely the microwave would kill all of the germs anyway. Momo was taking a long time in the bathroom so Echizen decided it'd be best to read up on his doubles play. He pulled out Doubles for Beginners and skimmed through the next chapter uninterestedly. His mind was in another place entirely at the moment. He couldn't think about tennis at all lately, he was too worried about other things. He sat their lazily in his own thoughts for what must have been a half hour before Momo returned looking just a bit better than before.
"So uh, want me to give you a ride home," Momo asked embarrassedly, "Did you seriously eat all that food? HOW!"
"Hmm" Echizen looked up from his book before placing it back inside his tennis case, "I have an errand I need to run and I threw a couple cheeseburgers away" the teenager replied offhandedly.
"Oh, then why order so much?"
"Cuz you ordered so much."
"That's just stupid."
"You started it."
"No, no more fighting" Momo paused, "Well I can give you a ride to wherever your going if you want. Where too?"
"Oh uh" Ryoma paused not having expected Momo to offer him a ride; he was already lying through his teeth, what was one more lie. But then he'd fell bad making Momo peddle for no reason.
"The tennis shop."
"Oh what for?" Momo questioned offhandedly.
"Oh" Echizen paused trying to think he really didn't need anything, and he didn't have any money anyway, "Dad needs some more grip tape."
"Oh I see" Momo sempai grinned, "The old man plays tennis too does he?"
"Yeah, he's pretty good" Echizen replied not liking Momo's insistence on asking so many questions.
"Oh really, may I should play him somet-"
"No, he's busy"
"Oh ok" Momo paused, "Well to the shop we go Echizen"
"Arigato" Ryoma replied playing with his cap and picking up his bags, mentally preparing himself for another horrifying bike ride. It was too bad he had to lie to Momo, but there was nothing else he could do. He had already said he had errands and to not have a place to go would look to suspicious. He couldn't exactly tell Momo, 'oh I just don't like being at home'. That would put him under a microscope. He could hide this. He had too.
Echizen readjusted himself standing on the pegs on Momo's bike; holding on tightly as the crazy lunatic jumped another curb. "Can you uh slow down maybe just a bi-"
"The faster I go down the hill, the less energy I waste up the hill" Momo laughed pushing his bike even faster, causing Ryoma to cringe, although no one could see it.
After a nauseating ride Ryoma let go standing outside his favorite shop, "Um thanks Momo sempai" he grinned, "You can uh leave now"
"But Echizen Kun, what if there's a bully in there or something."
Ryoma kicked himself mentally once more, why was Momo so damn annoying? Why couldn't he just let things be? Why was he always trying to pry into his life! By now anger was rolling off of the small boy in waves, but no, he couldn't let anyone see it. He readjusted his cap to cover his eyes sulking slightly. What was he supposed to do? He didn't have any money. What to do? Then a thought struck him. Yeah, he could do that.
"Hey Momo just wait outside for a bit, so you don't have to lock up your bike."
"Oh ok, but I'm coming in if you take too long."
"Ok" Ryoma paused, could he really do it? What if he was caught? What would- no he couldn't think about it. Besides if he was caught it wouldn't be the end of the world. That would just be three free meals right?
He stepped into the shop sighing as the bell dinged and the owner greeted him a little bit too enthusiastically. He already felt guilty and he hadn't even done it yet. He walked toward the back of the shop peering around nervously, good no one was there. There were no cameras in this shop, he knew that. Just a mirror. And from this angle. Yes, he could do this. He shakingly grabbed the small thing of tape and stuffed it under his hoodie, then walked out stiffly, trying not to act guilty.
"Nothing you like Echizen?" the shop keeper asked cheerfully.
"Uh no, I forgot my wallet, sorry." He spoke hoping his nervousness didn't show through, another lie, he was becoming good at that.
"Oh well, come again." the man murmured as Ryoma quickly left. He couldn't believe he had just done that. He couldn't believe he hadn't been caught. He stepped onto Momo's pegs urging him to get a move on, making Momo sempai laugh.
"Thought you didn't like speed, hey where's your bag?"
"Oh I just put it in my pocket see?" Ryoma quickly and discreetly showed Momo the tape before grabbing momo's shoulders once more.
"In a hurry ay?"
"You're going to go fast anyway to might as well get used to it", he paused, "Plus uh dad called and I have chores to do and stuff," Ryoma smirked knowing that Momo believed him, staring at the pavement as the bike rolled away quickly. He could hide everything, it was all good. He heard someone shouting after him, someone familiar as the bike quickly accelerated back down the hill. He turned around slightly frightened, had someone seen? And there was Tezuka shouting and chasing after him before quickly giving up. Momo must have been deaf, but then again Momo didn't have the adrenalin rush Echizen had from stealing something. The feeling of nausea, his heart pounding through his head, his fingers shaky and accumulating sweat. And Tezuka had seen, he was sure of it. Shit, what had he done this time. This was just fucking great. Even from this distance he could tell that Tezuka was pissed. He was going to be off the team for sure, and for what? Some tape? He stopped thinking for a bit, no it wasn't that bad, so what if he was kicked off the team. It would spare him the pain of running and drinking Inui's concoctions every morning right? He could always play street tennis. Who was he kidding? The whole school would know he was a thief, and his father would be called and his father- he frowned gripping Momo tighter. His captain might be calling Nanjaro at this very second. He was screwed. He dreaded returning home more than ever.
Momo had dropped him off in front of his house and left for his own, only the 7th grader wasn't going to go home. He walked around for awhile until he could see the sun going down in the horizon. He couldn't help from peering over his shoulder in fear looking around for his invisible stalker Tezuka the whole day. He felt sick to his stomach. He was no better than a common criminal now. He really was a loser, and spoiled brat, a good for nothing piece of shit that wouldn't do anything with his life. Just like dad said. He sturdied himself against a fence. A store fence, someone's shop, would this count as loitering? Another thing to add to his growing rap sheet he mused. He felt dizzy for some reason. Perhaps dehydration? It was rather hot. He started to roll up his sleeves before fear gripped him again. No, someone might see. He kept his jacket on snuggly. So hot, but the sun was setting. It must have been around 10 or something he mused. Dad was going to be. No he could sneak around him, maybe. He begrudgingly turned back toward home. He was screwed.
He passed scores of apartment buildings, and crossed many busy streets, all with that invisible fist clenching his heart painfully. His impending doom. Ryoma tried to plan a way to get inside safely, had he leaned the ladder against the roof that morning? If not did he have the key to the back door? It was some time in to the night but several people were still running about on the busy cross street just before the road that lead to his residence. His phone went off and he knew it was dad; no one else would call this late. He could feel his cell phone vibrating in his jean pocket. He didn't pick up. He didn't feel like being screamed at. No not tonight.
The teen arrived home well into the night slowly opening the door, cringing as the hinges squeaked in agony. All the avoidance in the world could not stop the inevitable, he mused. He still lived here, he still had to sleep here, he still had to do his homework, and he probably should shower and maybe wash the dishes and eat. But would dad let him?
All the lights were on as he quickly made his way across the hall like a rat, desperately trying to reach his room as quickly as possible. If he could get there in time than he could lock the door and just turn on his mp3 player to block out dads curses while he finished up his English essay and trig problems and studied for his Japanese history exam. Hopefully after that dad would have blacked out on the couch allowing him to wash away the sweat that he'd accumulated all day by walking around in the searing sun with a bulky sweater on.
Only fate had something different in mind. He was so focused on getting to his room that he didn't notice his dad sprawled across the floor reading another perverted magazine. That is until he tripped over him. He was screwed. His dad was pissed. His father's eyes were red and puffy, his movements staggered, his breath reeking of sake. No no no. Ryoma tried to get away scrambling up to his feet quickly. Dad was so unpredictable when he was drunk.
"W-what are you afraid of yirr o-own daaaad Ree-o-mam?"
"N-no sir" he stood up straight turning to face his father timidly, "G-gomen, I didn't see you-"
"W-watch whereyour go-going nexxxxt time," the man slurred kicking Ryoma in the shin before staggering upward into a standing position. His whole body red, a dopey look on his face, the look that sent Ryoma running for fear. Only despite what his body was telling him, he could not run. Dad would only get more angry.
"w-What you staring at?"
"Nothing" Ryoma spoke withdrawing into himself trying not to upset his father.
"Y-you peeeice of sh-shit, what da hecks wrong wiiiith you? Get outta my site."
"Ai sir" Ryoma's hands shook and just as he was about to go to his room his father called again.
"I s-said what yoooou staring aat"
"Nothing"
And then the teen felt a fist connect with his face. He doubled over holding his cheek. It hurt. It hurt a lot. He clenched his fist. He could, he could fight back but no. He picked up his racket once more then slowly climbed his way upstairs, ignoring the insults his father shot at him, "Stupid dis disrespectful brat". Shit. How would he explain this? He had some cover-up, he reminded himself, he had kept it just in case.
"You n-know why I I drink don't you you boy?"
"Y-yes" Echizen shouted from up the stairs, tears prickling the corner of his eyes.
"I d-drink cuz yourrr such uh damn stoo stupid brat. Can't can't even beat me at ten- tennis and you you think your hot stuff don't dontchu? Arro- arrogant dip- dipshit, what was I talking about again?"
Ryoma ignored him trying to block out what he heard from his head, but found it hard. Someday he'd beat him at tennis. And then he'd stop. Someday. Besides dad didn't mean any of it. He was just drunk. He wouldn't remember what happened the next day anyway. The teen opened up his room locking the lock on the door knob, then the chain lock, then the bolt lock. He dropped his bags on the floor than rummaged around for his music player. He turned up some song or other thoughtfully staring at himself in the mirror above his bed. There was a deep purple bruise forming on his face. Great. Just Great. He unzipped his bag pulling out his books and papers. Now where did he put that pen again? He searched for awhile until he finally found it under his bed.
"So if x equals, then..." Only he found it hard to concentrate and snapped the book shut. One missed assignment wouldn't kill his grade. He might even get detention and that would give him a reason to miss afternoon practice. The less of Tezuka he had to see, the better.
He didn't get any of his math homework done that night, but he did manage to finish his English paper and dump the trash. He passed out at half past two, only found sleep difficult to obtain. What would he tell his boucho the next day? "Oh I paid using dads credit card over the phone and just picked it up" No that lie wouldn't fly because than Tezuka would ask him to call in and place orders for the team, "Oh I just forgot, I'll pay for it after school". No he was sure he looked rather nervous when he performed the act. No matter how he looked at it he couldn't explain it without saying he flat out stole it. And so he tossed and turned, smashing the alarm clock as it blared at 6:30 in the morning. Another day to survive.
He stretched lion like, stepping out of his room and walking into the shower sleepily- zombie like. Shampoo. Dad needed to buy shampoo. He quickly scrubbed down using only bar soap cursing as his hair tangled up. Now he'd have to run a brush through it. Just another thing to do. He hurriedly put on his school uniform and shoes questioning whether or not to go to practice. He hadn't washed his tennis uniform that night. Usually his cousin would do that. He frowned, his cousin was a jerk. No, she didn't know, he sighed. To show or not to show? But still, not showing up would make him look even more guilty than he already was, he mused. He lazily dragged the comb through his locks than picked up his toothbrush and began brushing his pearly whites. It was then that he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror.
"Oh, yeah, right." He murmured sleepily rubbing his eyes before scrounging around until he found a small bottle of concealer; he wasn't great at putting it on and sloppily put globs of it all over himself. It took him a good twenty minutes to smooth the thing out enough to cover the bruise. So long as no one got to close he'd be fine he mused while slipping the bottle into his pocket. And I'll have to put more on in the bathroom when it starts to wear off he continued before switching to talking to himself. "To bad I don't have facial hair yet, then I could just keep a beard and-" he stopped short, "Ugh I'm talking to myself again."
He told dad he needed money for lunch but he was to hung over to respond. No matter. He could live with it. Only, he didn't have time to eat anything before Momo arrived on his bike, waving at him through the window. He was going to starve. Ryoma played with his long sleeves nervously, then fetched his hat from off the hook by the door and tied up his shoes. With his bag slung over his shoulder he was ready to go, only he remembered his trigonometry homework and history test. Damn, he was screwed. His teachers might even call home, but then his dad didn't think he was going to be anything anyway so what did it matter? He shook himself out of these musings; no he'd prove him wrong.
The trip to school was silent, which was odd considering how talkative Momo sempai usually was. Had Tezuka told him? Probably, Echizen pondered gripping Momo harder. Why had he been so dumb? Why hadn't he just said "oh I forgot my wallet"? He knew, or at least thought he knew why. He wanted to get caught. He wanted to go to prison. He wanted to get away from home for a few days. But going to juvenile prison and having your bachou catch you were two different things. The latter being worse than the former.
And so without a word being exchanged Echizen headed for the locker room stepping inside with his bag but freezing up upon seeing the entire team there. There was no way to hide his bruises in front of so many people. He slid his racket into a locker than stepped out taking deep breaths, trying to calm his frayed nerves. Maybe he was over reacting? Maybe Tezuka hadn't seen anything at all? The prince pulled his hat down over his eyes and leaned against the wall outside, not paying attention to anything around him. And then someone was was in front of him blocking his sun.
Take off you jacket" a gruff voice ordered, bachou? Oh no did he somehow find out. No, no, that was impossible. Echizen quivered slightly in fear before looking up.
"I don't want to" he replied trying to maintain his arrogant tone hoping his captain was just concerned about the heat.
"If you're going to act like a criminal I'm going to treat you like one" Tezuka bit out erasing any hope Echizen had of Tezuka not having seen the crime, while at the same time confirming that he didn't know Echizen's darkest secret, "now take off your jacket and let me see what's inside. Who knows what you could have STOLEN from the locker room."
"Nothing I didn't do anything." Echizen denied. Denial might work. Only somehow he knew it wouldn't.
"I'll believe that when I see it", Tezuka grabbed his jacket trying to forcibly yank it off, only Ryoma was one step ahead and twisted out of his grip. No no, no one could see, especially not bachou. And so Echizen ran for the hills only to be caught once again by his arm.
"Look I don't know what has gotten into you but it ends now", Tezuka reached over and gripped his shoulder bending down to eye level making Ryoma wince slightly. Only his captain mistook it for a look of regret.
"L-look I'll pay for it, I just-"
"No excuse" Tezuka bit out, "You're lucky I'm not kicking you off the team! I'm going to have a talk with your father and-"
"No" Ryoma shouted a bit too quickly.
"What afraid of the consequences? Then you shouldn't have stolen. I paid for that tape by the way. Why'd you do it? Wanted to see if you could get away with it? Think it was fun? I already talked to Momo over the phone and he was clueless about it and really upset, so go on explain yourself."
"I just uh" everything was too much for the 7th grader to handle, "Fine then if you want me off the team I'll leave" he finally bit out running away, only this time Tezuka didn't follow. Something was wrong. He looked around; maybe someone else had a clue. He'd have to tell the team why Echizen left anyway. He pulled the regulars out of their laps, much to Inui's dismay then sat them around for a group talk. He was going to get down to the bottom of this. Only unbeknownst to them Echizen did not run to class, instead he settled behind a the tennis wall- a few sheets of plywood painted green attached to the fence surrounding the courts- listening to what his team mates had to say. Or at least bits and pieces.
"So anyway I caught Echizen stealing from the Tennis shop the other day"
"What? Ochibi... is that why he left so early today?"
"Yeah you told me earlier. He seemed out of it today when we rode here."
"My data shows that he has been performing poorly over the last 3 days."
"What do you think-"
"Maybe he's being bullied"
"He won't take off his jacket"
"We should talk to him"
"I confronted him but he won't say anything"
"Maybe he's scared."
"Do you think he did it to join a gang?"
"He's been acting kind of strange."
"He didn't eat lunch yesterday" a young voice chimed in, probably one of the 7th graders who had been busy picking up balls and overheard what was going on. Shit shit shit! Echizen pressed his ear against the plywood wall further, no no they were getting dangerously close to the truth.
"There is a 75% probability he is being bullied"
"BULLIED! WHY I'll-"
"Pshhh"
"Anyway just look out-"
He couldn't hear anything else, but it seemed they were going back to jogging again. He could hear the whistle being blown and the groans and whispers of some new special juice being exchanged. Bullied huh? Yeah he could go along with that. It would make it a lot easier to come up with excuses. It was just another lie. Another lie. He hated lying, but he had to do what he had to do ne? The prince slowly readjusted his cap and made his way to homeroom. Now how to make this lie believable? He was already going to be skipping lunch anyway and yeah if he just washed off the makeup on his face where dad had hit him last night. Yeah this could work. But he couldn't let anyone know the truth, he just couldn't. He'd be sent to live with his relatives in the states just like dad said, and then he'd be really would be bullied again and and. He couldn't think about it. How would not return to his old school in America. Never.
Ryoma slung his bag over his shoulder and made his way to class. He was tired, but perhaps English calss could fix that. Somehow he found himself thinking again, passing Fuji at the fountains and purposefully keeping his eyes covered with his cap. He could see the look of disappointment. He was a failure. The 7th grader threw open the doors to the school trying his best to pretend that everything was normal. Everything was not normal. He was going to class an hour early for peep sakes. He groaned watching a student purchase some kind of snack from a vending machine. He was so hungry. He hadn't eaten since the previous night, he had underestimated his appetite and eaten all of the leftover burgers in one sitting, and he doubted he'd be invited for burgers tonight. He really really missed his cousin's lunches. He'd be happy even for an American breakfast, lunch, and dinner! He passed through the cafeteria and sat down in a chair burying his head into his arms. He could nap at least. Or try to. He groaned as the start of a nightmare began. No, no he wasn't remembering that day, no. He quickly snapped awake shaking slightly, he couldn't sleep. His racket was still in the clubhouse. Perhaps he could study for his history exam then. He pulled out a pencil in thought then began to jot down notes from the text. Only somehow, even though he was writing down facts and dates, he wasn't absorbing any of the info. He was to distracted. His pencil snapped half way through causing the teen to mutter curses under his breath as he scrounged for another one. Luckily he had a ball point pen in his bag. He needed more pencils too. He didn't know how he'd come up with enough yen. He bit his lower lip in thought, writing down more notes, wondering if what ad happened meant he was disqualified from the tournament. No matter, he had won many tournaments in America anyway. He was knee deep in study when he felt someone's eyes on him. He turned only to find kikumaru and Oishi staring at him.
"What" he asked clearly not in the mood.
"Shouldn't you be studying at night and not in school?" Oishi piped up questionativly, obviously trying to find out what was wrong with the team's youngest player.
"I was busy last night." Echizen quipped glaring at the Golden pair, "What is it you wanted anyway?"
"Why did you skip practice?" This time it was Kikumaru.
"Tezuka doesn't want me there."
"But why."
"You know why" Ryoma snapped his book shut placing it back into his bookbag as the area quickly filled up with students.
"But why did you-"
"That's none of your concern."
"But it is! You're our teammate!" Oishi cut in.
"Not anymore." Echizen spoke bitterly, "And I believe the bell rings in one minute so I've got to go." And with that he left.
It had only been 4 years since mother's death, 3 months since coming to Japan, 2 weeks since his cousin left to study abroad in America, and in 1 day he was supposed to be playing in his first official tennis tournament for Seigaku, but now he wasn't so sure if he wold be. His life was already a living hell.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter guys, let me know if I should continue this fic =D