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Love Between Friends
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Chapter One:
Her Arrival
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Summary: A friend of Ryoma comes and visits him. Will he fall for her or will he end up with Sakuno, whom he is starting to learn to love? What will Sakuno do with the apearance of a new rival who she even befriended?
A/N: Konnichiwa, mina-san! I was finally able to remember the plot I planned for this fic. So, it's back. Sorry, if I somehow managed to upset or offend anyone. I did my best in this fic. Please do read and review.
Disclaimer: I do not own POT. I could only go so far as wishing that I did own it.
"Eeeh, O'chibi, I lost to you again," Eiji complained childishly for he was just defeated by his kouhai once more.
"Mada mada dane, senpai," Ryoma said, as he pointed his racket towards Eiji.
"Nya, you're so mean o'chibi," Eiji spoke once more and this time, he went behind Oishi, his doubles partner, who began comforting him almost instinctively.
"Che," Ryoma muttered under his breath. He started his way out of the court, his racket tucked loosely in his arm as he kept his hands into his pockets.
Ryoma is now attending Seishun High School, becoming better and better in tennis. As most people would expect, he's still in the tennis club. Everything was almost the same as in his middle school except for a few changes. Kawamura, who inherited and is now managing the sushi restaurant, is no longer with them. Tomoka, who had to attend another high school because of some circumstances, is nowhere to be seen and can only stay in touch with her best friend through calls made almost everyday. Of course the trio, who also had to go to different schools because of family affairs, are no longer there to bother the regulars.
"Alright, everyone assemble!" Coach Ryuzaki's voice was heard through out the courts as she gathered the members of the club for some announcements. Everyone lined up before their coach as she had ordered. "Tomorrow will be the competition and I want everybody to be on time." She looked over her club members and ended up settling her view on the last person in the line – Ryoma. With it, she looked at him firmly and said, "Is this understood?"
Seeing what their coach meant, the members began laughing at him. And as most would expect, Ryoma glared at his sensei as well as his co-regulars.
"Che." Ryoma tugged his white cap lower as he realized that his glaring was futile.
"Okay, dismissed!" Tezuka, their buchou, spoke with authority, and at once, stopped the others from laughing.
"Haii!" rang the crowd obediently, as they began to disperse.
The regulars made their way to the club room as conversations started between them.
"Kaidoh, this is the new training schedule you asked for." Inui, having the same expression in his face with his rectangular-shaped glasses, said handing Kaidoh a sheet of paper.
"Arigatou, senpai," Kaidoh replied, looking at the contents and thinking immediately of doing twice of what was written.
"Echizen's becoming stronger, ne, Tezuka?" Fuji casually mentioned to Tezuka who, in return, did nothing but open the door to the clubroom.
Before entering, he gave Fuji a quick glance.
Satisfied with his buchuo's reaction, he simply smiled and followed him into the clubroom.
"Eiji-senpai, we're going to the burger joint later. Wanna join us?" Momoshiro said invitingly, grinning as if he was planning something bad.
"Sure, sure!" Eiji happily accepted, bouncing up and down, and not aware of whatever it is that Momoshiro was planning.
"Oi, Echizen, let's go get some burgers! Eiji-senpai's treat." Momoshiro's grin widened as he turned to his kouhai.
"Eeh?! Nani?!" Eiji burst out, upon realizing Momoshiro's simple plot. He started complaining to Momoshiro. Ignoring his senpai, Momoshiro awaited Ryoma's answer.
"I've got something to do," Ryoma said, as he left the club room picking up his tennis bag. He had finished changing clothes while the others were busy chatting.
"What's wrong with him?" Momoshiro asked, facing his senpai who was also in deep thought. After coming up with nothing to explain Echizen's weird behavior, Momoshiro gave his last grin and said, "Anyway, senpai, let's go! It's your treat, remember?"
"Nya, you're really so unfair!" Eiji complained, like a baby robbed of his candy.
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"Here it is." A girl, with long, light brown hair, hazel cat-like eyes, fair complexion and slender physique, came in through the gates of Seishun High School. With her, she carried a luggage and a brown envelope, enclosing her enrollment forms. She headed towards the principal's office.
"Good afternoon." the school principal greeted her as she entered the office. "We've been waiting for you, Kahoko Ayumi-san."
"Hai, sorry for being late." Ayumi apologized, then handed the brown envelope to the principal, who offered her a seat while she looked at the forms within it. Ayumi glanced at Coach Ryuzaki, who was sitting on a chair just beside the one offered to her by the principal.
Noticing Ayumi's curious stares at the coach, the principal said, "This is Ryuzaki-sensei. She is the coach of the tennis club, and she will be yours as well."
"Nice to meet you, sensei," Ayumi said, slightly bowing.
"Same here," was all Ryuuzaki said. Then, facing the principal she spoke, "If there's nothing more, I'll be leaving now." She then turned towards Ayumi. "There will be a competition tomorrow and I would like you to attend. I'll be introducing you to the regulars there."
"Haii," Ayumi said before shifting her attention once again to the principal "Thank you so much for accepting me in your school under such circumstances."
"It's nothing, really. See you on Monday then."
"Haii," Ayumi said as she exited the principal's office. 'I guess I'll see him tomorrow. It's been awhile since we've seen each other. And now that I look back, the reason I left was partly because of that... Anyway, I better bring my racket tomorrow,' she thought as she left the school.
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Ryoma went to one of his favorite places within the school campus where no one could bother him. He took out a racket and a tennis ball and started to 'play' with the wall. He was so deep in thought that he didn't notice the time go by. It was already late when Ryoma noticed this and decided to head home.
"Tadaima," Ryoma announced his arrival. His father and mother went back to America a year ago, leaving him with his cousin who took care of him properly. He removed his shoes and stepped on the wooden floor.
"Okairi-nasai" his cousin, Nanako, smiled at him. "Dinner will be ready in a few minutes, Ryoma-san."
"Haii." Ryoma mumbled, picking up his cat before going upstairs. He headed for his room and sat down on his bed while stroking Karupin's fur. He raised Karupin as high as his arms could and stared at the cat while he thought about what his cousin told him yesterday. Even if he showed no interest at the news, he had been bothered by it ever since Nanako told him about it.
Flashback…
Tired from their practice, Ryoma opened the sliding door of their traditional house. He removed his shoes then headed for his room upstairs.
"Ryoma-san" Nanako called from the kitchen, wiping her hands she went to the foot of the steps where Ryoma was waiting.
"Oba-san called a while ago. She said that a childhood friend of yours will be coming on Saturday and she might stay here in Japan for awhile. She also said that she might live with us while staying here. They're not so sure, though," Nanako spoke continuously while looking at her cousin, who showed little interest. "She asked you to take care of her."
End of flashback…
'Just who is this childhood friend? Do I even have one? And why come here of all places?' questions flooded his mind and he dozed off without any answers to any of them at all.
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A/N: How was it? It's short enough, ne? I'll try to make the other ones longer. I also apologize for not being able to provide enough descriptions. I will try my best to improve. So, please leave a review. Comments, suggestions and even flames are welcome. Just click the link below and leave a piece of your mind. XD