Summary: Nanako never thought visiting her cousin at school would cause so much chaos among: 1) the regulars, 2) the Ryoma-sama fanclub and 3) the coach's granddaughter!

Disclaimer: You know what I'm going to say.

Chapter 1

Somehow, Echizen Ryoma knew that today was going to be a long day.

In the morning he was greeted by western breakfast for five days in a row, then he stepped over Karupin's milk and splashed it all over the floor. While riding with Momoshiro to school, he fell asleep and was half a second late to realize he had got thrown out of the bicycle when his senpai turned a corner, which resulted in him getting late for tennis practice and had to run 20 laps around the tennis court as punishment. Seeing his bruises on his face, the fangirls couldn't wait to surround him and try to reach for his wounds, which he spent another 10 minutes to escape from the mob. Then he got punished by the teachers for forgetting to bring the homework for class and causing chaos in the corridors (Ryoma groaned. Stupid fangirls.), and had to stay for detention after school, which meant that he would be late for yet another practice.

Last time when Eiji was late consecutively, he received the mighty choice of either 50 laps or try 2 of Inui-senpai's latest inventions. The mere thought of the sadistic drink made Ryoma gulp. He sighed as he found a seat on staff room to help the teacher organize files. He just wished he could finish this as soon as possible then play tennis to relieve himself.

Meanwhile, a twin-braid girl was walking with her big-mouthed best friend towards the tennis court to see the male tennis team practice. They cheered for their senpai as the competition was approaching, yet of course their attention mainly focused on the renowned prince. The female tennis team practice usually ended before the male's, so they walked slowly after changing their outfits.

Ryuzaki Sakuno listened to her companion's never-ending compliments on Ryoma and Tennis, but she was not really paying attention. She found today's Ryoma a bit…weird. Not that he was a passionate person, but he seemed to be in a bad mood today. He seemed more annoyed than ever the moment he stepped into the classroom. And she could not find him in his favourite spot at the roof, where he usually slept and she would sit aside and watch him.

'So I was saying…Sakuno-chan are you even listening to me?' Tomoko suddenly questioned, noticing her friend's absent mind.

'Huh? Ah gomennazai…' she blushed a bit. She never liked to disappoint others, especially her good friend for years.

'You spaced out for no reasons…are you thinking about Ryoma-sama again?' she smirked evilly, always finding it amusing to tease the brown-haired girl about it.

'Mou…' before she could reply fully, she heard a female voice from their back.

'Did you say Ryoma?'

They turned to face a tall girl looking expectantly at them. The wind played with her long blue hair and her purple eyes blinked. Sakuno reckoned the girl might be two years older than them, as she seemed more mature than other girls of the same age. The school uniform clung to her body a bit tightly, revealing her curves that brown-haired student could only envy. Somehow she looked familiar, but she could not recognize her. She must be someone from another school…but why did she mention Ryoma's name?

'If you're talking about Echizen Ryoma, could you show me the way to the tennis court?' She smiled gently.

Sakuno nervously nodded while Tomoko just stared at the girl. Yet she found no reason to refuse her, somehow.

243 people, 217 of them girls…new record,' said the data-man, holding a notebook in one hand and counting the number of a special crowd outside the fence of the court.

'And they're all for Ochibi,' muttered Kikumaru, who swung his racquet. It was quite common now for the Ryoma-sama Fanclub was even bigger in high school than in middle school. 'According to my data it's not true, but more than 70% of them did come to see Echizen.' Adjusting his glasses, Inui smirked at Ryoma.

'Hn.' Damn, why did he have to face the same question and wily grins from his senpai everyday?

'Echizen is so popular,' grinned Momoshiro, who pinched the fifteen-year-old's face. 'Let's just focus on the match now.' Eiji laughed. 'Ochibi is no fun at all, as usual.'

They were practicing doubles as Ryuzaki Sumire (who was also the coach of Seigaku High's Tennis Team) wanted to try different double formation. Ryoma was paired with Eiji while Momoshiro was paired with Fuji. Although Ryoma sneered at the idea of playing double, he just wanted to end the practice quickly so he reluctantly tried cooperating in tennis. Quite amusingly, his pair worked quite well and they found themselves in the lead now, 4-2.

'RYOMA-SAMA!' high-pitched screams for Ryoma's name echoed in the court. Honestly speaking, Ryoma hated these. Not that he minded the attention, but not when these bunches of people followed him everywhere and screamed in annoying voices that could disturb his game.

He tried to look for the two familiar figures who were always there to watch him play. Not that he cared for both, he just wanted to see one of them, especially after such a chaotic day. Finding nothing, he mentally sighed and continued to focus on the game. It was his turn to serve.

'Ah, there he is.' Sakuno heard the girl said. She couldn't help but look at Ryoma and started to wonder who this pretty lady was to her Ryoma-kun.

Wait, what did she just think?

She shook her head, trying to keep clear consciousness of herself. Last time there was also a pretty girl who wanted to visit Ryoma, and they all mistook her as Ryoma's girlfriend. This time was probably just the same.

They shifted their attention to the game, as Ryoma threw the ball up into the sky, ready to strike. An ace, he thought, to keep Momo-senpai's mouth shut.

'Ryoma!' the girl yelled cheerfully.

He was stunned by the voice which he recognized, and he suddenly lost his balance, hence his control over his racquet, upon hearing the voice. The ball did not collide with the center as he expected it to be, but instead the frame made contact with it. The ball accelerated at a very high speed towards the opposite court.

It never bounced on the ground, but flew directly to the tree behind. Ryoma, Eiji, Fuji and Momoshiro heard the sound of it flashing across leaves, and a very weak 'pop' sound of landing.

The whole crowd grew silent as they witnessed Echizen Ryoma's first ever home run. Even Ryuzaki-sensei and Tezkua were astonished.

Ryoma turned, instead, towards Sakuno's direction, and widened his eyes as he saw who there was. The targeted girl put a hand over her mouth. 'Oh my, has he grown that rusty after all these time?'

Sakuno could only shiver.

'What are you doing here?' Ryoma tried not to sound cold, but could not help so when he had just embarrassed himself in front of all people. He had a damn pride to hold.

'Come on Ryoma, I didn't realize I calling you would cause such a chaos.' The violet-eyed girl sighed, handing him a ponta to calm him down. She knew that whenever he was in a bad mood, he needed his favourite drink.

'Hn.' He took the can and drank it, his other hand holding his trademark white cap that he had just taken off his head. 'Why are you here?' he asked the question again, still having no idea why the girl would appear in here. After all, he had not seen her in years.

She did not answer directly but smirked. 'Couldn't I come just to see you?'

Slowly, she walked towards the prince and embraced him, letting his head rest on her shoulder.

'I do miss you a lot.'

Behind the bushes and trees, the hiding senpai, the fangirls, Ryoma's followers (a.k.a. Horio and the others), Tomoko and last but not least Sakuno, heard everything.

'Wow…didn't know that Ochibi like older girls…' Eiji beamed while stating quietly. 'Shhh, he might hear us,' Fuji warned, his smile did not falter from his face. 'The interesting part is coming.'

'This girl is indeed very pretty…and she is not taller than Echizen a lot and seems very mature,' said Momoshiro, observing his kohai's interaction with the unknown, possible 'girlfriend'. 'Echizen got good taste.' But he soon regretted his words as Sakuno startled beside them, shaking silently. '…b-but of course I think Echizen looks cuter with s-someone who has been around him for years, right?' the spiked-hair tried to cover it up, but failed as they heard what the mysterious girl said next.

'Couldn't I come just to see you?'

And then they saw what they considered the greatest mystery in Seigaku High's history. The young lady hugged Ryoma. THE RYOMA who ignored every single fangirl every day. THE RYOMA who was cold to every single existing person, even yelling at his own father impatiently(as they had visited his place a few times). THE RYOMA who was cocky enough to insult any person around him.

And Ryoma did not struggle nor push her away. He let her shortened the distance between them.

'I do miss you a lot.' They heard the female vocalizing it softly.

They glanced at Sakuno carefully, hoping she would not break down or do anything stupid. But she just kept on kneeling behind the bushes. She looked with…disappointment, maybe? Or was that a hint of…jealousy?

'Ah, I miss you too…' they heard him mutter, but could not hear the following clearly as they kept a safe distance from them.

Meanwhile, the Ryoma-sama fanclub members looked at the scene with hearts broken. There their efforts in bringing Ryoma-sama to their circle were ruined in a few minutes, when this girl appeared and it seemed quite obviously that she had some hidden relationship with THEIR Ryoma-sama.

Action had to take place. They saw Ryoma left the girl and returned to the court.

Great.

Whoever took Ryoma-sama away from them was not to be forgiven.

-End of Chapter 1