From Ryoma's POV

"Good practice everyone. Regulars will have matches against each other tomorrow. Don't be late or else", Tezuka, captain of the Seigaku tennis team said while looking at Inui.

Inui nodded and smiled evilly. Time to find some new ingredientshe thought.

Everyone shuddered and was mentally reminding themselves to get there early.

"Bye",Eiji said walking out of the tennis courts.

"See ya",Oishi called out before following him.

Kaidoh hissed and walked out.

Kawamura and Momoshiro yelled out a good- bye and left.

Fuji waved and walked out.

I gave a little wave and left quickly before my fan club and Horio and Kachiro and Katsuo could catch up. It was my second year at Seigaku. Everything was pretty much the same. My skills had grown higher, but so had everyone else's.

I stopped by a soda machine and got a purple soda. I took a long swig and then began walking again. I caught the subway (or whatever you want to call it) and then got off at my stop. I walked along the sidewalk thinking about ways to improve my twist serve when a white cat walked in front of me and then sat down. I walked past it but continued to hear the feet of the cat. I turned around then picked up the cat. I let a small rare smile appear on my face. It disappeared when the supposed owner came up to me.

She was a bit shorter than me and had fiery red hair that was in a loose bun. She had on a summer dress that matched her worried emerald green eyes.

"Hanako! Oh thank you so much. She ran away from me again."

I handed the cat to her and watched as she embraced it lovingly. The cat meowed.

"How can I ever repay you" she said.

"You don't have to. It wasn't a problem" I said.

"Well, okay and thank you again"

"Your welcome" I said.

Then she turned around and walked off.

I then walked the rest of the way home, the girl already pushed to an unoccupied part of my mind.

NEXT DAY

I, bored, was staring out the window in English class when the teacher said, "Class we have a new student. Come on in Miss Murase"

I looked towards the front and recognized the girl from yesterday. Except this time she had the Seigaku school uniform on and her hair that went down to about her waist was in a pony tail.

"Hello everyone, I'm Azumi Murase. I hope to know you all well." She said.

"And we hope to know you too" the teacher said while directing her to sit in front of Horio.

As she walked to her seat my hazel eyes caught her green ones. She gave me this angelic smile as she probably remembered my face then continued on to her seat.

The bell rang out, signaling the end of school. I headed out of Science and began heading for the changing rooms.

"Echizen! Wait up!" someone shouted.

I looked behind me and there was Horio, Kachiro, and Katsuo running towards me. I waited for them and then began walking again when they caught up with me.

"Ryoma, where were you yesterday?" Horio asked.

"Had to do something" I replied curtly.

"Anyway, what about that new girl Azumi, she's hot" Horio said.

"And very nice" Kachiro added.

Katsuo agreed with them.

She was very pretty, but it would be the end of the world before I admitted that out loud.

"What about you Ryoma? What do you think of her?" Horio asked.

Before I could answer Momo-senpai came up to us, already in his tennis uniform and said, "Echizen, you'd best hurry or else it'll be Penal Tea for you"

That got me walking a little quicker. I didn't want to find out what new ingredients Inui added to that drink. When I reached the locker room, I quickly changed and headed out to the tennis courts.

I saw Inui looking at his watch and mouthing 5…4...3…2…1. I was already in by the time he said one but Horio and the others weren't as lucky. Inui walked up to them and gave them each a glass of his Penal Tea which was a sickly yellow. I heard the yells of disgust as I walked towards the other Regulars.

I noticed that Kawamaru was missing.

"Regulars line up" Tezuka barked out.

All the Regulars lined up in front of our captain.

"I want you to meet a new regular. Azumi Murase." Tezuka said.

Azumi came in from behind Tezuka and waved. Her hair was in a tight bun and she was wearing a white shirt and skort. She was holding a purple racket.

I glanced at all the other guys. They were all gaping at her in surprise. Even Fuji's eyes were opened.

"She beat Kawamaru 6-2. Make her feel welcome"

Azumi walked over towards us and stood next to Eiji.

"Now as for the matches, it will be Ryoma and Momoshiro against Eiji and Oishi then it will be Azumi against Kaidoh. And Fuji you will face me. Five minute warm up before you start"

We all kind of made a circle around Azumi and began bombarding her with questions.

"Did you really beat Kawamaru?"

"Where is he now?"

"I can't believe it!"

"Guys, guys cool it. One question at a time, and I'm Oishi." Oishi said.

"I'm Eiji" Eiji said.

"Ah, the Golden Pair. I've heard so much about you two"

"Have you heard of me?" Momoshiro said with a bright smile.

She giggled then said "yeah. Momoshiro's famous dunk smash"

Kaidoh hissed at this.

"You must be Kaidoh" she said, "I really like your bandana"

I looked at his face, full of surprise and confusion, and snickered.

"And you," she said turning to me, "Ryoma Echizen. I didn't recognize you without the hat on, yesterday. Thank you again."

Her eyes held gratitude and I couldn't help but feel a little proud. I felt pang of jealousy when her eyes went from me to Fuji.

"Fuji Shusuke, The genius. I met your brother the other day. He's really nice. If you see him, would you tell him I said hi?"

"Yeah" Fuji said.

"Thanks" she said.

"So, how did you beat Takashi?" momo-senpai asked.

She smirked and the look in her eyes changed.

That look made me want to verse her in tennis right this instant. I looked around the circle and it seemed her look was affecting everyone else too.

"I can't tell you" she said with a bit of mystery in her voice.

"Why not?",Eiji asked.

"Because what's the fun in that? I'd rather let you all figure it out for yourselves."

"Kaidoh and Azumi, you all are up first", the captain said.

Azumi smiled at us all and then walked out of the circle. Kaidoh followed her. The rest of us, kind of looked at each other and then they hurriedly followed after them. I instead got my racket and decided to practice before my match started.