Disclaimer: I wish I own the characters of Prince of Tennis


The light from the window seeped in the room and reached Ryoma's eyes. He turned to the other side of the bed. With his eyes still close, his hand glided across the bed searching for something. Reluctantly, he opened his eyes a little only to see that his cat was not on his bed. He sat up to checked if the cat was on the floor but his pet was nowhere to be seen. Normally, it was his cat that wakes him up every morning, but today he didn't even get to see him. Ryoma started to get worry and immediately walked out of his room to find his cat.

"Ryoma, good morning!" Nanako cheerfully greeted him but he didn't notice it as he passed by. His mind is full of unpleasant things that could have happened to his pet.

Ryoma stopped on his track when he heard a soft 'meow' followed by a girl's laughter. He followed the sound and found his cat held in the hands of the brown-haired girl.

"Karupin!" The girl jumped at the voice coming behind her loosening her held at the cat on her hands. Karupin ran to his master's arms after hearing his name. The cat looked like he's on cloud nine as Ryoma stroke the cat's head.

"So Karupin is his name," the girl walked closer to the lad. Sae reached her hand to touch Karupin but before the tips of her fingers touched the cat, Ryoma turned away, his cat in his arms. Sae sighed.

"I guess he's still mad at me," Sae thought herself.


Ryoma and Sae bid goodbye and left for school. The girl is already wearing the girl's school uniform although she only moved in the Echizen residence in less than 24 hours. Her father and Rinko already prepared the necessary documents of her transfer a week ago.

Ryoma walked faster compared with the girl. Sae had to walk twice faster than her normal pace to catch up with him. She had a feeling that he is doing it on purpose but she kept quiet and continued to walk beside him.

As they near the school gates, the number of students, walking to the same direction as them, continues to grow. A familiar sound of a bell came from behind them.

"Oi, Echizen, good morning. You're early today." Momoshiro's bicycle stopped beside Ryoma.

"Good morning Momo-sempai. It's rare to see you this early in the morning," Ryoma greeted in his usual tone. Normally, Momo would get annoyed with Ryoma's greeting but he froze as he saw a girl standing beside his junior. She has a long brown hair and a pair of soft emerald eyes. The shape of her nose complimented her face very well. Momo cannot help but stare at her.

Ryoma saw how Momo looked at Sae and nudge him in the stomach.

"Hey! What was that for!?" Ryoma acted like he didn't hear his senior and continued to walk towards the school. Then, he felt an arm hooked on his neck and dragged him on a corner.

"Momo-sempai, what's the big ide-" Momo covered Ryoma's mouth to stop him from shouting any further.

"Who's that girl? You didn't tell me you already have a girlfriend?" Momo whispered audible enough for only Ryoma can hear. The latter pulled Momo's hand from his mouth.

"She's not my girlfriend."

"Eh? Then why are you with her?"

"It's none of your business," Ryoma said and started walking away. But as Ryoma turned to Sae, Momo is already standing next to her.

"Hi, I'm Takeshi Momoshiro. Just call me Momo." Momo offered his hand.

"My name is Sae," however, before Sae could take Momo's hand, Ryoma stood in front of her, his back facing her.

"Momo-sempai, we're going to be late if you keep dragging us. Save the introductions later," Ryoma turned to Sae, "come on."

Momo stood dumbfounded. The girl was confused at Ryoma's action but followed him eventually.


As the two entered the school gates, Sae noticed several girls turning their head towards their direction as they passed by. Some even blushed at upon seeing him. She looked at Ryoma's back as she walked behind him. She didn't know that Ryoma is so popular.

"Oi, Ochibi! Wait up," a cheerful voice called out to Ryoma. He didn't even have to turn to see who it was as the person squeezed him from behind.

"Good morning Echizen," Oishi greeted as Eiji continues to hug him tightly until Ryoma can no longer breathe.

"Eiji, if you don't stop, we may have to rush Echizen to the hospital due to lack of air," Fuji, who just came, commented at Eiji's action seeing that Echizen is already turning blue. Eiji peered at Echizen's face and immediately let him go seeing that what Fuji said is true.

"Oops, sorry."

"Good morning sempai-tachi," Ryoma huffed.

Sae watched at the scene of Ryoma and his teammates. She can tell that they are members of the tennis club from the tennis rackets they are carrying. Nanako-nee-san did tell her that Ryoma is a member of the school's tennis club.

"Well then, why don't we go together to the court?"

"Sorry sempai, but I still need to do something first," Ryoma said and headed towards the school building.

The three were surprised as a girl ran passed them and walked beside Echizen.

"Nyaa!? Could it be? Ochibi already has a... girlfriend!?" Eiji asked nobody in particular.

"Hn? I don't think that's the case," Fuji said as he followed the direction of Ryoma and the girl.

"What made you think so?" Oishi looked at Fuji waiting for his answer.

"It's just a hunch."


Ryoma stopped in front of the principal's office.

"This is the principal's office. The principal will introduce you to your adviser. I still have practice so I will be leaving you here. See you later."

"Um, t-thank you." Sae uttered as Ryoma walked away. Ryoma waved his hand without turning back.


The morning practice went smoothly. However, the peacefulness of Ryoma's morning was ruined when Momo mentioned about his encountered with Ryoma.

"I was certain that Echizen was jealous when I talked to her."

"Really? I knew it! She is his girlfriend after all," Eiji said as if he found an amazing discovery.

"Don't jump to conclusions," Oishi commented.

"W-why don't you just ask him?" Kawamura suggested as they saw Ryoma coming their direction.

"Echizen, there is something we want to ask of you."

Ryoma smell something fishy as he approached his sempai.

"Who was the girl you're with this morning?"

All of his sempai present that moment went all ears as they wait for his answer.

"She's a distant relative."


Tomoka rushed in their classroom and ran towards Sakuno.

"I heard that we have a new classmate."

A soon as Tomoka said the words, their homeroom adviser entered the room. The class suddenly became silent.

"Class, you have a new classmate," then their teacher signaled Sae to enter the room.

"My name is Saeri Ichinomiya. Just call me Sae. Nice to meet you." Sae smiled.

Almost all the boys in the room blushed after seeing her smile. Even the girls were charmed by her. It was as if an angel descended from heaven. Everyone thought the same except Ryoma who continued to sleep on his desk.

"Does anyone have any question for Sae?"

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Actually, I do have a boyfriend."

"Eh!?" Everyone was surprise at her answer. Even Ryoma opened his eyes to look at her.

"Where is he now?"

"What is his name?"

"Is he a student at this school?"

Questions were thrown at her almost at the same time. She doesn't know what to answer first.

"Okay class, that's enough. Sae, you can take the vacant seat."

Sae was not able to answer any succeeding questions. She walked to her seat. She was surprised to see Ryoma's seat right next to hers.


That's all…for now

(=^.^=)