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CHAPTER-2: The first day of school

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Disclaimer:I do not own the Prince of Tennis because then Ryoma would change his name and turn into a Buddhist monk because of my fangirliness...XD


Serena's POV:

"Serena! Serena!! SERENA!!!" Tezuka's mother tried to wake her up but the girl was stubborn.

"Huh?" She woke up with a start, "Wh-Where am I?"

"At our house, dear," she replied and continued, "I was passing by to check on you when I saw you twisting and turning in your bed. I thought you were having a nightmare so I tried to wake you up."

"Um…what time is it?"

"About 5:30"

"In the morning?"

"Yes"

"O….thanks for waking me up aunt"

That was one scary nightmare. Wait wasn't I in the bathroom? Must have been part of the nightmare. O well I probably can't go to sleep again. Might as well go find something to eat. I made my way down the stairs. Kunimitsu's grandfather was at the table his head hidden behind a newspaper and his hand holding a cup, of tea I guess, which frequently disappeared and reappeared from behind the newspaper. It was really early and most people were up already. Now that's something I don't see everyday. My mom wakes up pretty early but my dad and brother snore like pigs until someone wakes them up .I snickered at the thought of what would happen if Mom created a rule of everyone waking up at 5 in the morning. Hmm….I'm getting bored. Wonder if I-

"I'm leaving"

"Huh? Already?" I asked bewildered. It's only like 6am. Why's Kunimitsu going to school so early?

"We have morning practices before class"

"This early?"

"Yes. Why does it seem strange to you?"

"Um…well in America school usually starts somewhat late like at 9 and we don't have anything before classes…unless you're counting the Assembly…" I trailed off thinking about the stuff me and my old friends used to do before school started when no one was in class. We always were the earliest ones to school….well actually they were. I planned the pranks and they initiated them. Since I was the biggest prankster in the class no one would even suspect the others and I always gave them directions after school and was the latest to get in class. Everyone was clueless and one girl even thought that there were ghosts in the school. That brought on a whole new wave of pranks but I never got to finish them because I had to come to Japan. Of course it helps that most of my friends were seniors. I snickered at the thought of what we would have done this summer. We planned ahead for the entire year even thinking about what we would do in Halloween. Everything was perfect until my mom suddenly dropped the news that I was to go to Japan. My dad argued with her. I didn't think of it much-

"Serena why don't you go with him?"

"Huh? Oh ok if he doesn't mind."

"What brought on all this tolerance all of a sudden?" Kunimitsu asked me with his usual emotionless façade but teasingly, nonetheless.

I wasn't in the mood for it so I snapped at him without thinking. "Shut up..." and skated out of the house carrying my bag with me. I used to do the same back in America until it just became a habit to skate to school. He just followed behind me and when he came up to me he asked me a question.

Tezuka's POV

"Shut up…" she snapped at me. She didn't get angry that easily and she looked upset as she went out of the room with her bag. I followed after her and caught up to her short strides in a few steps.

"Why so upset?" I asked.

She just stared at me as if I'd grown an extra head.

"Are you done?" I asked

She laughed and looked ahead. After a while she gave a short sigh and answered me.

Serena's POV

I didn't know why he was suddenly so worried about me but after staring at him for I decided there was no harm telling him. I told him about all our plans for pranks and Halloween. He just listened patiently so I went on,

"At first I didn't think of it much you know. My parents got into a huge fight about it but I didn't care. That was the usual. My parents always fight. I was more scared for the glass show pieces in our house wondering if this time they were going to break my favorite one." I added with a weak smile.

"But then my mom and dad agreed that if they'd send me to your place I'd be relatively okay. They trust you a lot you know."

"So you don't really like it here do you?" he asked me

"I didn't say that I didn't like it here. It's great here. Of course I miss my friends and everything but it's not I can't make friends here. And even if I don't I can always join St. Rudolph. I bet Mizuki would be delighted." I said and continued, "At least I don't have to be the postman delivering messages between my parents every single day anymore. Even if it is for a year only…." I added with a humorless laugh.

"…"

"Hey just cause I get a break from postman job doesn't mean I won't pull pranks. I live to serve pranks" I said with a big grin. I didn't want him to feel sorry for me.

The last thing I needed was pity. I came here to forget. To forget about my hideous past. To forget about everything and start over. And I didn't need my cousin wallowing over my pain. As I was thinking about all that we'd already arrived at school and Kunimitsu was showing me around the school. To avoid him noticing that I hadn't heard a single word he'd said till now, I just asked him randomly to repeat what he'd said but looks like he noticed.

He gave up on giving me the Grand tour, as I called it, and took me to the tennis courts. First he led me to the girls' courts to get me signed up for the team.

Four courts were standing in for corners forming a kind of square. Each court had a board beside it with the court number on it. Inside Court A, there was a tall woman with long, blonde hair tied up in a ponytail. She had high cheekbones and was applying….makeup? In a tennis court? But she still had on a Seigaku High tennis regulars' jacket that I often saw my cousin wearing. The first impression of the girls' tennis team made me seriously want to go back and join the boys' team.

"Excuse me", my cousin began

The blonde girl looked up and her eyes almost popped out. She hurriedly put the makeup in her bag and stood up.

"U-um Tezuka-kun!" she asked surprised but had a fangirly tone no less.

"Yes. My cousin here wants to join the tennis team."

I had to fight against the great urge to yell NO and run out of the courts but that wouldn't solve anything. He'd drag me back and make me join anyways. One of the reasons why my parents were so sure of Kunimitsu and one of the reasons why I despised him sometimes.

"U-yes just fill out this form please. We have practices thrice a week in the afternoons for one hour after school ends." She told me while handing me a printed form.

I couldn't hold myself any longer. "Thrice a week? An hour after school? No wonder you guys couldn't even go through the Metros!! This is a joke!"

"Excuse me? I think our training sessions are quite serious and we have to let our regulars rest." Blondie told me haughtily.

"Rest? Or do you just need time to do your nails Blondie?" I asked her raising my eyebrows. I hadn't lost my cool yet but I was very near to that level. What do these people think of tennis? A game? Well yeah….technically it is a game but it's about having fun. Not showing off what you can do to the guys.

"Miss um..."

"Serena Misaki"

"Yes Miss Misaki…Well if you think that our training menu isn't good why don't you become our Captain first and then change the training menu? Or are you too scared to go against our ace player?

"Actually I'm just scared of whether you might suicide when I break your nails. And quit showing off. My cousin doesn't like show off's who have no talent. Big deal you're the Captain…..If a freak like you could become Captain then I'm scared of how the rest of the players are like"

She blushed at what I said and almost yelled at me," Well why don't we see about that this afternoon? We'll play in this court. Whoever wins gets the Captaincy position and then we'll see who's really the freak, freak"

"Very smart Blondie. Tomorrow I'll ask you your ABC's." I told her and left but in mid stride I turned around and added something, "A word of advice. Don't blush. It makes your already ugly face look even uglier." And left. I wasn't fuming nor was I angry because I'd insulted her. I know that shouldn't make me happy but it's what she deserved.

Tezuka walked up to me but he had to jog to keep up because I was picking up speed. I slowed down my skating to catch up to him and he slowed down as well. He didn't say anything as we left the courts but led me to another set of courts. In these courts there were a few players warming up by the looks of it. I eased up and calmed down. I kind'a got hyper when people didn't take things seriously and that definitely applied to Blondie in the girls' courts.

"There were seven people inside one of the boys' courts, all of them wearing the same jacket as Kunimitsu meaning all of them were Regulars.

Narrator's POV:

"Huh? Isn't that Buchou nya?" the redhead called out to his doubles partner, "Hoi hoi! Who's that girl with him nya?"

"Huh? There's a girl with the Captain?" Momo asked getting all excited and Fuji opened his eyes as he turned around from his warm up.

"That's his cousin you guys" Oishi said as he turned to see his Captain.

"Oh….." Momo sighed clearly disappointed and Fuji went back to his warm up with Kawamura closing his eyes though something told his warm up partner that he was quite disappointed too. No surprise that he had hoped to find some blackmail material for his collection. Kawamura shuddered at the thought though he was carrying his racket.

Tezuka and Serena were still some distance away making their way to the tennis courts.

"What do you think she'll be like? His cousin?" Taka asked timidly as he put away his racket once he finished his warm up.

"Since she is his cousin, she might have some attributes similar to him." Inui said his glasses shining.

"Saa…she's probably cold and emotionless just like him." Fuji said

"But good in tennis nya!" Eiji said jumping up and down

"Yes, I have done some research regarding that matter. It seems she has won Runner's up in the 'All America Girl's Tennis' and that seems to be about it. Other than that she's a baseline player."Inui read out in one breath.

"Nya Inui how can you read for so long without taking a breath?"

"Maybe he's like a fish or something" Momo said in the midst of his laughter.

"20 laps now Momo", a voice called

"Buchou!" Everyone said as they lined up in front of their Captain.

"Momo. 20 laps" Tezuka repeated again

"Um….why are you giving him laps already?" Serena asked confused

"He was fooling around"

"But you can't give him laps. You weren't even here when he was fooling around and considering you were late in the first place, he doesn't have to do laps for anything" she argued

"I wonder whose fault that is….." Tezuka muttered but Serena ignored him.

The rest of the regulars were staring at the two, open mouthed and Inui was scribbling fiercely in his notebook. Momo was the first out of his trance and he sided with Serena.

"Yeah. And I already did my morning laps Captain", he said with an innocent smile.

"Peach head…" Kaidoh muttered but Momo heard it, as usual…

"WHAT-!"

"Shhhhhhh!!" Serena muttered to Momo and he kept quiet.

Tezuka eyed Serena warily and she gave him a big, innocent smile. At least it looked innocent….

"Very well…Everyone, I'm guessing you've all completed your warm ups. Move on to the matches. Inui."

"Yes. I have prepared a new training menu for everyone. Since we are almost out of time today, I will initiate the new training method this afternoon."

"Where's Echizen?" Tezuka asked suddenly.

"I think Echizen said he'd miss morning practice today, yesterday when he left" Kawamura said.

"Well since we don't have a player or any time left why don't we introduce ourselves to Tezuka's cousin?" Seigaku's mother-hen suggested.

"Wait wait!! Can I guess your names?" Serena asked her eyes twinkling.

"Um-a. Okay" Oishi said. He was thinking more of a calm introduction.

"Okay….You're Momoshiro Takeshi" she said to the purple eyed, black haired boy, "Kaoru Kaidoh, Sadaharu Inui, Shuichiro Oishi, Eiji Kikumaru, Takashi Kawamura and of course, Syuusuke Fuji." She called the names indicating the person with her fingers.

"Wow, you know a lot about us." Oishi said

"Uh-huh"

Just as Oishi was about to say something else, the school bell rang indicating the beginning of classes.

"Practice dismissed" Tezuka called in a loud voice as students began filing into their classes.

"Aaaaaaaaaa!!!! Fujikooo!!! We're gonna be late for class!!!" Eiji yelled as he ran towards the general direction of the school building.

"Saa…you're right Eiji. And I'd told Tera-san to wait for me at the entrance of Building D….I'll catch up with you later." Fuji said with a sly smile.

Building D? That's only for teachers and its deserted most of the time. What's Fuji up to now? Tezuka thought with a sigh though he couldn't help but feel a little annoyed at the tensai. As he was wondering to himself why he felt annoyed, Serena interrupted his whirl of thoughts.

"I really don't wanna interrupt you while you're lost in LaLa land, cuz, but I need to know my class and schedule" Serena said with an amused grin.

Tezuka narrowed his eyes at her and led her toward her class. Serena followed him through long, winded corridors. Everyone, especially the girls stared at her and Tezuka making their way to the class. The girls stared at her in horror and she flashed them huge radiant smiles. She was so happy that most of the school did not know that she was Tezuka's cousin. But the real amusement came when they reached their destination.

They entered the class with the teachers' permission and she looked pleased to see Tezuka for some reason.

Must have been his teacher when he was a freshman here. I don't blame her being pleased. Kuni's the biggest nerd in the world. Or……maybe just a die-hard fan. Serena snickered to herself at the thought and when she looked at the class she had to look away at their stares. By this time Tezuka had finished talking to the teacher and she addressed Serena.

"Miss Misaki. From what your cousin tells me-loud sighs from the students-you are an excellent student but are not very committed to studying."

"Aren't all kids?" she said with a smile

The teacher smiled back and said, "Yes, but I wish that you will minimize your level of playing jokes while in class. I'm sure you are quite deft in you prankmanship by now"

That made all the students laugh but the teacher continued, "but you must study hard as-"

"Gomen gomen sensei. My dad and I got into a fight." A boy said as he entered the room. Serena was about to look at the door but the dreamy gaze of the girls in the class caught her off guard, especially that of a particular bronze haired girl.

She mentally whistled to herself and thought, this dude's got all the girls in the class brooding over him. No wonder there was a lack of reaction in the girls when I made my dramatic entrance with my ever so clueless cousin. She turned to look at him but cut short when she heard the teacher speak.

"Yes Mr. Echizen. You seem to be late today. Take a seat." She said in a voice that was closer to a coo

Definitely a die-hard fan girl Serena registered to herself mentally. Echizen? Wait. No. it couldn't!! She couldn't help herself but glare at her cousin as he left the class and Echizen went and took a seat at the front of the class. Judging by the amount of pink envelopes stacked up on that seat, it was his assigned seat from the first day.

"Well Miss Mis-"

"I'll just go sit over there?" Serena interrupted the teacher pointing at the only empty seat in the room.

"Yes…but I was about to introduce you to everyone."

"O…right introductions…" she muttered while making a face

The teacher looked at her in a confused way. First she was all happy and hyper and now she's the gloom and doom. She continued saying, "But if you'd rather not, I don't really mind."

"Thankyou…" she answered in a dull way. She wanted to strangle her cousin for this. This was why he hardly ever mentioned "the youngest prodigy"

Wait? Why am I hiding? She thought to herself angrily Chances are he won't even know who I am. Ugh….I'm over reacting. This is stupid. Oh well. My happiness just flew out the window. No. Not there. To the right. No. Yeah there. She was debating mentally and finally went to sit at the only empty seat in class, beside a reddish bronze colour haired girl.

RYOMA POV

Another stack of those annoying letters. What is up with these girls….don't they have anything else to do? I felt so annoyed. My dad had stacked most of his magazines in my bag in an effort to make me read it and now this. Maybe I shouldn't have come to school at all. No. Tennis practice is compulsory.

"Thankyou….."

The word broke into my thoughts. I hadn't realized the teacher was talking to another girl. At first glance I could tell she was new. Of course everyone was new. Today was the first day of High school but I could say that all the other students were my classmates in Junior High School as well. This girl was a new one, a new fan. Crap. And the seat beside me was completely empty other than the one beside Ryuzaki. I don't know how I'll survive. But I was in for a shock. She walked right past my seat and went to sit beside Ryuzaki. I caught a brief glimpse of her expression and it looked like she was thinking deeply about something. Her black hair showed tints of brown and red in the sun and was tied into a high ponytail whereas the bangs covered most of her face from view. For some reason I felt happy after that first glance. Like that girl was someone I knew but hadn't seen in a long time. Must have been those magazines my dad read to me by threatening to break my tennis rackets and ship me back to America. I tuned out most of it but I guess it's stuck to me. Stupid old fart.

Narrator POV

The second bell rang signaling the beginning of classes.

"Hello and welcome everyone!!" I'm pretty sure that most of you are from Seigaku Junior High so most of you are familiar with each other. But the students here will need to be familiarized with us, the teachers of course so why don't we introduce ourselves? Now I have come to know that all of you know each other but we have one new student who is new to this school as well as this country so we will all introduce ourselves one by one. Begin"

The students began telling their names and Serena watched as her queue got closer.

"I'm Horio. This is Kachiro and this is Katsuo. I've had 4 years of tennis experience and let me tell you-"

The whole class was laughing as Kachiro stuck a tennis ball into Horio's mouth to quiet him down.

"Okay okay. Enough laughing. Now move on."

"Echizen Ryoma" All the girls in the class sighed at the sound of his name.

Ryoma POV

"Echizen Ryoma" I said and heard sighs from the girls. You have got to be kidding me!! I sat down to avoid the stares of the fan girls.

"R-Ryuzaki Sakuno" The girl behind me squeaked. Ah Ryuzaki. Always so shy. But I didn't have time to ponder about her as the next name caught my attention.

"Misaki Serena"

Serena? Why does that name sound so? So? Familiar? It's a girl. I'm pretty sure the only girls I ever played against are Ryuzaki and Buchou's rehabilitator in Germany. But then why? I couldn't press the subject farther because the teacher's words broke through my concentration.

"Miss Misaki! Do you mind telling us a little more about yourself. From your cousin I have come to know that you previously lived in America?"

"Yes."

"And tell us about your hobbies?"

"I like drawing, reading, tennis, music, hanging out with friends and surfing the internet."

"Oh! Another tennis player!! Echizen Ryoma is also a tennis player!"

"So I've heard" she replied simply

"Okay now class do you have any questions?"

"Your cousin is Tezuka Kunimitsu?"

"Yes"

"You can't have Ryoma-kun just cause you play tennis you know!!"

"A. That's not a question and B. I really couldn't care any less"

Huh. She shouldn't have said that. Now the guys are gonna annoy her.

"Are you single? Will you date me?" an overly excited boy asked

"I'm flattered. Yes I am single and I don't plan on changing that status too soon"

"Okay everyone that's it! Let's begin our lesson!!"

Serena POV

The class was so damn boring. I'd already learned the uses of pronouns. In 4th Grade!! Oh well. Guess I shouldn't be hypocritical. I'm in Japan after all. I started drawing random patterns on my notebook just for the fun of it.

"R-Ryoma-k-k-kun"

The name brought back a stack of memories but I looked towards my neighbour who was stuttering the name. For a second I thought she had a fever or something. Her skin was a million shades of red and she was slightly shaking while she tried not to look front at something. Only that something turned out to be Ryoma Echizen. He was looking this way but I wasn't sure about what exactly he was looking at. Suddenly his eyes met mine for a brief second and I could see he was confused about something. I narrowed my eyes at him and his eyes went wide as if he'd just realized something vital. I turned my gaze away from him and went back to drawing.

Ryoma POV

Serena!! I finally remember!


Well that's it! I'll update the next chappie soon hopefully but please please please review!!! I'm begging!! I'm on my feet. No not that foot. Not the left. Yeah the right.

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