Disclaimer: Here's the next chapter. I don't own anything but my OC's and the plot. Please review.

Chapter 1

Echizen Ryoma's Twin

Ryoma and Momo were walking laundingly around in the public streets after eating at a local burger restaurant. Today was a Sunday, so they had no school and Momo had insisted Ryoma and him hang out and maybe go see the tennis courts to play around. That's was where they were heading. Both of the boys were in their casual athletic attire with light jackets Ryoma had his usual Fila cap on. Both boys bounded up the concrete steps toward the direction of the public courts. The sun was still out in the sky, but slowly descended onto the horizon. Orange streaks grazed the sky and a nice, cool afternoon breeze blew in the air. Perfect weather to play some tennis after a rainstorm the previous days. As the two friends got closer to the courts, they noticed it. A crowd.

"What's going on?" Momo wondered out loud, raising a brow. Up ahead, an audience was crowded around one court. A match was progressing. Assumingly, only one, and it seemed interesting by the size of the onlookers. Even though natural light was out, the street lamps were shining with rich white light. Sounds of racket thunks and footfalls were clearly heard.

Ryoma did not answer his senpai, his cat-like eyes narrowing, and a frown forming. He stroded forward briskly, leaving Momo to follow his kohai abruptly. Both Seigaku regulars shouldered through the crowd until they had full view of what was happening. Momo's eyes widened in disbelief.

"What the hell?" he said, and stared at the most abnormal and most impressive match he'd seen in a while upon public courts.

"It's the mysterious tennis player," Ryoma said in a mutter, but Momo heard him and agreed.

On the court, wearing the clothes Inui had described to the pair, was the strong, foreign tennis player. This person was almost exactly like Ryoma. Heck, they were even around the same height and body structure. Slim, short, and fit. But Ryoma felt something off about the player, his senses keen as usual, but dismissed that thought as he saw his look-a-like play a two-on-one match. Ryoma recognized the double pair. The same pair that he and Momo had a run-in during junior high. The compatible purple-haired boy and spiky brown-haired one. Ryoma's look-a-like seemed to winning, holding on his/her own in an outmatched game. He/she flew across his/her side of the court, favoring net play, and snapping out shots in a flurry.

"Come on, Izumi! Fukawa!" shouted the audience in support, favoring the known double pair than the unknown player.

"Beat that brat!" someone else yelled.

"That kid sure can put Izumi and Fukawa on their knees," Momo commented as he and his kohai watched the double pair sweat and stumble to keep up. The unknown player was swift and cunning, shooting across the court easily. His/her control was precise, every shot zoomed past the double pair's formations and teamwork at the corners or baselines. Ryoma saw his doppelganger's footwork, the reason why he felt connected to the capped player.

"Split-Step," he said in realization. "Momo-chan-senpai, look at the brat's footwork."

Momo barely cared about his kohai's language. "This person sure acts like you."

Ryoma scowled at his senpai and his statement. No one was like him. No one.

"Game and match! 6-0. Izumi and Fukawa pair loose!" announced the volunteer referee. He called more blandly, "Winner goes to the other kid!"

Groans of protest mixed with gasps of surprise rang throughout the public area.

Ryoma's twin straightened up in his/her leaning pose. Izumi and Fukawa fell to the ground on their knees or butts, too exhausted to stand. Their breathing were in loud puffs. The Seigaku regulars watched the unknown tennis player readjust his/her star-designed cap and bow to his/her beaten opponents. Was he/her thanking for the game despite the knowledge he/she disgraced his/her opponent? The audience started to grow smaller as some disappointed onlookers left the scene.

Momo ran to the losing pair on the court ground, Ryoma followed slowly, not as enthusiastic. "Oi! Are you two okay? That was pretty intense!"

Izumi wheezed out, "Too strong...like...everyone...said."

"Wimps," Ryoma remarked, but he was staring intently across the net at his twin. He/she was also facing his direction calmly. Ryoma scowled again. He was getting pissed off. Who did this person think he/she was? On top of that, to play as a mirror of him. Was this a joke directed to him? Standing on the court, opposite of each other, it really was like a mirror. His muscles twitched to move and he had an urge to show this unwanted brat a lesson.

Ryoma's twin held his/her racket almost lazily in a particular way. His/her middle finger bent to hold the racket in the triangular opening, letting it swing carelessly upside-down. While Ryoma freely showed his face under his cap (mostly for people to see his cocky grin) his twin had his/her cap tucked down securely to cast a shadow over his/her face.

"Who are you?" he growled at him/her.

His doppelganger shook his/her head slightly and sighed softly.

Ryoma scowled and glared at him/her fiercely. "Nani? Too scared to tell?" he taunted him/her.

Momo stood up behind him. "What kid? Can't play one more match?" he said, also baiting the tennis player.

Ryoma caught what looked like an amused smile on his twin's lips. He/she did a mock salute and suddenly ran off the public courts quickly.

"Oi!" Momo shouted, irated. "Come back and fight!" But the kid was sprinting fast out of view. Gone. It was just like how Inui described, the foreign player materialized during the afternoon, then breezed out of sight at sundown. The last rays of the sun melted into the dark haze of night.

Senpai and kohai exchanged glances, both peeved. "What was that about?" Momo grumbled.

Ryoma turned around to look at the older tennis players resting on the cool court. The tag-team finally regained their breaths. Izumi finally spoke up.

"That kid had shown up about an hour ago, barely saying a few words before starting up with a match with some other players, about five single games in all. That kid beat them all and hardly sweated a dent." He frowned, vexed. "Finally me and Fukawa decided to step in. We thought we could beat the new player as a tag-team, but," he shook his head resignedly, "we were wrong. Dead wrong."

"Game and match, too," muttered Fukawa. "We couldn't get one shot past that arrogant shrimp."

"Either you two gotten worst in five seconds, " Momo observed openly, "or that shrimp is better than you," Momo smirked, "like me."

"Shut it, Momoshiro," Fukawa huffed. His pride was definitely dented, but Momo didn't have to rub it in. "That brat found out our weakness first and broke our pace. His serves were incredibly strong. And he was definitely faster and the speed of his hits..." He shook his head and looked at Ryoma. "He's kinda like you Echizen. He even used Split-Step."

Echizen glanced up at Momo. "We should tell Inui-senpai about this."

"Un," Momo agreed.

Ryoma turned his tail and strolled off curtly. "You tell senpai then," he said simply.

Momo ran after his annoying little kohai. "Oi! I didn't mean I was going to tell Inui-senpai!"

There were barely any lingering spectators from that afternoon matches. Only one was left in the end, sitting in a relaxed but dutiful manner in the tiered stands. He got out his cell phone and dialed a number.

"Moshi moshi?" answered a suave and mannered tone. The caller wasted no time on greetings.

"Atobe? I got the info you wanted."

The next day was finally the first day of the new school year after the end of spring break. Seishun Gakuen High School Division was almost an exact replica of its middle school division, except everything here was...maturer? Maybe the word was sophisticated. The large white three-story building establishment was surrounded by brick walls and metal front gates. Cherry blossom trees were flourished with fragrant pink leaves, and in the morning, the outdoors were warm and breezy. Students of Seishun Gakuen wore their summer uniforms and shoes. In the afternoon, the sun would raise the temperature.

The weather was one to cheer someone up early in the morning. And it was beautiful outside to play sports. Most people milled inside the school where it was lively and cozy. Friends and classmates reunited themselves, all in a new grade level.

Homeroom was uncommonly filled with its round of students, still time left to socialize before first bell. Echizen Ryoma was resting his head on his desk, due to the fact Momo had insisted they go to school early since it was the new year. Momo had rushed off to a small meeting with the other tennis regulars to talk about the skilled, unmasked tennis player he and Ryoma encountered the previous day. It looked like Ryoma was snoozing with his cat-like eyes barely open, but he was thinking...and sulking.

Stupid brat, he grouched in his head, staring at a fixated spot on the floor. Too coward to play one more game? I didn't even get...

A certain braided auburn-haired girl about two rows over was frowning at his slouching posture.

I wonder what's wrong with Ryoma-kun today? Sakuno thought worriedly. Is he sick? Or maybe it's the weather? But it seems wonderful today.

When Sakuno's best friend, the pig-tailed Tomoka (her hairstyle has been childish since forever) saw who she was staring at, Tomoka's fangirl love/concern gushed out. Puppy love was pretty much all Tomoka felt about Ryoma since junior high.

"Ryoma-sama, are you feeling sick today? Did you eat breakfast? Is it the hot weather? Or is it because tennis practice isn't until the afternoon?" Tomoka was basically on the same train of thoughts like Sakuno, but her execution of display was loud and unbashful. Her sentences were like punches to the eardrums. Screechy and painful.

Ryoma pretended to fall asleep.

The freshman tennis trio walked over to surround Ryoma, who sighed in annoyance and sat up. Sakuno and Tomoka followed suit to his desk. Tomoka, being in Ryoma's personal bubble, and Sakuno, still thinking what was troubling him.

"Ne, ne, Echizen," Horio asked in his nasal voice, "have you met the capped tennis player who looks like you yet?"

Ryoma looked grumpy. "Iie."

Horio pounded his chest proudly. "One day, me and that player will cross paths, and I will challenge him to a match, and win!"

Tomoka rebuked against Horio's daydreams. "An idiot like you could never beat someone as strong as that! That wannabe is impersonating Ryoma-sama! I bet that he came to personally challenge Ryoma-sama and Ryoma-sama will beat him without a sweat!" She turned to Ryoma, rubbing her hands together. "Ne, ne, am I right, Ryoma-sama?"

Inside, Tomoka's and Horio's words stirred up angry and mixed feelings in Ryoma. He was very pissed off now. He crossed his arms and scowled at the desk top, fuming about the tennis match he wanted.

Tomoka's attention was diverted from Ryoma when the bell rang in a series of chimes. The students clamored into their seats hastily as the sensei walked in. Sensei stopped at the podium without glancing up at his students and skimmed through his folders. The class was quiet as they waited to begin their lessons.

Sensei cleared his throat and stared at the sea of young faces. "Today we have a new student who transferred just recently during spring break." An excited, uplifting chatter surfaced in the classroom. Sensei ignored it. He called out in the direction of the doors. "Please come in now."

The doors slide opened and walked in a girl...in a boys' uniform?

She came in until she was standing in a light manner by the podium as Sensei wrote her name on the chalkboard. She stared directly at her new classmates as they whispered amongst each other about her. She was...beautiful.

This girl was a classic Asian beauty. Her body was slender and proportional under a males' uniform, but she was short, a couple of inches over five feet. Her face was angelic and prim. Her skin was pale and her expression was like she was frozen in a dream. Her almond-shaped eyes were absolutely stunning. Sapphire eyes.

Sensei finished on her name. "Everyone, this is Kurosaki Amatsu."

Amatsu bowed respectfully at the waist. Her face was still dreamy as she smiled softly, but more animated than before.

"Konnichiwa," she said in a alluring voice like velvet, bringing people to a daze, "I'm Kurosaki Amatsu. Please take care of me."

Someone whistled lowly in the room.

Sensei took the time to chide her about her uniform. "Kurosaki-san, I must warn you, it's mandatory for girls to wear a girls' uniform and not anything they like. Tomorrow wear the correct dress code or you will sent to the front office."

Amatsu's soft smile became an unrepentant frown. "Aw, but girl uniforms are too frilly." She made a distasteful face at that word.

Sensei narrowed his eyes shrewdly at her. "Rules are rules, Kurosaki-san. You may might as well learn them soon or things will get messy."

Amatsu held up her hands in surrender. "Hai, hai."

"There's an vacant seat next to Ryuzaki. Ryuzaki, raise your hand."

Sakuno blinked and raised her hand quickly. The new student was going to sit by her!

Amatsu strolled swiftly down the rows and situated herself, setting her schoolbag down. She smiled at Sakuno. Sakuno's face lit up. Both of them thought of the same thing when they noticed each other.

She's pretty.

Sensei cleared his throat. "Now, first things first. I hope you all remembered that starting today..."

Homeroom had finally ended-thank Kami-and the sensei went to change classrooms while the students lingered in the class, socializing again. Homeroom was dreadfully tedious especially with a strict and boring teacher, rambling on and on about procedures and upcoming topics.

Sakuno was putting away her notebooks in her bag and noticed on her left that Amatsu was doing the same. She smiled in her cheerful, friendly way.

Sakuno got Amatsu's attention. "Konnichiwa, Kurosaki-chan, I'm Ryuzaki Sakuno. It's nice to meet you."

Amatsu smiled back politely. "Konnichiwa, and don't call me so formally. I prefer being called by my given name."

Sakuno adored the girl's voice and smile. She agreed enthusiastically, "Hai! Amatsu-chan!"

Amatsu laughed like burst of chimes. "I don't really like being address as 'chan', but okay." She shrugged. "You're really pretty Saku-chan, and nice."

Sakuno blushed nothing less by that high praise. "Sa-Saku-chan?"

"Can I call you that?" Amatsu asked. "You look like a 'Saku-chan' to me."

"Mm!" Sakuno loved it. She'd made a new best friend! Someone like her! So kind and beautiful and open-minded.

"Eh? Sakuno? Are you talking to the new kid?" inquired a pitchy voice. Amatsu and Sakuno looked up to see pig-tailed Tomoka looming over them, one brow up.

Sakuno began introductions happily, "Amatsu-chan, this is Osakada Tomoka, my best friend."

"Nice to meet you," she replied causally. She concurred that Tomoka and Sakuno were opposites. It was easy to tell. Maybe the expression opposites attract was true.

"Hey! Don't forget us!" exclaimed another voice. Three figures stroded forward. All boys. One boy had crinkly russet hair and a unibrow, his face reminding Amatsu of a monkey. The other two could almost be brothers with their black hair and friendly outlook. One boy was taller than the other.

Sakuno gestured at the boys. "That's Horio-kun, Kachiro-san, and Mizuno-san. They're all in the boys' tennis club."

Amatsu's bold eyes lit up interestedly. "Tennis team?"

"Yup!" Horio pounded his chest proudly. "I have other five years of tennis experience now! If you have any questions or concerns about tennis, just call me!"

"He's not really good at tennis though," Tomoka staged-whispered to Amatsu sourly. "He never made it into the regulars spot in junior high."

"Oi! I heard that!"

Amatsu glanced between Sakuno and Tomoka. "Are you two in tennis?"

Tomoka patted Sakuno's back. "Sakuno is! She's good, too! She's been in the girls' tennis club since junior high and became a regular last year! Her grandmother coached the boys' team in junior high than transferred to high school after two years so she could teach the same regulars again!" Tomoka's eyes looked like stars, her voice so dramatic. "Oh! And now we're all together in the same school again just like in junior high! With Ryoma-sama!" At that reminder, Tomoka waved across the classroom and a bored-looking boy slouching in his seat. "Ryoma-sama! Ryoma-sama!"

"Shh, Tomo-chan," Sakuno tried helplessly to calm her crazed friend. "It wasn't that important. I was only a doubles player. And obaa-chan really missed everyone."

Ryoma had glanced to his left when the loud-mouth girl shouted his name. His gaze settled briefly at the sweet, braided, auburn-haired who was placating her loud friend, and strangely, staring curiously past Sakuno, was the new kid. The sapphire-eyed girl in a boy's uniform. They locked gazes for a second. The girl's monotone expression changed into an amused smile momentarily then disappeared. Ryoma blinked, thinking he made that up in his mind. But something was bothering him...that smile...he'd seen it before, but where?

He forgot that thought after another class hour, long and endless. He fell asleep behind the secrecy of his book.

"Sono, Saku-chan, can you explain to me the tennis rules around here?" Amatsu asked her new-found friend during lunch. Amatsu and her new array of friends sat outside on a picnic bench in honor for Amatsu's arrival. She had felt really touched and decided to give everyone a cookie that she'd baked at home from her bento. Amatsu and Sakuno got even more closer with the same passion for cooking.

"The tennis club here is split by gender," Sakuno started explaining like an expert because she was. "You can sign up now if you want but it's not mandatory to join a sport. Regular ranks are set up by matches about every three months. Those who win in each block become members eight regulars in all. They get blue and white Seigaku jackets. And training is different most of the time but Seigaku wants to keep it's reputation in winning the nationals." Sakuno looked thoughtful. "The boys' tennis club captain is Tezuka Kunimitsu-senpai. My obaa-chan is the coach this year. She's old, but she can be very strong-willed! When Tezuka-senpai and his year came to high school, they didn't win the nationals at first. The next year became harder, but they won! My obaa-chan told me this."

"It's because last year because Momo-chan-senpai and Kaidoh-senpai enrolled in high school," Kachiro cutted in, his dark eyes bright. "This year Ryoma-kun's here and Seigaku will definitely win nationals. It'll be just like in junior high again! Before school officially started, tennis club did. We organized the ranking tournament and Ryoma-kun got selected again!"

Amatsu absorbed the information deeply her face blank and far away as she stared at her half-eaten bento.

It's just like he said. Hmm...

While Amatsu was thinking, Tomoka stomped back into the picture from her scouraging, looking grumpy.

"Ryoma-sama didn't want to eat with us today," she complained. "He and the other regulars are training. It's not healthy to train all day and eat nothing!"

But he took my homemade bento earlier, Sakuno thought, looking worried again for the freshman ace.

Blinking back into the present time, Amatsu asked, "Isn't Echizen the youngest winner of Wimbledon?"

Everyone nodded amiably with wide smiles.

"How do you know, Kurosaki-chan?" Horio asked curiously. Amatsu shot him a bland look at the word 'chan'. "Do you watch tennis tournaments?"

Amatsu gave a small grin. "I play tennis."

Sakuno brightened. "Ah! Hontou? Then you should join the girls' tennis club!"

Amatsu chuckled lightly, easing off the subject. "It's okay. I'm thinking of joining a a music program or something. I play tennis somewhere else."

"Are you good?" Mizuno asked her.

Amatsu shrugged offhandedly. "I am not bad," she admitted.

"Maybe you could play some matches with us!" Horio proclaimed. "There's some good tennis courts nearby with lighting. But be careful these days! A mysterious, strong tennis player, who wears a cap to hid his face, had been going around and pummeling locals in perfect matches!"

Amatsu quirked a brow. "Houtouni? He's that good? Sugoi ne."

Tomoka rolled her eyes. She repeated her fervent words from earlier in class, "I think this person heard of Ryoma-sama's winning streak and great skills that he's trying to prove he's better than Ryoma-sama! He's just a wannabe! Ryoma-sama should go find this actor and defeat him fair and square!" Sakuno had to calm down her friend again. Horio, Kachiro, and Mizuno were talking about the possibilities against Ryoma and the capped tennis player. Bets and favors were on Ryoma. They believed firmly in their friend.

"Fair and square?" Amatsu echoed, looking thoughtful. She ate her lunch.

Lunch had ended in a good note. Both Amatsu and Sakuno were thrilled that they had a majority of classes together. Amatsu found out Sakuno had some weak points in English and Math, and decided to help her. Sakuno was glad to have someone tutor her. Amatsu was very intelligent. She breezed through her assignments in a blink of an eye (ten minutes to be exact) and read the rest of the class hour. The teachers could barely keep up with her. Amatsu would correct them absently and all the questions she was asked were answered precisely. She also got away with her switched uniform attire easily. The teachers learned to leave her alone very quickly.

Sakuno was Amatsu's tour guide in school. But it turned out both of them were bad with directions so they always had assistance from Kachiro or Mizuno or Tomoka (Horio was too snobby to even suggest to). During passing breaks and such, Sakuno would find a bit more about Amatsu and vice versa. Amatsu knew more than six languages by visiting different countries and having interest in cultures. Sakuno was really clever in Science, Amatsu's most dreaded subject because Science made her head spin. Amatsu adored swimming and her family liked going to the beach. Sakuno was clumsy and forgetful one minute then mature and intuitive the next. Amatsu didn't like over-the-top-cute because the thought of her being adorable and dressed in a skirt made her gag. Sakuno had been friends with Tomoka since grade school. Amatsu had a skill in art. Curiously, Amatsu brought up the subject of tennis again but inquiring more about Sakuno and her training.

"Didn't Tomoka-san say something about you being a regular last year?" Amatsu said as Sakuno and her walked down to the lockers. School had finally ended and afternoon activities would start soon. Opening their lockers, they switched their shoes.

"H-hai." Sakuno blushed, remembering how elated and proud she felt when she joined the rank of regulars. She played mostly doubles and occasionally singles against other schools. Girl tennis clubs never went into official tournaments. Sakuno won most of her matches amiably. "It wasn't that important, but I trained the best I could with help from my obaa-chan and Ryoma-kun would sometimes stepped out to teach me."

Amatsu noticed her blushing. Sakuno was like a cute little bunny. Wait, Amatsu had thought cute, she meant sweet.

"If it made you happy," she told her friend, "then it is important." Amatsu smiled warmly and Sakuno smiled back.

Both of the girls exited the school building. Amatsu said she would part ways from there and walked off. Sakuno waved her friend goodbye and hurried to the tennis courts to see if Tomoka was there. She'd remembered her friend saying she wanted to see Ryoma because he missed lunch. It took her a few misguided turns, but she finally found the boys' tennis courts.

Everyone was lively as she arrived. Tennis members seemed to be stretching and setting up all the equipment. Raising nets, sweeping the courts, getting the baskets of tennis balls from the storage, and so on. Fangirls and fanboys (really?) were crowded outside the green tennis court fence. Some took pictures while others waved their colorful, artistic banners saying 'I love you!' and whatnot.

Sakuno remembered her senpais from junior high, wearing Seigaku regular jackets. She rattled the ones she saw in her head as she came closer. Ryoma-kun, Momo-chan-senpai, Kaidoh-senpai, Fuji-senpai, Oishi-senpai, Kikumaru-senapi, Inui-senapi...There was no Tezuka or Kawamura. Tezuka was probably at some meeting or talking with her grandmother. Kawamura, she knew, had kept his promise to his dad to quit tennis and fulfill his dream and work hard on becoming a professional sushi chef.

It was easy to find Tomoka. She had a banner with Ryoma's name all big and bold. She waved it wildly, yelling, "Congratulations on making regulars, Ryoma-sama! I knew you would! L-O-V-E! Ryoma-sama!"

Ryoma was staring the other way, his back towards her, and vaguely listening to Momo as he talked to his kohai. Sakuno rushed over to the frantic Tomoka. It was hard to make her quiet when she was in president-fangirl-mode, singing (or shouting) poorly made cheers and repeating gestures.

"Mou!" Horio said, dressed in his tennis attire a t-shirt, shorts, and tennis sneakers and came over to complain about Tomoka. "Would you be quiet for once?"

"Why don't you?" Tomoka snapped back and they both started bickering heatedly. It was so rash, Kachiro and Mizuno appeared and had to hold back a scrunchy, red-face Horio.

On the courts, practice was free-for-all. Some members teamed up to play matches and get their work cut out for them. Ryoma and Momo played a game against each other, and so did Inui and Kaidoh. Although they were serious about training, they performed half-heartedly. Pictures were taken of the tennis wonders and the tennis members trained hard in the absence of their captain. On their mind was nationals.

Sakuno, Kachiro, and Mizuno managed to placate Tomoka and Horio down to just glaring at each other. Sakuno turned to see her senpais' stretching, playing, and speaking about techniques. She marveled over how graceful Ryoma could run and return shots or Momo's determination and high spirit. Sakuno wondered if she ever looked so picturesque like a moment of perfectness in any way.

If it made you happy, then it is important.

Yes...maybe sometimes it wasn't all about moments of glory and fame, but spirit and love.

Sakuno was daydreaming so much she didn't see an unannounced person enter the courts until one of the second-year tennis members Masashi Arai shouted in a sharp tone.

"Oi!" he said, pointing a finger at the freshman-sized figure at the fence entrance. He wore a blue, white-collared tee, black shorts, sneakers, and a white cap with a single star-design on it. The cap covering the boy's face secretly, and had his blue racket rested over his slim shoulder. "You! Non-members of the club are not allowed on the court!"

The boy tilted his head slightly like he didn't understand.

At Arai's shouting, everyone ceased their activities. Fuji, Oishi, and Kikumaru stopped chatting and turned around. Active players halted in their games. Ryoma and Momo eyes were wide with disbelief, staring at the newly arrived kid.

Sakuno felt her mouth hanging open. That was the tennis player everyone's been talking about? No doubt he looked like Ryoma! Plus, was this kid really good in tennis like in the rumors? Maybe he was. It was almost like experiencing déjà vu back then with Ryoma, but with someone who wasn't Ryoma, but could be. A long-lost twin perhaps?

The capped boy ignored Arai's statement and stroded forward leisurely, like he had all the time in the world. He waged the racket to no one in general.

His voice was grave and aloof. "Anyone against me. One-point match." His voice was too soft enough to be a boy's but too low to be a girl's.

Arai, who was angry at the kid's disobedience, gripped his racket and growled vehemently, "I'll take you!"

Under the shadow of his cap, the boy smiled.

Arai and the challenger took up an empty court. All around, inside and outside the court, an interested and awed crowd gathered.

Oishi was already worried. "Um...Fuji, what happens when Tezuka finds out Arai-kun accepted a match to a stranger?"

Fuji smiled mysteriously. "Saa...We'll see soon enough, right?"

Oishi sweatdropped.

Fuji went to a bench with his athletic sports bag without care. He grabbed his cell phone and pressed in a text. He took his cell phone with him as he ambled back to Oishi's side, ready to watch the heated match. His cell phone vibrated; he checked the mail.

I'll be there.

Fuji kept his sadistic smile.

Kikumaru opted to be the referee and climbed up the referee chair without being asked. He had a mischievous grin as he cleared his throat. "One-point match game versus Arai and-um-the other kid!"

Arai smiled, already feeling triumphant. He boasted, "Since I know I'm gonna win, I'll let you serve first kid! Be my guest of honor!"

Oh, what a wrong thing to say. The only people who knew that were the Seigaku regulars, who said nothing and exchanged glances. One person of the regulars was fuming under his Fila cap. How stupid was Arai? Ryoma wanted to accept the darn challenge first but Arai was too thick-headed to notice anything but himself.

The challenger produced a tennis ball from his pocket and started bouncing it rhythmically. His blue-framed racket was ready in his right hand.

Arai made a mistake by blinking. His grin faded from his lips as the tennis ball zoomed to the corner of his court with an audible smack!

"Sugoi ne," Kachiro whispered. His friends were around him and couldn't help but agree. The speed of the ball was fast.

Trying not to lose his dignity, Arai chuckled (somewhat nervous) and maintained his bravado. "Th-that was nothing! I only let you get a point because you're a shrimp! I was being nice. Th-this time I'll play serious."

It was in everyone's mind, He never does.

The kid nodded at his proclamation and served again. This time Arai reacted, but he was too slow. The ball hit the corner, Arai's tennis racket missing by three feet. This happened two more times until the capped player won, Arai trying to keep up miserably, and he fell to his knees in disgrace.

Kikumaru announced clearly, "Game and match! Arai-kun looses!"

"I-I can't believe it. A brat like him..." A shadow passed over the second-year, and he glanced up to see Momo standing in front of him, brandishing his racket. Momo was grinning expectantly at the shorter kid across the court.

"Move aside Arai, let a real player show you how it's done," he said. With his head down shamefully, Arai exited the court. Momo held up a ball to show the kid. "You mind if I serve?" he asked. A shrug was his response. He took that as a 'yes'.

"ORIYA!" Momo shouted as he did a jump serve.

"Ah! Bullet Serve!" cried the freshman trio. Everyone leaned forward in anticipation. The kid was gonna lose!

The capped player braced himself and ran to intercept it. The player grunted slightly and returned the fast serve.

This kid's pretty good! Momo observed in his head. He returned my serve. Momo ran to the other end of the court and a rally ensued. Momo's perspective eyes noticed the kid's footwork: Split-Step. He had incorporated the footwork so stealthily unlike Ryoma. For a split second, Momo thought about his kohai and glanced briefly to a frowning Ryoma fuming under his cap for the match that he still had to wait for. His impatience was thinned greatly.

Because of Momo's distraction, the capped player shot across his side of the court and scored the first point. But that didn't bother Momo, he was grinning, pumped up about a good challenge. Momo served again and another rally proceeded. Momo was strong and swift with high-spirit. His opponent was cunning and quick-minded. Momo was probably overreacting about being in the game but it seemed the short kid wanted a workout, just like him.

The capped player shot swiftly to Momo's side of the court again, but to his left. Everyone's eyes widened as Momo grinned and did a strong, deft backhand with both hands gripping the racket. It rocketed to the kid who was in the line of fire.

"Jack Knife!" Horio cried.

Oishi looked at Fuji with fretful eyes. "Momo's insane if he thinks the kid can return that! Momo wasn't holding back at all!"

Fuji held up a beseeching finger for Oishi to wait. Fuji's cerulean eyes were opened, signifying he was interested in something.

Practically all jaws were dropped as Momo's opponent poised himself and returned the Jack Knife. A tiny smile was graced on his lips. He was enjoying this!

By the time the ball landed in the baseline and bounced off, Momo had finally recovered from his shock and blinked back into reality.

"That kid...he really is something..."

"Thirty-love!" announced Kikumaru, but the cheery playfulness in his voice was edgy. Probably concern for his kohai.

Ryoma was leaning on the balls of his feet. Dammit! When was it his turn? The unfading scowl grew more prominent.

"You're good brat," Momo commented to his opponent, who was facing in his direction, posture light and straight. "Let's see if you can take me full on."

"Does Momo-chan-senpai mean he's going to be rough on the kid?" Kachiro asked out loud, a knit between his brows.

"I expect so," replied Inui, who was close to the freshmans near the fence. He pushed his glasses back. "Momoshiro had been only using half of his power until the recent Jack Knife. I suspect he was doing that for the benefit of his control." Inui checked his wristwatch and flipped open his notebook, writing notes. "Il data..."

Momo was relentless now, attacking and using more bursts of his immense strength, but no matter what he did without going overboard, the kid kept up. In fact, he was perfectly fine. Not slowing down or weakening. His speed and accuracy was killer. He flew in blurry movements across the field. Momo enforced another Jack Knife and the kid handled the blast of power and returned it, winning another point. He shook his hand and did some practice swings afterwards like he only noticed the strength of the shot until recently.

Momo lost not too soon. The match lasted ten minutes.

"Game and match. Momo-chan looses!" Kikumaru proclaimed somewhat baffled.

Inui's glasses glinted as he jotted down more notes. He murmured, "The newcomer didn't shoot any lobs or drop shots..."

"Nani?" The freshmans had heard him. They looked confused.

Inui glanced up to see Momo gripping his racket tightly. He looked both impressed and angry. Inui repeated, "Momoshiro is discouraged that the newcomer did not hit any lobs and drop shots. He was unable to use his Dunk Smash. I wonder if the player knew it beforehand or his style of playing is specifically straight shots and volleys?"

"What did you say, Sadaharu?" There was only a few people who actually ever said Inui's given name. Sakuno, Tomoka, and the freshman trio turned around to see Yanagi Renji standing behind them, in his Rikkaidai regulars' uniform and his sport bag swung over his shoulder.

"Ah, Renji," Inui said, unsurprised. (Horio was outrageously exclaiming how Yanagi appeared so quietly and why he was here.) "You've finally arrived."

Renji approached closer. "Hai." He pointed. "Fuji Yuuta arrived just before me." What he said was true, Fuji's younger brother was running to meet his brother through the fence looking rushed.

"Aniki!" he said. He grabbed at the fence links, eyes bright. "Is it true? The player is here?"

Without changing his mysterious smile, Fuji nodded and pointed at the now-ending-battle. "Hai." He pointed. "Mita."

On the other end of the fence, Inui and Yanagi were going over data about the mysterious player. By then, a brave (or cocky), expectant person had stroded forward to the court. His had his red racket ready over his shoulder and his cat-like eyes were narrowed and glinting. Momo got out of the way. No one should mess with Ryoma when he was like this: abrasive.

Ryoma said monotonously, "You. Me. One game. To the end."

Ryoma's twin readjusted his cap down more firmly, not a stray piece of hair out of place (unless it was short). Hints of black strands were at the sides and back of his head. Nodding amiably, he flashed Ryoma a bright grin in the sun. The positioned themselves correctly on the court. Ryoma bounced the tennis ball, he was serving right-handed.

Sakuno, Tomoka, the freshmans practically everyone knew what this meant. They exchanged intense glances. Yuuta, who had experience against Ryoma, assumed the infamous player would lose.

The kid waited as Ryoma tossed the ball and jumped, hitting the ball.

Swishing, ball hit the ground and shot upwards. It flew for the boy's face. He dodged it.

"Ah! Twist Serve!" shouted the freshman trio. Tomoka added exuberantly, "Ryoma-sama won a point!" She and Sakuno shared a cheerful smile.

The capped kid had recoiled his face away a second ago, not expecting that type of serve. It had twisted and aimed for his face. He checked his star-designed cap. It was still secured.

Not bad.

Ryoma smirked.

The kid poised himself as Ryoma bounced the ball rhythmically then tossed the ball and jumped to meet it.

Fwoosh. The ball smacked and spun as it landed on the ground. Ryoma's twin already had taken a step back and read the direction of the serve and shot it back. Ryoma met up with it, seeing the direction as well, and started a rally. All the audience saw was a mirror. Two of the same person but, yet, their looks were opposites. Both were slim, but fit. Short and swift. Their aura a background of immense power, skill, and experience. No story could ever match theirs.

Ryome shot a slice and his twin hit the ball with precise control it curved past Ryoma's range, and he won the next point.

"Sugoi control!" Sakuno gasped. Inui and Yanagi were scribbling down notes profusely.

"Fifteen-all!" Kikumaru cried out, his grin was cheeky. He couldn't wait to see who won this game!

It was Ryoma's twin's turn to smirk. Ryoma scoffed.

Ryoma gripped the tennis ball tightly in his hand, mostly in frustration, just when he was about get into position to serve, a familiar commanding voice rang throughout the tennis courts.

"Stop it right there!"

Everyone froze.

Gasps of surprise and whimpers sounded in the presence of the captain. Tezuka stood tall at the court entrance, one hand in his pocket. His expression was aloof, but it could change in a blink of an eye.

Tezuka glared at everyone in general. His sharp gaze landed on the halted match. Ryoma's scowl faded, he ducked his head. Not ashamed or abashed, but agitated. He hid it.

Tezuka stroded forward. Every step was like a flinch to someone in the crowd. Tennis member or not. Arai turned pale.

Oishi came to Tezuka's side, slightly scared and slightly embarrassed that he did not do his job in supervising. "Te-Tezuka? Um...this..."

Tezuka ignored his lame comments. He narrowed his eyes at one person in particular.

"Who are you?" he demanded in a low voice at the infamous player. Facing in the captain's directions, he seemed...merrier?

"Tezuka Kunimitsu," he said in that soft, enigmatic voice. "One match. You and me."

Ryoma's eyes flashed to his opponent. What? He was tossing him aside like a rag doll? His hands balled into angry fists. Momo concluded Ryoma might blow up anytime soon. You could see steam from his head.

Tezuka did nothing. Then, he said a simple answer that gave every single person in Seigaku a heart-attack.

"I accept."

Sakuno had her hands over her mouth, her doe-like eyes very, very wide. She looked at her friends. They were as speechless and struck dumb as her. Horio's jaw was to the ground. Her senpais: Inui had suddenly stopped in his writing then started again more furiously. Fuji had his cerulean eyes open, a dazzling, cryptic smile present. Oishi was stunned, frozen like a statue. Kikumaru almost fell of the umpire.

Tezuka grabbed his racket and took Ryoma's place who stood down reluctantly. Ryoma's doppelganger flashed a elated (or playful) grin and got a ball to serve. Shouting tersely, he served with accuracy. Tezuka hit it back easily. That didn't impress him, his expression intent and bland. Ryoma's doppelganger met up with the ball at service line and shot the ball back a volley with precise control before it touched the ground, the ball dashed back.

"Rising Shot," Yuuta whispered in recognition.

Tezuka was just as quick and graceful as his opponent. As the ball rose lowly, he shot it back a backhand slice his eyes trained specifically on one spot.

Woosh. The ball curved upwards towards the player's face. Since he was positioned up close near the service line, he instinctively jerked his head back to avoid getting hit. But that was Tezuka's intention. The ball tipped off the boy's cap.

Correction: the girl's cap.

All eyes were on her as the cap fell to the ground. Eyes on her as a curtain of black hair unbundled itself and fell to her shoulders. Expressions were uncomprehending as they saw an angelic face freed from the secretive shadow of the cap. A familiar angelic face. Pale complexion. Dreamy, but lively expression. And, stunning sapphire eyes.

Sakuno was the first to break from her shock. She gasped loudly, cheeks turning pink.

"A-Amatsu-chan?"

At her name, Amatsu glanced at her friend's direction and winked mysteriously. "Hey, Saku-chan," she said lightly, her voice not hidden cautiously anymore.

"It is Kurosaki-chan!" Mizuno said.

Loud exclamations and disbelieved gasps were heard.

Amatsu picked up her cap and raised an eyebrow at the unwavering Tezuka as she dusted it off.

The capped player Kurosaki Amatsu sighed resignedly. "You just had to ruin the fun, didn't you, Kunimitsu?"

Tezuka told her mildly, "I thought I told you to meet me in Ryuzaki's office. When she noticed a ruckus going about here, I stepped out." Tezuka shot an accusing glare at the spectators. They pretended to be interested in something else their shoes or the orange sky. The sun was setting. The regulars excluding Fuji and Inui sweatdropped. Momo gulped.

"It was Arai's fault," someone muttered in the crowd. Arai hid himself behind his friends at that.

"It's just free practice," someone else protested weakly.

"Wait!" shouted a voice. Yuuta. "I-I thought-This is impossible! How can a girl have been masquerade as a boy and beaten almost all the locals in Tokyo in the past week?"

Amatsu frowned distastefully at Yuuta's choice of words. "If you don't believe yourself, boy, come up here and let me pound you into dust myself."

Yuuta and Amatsu had a glaring contest.

Tezuka cleared his throat, gaining all undivided attention. "Amatsu"-people have never heard Tezuka say a first name so casually-"what made you go and play matches under a disguise?"

Amatsu smiled. "Some little birdies told me about a particularly strong tennis club, and I decided to investigate myself."

Giant arrows were pointed at five certain freshmans. 'These little birdies'. Sakuno blushed profusely. All of this was practically her fault if she hadn't been gloating.

Amatsu looked at Tezuka queerly. "But then again, you also bragged about your teammates and I couldn't help but meet them."

The entire tennis team almost fainted to the ground. The regulars exchanged incredulous expressions. Tezuka had bragged about them? The TEZUKA?

"They're quite good Kunimitsu." Amatsu shrugged. "Well, some of them. Like that Momoshiro or that bratty kid over there."

Ryoma scowled, gritting his teeth.

"Wait, wait," said Momo, waving his hands for things to slow down. He pointed between the unmasked player and his captain. Both were calm and not surprised at the sequence of events. "Who-how do you to know each other?" he cried.

Amatsu looked bland again, her eyes lidded disapprovingly at Tezuka. "You never mentioned me? Not even a little bit about your own cousin?"

"Tezuka has a cousin who plays tennis like a pro," Inui mused. Yanagi nodded beside him.

Tezuka said mildly, "No one asked." He glanced at his cousin. "Come with me, Amatsu. It's time you met Ryuzaki-sensei."

Amatsu nodded. "Hai." She and Tezuka exited the courts with their rackets casually like nothing outrageously unexpected happen. Amatsu eyed an awed Sakuno as she passed by.

"Wanna come, Saku-chan?" she asked her in that alluring voice.

Sakuno was trying to determine if this was the same Amatsu she met earlier this day. Or could it be that Amatsu was acting all this time? But she saw that kind warmth in her eyes. And when she gazed into them, it was the same. Now and then.

"H-Hai!"

Sakuno trailed after her friend.

Hoped you liked this chapter. Please review. I'll write the second chapter in maybe a week or two. I have it planned out already. If you don't understand any words, it's probably in Japanese so just look it up.