-In office-

Azuri followed her in and sat in HER chair. She had an annoyed face but smirked slightly. She leaned against the bookshelf near the desk and faced Azuri.

"So, here I am. What's on your mind of all things possible that wouldn't make me say no in the first place?" Azuri tapped her fingers tediously on the desk.

She sighed a bit and rubbed her temples. 'That Azuri has a mouth of words.'If Ryuuzaki had to describe this young girl, it would had to be:

Izumi, Azuri.
Age 13, a very lazy student of Seigaku. She had the tendency of snoozing off in class, but she manages her work before-hand. Orphaned since the age of 8. She has black hair to her neckline; and her bangs framed her face, slightly covering her eyes. She had sharp brown eyes that made people have shivers. Overall, she is particularly nice and quiet. Not many people would like to be friends with her because of her mean outlook. She is most definitely sarcastic during serious situations. She has never joined the girl's tennis team during her freshman year. Ever since she stepped foot on court with them and seen how 'great' they played, she made a wise choice not to get involved. Her best move would be her Hurricane Slash. It requires a fast top spin to reverse the already spinning ball that allows it spin on the spot and 'die' once it hits the court. Another move would be her Flicker Serve.

"Give me one good reason why you shouldn't join the tennis team even though you're great at it. If you can't, I'll be turning your form that says so otherwise."

She cringed a bit. 'Must she always do that.'

"Okay OBAA-SAN, what makes you think I would tell you!" She pointed at the coach after adjusting to a more comfortable position.

She smirked evilly, all the while sweat-dropping at how she called her old. A little angered also. "I'M NOT OLD! Anyways, a little bird told me how well you play, even though it was only serves. But it was also given that you hold potential."

Azuri stared at her, questionally. "What bird?"
She chuckled softly and heard a knock. "Come in."
The door opened and in came him. Of all people! It just had to be THE Tezuka Kunimitsu.

Tezuka, Kunimitsu
Age 14. The Captain of the Regular's tennis team. He is a national's single's player. A very stoic player who never shows emotions. His brown-blond hair and very handsome looks make majority of the females in the school swoon after him. He has, however, no interest in girls. (...Well not yet to say the least. ) His famous move would be his 'Tezuka zone.' He puts a spin on the ball so that when the opponent hits the ball, it returns back to him. Seemingly looks like it's being sucked in.

Ryuuzaki smile was even wider now. Azuri had a feeling it had to be him that was the little bird. She was getting a little nervous and slightly agitated now.

She turned back to the coach, right hand pointed at Tezuka. She stated, "So, he was the little bird?" with mocked shock.

Azuri drawled out on the words 'little bird.'

Tezuka looked slightly annoyed and stared at her. He also gave a glance at his coach dubiously.

She only chuckled and nodded. Tezuka walked up to his coach's desk, where Azuri was currently occupying her seat, and handed his sensei a complete form with HER NAME ON IT.

"Chotto matte! Who gave you permission to get my info?" Azuri looked perplexed for a bit then calmed down.

Tezuka looked at her apathetically, "I made a call to your parents, but no one picked up. However, this 'caretaker' did after my second call. He said it was alright for you to join and gave me all the information. That's who gave me the permission, Izumi-san."

Azuri hit her forehead with the palm of her hand and had an angry face on. 'HOW DARE HITOSHI DO THAT TO ME!' "Grr, when I get home after-school.. The caretaker won't live past 20!" She had a little tantrum that made Ryuuzaki take a step back toward the door, and Tezuka look amused.

"Wipe that smirk off your emo face, Kuni-kun!" Azuri sneered at him, eyes flashing.

'Kuni-kun?..' He stared at her, slightly glaring.

Ryuuzaki chuckled more and had a sinister smile on her face.

.

.

.

--At the courts--

Thus, somehow in some ridiculous way, Azuri just landed herself in a game with the Tennis Club's very own Buchou, Tezuka. She gripped her spare racket with an unreadable look. Her usual racket had a broken string. 'Just how the hell did I get a match that decided whether I join or not? Obsurd, I tell you!'

All the Regulars, on-lookers, non-regulars, and their coach stood behind the fence. Everyone was excited, amused, and entertained that some of them did not have to go through practice today!

'Saa, it's that girl.'

"Ochibi! Look, look! That girl is playing against Buchou!" The red-head boy glomped the youngest Regular on the team.

Kikumaru, Eiji
A junior on the Regular's tennis team, an acrobat. He plays doubles with his partner Suichiro(?), Oishi. Together, known as Seigaku's Golden Pair. He often appears like a cat, band-aid on his right cheek, red flaming hair, and very hyper. He usually has a bright smile on. However, he has bad stamina. Luckily during games, Oishi watches out for him. One of his moves is Kikumaru-Beam.

"Itai, Eiji-sempai." Echizen frowned as he tried to get out of this hug.

Echizen, Ryoma
Age 12. An infamous freshman on the Regular's team. He has hazel eyes and black-green hair. Short, thus landing the nickname of O-chibi by the hyperactive red-head, Kikumaru. He even has his own fanclub started by Osakoda, Tomoka with her friend Ryuuzaki, Sakuno. Twist serve is one of his serves known.

Osakoda, Tomoka
One word: fangirl. Need I say more? She's 11-12 and always have 2 pigtails with that mole on her face. Red-auburn hair color. Refers to Echizen as Ryoma-sama. A very big loud-mouth that speaks her mind very bluntly.

Ryuuzaki, Sakuno
Age 11-12. A timid girl who blushes whenever near Ryoma. She can never speak her mind, even though she wishes she could. A huge crush on Ryoma like Tomoka. Grand-daughter of Ryuuzaki-sensei. She joins the girls' tennis team in hopes of playing like her crush.

The light brown hair boy turned to Echizen.

"Saa, isn't she in your class Echizen-san?"

He looked at his sempai confused and thought outloud, "Hm...no Fuji-sempai. I think she's a junior."

Fuji, Syuusuke
Age 14. A senior on Regular's team, known as the Tensai. He has light brown hair and always have a smile plastered on. Very polite and respected by most people. Most girls swoon after him, also. One of his triple-counters is the Swallow's Return or Tsubane Geishi.

Fuji opened his cerulean eyes and looked at her through the fence. 'Saa, what makes you so special to have a serious game against Tezuka...'

He took a glance at their buchou. He was very serious. He gripped his racket a little tighter than usual. They walked to the net, shared a few words, and went to their positions. It seems that girl will be serving first.

-B2A-

'Stupid Kuni-kun.' She chuckled at his nickname. 'Making me play this game just to think I'll lose. I'll show you a game!'

Azuri squeezed that yellow ball and looked at it. A stream of past thrills flowed through her. She smirked unnoticably.

"1-set match. Izumi Vs. Tezuka! Izumi to serve." The referee called out.

The ball was tossed up and and seemingly about 10 seconds later the ball was hit, soaring over the net with tremendous power heading to the serve box. Tezuka, with the racket in his left hand, ran to it and applied the same power with an added spin. Azuri ran to the right and swiped it as it was nothing. The ball flickered in and out as it went over the net yet again and hit the center of the court. It had a delayed bounce but spun rapidly between Tezuka's legs. It hit the fence, spinning, and eventually fell back down.

"15-love." The ref announced, shocked.

Azuri's smirk was even broader.

Tezuka stared at the ball for a few seconds and went back into position for the next.

"1 game-love!" Ace serves.

Azuri was definitely in good shape. Tezuka's turn to serve. He wondered how to beat that return, only to think of the best counter returns.

--

'Hah! just a few more games and I'll be walking my sweet little self home.' Azuri thought confidently. Obviously, she had no idea what she was getting into.

She bent her knees ready to return his serve. He has yet to show her his 'Tezuka zone' that everyone has been anticipating. She can only hope to find a way to defeat it.

"IKE, BUCHOU!"
"GOMBATTE, TEZUKA!"
Many more shouts to encourage him.

"YOU CAN BEAT HER, BUCHOU. SHE'S JUST A GIRL!"

Now, Azuri was angry. She hated sexists in sports. She glared at the guy who said that. He shivered a bit and looked at the girl. He flinched and hid behind a shorter boy with a white cap.

Tezuka's thoughts - 'Not just a girl...'

Azuri turned around to receive the approaching serve. Tezuka began to glow a bit. 'What's that glow?' She ran to the ball and it flew back...TOWARDS HIM! 'What the...'

He pivoted back and backhanded it to the far right corner. She missed and stared. 'Not bad...'

She took her place back at the receiving position. Tezuka served another strong serve.

Azuri caught up, and they rallied for 3 minutes.

She ran, more focused now, to the left court and finished it with a top spin. It bounced in Tezuka's court, but it spun on the spot and died.

"Hurricane Slash..." She mumbled. Gasps were heard loudly. Tezuka looked a bit impressed, but grew more serious.

'His zone is almost indestructible...maybe I add more spin...'

"2 games-love!" Azuri used the same move to win this game. She was starting to sweat more than usual. Her move required a lot of energy.

'Yosh...that's the way to go.' She looked at her opponent who didn't sweat as much as her. Both made eye contact, and she was more determined.

-Regular's POV-

"Oishi! She's leading! Sugoi, ne??"

"Ah, Eiji..."

"Daijoubu, Oishi?" Eiji asked concerned at his Double's partner.

Oishi nodded and watched Tezuka and that mysterious girl play.

Suichiro, Oishi
A senior on the team, also the Mother-hen of Seigaku. He is very careful and tends to mother everyone. He worries mostly for his friends if they are ever in trouble. His Double's partner is Kikumaru, Eiji. One of his moves is Moon-Volley.

"2-1!"

"Pshuuuuuuu, Buchou won a game." A bandana-wearing sophomore stated. He was obviously tensed.

Kaidoh, Kaoru
A sophomore on the team. He is known as the Viper and one of his shots is the Snake, a buggy whip shot.

"GO BUCHOU! YOU CAN DO IT!" A tall, spiky-haired, violet eyes sophomore yelled. He was cheering with the on-lookers. He's the one to recover after the glare.

Takeshi, Momoshiro
A sophomore on the team. He is a power player and has a very big appetite. Known for his dunk smashes. He prefers to be called Momo-chan.

Both of them: They are rivals since elementary years.

"URASAI, BAKA! You might make them lose concentration, pshuuu." Kaidoh glared his teammate.

"Who you calling baka, Mamushi!" Momoshiro, who was called a baka, got into the boy's face and glared.

"Why yo--" As both of them were about to argue some more...

"Saa, both of you are going to distract them, Kaidoh-san, Momoshiro-san." The light browned head Tensai smiled, sadistically at them. Everyone near the Tensai shivered and quieted down.

Meanwhile, the Data-player was feverishly writing everything he was witnessing. "Iie data..." The 3 boys and 2 girls of the freshmen class backed off slightly from him.

Inui, Sadaharu
He is the data-man of the team and also the training manager. Ryoma took his place on the regular's team. Most fear his drink: The Inui Drink of any version.

"Sempai sure is interested in this match, ne Katsuo-kun, Horio-kun?"

"Hai." They responded together.

"Sugoi, ne Sakuno! Buchou will definitely win! GO BUCHOU!"

"T-Tomo-chan. Shhh. Y-you're distracting them."

Tomoko looked at the players who were annoyed; Azuri was definitely glaring at her. She immediately gulped and stayed quiet.

Toward the coach, she only chuckled as she watched this intense match. 'Hehe, can't believe she fell for it.'

"Ryuuzaki-sensei. Why is Tezuka playing against that girl?" She turned to face the mother of Seigaku Tennis Team and Vice Captain, Oishi.

"Don't worry, Oishi. She could be a great addition to the team."

Oishi's eyes widened. 'A great addition...'

"You think she can win?"

"Oishi. Not if she wins but rather if she loses, then she'll be on the team." A pause. "Are you okay?" Ryuuzaki stared at Oishi's worried look.

"Iie, sensei." He looked over at Tezuka, somewhat surprised. Then, he turned his head at the mysterious girl who played so evenly with his friend. She was sweating profusely. It was phenomenal that she could keep up.

At the same time, everyone, especially the Regulars, listened to the conversation.

"3-2, Izumi leads." The last 2 games had lasted for awhile. This was definitely a long match.

"She is, in fact, Izumi, Azuri. She has won 2 tournaments across Japan. Her goal is to be a National single's player. Her caretaker, Hitoshi-san, is currently watching over her. He is her older cousin. I keep in touch with Hitoshi-san from time to time. He says she mostly practices at the public courts. Unfortunately for us, she decided to quit." She frowned at the last statement.

They returned back to watch the intense match.

--

"4-3!"

"Ano, sensei..."

"Yes, Oishi?" Ryuuzaki turned to him again from the match.

"What grade is she?"

"Hm, she's in class 2-1. I believe."

Some people fell on the ground.

"Momo-chan-sempai!! Daijoubu!?" The trio asked.

"Ehehe..yes." Momo scratched his head as he laughed a bit. He stood back up, facing Kaidoh.

"Pshuuu baka. Why do you seem shocked?"

"Funny story. I think she's in my class..."

Everyone stared at him silently.

"Pshuuuu baka! You didn't know she was in your class!" Kaidoh snorted loudly as Momoshiro grew angry. Yet, another argument broke out until a certain smiling guy walked up to them.

"Saa, you all just missed the finishing shot."

"Set and match. Tezuka wins. 7-5!"

All the people who missed out, stood there with mouths hanging.

"Mada mada dane, sempai-taichi. You only missed out on some of the best returns." The cap boy smirked and thought, 'Keh. I want to play against her.'

-B2U-

"Good game, Kun-I mean Tezuka-san. I'll beat you one day with my new move I'm working on. Ah, too bad I have to play on your team now." 'Not if I can hide myself after-school first.' She thought.

"Ah, that was a good game."

They shook hands and got off the court.

"Boy, am I tired!" She stretched her arms from the strenuous game.

Tezuka stared at the girl a little bit longer than intended. 'A powerful move...'

A certain Tensai noticed this. He evilly smiled while everyone congratulated their Captain but also the girl.

.

.

.

"Izumi, Azuri is someone to look out for."

He started to plot a plan that would not only benefit him, but someone else as well.

-TO BE CONTINUED-

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