Prince of Tennis:

"Fearless: The Samurai Maiden"

~~~1ST SET~~~

The Prince Appears! The Maiden Stirs!

"Hey, did you hear?"

"What?"

"There's a 13-year-old competing in a tournament for 16-year-olds!"

"Yeah, right…it can't be. It has to be a registration error."

"No, I'm serious!"

"There's just no way can that be true."

Ryuuzaki Sakuno was not having a good day right now.

Firstly, her grandmother just had to force her into seeing some tennis tournament that she completely had no interest in.

"Idiot, don't you even know your own grip?"

Secondly, she had to rush herself in getting ready and catching up for the train in order to attend the said tournament since it was a last minute notice.

"If you want top-spin, then use the Western Grip. Stand with the racket in front of you like this, and grip it as if you were shaking hands with someone."

Now, she had to endure a tennis racket centimeters away from hitting her face that is being held by some know-it-all jerk.

There were three students in front of her wearing their designated uniforms. Apparently, the jerk is an ace from Kitakoute Tennis Club. His friends seem to be praising him; either unaware of Sakuno's presence or just did not care. In fact, one would say they were mocking her that way.

The racket seemed to be getting nearer to her face as the guy continued to swing the racket recklessly while boasting about his grip. Sakuno could only close her eyes in fear, already foreseeing the moment that the racket would touch her face.

However, Kami seemed to have taken pity on her.

"Hey…!" a voice called out.

The three guys seemed to have halted at the call, and Sakuno opened her eyes to curiously seek her savior. She and the three students looked across to find a young boy wearing a cap and a red jacket with black sports shorts and white sneakers. A tennis bag rested on his left as his head was bowed, his expression hidden by his cap. However, the other four knew he was addressing the guy with the racket.

"You're being noisy." He stated with strained annoyance.

For a while, silence dominated over the atmosphere and only the sounds of the train running could be heard. Mr. Know-It-All and his friends observed the kid for a while, but he just retained his position and kept quiet after his annoyed statement. After a few minutes, the train jerked and the guy dropped the racket in surprise.

"Heh," he sneered, "got yelled at by an elementary school kid…"

The moment he picked up the racket, his movements got halted by the kid's next words.

"Bingo~" the kid said mockingly in English before continuing in Japanese, "In the correct Western Grip, your thumb should lie across the top of the handle."

"What did you say?!" the guy replied dumbly.

"The grip you were referring to earlier that resembles a handshake is, in fact, the Eastern Grip." The kid paused with a smirk, "There are people like that who remember it in reverse. I advise you to be careful in what you teach others since they might suffer because of your failure in giving correct information. Then, excuse me."

As soon as he finished his short—polite yet still somewhat arrogant—lecture, he stood up with his tennis bag. On cue, the train doors slid open and the boy stepped out smoothly and confidently. He did not pay attention to the so-called 'Ace' and his friends as he pulled out his iPhone. He brought out ear phones and placed one on each ear after plugging it on his phone.

"What a drag…and I'm not even in the tournament yet…" he thought.

"Mou~" Sakuno pouted as she glared at her watch, "how can Obaa-chan be late while she was the one who invited me?" She then proceeded to sulk as she closed her eyes in irritation.

Footsteps approached but she paid it no heed until a familiar voice spoke in unexpected formality.

"Excuse me. Do you know the Kaginogizaka Tennis Garden?"

Sakuno blinked as soon as she looked up. The boy in front of her was familiar.

"Ah," she pointed at the boy, "you're the one from before."

She realized she was pointing at him rather rudely after seeing the boy raise an inquiring brow, slightly recoiling from the girl's finger. She apologized as she brought her hand to herself.

The young boy, Sakuno observed, had stunning golden eyes that remind her of a cat. His ears were being covered by side bangs that seem to have been pulled back into a ponytail underneath the cap. She could still make out a silver cross earring on each though. The boy had chin-length dark green hair that is almost black. He was also taller than her by a few inches but she could not be really sure.

She then smiled enthusiastically, "I'm also going to the Kaginogizaka Tennis Garden. Are you participating in the matches? This is the first time I've come to watch."

The boy stared at her with a blank look, waiting patiently to have his previous inquiry answered. He did not want to seem rude by interrupting her bluntly. However, he was already running late since he had gotten lost once after missing the first bus to the station. Therefore, he asked politely and patiently:

"May I know where it is?"

Sakuno's eyes widened, "Oh, I'm sorry. I must've been rambling." She thought for a moment with a hand to her chin as she spoke, "If you go through the southern exit and head straight…"

When the girl took longer in pondering, the boy reconfirmed hurriedly yet still retained the patience and politeness of tone. "I'll just have to take the southern exit, correct? I think I could find the rest of my way through. Thank you for your help."

The boy inclined his head in a slight bow before walking towards the southern exit.

Sakuno blinked at the boy's manners and etiquette. He used formal speech the entire time he talked to her, which was the complete opposite of what she had witnessed back at the train…except maybe at the end of the lecture. Her brown eyes trailed after his figure as she scanned the name on the tennis bag he carried. The name was written in English letters but she could still make it out.

"Ryouma*…Ryouma-kun…?" she wondered in thought.

{A/N: *This spelling was intentional. In this case, the name is written in the English alphabet.}

After thirty minutes of waiting quite impatiently, Sakuno finally saw her grandmother running up to her with an apologetic expression.

"Obaa-chan (Grandmother), you're late! You made me wait for half an hour." She exclaimed.

"Ah, I'm so sorry, Sakuno." Ryuuzaki Sumire gave a closed-eyed smile at the girl, "Then, shall we go?"

She turned around with that same smile while Sakuno continue to pout in anger and disbelief. However, before she could voice out her displeasure, she noted something else.

"That's the northern exit." She pointed out.

Sumire turned around to stare at her granddaughter in confusion, "What are you talking about? Kaginogizaka Tennis Garden is located at the north. What are you doing? Hurry, hurry…!"

"Eh? The northern exit…?"

Sakuno turned to the south before bringing up a hand in horrified realization. "Oh no, I gave him the wrong directions!"

Meanwhile, a young man ran in frantic speed as he tried everything in his power to catch up to the tournament. Sadly, his efforts were in vain as he saw the scoreboard to see that he had been eliminated through losing by default. His panting breaths were then halted by his disappointed and irritated sigh as he walked away to find a place to lie down.

"I guess Sumire-dono won the bet then…" he thought with dread.

As for the Ryuuzakis, Sakuno ran as she searched left and right for the boy anxiously. Her grandmother followed with an amused yet confused expression, not used to seeing her granddaughter act so excitedly in a tournament. As she approached Sakuno, Sumire asked:

"Oya, oya~ why are you so excited? Do you have a favorite player here?"

"Obaa-chan," Sakuno said as she turned around, "what happens if you arrive late for a match?"

"That would be a Default." Sumire replied.

"Default…?"

"It's a disqualification."

Sakuno's eyes widened in horror and guilt, "Oh no! I've got to go check something."

Sumire watched her granddaughter dash away, "What's with her? Be careful!"

She then smiled fondly and proceeded to the scoreboard. Sumire was excited for a particular player herself. It has been a while since she had seen an Echizen play, and this would let her see the fruits of their bet. She knew she will not be disappointed.

That is why it came as a shock to her when the match she had been waiting for ended with a Default on her favored side.

Sumire blinked in surprise and disbelief as she thought, "Default?! That one had perfect punctuality! What could have happened?" She then remembered the strange questions that her granddaughter had been asking her, and began to wonder whether it was connected.

Sumire smirked, "I guess I won, eh? Maa~ thiswas a win-win situation for me either way."

The old woman walked away and decided to find her granddaughter. Hopefully, she is correct in her guess about Sakuno's supposedly new friend.

After the supposed loss, Ryouma decided to rest on the grass in disappointment. As the bet dictated, he had to join Ryuuzaki Sumire's tennis club in Seigaku. He wondered whether it was really the work of Fate or a sign from his father to take the chance in tennis again.

"Either way, I do not back down from a bet that I accepted willingly in the first place. However, playing tennis does not mean I would be able to return to how I was before. It has just been too long." He mused in his thoughts with sadness and nostalgia.

Before Ryouma could dig deeper into his thoughts, he heard someone call out to him.

"Umm…"

"Hm…?"

He looked up to find the girl from before, and the reason why he was late. He still somewhat blamed her for it, but he did forgive already as well. He was not the type to hold a grudge over something so trivial to begin with anyway.

"Did you make it to the game?" she asked worriedly.

At that question, Ryouma's eyes softened and closed while his head bowed.

"Five minutes late. Default." He replied blankly.

Sakuno shut her eyes in guilt and bowed, "I'm so sorry!" She then unbowed her head and looked down at Ryouma, "Was it because of me?"

Ryouma sat up, "Unfortunately, it was. I had to run with all my speed in hopes of catching up, but I was still late." His formality did not cease even when he was blaming her, Sakuno noticed, which brought more guilt to her heart.

She stared at Ryouma with guilt on her face. Her brown eyes then brightened with an idea as she clapped her hands together and asked enthusiastically, "Ah, are you thirsty?"

Ryouma tilted his head slightly as he raised a confused brow.

Apparently, Sakuno wanted to treat him with a drink as means of paying him back for making him late. However, she then realized that she already ran out of spare change. Ryouma told her that he would not accept being treated by a girl anyway as he bought two grape Pontas from the vending machine with his own money. He offered one to Sakuno as she accepted it sheepishly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't notice I ran out of change already…even though I was the one who offered to treat you as an apology…"

Ryouma blinked, "I told you I would not accept it anyway." He proceeded to walk pass her as he continued, "If you want to make it up to me, then entertain me by keeping me company as compensation."

Sakuno blushed as she followed the boy to a bench nearby.

For a while, there was only silence between them as they drank Ponta. Ryouma sat relaxed as he looked at the nearby courts, spotting the players' strengths and weaknesses by habit. He leaned back with his left hand supporting his weight as his right held the can of Ponta.

On the other hand, Sakuno fiddled nervously with her own can held by both her hands on her lap. She had been glancing at her companion from time to time in anticipation, but she saw that Ryouma held no interest for unnecessary small talk. Therefore, she decided to take the initiative. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"Umm, thank you for earlier. You really saved me back in the train." She said, blushing with a shy smile.

"May I inquire what you mean by that?" Ryouma said, keeping his eyes on the courts.

"I mean, if you hadn't interfered back then, I might have been hit by a racket."

At this, Ryouma blinked in puzzlement then turned to her with an amused brow raised.

"Pardon my ignorance. You were there?" he asked in confusion.

This time, Sakuno turned to him with a surprised expression as she finally stopped fiddling with her Ponta can.

"Yes, I was there at the side."

Ryouma's expression turned blank again as he turned away, sipping at his Ponta quite absentmindedly. He then retraced the event at the train and vaguely remembered Sakuno's figure sitting at the side as she had said.

"Hmm…" he mused as he closed his eyes and leaned slightly further back, "do not mind it at all. In all honesty, I just told them to be quiet because they were annoying with their false bragging. It was just a fortunate coincidence that I happened to have saved you at the time. That is all." After that statement, he finally finished his Ponta.

Sakuno's expression turned slightly disappointed at what he said, but then another can went in-between them before she could reply. This surprised them both as Sakuno gasped and Ryouma's eyes snapped open. Not long after that, they heard footsteps behind them so they turned around.

It was Mr. Jerk and his two lackeys again.

"I'm sorry for being annoying." Mr. Jerk apologized sarcastically. The trio walked closer to the duo as they smirked in mockery at Ryouma.

"Hey, this is the guy from earlier." said Lackey #1 with a smirk. He had the darker hair and a swept back hairstyle.

"Are~? Is it just me or is he ready to go home after a loss?" said Lackey #2.

Mr. Jerk then tilted Ryouma's cap slightly upwards with his racket, but the boy remained unflinching.

Mr. Jerk smirked arrogantly, "I hold one of the seeds in the 16-Year-Old Tournament. I'm also known to be a hit. You told me to be quiet? I dare you to say it again! Huh?" He removed his racket and met Ryouma's golden eyes that never stopped staring at him with a blank yet undoubtedly intimidating look ever since they arrived.

"What the hell are those eyes?! Hah…!" Mr. Jerk exclaimed angrily, cold sweat starting to form.

Ryouma remained silent yet his gaze spoke a thousand words that unconsciously make any other who opposed him to fear him.

"It's way too early for a kid like you to teach me! You shitty kid…!" He then lifted his racket and swung it down in an attempt to hit Ryouma on the face.

Sakuno covered her eyes with her hands in fear of what's to come and screamed. However, when she did not hear the racket hitting flesh, she turned back to Ryouma in trepidation. She then saw Ryouma unblinkingly staring at the other three with that same intense glare, the racket only centimeters away from his face. At that realization, the young girl stared at the boy with wide-eyed amazement before sighing in relief.

After that, the trio opted to just turn and walk away in reluctance and irritation. However, before they could get far, Ryouma called out to them again.

"Hey…!" he said, making the trio stop in their tracks. Ryouma stood up then walked towards the thrown can and picked it up. He stared at it in mock amusement.

"Did you learn the grip yet?" he asked. Sakuno was surprised to notice that he had finally dropped his formality in Japanese speech. It was as if the Ryouma who talked to her was different from the one that sat with her and now.

"Nani?! (What?!)" Mr. Jerk turned around in anger.

Ryouma shot the can towards the trash bin with precision from where he stood. He then turned around with a newly formed arrogant smirk as he tilted his cap and challenged,

"Or do you want me to teach you tennis and show you how things are really done?"

"Teme…!"

Sakuno knew at that moment that this might be the real Ryouma as she genuinely felt the weight of the challenge. She stared at him in amazement and surprise. What she does not know is that THAT Ryouma is also another mask as said boy had different emotions running through his head.

"This burning feeling…is kind of familiar somehow. Is this…the call of the Echizen pride within the blood in my veins?"

It had been truly a while since he stepped into a court for a real match. He would have wanted to play an honorable player instead of some jerk—who was apparently named Sasabe—for his first match in years. He knew Japan would be different. After all, this is where both of his parents were born and raised.

"Hey, it's better if we stop this…" Sakuno suggested timidly as he tied his shoes.

"Childish as it may be, I cannot leave a challenge unanswered. Besides, I refuse to leave without playing while I am already here." Ryouma replied, "Please hold this for me." He handed his neatly folded jacket over to Sakuno as soon as he finished tying his shoes. He then took out a red racket and went to his side of the court.

Sakuno noticed that whenever he was talking to her, Ryouma would revert to his formal and polite speech pattern. However, he becomes completely curt and casual whenever referring to the three high schoolers or rude people. She doesn't know whether to feel bothered or flattered about it.

"We don't need referees. Self-judge is fine, right?" Sasabe asked quite arrogantly.

"I don't really care either way." Ryouma replied bluntly with a blank look.

Sasabe smirked, "Don't worry; I'll go easy on you." He threw the ball lightly and served underhanded in mockery, "Here you go: an underhanded serve!"

Ryouma looked up and stared at the ball with irritation in his golden eyes. He took up a stance, waited for the ball to bounce, and then returned it swiftly to the opponent's left corner without a word. Sasabe could not react for a return, and everyone else was rendered speechless at the fast return ace.

"0-15" Ryouma stated emotionlessly.

Sasabe smirked again, "Heh, I was just playing anyway."

At that moment, Ryuuzaki Sumire arrived and stood beside her granddaughter.

"Oya, oya~ so this is where you went…" she said, arms crossed as she watched the court with a small smirk.

"Obaa-chan…!" Sakuno exclaimed in surprise as she turned to Sumire.

"This looks interesting." Sumire said, not averting her eyes from the court.

"Stop looking, and do something! This started from a quarrel and now he's up against a high schooler, you know." Sakuno protested.

This time, Sumire turned to her granddaughter amusedly, "What are you talking about? Didn't you see that return ace? The fun is just about to start."

As the two Ryuuzakis talked, Ryouma glanced at them and cringed inwardly. Seeing the old coach made him remember the bet. He sighed as he turned his gaze away and decided to focus on the match for now. He vaguely heard Sasabe's friends teasing him to try harder. Of course, Sasabe replied with hidden frustration that Ryouma traced easily as he fiddled with his racket strings.

"Shut up! Anyone can return it if I serve underhanded." Sasabe exclaimed.

Ryouma smirked with his eyes hidden by the shadow of his cap.

"There are people like that, I suppose; those who make excuses when they lose." He taunted.

Sasabe sneered, "Damn kid, don't you dare chicken out!" He then served the ball seriously with his supposed 'Bullet Serve'. His friends seemed excited as he is, expecting Ryouma to miss.

On the contrary, Ryouma already returned it.

"Too slow." He said disappointedly.

Sasabe and his friends were surprised. A rally started with Ryouma leading the pace. Sumire noticed that although the boy was playing with a blank expression, there was a burning spark in those golden eyes that she had seen countless times from another certain tennis freak. Whether it burned in passion or just plain concentration is what she needs to know. She smirked, knowing the answer to that already.

The child is still an Echizen, after all.

"How fast, he's already at the net!"

As said, Ryouma approached the net and ended their short-lived rally with a resounding smash between Sasabe's feet.

"0-30" Ryouma called.

Sasabe gritted his teeth in annoyance, while Ryouma just turned away and moved to receiving position. Sakuno gaped in awe as she praised Ryouma quietly.

"That's not even his best play." Sumire stated proudly.

"Eh? Obaa-chan, do you know him?" Sakuno asked.

"Ah, didn't I tell you? That guy…is the Prince of Tennis."

Sumire knew that was not necessarily his title but a name for this particular play, which is something to be explained another day.

"Prince of Tennis…?"

Sumire smirked, "Echizen Ryouma, 13-years old. At the age of nine, he competed in the American Junior Tournament—normally for 12-year-olds—with special admission as acknowledged by the Sports Association; and within one and a half year, he had dominated with four consecutive victories. He's a real prodigy."

"Four consecutive victories?!"

"That's right, no doubt about it."

Sumire paused as Ryouma scored another point. She spotted the proud smirk before it disappeared again. She smiled in bittersweet nostalgia as she continued, "He's the child of my former student. I lost contact with him at some point, but I still knew about his children. As far as I know, Ryouma distanced himself from the tennis world for two years since he lost interest in competing because of…personal reasons."

Sakuno wondered about the slight pause and ambiguity in her grandmother's words but decided to keep quiet and listen instead.

"However, I was determined to get him back and even recruit him here in Japan. That is why when I heard he was willing to compete as long as it was a tournament for 16-year-olds that would accept the participation of a 13-year-old like him, I immediately referred him to this particular tournament. That guy is really something, and if he is anything like his father, I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of him after this."

"Not to mention he still needs to fulfill his end of the bargain…" Sumire added in her thoughts with a pleased grin.

Both females turned their attention back to the game as soon as it was announced that Ryouma won the first game.

"No way, Sasabe lost his service game!" said one of the high schoolers.

Ryouma did not give any reaction aside from walking to service position and taking out a ball from his pocket. He bounced the ball nonchalantly and glanced at Sasabe at the corner of his eyes. Ryouma gave a mocking smirk while his eyes are still shadowed by his cap.

"You have a match in the finals, right? Then, we better finish this quickly." He taunted again.

Meanwhile, Sasabe could not even begin to hide his anxiety and frustration.

"Damn…no, calm down. It's just a kid's serve so it can't possibly go over 150km. I'll be sure to return it with my Break-Back." He reassured himself in his thoughts.

However, the moment Ryouma threw the ball and hit it, he could not even react in time. Although it is true that it was not anything special, it was definitely fast and refined. Sasabe heard his two friends praising Ryouma, and he finally began to acknowledge it at this point.

Be that as it may, Sasabe knows one particular difference between them: height.

Ryouma served again, and this time, Sasabe returned it and approached the net. Due to his taller height, his shots were more difficult for Ryouma to return with the rather short distance. This made his shots faster and wider. Ryouma, caught off guard, lost the point which makes the game 15-15. Ryouma looked at Sasabe blankly as the latter smirked smugly at him. Though unnoticed, Ryouma's eyes burned with a fiery spark.

For the next few times, Sasabe went on with his successful net play. At this, he began his own rounds of mockery and taunts on Ryouma whom took it calmly and observantly. The scores ended up in 30-40 before Ryouma finally recognized the pattern and strategy that has been going on.

"Hmm…" he mused emotionlessly.

He served again, and as expected, Sasabe approached the net after receiving. However, just as Sasabe was preparing to get another point, Ryouma lobbed the ball effortlessly at the baseline.

"Deuce" he called smoothly.

Sumire smiled in pride, "As expected of Ryouma…Though the opponent was clever to use his height advantage, it really makes no difference if he's not good enough to catch up to a lob at the back.

On the other hand, Sasabe clearly heard the words of his two friends about his incoming loss to an elementary kid. He knew the game is clearly not going his way, and the fact that his opponent just keeps having a countermeasure for his strategies is putting him in a pinch.

He gritted his teeth in agitation, "Damn, not good…I'll end up as a laughing stock if this keeps going."

Ryouma let out an amusedly triumphant smirk. He served again and decided to let Sasabe go on with his poach play, only to counter it with a lob. To his credit, Sasabe took the effort to chase after it.

"Shit, not again…but it's going out!" he muttered, reaching out his racket in vain as the ball dropped.

"Alright, he did it again!" Sakuno cheered.

However, Sasabe decided to pour cold water onto their excitement.

"Out." He called.

Ryouma looked over his shoulder to spare his opponent a glance. He had the slightest hint of a frown on his face as his eyes narrowed and gleamed threateningly. Sasabe met his glance with a sly smirk.

"Such a shame, it was out by just a little bit." He said, demonstrating the supposed distance with his fingers. His foot was fussing discreetly with the spot on the ground where the ball actually fell in order to hide the proof of its fall. This action did not escape Ryouma's keen eyes but he opted to remain silent, pull down his cap to hide the angry irritation in his eyes, and moved to serving position.

Sakuno protested but Sumire explained things to her. Ryouma knows he cannot hit deep anymore since the match is self-judged and he agreed with these terms; but then, what fun would it be if he avoids the problem? Besides, if his opponent had the audacity to call his shots out when they are not, he was more than willing to shove it in his/her face that it was not.

The thought brought back a challenging glint to his eyes as his expression remained blank.

After Ryouma served, Sasabe quickly returned it to which Ryouma replied with a shot at the net. Sasabe took this chance to revert to his old strategy and decided to settle it with a smash. Ryouma waited for the right moment, and just as he was about to return the ball, he bended his legs slightly and hit a lob.

"Baka~ it will be out as long as I'm judging!" he stated arrogantly.

Ryouma did not say a word as he retained his posture and waited for the ball to land on his opponent's court. The moment it did, the smug grin on Sasabe's face disappeared. Instead, he gaped in shock and disbelief as the ball continued to spin right in front of the line.

"What? What the hell…?" Lackey #1 muttered.

Sakuno gaped in awe as Sumire recovered her proud grin, "Nice move! He sliced the ball so it'd stop in front of the line."

Ryouma smiled teasingly, "Ne~ did the shot just now go in?"

As time passed, Ryouma won game after game from Sasabe. The child prodigy did not let a single point go, and Sasabe got more and more impatient.

"Damn, there's no going back!" Sasabe thought.

At that moment, they just rallied repetitively. However, Ryouma decided to settle that round with another lob. Sasabe tried to reach it but he reacted too late. Ryouma, on the other hand, had his head bowed slightly. That one second, Sasabe snapped and threw his racket at Ryouma.

"Eat this! You're getting too full of yourself." Sasabe exclaimed angrily.

Ryouma looked up in shock and anticipation, but was too late and found the racket hitting him square in the forehead instead. Everyone looked on in shock and horror, especially the Ryuuzakis. Ryouma was on his knees and left hand as right one held the wounded spot on his forehead to stop the bleeding and ease the pain. He grunted inaudibly with his eyes shut and jaw clenched.

Hopefully, it does not leave a mark. He would not like a scum to leave a scar on him. That would piss Ryouma off so bad he would rather skin himself alive.

Speaking of pissing him off…

"Sorry, my bad…My hand slipped." He apologized sarcastically while picking up his racket. He leaned the racket on his shoulder as he looked down on Ryouma's crouched position.

Sakuno could see droplets of blood pouring down. In panic and worry, she then ran to Ryouma and kneeled by his side as she paid the commencing match no mind.

"Ryouma-kun, are you alright?" she asked frantically while handing him her handkerchief.

Ryouma pushed her away with his left hand, "Don't enter the court while a match is going on!"

Sakuno was caught off guard by the irritated and informal tone that was now directed at her for the first time.

"B-but—"

Her protests were cut off as Ryouma stood up and fixed his cap.

"Your grip is too soft."

He paused as he looked at Sasabe in the eyes even with blood on his face. His golden eyes burned with seething fury over the disgrace that had been done upon him. The twin topaz orbs narrowed menacingly while Ryouma's voice took a condemning tone as he uttered the words that gave Sumire the chills of an incoming judgment she bore witness to countless times:

"Mada Mada Dane."

Deafening silence reigned in the court and a suffocating tension built up among the audience. Sasabe just smiled foolishly as if he had already won. Ryouma was at serving position as he bounced the ball; his posture slightly more slouched than his usual one. His eyes are hidden by his cap once more.

After a moment, he served and everything else happened in an instant.

Sasabe prepared to receive, but instead of returning it, the ball shot straight for his face and all he could do was dodge it. His expression was stuck to a dumbfounded and fearful one after that.

"15-0" Ryouma called, bouncing the ball in his new posture.

"What…was that?" Sasabe croaked.

"Hey, Obaa-chan," Sakuno called with awe and surprise, "didn't that just turn to the other side?"

It was then followed by that same serve, but this time, Sasabe could not dodge and it hit right at the nose which started turning red.

"Twist Serve…?" he heard one of his friends say. He looked at the corner of his eyes to see Lackey #1 with a shock and astounded expression. "Could that really be…Twist Serve?"

"30-0" Ryouma called again, paying them no mind as he bounced the ball again before serving another 'Twist Serve' and hitting Sasabe again.

"40-0" he finally called the match point.

Sasabe could only stare in astonishment as he remained on his knees like Ryouma was before when he was hit by the racket. Ryouma looked at Sasabe with a fiery vengeful look—as if a predator aiming at his prey—and readied his stance.

"Eat this." He said with in an ominously monotone voice.

On the other hand, Sasabe watched in fearful anticipation for the Twist Serve. He twitched as the racket got closer to hit the ball as if in slow motion, and as he heard the sound of the gut hitting the ball, he held himself in a crouch position with his hands holding his head in terror.

"Stop it!" he exclaimed.

The only thing is…Ryouma did not hit the Twist Serve, but a simple lob to the service court.

"Baka~" he drawled mockingly. The child prodigy stared at his opponent with smug triumph and exasperation in his topaz eyes. He never thought a player could get any more pathetic than that. Apparently, he was wrong.

Just as his victory was called, he vaguely heard the Ryuuzaki celebrating in awe. However, Sasabe had to prove just how low he really is by disturbing the joy.

"Fool, I wasn't serious! How could I lose to you?" he stated as if he wasn't just crouching in fear earlier. Even his friends are already reprimanding him now, but Ryouma was willing to humor him. A brute like that should be taught a lesson not to take tennis lightly, or to use it for violence like his earlier antic with the racket.

"It's fine with me if you want to play another set." He said emotionlessly with a bowed head, surprising everyone except for one Ryuuzaki Sumire.

It was then he did something that truly shocking: he switched the racket to his left hand.

Sumire took this chance to intervene with a knowing smirk, "Don't you get it already? What an awfully stubborn man…No matter how many times you play Echizen Ryouma, you can never win."

"What did you say?!"

"He is left-handed."

At that time, everyone snapped their gazes to the child prodigy as he prepared to serve. Just as he did, he perfectly aimed between Sasabe's feet and at the line as the high schooler still stood at the service box. He fell on his butt in horrifying realization of how big the gap their strengths have.

"I…I quit!" he yelled as he ran away.

Ryouma followed his figure with his eyes while the other two high schoolers left with Sasabe. He tipped his cap lower as he closed his eyes in concentration. Sakuno gazed at him with amazement while Sumire felt that bittersweet nostalgia again.

"Echizen Ryouma…" she mused quietly, "Another incredible guy appeared…things are going to be interesting from now on."

A young lady stood on a tennis court alone.

The area is actually the temple grounds. An old temple bell was beside the tennis court, and after that is the temple house. However, the temple itself was long abandoned after her father bought the land and the residents of the temple found better ground to occupy in Osaka. Nevertheless, it was in good maintenance and it was personally used as a workshop of sorts.

A gentle breeze passed by, making the cherry blossoms flutter down like pink raindrops and flood the ground in a beautiful puddle of soft petals. Spring is indeed beautiful. Be that as it may, the youthful female of thirteen years paid them no heed by sight but by feel.

Soft dark green locks held by a white ribbon hairband flowed with the wind, and golden cat-like eyes remained hidden by pale eyelids as long eyelashes lie in contrast to fair skin as pink hues develop on her cheeks due to the cold wind from the lingering memories of winter. Peach lips remained slightly opened and showed pearl white teeth, air passing through as she exhales.

She wore a light blue summer dress with a dark blue shawl over her upper body. The dress itself was a spaghetti strap dress with an empress cut and a blue sapphire at the center as the soft cloth had dark blue vine designs at the end of the skirt. Her feet are protected by dark blue doll shoes with white laces holding onto her ankles like ballet shoes.

Two dangling teardrop earrings gleamed at the setting sun, and a necklace with two lockets hung on a delicate neck and rested on her chest. The first locket was the size of a small pocket watch with a pink carnation surrounded by rose leaves at the front. The flower looked to be made of glass together with the leaves.

The second locket was connected by a golden chain to the bottom of the first one and was half the size of the previous one. The second locket had a blue zircon at the front. All in all, the necklace was like gypsy jewelry.

The young lady is a lovely youth that could entice anyone like a Nymph of Spring.

"I feel refreshed," she thought, "as if I am being reborn.

"Did I really miss playing tennis this much? I guess I really am an Echizen.

"However, I know more than anyone that the Prince Play is the only style I am capable of at the moment. It had been so long and so hard for the past two years that I forgot my own original play.

"Could I really go on like this? Will I even be able to attain victory with this? How different was Echizen Ryouko from Echizen Ryouma anyway? What…kind of play did I even have?"

Twin topaz showed themselves as they glittered with unshed tears, whether of joy or sorrow is unknown. A small pale hand reached out and caught a whole cherry blossom that fell from the branches. As she neared her hand to her sight, her eyes softened. She watched as the flower gradually separated into mere petals fluttering with the wind like the others.

"Ara~ you shouldn't be out without at least a shawl or jacket. You could catch a cold."

At the mature female voice, the -13-year-old girl turned to the speaker's direction as a sign of acknowledgement. No smile formed at the young lady's lips, but Nanako was already used to it as she gave out her gentle smile.

"You just arrived, Nanako-san?" the young lady asked.

Nanako nodded, "Your brother looked for you the moment we got home."

On cue, a small blur of green, black and white dashed towards the younger female. A young boy that looked like a smaller version of the green-haired girl was hugging her legs. He was wearing a black hoodie jacket with matching black jogging pants, a white shirt, and white rubber shoes. Another pair of cat-like eyes—though instead of topaz, they looked like a pair of ambers—looked up in excitement and joy at the sight of his elder sister, and this time, a genuine smile showed on the green-haired girl's face as her own golden eyes glowed with affection.

"Tadaima, Ryouko-neechan." the boy chirped.

"Okaeri, Ryoma."

{Translation(s): Neechan/Nee-chan = Elder Sister; Tadaima = "We're home" or "We're back"; Okaeri = "Welcome home" or "Welcome back"}

A/N: There goes the big not-so-secret secret of the story. For those of you, who still don't get it, let me explain.

Let me make this clear: THIS IS NOT A FEM!RYOMA STORY.

Ryouma is the male disguise of Echizen Ryouko, the protagonist, which means they are the same person. She used the same Kanji of "Ryou" in Ryouko and the same Kanji of "Ma" in Ryoma as if combining the names. I'm not sure if they really are written in Kanji, Katakana, or Hiragana since I'm more experienced in Romaji than the actual Japanese alphabet.

Remember this for future chapters: other characters refer to Ryouko as Ryouma when she is in disguise, but the narration will continue to call her Ryouko from now on. If you prefer for me to use Ryouma in narration as well when she is in disguise, let me know in your reviews. Unless I deem the requests enough, I would continue to call Ryouko her real name in the narration.

Ryoma is the REAL Prince of Tennis but he is just a 5-year-old here, and he knows the fact that his sister tends to be in disguise when in public. He plays along for his sister's sake. As mentioned in the previous chapter, Sumire plans to keep her secret as well.

Ryouko has a contract with the entire Tennis Association that enables her to compete in both male and female competitions. Professional singles tournaments require her to register her true gender, but she is still free to disguise as a boy. She carries a Certificate of Admission all the time in her tennis bag as proof of the contract. The contract is valid anywhere she competes.

*SPOILER*

I have a total of ten possible love interests in mind for Ryouko. I'm not gonna reveal much for the sake of tension. Some would appear more dominant in Ryouko's life than the others but only because they would disappear for a long time span and therefore unable to interact with Ryouko (like Tezuka who is going to Germany; there, I revealed one). Each of them will have equal knowledge in Ryouko's secrets. Some would know Secret #1 and the others will know Secret #2; or something like that.

*END OF SPOILER*

If you guys want another certain guy with Ryouko, I suggest you say it now because I do not want to mess up my secret plotline which would be the deviant from the canon. However, there is no guarantee that I will accept your suggestion so don't get your hopes too high up. Oshitari Kenya and Tanegashima Shuji, by request, are still under consideration for that matter. I can't see a scenario where Ryouko could interact romantically with these two.

I would also like to inform you guys ahead that I am more comfortable in writing about certain guys so forgive me if my writing becomes slightly biased along the way. I'm starting to really, really, really like Tokugawa and Irie though. I've read up to Chapter 125 of NPoT, and I am itching to read the next one!

Lots of love and thanks to Tidde13 for reviewing! Your encouragements will not go to waste!

Anyway, I hope you look forward to it! PLEASE R&R!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Prince of Tennis.