For mienai, a (long overdue) response to her challenge in lj XD

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OMAKE

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It was well after practice when Ryoma, for the first time, experienced a déjà vu. Note that this may not actually be the case, considering that this is Echizen Ryoma we are talking about- a poor boy who tends to forget things not related to tennis.

Now Ryoma has been called many things- some, very flattering (to everyone but Oujisama), and some, quite… embarrassing (again, to everyone but the little prince). Among the flattering ones, he's been labeled a genius. His senses are so sharp one might even fear that the kid could end up hurting himself with that sharpness. It will be wise to note, however, that outside the tennis court, that is the exact opposite.

To put it simply, Echizen Ryoma is oblivious. To all other matters besides tennis.

However, even the naïve Echizen didn't fail to notice that there was something quite strange about the other regulars' behavior before, during and even after tennis practice. If anything, Oishi profusely apologizing to him all day long was an obvious indication.

That was still nothing compared to what happened when Ryoma asked him why.

Oishi turned very red and practically dashed out of the clubroom, saying that he had to go home early to study for the finals, which, if Ryoma remembered correctly, was still six months away.

Eiji, who was in the middle of drinking, spit an entire mouthful of water.

It just so happened that there was someone sitting right beside him. And that unlucky guy was Kaidoh, who was hit in the face point blank.

Eiji ran after Oishi faster than Kaidoh could hiss.

Momo started coughing violently. Apparently, he was just innocently munching on a super-sized burger when the question came up.

Taka-san went to Momo's rescue and started hitting his back to make him cough out the obstructing chunk until Tezuka nonchalantly passed by, fully intent on leaving his teammates behind. He'll never waste his precious time on such trivial matters… oh no, not even if it concerned the very person he chose to become Seigaku's next pillar.

If only his bag didn't knock down Ryoma's racket that was leaning on the locker and make it fall, of all places, right in front of Taka-san.

Taka-san, of course- ever the gentleman- stopped in the middle of helping Momo and bent down to pick it up.

Big mistake.

"OH YEAH BABY! DON'T WORRY!" Taka-san started waving his racket about. "I'll make you cough out that insolent burger even if it's the last thing I do!"

Momo promptly ran for his life.

That's it. There was definitely something wrong and Ryoma was going to find out what. Besides, it wasn't that bad to give in to curiosity once in a while.

Ah, what easier way than to ask the only senpai left in the club room.

"Fuji-senpai, did something happen today?"

"Hm?" Fuji tilted his head to the side. "What do you mean?"

Ryoma blinked. "Like… that." He pointed to the opened door. Outside, Momo was still frantically running from Taka-san who had gone berserk.

"Oh…" Fuji chuckled. "I see you've noticed. Don't mind it. It's nothing." Fuji waved his hand dismissively. "There's some kind of rumor going on. But no worries. It's only among the regulars… I think."

"Rumor?" Ryoma raised his eyebrows.

"Mm-hm." Fuji smiled pleasantly. "Remember the notebook you left the other day? Oishi asked me to translate what was written in it. But the essay was kind of long, so I decided to read to him just an excerpt. But it looks like he misinterpreted what I read, and now he- and everyone else- thinks that you're dating one of the regulars. But since no one knows who, they're suspecting each other."

Echizen blinked. Twice. "Ahh... Senpai-tachi are all so mada mada da ne." Ryoma sighed. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

Fuji noted that Ryoma's tone was half accusing and half amused. He laughed lightly. "Come now, why would I do such a thing?"

Ryoma smirked, all innocence disappearing from his face. "Say, Fuji-senpai, what would you do if I really was dating one of them?"

Fuji flashed his sweetest smile. "Saa… Karupin will help me hide that person's butchered corpse."

None of them noticed Inui who was still inside the shower room, one hand drying his hair with a towel, the other busy scribbling on a notebook on top of the closed toilet tank.

"Ii data."

Disclaimers: See previous chapter please :p

A/N: I wrote this a long time ago. It just got lost somewhere XD Now that I've found it, I thought 'what the heck, might as well post' …or something like that.