Take Two


Description: Echizen Ryoma receives an invitation letter to Under 17 Training camp in Japan. Having conquered tournaments in the west, she flies back to Japan and set her sights in new heights. TokuRyo YukiRyoma FujiRyo


Chapter II: A Friendly Match

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The first night came quickly after Ryoma plunged the crap out of the high schooler, Matsudaira. It had been an easy win for the girl- although it did not deter the remaining high schooler´s prejudice towards the newcomers. They proceeded to have themselves settled in the dormitory provided by the staff, each members of the schools scattered randomly.

Of course it was a given that Echizen Ryoma however, got placed in a room of her own. The staff was generous enough to take her gender into account after all- much to Ryoma's distaste for 'special treatment', but she relents. No matter how much she proves her skills on par with men, the sole reality of her own gender would always come to light in every aspect.

She scanned the whole room, eyes boring swiftly across the plain and simple room. A bed, a nightstand, cabinet, a study table and a lamp to accompany it with. For a second she wondered what a study table would be doing there, it's not like there were attending academics in this athlete's camp.

But she dare not mull over something so insignificant. She briefly notices that there weren't any other entrances, which meant- she would have to question the staff about it. She'd be damned if she used the same restrooms and showers as the boys.

'Whatever.'

Sighing dismissively to her thoughts, Ryoma threw her bag onto the made bed by the left corner of the room. Horio wouldn't be arriving until tomorrow she presumes, but she was prepared. The dark haired girl unzipped her tennis bag and fished out her extra clothes from the hidden compartment inside—she hasn't showered yet since her flight.

She took off her cap and plopped it on the bed as well, sliding off the hair tie around her ponytail, allowing her hair to flow freely over her shoulders and back. Changing into a more comfortable brown v-neck shirt, she exited her room in search for the staff.

The pillar of seigaku wandered aimlessly in the hallways a few minutes after. Looking to her left then right of the seemingly empty hallways, she sighed feeling a twinge of pain intruding her temples. At this time she wished she would just bump into her captain and ask for some aspirins that he usually would carry with him.

She refused to admit—even to herself—that Echizen Ryoma was once again, lost.

'I swear to god…' she refrained the urge to curse inwardly.

But then, all hope was not lost. Before she made a turn to trace back her steps; her sharp ears picked up muffled noise. She did not hesitate to follow it, hoping they might be what she was just looking for.

Peeking over to the right fork, she saw a familiar blue jumpsuit uniform mainly used by trackers. A sense of relief brushed in her, thinking that she would finally be able to have her answers soon.

"Ne," She calls out. The two men turned to her with recognition flashing in their eyes.

"Is there something we can help you with?" The polite looking man asked with pure hospitality in his voice.

"Aa, I was wondering if you happen to know any showers and restrooms I could use." She says dryly, coiling the back of her skull to give it a rub.

"As you can see...I can't really share the same facility with the boys." she tried to be at least polite in return to the initiative, it wouldn't hurt for once.

The man indeed noticed, judging by the light in his eyes.

"I believe you should speak with the coaches in this camp." The other one suggested.

"Ah, true. I wasn't really informed about your case as well, so best to talk to them. They act like the managers around her anyways."

"Aa…" But she did not know where.

As if he heard her concerns, the polite man offered, "If you don't know the way—we can show you to their office."

Ryoma carefully nods her head in agreement to signal them. The man motioned for her to follow him, accompanied by his co-worker. She was led to the second floor, passing by a commotion from the other end of a hallway. She pushed down her curiosity to focus at the task at hand.

They stopped in front of a door and the man knocks. A muffled voice answered, permitting them to enter the office only to reveal the giant that she saw earlier this afternoon. The man wearing a doctor's coat intertwined his fingers in front as he rests both elbows on the desk.

"Ahh, Echizen-kun." He enthused. "What brings you here?"

Ryoma silently studies the man for a good few seconds before speaking.

"I wasn't entirely informed which restroom I could use and bathe." she drawled.

"Oh!" The man separated his hands, blinking.

"I apologize for this inconvenience. I forgot to inform the staff about your case." his smile made its way back in his face.

" 's okay." she replied curtly.

"Well, since we weren't entirely prepared to divide the facility for this slight oddity—we settled to have you use our personal restroom and showers in fact." The man chuckled, standing up; pushing his chair in the process.

"Shall I escort you there?" He offered.

Ryoma narrowed her eyes, intimidated by the sheer height of this man. She was already having issues with her senpai's heights then this man easily towered everyone with his seven foot tall. She looked down ahead of her with a nod.

"If you will."

"All right, please follow me."

The walk to the restroom was not long. In fact, it was barely far from the office itself which is quite convenient since it was definitely near the stairs to the ground floor. The man, Itaru Saitō left her to her own accord after he showed her the way to which she mumbled a slight thanks in gratitude to the man whom she recalled, a coach.

After inspecting the whole bathroom to get familiarized, she recalled the man telling her she could use it immediately if she wanted to bathe since they all did so. Quickly finding her way back to her own room, she took the necessities and clothes then hastily returned to the bathroom—impatient to finally feel fresh once again.

Ryoma being herself;shower did not take long. A simple practice she usually does, she finished showering in less than fifteen minutes to say the least. After changing to fresh clothes, Ryoma allowed her wet hair to dangle freely whilst she snaked the towel over her neck.

Nothing felt better than the feeling of being fresh out of shower. She stared at herself at the mirror, scratch that; a shower after a day's worth of practice was way better.

Smirking to herself, she exited the room and nonchalantly trudged through the hallways and back to her own room in order to return her used belongings. After doing so, she thought about spending her time doing at least something. She was bored out of her mind.

'Also a bit thirsty, I want ponta…' she thought mindlessly as she searched for a vending machine.

She heard ruckus from familiar boisterous voices down the hallway. She made a face, quickly telling herself to turn back and walk away from the commotion. She was not getting smothered by her hyperactive sugar induced senpai and getting grappled by Momo-senpai as well. Not to mention she heard that loud voice which could only belong to Kintaro and many more of the other boys from the rival schools.

But somewhere above, someone definitely was not on her side.

"Ryoma-chan?" a recognizable soft voice belonging to a certain sadist made her stop on her tracks. Her eye twitched slightly, silently cursing the heavens for her luck.

Out of all the people, it had to be him that found her.

"Ryoma-chan." He repeated, placing a hand on her shoulder. She turns around to look at him and saw curiosity evident on his face.

"F-Shūsuke -senpai." The old habit of calling the older one of the Fuji brothers with his first name still rang alien to Ryoma. Although it had been months since the first request, she had grown used to addressing each one of them respectively with surnames and nicknames—even if she is more accustomed to American culture.

Fuji's curiosity turned into what seemed like his usual amused smile.

"Not planning to go there?" She knew what he meant by there.

"Betsuni, just feeling sleepy that's all." She lied, looking away.

"Eh..So you aren't planning to catch up with your dear senpai's then?" He feigned mock hurt which almost made Ryoma roll her eyes at the emphasis of the word and simply because she knew Fuji Shūsuke .

She grunted when she felt weight on herself, Fuji's arm over her shoulders.

"Get off, F-Shūsuke -senpai!" she grumbled but Fuji didn't comply.

"But I was actually looking forward to spend time with you, Ryo-chan." He smiled at her innocently just like he always try to come off to be, which he was far from it.

"I don't remember giving you permission to call me that, Shūsuke -senpai." Sheretorted.

"But I like the sound of it, Ryo-chan." Fuji repeated the nickname once again, causing her to shudder slightly at the sound of his voice.

He was back at it again, the teasing.

She could feel warmth rise up her cheeks as she realized the close proximity between them. Taking a step back in order to gain some space, she realized it was impossible when she remembered that Fuji had his arm around her.

"Shūsuke -senpai, you're too close." she grits out, glancing to the side in order to avoid his gaze. Geez, her senpai has gotten even weirder the past months since the start of the nationals.

Fuji merely chuckled and her eyes narrowed.

"Cute."

"What?"

Fuji leans away and straightens himself, but his hand remained.

"Saa, why don't we go to the others?" The tensai puts pressure on her back and she knew then that he was not taking 'no' for an answer.

"Can I at least get something to drink?" She sighs in defeat, giving in to her senpai's wishes. It was a rare occurrence, she usually never listens to anyone else aside from her captain.

"Of course, I'll tag along; was getting thirsty myself anyway.." Fuji beamed which made Ryoma look at the brunette dryly.

'Damn this manipulative bastard…' she thought scornfully, but to Fuji, it only looked like she was pouting.

begrudgingly being led towards a nearby vending machine, Ryoma chose her well-known favorite, Grape Ponta while Fuji got a bottled Iced Tea.

Fuji's gaze followed her every movement, studying her actions and taking in her image at the time. It felt like forever being so close and seeing her this close without anything to bother him.

It occurred to him that there was something very different about their 'ochibi' from the last time they caught sight of her. He couldn't put a finger on it, but as he watches her closely, he began to notice the subtle changes in her.

After a month of being away, Ryoma matured. although her height was painstakingly almost the same; having grown probably an inch or two; and he definitely did not miss the feminine changes in her gestures either.

When she bent down to fish her canned drink inside the compartment, Ryoma tucked her hair behind her ear elegantly away from her face when she fixed herself. A very feminine gesture that he never saw before.

Ryoma was still cocky and arrogant, but she held a certain amount of limit to her words. Cheeky; was the proper way to describe her these days. He figured this change was most likely unconscious though.

"—oto it will last longer."

"Hm?" Ryoma's voice brought him back to reality.

Ryoma stared at him with her usual bored look but there was a hint of...playfulness?

"I said, take a photo, it will last longer." She smirked.

"Saa...I can?" He replied, grinning. Ryoma's eyes twitched slightly as she gave the tensai a deadpan look. Fuji seemed to be a little too enthusiastic about taking a photo.

"Che, nevermind." She looks away and turns around, walking back to the direction they came from.

"But you said I could." Fuji chuckled, following her.

"Is there something on my face, senpai?" She glanced at him.

"Mn?"

"You were staring, so I was wondering." She responded, opening the cap and drank.

"Saa, I wonder why."

"Mattaku," Ryoma groaned. "I think it's about time you start giving me direct answers, senpai."

"So, how have you been? You didn't keep in contact, it kind of hurt." Fuji mussitated.

"Not even a single text." He added.

"Betsuni...I was...busy." Ryoma answered, "Sorry I couldn't keep in contact."

Fuji stayed mum for awhile. Ryoma wonders then whether he was being mischievous or if he was truly hurt that she didn't bother to send him mail. She squints at the taller individual beside her trying to read his expression.

Fuji seemed...sullen.

'Maybe he wasn't joking?...'

"Nanda?" A smile returned to his face once again. "Finally falling for me, Ryo-chan?" Fuji teased, chuckling.

Warmth rushed to her face when she processed in his words. Just for a second there she thought Fuji was being serious, 'I guess it was just him teasing again'

"You can never stay serious can you, Shūsuke -senpai?" She grumbled, looking away with a huff.

Fuji merely simpered.

"Mada mada dane."

Upon reaching the main room, they could see most of the boys from each school lounging around. And specifically by lounging around, it was not in a relaxing manner—frankly it was the opposite of all words related to "relaxing".

At the middle settled Momoshiro and Kaidoh playing table tennis or also known as ping-pong versus Ibu and Kamio pair who apparently just scored a ball through her senpai's defense...if there was such a thing that is.

"Oi! You damned viper! That was my ball!"

"No! That was mine you idiot! Don't get in my way!"

"What did you say?!"

"Nyahaha! Shiraishi, they're amusing!" Kintarō hollered, laughing at the bickering pair.

"Che! I don't see why Ann-chan is so smitten with you!" Kamio insulted.

"Ehh? What's that got to do with this?!"

"Your doubles hasn't improved at all." Marui laughed, popping his mint bubblegum.

"Nya! Oishi! Look at this aquarium!" Kikumaru exclaimed, pushing his face against the aquarium attached to the wall with amazement.

"Kora, Eiji! Don't lean too much on it!"

On the far right corner, playing foosball with none other than Oshitari Kenya and Higa-chuu's captain, Kite Eishirō in a two on one game.

"Kahahaha! You idiots should just give up! This game is mine!" Kirihara howled in laughter.

"Like hell I'd let you!" Kenya growled, focusing on his own defense.

"You'd think I'd let you win just like this?" Kite mumbled with a scheming smirk, just then when the ball was on their side, Kite poke Kirihara on the sides who yelped in surprise—which in return; allowed them to score against him.

It continued that was for a few more games then..

"Kuso! Stop cheating, Kite!"

"Kirihara! Torundoru! You're losing your game!"

"Ahhh, fukubuchou, gomenasaiii!"

"You peasants are always so boisterous, ahn?" Atobe voiced out, brushing his hair away from his face while he faced Tezuka who was sitting right across him.

Tezuka meanwhile stayed silent and kept rubbing his temples, looking irked.

"It must be difficult for you, keeping control of your teammates." Atobe sympathized with his fellow captain who looked up and nodded stoically.

"Aa."

Yukimura who was sitting at the single seater chuckled as he looks over to the rowdy crowd with an amused glint in his eyes and a light grin across his usual serene face.

"Your teammates are a strange bunch, Tezuka. I'm surprised you can stand such commotion." The tousled haired teen almost laughed, but boiled it down to a mere smirk.

Tezuka crossed his arms and answered with a straight face, "I don't."

With a deadpan look, Ryoma's eyebrow twitched slightly at the ruckus caused by the boys. She concluded that she did not want to be amongst this mess as well, so she turns around on her heels quickly,

"I change my mind, Shūsuke-senpai. I'm gone." She excused herself.

Fuji blocked her way and held onto her shoulder,

"Maa maa, Ryo-chan."

"Move out of the way senpai." She narrowed her eyes, but focused on being inconspicuous as well.

"NYAA, OCHIBI!"

"Too late." Fuji smiled.

Glomp.

"Itai-yo, Eiji-senpai!"Ryoma whined, pushing the cat-boy away from her face.

"And stop rubbing your face against mine! What are you, a cat?!" She exclaimed, still attempting to wiggle out if his embrace.

"We missed you, Ochibi!" Kikumaru beamed, completely ignoring her remarks and still clung to her as if his dear life depended on it.

"G-Get off!" Ryoma huffed.

Usually, Fuji would have enjoyed to see someone suffer under these circumstances. Why? It was fun and interesting to see how people deal with different kinds of situations. Fuji's smile tightened, Ryoma's case however; was a bit too different than normal situations.

"Saa, Eiji...I think you need to let go of her soon enough, she might pass out soon if you don't ." Fuji said with a chilling smile, his friend spend a little too long in such close contact with his Ryoma.

The cat-boy glanced at his friend and shuddered once he did. Kikumaru recognized that smile.

Kikumaru quickly released the girl from his grasps, laughing nervously.

"Ahahha...sure sure."

"Hwahh!" Ryoma gasped for air the moment her senpai released her from his bear hug.

"Oi, Ryoma, don't just stand there and come sit next to ore-sama!" Atobe called out to his cousin.

"Kei, seriously; you should denounce your usage of that god-forsaken self-addressing." Ryoma said, sighing as she walks over to the rounded couch and took a seat beside her captain.

Fuji wanted to follow suit but his little brother, Yūta challenged him for a table tennis match— to which he could not refuse. Hesitantly stopping on his tracks, he sighed inwardly in disappointment that he won't be able to be with the emerald-haired girl for too long.

"Uisu." She drawled out in acknowledgment to both Tezuka and Yukimura.

"Ryoma-chan, it's been awhile." Yukimura gives a small nod as he relaxed into the couch.

She smirked, "Indeed it has."

"Anh? Ore-sama told you to sit next to ore-sama, Ryoma. Why sit next to him?" Atobe scowled, motioning for Tezuka with his nose.

"Because I don't want to be lumped in with you, Kei." Ryoma deadpanned and Atobe gaped.

"What do you mean by that?!"

"You being monkey king and all...cocky, arrogant, flamboyant entrances…" Ryoma begins to lists the reasons why, each time she names something she curls down a finger.

For each the finger curling down, Atobe looked flabbergasted at his own cousin. But then he quickly regained his regal composure and said,

"Blood is blood, Ryoma. I could say so the same for yourself, ahn?" Keigo shot back.

"I'm not as flashy as you though." She smirked.

"In a way you are." Eiji intercepted from behind, leaning over her shoulder from behind the couch.

She shot her senpai a dirty look, "You're supposed to be on my side, senpai."

"Bui!" Kikumaru stuck his tongue out at her and grinned.

"Sou da ne, you are flashy." Yukimura hums.

"Ehh, Seiichi-san too?" Ryoma's eyebrow twitched once again at the feeling of being the minority in the case.

"See, even they think so." Atobe laughed.

"Urusai! Monkey King!"

"Stop calling ore-sama with that name, brat!" Then the two glared daggers at each other to a point one could swear they saw electricity sparks from their eyes.

"You two get along well!" Yukimura pointed out, chuckling.

"Like hell we do, Seiichi-san!" Ryoma retorted.

"Echizen, language." She winced at her captain's chastising voice and almost pouted, but Echizen Ryoma do not pout. So she opted to stay silent with a small 'che'.

Meanwhile Atobe was getting sentimental as he looked at the current girl before him and remembered the little girl that used to follow him around.

"You're not cute anymore." Atobe sighed. Ryoma quirked an eyebrow at this statement.

"You're so bratty and cocky nowadays it makes ore-sama miss the sweet little girl that used to follow ore-sama around, challenging ore-sama for a tennis match and calling ore-sama, 'Kei-nii'." He sighed exasperatedly, slumping his shoulders.

"I never pegged you to be a siscon, Atobe." Yukimura smirked at the scene.

"Urusai, Monkey king! Stop talking 'bout the past!" Ryoma blushed at the embarrassing memory of her younger self.

"She's in her rebellious stage…"Atobe ignored, continuing his tirade. "What would Ryoga think?!"

"Ryoga? Who's that?" Ryoma raised an eyebrow at the unfamiliar name, she doesn't know anyone by the name of Ryoga.

"Anh? You don't recall?" Atobe shot her a questioning look.

"Am I supposed to recall something?" She leaned against the couch, resting her chin against her hand.

Atobe seemed thoughtful for a moment before dismissing the matter which only irked Ryoma's attention even more. But she wasn't going to press on the matter anyway so she let it be.

"Ahh, koshimae! You're here!" Another weight was added against her head to which she knew who it was.

"Ngh, get off!" She swears, what's with redheads and hyperactiveness?!

"Na, Koshimae play a match with me!" He challenged enthusiastically.

"But I just took a shower." She answered blankly.

"Ehhh, it's fine isn't it?" Kinta whined.

"Maybe another time."

"Kora, Kin-chan; Echizen-chan doesn't want to play right now, besides; it's already late at night." Shiraishi scolded as the red-head pouted like a child.

Ryoma's head perked when she recalled something. Matches. Her eyes landed on the tousled blue haired teen beside her who noticed her gaze. Ryoma stared at him blankly for a second, deep in thought.

'I want to play him again...been 2 months since I got a good match like he gave me…' Ryoma mused, 'come to think of it...that rematch with Shūsuke -senpai hasn't been done yet either...'

"-oma?" Yukimura's voice snapped her out of her mind. She blinked.

"Something wrong?" Rikkai's captain asked and Ryoma hummed, crossing her arms in front of her chest contemplating what to do. Just because Kintarō reminded her about matches, now her mind was filled with debate and she resisted the urge to blurt out something.

However; she couldn't control it.

"Seiichi-san...Can I speak with you in private?" Yukimura looked taken aback but nods anyway. Ryoma stands up, ignoring Atobe's protest with her and Yukimura's incoming private chat.

The both of them left the lounge inconspicuously; it helped that the others were too occupied with their own group and activities as well.

Yukimura silently followed the girl into the hallway, stopping just beside a glass wall overlooking the tennis courts. He watched closely as the female before him pauses on her tracks and turns to him.

"What is it that you want to talk about?" He inquired, curious.

"Want to have a friendly match with me?" She said, straight to the point.

She smirked at him, but not as cocky as she usually would come off as. This was a part of Ryoma he would often see, both indoors when he was in the hospital; or those few moments during the courts.

Yukimura blinks for a seconds before a smile crept its way across his lips.

"I wouldn't mind, but a friendly match?"

"Yeah. Just a short one. I've been aching to play against you once again ever since the Nationals." She confessed, "ever since then, nobody ever really gave me the thrill I felt playing against you."

'Except for one other person, that is.' She added as she thought of a certain brown haired tensai.

"I feel honoured for you to think of me that way." Yukimura chuckles, "Honestly, I've been wanting to do the same as well."

Ryoma nods, "Meet me at the courts in a few mins?"

Yukimura smirks,"You got a deal."

.


.

A Few Minutes Later

After fetching his racquet bag and changing into a suitable tracking pants and rubber shoes, Yukimura arrives at the courts. He drops his bag onto the ground against the fence, opening his bag to take out his own racquet.

"I was so sure I'd get here before you." A familiar voice came from behind.

"Mah, I didn't really need to change." He says back, straightening himself to look at her just in time as she drops her own bag beside his.

"I guess I was the only one who needed to." She chuckles, unzipping her own bag; taking out her own racquet as well and fixed her shoe laces.

"My ball or yours?" Yukimura asked, fiddling with one of the extra balls he usually carries in his bag.

"I don't really care." She replied, standing up.

"My ball then," He concluded with a small 'yosh' at the end.

As if on autopilot, the both of them chose their respective sides, standing in front of each other with only the net in between. Yukimura holds out his racquet upside down.

"Which?"

"Smooth." Ryoma says and Yukimura spun the racquet only for it to land where the end of the strings were protruding.

"Rough." Yukimura announced.

"Jaa, I'll be the first one to serve." He says as they walked back to the baseline.

He gets in position and studies his opponent across the field. Deep blue eyes met with golden for a brief second as he throws the ball in the air and hits it aiming to her right.

The ball was fast indeed, but not fast enough for Ryoma's eyesight. She reacted quickly; hitting it with a backhand stroke, sending it rapidly across the court.

"What's wrong, Seiichi-san! Your serve's slow!" She calls out.

Yukimura was quickly on it, as expected and hit it softly with a low lob.

"Everything has a purpose, Ryoma." He murmurs with a smile.

"Ahh, I see." She smirks, running to the front; just in time to revive the ball with another lob, skidding to stop.

Before she knew it, Yukimura was already at the front and did a cross, sending the ball rapidly near the baseline.

"15-love." He announced camly, but one could see the slight smirk he had on his lips and the glow in his eyes.

"Heh…" Ryoma looks at the ball laying lazily on her side of the court with amusement.

"Now that's what I'm talking about." She grins.

"Might want to up your game a little bit, Ryo-chan. Did travelling to America not do you any good at all?" Yukimura stated in a playful mock.

She narrowed her eyes at him, mirroring his mischievous smirk.

"Yarou, I'll show you what I learnt since." She muttered, getting into position once again as she threw the ball to Yukimura who caught it.

Yukimura finally hit the ball with the same speed he had during the Nationals; it was no surprise to the both of them that Ryoma returned it with no problem at all which made Rikkai's renowned sadist to praise her.

"It seems you did improve." He commented, as they rallied for the next point.

"Why thank you." She muttered sarcastically at him as she hit the ball aiming at Yukimura's wrist, taking him by surprise. The ball rebounded while his racquet fell to the ground.

'Ah!' His gaze rested on her airborne figure as she smashed the ball to the ground.

"Atobe Keigo's Hametsue no Rondō, neh…" He muttered, picking up his racquet.

"15-all." She recites, hand on her hips; looking at him challengingly.

Yukimura faces her, both in a stare down. One sentence formed in their mind the moment they smirked at each other competitively.

'It seems like this won't be such a simple match after all, not with him/her.' They both thought.

.


.

Lounge

"KOSHIMAE—Eh?"

Kintarō blinks as he turns to where the girl used to be only to find her missing. He turns to look at Atobe and Tezuka but they ignored him which left him confused. He scratches his head and says,

"She's gone."

His statement caught a few attention and then Marui who was previously entertained by Momoshiro and Kaidoh versus Kamio and Ibu looks to where he remembered his captain took seat.

But found him gone as well.

"Are?" He blew his gum and it popped.

"Yukimura-buchou's gone too."

"Ah!"

Fuji stopped playing his match with his brother the moment he heard the two were not present in the lounge, curiosity getting the best of him.

"Ore-sama thinks their private talk is taking a little too long." Atobe muttered, glaring at the exit where they disappeared off too.

"Aa." Tezuka nods in agreement.

"Private talk?" Kintarō repeated. "Who?"

"Ryoma and Yukimura." Atobe answered, sighing as he stood up from his seat.

"I'll go check up on them." He says, protective instincts alert. His mind was conjuring up different kinds of images, mostly unpleasant in regards to his little cousin and Rikkai's captain being alone together.

"Oiii!" Jirō bursts into the room with an excited expression plastered on his face.

"Geh! He's here!" Marui stepped back from his fanboy.

"Jirō, what's with all the commotion!" Atobe demanded.

"Listen, minna! Ryoma-chan and Yukimura are playing a match right now!" He exclaimed.

"What?" Tezuka looked surprised along with the others.

"EH? Yukimira-buchou and Echizen?!" Kirihara yelled.

"NANI?! THAT'S SO UNFAIR!" Kintarō proclaimed at the fact that he was rejected but then later on the rookie of the East is playing a match in the end.

"Nyaaa! Oishi! Lets goooo!" The hyperactive acrobat dragged his partner, leaving to watch their Ochibi's match.

"Ahh! I'm coming with!" Kintarō dashed out.

"Kin-chan, wait up!" Kenya and Shiraishi follows.

"Saa...No wonder they took long." Fuji stated almost sarcastically to himself, opening his eyes.

'Geh! Aniki opened his eyes!' Yūta thought nervously.

"Should we watch the show, Yūta?" Fuji smiles at his brother, motioning to leave as well.

"A-Aa." He nods and they both left.

Atobe and Tezuka exchanged looks and decided to see for themselves as well. Meanwhile Kirihara went along with Sanada, Marui and Jackal. Kaidoh and Momoshiro stopped fighting the moment Jirō announced the event and followed their captain. Inui was silent all along at the corner, planning for another masterpiece—mainly his poisonous drinks— silently trudged; it was a good chance to get more data, he thought.

One by one, all of them marched towards the court and left the lounge empty.

When all of them arrived at the courts, they saw Ryoma perform a smash they never seen before and scoring a point against Yukimura.

"4 games all." She says calmly, moving back to the baseline.

Yukimura whistles in awe at the new technique he just witnessed from the girl who wasted no time and lobbed the ball only for it to vanish to Yukimura's side.

"Keep your head in the game, Seiichi-san." She smirks playfully.

At the sidelines, Momoshiro and the others looked shocked at what they witnessed.

"Uso! That serve was fast!"

"I-I think that was as fast as my waterfall…" Inui stuttered, gawking.

"15-0."

"Heh...So you haven't even used 80% of your strength, formidable." Yukimura smirks in return, hitting another ball.

"Jaa, take this!"

This time Ryoma hits the ball, equally as fast as the ball she hit previously; but Yukimura quickly adjusted to the pace and returned it.

"As expected from you!" She says, running towards the ball and returns it.

They began a rally once more, not aware of the audience that arrived at the sidelines; both too focused on their opponent— and more importantly—they had fun; even though Yukimura did not realize this fact.

"They're enjoying this." Sanada stated, his eyes boring into his childhood friend's face. He never saw that look in Yukimura before, the smile that adorned his features as he hits the ball back to Ryoma.

"Indeed they are." Yanagi seconds his opinion, watching closely as well.

After earning points alternatively, they came to a tie breaker. They began to rally once more, both refusing to pull anymore techniques against each other for some reason they couldn't understand.

"I'm taking this game!" Ryoma exclaimed, hitting the ball inches below the edge if the net. For a moment it paused on the spot before it started spinning rapidly towards the edge, ultimately falling down on Yukimura's side of the court.

"5 games to 4."

"Woahh! Ochibi earnt the game!" Kikumaru shouted in excitement.

This was the moment that the duo noticed their audience. They turned to look at them for a moment before Yukimura sighed, shifting his weight on one leg with a shrug.

"Seems like we got quite the audience."

"How long have they been there?" Ryoma muttered.

"You're so unfair, Koshimae!" Kintarō yelled at her, almost pouting.

Ryoma blinked then turned away from them to face Yukimura, as if caught guilty. Then Yukimura realizes that Kintarō has been nagging her for a match only for her to turn him down immediately; yet here she was playing with him.

"Let's continue." Ryoma mumbled enough for him to hear. He gave her a nod, then begins the match again. It was now Ryoma's service game so Yukimura was on guard.

PAK!

The ball projectiled towards his left. Yukimura hits it but then narrows his eyes the moment his strings made contact with the ball.

'What's with this heavy ball?' He thought, returning the ball with a grunt.

His gaze quickly caught Ryoma's form running to the net and he realized instantly what's going on in her mind that very moment.

'I see what you're trying to do…' Yukimura thought.

Ryoma held her grip with both hands and hit the ball forcefully.

"—But that's way too naïve!" Yukimura exclaimed.

The dark-haired girl's golden eyes widened when the ball flew past her. She narrows her eyes as soon as it came and hummed, walking away.

'Playing with me like that won't get you anywhere, Ryoma.' Yukimura mused, watching the girl closely.

Ryoma looked...perturbed. She looks down at her racquet, seemingly in turmoil inside; however, afterwards— she links her gaze to his, eyes looking serious.

"You really are...amazing." She whispers to herself; but it was because he was carefully watching her—That he knew what she said.

Yukimura did not respond, instead he braces himself for another serve.

The game continued that way, rallying occasionally. However; the onlookers could not shake off the weird feeling they got when they watched Echizen Ryoma play a style similar to Yukimura's. Practical, and basic.

Still, even if it was; the match was still amazing. Most of the onlookers understood that the level they were playing was way advanced than they could ever achieve at the moment.

In the end, Yukimura took two games in a row, with Ryoma stealing points but failed to steal a game.

Both players relaxed, standing straight as they huffed to catch their breath. Both breaking a sweat, staring at each other for what seemed like forever to everyone.

Ryoma exhales, then smiled a little.

"I lost."

"You could have had a chance to win." Yukimura countered.

They both walked towards the net, "I could have...but that just applies to you as well." She responded.

Yukimura holds out his hand for a shake to which she took gratefully. The blue haired captain held her hand with a slight pressure, holding onto it tightly; but not enough to hurt.

"It was a good game."

"I couldn't agree more." She says back, studying Yukimura's mirthful smile. Not too long later, she snapped herself back to reality and makes a move to turn around with another sigh, intending to end the handshake.

But she couldn't. Yukimura still held onto her hand.

"Seiichi-san?"

"Why—why did you not use the Pinnacle of Perfection?" He asked, pursing his lips into a thin line.

Ryoma blinks, looking at Yukimura's quizzical look. She merely gave a half smirk and answered,

"Why didn't you use yips on me?" She answered him with another question.

It was now Yukimura's turn to be taken aback by her question. He moved his lips but no voice came out. At a loss for words, Yukimura sighs dejectedly ; letting go of her hand.

She was right, why didn't he use yips on her? It was a question Yukimura mulled over but thought of an answer quickly. But it was a secret that only he will ever know, aside if anyone else would realize on their own.

His dark blue eyes followed her retreating back towards the spot where they left their bag and begins to walk to her direction as well.

'That's right...I'm afraid.' He reflected.

Afraid of what? A voice in the back of his mind voiced out.

He stares solemnly at her who noticed his stare. Ryoma shot him a small satisfied grin after sipping from her own jug.

He returns the smile; although albeit unsure, tuning out everyone's cheers.

'—Afraid that my tennis will hurt her.'

.


A/N: Chapter 2 done. Hope you enjoyed!

Yahh, I had troubles writing off the match! We finally get to know a little bit on Yukimura's side and saw some FujiRyo interaction. lol! I know Ryoma is a bit cold, but isn't he always like that? In fact, I made him a bit more showy of emotions since he is a girl. But still I tried to keep his original persona. haha!