A/N: PRINCE OF TENNIS IS NOT MINE!
I'm procrastinating on my schoolwork again. I couldn't think at all! So, I ended up finishing the third chapter. I hope this length is more satisfiable.
Everything seemed to move in slow motion. The third year was closing the distance between his fist and Hazuki's face. Everyone had turned to watch. Ryoma had thrown a ball up into the air. He jumped up to meet the ball and hit a fast, powerful serve. As the fist was inches away, the ball was flying towards them. The fist was centimeters away, and so was the ball. The fist connected with Hazuki's face, and the ball connected with the third year's fist.
The ball forced the third year's fist away. The third year lost his balance and fell. He cursed loudly. He looked up and glared at Hazuki. She didn't notice him at all; she was preoccupied with her cheek. Using three fingers, she gingerly pressed down on her left cheekbone, where she had been hit. She winced slightly. It wouldn't bruise, but it would still be a little store. "Hazuki!"
The third year looked past Hazuki, and Hazuki turned around. Ryoma jogged over to them. Ryoma lifted up his hand and gently pushed on her cheekbone with his thumb. She winced again, and Ryoma didn't miss it. Does it hurt much?
No. I'm fine. Thank you, Hazuki thought.
Ryoma didn't think anything back. He just nodded and turned to glare at the third year. The third year could've sworn that there were flames in Ryoma's eyes. In fact, he even could've said that flames were all around Ryoma. Ryoma was that furious. After all, no one hurt his twin without getting any punishment. Hazuki mentally laughed. You're starting to sound like Fuji-senpai, overprotective o~nii~chan!
Shut up, Ryoma thought back.
"Hayashi, Echizen, twenty laps for disrupting practice. Now!" Tezuka's voice broke the silence.
"Tch," Ryoma said. He handed Hazuki his racket and began his laps.
"I'm going to get you for this." The third year glared at Hazuki over his shoulder.
"I'd like to see you try," Hazuki replied. She smirked and tapped Ryoma's racket on her left shoulder. "You're so mada mada, after all."
The third year's glare seemed to intensify, but to Hazuki, it wasn't much of a glare at all. She knew that both her glare and her twin's were more intense. She rolled her eyes. Hazuki eyed the racket in her hand before walking over to Ryoma's bag. She put the racket away and went to join her twin. He had already finished two laps, but that was fine with her. She'd still finish before the third year.
Tezuka watched the twins run together. When he said 'Echizen,' he meant only Ryoma. After all, it was originally the third year's fault for disobeying their new manager. It wasn't Hazuki's fault whatsoever. However, he had no plans to stop her. He wanted to see if her stamina was the same as her twin's. Once they both finished, the captain found that it was. He approached the two as they drank from their water bottles. "Echizen."
"Hai?" Two voices answered him, and two pairs of eyes looked at him.
Tezuka blinked a few times. Then, he mentally smacked himself on the forehead. They had the same surname. Of course both of them would react if someone called out 'Echizen.' Although Tezuka didn't wear his emotions on his face, Hazuki had a grasp of what was going through his head. Ryoma, being impossibly dense, didn't. So, Hazuki decided to enlighten him. "You can call me Hazuki, if it'd make it easier."
At this, a look of realization spread across Ryoma's features. He mentally chuckled. Having Hazuki as their manager would be entertaining after all. He smirked and said, "Mada mada dane." He walked away to join the rest of the regulars, who were still enduring hell— doing their endurance training.
"Aa." Tezuka paused as he gathered his thoughts. "Do you play tennis with Echizen often?"
"Hai," Hazuki answered, though she raised an eyebrow. She wondered what he was getting at. Oi, Ryoma, what do you think Buchou wants?
There was no answer. She was about to repeat her question when Ryoma thought, I don't know. I'm using your ears.
"Tch," Hazuki said out loud.
"Pardon?" Tezuka asked. It was now his turn to raise an eyebrow.
"Ah! Sorry! That wasn't directed towards you!" Hazuki said, nodded her head in apology.
Don't just switch—, Ryoma was cut off.
Shut up! Hazuki then said, "Was there anything else you wanted, Buchou?"
"No. I just wanted confirmation," Tezuka said.
"Confirmation of what?" Hazuki asked.
"Your tennis style is extremely similar to your twin's, who's similar to your father. Correct me if I'm wrong." Tezuka said.
I'm similar to that perverted, baka oyaji? Ryoma mentally exclaimed.
Oi, are you going to let me finish this conversation? Hazuki thought.
Whatever, Ryoma thought back.
"You're probably right. 'Tou-san has been coaching us since we could walk. I, personally, have never had as much passion as Ryoma, though." Hazuki paused to put barriers around her mind. That way, Ryoma wouldn't be able to get into her mind. She knew he'd probably confront her about it later, but this next part wasn't something he needed to hear. "Plus, Ryoma just doesn't know about his potential. In fact, he probably doesn't even know he loves tennis. After all, tennis has always been there. 'If you want to know the grief for a lost loved one, lose one.' That's how the saying goes, ne?"
Tezuka was surprised. He thought he'd been the only one to notice Ryoma's situation, but he actually wasn't. Who knew that Tezuka would actually get something wrong? He didn't really know what to say now. So, he settled for, "Aa."
Hazuki smiled and bowed to the captain. She walked towards Ryoma, who looked annoyed. Tezuka just stood there and watched the twins. It was certainly strange. After all, they were extremely similar, but they were also very, very different. Their tennis styles, for one, were practically carbon copies of each other. However, Hazuki was exceptionally observant, and Ryoma probably wouldn't be able to notice anything until it was right in front of him. Tezuka absentmindedly pinched the bridge of his nose. Having twins on his team was going to give him a lot more migraines.
End of Afternoon Practice
"Oi! Echizen! Want to go for burgers with me and Eiji-senpai?" Momo called out.
Ryoma looked at Hazuki, who was walking next to him. She shrugged. She didn't really care. She wasn't that hungry, but she wouldn't mind free food. They stopped walking to wait for their senpai-tachi. Ryoma said, "Your treat, Momo-senpai."
"Eh? I always pay!" Momo exclaimed as they caught up to the freshmen. Eiji proceeded to glomp Hazuki, since she was much nicer about it.
"Senpai should be nice to their kouhai," Ryoma retorted.
"I'll pay for Chibi-chan because she's cute, nya!" Eiji exclaimed.
If this were an anime, you would see large drops of sweat on their foreheads. This is not an anime, though. So, you'll just have to use your imagination. Moving along, Hazuki asked in confusion, "Why am I 'Chibi-chan?"
"Mou, I just said! You're cute just like Ochibi, but I can't call both of you Ochibi! So, it's Chibi-chan!" Eiji explained. Or well, that was his intention. It didn't really explain anything at all.
Hazuki rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I can't walk with you hanging all over me."
"Sorry Chibi-chan, nya!" Eiji let go.
Why does he let go of you so easily? Ryoma thought, somewhat annoyed.
Well, if you asked,Hazuki trailed off. She knew he would get her point.
"Shoot," Momo said.
"What?" The other three asked in unison.
"I just realized that I take Echizen everyday to school," Momo said.
Again, if this were an anime, everyone would've fallen to the floor. Their feet would be all that you could see. Again, this isn't, so use your imagination. Trying to ignore what could be Momo's dumbest moment ever, Hazuki said, "Are you just realizing that? Please say no."
"Don't look at me like I'm stupid! I meant to ask who's going to take you to school?" Momo said. He directed this towards Hazuki.
"Eh? Me? I can walk by myself," Hazuki said. Momo-senpai is unbelievably slow. The only reaction she got mentally was an image of Ryoma smirking. Then, she turned her attention back to Momo.
Momo shook his head. "I take Echizen to school everyday. That's not fair for you. That's not fair at all."
"He's right Chibi-chan! Ochibi rides Momo's bike all the time! He would be a bad and mean senpai if he made you walk all the time, nya!" Eiji said. He latched once more onto Hazuki.
"This is stupid. Ryoma will ride in the morning, and I'll ride in the afternoon. Fair enough?" Hazuki said. She rolled her eyes again. She honestly didn't care.
"Oh! That sounds like a good idea!" Momo exclaimed.
The twins began walking away. Their senpai called out to them, asking them to wait. They smirked and said in unison, "Mada mada dane!"
At the fast food restaurant
"Echizen…" Momo sighed for the umpteenth time.
Ryoma was thoroughly annoyed. They had figured it out that he didn't mean Hazuki after the second time. So, Ryoma was left to listen to Momo while Hazuki nonchalantly tuned out Eiji. He almost preferred listening to Eiji because all Momo did was say his name and sigh. Ryoma asked for the umpteenth time, "What?"
"You're going to leave me broke! You always eat so much!" Momo finally said something other than his kouhai's surname.
"You eat a lot too, nya!" Eiji pointed out.
"Well, I'm obviously going to pay for my own food, but I can't always pay for his!" Momo exclaimed.
Eiji grinned. The others mentally wondered if it was even possible to have a smile that big. "I made a good choice by paying for Chibi-chan, nya! All she had were fries and a milkshake!"
"I don't eat fast food a lot," Hazuki explained.
"Tch," Ryoma said. He was sitting beside her.
"Well, thanks for the food, Eiji-senpai, but I'll be taking my leave." Hazuki stood up and threw away her trash.
"Eh? You're leaving already?" Momo asked.
"Aa," Hazuki answered. "I want to go to the bookstore before it's too late. See you!" Hazuki left as the other said their farewells.
Be careful, Ryoma thought to her.
Calm down. It's still bright out. No one's going to try to molest me. Hazuki was already well on her way to the store as she thought that to her twin.
Hazuki reached the bookstore and went to find the book she wanted. She found it quickly, paid for it, and left. She was walking home when suddenly two men approached her. They seemed to be college students…or dropouts. Their faces were flushed, and their pupils were dilated. Their breath reeked of alcohol. Hazuki looked to the horizon. The sun was just setting. People shouldn't be getting drunk yet!
"Oi, sweetheart, want to have some fun?" One of the men said.
"No. Leave me alone!" Hazuki said coldly. She made to turn around and walk away.
"No, no! There will be none of that now!" The other man said. He grabbed her arm firmly.
"Let go!" Hazuki said. She tried to wrestle her arm out of his grip, but he was stronger than he looked.
"Aren't you feisty?" The first man said. He grinned. "That's just how we like them!"
"That's right!" The second said. He pulled on Hazuki's arm.
If Hazuki's reactions were any slower, she would've fallen against the two men. However, being the tennis player that she was, her reactions were quite swift. She was able to steady herself. She once again tried to get her arm out of that group but failed.
"Excuse me, but I have something to ask. What do you intend to do my little sister?" The one who called Hazuki his 'little sister' was not Ryoma, and she didn't recognize him. Who was he?
A/N: I left everyone on another cliffhanger! Sorry! Please look forward to the next chapter! Reviews are always welcomed with open arms!