Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis

For those following the fic, I'm sorry for the horribly late update. T.T Gommen Nasai.

A member of Doumeki's family stirs up drama on the court.


Chapter 2: Back to the Present: But I LIKE tennis!

Doumeki was in the boys' tennis club as more of a trainer than a player. He got permission from Ryuzaki Sumire after Tezuka talked to the coach about Doumeki's situation. However, not all the welcomes were warm; and some of the tennis club members' work ethics were sub par.

As per that afternoon's training menu that Doumeki and Inui set up, the half the first years were supposed to run laps. There was one boy who didn't follow suit.

"I heard that Doumeki kid is really a girl, but dresses as a boy for shits and gigs," yelled Horio, an arrogant first year with a unibrow. He said it loud enough for everyone on the courts to hear.

"Horio, be quiet," said his other two friends.

Despite the attempts to silence Horio, Doumeki still heard him. He went straight to Horio and replied through gritted teeth and a wide, fake smile: "yeah, and I hear that Horio kid says he's got two years of tennis experience and ain't got crap to show for it. Do me a favor: mind your own business…and get. to. work."

Horio shrank back with his eyes widened. He became petrified. But when he knew that Doumeki was not within earshot, he mumbled under his breath: "hmph, you aren't so tough." He then went to run the prescribed laps. To the other players, Horio became nothing more than a blur.

Doumeki kept a composition notebook in which he wrote information on members of the tennis team. He looked at Inui's data and augmented it with his own observations. As everyone practiced, he wrote down everything while also keeping a sketchbook to quickly draw any positioning that he found interesting.

Doumeki went up to players at times to fix small problems in posture or give some encouraging words. He played a few practice matches to fill in for others.

"Ayame!" yelled a woman coming up to the tennis court as Doumeki tried to start a serve.

The older woman looked angry and was walking toward Doumeki.

"Mom, it's Doumeki, ok? Doumeki!"

"As long as you are under my roof, you are Ayame. Why are you here?"

"I'm part of the tennis team, mom."

"I said you could join the girls' team!"

"I will not join the girls' team—I am not a girl, Ayame is a girl! Why are we having this argument here?"

The two of them stared at each other wildly.

"I draw the line at joining boys' sports teams, and you know it! I wanted you to do ballet, like I did—"

"I'M NOT YOU! LEAVE ME ALONE!" interrupted Doumeki, tears welling in his eyes, "and I LIKE tennis! What's wrong with tennis?"

"I hate female athletes," growled his mother.

"I'M A BOY!"

"NO, YOU AREN'T!"

"Stop it! As long as he is with this team," said Coach Ryuzaki "I don't care what his gender at birth was; I will treat him as a boy."

Doumeki's mother calmed down.

"Fine, you can stay on the team, but I want you to keep your hair long. Maybe all the sweating will make you come to your senses."

His mother stomped away, fuming.

The court fell silent and still. Stares of worry fell at Doumeki's back. Practice became solemn.

Doumeki turned around, then yelled "What are you looking at? Get back to work!"

The club members started practice again, scared, quiet.