So I had a trip down memory lane and I was laughing my head off because I couldn't decide which is funnier, that I learned tennis because of the anime or because I'm writing a het fic on it. Anyway, decided I wanted to write more to stave off sleeping as I'm trying to kill myself. Hahaha Enjoy (no, it's not suicidal in any way)

Whether it was by force or some greater fate, the ill-fated role had been placed upon Sakuno's shoulders by the so-called 'Devils of Rikkaidai.' Confusion, regret, amongst all other possible emotions she could have felt, seemed to be not the case. She too wondered why.

"I guess that's everything that you need to know for now," Jackal smiles as he was happy they covered as much as the captain wanted. Consequences weren't that much nice if he weren't able to finish the task that was given to him but it was finished anyway. So, the tall half-Brazilian turned to his junior who busied herself by checking the equipment placed before her, gingerly inspecting the spares. "You sure are thorough!"

"Just trying to do my best, Jackal-senpai. I have to make sure that we keep them proper so as not to delay practice," said Sakuno as she straightened from the objects that she was inspecting. She had to admit, she was having a great time not stuttering when she's into work. Every little embarrassing habit seemed to fade. But it returns when she realizes that she's no longer in Seigaku and not amongst her long-time friends, "A-ah, there should be more of my tasks, right?"

"Nah. Captain told me to introduce you to the most basic and when you get comfy, we'll move to the next ones." But then he looked up, as if trying to remember something, which he actually does, "But captain feels you'll get the hang of it this week. Can you?"

"I'll try," and with a smile, Sakuno reassures her doting senior.

With the given task at hand finished, the two exit the clubroom with a more amiable atmosphere between them. Jackal excuses himself when he heard Marui call for the much needed doubles practice yet he backtracks when he heard Kirihara holler all of a sudden. Sakuno, on the other hand, was surprised that the ace was glad to see her despite having only met in a short time. Being the kind and polite girl that she was, she greets back with a timid hi, only to be interrupted by the half-Brazilian regular.

It was hilarious, to say the least, and Sakuno was trying her best not to laugh when she witnesses the motherly side of the person she deemed to be her favorite person amongst the flock of devils. And it made her like Jackal more.

"Kirihara, don't scare Ryuzaki-san," said he in a half-hearted scold.

"What, I was just greeting her! What's so bad with that?" Kirihara reasons. He then remembers why he even bothered to take a break from practice. Turning to Sakuno, his cheery aura returned, "So how was it? You think you can handle it?"

Sakuno doubted that she could do it the way everyone expects her to do. But the feeling that she did not want the person in front of her to be disappointed gave her so much confidence that she felt like she's a different person. Technically speaking she is, now that she's in Rikkai. But not to Kirihara. No, definitely not to Kirihara. "I'll do my best, Kirihara-san!" and flashed him a bright smile. A smile she hadn't realized she could pull off in front of a person she's met only in a while.

The ace returned her smile with a toothy grin, more energetic than her, "That's the spirit!" and gave her a light tap on the back. Along with the regulars, Kirihara went back to the courts and left her to watch their amazing stunts in the game called tennis.

'If they were different people, I think they're really amazing. But being enemies with them… it's quite difficult to associate...' Then she saw Kirihara laugh as he slid across the court, his legs in a painful split as he lost traction and skidded. He might have been hurt, she doesn't know, but the smile he has on his face and the goofy words he spoke afterwards, he's the same as everyone in Seigaku; they all love tennis regardless of their personal reasons. 'Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. After all, this was my choice.'

"Goodbye, Seigaku."

Most of the members have left; some of the non-regulars were taking care of the courts while some where merrily chatting as they got out of the clubroom, fresh in their school uniforms. The lot that had just gotten out, the Rikkai regulars, were having conversation amongst themselves but still kept in on what the others were talking about. Sakuno wonders how they can do that, or how possible it can be when you're long-time friends, as she confirms everything is in order.

She, too, was about to go home when someone amongst the regulars spotted her and invited her into their tight group. The girl with nothing to do aside from the club activities decided that it wouldn't hurt if she joined them on their little trip to the closest Majin burger.

As they made their way outside, the way that the regulars group was composed into smaller groups fascinated her, "Three-two-three… Yukimura, Sanada, Yanagi… Niou and Yayuu… and Jackal-senpai, Marui and Kirihara-san," was her count, a total of eight. And she made sure to remember it just as she memorized how the others were organized. There is no use in grouping people who hate each other after all.

Unbeknownst to her, the ace heard her mindless babbling, "What was that, Sakuno-chan? Remembering how we group ourselves?"

Still timid, Sakuno averts eye contact and stares at the pavement and with a moderate voice, answers his innocent inquiry, "A-ah, I thought it would be good."

"Hey, Jackal," Marui called after some time was spent on patting all the pockets he has on him, including fishing in his bag. He pleaded, almost dying, "Do you have some candy on you?"

Sakuno heard. It was her chance to get to know others! There was some in her bag, the leftovers from the time she was trying her best not to fall asleep in class by chewing on something. But she doesn't know how she would tell her senior without sounding too friendly. It was no longer the case of being timid. "Kirihara-san," she tugged on him and then whispered to him about the candy she had procured from her bag, setting up some plan on how to get it to Marui without the awkward atmosphere.

"Sure thing. Hey, Marui-senpai!" and Kirihara started on their animated discussion about the appearance of the candy. Marui was more than happy since Majin was still far. But the red haired boy, after hearing the story from Kirihara—who claimed he had some in his bag—looked over his shoulder and stared for a while at the silent Sakuno.

"Idiot. Do you think I'd believe you?" Nevertheless he was thankful for the sweet treat and continued his conversation with Kirihara about another game that was in the arcade they visited not too long ago.

Now that everything settled down, all Sakuno could see was their backs; it's the same when she was in Seigaku. She was there but never truly a part of it. Still, all those times were fun. Remembering stuff was always happy and sad at the same time and she was glad that Jackal was beside her to pull her out of reminiscence, "Getting the hang of us?"

"Yes. Although," then she motioned, her hand covering her lips and the boy bent down to hear her whisper, "The Kings are very intimidating!" and they both laugh at the reality of it.

"They aren't that bad when you get to know them. Besides I don't think you're under the Absolute Win rule," then he laughed in his own joke, leaving out Sakuno completely. She, not even trying to hide her ignorance of the intended pun, merely raised a brow. "I'm sorry, I was joking about Sanada-fuku-buchou's rule when we were in middle school. But I think it still applies to this day."

"Oh," she remembered that time. It was when Fuji-senpai was hurt by someone called Kirihara Akaya, the same person that was staring at her right now; his vivid green eyes that were once villainous now complete innocent features on his friendly face. "Is there something on my face?"

"N-nothing… just that Marui-senpai wanted some more candy."

"Sure! Wait a sec…" and she fished the small bag of candies that she had in her bag. Handing it over to the red-haired regular, the little bag was intercepted with such skill and speed she didn't even realize that it was stolen from her if Marui hadn't yelped in disapproval.

"Hey, she was giving that to me!" Annoyance was clear on Marui's face as he eyed his fuel in the hands of the one and only trickster of Rikkai Dai.

"It's not good to be extorting food from other students," said Niou as he perused the contents of the small bag and saw nothing but assorted candy. "It's just candy," he said with mock disappointment, knowing well that it would rile up his teammate.

Marui retaliated, "It's not 'It's just candy!'" then he was able to grab the treats away from the evil guy who parted him momentarily with his heaven. It was not long, in an eyeblink to be precise, Marui was on a piece of candy already.

The one with glasses stopped on his tracks once he heard the shrieking about candy and knew about the on goings by listening. Yagyuu soon notices the shocked look on the young girl's face as he turned to see the development of things, "Niou… I think you shocked Ryuzaki-san."

"N-no, no! I was just amazed! It was r-really fast!" And she demonstrated while swinging her arm, mimicking Niou's snatching action, followed by nervous laughing. The others at the forefront of the group caught on as well, watching her as she performed Niou's trick. Their stares soon redden the timid girl and she recedes into the farthest end, maybe she was considering turning around and going home, but the chuckling of the captain changed her mind.

Yukimura was very gentle, "That was really sweet of you, Ryuzaki-chan. Thank you for giving Marui candy." And so was Jackal,

"Marui, aren't you going to thank her?"

In an act of embarrassment, the red-haired boy scratched at his nape, ruffling the striking red strands of his hair, "Ah, yeah. So… thanks!" he said with a small smile. He, too, wasn't used with having new people in the group.

"That's a very nice reaction," said Yanagi, taking note of everything that transpired.

By the way Yanagi was implying things, Marui couldn't help but be defensive, "Aw, shut up!" and resumed walking towards Majin whilst holding tight to the treats he received.

Everyone followed suit and headed to the famous foodchain, retaining their earlier composition, three-two…two? Kirihara wasn't with Mrui and Jackal. He was walking silently beside a smiling Sakuno.

"Sakuno-chan," He pitched. "Do you think it's as fun as you were in Seigaku?"

That's some question there, something to think about. "Kirihara-san, it's nice that you didn't ask if this was more fun." She smiled at him, without an ounce of shyness. It took her some time but she knew it was the most correct answer, "Yes, it's just as fun!"

It's been a while so this chap might be inconsistent with the first ones. Meh.

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