Yes, this author has been on hiatus for quite some time. I guess it was because of my exams and my co-curricular activities. Anyways, do enjoy.

Disclaimer: iRAYUMi does not own PoT, she owns the OCs


Kimiko reached up to touch her blue star-shaped hair clip. She wanted to re-position it. It was during math and the algebraic equations were getting to her head and she desperately needed a short break. She took that opportunity to stretch her arms as well. Staring out the window, she let out a deep sigh.

She had been in Seigaku for nearly three weeks and she felt so…

Kimiko's POV

The district preliminaries are in two weeks and I don't really think I'm up to task. I really, really hope that she will come back so that I can just let go. I feel my head connecting with the table, no surprise there. I miss her so very much. Just how much longer can I keep this charade?

Then again, playing tennis is so much fun….

Ryoma was sitting in front of her and absentmindedly twirling his pen around his finger, staring at the blackboard lazily. If there was one subject he hated, it was math. He stared quizzically at the blackboard, trying to make sense of the equations that his teacher had written on the board. He shook his head silently, making a mental note to ask Kimiko, who had always been good at math.

*****

Koyumi Ryoko stared at the piece of paper before her. On it were several line-ups for the upcoming District Preliminaries. Though she had no doubts of her team's ability, she still wanted to be sure of how Seigaku's battle plan should be. Their strategy, at this point was definitely NOT prepared. Sure, she did feel that this year, the team was the best one that they'd had in years, but she did not expect their 'hope' to show up. She bit at her pen and ran a hand through her usually neat hair.

Argh! Why did Suzuki-senpai leave her job to me?!?! She knew she could've chosen Yuki-chan, who is probably more capable. Why me? Bleh. I hate this.

*****

Yuki tapped her pen against her table rather impatiently. She stared at her physics test laid out before her. She wanted to scream, she wanted to bang her head against her table, she wanted to… she wanted to… UGH! She wanted to murder Fuji Syuuske.

She was beaten by him by a mere mark and was now miserable. She already promised her mother that she would top the class. She already told Fuji to his face that she would. Empty words. These words played again and again like a broken tape recorder in her head. She felt tears coming to her eyes. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't beat him, now could she? He was a tensai and she knew it.

She hated it.

She hated it so damn much.

She hated the fact that Fuji Syuuske was always better than her in everything she did. Tennis, studies, everything. The gods must really hate her. She glanced at Fuji's seat and saw him crowded with his fangirls.

Typical Fuji, always the centre of attention.

She sighed dejectedly and headed towards the door and left the classroom. The bell already rang. Fuji looked up and saw Yuki leaving class. He got up as well as tried to go after her in the hall.

*****

Ai pouted at her test score. It was one she was not too pleased with. She had been only one mark from passing. She sighed and placed the paper face-down on her desk.

"It's perfectly fine Ai; I know you'll get it next time."

Ai looked up and saw the unusually concerned face of her sister who forced a smile. She smiled back and nodded.

"That's right!" exclaimed Ai with determination, "next time, I'll get it right," she paused and smiled widely at her sister. Ron nodded and dragged a chair next to Ai so that she could show her the corrections.

*****

Fumiko had her eyes focused on the book before her. She was reading the French version of Alice in Wonderland though it was English class. The teacher already mentioned that it was going to be a free period. She felt a presence over her shoulder and turned to see Oishi-kun, the fukubuchou of the boys' tennis team.

"Ah, Oishi-kun is there anything I can do for you?" she asked, in her lady-like manner, placing her book face-down on the table.

"Ah, it...it...it's nothing. I would just like to wish you good luck for the District Preliminaries, I heard from Tezuka that the girls' team will be competing this year." He replied, his face reddening.

"Is that so, thank you then, Oishi-kun," she smiled at him and continued reading.

*****

"Anderson-san, for the fifth time, stop blowing that bubble gum in your mouth this very instant," demanded her biology teacher.

Ami, being Ami, simply smirked. She got up and placed her palms on the laboratory table. She blew another bubble mockingly and refused.

"Detention, after school," the teacher said and settled it instantly.

This time, Ami glared at the teacher but said bluntly, "there's tennis practice, buchou would kill me if I didn't come; the district preliminaries are in two weeks. This is also the first time in two years that the Girls' Tennis Team is participating. Would you still give me detention?"

Honoka's eyes shone with part annoyance and part worry. It was extremely typical of Ami, after all to get in trouble but she knew how critical it was for her to be at practice. She also realized that by rebutting the teacher, she may have gotten into more trouble. Sighing she got up and put on her most innocent face.

The things I do for the tennis club.

"Sensei… we really, really, need this practice," she then added in a pout for an extra effect. No one known could resist Honoka's goody-two-shoes act. There was a reason why she was known as 'The Princess' of Seigaku; she could get almost anything she wanted.

"Fine, do whatever, go for practice Anderson-san, just," he paused momentarily and sighed, "don't get in trouble."

The shrill 'kring' of the bell shattered the somewhat awkward silence in the room. Sensei motioned for his students to leave. It was, after all, the end of school and for some, the beginning of after school activities.


Two hours later:

Ryoko looked up at the sky and frowned.

'Not now'

Soon enough, blobs of water dotted the tennis court grounds, darkening them. Almost immediately, everyone ran for cover. Everyone that is, except the tennis regulars. Ami was in the process of returning a ball that Fumiko had served. Honoka eased herself from her previous match stance and looked up while across the net, Ai had just landed softly on her two feet, the dull 'thud' of the tennis ball echoing behind her.

"Good shot, Hono-chan," she said smiling at her kouhai.

Yuki was running after a ball that Ron had lobbed and sent it in a thundering smash that landed on the right sight of Ron's court. Miraculously though, Ron seemed to have disappeared from her previous standing and was now on the right side of her court, a smirk on her face. The ball was already on Yuki's court. Her eyes widened for a split second but she then focused on her own return.

Kimiko was the referee and was watching the match intently, her chin resting in her right fist. The rain seemed not to affect any of them at all. Ryoko smiled. It felt good to see the bare determination of her team;

'No, wait, our team.'

Suddenly, she felt a rush of adrenaline. Maybe for the first time this year, she never felt so sure about something. Yes, she was absolutely positive that Seigaku would stand a good chance. A glimmer of hope passed her. The Nationals? Yes, they'd aim and maybe, she felt, glancing at them practicing again, they'd win.


Reviews? (: