It's early in the morning at Seigaku and the students there are having their mid-term exams. Some of the students in class 1-B are having a hard time to think except for Rika and Ryoma.
Fast forward
It's exam time and everybody is getting nervous. They're all thinking of what the answer is. Some students are answering the 1st or 2nd question while Rika and Ryoma are done. They passed their papers and went outside.
Rika: Wanna go to the rooftop?
Ryoma: Hn.
They went to the rooftop and chat.
Ryoma: Oi, why don't you want to play tennis again?
Rika: I told you it's a secret.
Ryoma: Hn
They changed the topic.
Rika: Neh Echizen, have you been in love before?
Ryoma: No.
Rika: Me too.
Ryoma stared Rika with one eyebrow raised.
Rika: What?
Ryoma: I can't believe that you haven't been in love before and… this is the first time I heard a girl call me by my last name.
Rika: What's wrong with that?
Ryoma: It's just that… I'm not used to it. Now stand up or you'll be late for the next exam.
Rika: Oh, yeah, right.
They walked together to their classroom and some of the fan girls of Ryoma saw them and you know what that means. Rika was so afraid. When a fan girl is just taking a step to her she sits on the floor, so Ryoma made a don't-you-dare look, and the fan girls are running away from them. They got back to the classroom safely and they're 5 minutes early.
Fast forward
It's already dismissal and Rika decided to review at her favorite tree for her science exam tomorrow. This time, she's sitting at the branch of the tree.
Tennis practice
Momo and Kikumaru are running laps around the court while chatting.
Kikumaru: I wonder where Rika-chan is? Is she still sad because of Sakuno-chan?
Momo: She's still depressed eh?
Ryoma: Kikumaru-senpai, Momo-senpai…
Ryoma pointed at the branch where Rika is sitting.
Kikumaru: Heh? Ochibi's looking for her too?
Momo: So young, so young.
Ryoma lowered his cap. He ran ahead his senpai-tachi.
Ryoma: Inui-senpai said that the last one who's running will drink his juice
Kikumaru and Momo: WHAT?!
They run as fast as they could just not to drink that juice Inui made. Ryoma reached the goal first and second is his senpai-tachi. Practice is going to dismiss early because the coach has to finish an errand.
Fast forward
Practice is over. Kikumaru, Momo, and for the first time Ryoma decided to invite Rika to eat burgers (that's the reason why Ryoma is joining ).
Kikumaru: Rika-chan, wanna join us and grab some burgers.
Rika: Sure.
They went to the fastfood where they suppose to eat burgers. As expected from Momo and Ryoma, they have a lot of food on their tray. Rika is eating only 1 burger and every paragraph she reads, she's taking 1 bite of her burger.
Momo: Rika-chan, why don't you eat first before you study?
Rika shook her head.
Kikumaru: You're as smart as Ochibi, right?
Rika: I don't know. Ask him.
Ryoma: I'm smarter than her.
Kikumaru: Let's find out who's smarter by playing tennis.
Rika and Ryoma: She/I doesn't/don't play tennis.
Momo and Kikumaru: WHAT?! WHY?!
Rika decided to go home. She walked out of the fast food while reading.
Momo: Oi Echizen, you should follow her. What if something happens to her?
Ryoma: Why me?
Kikumaru: I know! We all should follow her.
They all followed Rika without being noticed but Rika knew that her senpai and her classmate are following her.
Rika: Senpai, Echizen? Why are you following me (without looking back)?
Momo: Rika-chan, how did you know?
Rika: Your shadows.
Momo: Oh.
They walked Rika home. Rika invited them to go inside their house
Rika: Mama! We have visitors!
Mrs. Shoda: Oh? Visitors? Good thing I baked some cake.
Rika: Mama, these are my senpais and this is my classmate. They just walked me home.
Mrs. Shoda: Thanks for walking my daughter home.
Kikumaru: It's nothing ma'am.
They are eating the cake and then suddenly they saw a boy playing tennis at their backyard.
Momo: Rika-chan, you have a tennis court?
Rika nodded.
Kikumaru: Who's that playing?
Rika: He's my brother. He only cares about tennis. Just like Echizen.
Ryoma: Well, why don't you show us a serve?
Rika: Okay. I will. Let's go to the back. You have to return it.
Ryoma: Of course I will.
Backyard / Tennis court
Rika: Onii-chan! Can I borrow your racket?
Rika's brother: No! Use your own racket.
Rika: I threw it away.
Rika's brother: Here. Don't break it.
Rika: Thanks!
Ryoma and Rika got in their places. Rika is about to serve the ball.
Rika: Here I go!
She served the ball. When it reached the other side of the court, it didn't bounce. They were shocked except for her brother and mother.
Kikumaru: Wow! Rika-chan you're great at tennis. Why won't you play?
Rika bowed her head and whispered something to her mother.
Rika: Mama, don't tell even if they beg.
Mrs. Shoda: Okay.
Momo: Rika-chan?
Rika: It's a secret, right mama?
Rika's mother nodded.
Ryoma: Oi, try that again.
Rika: No way. You said only 1 serve.
Ryoma: Che. That's easy to return.
Rika: Whatever.
Momo: Senpai, Rika-chan's becoming like… Echizen?
Kikumaru: Yeah, just like two ochibis.
Mrs. Shoda: No. Probably her classmate is mean to her or mean to her friend.
Momo and Kikumaru: Oh.
Kikumaru: So that's why she act's different to us.
Rika: Oh yeah! I forgot. I have to study.
Momo: Rika-chan, we have to go. It's getting late.
Rika: Okay! Bye! Take care!
Kikumaru and Momo: Bye!
Kikumaru: Ochibi, say
goodbye to Rika-chan.
Ryoma: (glaring at Rika)
Rika studied hard even if she's smart. She wanted to have a perfect score. If you want to know the answer on why doesn't Rika want to play tennis anymore?, read chapter 9.
