jychan: I don't own Prince Of Tennis no matter how hard I want to be!!! Unfair!.. LOL...
9. Singles 1
Currently, I am getting tensed and tensed as each second passes by.
Why should I get tensed, is that what on your mind is?
Well, a few minutes later, the contest would start. What contest? The World History Contest.
"Would all the contestants gather already in the room since the contest would start in 5 minutes."
See! I told you! Anyways, it has officially been 2 weeks since I met Seiichi-kun, Kirihara-san and Sanada-san. I wonder if they're doing well in Rikkai Dai. Especially since finals are near already.
"Excuse me. Are you the representative for Seigaku?" A girl, my height, went near me and asked,
"Ah hai. And you're from?" I asked,
"Ah. Fudoumine Chuugaku. Tachibana An, and nice to meet you, ah?"
"Ah. Tezuka Kumiko." I replied with a slight nod,
"Eh? Seriously? Wow. Are you related with the Seigaku Tennis Club's buchou?" She asked as she sat beside me,
"Ah hai. He's apparently, my Onii-chan." I replied, adjusting my chair,
"Sugoyi! We're the same. Although I have a different brother, of course. My brother is the buchou in my school's Tennis Club. As well as the coach." An replied as she flashed a smile,
"Sou ka desu."
"Everyone please settle down now. We are about to start."
"It seems it's going to start now. Gambatte Tachibana-chan."
"Gambatte Tezuka-chan." She replied, and the contest begun.
"Champion: Seigaku. Represented by: Tezuka Kumiko." the announcer said as Kumiko's face glinted in joy,
"Sugoyi, Tezuka-chan!" An told her new friend, who was jumping in joy as she won,
"Anou, Tachibana-chan. Kumiko would do, you know. Calling me Tezuka is so formal." Kumiko replied with a thumbs up,
"Sure! You can call me An, as well." An replied as they went out the room,
"Aren't you going to claim the prize yet?" An asked,
"Ieee. It's going to be given a few days later. I can also have my sensei get my award. I don't want to be just going there and be all-smiley smiley. People would think I am too confident. And anyways, the trophy most likely, would be presented to me in school." Kumiko replied, before sighing,
"Well, if that's what you want." An replied,
"Care for some ice cream, An-chan?" Kumiko asked as they passed by an ice-cream shop,
"Eh? Sure! It's kinda hot, anyways." An replied with a nod,
"Come on! There's one there." Kumiko replied as she dragged An to the shop,
"One Cookies and Cream Ice Cream please!" Kumiko told the woman,
"And then, one chocolate." An replied as she took some yen,
"Let me pay for you, An-chan."
"Iee. Don't. We just met and then I'm going to let you pay. That's unfair, you know." An replied with a wink,
"I suppose."
"Excuse me, one green tea please." A womanly voice said and Kumiko turned around only to see a girl.
"Ah. Sorry." Kumiko said before An and Kumiko sat down.
"So, what's your brother like?" An asked,
"Eh? Onii-chan? Well, he's caring, kind and then, a role model, hmmm. And many too much to mention anyways." Kumiko replied, "How about yours?" she added,
"Eh? Kippei-nii? Well, just the same, I suppose." An replied, "Earlier, I saw you turning your head when a woman asked for a green tea ice cream. Why were you doing so?" An asked,
"Oh that... I was rather thinking that I might see a familiar face." Kumiko replied, 'More like Seiichi-kun's. I wonder why.'
"Who?"
"Oh, a friend of mine."
"I see. But don't you think it's rather weird that she chose a green tea iced cream? But I guess, each person has his or her own preferences, that is." An said before sighing,
"Oh... Ok..."
"Kumiko-chan, do you mind if we pass by the tennis courts?" An asked as she finished her ice cream,
"Oh? Sure. I won't mind. I guess I might able to find my brother there as well." Kumiko replied as she wiped her mouth,
"Come on." An said as they went to the tennis courts, together. The tennis courts were really near where they were. After all, it was just a couple of blocks to the courts.
And when they arrived to the place, Kumiko looked around and saw some people playing,
"Watch out!" An said as Kumiko faced and was hit by the ball somewhere, "Ugh." She complained, She turned to a direction, expecting for a brunette, but had rather seen a person with violet hair,
"Uugh. My head hurts." Kumiko complained as she massaged the part where the ball hit her,
"Where you the one that Atobe hit you?" a bespectacled boy went near Kumiko,
"Ah, hai. I suppose since I was the only one who was hit here, I suppose." Kumiko sweatdropped,
"Ore-sama is sorry to you." The guy who hit her went near,
"Ah. I'm fine. No need to worry. An-chan." Kumiko called An as she ran towards her,
"Eh? Doushite ka, Kumiko-chan?" An asked as she faced at Kumiko,
"Anou, it seems Onii-chan isn't here." Kumiko said,
"Matte. Let ore-sama do something in exchange with what Ore-sama did to you." the guy said as he went near Kumiko and An, "Kabaji, get us some cans of juice.", he ordered Kabaji.
"Oh it's you, Atobe Keigo. Buchou of Hyoutei Gakuen." An said as she recognized Atobe,
"Eh?"
"If I am not wrong, she is Tachibana Kippei's imouto." the bespectacled guy said,
"Oshitari Yuushi." An recognized,
"So, Tachibana-chan, can I ask what are you doing here?" Yuushi asked as he went nearer,
"I attended a contest." An replied as she rolled her eyes,
"Oh. I see. That's why you're wearing your uniform." Yuushi replied, "And who is this young lady?" he asked, eyeing on Kumiko,
"Tezuka Kumiko. imouto of Seigaku's buchou, Tezuka Kunimitsu." An replied as she narrowed her eyes,
"Oh really? Tezuka-chan, send Ore-sama's regards to your brother." Atobe said,
"Ore-sama? Does he really speak of himself with high regard?" Kumiko whispered to An, who nodded in response,
"It seems there are a lot of people here in the tennis courts, should I say." A voice said, "Neh, Tezuka-chan?"
"Eh? Fu-Fuji-senpai?" Kumiko recognized as she turned around, while Kabaji gave them the cans,
"Mada mada dane senpai." Echizen said as he went inside the courts with the other regulars: Tezuka, Fuji, Kaidoh, Eiji and Momo.
"Oh, Echizen, Eiji-senpai, Onii-chan, Oishi-senpai, Momo-chan" Kumiko recognized,
"Kumiko, how was the contest?" Tezuka asked his younger sister, "Fine. I won, as usual." Kumiko replied with a nod,
"Nya! Sugoyi Tezuka-chan!" Eiji glomped on Kumiko, "Ca-Can't b-brea-eathe se-senp-p-ai!" Kumiko said,
"Momo!" An called, "Ah! An-chan!" Momo recognized,
"Where's Kawamura-senpai and Inui-senpai?" Kumiko asked,
"Taka-san had to help in their sushi shop and Inui-senpai had to do something,"Momo replied,
"Ahh. Sou ka desu." Kumiko said as she nodded,
"Oh. Tezuka, it's you. Ore-sama is surprised to see you here." Atobe said as he went near the Seigaku Regulars,
Tezuka just shrugged, "Would you please if we had a game of course? By team, that is." Atobe challenged,
"A game? But they're incomplete!" An said,
"Well, it's not Ore-sama's fault, that is. Anyone can sub, you know." Atobe replied as he smirked, "There's Tezuka's imouto and you, as well, Tachibana's imouto." he added,
"Shut up! I have a name you know!" An replied,
"Calm down An-chan!" Momo told An,
"Well, what do you say about it?" Atobe asked, Kumiko looked at the other regulars, who really seemed game to play,
"OK. Let the games begin." Kumiko said, as she sweatdropped,
"Game. Let's have a team up for the meantime. We'll have to determine the players by picking up sticks." Atobe smirked as they turned around,
"Kumiko-chan, we can forfeit the games, you know, especially since you have asthma." Oishi said,
"No. I'm fine, Oishi-senpai. Neh, Onii-chan?" Kumiko asked, "I was rather agreeing with Oishi." Tezuka replied as the others sweatdropped,
"Ugh. Well, it's final, I will play. Let's pick up our slots already." Kumiko said as she took a paper out of the booth and the others as well.
"OK. Let us see." Eiji said as they looked at their pictures, Echizen sighed as he got the Singles 3, Tezuka got Doubles 2 with An, The Golden Pair as usual with Doubles 1 and Fuji with Singles 2,
"Shoot." Kumiko said as she stared at the paper,
"Eh? Why, Tezuka-chan?"
"I got Singles 1."
jychan: Now, I'd like to thank invisible-gurl for the review.
invisible-gurl: it is true that Kunimitsu's really going to have a hard time with some one as densed as Kumiko, but oh well, it seems she's doing well with Seiichi and Fuji.
SO, people speak out now whether she should go with Fuji or Yukimura! Well, I could also make a double ending if you want to...
