Tennis Riceball

Chapter 10: Hyoutei Game! Yaaaay!

"Where did you go Echizen? This isn't the time to go sightseeing with Tooyama-kun isn't it?" Oishi said to Ryoma who just came back with Kintaro to their side.

"I'll win this game senpai. Please don't hold me back." Instead of answering his vice-captain, Ryoma just made a cocky comment and turned to the starting point of Atobe's game.

Suddenly, the lights went of startling everyone. But after a few seconds, they saw the spotlight focused on Atobe and Sakuno at the top of the castle-like tower. He raised his hand and Ryoma and the others heard the Hyoutei cheerleaders who came from who knows where and started to shout their usual cheer.

"Ugh… They never shut up." Momo said and started to rub his ears. Honestly, he's somewhat getting tired of the ever almighty Hyoutei cheerleaders.

"The winner is Hyoutei!"

"The loser is Seigaku!"

"The winner is Hyoutei!"

"The loser is Shitenhouji!"

"The winner is-"

SNAP!

"Ore-sama da!"

After the usual cheer, Atobe started to speak with his microphone. "Welcome to Atobe's Kingdom! The main event this day entitled Seigaku and Shitenhouji's Rescue of their Precious Princess Act will now begin!"

"All you need to do is to defeat the regulars of Hyoutei in their own challenges and you win… if you can." He smiled and so did the other regulars of Hyoutei.

"And let the battles begin!"

Atobe said and disappeared because the spotlight's focus went to Gakuto who was nearest from Seigaku and Shitenhouji.

"I will be your first opponent! My game is simple. You just have to eat more cakes than I do. Ha piece of cake isn't it?"

"Ha! This is my win." Momo said and started to step forward. All of them went to the long table where the cakes were served.

"My win your ass Momoshiro. This is my win!" Gakuto said and went to prepare himself.

"Game… Start!"

As soon as Shishido shouted the word start, the players started to dig the cakes up.

"WHOA! THIS IS SOOOO DELICIOUS! I GOTTA EAT MORE!" Kintaro shouted making Gakuto more fired up in winning. They continued to eat up until the third plate when Kenya started to flinch. Hikaru noticed this and asked his senpai.

"What's the matter senpai?"

"I… Can't do this… anymore." He said and surrendered.

"Whooo… I'm on a roll… I can win this!" Momo thought as he continued to munch the cakes. He already had four plates and he's not feeling sick yet. He was confident in winning when-

"Koharu… say aaaah

-he felt a rather awkward aura beside him. He looked to his side and quickly regretted that he did so. Koharu and Yuuji were doing their lovey dovey moment and that quickly made him sick.

"Ahn Yuuji-kun you're so sweet~ but I'm already full~"

"Then do you want to eat the cake through my mouth~?"

"Ahn… I'd love to Yuuji-kun~"

"Ugh…" Momo suddenly felt the urge to puke right where he was… on that very moment.

"I… Give up!" Kaidoh suddenly shouted. He also felt sick by just hearing the couple do their lovey dovey time.

"S-Sorry me too… I'm not into sweets." Chitose said.

"Don't let your guard down everyone… I'll be just here… behind you." Tezuka said.

"S-Sorry Eiji… I'll leave here." Oishi said.

"Ecstasy~ I surrender to cakes." Shiraishi said.

"Probability that I will lose 98.3%." Inui stated.

"Can't eat anymore…" Taka said.

Gakuto noticed the challengers giving up one by one and started to laugh. "You're all such pansies. Ha! can't even finish ten plates."

"T-Ten plates! Do you have a black hole in your stomach!" Kenya asked but Gakuto ignored him.

"They say that there's a separate stomach for sweets. I can't leave that stomach always empty yeah."

"Wow. How naïve can he be?" Kenya just grunted and started to massage his tummy. He was already full.

"I'll be cheering on you guys…" Hikaru said with a bored voice.

"Why are you even here? You're not disqualified yet!" Kenya shouted.

"It's a hassle. I decided to stop."

Time passed and only four participants remained with their challenge. Gakuto was working on his ninth plate and was pissed because of Kikumaru who's already on his tenth plate. Kintaro and Ryoma were doing their best to catch up with their eighth plate.

"Just a little bit more guys!" Oishi cheered the three and they showed him that they appreciated it.

"I have a plan." Inui suddenly said catching the attention of his comrades.

"What is it Inui? Tell us." Tezuka ordered and Inui nodded.

"Well you see…" he whispered to the others and made them laugh.

"That was excellent I think it will work." Shiraishi said. "Let's do this. Koharu… Yuuji please take the stage."

The comedy duo just nodded and went in front of Gakuto. The Hyoutei player noticed it and looked to the couple and regretted it just like how Momo regretted that he looked just a while ago.

"Koharu… Did the sun shine or did you just smiled at me?" Yuuji said with his cheesy tone.

"W-What the heck!" Gakuto shouted and wanted to puke with the scene and just get out of there. Then he realized that it was a strategy to prevent him from eating the cakes. He didn't give up. But just when he was about to take a spoonful of cake when…

"You are dangerous Yuuji-san~"

"Yes I am… dangerously in love with you~"

Gakuto threw the spoonful of cake to the ground and started to tremble. "ARGH! DAMN YOU I GIVE UP YOU FREAKS! GOD! STOP SAYING THOSE CHEESY LINES IN FRONT OF ME!"

"Wha? Does that mean I won?" Kikumaru asked and smiled. Oishi congratulated him the Kikumaru started to jump up and down.

"Whooo I won nya~ Too bad see you next week!"

"Winner: Seigaku and Friends!" Shishido announced and went near to them.

"I'm happy we won but then why did he categorize our team to friends? We didn't have special mention!" Kenya shouted.

"Well it's a hassle to say both teams at the same time. Well whatever I'll be your next opponent."

Everyone became serious, Gakuto was easy to fool but Shishido isn't. They needed to be careful. Shishido led them to a raceway and started to explain his game.

"It's simple. Just defeat me in a race. Just run as fast as you can oh… and no pushing."

"On your marks… ready… get set… GO!" Hiyoshi suddenly shouted without the Seigaku and Shitenhouji players getting ready.

"Ha this is my game! Ready or not, here I come." Kenya started to run and easily caught up to the dash expert Shishido. He expected Shishido to be wearing a shocked expression but he wasn't he was smiling.

"Smile all you can but no one can beat the Star of Naniwa in terms of urp!"

"Ha? Kenya? What's the matter?" Kintaro noticed his senpai decreasing his speed so he asked. To his surprise, Kenya was having troubles with running.

"Ate… too… much… can't…" Then Kenya slowly stopped.

Shishido took this chance to speed up to the finish line.

"I won't let you." Ryoma ignored the demands of his stomach and started to increase speed. Then he got an idea and smirked. He stopped running and Shishido noticed it. "Inui-senpai."

"Hm? What is it Echizen?" Everyone now has their attention on Ryoma.

"Do we have a punishment for the last placer? Like a new recipe of your Inui juice."

Everyone except Shishido trembled in fear the time they heard the word juice and looked to Inui who was now smiling up to his ears. "Of course I have. Now, who wants a pitcher of the new Special Inui Juice Power Up?"

"Inui what?" Before Shishido could remember his frightful memories with Inui's juice at the Yakiniku shop they went before the nationals, everyone suddenly rushed and caught up with him.

"NO ONE WANTS THAT JUICE!" Everyone sprinted with their every last inch of energy they have just to prevent their childhood go to waste with the most frightful thing they ever encountered with their whole life.

"W-Whoa! What the hell!" Shishido, before knowing what really happened, lost the game.

"YEAH! NO DRINKS FOR ME!" Kintaro shouted and went to look at the tower where Sakuno was. "SAKUNO-CHAN WAIT FOR ME! I'LL SAVE YOU!"

"What the hell happened? They all suddenly became beasts running for their dear lives." Shishido asked Hiyoshi who shook his head saying that he doesn't know too.

"This… is the reason Shishido-san." Inui came behind Shishido and handed him the juice.

Shishido stared at it and remembered his nightmare. "No way… There's no way I'll drink this murder weapon!"

"Come on… don't be scared, it's good for your health."

"NOOOO!"

"Well then. The next opponent is me. Just… make me laugh." Hiyoshi started to explain his rules and decided to not look unto Shishido because it will just ruin his childhood and the memory will just haunt him for the rest of his life.

"That's it? Very simple it is indeed!" Koharu said and went in front of Hiyoshi.

"Guess who… Be awed by Ore-sama's…" Koharu moved gracefully just like Hyoutei's captain and went with his line and turned around for a second "POWDER!" And turned back to Hiyoshi with his face covered with unnatural powder and a fake mole under his left eye.

"Was that supposed to be Atobe-buchou? It wasn't funny at all." Hiyoshi said coldly making Koharu's girly heart crushed.

"Ah! How cold~ I'm sorry if the world didn't love you so much Hiyoshi-san!" Koharu said and later gave up. And with his partner giving up Yuuji also did so.

"Gekokujyou."

"This is hard… Don."

Everyone tried their best to make Hiyoshi laugh. Heck they even made Kaidoh sing Twinkle, Twinkle but it didn't work.

"What the hell is wrong with his face. Did the world really didn't love you that much? I mean yeah, you haven't even won at least one game in the whole anime but that doesn't mean you don't have fangirls!" Momo said which pissed Shishido more.

"Do whatever you want, you can't make me laugh."

"Give up cheaters! You won't even make that jerk smile!" Gakuto shouted from behind them and laughed.

Fuji saw Gakuto and noticed something that he didn't intend to. He started to laugh silently and Tezuka saw it.

"What's the matter Fuji?"

"Well, I just noticed that Gakuto-kun looks like a girl." Everyone became silent. It was too straightforward and Gakuto blushed at the comment. Momo and the others restrained their laughter so the atmosphere wouldn't be ruined.

"M-Mukahi-san? A-A girl?" Hiyoshi stuttered. Everyone heard him then… "Pfft… A girl."

"What the hell Hiyoshi! Did you just laugh at me! I'll freaking kill you now! And I mean RIGHT NOW!" Gakuto rushed to Hiyoshi's place but his kouhai raised his arm to push him away.

"Oh my God… I-I can see you wearing a skirt! N-No way! You really look like a girl! Gekokujyou!"

He was laughing, Hiyoshi's laughing. It was a chance to release their laughter to Gakuto too.

"Hahahaha! That's the best thing I heard from you Fuji-senpai! You rock!" Momo literally rolled on the floor and released his laughter more.

"Shut up idiot!" Gakuto shouted.

"At least I don't look like a girl! Hahahaha oh my gaaaaaas! This is too much for me! Too much!"

"Shut up and go to the next game freaks!"

"They look like their having fun…" Sakuno smiled as she watches the scenes below them. She can see some of the Shitenhouji and Seigaku players roll on the ground while laughing. It was cute they thought.

But then the smile turned to a blush the time she noticed that Ryoma was actually looking to their place. To her position. To her.

"You look like tomato princess." Atobe said making Sakuno jump in surprise. "You really are easy to tease. Maybe that's the reason why that Echizen… Never mind."

"U-Um… What?"

"Ore-sama said ore-sama will make that brat angry." Atobe suddenly pulled Sakuno's face close that their lips almost hit each other. But then two balls were served to their direction. Atobe looked at the source of the balls and saw Kintaro and Ryoma. Kintaro was shouting and Ryoma was holding another ball.

"W-W-Why did you do t-that!" Sakuno shouted shyly. Atobe thought that it was him who she was talking to but then "Tennis is not for hurting people!"

"She was shouting at Echizen? That was rich." Atobe said and laughed, it was worth it seeing Echizen pissed because of him and then changing his look when Sakuno scolded him.

"Ore-sama is glad to find you princess. This is so much fun! Hahahahaha!"

"He's enjoying this too much." Kaidoh said as he looks to their next opponent. He looked to innocent, too young, and too cute. Jiroh was sleeping like a cat in the middle of the humungous room, soundly to be exact. It was unbelievable because despite their shouts, screams and laughter from their previous games, Jiroh didn't even open his eyes and wake up.

"The next game is waking him up." Hiyoshi explained with a smile. He still can't move on from Fuji's joke.

"That's easy!" Kintaro went beside Jiroh and started to shout like crazy. Everyone except Kabaji and the people in the tower covered their ears because of Kintaro's scream. But to their expectations, Jiroh wouldn't be woken up that easily…

"Hmmm that's weird. Is he deaf?" Kintaro asked and everyone shook their head.

"Why don't we let him smell something sour or awful? Or something delicious?" Chitose suggested but then he took his words back. "…Never mind."

"AH! I IKNOW!" Kintaro shouted and went back to his team's side. Then he shouted like crazy but not as loud as he did before.

"Shiraishi look! I found this on the ground near Rikkaidai! This is Mario Ponta's right? It belongs to him right?" Everyone looked at Kintaro confused. Who. The. Hell. Is. Mario. Ponta?

"You mean Marui Bunta?" Ryoma asked. The rookies noticed Jiroh flinching after hearing Marui's name.

"YEAH! THAT GUY! I GOTTA GIVE THIS BACK TO HIM! Maybe he'll like me if I did! Do you know where he is?"

"Too bad Tooyama. I already killed the guy." Everyone's jaw dropped at Echizen's comment.

"WHAT! Why did you do that! I thought he took suicide because he was depressed after losing to Eiji." Oishi went with their plan.

"Why didn't you tell me Echizen! Marui Bunta's already a legend! Why did you have to kill him!" Shiraishi shouted near Jiroh making him hear it loud and clear.

"WHO DARED TO KILL MARUI BUNTA-SAMA! I'LL KILL YOU!" Jiroh was now awake than ever. His eyes looked like it will pop out any minute.

"We won." Ryoma said smiling at Atobe. They already defeated most of the regulars making them win. "We win baldy. Let her go."

"Who do you think you are brat? Say that again."

"Baldy." Ryoma boldly repeated his word.

"You kidnapper baldy! Let Sakuno-chan go now!" Kintaro shouted with his might.

"Alright… Ore-sama will give her back. In one condition…" Atobe snapped his finger then butlers came in rushing inside the room handing every regular a suitcase. "Participate in the last part of Seigaku and Shitenhouji's Rescue of their Precious Princess Act… Ballroom!"

"He really is crazy!" Kenya concluded.

"Can I have this dance with you?" Yuuji seriously asked.

"Aww~ of course!" Koharu accepted Yuuji's invitation and went into the center to dance. Koharu was wearing a princess costume and a cute long curly wig. Yuji on the other hand, wore a red prince costume. Actually, everyone was wearing a costume because of Atobe's demands.

"Whoa! THIS IS AMAZING! Can I order take out?" Momo said as he eats the food being served in their table. Everyone was enjoying their meal too.

"Hmmm… Thanks to this menu, I have a new recipe for my new Inui Juice Megatron Mix."

"I-Inui let's just enjoy the food okay?" Oishi said as he diverts Inui's attention from making a new kind of Inui Juice.

"Whoa! This is the best sushi I had so far." Taka commented as he tastes the Sushi being served.

"I see you're still on your assignment Taka-san." Fuji smiled as he eats his precious Wasabe Sushi.

"OH MY GOD WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU! Are you even Hikaru! You look like a prince!"

"Senpai, prince costumes are made to make people look like they're princes." Hikaru said making Kenya hit the back of his head.

"I know that jerk!"

"Tch… They sure look like they're enjoying… I'll get my revenge!" Gakuto said munching a plate of strawberry cake.

"Oh… You don't look like a girl in your costume Gakuto." Oshitari teased his former doubles partner. Hearing his joke, Hiyoshi strained a laugh.

"E-Even you Yuushi! This is so unfair! Hey you don't laugh!" Gakuto said and just decided to continue eating.

"Ara… That costume fits you Onigiri-chan. Ecstasy." Shiraishi approached Sakuno who was just seating at a table quietly.

"You're teasing me again Shiraishi-san." Sakuno smiled at Shiraishi who was now in front of her. Shiraishi just laughed at her response and replied.

"It wasn't a tease Onigiri-chan. It was a compliment. And here I was thinking if I could have a dance with the cute princess in front of me."

"A-Ah… W-What?" Sakuno blushed not knowing what to do and not understanding what Shiraishi meant. Shiraishi laughed and lend his hand to Sakuno.

"I'm saying, Can I have this dance?"

"O-Oh! S-Sure!" Then Sakuno took Shiraishi's hand nervously.

Shiraishi smiled and held the hand gently. "Relax, you don't have to be nervous. I'll lead you don't worry." He said gently and it was a first time for Sakuno to feel relaxed around Shiraishi. They danced for a few minutes and for Sakuno, it was fun. She didn't know that dancing was that fun. Then she wondered what it would be like when Ryoma asked her to dance with him. Or Kintaro? She would just wonder.

"Ah! There she is! Sakuno-chan let's dance!" Kintaro was already finished wearing his costume so he came out searching for Sakuno. And the time he found her, she instantly ran to her direction and Shiraishi's.

"Oh, so here comes your prince charming. I should get going or he'll kill me." Shiraishi said and bowed to Sakuno.

"T-Thank you Shiraishi-san… for saving me." Sakuno smiled and thank Shiraishi. This surprised the captain though. She was just full of surprises, he thought.

"Really, Onigiri-chan. You always surprise me."

"Well, you always tease me on my part."

"Ahn… Ecstasy." Then Shiraishi left and went to Atobe's table. And upon reaching the said table, Atobe offered the captain of Shitenhouji some drink. "Ah, thank you."

Atobe smiled, he was watching Sakuno with Kintaro. And after a few minutes, Kintaro saw Ryoma and pulled Sakuno so the three of them would gather.

"So what do you think about their development?" Atobe suddenly asked Shiraishi making him confused. Atobe didn't look at Shiraishi and remained staring at the three freshmen in his sight. Seeing where Atobe was looking, Shiraishi understood what the captain as saying.

"Oh about those three? I find it amusing. Actually, it's fun watching the participants compete for her." Shiraishi said out loud making Atobe gaze at him.

"So you're just a part of the audience eh?" Atobe said in rather an odd tone, but Shiraishi just laughed it off.

"Well you can say it like that." Then he drank a glass of juice.

"You say that, but why do I feel that you're one of the participants as well?"

Silence.

Both the captains didn't speak for a moment. They could only hear the music playing around them.

"Your insight's scary Atobe-san." Shiraishi finally spoke with a smile on his face, making Atobe smile back.

"A lot of people tell me that."

"Sakuno-chan…"

"Hm? Kintaro-kun?"

"U-Um… C-Can we dance?" Kintaro said blushing. Sakuno seeing him blush thought that it was cute.

"Sure."

They danced for a while, and they enjoyed it. Though both of them don't know how to dance well, it was enough to enjoy every moment. Although it was clearly visible that both of them were blushing. Then after a few minutes, Kintaro saw Ryoma came out with his new costume.

"Oh! Koshimae's here! Let's go Sakuno-chan!"

Sakuno didn't know what to do and became nervous. It would be embarrassing to know that Ryoma saw her wearing a costume like that. She started to tremble and Kintaro felt it he stopped and turned back to Sakuno.

"Don't worry Sakuno-chan. Your costume fits you. You're pretty!" He smiled making Sakuno's heart skip a beat. Again, it's as if the world around her stopped revolving again.

"That feeling again…" She thought not preparing for what Kintaro will say.

"And I like you Sakuno-chan, with or without your costume!"

"I-I…" Sakuno stopped. Wait. What? What was she going to say? "What's wrong with me?"

"Koshimae! Come on Sakuno-chan." Then Kintaro gently pulled Sakuno to Ryoma's place.

"Whoa! You look cool Koshimae!" Kintaro complimented Ryoma's prince costume and as usual, Ryoma would just give his poker face as a reply.

"Kin-chan look! It's your favorite food!" Kenya suddenly shouted making Kintaro run and leave Ryoma and Sakuno alone.

Sakuno didn't know what to do, was she gonna speak or wait for Ryoma to start the conversation or would she stay or run away to talk to the other senpai? She became nervous again. Then she saw Ryoma look at her.

"It looks good on you." Sakuno's eyes widened the time she heard it. She then got the courage to look at him, and to her surprise, Ryoma touched her hair that wasn't in braids like it used to be. "This hairstyle fits you better. But it's still too long. Just cut it already."

Sakuno laughed, she wouldn't understand what Ryoma meant, did he compliment her or tease her or what. But what Ryoma said made her happy for no reasons at all.

"R-Ryoma-kun…"

"Hn?"

"Thank you for saving me… I-I really felt like a princess." She smiled and turned to Kintaro's direction. "I guess I should thank Kintaro-kun too. Thank you again Ryoma-kun!"

Sakuno was about to go to Kintaro but then Ryoma spoke.

"It was fun, being your prince and all… Sakuno turned back to him and smiled. She took his hand and pulled him closer. This made Ryoma make a confused look.

"Come on, I'm sure Kintaro-kun will be happy if you talk with him."

Sakuno smiled and smiled that day, so much has happened and she was sure to treasure every moment. She reminded herself to put a mark on her calendar that day entitled…

"Hyoutei Game! Yaaaay!"

Next Chapter: Christmas Eve

A/N: Okay! Thank you for reading
I decided to put my author's note after the chapter so it won't be a bother for the readers.

And I apologize for the crappy chapter... it all got ruined sorry(

And I apologize for some issues in this chapter like puking because of the affection of Koharu and Yuuji. I didn't mean to offend people if they are and another for Mukahi Gakuto fans for saying she looks like a girl. AND for saying that Marui Bunta is killed, I didn't mean any offense and honestly, I'm a fan of Marui Bunta :D. But if you are offended, please do tell me so I can fix this chapter owryt? :3

Lastly ….

Thank you for reading, reviewing (that goes for anonymous reviewers too! heart~), and adding this to your favorites and alerts list I love you guys you inspire me to write mooore ~

Atobe: Ore-sama's Jersey for Reviewers Ahn~