DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN PRINCE OF TENNIS. NOT NOW, NOT EVER!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MATSUKAZE TENMA! HOPE YOU'LL LIKE THIS.

Chapter 11- Mada mada dane, Minna… *smirks*

Ryoma tried his best to not show how he felt after the sudden confession of Choutaro and Mizuki's revelation that Choutaro wasn't the only one who was after him. He discreetly scanned the whole area where people were gathered together. Ryoma wanted to see for himself and find out who the others were. He knew that he was different but he never thought that he was that different. He climbed a branch of his tree and positioned himself so it would appear that he was not plotting anything at all.

He watched Choutaro return to his team and was beyond disbelief when he saw Atobe eyeing Choutaro offensively. Was Atobe angry because Choutaro had gone off somewhere or was the Monkey King mad because Choutaro was with him? He didn't have his answers yet so Ryoma had placed Atobe on his mental list of people who he thinks are the people Mizuki spoke of. It didn't really matter much to him, it was just amusing and it would certainly kill time. He smirked to himself.

After a few minutes more, Sanada and Yukimura were walking pass Hyotei and Ryoma saw for himself how the child of god and the emperor looked at Choutaro then Atobe. The exchange lasted only a second before the four in question parted ways. "And here I thought that Monkey King had eyes for Tezuka-bucho alone." Ryoma thought to himself, clearly amused. He shook his head and pulled his cap lower to take a short nap.

Ryuzaki-sensei had declared lunch and everyone cheered. However, lunchtime was thick with tension. The first match when the games resumed was of Yukimura and Sanada together with Kirihara and Kintaro. Not only were the matches about who were playing but to those who knew, it was also important because of the reason behind the matches as well. Ryoma had finished his lunch and went to stretch his legs for a while when he saw Yukimura and Sanada walking towards the self-practice court.

He was confused why those two would be heading there in the first place. Normally, Echizen Ryoma of the Seigaku Tennis Club wasn't so curious about other people's business. However, due to the present circumstance and the trivia Mizuki had shared, he wanted to see if those two were worth looking out for in connection to the other motive aside from learning and evolving through the mock tournament.

He was staying a good distance away from the Rikkaidai pair yet close enough to hear anything if they decide to talk. However, unknown to Ryoma, the said pair had known that they were being followed. Yukimura stopped and turned to face Sanada, "So this would be the game to decide which one of us proceeds." Sanada merely nodded in agreement. "However, I want to clarify a matter with you Sanada. This match will also decide which one of us will take a step forward towards Echizen-kun. Whoever wins this match, the one who will lose will have to take a step back and not sabotage any attempts the winner will make." Yukimura stated with a serious tone.

"However, if the winner will be rejected by Echizen-kun, the loser will have the right to make his move once again." Sanada added. Yukimura nodded in agreement before turning to the direction Ryoma was, behind a tree. "So Echizen-kun, since you heard our deal, you must have an idea of our intentions regarding you." Yukimura said with a smile. Ryoma was smirking when he came out from his hiding place. "Well, I will be watching then, though I would prefer watching your seaweed ace battle it off against that sugar crazed menace." He stated which made both flinch a little.

Ryoma would rather watch Kirihara's match with Kintaro-kun than their match? It was a blow to their ego which was written all over their faces. "How about this, surprise me. Besides, I already know that you two, Choutaro, Monkey King and a few more others are after something else in this tournament. Or rather, after someone." He told then as he turned around, deciding to head back to his team. "By the way, someone already confessed to me today. And from the looks of it, his a few steps ahead of the rest, including the two of you." He told them and walked away.

It wasn't the normal Ryoma but then again, the mock tournament wasn't normal either. Since he was being targeted, he should be allowed to have some fun. Yukimura and Sanada were in shock. Someone had confessed to Ryoma already? Who? Well, whoever it was must not have been one of those who are still in the game. Yet what concerned them the most was the fact that Ryoma sounded like he was starting to like the person who had the nerve to make a move on their Ryoma.

Both got ready for their match silently as Kirihara and Kintaro did the same. Ryuzaki-sensei had officially resumed the games and everyone was torn in two. They wanted to watch the child of god play against the emperor yet they also wanted to see Kirihara play Kintaro. It shocked the others when Ryoma came to watch Kirihara and Kintaro's match instead of the other. However, Kintaro was thrilled by it. "Koshimae! I'll show you how strong I have gotten since the last time we saw and faced each other." The red head said as he smiled at Ryoma who simply nodded.

"I wouldn't be too confident, you red head menace. You're playing against Rikkaidai's junior ace who I've heard has full control of his demon mode now." Ryoma told Kintaro which made Kirihara freeze. Did he just hear right? Ryoma had taken the time to listen to news about him? Kirihara felt like he was walking on sunshine. Ryoma did not miss this and had confirmation that Kirihara was part of the people he was looking out for. "Great! Three from the same school. They might cancel each other out at some point. The Captain and Vice Captain are already facing each other." Ryoma thought before he moved to stand beside Momoshiro and Kaidoh who looked like they were going to kill each other instead.

Both matches had begun and Ryoma was trying his best to block out the cheers from the other court. Kintaro had not held back and was already giving Kirihara his special moves right off the bat. Kirihara seemed like he was in a pinch in the beginning. But as the game progressed, both players were neck to neck. Even if Kintaro could open a gate, Kirihara had his improved devil mode to match the red headed boy. That match lasted nearly an half an hour since Kintaro would purposefully destroy the court as well as Kirihara trying his best not to destroy any part of his opponent's body.

In the end, Kirihara had won by one point. If Kintaro didn't faint because he was exhausted, the game might have lasted longer and Kirihara might have been in trouble as well. Gin had carried Kintaro to the first aid tent while Kirihara was trying to catch his breath by jogging around the courts. Ryoma decided to head to the other court that was still being watched since the game had not yet reached its end. So far, Yukimura was in the lead with three games to two against Sanada. It was Sanada's service and Ryoma wondered if Yukimura would let his vice captain keep his service. He turned around and decided to leave since he had already said that he wanted to be surprised.

He was walking back to the vending machine when he ran into Atobe. "Monkey King, congratulations on your win against Fuji-sempai. How you managed that is beyond me." He said with a smirk as he placed a coin on the slot and got a can of his favorite drink. He opened the lid and took a sip while looking at the other who was staring at him. "Ore-sama thanks you brat for the greeting. And Ore-sama wants you to know that Ore-sama is capable of wining against the tensai in any condition." He said with all his pride which just made Ryoma shake his head.

"Monkey King, I want to ask you why you were looking at Choutaro like he had cursed your greatness earlier." Ryoma asked directly. He did hate beating around the bush. Atobe lifted his chin, "Ore-sama was merely scolding Otori for running off and not paying attention to the matches that were going on." He explained. Ryoma wasn't convinced yet he had a feeling that Atobe was not being entirely truthful. But he didn't press the matter for now. He simply left the Hyotei captain to watch him walk away.

Another thirty minutes passed and Ryoma heard from Oishi that Yukimura had won his match against Sanada. "Sanada is currently in the first aid tent, recuperating." The Seigaku mother-hen said, trying to stop himself from running over there to see if there was anything he could do. No one had noticed when Ryoma had slipped away or even seen him enter the first aid tent. Tomoka had elbowed Sakuno when she saw her 'Ryoma-sama' enter. "Ryoma-sama! Are you injured? Are you hurt anywhere?" Tomoka asked as she was being restrained by Sakuno.

Ryoma simply shook his head, "I heard the Rikkaidai vice captain was sent here. Is he alright?" he asked them in a monotonous voice. Both girls nodded and pointed to the area where a curtain was pulled to hide the bed and its patient. Ryoma silently entered the small area and saw how bruised Sanada was. The emperor lost his cap and was asleep yet he looked like he didn't have any regrets since he had given all he could possible give. "You know, I'm amused right now knowing that this tournament wasn't about tennis alone. I don't even know what I have done to have you people come after me with your own individual intentions." Ryoma spoke softly as he sat on the chair near the head of the bed.

Ryoma wasn't aware at all that Sanada was awake. "You do not see yourself the way we do. There is just something about you that pulls us towards you. And its not even because you've defeated us once before. It may have factored it but its not the whole reason behind it." Ryoma was surprised when Sanada spoke and explained a few things. "But one thing I know now, Echizen, is that whoever you choose, he is one lucky person to have you." Sanada said as he gave Ryoma a rare smile before drifting off to sleep. Ryoma watched his silently for a few moments then stood up and left the tent.

The next match he was looking forward to know the results of was Choutaro's match against Minami of Yamabuki. He didn't want to watch it as well so that he wouldn't be giving away to whoever was watching that he was favoring Choutaro already. Though he had discreetly left a can of Ponta and a small note in Choutaro's bag. The blond was surprised that he didn't even noticed how the drink had gotten into his bag but when he opened the note, he failed to mask the smile that had made its way to his face. Good luck –R was all the note contained yet Choutaro knew in his heart who it was from.

He knew that Ryoma gave the Ponta and that the freshman wasn't going to be watching. It was time for Choutaro to show everyone just how far he was willing to go for Echizen Ryoma. The afternoon was slowly coming to its end. Choutaro had won his match along with Shiraishi, Gin and Tachibana.

Ryoma didn't know how but he saw Tezuka, Atobe, Yukimura, Yuuta, Kirihara, and Choutaro talking to Inui and Renji. Out of all the ones left, it was those present minus the data players that were left. He couldn't help but smirked and interrupt. "Well, this is a bit flattering. Bucho, I thought that you and Fuji-sempai had something special." The statement made everyone turned to see Ryoma standing by the wall with a can of Ponta in his hand. Tezuka had recovered instantly and cleared his throat. "That is very unlikely, Echizen since Fuji is also after you. And I do not mean Fuji Yuuta alone." Tezuka said which just made everyone more interesting.

Ryoma finished his drink, "I don't know whether to be flattered of something else. But since this tournament is still about tennis, whoever faces me in the end doesn't mean that he'll be the one who I choose to entertain." He said with a confident smirk. "Besides, someone had already confessed to me today. This means his a step ahead of the rest of you. And just so you know, his quite charming." He turned around, smirking the whole time. "Mada mada dane, minna." Were his last words before they watched his disappear around a corner. The silence was eerie until Inui and Renji cleared their throats.

"Whoever had confessed must have already lose." Yuuta said, trying to lighten the mood. It was surprising that Inui and Renji weren't saying anything yet. "I don't want to hear anymore. Whoever wins in the end, everyone else will just have to step back. But if he got rejected, Ryoma is fair game once again." Kirihara said before turning to his captain. "If it comes down to facing you on the court, Yukimura-bucho, I hope that you will not hold back as I sure will not do so." The junior ace stated with a smirk and left. Everyone agreed and decided that tomorrow was going to be tougher than it already was. An unknown person had already confessed and it seemed that Echizen Ryoma wasn't even bothered at all.

The next day was indeed a day they all wouldn't easily forget.

TBC… ^_^

A/N: Read and review, my good people. You reviews matter to me! ^_^