Seiichi's POV:
I looked down as Ryoma abruptly pulled away, having a sudden interest in the floor. Genichiro's eyes widened and his mouth more or less remained the same, but I could swear he was smirking.
"Seiichi," Renji said, stifling a laugh, "What's going on?"
I pulled on my smiling mask.
"Hugging," I answered simply.
Renji's eyes clouded with annoyance at my smiling face, but soon let it pass. He never really liked it when I mask my emotions.
"What happened?" Genichiro said, subtly amused.
"We're-" I started, but stopped. Tilting my head at Ryoma, I silently asked for his permission. Ryoma glared. Ok, so a no, I thought. Now what?
"Mura-buchou! What is it?" Akaya asked, getting impatient.
"Hai! Hai!" Nio said as well.
"Please, do continue," Yagyu said, impatience slowly creeping into his polite tone.
I slightly panicked. Then, Ryoma piped up.
"You don't want to know," Ryoma said curtly. "It's a family issue."
Family issue? I thought incredulously.
Akaya broke into a grin. Suddenly happy, he lively hugged Ryoma.
"YAY! You and Mura-buchou are RELATED!" Akaya chirped happily.
But apart from Akaya, no one else bought it.
"Family?" Nio asked sarcastically.
"Since when were you two related?" Marui asked with raised eyebrows.
"I'm inclined to agree, Yukimura-buchou. You never mentioned Echizen-kun, or even have the slightest resemblance towards him. Please, explain," Yagyu said with a disproving tsk.
"You never told me about him," Genichiro stated blandly. "And I knew you since we were 4."
"There's no records or data in my memory supporting this...rather...surprising fact," Yanagi said, curious. "And like Genichiro, you never told me about Echizen."
Well duh, I knew him for a day, I thought with a sigh. Of course I couldn't tell you guys! As I thought of this, with the Regular's attention diverted, Ryoma quickly slipped me a piece of paper.
"Oh, I'm sorry to say this, but I agree with everyone else," Jackal said, apologetic. "Do explain, buchou."
My mind went blank. I looked at Ryoma, expecting an answer.
"Are you sure you want to hear this? There's something called privacy," Ryoma muttered, slipping into his "rude, cocky and confident" aura.
Everyone nodded.
Ryoma sighed dramatically and mockingly cleared his throat.
"Gather around, then," Ryoma said. "Well, here's the story. Basically, I'm not REALLY a family member to Seiichi-"
"I knew it!" Marui exclaimed.
"We're childhood friends," I finished. I looked over to Ryoma for confirmation and he smiled. Relief instantly coursed through my veins. "My cousin introduced Ryoma at a family gathering, which he went to because...what was it again, Ryoma?"
"Because my parents were on some overseas trip," Ryoma answered, rolling his eyes. "Kasumi Hirano was my best friend and neighbour and since my parents were always so busy, I usually stayed with him. I think Kasumi's mother was...The younger sister of your mother?"
I nodded.
"Uh huh. Kasumi and I were really the only kids there since my sister wasn't born yet," I agreed. "I suppose Ryoma slowly adjusted into the family."
"Then tragedy struck," Ryoma said with a sigh. "We moved, and I soon lost all contact with my "other" family."
"Hm. I soon started Junior High and you know, we drifted apart almost completely," I said, trying to act sad.
"Not quite," Ryoma said quietly. "We both carried a photo of each other, though, through an unfortunate baggage accident, I lost mine."
"But I still have mine," I said, quickly catching on. "I knew I saw Ryoma somewhere! Which was why I rushed back to my dorm to check."
I showed them the picture Ryoma gave me. Smiles immediately broke out.
"Wow. Ryoma looked cocky even when he was young!" Marui said with a smile, not even caring he was calling Ryoma by his first name.
"You're absolutely correct!" Nio said with a rare genuine smile, "No wonder Mura-buchou was okay with Ryo-chan hugging him! Who wouldn't!"
"You look so SMALL and ADORABLE!" Akaya said, tightly hugging Ryoma. He giggled at Ryoma's offended expression.
"Akaya! You're killing him!" The ever concerned Jackal said worriedly. "And yes, Ryoma, I agree that you're cute in that picture."
"Well, Seiichi!" Renji said with a humph. "I suppose you have beaten my data once again! And you too, Ryoma."
Genichiro stayed temporarily silent, though he did smile slightly at the picture.
"I'm inclined to agree, Ryoma-kun," Genichiro said quietly.
Ryoma's eye widened at Genichiro's use of his first name but soon beamed and nodded his thanks.
"Ah, Yukimura-buchou and Echizen...Kun," Yagyu said with a small smile, "I think it will be only acceptable if I apologise."
I shrugged and Ryoma soon followed.
"Well, we did act strangely," I said. "Now that the excitement is over and practice was interrupted, I think we'll just end practice now. Genichiro, mind telling the others? I want to show Ryoma the dormitories, as he will be staying in the extra room near Akaya now that he's a Regular."
Genichiro nodded and told the other Regulars to "leave us be". A chorus of "hai" followed and before long, only Ryoma and I were left and the gentle ticking of the clock the only sound in the room.
"Ryoma," I asked, "Why did you have a childhood picture of you in you pockets?"
Ryoma smiled sheepishly.
"Well...About that..." Ryoma mumbled. "My baka oyaji insisted, as a joke, to keep a childhood picture of myself in case I need a quick explanation...for if something like this happened...So..."
I facepalmed again.
Ryoma's POV:
"Now, Mura-buchou," I said with a small laugh. "I believe you promised me a tour of the dormitories?"
Seiichi sighed but gave a genuine smile.
"I did, didn't I?" Seiichi said rhetorically.
I grinned, but I quickly spoke again.
"Um...Yukimura-buchou," I stammered, "Is it okay if I call you Seiichi from now on?"
Seiichi smirked.
"Of course," he reassured. "Sei-kun, Seiichi, Mura-buchou, Yukimura etc. etc. I really don't mind."
I beamed and headed downstairs.
Seiichi's POV:
I sighed, but knew that even without the crazy white lie-well, I think it's a white lie-I would have still looked over him. Seeing Ryoma's smaller than average body, the only thing I could see underneath the carefully placed mask was a boy that needed someone to look over him and not the missing but found tennis prodigy.
Smiling, I told myself that I will be that someone.
"Come on, Seiichi!" Ryoma's voice trailed from downstairs, pulling me out of my thoughts.
