"Hmm" Ryoma hummed as she stared at the 9 figures behind the fence with curiosity, "So they're the regulars."
"Arai," The guy with glasses and sharp eyes commanded the second year again, "Put him down and give me 20 laps." Ryoma watched as the glasses wearing senior looked down intimidatingly at the guy currently holding her up and can't help but feel a shiver go down her spine. This guy means business.
"Yes Buchou!" Arai yelled out while standing in attention and immediately running out of the court to start his lap. Out of his fear, he dropped the first year onto the ground onto her butt and left Ryoma groaning considering it's her second time being dropped.
"Hey kid," a guy with red-hair and plaster in his right cheek grinned playfully at me as he held a handout, "You okay-nya?"
Ryoma pouted at him slightly as she can't help but envy his height, and how she barely reaches his chest, she nodded her head slightly before using his hand to stand and dusting her pants off. She can't help but realise how she barely sweat during that match and feel a bit put-out.
"That Arai," A guy with short black hair fussed worriedly, "How can he drop the kid like that? What of he hurt himself?"
She then looked up in confusion as her vision suddenly went dark, realising that 9 tall frames completely hid her away from the sun as they all stared down at her. She analysed each of them carefully hiding her smirk of amusement as they scan her up and down.
"What?" She snarked out, slightly uncomfortable with how all of them basically dwarfed her. Then again, she wasn't even tall to begin with.
"Who are you?" A tall guy with porcupine hair asked as he can't help but study the small freshman before him. "I have never seen you at the tennis courts before?"
Ryoma gave him a blank stare before giving a small bow of respect at all of them, completely ignoring the question asked at her.
"The name is Echizen, Echizen Ryoma," She politely introduced herself remembering her mother's words on how being polite will bring her far in life and prevent her from becoming useless like her father. "I am a new student at Seigaku. Nice to meet you!"
The nine boys stared at her in confusion since it's not often that a new student enrol in the middle of the semester considering their school have a reputation of being quite exclusive. Maybe not like Hyotei or Rikkaidai but still exclusive enough that it's hard to get in halfway through the year. The boys can't help but scrutinise her up and down wondering what made her so special to let her enrol at Seigaku.
"Non members are not allowed to play on the court," A strict monotone voice called out behind her and Ryoma can't help but gulp nervously as she watched the glasses guy from before staring down at her coldly. "Who let you in?"
"Myself," The shorter girl answered as she cocked an eyebrow at the serious, glasses guy, "I walked in. How did you get in?"
"You!" A guy with bandana hissed out as he glared at her before a familiar voice stopped him from advancing and beating her up for her disrespect towards his senior.
"What's going on here?" An old authoritative voice barked out from the gate of the tennis court and Ryoma watched as a familiar figure walked towards the regular. She can't help but cringe inwardly realising that she forgot to call her favourite aunt that she was coming back.
I am going to get my butt kicked by her! Ryoma gulped in fear before making herself smaller behind the boys' taller frame.
"Coach!" All the regulars called out in surprise before giving her a bow of respect and effectively hiding her from view. The smaller girl can't help but snicker as she watch them bow down.
"Why aren't you all practicing?" Coach Ryuzaki asked out as she held onto her clipboard, "The preliminaries almost here and we still haven't decided the line-up for the match! Do you guys really want to win the summer cup or not!"
"Apologies," The scary looking glasses guy replied to her with remorse and frustration on his face, "We just had some problem between the club members. We will get to practice as soon as possible!"
"Hah, problems?"
"Yes," a soothing but deep voice said to her left and she saw cerulean eyes look down at her with amusement, "A small problem?"
The small comment ticked Ryoma off and she can't help but elbow the brown-haired senior in offense. "Who are you calling short?" She yelled out before realising her mistake as now Coach Ryuzaki's, and the other regulars', attention was on her.
"Oh-ho!" Coach Ryuzaki smirked out at the small figure in the middle of her regulars, "I haven't hear that voice in a while. How have you been Ryoma?"
"Geh," The smallest figure on the court gulped down as she walked towards her aunt and father's old coach, "Baa-chan! I've missed you so much. How have you-"
Before Ryoma could even finish her sentence, Coach Ryuzaki have punched her head lightly and the girl soon found herself sprawled again on the floor. Despite how the punch caused her vision to spin, she can vaguely hear two voices laughing at her and she has a feeling it's the porcupine haired guy and the cat-like guy.
"You brat!" Ryuzaki muttered out at the sprawled-out figure before grabbing the girl's hand to help her stand up, "You didn't even bother to come and tell me that you were going to enrol here."
"But baa-chan," Ryoma whined out as she grumbled and rubbed her sore head, "Dad didn't tell me you didn't know. I only want to play, why do I have to suffer this abuse?"
Coach Ryuzaki was about to berate her further when one of the regulars with a notebook stepped up to her to ask a question.
"May I ask Coach," The taller male raised his hand in a questioning gesture as his eyes stayed on the pouting form of the smaller player, "Who is he?"
"He?" the older women asked confused until she realised that her data analyst, Inui, thought that Ryoma was a boy. She was about to correct him when she saw the smaller girl's twitched up in amusement.
Ahh, I see. You are playing your pranks again aren't you, you little imp!
"This is Ryoma," The coach started out as she placed an arm on Ryoma's shoulder and pulling her in slightly, "HE is sort of my godchild and I hope you guys can look after him from now on."
"Hey, hey!" Ryoma cut her off and started to jump on her heel as her eyes scanned the group in front of her, "Let's play a match!"
