Chapter 2

Seigaku Middle School Admission Day

"Hurry up Yuki!" called Kiyoko from behind her shoulder to Yuki who
was walking casually up to the Seigaku School.

"She's been like this since last week," said Yuki with a shake of her
head, "Since that match she stayed for she's been muttering about her
rival. Wonder if she finally found one?" Just then she heard the bell
ring.

"Holy crap we're late!" exclaimed Yuki running to catch up to Kiyoko
who was already inside. Yuki nearly made it but she crash landed with
Kiyoko and a boy who seemed to also be late. Upon closer observation,
it was Ryoma! The three were admonished by the teacher.

"Now you three introduce yourselves."

"Hi! I'm Kazumi Kiyoko, happy to meet you."

"Aihara Yuki, glad to make your acquaintance."

"Echizen Ryoma." The three took their seats. Ryoma was dressed in the
black vest and pants all the boys wore. Yuki and Kiyoko wore white
blouses and short green skirts. After school the girls left with Ryoma
right behind them and a boy following suit. All four had tennis
rackets wrapped up under their arms.

"Hey you three!" called the boy catching up to them, "My name's Horio.
I can tell by the rackets under your arms that you're going to the
tennis team. Did you know? The tennis team is really strong." Ryoma
and the girls paid him no heed. Since all three were going the same
direction, Yuki, Kiyoko, and Ryoma went together. Horio chose to tag
along.

"Which way is the tennis court?" asked Ryoma to an upper classman with
spiky black hair.

"That way," said the boy pointing.

"Thank you," said Yuki with a bow before catching up to everyone. They
were led to the sumo wrestling area instead.

"The tennis courts are the other way?" asked Kiyoko when a man told
them where to go.

"Damn that stupid second year," muttered Yuki, "And I even thanked
him." When they got to the fence of the tennis court, Horio was the
only one who gasped.

"Whoa! Seigaku's school facilities are a total killer!" exclaimed
Horio. When they walked in, they only found a few freshmen boys and
girls milling around. Sakuno was amongst them.

"The second and third year players are on a playing tour so we have to
register tomorrow," said Sakuno.

"God damn," cursed Kiyoko.

"We just wanted to practice a little," said Sakuno.

"I didn't know you played tennis," said Kiyoko now turning to her.
Sakuno blushed.

"It's my first time," said Sakuno.

"Yo, are you guys here to join our tennis club?" asked one of two
upperclassmen approaching them.

"We're 2nd year Hayashi and Ikeda," said the other. Nice to meet you
said most of the freshman boys bowing. By now all the girls had left
not wanting to miss an afternoon except for Kiyoko and Yuki.

"Won't you play a fun game with us?" asked Hayashi.

"What game?" asked Horio curiously. Ikeda grinned.

"The rule is simple," said Ikeda, "Serve from the end of the court at
the five cans right here. All you need is to hit one. You get ten
tries and if you hit it, ten thousand yen each!"

"Its 200 yen for each player," said Hayashi.

"I smell something fishy," said Yuki on the bench next to Kiyoko.

"So do I," said Kiyoko when the last five boys had missed.

"Is that all you can do?" asked Horio to the other freshmen smugly.

"Easier said than done," said one, "a target that small in such a
large distance is way too hard even in ten tries."

"Tennis record first year Horio will now come up!" said Horio.

"That idiot," said Ryoma.

"Ten thousand yen is mine!" said Horio eagerly. At the tenth try the
ball hit the frame of the racket and the ball zoomed to the top of the
can but it narrowly missed.

"Too bad," said Ikeda, "Even we have a hard time with just ten tries."

"Oh well," said Horio before handing the two boys his 200 yen.

"You must be mistaken," said Ikeda with a grin before turning the can
to show that it was 200 yen the first try and five hundred for the
rest. Yuki was disgusted and stood up abruptly heading for the door.

"Hey you freshman girl!" called Hayashi, "Ten thousand yen to buy you
some new clothes."

"Yeah, clothes for girls, not the kind of boys' tennis wear you have!"
said Ikeda, "Or is it that you can't play? Don't worry, you can't do
much worse than these guys here." Yuki stopped from the door and took
out her racket.

"It's not that I can't," said Yuki slowly getting her racket, "It's
just that it's a waste of my time...because hitting one of those cans
normally wouldn't really work." As she said this she took out a ball
from the many in a basket and got up to serve. It hit the furthest can
dead center. Rocks spilled out of the can. Kiyoko got up in surprise
and took out her racket too. It hit the next can. Rocks spilled out of
them too. Ryoma hit the third. The fourth ball was hit by someone
behind Yuki. She was the first to turn and saw the boy who had given
them the wrong directions.

"Oh Lucky! I hit it!" said the boy before turning to Hayashi and
Ikeda, "You two, since the third years aren't here, you think picking
on juniors is okay? You can't do that." The two boys gave a sweatdrop
while the freshmen cheered.

"Nice to meet you!" they said.

"Takeshi Momoshiro at your service," said the second year. Yuki got
her bags and stood up heading for the door. She didn't feel like being
in the same court as a trickster.

"Hey!" called Takeshi, "Who said you could leave? Oh, I see, you're
one of those freshmen the coach was talking about. Well, guess there's
no use for the eye if you can't use the vision." Yuki said nothing.

"What do you want senpai?" asked Yuki.

"How about a fight?"