Chapter 12
"Yuki! Hurry up or we're going to leave you," said Rei.
"Hai!" said Yuki catching up with Kiyoko and Rei promptly.
"Come on!" urged Kiyoko in chibi jumping up and down around the two, "If we don't hurry, I just know there'll be a line at McDonalds." Rei and Yuki sweatdropped.
"Yuki-chan! Kiyoko-chan! Rei-chan! Wait up!" called voices behind them. The girls turned and saw Eiji and Fuji run up to them.
"What's up?" asked Yuki to the boys.
"We were just on our way to McDonalds," said Kiyoko happily.
"Care to join us?" asked Rei.
"Sure!" said Eiji when Fuji was about to shake his head.

"So what did you want to talk about?" asked Yuki when Kiyoko and Rei had gone up to order.
"We were wondering if you knew who your mixed doubles partners were for tomorrow," said Eiji. Yuki started. She had just remembered that she and Kiyoko were to play at the tournament the next day and they didn't know who their partners were!
"At each tournament," said Fuji, "In order to gain the full measure of a school's tennis talent, they have mixed doubles. We have always partnered with two unknown girls from the female tennis team. But now, everyone wants to know who the mysterious mixed doubles pairs will be since the female tennis team was disbanded."
"I see," said Yuki her voice now serious, "Who do you suppose Coach Ryuzaki has in mind?" Before anyone could answer, Kiyoko and Rei had gotten there. To Yuki's, Eiji's, and Fuji's surprise, Momo and Ryoma were right behind them their try laden to the brim with food.
"Do you really need that much Ochibi-chan?" asked Eiji with a laugh, "I guess you listened to Inui's advice." Ryoma said nothing as he sat down looking at Momo's plate. Electricity flew from both of their eyes as they commenced eating as if in a race.
"What happened to those two?" asked Eiji and Yuki in Kiyoko's face. She was in chibi shaking her head.

"You two must be Seigaku regulars right?" asked a girl with shoulder length brown hair.
"How'd you know?" asked Momo. She grinned.
"Seigaku's regulars are well known to the other schools," said the girl, "Captain Tezuka holds the number one spot in Seigaku and Syusuke Fuji holds the next. I wonder, who holds the third?" With that she smiled and left. "Ja ne!" Momo and Ryoma looked at each other before a lady at the cash register called them.
"What would you like to order?" asked the lady.
"Give me a burger and a large coke," said the two boys at the same time. The boys gave a start and looked at each other before Ryoma took on his competitive attitude.
"Could you add an order of chicken with that?" asked Ryoma, "My tennis practice is so hard I need more energy for the next day."
"I'd also like large fries," said Takeshi taking up his challenge, "I work out every day so I need something to fill me up."
"Add another burger to my order."
"I want two large cokes."
"Double my order," said Ryoma.
"Me too!" said Takeshi. Kiyoko walked forward having heard everything and pushed them aside.
"I'm hungry too you know," said Kiyoko with one of the anger marks on her head. She then turned to the registrar with an angelic face and made their order.
"Would that be why Momo-chan and Ryoma both have huge bumps on their heads?" asked Yuki with a laugh.

"Oh," said Momo with a groan outside the restaurant as he held his stomach, "I think I ate too much food."
"That's because you're stubborn," said Ryoma.
"So are you," said Kiyoko blandly appearing right next to Ryoma out of thin air. Yuki laughed before starting.
"I'll see you guys later!" said Yuki pulling Eiji and Fuji behind her.
"What's wrong Yuki-chan?" asked Eiji alarmed.
"We're going to Seigaku to ask about the doubles position," said Yuki, "We have to know now before anything else."

"So what do you guys want to do now?" asked Rei. Ryoma and Momo still had electricity between their eyes as they walked.
"Will you two stop that!" said Kiyoko hitting the two with her racket. The four suddenly stopped and adjusted their ears to a certain familiar sound.
"Is someone playing tennis?" asked Momo to make sure he was right.
"I didn't know they had street tennis here," said Rei as she ran ahead to the sound. A court was set up in the parking lot and teenagers milled around the court. Ryoma and Takeshi grinned to each other.
"What about we decide who's better on the court,

said Momo.
"Exactly what I was thinking senpai," said Ryoma before walking to the court. The girl who had talked to them at McDonald's smiled at Ryoma and Takeshi.
"Ah! What are you two doing here?" asked the girl.
"How do you play here?" asked Momo looking at the court, "Is there a fee?"
"It's free," said a voice behind them, "but there's only one condition."
"What's that?" asked Ryoma. The two boys who had appeared had identical smiles.
"It's a doubles court," said one with fair hair. The other had black hair tied in a ponytail. Ryoma and Momo grinned their rackets in their hands.
"Fine," said Ryoma.

"Do you think the others are all right?" asked Yuki between Eiji and Fuji, "We did just leave them there."
"They'll be fine," said Eiji reassuringly. Yuki just remembered something.
"Ah! Eiji-senpai, Fuji-senpai," began Yuki, "How good are you at tennis."
"Ah." said Fuji not sure how to answer. Eiji laughed.
"You can watch us tomorrow Yuki-chan," said Eiji, "But I'm more curious about you, Kazumi, and Akuma. We haven't heard much about your past." Yuki smiled in remembrance.
"Well," began Yuki, "The first thing you should probably know is that Kiyoko, Rei, and I are cousins."
"Cousins?!" exclaimed Fuji and Eiji at the same time in surprise. Yuki nodded.
"Our mothers were sisters," said Yuki, "and they were star tennis players here in Japan. My mother, Kirihara Tsukasa, and Kiyoko's, Kirihara Meiko, dominated the female doubles world. Rei's mom, Kirihara Sakura, was amazing in singles play." Fuji nodded in recognition before looking at Yuki worriedly.
"Demo, the Kirihara sisters died eight years ago on their way to the world tournament in a plane crash," said Fuji.
"Hai," said Yuki her face grim, "My father was heartbroken. They met in college. My father was about to inherit Grandfather's company and they got married a year after he had taken it. They moved to Washington to establish headquarters in the U.S. Kiyoko's dad is a director in LA and Rei's is a lawyer in New York. We all met when we were five at a reunion and found out we played tennis because of our moms. Three years after they died, Rei and I asked our fathers if we could move to LA with Kiyoko and we've been together since. A few months before, Rei had to move back to New York so Kiyoko and I decided to go ahead with our plan. We don't want to hold Rei back." Through Yuki's monologue she was grim. She looked up and smiled at Fuji and Eiji when they had gotten to Seigaku skipping ahead of them. Fuji was in chibi with a smile.
"Eiji, why did you ask about Yuki's family?" asked Fuji, "That's always risky in case there are family problems." Eiji blushed and stuttered before quickly running after Yuki.

"They're doing pretty well," said Kiyoko when Ryoma and Momo had taken a second win.
"Yes," said Rei, "For amateurs. Right Kiyoko?" Kiyoko blushed. Like Yuki, she had inherited amazing Doubles skills.
"But they haven't gone against real doubles players," said Kiyoko, "I hope they're okay." The two boys before gripped their rackets tightly.
"All right, who's next?" asked Momo seemingly bored.
"Those two guys are amazing!"
"Yeah! They won the first game with just serves and the second with returns! Who are they?"
"We're up," said the boy with brown hair stepping forward, "We'll show you what real doubles is about." The four had a glaring contest before the match started.
"I hope they'll do all right," said Kiyoko worriedly, "I can always tell by formation and if Echizen and Momo played against a real doubles team, it won't be very well played."
"Don't worry about it Kiyoko," said Rei though she was watching the game closely.

"Yuki? Kikumaru, Syusuke," said Coach Ryuzaki, "What are you two doing here?" The two boys pointed at Yuki as an explanation.
"Coach Ryuzaki," said Yuki, "I wanted to ask you about the order of players tomorrow."
"What about it?"
"Kiyoko and I don't know who our Doubles partners are!" said Yuki getting to the point.

"Hey," said the brown haired boy, "I bet those guys are new at doubles. All we have to do is aim at the middle."
"Who's going to get it?" thought Ryoma and Takeshi at the same time. The ball bounced off the court. Ryoma and Momo glared at each other.
"I could've hit the ball then!" said Ryoma.
"In this circumstance," said Momo, "The person with the forehand hits the ball."
"Just as I suspected!" said the brown haired boy laughing as the ref said "15-Love!"
"Izumi!" said the black haired boy to the one with brown hair.
"Gotcha!" said Izumi returning the ball with ease.
"Echizen, for you," said Momo when the ball passed him. Ryoma didn't move. "Echizen! You were supposed to get it."
"Those two are horrible at Doubles," said Rei sweatdropping.
"Senpai, you ran over so you were supposed to hit it," said Ryoma, "And in Doubles, I think the boundary line is over here. It's so hard to play, I've never played it before."
"What! You've never played it before!" exclaimed Momo. It was a good thing Rei and Kiyoko hadn't heard. Ryoma and Momo missed the next ball.
"End of Match!" said the ref.
"Wonder what happened," mused Kiyoko, "I always thought Ryoma was good at Doubles. Maybe they were out of form."
"They never hit the ball once," said Rei.
"We didn't look like we were playing tennis," said Ryoma adjusting his hat.

"I was thinking of pairing Kiyoko with Echizen," said Coach Ryuzaki, "They both seem equal in terms of skill and their heights nearly match. They are a reasonable pair."
"Has Ryoma ever played Doubles?" asked Fuji. Coach Ryuzaki looked as if Fuji was crazy.
"Ryoma is a master at tennis!" said Ryuzaki, "Of course he can play doubles."

"Izumi, Fukawa, you're awesome!" said a bystander, "You defeated that powerful pair. It's only expected from the tennis club of Gyokurin's #1 pair."
"Gyokurin?" asked Rei, "Aren't they our first opponents?"
"Don't compare us with the last pair," said Izumi.
"Although their tennis skills are good," said Fukawa, "They can't play Doubles at all!"
"Uh-oh," said Kiyoko, "I sense trouble." Ryoma and Momo walked to the two girls.
"Those two just hate to lose," said Rei.
"Hey Momo," said Ryoma, "I retract what I said about 3rd singles."
"Same here," said Momo.
"Real men should play doubles," declared the two at the same time.
"Hey you two!" called Kiyoko, "Are you ready to go?"

"What about me?" asked Yuki curiously, "Who's my partner?"
"Eiji," answered Ryuzaki, "I thought you would like a seasoned player on your side. Of course, this is only for the first match. We will switch when you play each school. It would be unfair if Ryoma and Kikumaru play two games each time." Eiji and Yuki looked at each other excitedly before Yuki clung to Fuji.
"Is it all right if Fuji's my partner too?"
"We'll have to wait till tomorrow."