Hi again! I'd really like to thank all those who reviewed, I really appreciated it!
Umm, I did say the Regulars are singing right? Well, they are! But they're back-up singers to our very own Ryoma-sama! What do I mean? Read on...
The next day, Ryoma was practicing with the regulars this time. As usual, they practiced under Inui's watchful eye (which is evidently hidden behind those glasses) that had a special drink awaiting those who failed to reach his expectation.
Ryoma was paired up with Momoshiro. After a while of playing did Momoshiro say something. "You're playing very hard today, Echizen. Whenever you play like this, something serious is going through your mind." Momoshiro returned Ryoma's hit.
"Ma na," replied Echizen. He whacked the tennis ball hard.
"Let me guess… you're awaiting a certain letter that confirms your entrance to the Junior Championship tournament in America." {POK}
"I know I'll get in," said Ryoma rather loftily. {POK}
"Hee… if it's not that, then," Momoshiro whacked the ball, "a girl must have confessed her feelings to you."
Kikumaru and Oishi choked on their drinks. ((No, it's not Inui's juice!))
The ball gave a light POK on Ryoma's racquet. The ball hit the net, ending the game, but not the conversation.
Ryoma grew angry. "Tch, don't irritate me, Momo-sempai." Ryoma had buried those strange feelings he got yesterday by playing tennis vigorously today. Suddenly those feelings were creeping in on him again.
"So what did you say?" asked Momoshiro, sneering at him.
"I said no."
"What?" cried Momoshiro.
"Ah, O-chibi-chan is so cruel! The poor girl!" cried Kikumaru.
Kaidoh hissed his reply.
"How interesting," said Fuji, merely smiling and deeply interested in the conversation.
"I have better things to do," said Ryoma, matter-of-factly.
"What? You mean tennis?" said Momoshiro. "Echizen, when will you ever realise that tennis isn't everything? There's more to life than this game."
"Well tennis is my life."
"Words truly spoken by Echizen himself," said Oishi. "But Momo-chan has a point."
"One day you'll realise that someday you're going to be very lonely," said Kawamura. "Love is a very special feeling. It can bring you up when you're feeling down, it can even cheer you on during your matches and…" Kikumaru had slid a tennis racquet in his hand. His eyes then raged with fire. "LOVE IS DEFINETELY BURNING!"
"Well, there you have it," said Kikumaru, winking.
Inui, who was also listening, "I could create a drink that enhances feelings on love…"
But Ryoma was growing more irritated. "I don't need love…"
"Think, Echizen. What is love to you?" asked Momoshiro.
Ryoma thought for a moment. "Guess I'll have to explain."
[Ryoma]
Oh the first flush of youth was upon her when our eyes first met
Never knew at that moment in my life that she had to get
I felt light-headed at the touch of this stranger's hand
An assault my defenses systematically failed to withstand
Cause she came at a time
When the pursuit of one true love in which to fall
Was the be-all and end-all
Love is only a feeling
[Momo, Kikumaru, Oishi, Kawamura, Inui, Fuji, Kaidoh]
Drifting away
[Ryoma]
When I see her eyes I start believing
[Momo, Kikumaru, Oishi, Kawamura, Inui, Fuji, Kaidoh]
It's here to stay
[Ryoma]
But love is only a feeling
Anyway
The state of elation that this unison of hearts achieved
I had seen, I had touched, I had tasted and I truly believed
That the light of my life
Would tear a hole right through each cloud that scudded by
Just to beam on her and I
Love is only a feeling
[Momo, Kikumaru, Oishi, Kawamura, Inui, Fuji, Kaidoh]
Drifting away
[Ryoma]
When I see her eyes I start believing
[Momo, Kikumaru, Oishi, Kawamura, Inui, Fuji, Kaidoh]
It's here to stay
[Ryoma]
But love is only a feeling
Anyway, anyway
Love is only a feeling
[Momo, Kikumaru, Oishi, Kawamura, Inui, Fuji, Kaidoh]
Drifting away
[Ryoma]
And we've got to stop ourselves believing
[Momo, Kikumaru, Oishi, Kawamura, Inui, Fuji, Kaidoh]
It's here to stay
[Ryoma]
Cause love is only a feeling
Anyway
"Still, Echizen," said Momoshiro, hitting his racquet playfully on his shoulder. "It wouldn't hurt to see what is she like. And I'm sure the change could be quite refreshing."
Just then, Tezuka and Sumire came into the courts. "Ryoma!" called Sumire.
Ryoma then went up to Sumire. "Yes?"
"Got a letter for you," said Sumire, handing him the white envelope. "Congratulations, you've been accepted for the tournament in America. Better get packed tonight, cause you're leaving tomorrow."
"TOMORROW??!!"
Everyone on the court turned to the voice. It was Tomoka, who was listening outside of the court, and she stood there horrified. But then she turned to the girl next to her.
Ryoma could see Sakuno's eyes slightly water, but she walked away coolly. Tomoka called to her and chased after her.
"Amazing!" cried Oishi. "What a great opportunity, Echizen."
"But why do you have to leave so fast?" moaned Momoshiro.
"Ah! Maybe Ryuzaki-sensei has kept the letter until the last minute!" cried Kikumaru.
"I did no such thing," defended Sumire. "It must be the post system, they seem to be lacking."
"Anyway, there's nothing to worry about," said Kawamura. "Echizen will be back after a month. Ne?" It was then did they realise that Ryoma was preparing to leave.
"Wa! O-chibi seems so eager to leave! How evil!" cried Kikumaru.
"Of course, he needs to pack," said Tezuka. "The plane leaves around 9 a.m."
Ryoma didn't bother to register the rest of the conversation. He was leaving… he knew he was a long time ago after registering his name.
But why does the feeling of regret seem heavier than before?
'Only one way to find out,' he thought. And he followed the direction in which the girl that had bothered him had gone.
Heheh, I don't know how many of you know that song. It's by The Darkness, called 'Love is only a feeling'. If ever you want to download any songs I put up on this fic, this one might just be worth it. Why? The back-up singers sound HILLARIOUS! Which was why I put it in this fic and made the remaining Regulars as back-up to Ryoma. (Heheh, notice I put Kaidoh? If you ever hear that song and imagine the back-ups voices... LOL!)
Well, when Ryoma goes 'When I see her eyes I start believing' and the Regulars reply 'It's here to stay', I imagined it as Ryoma wanted to say one thing, but the Regulars interrupted by claiming Ryoma could be in love. Which was why somewhere at the end of the song, Ryoma goes 'And we've got to stop ourselves believing' in which the Regulars curtly reply 'It's here to stay'. So this song is mainly about Ryoma doubting it could be love. (It's just my POV of the way I put this song.)
Next chapter, Sakuno also has something to say about Ryoma's departure... and her feelings! How will Ryoma react once he overhears? :p