Disclaimer: I don't own prince of tennis. I do own Kumara Hikari though.

Chapter 5

"WAKE UP! WAKE UP!" Ryoma felt his breathe was temporarily knocked out of him. The gigantic tennis ball is now crushing him and he found it difficult to breathe. Slowly the remnant of his dream fade away but he is still struggling for air. Coughing slightly, he cracked an eye open and found bright emerald ones stared energetically back at him.

"WAKE UP!" Hikari shook Ryoma's shoulder and bounced on his stomach a few more times. The she jumping away from his bed and successfully avoided the incoming fist from the super rookie. Grinning lightly, she bellowed once again to the sleepy boy, "WAKE UP!" and bounced out of the room.

Ryoma glared at his slightly opened door. He had forgot Hikari's special wake up calls; his chest still aches as the reminder of his neglect. Sighing for a moment, he sits up. Well, at least with Hikari here, he would not be late, even though her method was less than orthodox.

Still buttoning the last few buttons of his school shirt, Ryoma shuffled into the kitchen. He rubbed his eyes and yawned again. He could not comprehend how Hikari can be so energetic at this ungodly hour. In his mind, no one should be forced to wake before ten.

"Ryoma-kun, you are early today." Nanako commented and placed the traditional Japanese breakfast in front of Ryoma.

Nodding lightly in thanks to Nanako, Ryoma picked up his chopsticks. "Not be choice." He said sourly and glared at the young girl sitting beside him.

Hikari grinned at the disgruntled expression on Ryoma's face, "Oh, you don't need to thank me. I had fun as well."

"No kidding." Ryoma mumbled.

Nanjirou laughed at the two's exchange, "Well, Hikari-chan, I sure missed your unique wake up calls! Keep it up!" he gives Hikari a thumb-up and grinned slyly.

"Don't give her ideas! Oyaji!" Ryoma frowned and shouted back. "Don't even think about it." He turned to Hikari and said in a deadpanned voice. He'd be a fool to miss the devilish glint in her eyes.

Pouting in disappointment, Hikari crossed her arms, "You have no taste." She stuck out her tongue and went back to her breakfast.

……….

"Bye, Nanako-san, Nanjirou-san!" Hikari waved good-bye to the two adults and ran to catch Ryoma, who walked briskly ahead, "Ryoma, wait for me!"

"Ne, Ojji-san," Nanako stared at the door for a moment and turned to Nanjirou, "Did Ryoma-kun and Hikari-chan seem closer this morning than yesterday?"

Nanjirou looked thoughtful for a moment; "Maybe it's not such good idea to put them in the same room."

"Ojji-san! Are you implying…" Nanako trailed off, her cheeks flamed at her thoughts.

Nanjirou laughed at Nanako's expression, "Kidding!" then he turned back to his newspaper, or more specifically the magazine under the newspaper. 'However, they did seem to have settled something. Oh well.'

………

At the school

Ryoma and Hikari walked into the school and were immediately conscious of the whisper around them.

"That girl beat Echizen."

"Really?"

"No way!"

Hikari silently sighed; gossip really is an awesome power. seems the event of yesterday had already spread through the entire school. She suddenly felt a prick on her neck and turned discreetly to look back. A bunch of girls huddled in a group and occasionally toss her venomous looks. She recognized some of them; they had proclaimed their eternal love for Ryoma in her first day of school. Hikari shifted uncomfortably. 'doesn't these girls have anything better to do than glaring at me and try to burn a hole through my head?' she thought in frustration and was suddenly startled by a sharp knock against her forehead.

Blinking for a moment, Hikari stared at the solemn golden-specked eyed in front of her.

"You zoned out for moment," Ryoma stated quietly.

Hikari grinned in embarrassment, "Sorry." She said meekly and scratched her head.

Ryoma nodded lightly, "are you coming to the morning practice?" he asked quietly as they walk toward their lockers.

Hikari grinned and nodded enthusiastically at the thought of tennis. "You bet! I'll met you at the tennis court." With that, Hikari ran off toward her own locker, which are several rows back.

Hikari hummed softly as she retrieved her rackets when a shadow fell.

"AHHHH!"

……….

In the tennis court

Ryoma paused for a moment; he could swear he just heard a scream. "Hey, Fuji-sempai, did you hear something?"

The smiling third-year paused then shook his head. "No, why?"

Ryoma frowned then shrugged. "Nothing."

………

In the locker room

Hikari put a hand over her heart, "You almost give me a heart attack." She pointed accusingly at the girl with two ponytails at the side of her head.

Tomoko frowned at the pouting girl. She only saw her from some distance and now they are face to face, she found herself quite nervous. How should she go about this?

Hikari tilted her head at the girl, who scrunched up her face in deep thought. Then she noticed someone familiar behind the pony-tailed girl.

"Hey, I know you, we met at Tokyo tournament finals." Hikari got up and smiled at the startled Sakuno. "What's your name?"

"Ryusaki, Ryusaki Sakuno." Sakuno said in a startled voice. She watched the azure haired girl nervously. Oh, why is she feeling so nervous? She should be confident and vindictive, angrily warning off the sky-locked girl away from Ryoma-kun. At least, that's what Tomoko told her.

"Hey, hey, what are you doing?" Tomoko got between the two girls. Her jaws had dropped when she realized Hikari's absence and instead find her talking cheerfully with Sakuno. This is not what supposes to happen at all.

Hikari tilted her head innocently, "I'm talking with Ryusaki-san." She stated, raising an eyebrow.

Tomoko stared at her for a moment, "AH! This not supposes to happen!" She put her hands at the side of her head and shouted to herself.

Several students, who were passing by, stopped and stared at Tomoko's outburst.

Seeing more people had gathered, Hikari decided to take action. She took Tomoko and Sakuno's hands and ran. She didn't stop until they reached a secluded spot under a huge maple tree. Then she dropped down on the ground and made herself comfortable. "Well, what is it?"

Tomoko and Sakuno stared at her, not understanding the sudden change.

Hikari saw their confused looks and explained, "Well, you obviously want to talk to me about something. I figure it's probably better if we talk at a private spot. So what is it that you want to talk about?"

Remembering her mission, Tomoko put her hands on her hip and glared at Hikari, "Stay away from Ryoma-sama!" she said angrily.

"Tomoko!" Sakuno give a faint exclaim of surprise at her friend's blunt warning, but she was promptly ignored.

Hikari stared at Tomoko for a moment. Though the line is familiar, somehow she get the feeling the situation is not like the ones she dealt in her first day of school. Well, considering Ryoma's girlfriend is right beside this girl. The situation should be quite unique. "Why?" she asked, curious of the answer.

"Because Sakuno and Ryoma-sama are perfect together!" Tomoko replied, and pointed at Sakuno, who turned crimson at Tomoko's statement.

Hikari stared at the blushing girl, and then turned to stare at Tomoko in confusion. "I know, seeing they are girlfriend and boyfriend." Then she turned and grinned at Sakuno, "Ryoma had never been interested in girls before. At least not in a romantic sense."

"What?" Hikari blinked at the two girls who are gaping at her.

"You mean, you are not Ryoma-sama's girlfriend?" Tomoko got in front of Hikari and clutched her hands. She had picked up the clues from Hikari's words,

Hikari almost choked; it's a good thing she isn't drinking at that moment or she would have spitted water all over Tomoko's face. "No!" Hikari shook her head, "Ryoma and I are rivals and friends, nothing more."

Then, Hikari furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, "What do you mean? I thought she" Hikari pointed at Sakuno, "is Ryoma's girlfriend."

Sakuno flushed red at Hikari's words. "Iie…" she protested vehemently, a slightly wistfulness laced her voice.

Tomoko and Sakuno stared at each other then at Hikari.

"Whew." Tomoko collapsed and sat on the grass, "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Sakuno flushed red, thank goodness. She is not Ryoma-kun's girlfriend. She smiled shyly to herself as she devoted her thoughts to her beloved tennis prodigy.

Hikari listened attentively as Tomoko explained the situation to her, nodding lightly in the process.

………..

"Hmm, so Sakuno, you like Ryoma?" Hikari grinned impishly at the shy girl, who held a dreamy look in her gaze. As she had predicted, a wave of flush colored the girl's cheek. Hikari felt a grin cross over her lips that is so cute! The shy girl is so different from the other aggressive fan girls she met yesterday.

"Okay, I'll help you." She suddenly stated, startling Tomoko and Sakuno.

"Wh-what?" Tomoko stared at the girl who had an impish grin on her face.

"I'll help you, Ryusaki-san, get together with Ryoma." Hikari explained and laughed at the dumbfound look on both girl's face.

The three girls found themselves in a conversation of how to set Sakuno and Ryoma up, with Sakuno blushing every minute.

………

At the tennis court

The tennis players begin to pack their rackets after the bell ringed in warning. Ten minutes till school begin.

Ryoma glanced worriedly around him; Hikari had not came to practice as she had promised. Did something happen to her on the way? He was suddenly assaulted with images of the fan girls attacking Hikari. He needs to find her right away!

"Echizen." A voice suddenly called out. Ryoma turned around and saw Fuji-sempai walking toward him.

"Fuji-sempai." He greeted quietly as the tennis player caught up to him.

"I notice Kumara didn't came to practice today." The tennis player asked Ryoma discreetly.

Looking lightly worried, Ryoma replied, "She said she'll…" then he paused as his eyes caught the familiar figure of Hikari. Ryoma frowned and ran to catch the girl.

"Hikari!" he called out sharply to the girl.

Hikari turned and saw Ryoma and Fuji-sempai running toward her. Her mind was still on how to set up Ryoma and Sakuno when they caught up to her.

She stared at Ryoma, her eyes slightly unfocused. Yes, Ryoma do need a girlfriend, he practically has no social life outside of tennis. Sakuno is such a sweet girl and so unlike those aggressive fan girls. Besides she really, really likes Ryoma. Hikari nodded to herself, yes, they will do well together.

Ryoma and Fuji watched Hikari as she muttered quiet words beneath her breathe. Finally getting frustrated with Hikari's soft mumbling, Ryoma yelled again. "Hikari!"

Hikari's eyes refocused on Ryoma, "What?" she said uneasily at Ryoma's dissatisfied expression.

"Why didn't you come to tennis practice?" Ryoma asked softly.

Hikari blinked then jumped in the air, "tennis practice? Oh no, I completely forgot!"

Ryoma and Fuji stared at Hikari as she slapped her palm against her forehead.

Ryoma sighed heavily, "It's okay. We'll practice after school." He put his hand on the small of her back and pushed her toward the school building.

Hikari was suddenly aware how intimate Ryoma' gesture was to the others. Ryusaki and Osakada both mistook her as Ryoma's girlfriend. She winced slightly at memory of Ryoma's fan girls. Apparently they are not the only who thought so. Since Ryoma is about to get a girlfriend, these kinds of gestures should be stopped. Though she knew to Ryoma and her, these are gestures between friends, to others, they are something more. Discreetly she moved away from Ryoma's hands and skipped forward.

Ryoma frowned lightly before dismissing Hikari's movement and followed her to class.

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