Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis doesn't belong to me so all the credits go to its mangaka.
I would liketo thank all the readers who spared some time reading my fic. All reviews are welcome!
Chapter One—Who is she?
"Azuki! How's my performance today?" The red-hair boy asked enthusiastically.
"Maru-chan, you need to improve on your serve." The girl hands him a towel.
"Hai hai." He answered while wiping the sweat off his forehead.
"And your grip… try this way." The girl in raven black hair showed the boy.
"Oh this is good! I'll try it! Jackal, I found a new way to grip this!"
The girl smiled.
RING RING
"Hai? Azuki here." The girl answered. "Really? Alright. I'll be there. Yeah. I am done here anyway. See you." She put her mobile phone into her bag.
"You are going off already?"
"Akaya!"
"You just came a while ago." Kirihara said.
"Well you can all practice now." Azuki smiled.
"I don't understand why you refuse to study here." Niou joined in.
"It's not that… it's expensive. I can't ask any more from my family." Azuki said.
"But—"Akaya began but Azuki stood up.
"Sorry I have to get going. Tell Gen-chan I'm off… I'll visit Chi-chan tomorrow. Hey practice hard okie?" Azuki waved.
"Bye." The three of them waved reluctantly.
Once on the street, Azuki's phone rang again.
"Hai. Yes Keigo, I am on my way." she sighed.
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"Genius manager?" Oishi repeat after Ryuzaki-sensei.
"Yes. Have you heard of her?" Sensei asked.
"No."
"I heard from another coach. She's really good at spotting player's weakness and then trains them. Her ability in seeing those weaknesses is undeniable." Ryuzaki-sensei explained.
"Then what is it about her?" Oishi asked, still curious on why Ryuzaki-sensei is talking about this girl.
"Sohma Azuki, Year 2-B."
"Ah! Sohma Azuki! Are you sure?" Oishi said.
"Yes. I asked the female Tennis Club. They said she is not in their club."
"Does that mean… she is not good in playing?" Oishi asked. How weird.
"No. She is good in tennis no doubt, perhaps even better than some of our regulars." Ryuzaki sensei said.
"Bu—But how can this be? Why isn't she playing tennis then?"
"I don't know either. I thought of trying to persuade her into our club."
"Hm… if she agreed then it would indeed be an advantage to us." Oishi sat down. This doesn't sound easy. "I heard from others that she did not join any club or activities. She usually leaves after class."
"Oh ya? You sure know a lot." Ryuzaki-sensei said.
"My classmates told me. It's very common because a lot of guys have their eyes on her."
"Haha yes, she has a fair complexion and long black hair. Very pretty indeed." Ryuzaki sensei nodded. "I heard from some of the teachers that she's a nice kid." But no doubt this also brings jealousy among female students.
"Sensei, are you serious about this?" Oishi asked.
"Why not? Like you said if she joined our club it would be advantageous for us. I'll talk to her." Ryuzaki-sensei puts her pen down.
Oishi went back for practice…
A/N: Tezuka in Germany
"Oishi, where were you?" Kikumaru asked when he saw his partner.
"Ah Ryuzaki-sensei called me to discuss something." Oishi said.
"Nani nani? The arrangement for players next match?" Kikumaru asked.
"Not really… it's something else…" Just then Azuki passed by their tennis court. Oishi couldn't help but look at her. So petite yet elegant…
"Fuji! O-chibi! Inui! Taka-san! Momo, Kaidoh! Look at Oishi!!!" Kikumaru shouted.
Everyone in the tennis court turn to look at Oishi. Oishi got a shock. "WH—what is it?" he asked.
Due to Kikumaru's loud voice, Azuki stopped for a moment and turned to look at the tennis court. Her eyes met with them. She smiled and left.
"Uwaaaa isn't that Sohma Azuki from year 2? She smiled at us!" Momo jumped.
"Momo don't you know her? She's also a second year student." Kikumaru asked.
"But we are not in the same class… she's a nice person but somehow … hm… it seems hard to go near here. How do you say this…?"
"Mysterious air around her." Inui appeared from behind all of a sudden.
"Sou sou! That is what I want to say!" Momo nodded in agreement. "And she seems too beautiful that makes it rather difficult to mix with her."
"Is it because no one knows her well? I mean, it's hard to mix with someone at first but when you get to know them better they are actually not what you thought." Oishi said.
"I am not sure about that…" Momo said. It seems that she don't talk much about herself.
"What's wrong Oishi?" Fuji asked. Oishi looks concerned.
"Iya… nothing."
"I know! Oishi likes her!!! Sohma Azuki!!!" Kikumaru hugged Ryoma from behind. "Isn't it Oishi?"
"Eh? Hey don't joke about things like this! No… no it's not true!" A panicked Oishi denied.
There was laughter from the regulars. From the tennis court.
Azuki stood near the tree and watch them…
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KNOCK KNOCK
"Please come in." A lady's voice said.
"Did you call me?" Azuki asked.
"Ho ya? You are here. Please sit down…" Ryuzaki-sensei said.
"How can I help you sensei?"
"…. Do you know why I called you?"
"You want me in your club?" Azuki asked, guessing what is playing in the old woman's mind.
"I thought it would be a good chance for you and our club if you are willing to join us." Ryuzaki-sensei said.
"………………….."
"I am not asking you to give me an answer now. Please consider about my suggestion. Our tennis club really needs a manager and I think you can help them to improve. But we only have silly kids on our tennis club… that is, if you are willing to help them."
"Why me?"
"Sorry?" Ryuzaki-sensei was caught off guard by Azuki's question.
"I guess you ask me to join for a reason isn't it?"
"Don't misunderstand. It's okay if you don't feel like joining us but I sincerely hope you'll consider about it. No doubt that I heard about you from another coach but most importantly is that you are a good player … it would be a waste for you to not join any club. I will not stop you if you plan to join the female tennis club… however do consider my offer."
"I'll think about it…" Azuki said and left. She sighed. She'd guessed about this invitation when Ryuzaki sensei called for her and she was ready to reject. But why not reject her now? Azuki have no idea.
She did think of joining Seigaku's tennis club as manager but things are not as easy as they are. What about the others? They will be angry.
"Kiyosumi, what do you think?"
"Seigaku have a lot of strong players. It would be good if you be their manager." Sengoku said.
"Sigh. You really think so?" Azuki stir her drink with the straw.
"I guess so. Although I would hate for you to join them but they are good."
"I am your 'mother'… you have to tell me the truth!" Azuki said.
"Hai hai you are the mother who discovered my talent in tennis two years ago… well actually thanks to you, I found something in life. Hahaha but when I asked you to join Yamabuki you refused. If only you'll train my whole team."
"Training you alone is tiring enough." Azuki stuck her tongue out at Sengoku.
"Uwaaa Azuki, I thought you were matured enough to not do this."
"And I thought you were matured enough to stop saying that."
"Sigh… fine. You are always right. I guess the decision is in your hand… maybe you can try. If it's not suitable then perhaps you can quit."
But Azuki was so engaged in her own thoughts that she did not hear Sengoku.
After talking to Sengoku, Azuki went to the shop and bought some flowers and cake. She walked towards the white building that she had been going in and out for several weeks now.
"Chi-chan!!! How are you today?" Azuki's cheerful voice filled the room.
"Azuki." The boy smiled. He's glad that she is here to see him today.
"Hehe I bought some flowers and cake."
"Thanks. There's no need for all these every time you come over. It's enough for me that you come and visit me."
"Yukimura Seiichiro. What are you talking about? I have known you all my life so don't talk to me as if I am a stranger." Azuki ruffled his hair like a kid.
"Azuki you never change… you did that to me when we were young too." Yukimura laughed.
"You too! Remember the time I broke the vase in a flower shop? You took it for me… your kindness had never changed all these years."
"Haha don't talk about that again… you'll make me feel embarrassed." Yukimura said with a smile.
There was a sudden quietness in the room.
"Azuki. I really want to thank you for what you have done for us these few years."
"What are you talking about!? I was sincere and I like all of them. They are nice and protective towards me, like their kawaii little sister hahahaha." Azuki laughed. But there was something in that laugh. It isn't an all-hearted laugh.
"What about Hyotei? Are they doing well?" Yukimura asked.
"Hm? Yea… Keigo… I mean Atobe is training very hard these days. The other regulars are doing very well too." Azuki smiled. "Rikkaidai is also doing very well. I believe they work hard, for you."
"Azuki, something is not right today. is it you have something to tell me?" Yukimura asked. Since they are childhood friends, he knows when there's something not right.
"Chi-chan… I … well, today Seigaku's coach asked me to be their manager… I had been thinking … I didn't plan to join them but then again, it's not such a bad idea…"
"SO that is what that had been disturbing your mind?" Yukimura asked with a small laugh.
"It's not funny!"
"Haha no… Azuki, you had worked hard in helping us. I believe it's time you should follow your heart, do what you want to do. Don't get tied-up because of us. I believe they should be independent now, without your help."
"But… I … I …" Azuki looked down. There were tears brimming in her eyes.
"I know what you want to say… but what does your heart say?" Yukimura pats her hand.
Azuki wiped off her tears. "I am joining Seigaku's tennis team."
----owari----
A/N: I would like to try writing something different from SG Boarding School hahahaha! So this is what i came up with... i'm not sure whether anyone will like it but just wanna give it a shot!!!