Ryota woke up to a particular cat licking him. The wet and meowing sounds that woke him up made him realize one thing, his brother is up. They hadn't seen at all the previous day because Ryoma came in too late.
"Morning Karupin" He said petting his brothers cat, Karupin stretched purring loudly. Ryota chuckled, glancing at the papers scattered on the table. He really tried to know all the data about the club members, he smiled, that was one shinning difference between his brother and him, his brother was really bad with faces, you must leave an impression before he remembers you, he, on the other hand was really good with people's name and faces. He knew it made people happy to know that someone remembered them.
He went through his morning routine quickly before heading downstairs. His brother was looking down spotefully at the Western breakfast in front of him. Rinko was finishing up with the lunches boxes.
"Ohayou, kaa-san"
"Ohayou, Aniki" Ryota greeted settling down besides him. His brother mumbled some kind of response. Another fact about Ryoma Echizen was that he was not a morning person.
They sat in a relaxed silence, its true they haven't been talking much since Ryota stopped playing competitively but tthey we're not estranged.
Nanjing came down whistling as he sat down. He looked them up before smiling, "Isn't this the two brats that came home yesterday and went straight to their rooms"
"Oyagi" Ryoma said as a way of greeting
"Ohayou,Oyagi" Ryota greeted
Nanjing shook his head before whispering, "So uncute"
Bringing out a newspaper to hide his perverted magazines, he asked, "So, how is school, join any clubs"
"I joined the tennis club" Ryota said, no need delaying the news though he would love to, "I am their manager "
"Manager" Nanjiroh asked
"Usu"
Ryoma stood up suddenly, "I will be going now" His food left untouched, he did not even glance at Ryota as he left, yet Ryota could feel how disappointed Ruoma was. His heart churned, he didn't want to disappoint his brother, he had looked up to his elder brother all his life. Ryoma had been his teacher and his friend. While Ryoma goal was to defeat their father, his was to defeat Ryoma, his genius, ever evolving brother.
He swallowed, suddenly losing all appetite. He waved goodbye and entered the train.
"Ohayou, Shido-senpai" He greeted the blue haied boy who was coming through the opposite way.
The boy looked surprised before he smiled, "Manager-san"
Yukimura had introduced him to the tennis club the previous day and although some had misgivings about him, nobody voiced a protest, it was amazing to see how they all respected the captain.
They parted and Ryota entered the class. He sat down beside Tokiru, a first year player.
"Manager-san" The boy greeted. Ryota didn't know what to do about that nickname, he just smiled, "My name is Echizen, Exhizen Ryota"
"Hai, So how did you become the manager, I heard that Rikkaidai has never had a manager?"
"That would be incorrect, Tokiru-kun, they had a manager two years ago"
"But..."
Whatever he was about to say was cut short because of the History teachers entrance. Soon, it was lunch time, he walked into the cafeteria and soon bumped into Kirihara Akaya. The 2nd year regular, quite harmless but plays a very violent kind of tennis.
"Manager-san" Kirihara smiled so widely that Ryota just had to smile back.
"Kirihara-Senpai"
"Come and eat with us, Manager-san, I was going to look for Yagyuu-Senpai but since you are here, lets get to know you better"
Ryota smiled and followed as Kirihara dragged him to where the regulars were eating. Sheesh, he was just like a child.
"I brought Manager-san" He said happily to them
"Good work, Akaya-kun" If it was possible, Kiriharas smile increased
Ryota greeted them as sat down, it was safe to say he was not comfortable, not with the way they were looking at him, his hands shook as he tried to open his bento box.
"Are you uncomfortable, Ryota-kun"
Ryora nodded, "A little" He nearly winced when he heard his brothers voice telling him, "Dont show weakness to other players, Tennis is a sports of just hitting balls, your opponent might use your weakness against you in the court", Ryots straightened and smiled before saying, "It's no problem though"
Taking a breath to calm himself, he opened his box and started eating, He might be imagining it but he saw Sanada nod of approval.
"I can't believe the school is making us have a practice match with Oralando High" Marui said, a frown marred his face.
"I was playing to go somewhere next week Saturday" Jackal chimned in.
"Bouchou, can't you tell the principal that we don't want to waste our time on some second rate school"
"The principal of Orlando called in some favours" Yukinura said smiling "Manager-san, what do you suggest?"
A tick appeared in Sanadas forehead, he so badly wanted to ask what the first year brat could do about it.
"You don't have to go"
"Who then would play if we don't go?" Kirihara asked
"You might know, Kirihara-senpai but the tennis club has 105 other members" Ryota said, his voice polite but a tad admonishing. When he saw the confused look on Kiriharas face, he closed the bento box, he had wanted to discuss it with the captain but he might as well say it now.
Turning to Yukimura, "Senpai, you guys have won the nationals two years in a row and would likely win this year, but what happens next year"
"What are you saying, I will win, I would lead Rikkadai to victory" Kirihara shouted angrily.
"With who? All the current regulars but you are third years, can you think of any 2nd or 1st year that might be on your team, Kirihara-senpai."
"I don't need them"
"Surely, you are not planning to play Doubles 1$2, singles one, two and three all by yourself, Senpai"
Kirihara turned his face, pouting his lips angrily. He did not want to think of his senpais leaving.
Yukimura chuckled darkly, it made Ryotawant to apologize.
"He is right" Yanagi said, there is 70% probability that the club would lose its acclaim when we leave.
Marui and Jackal nodded, the situation becoming clear to them. The regulars of Rikkadai hasn't lost so they had been fixed, on the other hand, it had left the team stagnant.
"Echizen, what are you suggesting?"
"String application. There will be four strings. 7in the first three, then the remaining in the forth. Competitions will be held every two months to reset the string"
" Like baseball" Yanagi nodded
"Hai"
"So, the first strong will go to the practice match on Saturday "
"Hai, right now only the regulars of Rikkaidai are feared but if this work out well, They would tremble at the mere mention of our schools" Ryota said
"Manager-san has a sadistic side" Yanagi said out loud before writing it down.
Everyone but Yukimura sweatdropped.
"This selection will take a while" Sanada nodded.
"With three judges it will take three days"
"I am not judging Niou murmured sleepily by the side"
"It's okay, I guess Genichirou, Ryota has our work cut out for us" Yukimura said.
The tennis club received the new string application with joy, for some, it meant they would be able to play in matches, having very strong regulars prevented this from happening.
Ryota drew the tournaments and pasted the paper.
He sat down to watch the first match, it was between a tall lanky first year, Himoro and Shido Kanya, the match ended in minutes with Shido-senpai winning in a landsmine. The first year looked terrified as he started at the blue haired boy. Ryota had to say there was no doubt Shido Kanya would make regulars next year if he didn't ease up, perhaps exercises to build his stamina and speed. He used an eastern grip to hold his racket and his serve was a slice serve that curved, it had the tendency to run into the opponents body making it very awkward to return plus if bounces low, the disadvantage was it lacked a topspin so it had a higher chance to hit the net, well, it was nothing a little more training cannot fix.
He signalled for the second match to begin, the two first years came into court, one of the first years caught his attention, he had an intimidating presence no doubt. Fukai Haru, according to his form, he had won a lot of elementary competition, was a volley specialist. Ryota smiled as he used the first match to ascertain his opponent skill, that was nice though against experienced opponent, it was bad, every point was important. He won 6-1, the game was really I teresting. Those two games were the only he enjoyed. After the matches for the day, he met up with Yukimura-Bouchou and Sanada-fukubouchou and gave them the observation and results on that days match.
Yukimura smiled at him, "Ryota, it seems you are very experienced with tennis formation and techniques"
"Hai"
"Hmm, where did you learn"
"I joined a youth club when I was little and my brother taught me a lot"
"Your brother, is he a coach?"
"No, he is a player" Ryota said smiling, he loved to talk about his brother.
"What about you do you play"
Ryota smiled widely, "I am fine with managing, bouchou" he said before excusing himself and leaving .
"He is crafty" Sanada noted, "he did not answer your question"
Ryota removed his shoes, wore his slippers before shouting, "I am home"
As he stood in the doorway, his brother entered inside, without glancing at him or saying a word to him made his way upstairs. Ryota watched his departing figure, "Aniki" he whispered. Anger and shame filled him, he was so angry at himself yet so ashamed he could do nothing.