A/N: Hi all! Please don't flame me if you didn't like the title. I wasn't sure what to call it…

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Echizen Ryoma's Final Straw

9

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Ryoma watched as Atori took Sakuno home. He turned and started heading back home, his thoughts a jumbled mess. That Atori, who is he? How come he's so close to Sakuno? He's only just met her!

Maybe he's close because he's nicer than you are.

Shut up. I'm nice to her too.

Yeah, if you count piranhas as nice.

But I'm not a piranha.

Don't kid yourself, you scare her off every time you see her.

No I don't.

You know you're lying.

No I'm not.

Yes you are.

Am not.

Am too.

Am not!

Am too!

AM NOT!

AM TOO!

Ryoma shook his head as he entered the house. Madness. Pure madness. After dinner Ryoma trudged up to his room and collapsed on the bed, still wondering who exactly Atori was. Little did he know that he would find out the next day.

The next morning Ryoma woke up to the sound of his alarm. Hitting the snooze button he rolled over in his bed, still depressed about yesterday's incident. He didn't feeling like going to practice. Sadly for him, his dad didn't really give him a choice.

"Nani, what's wrong with you today. Get up, you'll be late for practice."

"Tell them I'm sick today."

"I won't. Now get up."

"No."

"Fine, then you can help me sort out my magazines today."

"I'm getting up."

With a sigh he got dressed and trudged downstairs. He slowly picked at his breakfast (congee), spooning some out and letting it dribble back into the bowl.

"Magazines," said his dad.

"I'm eating, I'm eating."

Ryoma forced spoonful after spoonful into his mouth until the bowl was empty, despite his loss of appetite that morning. Without a word of goodbye he set off for school.

"I don't see what's so bad about sorting out my magazines," muttered Nanjiro under his breath as Ryoma walked out the door.

Ryoma arrived at school just in time for practice. To his surprise (and dismay) he saw Atori leaning against the fencing outside the court. Seeing Sakuno talking animatedly to Atori didn't comfort him much either. The second Atori spotted Ryoma, a scowl formed on his face. Ryoma kindly returned the greeting.

"Ano…is something wrong?" asked Sakuno, sensing the tension between the two.

"No, everything's fine," muttered Ryoma. He didn't want Sakuno to get involved. "What're you doing here?" he asked Atori.

"I came here to accompany Sakuno watch someone play tennis. I didn't expect it to be you." Atori answered.

Behind his indignation at the insult, Ryoma was privately happy Sakuno had come to watch him. Before he could retaliate Kikumaru's voice sounded behind him.

"Nya ochibi, you better get in the court now before Tezuka makes you run laps."

"Echizen. 10 laps."

"Nya, too late ochibi."

Ryoma wasn't fond of laps to start with but having to do them in front of Atori was too much to bear. Ryoma had to use all his self-control to prevent himself from punching Atori and wiping off that smirk growing on Atori's face. Of all times, why do I have to be punished with laps in front of himGritting his teeth, he started to run. On his seventh lap he heard Atori mutter something behind him.

"Are you sure he's a tennis prodigy Sakuno? He seems kind of slow to me," taunted Atori.

At that moment, something in Ryoma snapped. Without knowing what he was doing, he stopped running and walked slowly back in the direction of Atori.

A/N: Oo… Suspense… I'm not the best drama writer so excuse me if the next chapter doesn't have you 'clinging onto the edge of your seat.' Especially if you're not actually sitting on a chair. XD I would like to thank everyone who reviewed and those that read this story. With school starting again I've been burrowing my nose in books rather than the computer (though I don't really know how you would burrow your nose in a computer). The English teacher gave us five assignments on the first day! Half the class faked a heart attack. I'm not kidding. But for some strange reason the teacher got annoyed instead of worried… Oh dear, I seem to be babbling. I really must find a friend to talk to. Or a therapist. Anyway, I promise it won't happen again. Hopefully. See you in the next chappy!