Disclaimer: I do not own anything that is related to Prince of Tennis.

Day 1

Many thoughts were passing through Kimiko's head as she walked into the gates of Seishun Gakuen for the first time. It was a hot day, but Kimiko was already used to this kind of weather in Singapore. She wondered what her friends were doing now, and she was worried that she would no longer be a part of their lives. In her excitement that day, she also felt a little sad about living her best friends behind. Would the students in this new school be friendly? Would she make any friends? There was only one way to find out. At least she had on her favourite Converse - Red ankle-tops. Kimiko was hoping that they would bring her luck on her first day at her new school.

The transfer confirmation letter that had arrived at her new house in Tokyo the day before stated that her class was the one just down the 2nd storey hallway. As Kimiko stepped into the classroom, she saw that it didn't look too different from her classroom back home, and that comforted her a little.

Before lessons began, the teacher had made Kimiko do a self-introduction. Kimiko had never been shy or anything, and her outgoing personality enabled her to make a wonderful introduction. It could be seen that many of her new classmates already had a good impression on her.

In class, Kimiko was made to sit beside a tall boy who looked really athletic. She could also see that he played tennis since he had a tennis bag beside his table. The teacher had appointed him to show her around school and introduce her to her new surroundings. It appeared that his name was Momoshiro Takeshi, and he plays for the Seigaku Tennis Club.

"Hey, want to take a tour around the school after classes end? I'll be your tour guide," Momoshiro asked Kimiko during their lunch break. It seems that Momoshiro had an outgoing personality too and the two of them got along very well.

"Sure, Momoshiro-kun, I haven't really had a chance to explore this school yet. I'll probably get lost if someone didn't show me around first," Kimiko replied good-naturedly, but also feeling a little embarrassed. She had never been too proud of her sense of direction.

"Call me Momo," Momoshiro said with a friendly smile.

"This is the special rooms and over there are the teachers' offices. Oh, and at this school, there are many extra-curricular activites that you can join. Just give them a call beforehand, even though some of them do accept walk-ins." Momoshiro told Kimiko as they walked around the school. Kimiko felt more familiar with Seigaku now, but she was sure she would need another 2 months or so before she can walk around the school without getting lost.

"Thank you, Momo-kun, for showing me around. Aren't I keeping you from your practice? You can go now, I'll be heading home anyway." Kimiko just realized what time it was and that Momoshiro had his own commitments too. "I'll see you tomorrow!" She waved and ran off towards the school gates.

Momoshiro headed off to change for tennis practice after Kimiko had left. He was amazed at Kimiko, no girl he had ever encountered could fit in so well right on her first day at a new school.

"Momoshiro, where have you been?" Tezuka Kunimitsu asked when Momoshiro entered the tennis courts.

"Ah, sorry, I was appointed to show a transfer student around the school," Momoshiro told him.

"Really, can we meet him? Are you guys really good friends?" Eiji Kikumaru had bounded over when he heard that there was a new student in the school.

"Uh, actually Kimiko is a "her", not a "him". And are you sure she wouldn't freak out after meeting the ball of energy named Eiji Kikumaru?" Momoshiro teased.

"Aha, even if she's a girl, it doesn't mean we can't be friends, right?"

"What are you two doing? Practice sessions are not for chatting. Regulars, we'll be holding practice matches today. The friendly match with Hyoutei is less than a week away. If we want to win, we need to practice. Oishi and Eiji, Inui and Kaidou, you'll be playing doubles in court 1. Momoshiro and Kawamura, you'll be using court 2, and Fuji and Echizen, you two will be in court 3. Regulars that are going to be playing against Hyoutei will be determined by your performances today." Captain Tezuka told the regulars.

"How was your first day, kiddo?" Kimiko's father asked when she stepped into the house. Alvin had been transferred from his company's branch in Singapore to the branch in Tokyo, but his work didn't start until the following week.

"It went great, Dad. And I told you to stop calling me that," Kimiko replied, exasperated.

"No can do, kiddo. Oh, and there's someone I want you to meet. Annie!" Her father called. A middle-aged woman about the same age as Kimiko's mum came out of the kitchen. She was wearing a T-shirt, bermudas, and an apron. "Kimiko, meet Annie. She'll be our housekeeper from now on. And also, I really do not have the slightest clue how to bring up a teenage girl all by myself, so I've hired her to look after you, just like your mum once did." At that, he paused for a moment, and the room fell into a state of melancholy. "Anyway," He continued after a while, "Annie has a daughter of her own too, so she knows how to take care of teenage girls."

"Oh… Ah, thank you. Hi Annie, nice to meet you, but I have to go do my homework now, sorry, got to go," Kimiko said to Annie. She had no problems with Annie, and it's not like they can't afford a housekeeper, but she didn't want another woman taking over her mum. Well, I'm sure I'll get over it soon, thought Kimiko.

Kimiko picked up the receiver on the telephone that had just been wired into her room. She dialed the number of her best friend, Jenna, back in Singapore. She really needed someone to talk to right now. Sure, she might seem bubbly and cheerful all the time, but even so, sometimes she can't help but feel a little lonely. Jenna picked up after a few rings.

"Hey Jen, it's Kimiko, how's it goin'?"

"Oh hi Kimiko! You shouldn't be asking me that, you know that here in Singapore, all the same things happen everyday. Speaking of which, how was your first day of school?"

"It went alright. Dad hired a housekeeper for me, he said he didn't know how to raise a teenage girl all by himself."

"What, are you kidding? I can't believe he did that! She wouldn't be replacing your mum, would she?"

"Nah, impossible. She has a daughter."

It felt so great to talk to Jenna. Even though they had just seen each other a few days ago, it felt like a million years to Kimiko, as she was in a whole other country now. It always made Kimiko glad that Jenna seemed to know everything she was thinking. Kimiko told Jenna all about her first day of school, and Jenna talked about new gossips that were spreading around in Kimiko's former school. After hanging up, Kimiko couldn't deny that she felt a whole lot better.

Kimiko decided to check out some of the extra-curricular activities that were available the next day. She was probably going to join something some music club, since she both sang and played the violin. She has never been too attracted to sports, she just wasn't fit enough. But she always liked to indulge herself in the world of music, where she could really express herself.

"Well, we'll just have to see tomorrow."