Sorry D: Um… updating kind of slipped my mind. I tried to make this chapter somewhat long. Thanks to everyone who reviewed c:
Here's Chapter 4 of Goodbye Prince!
Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis doesn't belong to me- D:
"Since you're new to tennis, start out by picking up the balls around court that the rest of the players dropped." A tall, black-haired third-year glared at Ryoma, noticing the new kid.
The new kid sighed, clearly annoyed. Usually he would be taking an afternoon nap under his favorite shady spot under the sakura tree, but since it was mandatory, he had to join a club. Unfortunately, the second reason he chose tennis was because of his friend, Horio. And Horio didn't even come to school today.
"I came here to play and learn tennis, not to be some slave for arrogant players." Ryoma scoffed. Although they were the same age, apparently the third-year didn't think so because Ryoma was still pretty short, so he looked down on him and acted as if he was his superior.
"Listen, kid," he snarled with disdain. "Everyone has to start by picking up tennis balls."
"Are you a Regular?" Ryoma smiled cockily. He searched his pockets for any money for a can of Ponta.
"Next week we're holding the Regular try-outs. I'm definitely gonna be a Regular. I was a Regular last year, and now that Kaidoh and Momoshiro are in the high school now, it's obvious I'll become a Regular," boasted the third-year.
"Mmhm, sure. I'd like to see you try." The cool wind in the hot sun rustled his blonde hair as he walked away, headed towards a soda machine on the courts.
"Hey, not so fast. Where do you think you're going?" The third-year called, taking advantage of Ryoma's height and grabbing the back of his white collar with an annoyed frown. Ryoma quickly wiggled out of his grasp and paid for a can of Ponta, opening and sipping it, watching the boy with an uninterested stare. The teen spoke again.
"I'd like to see you try to win against me. Four games, nothing too hard. Let's meet on the Regular tennis courts after practice." The third-year laughed cruelly and smiled. "That is, if you're as good as you say you are."
The cocky third-year ignored him and adjusted his messed up collar. "I was talking to you, brat!" He yelled, then sent a quick, accurate fast-ball at Ryoma's drink. The second-year narrowed his eyes, watching the orange beverage slowly seep out on the hot green courts. Then he turned to the tall third-year and smiled coldly.
"If I win you have to buy me a can of Ponta." Ha! No way would I of all people lose. The challenger scoffed and smiled.
"Fine. If I win then you have to be my personal servant for tomorrow. See you on the courts after practice."
For thirty minutes, Ryoma was stuck with the first-years and had to learn how to hold a tennis racket and learn which part of the racket the ball should hit. Apparently he was so good that the coach called him a "natural", but in reality, the genius found it easy and a waste of his time and energy. After practice was over, he was supposed to meet the guy that challenged him, all for a can of Ponta. At that moment it was pretty much safe to say that the deal was ridiculous, and if he didn't quit he'd probably end up as that guy's servant for the day. Ryoma just learned how to hold a racket, and this guy had probably been playing for a while and was possibly decent at it.
He was tempted to simply leave and take the subway after practice ended, but that would crush his pride. But then again… He just learned how to hold a racket today. He was definitely screwed.
The third-year was waiting there impatiently, practicing with the wall. Ryoma noticed that he missed a couple times, but not like he could really do better… well, maybe he could.
"What's your name, third-year? I need to know so I can add it to my list of people I've beaten." Ryoma bluffed cockily.
"Don't be so cocky, brat. It's Tadao Takahashi to you."
"Masahiko Echizen." Echizen… Tadao felt like the name was familiar, but he quickly dismissed that thought. He wanted to humiliate this cocky kid and show that people have to start out from the bottom, just like he had once did.
"Smooth or rough?" Tadao asked. Ryoma had no clue what he was talking about.
"I guess… um… Smooth…?" Tadao spun his racket and it ended on the rough side. He grinned and grabbed his racket.
"It's on rough. I'm starting, now you can see why I'm going to be a Regular soon." Ohh, it was to see who started.
Before Ryoma could react, a ball whizzed past his shoulder unexpectedly.
"Hah! You're all bark and no bite." Tadao scoffed after he won the first game. Ryoma gritted his teeth, frustrated. That wasn't fair.
A few non-Regulars crowded around their match.
"Hey, what's happening?" Oishi asked as he and Eiji tried to peer into their match. A short boy, who Eiji couldn't see that well due to the cap covering his eyes, was in a tennis match with Tadao Takahashi, a third year who liked to brag. Oishi shook his head and walked away, clearly uninterested.
"Eh, nothing special. Some newbie trying to defy Tadao, and of course Tadao's winning. That guy loves to win, even if it's unfair."
"Poor guy. Should we call off the match? I know for sure that Tezuka wouldn't approve."
"No, look at the determination in that kid's stance. If you interrupt that match you're going to wound his pride."
"Let's hope the guy goes easy on him then…" The Golden Pair decided to watch for a few minutes to see if the second-year would make a miraculous comeback, but as expected, none came and Tadao won another match. Soon all the spectators left, the match's outcome seemed too obvious.
"Feeling cocky anymore, kid?" A cocky grin curved on Ryoma's face. He lifted his white cap, and Tadao could see his bright golden eyes, which seemed to gleam. Adrenaline pumped through Ryoma as his surrounding seemed clearer. Sweat moistened his forehead from the constant heat and the exertion. His hands gripped the black handle and his feet moved to a comfortable, almost familiar, position.
"You're not bad." Tadao's smile slowly faded. Ryoma's voice had changed, more confident, like it was obvious he'd be the winner. It had a sly, lazy tone behind his words as if he could do it without any effort.
"Well, I guess it's my turn to serve again." Ryoma said, smiling an out of character smile, which could almost bear a resemblance to Fuji.
"Keh. Hurry up then," Tadao scowled, Ryoma's strange personality change scaring him. His position… It's like a professional. What happened..? Chills ran up his spine, anticipating something unusual. He got into position, waiting for Ryoma to serve. The boy served a ball that went over the net. Well, at least it went over the net this time, the challenger thought as he got ready to hit it as it bounced up from the court… And I thought something changed about him… I must've be— His thoughts were interrupted as the ball he was about to hit bounced harder on the ground and launched at Tadao's face unexpectedly. Luckily, he was able to move out of the way, but he stood in shock, watching the ball slowly stop moving as if it was rigged.
"15-love."
"What kind of serve was that?" Tadao was bewildered. The boy with golden eyes gave him no answer but stared at him as a cat would stare at a mouse…it's prey. "B-But you're new to tennis!"
"And I thought you were stronger than that." The Prince of Tennis looked disappointed as if the confused third-year had failed him. He looked around. "Where is everyone?" He shook his head."Well, I guess no one will be able to witness how you lost against a newbie 'brat'," Ryoma winked cockily. "It's alright, I'll finish this match in less than 5 minutes."
"Five minutes?" No way, even with that serve of his, it's not possible to beat me in less than five minutes. The ball seemed to never land in Ryoma's court anymore because of his serve which Tadao found it impossible to hit.
"45 love to 0." The genius announced after a few more wins, getting ready for another serve. This time the tall 3rd-year managed to hit it, but the impact of the ball pushed him back and it flopped lazily on his court.
"3-3," The cocky boy grinned after winning two other games effortlessly. Tadao was sweating and panting. Never would he have expected that this kid would beat him, him being one of the members on the tennis team close to being a Regular. "Last game wins."
Tadao served and won a point, mostly because he did it at the moment when Ryoma wasn't paying attention. However, Ryoma won the set just by simple tennis moves.
"Hey, don't you have any other cool moves? Or is it just the fancy serve?" Tadao mocked, even though he won. However Ryoma didn't mind and simply gave a signature cocky grin.
"Of course I do, but I'm saving them for the Nationals." The third-year frowned and tossed a can of Ponta to Ryoma and walked off, looking around to see if anyone experienced his failure.
Ryoma smiled. Maybe joining the tennis team wasn't such a bad idea after all…
How was that? If you haven't noticed, Ryoma and Masahiko are kind of like two different people… ^^;
Masahiko's lazy and doesn't like trying while Ryoma's just cocky. Review, it'll make lazy pandas all over the world happy. c;
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