CR: Yip, everyone, thank you for all those reviews! Never had so many compliments in my life….used to have people calling me "retard", or telling me I am abnormal, deserve to go Mental Hospital, deserve to go autistic school, etc. My classmates have nothing nice to say about me, and of course, I am no longer in their class, but unfortunately they go as far as wait for me outside my classroom and even going in my classroom just to make fun of me. Well, what can I do with these people? Let's get on with the story now.
Warning: Bit of OOC (Out Of Character)
Meanwhile, the three of them were at the elevator, which was descending. They reached the ground level and then they walked to the Training Center, and got into the elevator again to the 17th floor. The others were already there. "Alright, the screen at the top of the wall will randomly pick out names and when you see your name on the screen please step out." said Coach Levi. The screen lighted up and the names were randomly flicking about, until they stopped at two names. Pakura and Atobe looked up and gaped. The screen read, "Oishi Shuichiro vs. Echizen Ryoma." Pakura slowly grinned. Oishi is so going to lose, she just knew it. After all, Ryoma has defeated the leader of the Chess Pieces and also, he got so strong to the point that he can defeat even her. He's the captain of the New Day Academy Boys Tennis Team, while she is the Vice-Captain. In fact, the 8 strongest ITM champions are captains of their own team, and since Ryoma is the captain of the ITM champions' team, he's the captain of the captains. For her? She's the vice-captain of the captains, being the vice-captain of the ITM champions' team. Pakura inexplicably gave an evil laugh. "What's so funny, Caru?" said Atobe. Pakura said, "That egg-head is going to have the horror of his lifetime, being pitted against Ryoma."
"How did you know?" said Atobe.
Pakura smiled. "You'll see."
Meanwhile, at the court, Ryoma prepared himself. 'Wait and see, Pakura-sensei. I'll show you your tutelage is not in vain.'
"Once set match, Oishi to serve."
"Well, Echizen, I'll prove to you I've grown stronger since three years ago. Be prepared." said Oishi.
'If you can defeat me, the strongest ITM champion, that is.' Ryoma thought. 'My eyesight and hearing has improved since three years ago, and I have superior hearing ability and body vision, like Pakura.' Oishi served a super-fast serve. Ryoam could see it, but chose to let it bounce past him. Pakura widened her eyes. 'Could he be…?' she decided to watch and find out. 'That serve is slower than my Scorch Serve.' She thought. 'If Ryoma let it bounce past him, it's most likely…' Pakura widened her eyes in realization, and then smiled. "40-0!" Coach Levi announced. Oishi smiled. "See, Echizen, how much I improved?"
"Not really." said Ryoma. 'Now, it's time to play 20% of my abilities.' Oishi threw the ball in the air, and served. Ryoma smirked, ran to the ball's course, and returned it.
30 minutes later...
"Game, to Echizen! 6-0!" Coach Levi announced. Pakura looked at Oishi, and was not surprised to see him on his knees. Ryoma had used an illusion, as he served the ball, eh slowly takes away Oishis' senses. Something like the yips, but except Oishi will hallucinate, in other words, see illusions. For the rest of the game, he swung the wrong balls, and Pakura was ready to bet he saw 5 Ryomas in his illusion. All 5 served to him and he probably tried to hit it all, only to realize it was the wrong ball. Pakura taught him this move. She called it Silent Confusion, because no one would realize they are trapped in the illusion until it's too late. Should Ryoma serve the ball and it hit any of Oishi's body part, he would feel as if he was pierced by knives. Meanwhile, at the court, Momoshiro was shouting at Ryoma. "What are you trying to do, kill him?" Pakura saw what was coming, climbed on the railing and jumped to the courts. She could handle the height, she's s stunt person after all. In fact, all of the strongest 8 are stunt people (and pranksters). Ryoma yawned. "He deserved what he got, didn't h-" but before he could finish his sentence, Momoshiro was raising his fist, going to punch him. Ryoma closed his eyes, bracing for the impact.
There was none.
When he opened his eyes slightly, he found Pakura holding Momoshiro's wrist. "Don't touch Ryoma with your filthy hands." She hissed, bending it at an angle that risked his wrist breaking. Coach Levi intervened, and said, "Oishi, are you alright?"
"If he's not alright." said Pakura. "Then he can miss the ITM champions coming tonight, who cares?"
"Oh no, I am not going to miss that. I am fine, Coach Levi." said Oishi. Pakura lowered her cap, and muttered, "Typical." Nobody outside of America knew the ITM champions names thanks to the efforts of Philip Robinson, a champion from New Explorers High School. Each of the strongest 8 has their own unique talent that made them stand out in America. For instance Philip Robinson was a genius at technology. Tyler was good at Art, and he loves painting.
Just then, Coach Levi's phone rang. "Hello? Coach Henry? Oh yes, yes. Alright. Bye." He hung up, turned to the other players, and said, "The ITM champions are here. Let's go to the Training Center roof to meet them." They went up to the elevator, eager to meet the other champions. Once they were at the roof, Coach Levi said, "They will be here shortly. Please behave yourself."
"Yes Coach!" the players said in unison. A few minutes later, the jet arrived and landed on the roof. The door opened and a man in his early thirties stepped out, followed by the champions, to thunderous applause and screams. Pakura pointed to the champions. "You coming?" said Pakura. Ryoma shook his head. "You go first."Pakura nodded, took off her cap, let her long jet black hair float down around her shoulders, and ran to the champions' side. Coach Henry smiled at her, before he turned to Coach Levi. There were comments on how pretty the girl was, and wonders on such a pretty girl like her can win the ITM. No one recognized her as the mysterious boy who was always by Ryoma's side.
"Hello, Coach Henry. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name's Levi Kobayashi."
"Thank you, Coach Levi. It's an honor for you to invite us here. These are the champions."
"Pakura Goldstein, Vice-captain of the champions, from New Day Academy. You know her, she has been with you." Pakura nodded.
"Tyler Clearwater from Bronx High School" Tyler waved.
"Derek Evans, from All Hallows High School!" Derek put up a hand.
"Christopher McKiddie, from Fordham Preparatory School" Christopher smiled.
"Philip Robinson, from New Explorers High School" Philip inclined his head.
"William Anderson, from Bronx Community High School" William waved cheerily.
"Jude Harrison, from Bronx International High School." Jude gave a small smile.
"Er…where's the captain?" said Coach Mabi. "There are only 7 here."
"Relax, Mabi. The captain and the vice-captain arrived earlier. The captain is probably too lazy to show himself. Pakura, would you please show them to their rooms. They can rest until tomorrow night, where we have a formal party to introduce themselves."
"With pleasure, Coach Levi. Come on, boys." She said. She left, followed by the boys. She beckoned to Ryoma and Atobe, and they followed her as well. When they left, Momo whistled. "I didn't know they will bring one female champion here. She's a real beauty."
"You can say that again. She has a gorgeous figure." said Fuji.
"Lucky! There's a female in this camp!" said Sengoku.
"Can't wait to meet them personally tomorrow. Right, Tezuka?"
"Yeah." He wanted to play against every single one of them, since they have won the ITM and he deemed them as worthy opponents.
Meanwhile, Pakura brought the whole team to the 12th floor penthouse. She handed the boys their card keys, and said, "Take a rest. You all need it seeing you all travelled 3 days in the jet. You all must be suffering from jet lag." The boys nodded, and went off to their rooms, except for Tyler. He gave Ryoma a big hug. "It's good to see you again, Ryoma. And who's this?" said Tyler, his eyes lingering on Atobe. "This is Keigo, my boyfriend."
Tyler let go of him in alarm "You are….gay?" Ryoma nodded. Tyler whistled. "I didn't know our leader is gay" he whispered to Pakura. "And when is our introduction?"
"Tomorrow, at 7pm." replied Pakura. "You can rest until then, Tyler."
She called the others later for supper, and tonight they served green salad, ham and chicken pie and mashed potatoes sprinkled with black pepper. For dessert, they had homemade strawberry ice cream. Of course, judging by the fact that the ITM champions stay in the same floor as Carumati and Ryoma, Atobe deduced that they themselves were ITM champions. He made a mental note to ask Ryoma about his ITM and how he won it. After supper, everyone went to bed. Ryoma gave Atobe a lingering kiss before he went back to his own floor (Pakura looked away….again).
"Let's go to sleep, Ryoma. Tomorrow, the prep team will beautify the champions for the party tomorrow." Ryoma nodded, bade Pakura goodnight, and went to bed. He thought about the events today and it gave him a surge of satisfaction. Contented, he fell asleep.
Omake (Forgotten Script)
Director: Alright, next scene will be going to floor 6 to pull another prank, please get rea-
Tyler: Oh no! I forgot my script!
Philip: Seriously, Tyler? You are scheduled for the next scene, and you forgot your script?
Derek: This is such a disappointment, considering you are an ITM champion.
Christopher: Yeah.
Inui: Ho ho, looks like the ITM champions have fallen! (Seigaku team laughs)
Tyler: Shut up, Inui. I just couldn't find it. Well, er, I…..
Pakura: Just hurry up and find it already, and stop babbling.
Tyler: But I….
Inui: Well, I'll lend you mine for the time being. (hands over his script)
Tyler: Thanks, Inui….WAIT! THIS IS MY SCRIPT! (fuming mad)
Inui: Ah, really? Sorry.
Tyler: AND YOU DARE TO LAUGH?
Inui: Hey, wait I said I'm-
Tyler: (Punches Inui, who flew out of the studio)
A machine recorded how far he flew. It was exactly 326m.
Ryoma: Wow, Tyler set a new record!
ITM champions: (nod in agreement)
Narrator: And from now on, they do not dare to provoke Tyler again.