BP: Yay, I got more reviews! Thanks for not disappointing me, since this is what my family and friends have been doing lately, and I am so sick and tired of it! Speaking of which, the other day, my friend was yelling at me because I had forgotten to reply to his messages. I was busy, and I had no time to charge my phone, so how would I be able to reply, I ask you? Anyway, I am in a slight bad mood, so please don't aggravate me today.

The next day, was the day of the final matches. This time, there were more people (mainly teenage girls and their coaches) seated on the bleachers. The girls were clearly chatting very excitedly about the upcoming matches. The champions were walking towards the gym at a leisure pace. Pakura handed her bag to Ryoga. "I need the bathroom for a while. Could you take this bag to the gym, please?" Ryoga nodded, and she then started off to the elegant ladies room. She went into one stall. As she was doing her business, two girls came in.

"I can't wait to see Echizen being beaten by Teuzka-senpai! He deserved it after betraying us three years ago!" said the loud mouth one.

"I know, Tomo-chan." said the girl. "Let's hope he loses. I can't believe he dared to show his face after he betrayed us, according to the senpais. I can't believe I even liked him!" Just then, the toilet flushed, and another girl walked out. Tomoka and Sakuno were surprised someone actually overheard them. The worst part, judging by her uniform and stern look, they knew she was champion, and is possibly one of the strongest. They might have ruined their chances to meet her up-close later on. The girl didn't utter a word. Then she turned around, walked over to the sinks, rinsed her hands, dried, and tossed the paper towel accurately into the bin, and left the room.

All in complete and utter silence. Pakura returned to the gym in time to pick out the numbers in the box. She picked out a "3" this time. Coach Mabi memorized their numbers, and typed in the matches that are going to occur in order:

1st- Sanada Genichiro vs. Jude Harrison

2nd- Niou Masaharu vs. Derek Evans

3rd- Kamio Akira vs. Pakura Goldstein

4th- Oshitari Yuushi vs. Philip Robinson

5th- Chitose Senri vs. Tyler Clearwater

6th- Shinji Ibu vs. Christopher McKiddie

7th- Yagyuu Hiroshi vs. William Anderson

8th- Tezuka Kunimitsu vs. Ryoma Echizen

Jude stood up, holding his racquet. "Good luck, Jude!" Ryoma cried. Jude turned and smiled. "Thanks, captain."

Jude surprisingly won Sanada 7-6. Next it was Derek, and it was a trickster vs. trickster match (because Derek and Chris were one of the more playful ones and they are the ones who played the most pranks). In the end, Derek won 6-4. Next, it was Pakura. This time, she used her left hand, and wiped Kamio out 6-0 in 30 minutes flat. Everyone, especially the two girls she saw earlier in the bathroom were in awe by her techniques. (Well, except for Seigaku). Then it was Philip's turn. It was a long and hard battle, but he lost 7-6 in the end, which means Oshitari got the spot. However, they still need to play on. If there is one more player who won their match against a champion, that means the last two players who won would have to play against each other for the last spot. However, Oshitari needn't be worried, because Tyler won his match 6-3, Chris won his match 6-2 (Thanks to Ryoma's info), and William won Yagyuu 7-5. Finally, it was the match everyone was waiting for.

Ryoma took his racquet and walked out on the courts to face his former captain. "And finally, we got the 8th match! From Seigaku, we have Tezuka, captain! From Chess Pieces, we have Echizen, captain! One set match, Tezuka to serve!" Tezuka threw the ball in the air, and hit the ball. Ryoma, hearing the impact, managed to get to the path of the ball, and returned it with ease. Tezuka hit the ball so fast Ryoma could hardly read the path of the ball, but he managed to intercept the ball and hit it nonetheless. Ryoma knew Tezuka was using the Tezuka Zone, because all the shots seemed to be directed back to him. However, Ryoma changed to his right hand to break the Zone because he did not know where the ball will land when he uses his right hand, other than the fact that it would not land outside the courts. Ryoma used a smash Tezuka never saw before.

"15-0!" Coach Mabi announced.

Tezuka served again, and this time, Ryoma used his new twist serve, which is more powerful, spin-wise. It bounced away from Tezuka.

"30-0!" Coach Mabi announced. Tezuka served once again, and Ryoma used his Cyclone Smash. The move managed to blow the racquet out of Tezuka's hands. "40-0!" Coach Mabi announced. Finally, a few minutes later, Ryoma managed to score one point. Tezuka then used his Hyaku Ren Jitoku no Kiwami (Pinnacle of Hard Work). Ryoma was pushed back when he used Hadokyuu. One even hit him on the stomach, and he fell to the ground, winded. "Game, Tezuka, 2-1!" Coach Mabi announced. "Tezuka leads!"

Ryoma went back to the time in his ITM…

"Hello everyone, and welcome to the picking of the tennis players for the 72nd ITM. Our school was lucky enough to be chosen for this ITM. Now, ladies first." Pakura was sitting on the stage because she was a past champion.

The principal placed her hand in the glass ball, and read out the name. "Rachel Emerson." A blond girl who always stuttered and drooling over cute boys, stepped out on the stage. "Now, for the boys." The principal picked out a slip of paper from another glass ball. "Ryoma Echizen!" Pakura sat up, horror written all over her face.

"Well, as you both know, I am Pakura Goldstein, and I will be training you for the ITM." said Pakura. She gritted her teeth and her fists were shaking. Ryoma, up until the camp, assumed she was angry, when really she was suffering from withdrawal. Then, Ryoma didn't know anything. Pakura first told them to run 50 laps around the Training Center. Ryoma finished first of course, but Pakura had to wait at least 5 hours before Rachel came up, panting and stuttering that she had lost her way. Pakura told Rachel off, and told her to go and sleep, while she talked to Ryoma. Ryoma sat down, and she said, "Do you want to be stronger?" Ryoma nodded.

"Then you better do as I say."

The next few days, Pakura had him training hard. If he even stopped for a single second, she slapped him, telling him to train some more or else she's not going to help him anymore. Not wanting to fall out with his best friend, he complied. She made him run up hills, whipping the ground near him as he did so, for him to run faster. When it was time for meals, while Rachel got the finest food, Ryoma had to make do with salad, meat, fish and milk, and more training. During breakfast, Pakura sadistically made him have American breakfast while she ate Japanese breakfast in front of his face (he later found out she didn't really like Japanese breakfast). She taught him everything she knew, and made sure he knew all about plants (she hit his head once for each wrong answer). Finally, it was time for launch.

Ryoma hugged Pakura in the launch room, and Pakura gave him an iron grip on his wrist.

"You have to defeat him, Ryoma." She said, referring to Josh, the leader of the Chess Pieces.

"Don't worry."

"Swear it. On something you care about."

"I swear it. On my life."

"On your family's lives."

"On my family's lives."

"Good. In the arena, don't confront the other players yet. Find the nearest water source, refresh yourself, and make sure to spy on the other players and find out information about them before challenging them. Most of all, you have to stay alive. You must win this, Ryoma."

"I will."

She kissed him on the cheek, and he stepped on the plate. The glass cylinder closed around him. The plate lifted him up, separating him from his mentor. He waited for the gong to ring. Once it did, he turned and ran, to find the nearest water source. He refreshed himself and hid to find out about the other players. On the first day, he easily defeated one of the girls in the arena, and he ran right after he won the match. Night came, and the faces of the fallen players were shown on the sky. As he thought, Rachel died on the first day, probably due to the trackers.

Ryoma followed Pakura's advice. Stay alive, and spy on the other players. He waited until they are tired before challenging them. The best (or the worst) part about this ITM, you are not allowed to back down from challenges (unless you are willing to count it in the number of losses you have so far). He managed to wipe out the bigger and stronger ones. Also, he set traps to get player together and let the strong set it out, before stepping in and defeating them. Then, it was the Final Two.

He was up against a guy called Josh Richter, the guy Pakura wanted him to defeat.

When they met at a certain area for their match, Josh flicked his blond hair, and said, "You're from New Day Academy, aren't you?"

"Yes, so what?"

"Well, all I can say that it's a shame Pakura ran away from her home. If she didn't, she'd have married the great me! She should be honored to marry me, but then, she just had to run aw-" Ryoma hit him on the face with a tennis ball. "Don't say anything about my mentor."

"Very well. Let's get started. When I win you, I'll return as a victor, find and marry Pakura straight away!" Josh said, and served.

The match was an intense one. Both were heavily injured, but neither wanted to give up. Ryoma remembered Pakura's words. "Don't give up, Ryoma. We still need to beat Seigaku together." Ryoma mustered up the last of his strength, and his Josh with a twist serve, and his victory was announced after Josh was electrocuted.

He won. He can now train with Pakura and Tyler to defeat Seigaku. Until then, they will train hard….together.

Ryoma panted as the ball bounced past him. "Game, Tezuka, 4-2!" Coach Mabi announced. Ryoma got up, and wiped his sweat off. His tired look was replaced with a look of determination. He will win this no matter what! Keigo, Pakura, Tyler, William, Philip, Jude, Chris, Derek, Ryoga. They went through so far for him, without them, he would not be here. He will win this, for the champions.

For Keigo.

'It was fun, playing tennis with them.' Ryoma thought, smiling.

Ryoma unleashed the Pinnacle of Perfection once more (not that the players knew it, except the champions), and played against Tezuka again. His speed, stamina, and power have increased. He returned even the most complicated of shots, returning them with even more speed and power.

"Game, Echizen 4-3!"

Not even 5 minutes later…

"Game, Echizen, 4 games all!"

Tezuka couldn't even return a single shot.

And half an hour later….

"Game, to Echizen, 6-4!" Coach Mabi announced. "So, congrats to the 8 who will be representing out team! They are Yukimura Seiichi, Sanada Genichiro, Niou Masaharu, Yagyuu Hiroshi, Atobe Keigo, Oshitari Yuushi, Muhaki Gakuto, and finally, Oshitari Kenya!" The players cheered. Pakura remembered what their objective was, and nudged Atobe. She nodded to the other champions, and they got up from the bleachers. Atobe nodded, and both of them secretly went down to the courts. Atobe said to Tezuka, "Hey, aren't you forgetting something?"

"Forgetting what, Atobe?" said Tezuka.

"To admit you're wrong in front of everyone, remember?"

Tezuka turned, only to be slammed on the ground. There was a scuffle before he found out who was pinning him down. It was Pakura. She was holding a knife to his throat. "Stay still." She hissed. "Or I won't guarantee what would happen to your teammates." Sure enough, every champion is holding up at least one Seigaku member. "Do you even know why you even got in the Final 16?" She pulled his hair to keep his head down. She was sure she had the public's attention now. His family is trying to get to him, but they were restrained along with the Seigaku members. "In fact, our plan was to eliminate all of you in the light version of the ITM, but we requested to have you. In fact, we even made sure you will go up against Ryoma and me. We enlisted the help of every single school, and they are good at keeping secrets."

"You…" Tezuka started, but winced as she yanked his hair down to the floor.

"Also, everyone already knew about your betrayal to Ryoma. Isn't that right, everyone?"

"Yeah." said Kamio.

"Yes. Aniki, I am very disappointed with you. To think we are even brothers!" Yuuta spat.

"I am disappointed in you, Seigaku." said Saeki. "Betraying a little boy and yet pining the blame on him. It's despicable."

"I agree." Murmurs of agreement filled the gym.

"See, Coach Levi? I told you not to let those Seigaku in the camp. And all for you!" she addressed the public. "How could you even believe their lies?"

Coach Levi coughed, and said, "Pakura, get off Tezuka." She obeyed and got off him, but not until she wrote the word 'betrayer' on Tezuka's arm with her knife. Her eyes looked like they were from the underworld once again. Coach Levi turned to the Seigaku members. "I can't believe you will do this treacherous thing. I give you one hour to pack your stuff, and get out of here. You shall not attend the dance. NOW!" The Seigaku members got out of the gym, and on the way, they were pelted with the refreshments provided by the Training Center. Tezuka's family also followed, but not before William tripped them. "Much better." William said, smiling.

Coach Levi turned to the other players. "Now, as you all know, the camp dance is coming up. It will be a formal dance held two days from now, to bid farewell to our champions. The Camp Dance is of course a chance for us all to let our hair down, after many weeks' worth of training. Do hurry up and ask your dates to the dance. Also, your partners need not be the opposite gender. That's all for today." With that, they were dismissed.

Atobe and Ryoma waited until they were alone in the penthouse.

Atobe said, "Ryoma, will you go to the dance with Ore-sama?"

Ryoma laughed. "Of course, Keigo."

Omake (Poll)

Ryoma: Hey everyone! Today, the author couldn't decide, so she's asking you to decide…again. Sheesh, why didn't we call her Miss Indecisive?

William: She's our author, Ryoma. Anyway, she wanted to ask you readers something.

Ryoma: Oh yeah. She wanted to ask if she should write a story about us in our later lives. That means writing about our lives together when we are in our 20s, and probably married.

William: That's right. She's asking you all to decide, because she's indecisive….but if there is enthusiastic response, she'll write it as soon as possible, and she'll try her best to write it!

Ryoma: Yup! Also, she's happy that she received a lot of reviews! She says to keep it up.

William: By the way, what did she say as well?

Ryoma: She said this chapter may be bad because she's watching Beelzebub while writing this. I don't get it. What is so interesting about a delinquent having to take care of a Demon lord Baby?

William: (hands him manga) You should go to your room and read this, Ryoma.

Ryoma: Alright. I will.

William: Do put your opinion in your reviews. Oh and do review on this chapter as well! Don't disappoint her, alright?