BP: Yeah, I am sorry I did not update, because my temporary Microsoft Word has expired and I need to get a permanent one. So, enjoy this chapter.

Alluka ran a hand through her hair and sighed. Finally, it's the end of the day. She walked towards the school gates, wanting to return home, when someone called her name. Well, not precisely her name, but her surname. She turned to see a spiky black-haired boy with purple eyes she met once before running towards her.

"Echizen, where're you going? There is still tennis practice you know."

Alluka simply shook her head.

"You're not going?"

Alluka nodded.

"Ooh, running away, I see? That's not good ya, that's not good yo." The boy grabbed her by the arm and started to drag her, only to be kicked in the shins. Momoshiro hopped in pain, and Alluka used the distraction to go out of the gates.

"I'm going to tell Tezuka-buchou you are skipping, Echizen!" Momoshiro called out. However, there is no answer. Echizen did not even look back at him. Momoshiro grumbled, and went to the tennis courts.

"I know. Echizen told me, although he didn't state the reason why." Tezuka said in response to Momoshiro's report.

"He was really quiet. He didn't even answer with a yes or no to my questions. He didn't even make a noise." Momoshiro said.

"He was like that during lunch as well." Tezuka replied.

"Do you think something happened?"

"The probability of that will be 67%. The probability of not feeling his usual self will be 32%. The rest is probably the fact that he is hiding something." Inui muttered from behind them.

"Don't scare us like that, Inui-senpai!" Momoshiro yelped.

"Hoi, hoi? Ochibi is hiding something?" Kikumaru popped out of nowhere.

"Maybe something happened, that's why Echizen is so silent." Momoshiro replied. "Why didn't he tell me? I am his best friend after all."

"We'll go pay him a visit after practice, and find out what's going on." Tezuka reassured them. "Now, go back to practice!"

"Yes, buchou!" They immediately followed his orders.

Alluka took Ryoma's temperature. He is now ok, though a bit weak.

"So, how is it like to taste school life again, Al-chan?" Ryoma asked.

Alluka gave him slight thumbs up. Ryoma smiled. He knew it meant it is fun. Back when she went to school and still played tennis, he remembered her as a very cheerful person who is very verbal. Being a tennis star and very pretty, she was the center of the group, having a handful of friends accompany her even to the bathroom, and up until before she was forced to give up tennis and schooling due to her condition she was never seen without them. Ryoma wondered what she would give to regain her old life, and her old popularity. She was a popular student at her former school, with a large group of friends and many boys who admired her for her extreme beauty. It doesn't hurt that she is a genius at studies, either (she still is).

Alluka handed Ryoma a glass of water, to rehydrate him. As he drank, he watched her pull back the curtains and look out the window. She widened her eyes, and beckoned Ryoma to come over. He went up to her, wondering what is going on. Then he knew: Momoshiro, the freshmen trio, and the two girls are walking up to his house. He sighed, but got up from the bed, telling Alluka to disguise herself. Alluka gave him a look, but did as she was told. She put on a wig and a black bow sequin dress. Alluka knows that he wants to keep her a secret form everyone, even his teammates, in case if he tells his teammates, some gossip monger might let the cat out of the bag while chatting with classmates, which may alert the other tennis players, especially those who play dirty, and they may formulate a plan for revenge using her.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Ryoma and Alluka walked to the door together, and opened it.

"Echizen! You're acting weird today! What happened?" Momoshiro shouted, as Ryoma let all of them in.

Ryoma sighed. "I had a fever, but I didn't want to miss my lesson, that's all."

"Who's the girl next to you, Ryoma-kun?" Sakuno asked.

"My girlfriend." Ryoma recklessly said the first thing that came up to his mind. Several gasps, and Sakuno looked like she was about to cry. Ryoma was already taken. For a split moment, Alluka looked at her brother with a confused stare, like he was crazy, but the look disappeared as soon as it came. "She came to visit me when she found out I was sick."

"Hey, you didn't mention a girlfriend." Katsuo examined Alluka closely. "She looks pretty cute."

"She's mine." Ryoma pulled Alluka to him. Alluka shot him a look that clearly said she's going to kill him later.

"Possessive, aren't we?" said Momoshiro. Alluka glared at the boy, but did not say anything.

"Ryoma, are you sure you are okay? You were acting strange today." Kachiro mumbled.

"I'm fine. I just had a fever. Besides, I have my girlfriend to take care of me."

Alluka tugged at his shirt sleeve.

"I think you better go, Al-chan doesn't really like a noisy environment."

"AL-CHAN?" Tomoka and the freshmen trio shouted in unison. Sakuno really ran out crying, Tomoka running after her.

Alluka tugged at Ryoma's sleeve, pointed to Sakuno, and gave him a questioning look. "That's just a girl who has a crush on me. Don't worry, she won't have a chance with me." Ryoma whispered in her ear. "I don't like her because she only likes me for my looks, my grades, my tennis skills, and my popularity, unlike you, Al-chan."

Everyone took Ryoma whispering in her ear as a romantic gesture.

"Young love, Echizen, young love." Momoshiro nodded in approval. "Enjoy your time with your girlfriend, we won't disturb you!" He dragged the other three out, and closed the door.

As soon as the door closed, Alluka hit Ryoma on the head, apparently very pissed off that he said that she is his girlfriend. Ryoma rubbed the spot where Alluka hit; although she never played tennis for a while, she still packs a punch when she hits.

"What was that about, saying I am your girlfriend?"

"Sorry, Al-chan. I just wanted Ryuzaki to stay away from me and stop calling me 'Ryoma-kun', it's really annoying. I needed your help to get rid of her. If I can get rid of her, that means I can get rid of her best friend too. You should hear her shout Ryoma-sama during tournament matches" Those words stuck to his throat not really wanting to be admitted but he knew they were obviously true.

"And so you used me for that, didn't you?" Alluka was positively fuming now.

"I'm sorry, Alluka." Ryoma apologized profusely.

Alluka sighed, and shook her head. "It's fine. But you need to notify me as to what you are about to do next time. Remember, Ryoma, we do not lie to each other."

Ryoma smiled. "We do not lie to each other." He repeated.

Meanwhile, Momoshiro was calling his teammates to tell them about Ryoma's new girlfriend.

Ryoma is in for a very long day tomorrow.

BP: I know, bad because I have 10 minutes and writer's block. Do review!