Chapter 3

"I can't just give like this, I just can't give up like that…" Momo was not ready to lose to Ryoma yet.

"I must let you have a taste of my Dunk Smash!"

"Hah! Mada mada dane!"

Ryoma served his Twist Serve with his right hand again. This time, Momo was able to pick the timing to return the ball. As the high-speed ball shot up from the ground, Momo however did not wave his racket but jumped up instead. He changed his position a little and successfully sent a Dunk Smash crashing into Ryoma's side of the court and scored.

"Dunk!"

Everyone cheered for Momo, even the third years and the roaring of the crowd was even louder than when Ryoma returned Momo's Dunk Serve. The second years and first years practically went into a frenzied state.

"Good for you ne, Momo-senpai… Getting so much popularity in school! But as much as you want to show off your invincible Dunk Smash, don't forget that I can always find ways to counter it!" Ryoma could not forgive himself for letting Takeshi score.

The match continued with Takeshi continually hitting Dunk Smash to Ryoma, who always deftly hit it back, but using his powerful right hand.

"Hey! Ryoma's right hand actually has very good control! Why was he not performing as well during his trials?" Someone randomly pointed out and soon, all focus turned to Ryoma again.

"It's true! He's returning all of Takeshi-senpai's Dunk Smash with his right hand and all of his returns are in!" Horio exclaimed as he observed Ryoma carefully.

"Ryoma is actually ambidextrous, really. Although he's a left-hander, he can use his right hand as well although his right hand may not have perfect control, like his left. His left hand has perfect control of the ball whilst his right has power. I guess it's a pretty good balance. As for why he wasn't doing so well previously, I think he just didn't want to look too good and attract unnecessary attention to himself. That's the kind of person Ryoma is." Sadaharu-senpai explained.

"Is that so? Eh! But why do you seem to know so much about Ryoma even if he's just a first-year, senpai?" Horio found it weird for Sadaharu-senpai to know so much about someone if they had just met each other even though Sadaharu-senpai was extremely good at collecting data.

"This is my secret… You will have to pay much consequence if you really want to know…" Sadaharu smiled evilly at Horio, who got turned off and decided that he would rather stay alive than get into trouble for being nosy.

Takeshi and Ryoma's match became an enduring match, the one to lose focus will be the one who loses. It was really hard to determine who would lose since both of them were equally matched. Both guys were already drenched in perspiration, having played for nearly three hours. The crowd had evidently dispersed as not many could endure the heat as well as the two of them.

Suddenly, a second year came running towards the court shouting, "The Regulars have come back from their training!"

"Eh… I thought Momo-senpai is a Regular too? How come you weren't training with them? Don't tell me you have just been bragging to everyone about something which isn't true?" Ryoma questioned Momo's reliability.

"Shut up! If someone had cleaned up the mess he made at home last week, I would not have tripped and fall down the stairs, spraining my ankle so badly that I couldn't go for training." Momo retorted back.

"Oops! I hope that someone has learnt his lesson…"

"It's obvious that you have not…"

"Fine, I understand if you aren't at training but what about Kikumaru-senpai? He's a Regular too, isn't he?"

"He went. It's just that he had a test he could not skip nor postpone this morning so he returned early."

"What are you two doing? Delaying the trials for the first years so that the two of you can have a match? 50 laps round the courts!" A familiar, commanding voice boomed out from the court's entrance.

"Chairman!" Takeshi exclaimed.

It was Shou, Seigaku Tennis Club's captain and pillar and looked upon by all members. He even had a nickname, which was derived from his name, "Shogun" which meant General. There were even rumours that he might be the next "Tezuka Kunimitsu" with his seriousness, strictness and his skills which made him an all-rounded player. He even had the aura of a real General, which intimidated his opponent but made everyone accept and respect him willingly.

"What are you waiting for, Takeshi and the first year? Do you want me to add another 20 laps?"

"NO! We're going now! Come on Ryoma!"

"Eh? We haven't finished our match…" Ryoma complained but Takeshi immediately pulled him away to start on their 50 laps around the tennis courts.

'Our match can be continued anytime… The Chairman means every word he says. Even if you want to run the extra 20laps, don't get me involved!' Takeshi whispered to Ryoma.

"Alright then. I'll take it as you gave the match up and so, you'll still treat me to burgers, right?"

Takeshi rolled his eyes. "I should have known you were just after the free burgers all this time…" Takeshi sighed.

---

"Everyone, please gather around!" Syuichiroh, the vice-chairman

All club members gathered at once in neat rows facing the Regulars: Kaidoh Kaoru, Tezuka Takeshi, Kikumaru Eiji, Tezuka Syuichiroh, Kohara Shou, Kohara Ruki, Kawamura Takashi and Kyototsuki Dentai.

"The District Tournament is coming up! That means the ranking tournament for the second and third years will start soon." Shou announced.

There were much murmurings amongst the members and the atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation. The murmurings subsided as soon as Shou continued.

"Syuichiroh and I will discuss the arrangements of the matches and players with Ryuuzaki-sensei before the next club practice. Today's trials went pretty well, despite a little disturbance. Shall we show the third years and second years our appreciation?"

"Arigatou senpais!" The new first years thanked the seniors.

"You are now dismissed."

All the seniors dismissed, leaving the first years to their first official task – picking up tennis balls and cleaning the courts. Ryoma was having an easy time picking up the tennis balls as he did not have to bend down or squat to collect them one by one like others. He used his racket to pick every one up idly and shot them all into the basket in the middle of the court.

"Ryoma! Are you done yet? Let's go have some burgers before we head home for dinner! Don't eat too much though or else okaasan is going to scold us again for not being able to finish our dinner…"

"Roger that, Momo-senpai!"