Disclaimer: I wish I own the characters of the Prince of Tennis
Sae followed Tezuka to Coach Ryuzaki's office. The walk took a while since the office was located to the other side of the building.
"Um, Captain Tezuka, what does Coach Ryuzaki want with me?" Sae broke the silent between them.
Tezuka stopped walking and turned to face the girl. He looked straight in her emerald eyes before he spoke. "It would be best if you hear it straight from her."
After a while, they arrived In front of Coach Ryuzaki's office. Inside, Sae saw who seemed to be Coach Ryzaki and a familiar guy with glasses. If her memory serves her right, the guy is the data collector of the team.
For the afternoon practice, the regulars were assigned for a one set match against another regular. However, the instruction was for them to use all their known techniques against their opponent. As the games progress, a girl with brown hair and emerald eyes stood between Tezuka and Inui as the latter continue to scribble something in his notebook every now and then.
"Hey, isn't that Sae?" Kikumaru asked no one in particular.
"That's her alright, but what is she doing there?" Momo answered as he tried to think of an answer to his own question.
"Hn? Could it be?"
"Fujiko, you know something, don't you?" Kikumaru jump in front of Fuji.
"Saa, who knows?"
"Eh? Come on. Tell us." Oishi asked for he was curious himself.
It was Ryoma and Kawamura who were playing inside the court. Right after the game, Ryoma saw Inui and Sae discussing something with Coach Ryuzaki who only nodded in response. Tezuka did not say anything but listened attentively to the discussion. He noticed the same act after each of the succeeding matches.
When the last match ended, Coach Ryuzaki called the attention of all the members.
"I would like to introduce to you a new member in our team," Coach Ryuzaki gestured Sae to step forward, "starting today, Saeri Ichinomiya will be our assistant manager. I expect you to be kind to her."
"Good afternoon everyone, my name is Sae. It's my pleasure to meet you all."
Flashback
Sae stopped at the door when she saw Caoch Ryuzaki and the other tennis club member with glasses looking her way.
"Please have a seat," Coach Ryuzaki gestured the vacant seat next to the other tennis club member in the room.
The girl quietly followed.
"You must be curious why I called you here. The truth is I would like you to join the boys' tennis club as assistant manager," the coach continued.
"Me? An assistant manager?"
"It is a recommendation from the team's current manager, Sadaharu Inui."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Sadaharu Inui, the manager of the boys' tennis club," the guy beside Sae spoke up.
"But… why me?"
"I saw that you have keen eyes for observing tennis players. You can tell the strong points, weak points and the possible improvements of a technique just by seeing it once. That ability of yours can be a great help to our team."
"How would you know that I do have that kind of ability?"
"I did some research," Inui's glasses glinted.
"Also, your mother used to possessed the same ability as yours," Sumire added. The girl looked at her in surprise.
"You know my mom?"
"Well, yes. She used to be the manager of our tennis club back then."
"I see."
"Will you accept the offer?" Tezuka interrupted. Everyone turned their attention to him.
"Do you have doubts in her ability, Tezuka?" Sumire asked curiously.
Tezuka remained silent.
"Why don't we test her then?" Inui suggested.
End of flashback
After Sae spoke, cheers broke from the non-regular members seeing that the new addition to the team is a cute girl.
"What's with all the commotion?" the furious voice of Caoch Ryuzaki echoed across the tennis court, "everyone, return to practice."
Tezuka's eyes followed their new assistant manager as Inui introduce to her the members of their tennis club. He knew that the girl can do greater things other than being an assistant manager to the team.
Tezuka remembered the tennis match he saw yesterday in the street tennis court. It was a doubles game with her as Echizen's doubles partner. He saw how she was able to cope with someone who didn't know how to play doubles. The way she played, he can easily tell that she is a very talented tennis player. In Tezuka's opinion, it will only be a waste if someone as talented as her will be kept hidden to the world.
"It's time to celebrate!" Eiji shouted as they are about to go home.
"He's right. We have to celebrate the arrival of our new assistant manager," Oishi said smiling at Sae.
"Um, thank you sempai, but I don't think it's that of a big deal."
"What are you saying? Of course it is worth celebrating about, right Echizen?" Momo turned to Ryoma but the lad didn't utter a word and kept walking.
"Um, if it's alright with everyone, we can go to our restaurant," Kawamura said shyly.
"That would be great!" Kikumaru jump in joy.
"But Inui, you didn't tell us anything about this," Fuji turned to Inui.
Inui pushed his glasses before he spoke, "well, it still uncertain until she confirmed it."
"Ah, Tezuka, you're coming right?" Oishi inquired as he saw Tezuka behind them.
"My apologies but I still need to talk with Coach Ryuzaki."
"Don't be like that. You're making Sae sad. Look." Fuji said as held Sae in front of Tezuka.
Sae was surprised but when she saw Tezuka's piercing gaze, she immediately waved her hands in front of her while shaking her head.
"Please, don't apologize. The invitation was unexpected so…" Sae trailed off.
Tezuka heave a sigh.
"Okay, I'll go."
Sae's eyes widen at Tezuka's words.
The celebration at Kawamura's sushi restaurant became very lively. Momo pulled Sae beside him. When Eiji saw it, he positioned himself on the girl's other side. The two kept on putting sushi on the poor girl's plate. Everyone else watch the two as sparks fly between them. Momo's attention turned to Ryoma when he realized that Ryoma has been eating his share of sushi. As if on cue, Momo and Ryoma held an eating contest on who can eat the most number of sushi. Both of them held their throat when they simultaneously ate a wasabi sushi which has more wasabi than necessary. Inui acted innocent to the wasabi sushi that got into Ryoma and Momo's plates. Oishi tried to calm his teammates but no one seems to listen. Fuji continued to savor his favorite sushi with his usual smile. Tezuka observe everyone's behavior but continue to eat in silence.
When everyone decided to go home, it was already dark. Everyone gave their regards to Kawamura before they left.
"I'm so full," Momo held his stomach.
"I guess this is where we part ways," Inui interrupted.
"Sae, I'll walk you home," Momo scratched his head as a slight tint of red rose to his cheeks, "well, it is kind of dangerous for you to walk around at this hour."
Sae and Ryoma exchange a meaningful look at each other which did not escape Fuji's attention.
"Um, thank you so much for the concern Momo-sempai, but Ryoma will walk me home."
"I-is that so?" Momo forced a smile.
As everyone bid their goodbyes, Ryoma and Sae were left alone. They continue to walk home in silence.
Sae was about to asked Ryoma something but then a hand suddenly covered her mouth.
Ryoma stopped when he noticed that no one was walking beside him. He turned around to check on her but what he saw surprised him.
"Hey kid, if you want your girlfriend not to get hurt, you might as well hand me your money," a thug called out as he pointed something sharp on Sae's neck. Sae eyes were full of fear as she looked back at Ryoma.
Ryoma clenched his fist as he tried to stay calm. However, his expression changed to surprise when he look behind the man.
The thug noticed this and looked behind him expecting to see something or someone. But as the man turn his head, something hit him hard which caused him to lost consciousness. A tennis ball rolled beside the man's unconscious figure.
When the man fell back, Sae wanted to run away but her feet would not move from the spot. Feeling her energy drain, she sat on the ground. She cannot stop her body trembling.
"Hey, are you alright?" Ryoma walked right next to Sae and crouched to her level.
Sae looked slowly at the person next to her. When she realized who she was, her sight became blurry as tears started to flow from them.
As soon as Ryoma saw Sae's tears, without second thought, he wrapped his arms around her and buried her face to his chest.
That's all… for now
(=^.^=)