A/N: Sorry for the long wait! Even though, I'm in the middle of my awesome holidays, I might not update much, because I NEED TO DO MY HOLIDAY'S HOMEWORK Q_Q I haven't even started it... And I'm going back to school in a week. *sobs* I had been sleeping in too much. == I woke up when it was NEARLY noon. Last holidays, I woke up at 1a.m. Q_Q (I knew, I shouldn't had been on the internet up late)

Prince of Tennis rightfully belongs to Takeshi Konomi. I don't own it, I only own my OCs

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter :D Thanks you so much to those who favourited, alerted and reviewed this story :D :D

Now...enjoy~ :D

~Heart's Melody~
|Chapter 3|
-Connections-

Asuka glared fiercely in space, muttering something incoherent. Her thin arms were tightly folded across her chest. Her tangled hair, the dirt smeared on cheek, her dishevelled uniform, scratches on her arms and legs, twigs and leaves stuck in her ruffled hair, and angry eyes gave an impression that she went straight through storm, and came back rather…raging. Well, she was stuck in a tree some time before… Nevertheless, her appearance caused many to scoff and sneer at her obvious background from a 'poor', ordinary family.

Another fierce scowl came across her face, as her ears rang again, from a specific diva. "Ore-sama demands that you filthy peasant leave the tennis courts! You are causing too much of a commotion!"

Asuka narrowed her eyes, her blood boiling crazily. All other tennis members were still, and their eyes were fixed on the group of the tennis regulars and herself. There was an occasional whisper and mutter coming from them. All the fan-girls were glaring at her, an obvious message within all their eyes. Asuka mentally gulped. She didn't like fan-girls… They could go to…certain extremes.

Asuka's sharp, angry gaze went back to the regulars. Her eyes blazed furiously at Atobe Keigo, who posed high and mighty, his gaze seem to say 'Filthy Peasant. How dare you ignore/insult the great Ore-sama'. Her scowl deepened. "Fine! Anything to get away from you lot!" She shrilled, throwing up her hands. Grabbing her violin case, and bag, she left the tennis courts, ignoring the glares from the fan-girls, and confused looks from the tennis members.

After she disappeared from sight, and everything resumed to normal, as it could be. Choutarou cleared his throat softly, "Atobe-buchou, I think we made her angry…"

Atobe dismissed this with a careless wave of his hand. "That commoner doesn't concern me." He gave a sniff.

Oshitari quirked an eyebrow. He said, "I think you're still annoyed at the fact that she ignored you, Atobe." He chuckled, amused.

Atobe scowled and flicked his hair. "You lot, get back to your training!" He ordered, his gaze jerked at the non-members.

"Hai!"

Shishido grunted, obviously displeased. "Stupid shorty," he growled softly under his breath.

Oshitari walked pass him, and his lips tweaked into a smirk as he heard him. "You might fall in love," the blue-haired tensai proclaimed.

"Yea, yea. When Shishido Ryou falls in love, pigs will fly," Gakuto scoffed, placing his tennis racket over his shoulder. "Hate had turned into love. The pair whom once hated each other to the core, were now lost in each other eye, gazing tenderly at each other. To the world, they were obviously in love," the Hyoutei red-haired acrobatic tennis player mimicked in a high pitched voice.

"Oh, oh! That's from Oshitari's sappy romance novels, ne!" Jirou bounced over, an ecstatic grin stretching on his face.

"My, Gakuto," Oshitari smirked, as he shifted his glasses up to the bridge of his nose, "Seems like you have been reading some 'sappy romance novels'."

Gakuto spluttered, "As if, Oshitari!"

"Gekokujou," Hiyoshi muttered.

"Usu."

"I'm home." The brunette girl said softly, as she entered her house, removed her shoes and placed her slippers on. She looked up eagerly, as if she was expecting her mother or father to waltz in and reply, 'Welcome home,' with a cheerful façade. Her eyes lowered in sadness, when she heard nothing. Clutching her school bag, and violin case, she walked to her room and placed them there.

Grabbing, a pair of jeans, shirt and a jacket, which she quickly changed into, discarding her Hyoutei uniform aside, not even sparing it a glance. "I miss Seigaku…" She whispered softly. She heaved a sigh, and grabbed her violin case, and left her house.

Glancing to the left and right, she hurried down the street.

Momoshiro sighed heavily as he trudged down the street to his favourite fast food restaurant. That rascal, Echizen Ryoma dashed out of the courts once practice over, muttering something about Karupin, and 'That perverted, old monk.' And Kikumaru-senpai dashed off about buying some new toothpaste, dragging poor Oishi-senpai with him. And the other senpais… why would he even ask them to pay for his 'meal.' Fuji-senpai and Inui-senpai would probably discreetly add some wasabi or the latest Inui Juice in his drink, as 'revenge' or just simply for pleasure. Ugh, he could remember the spicy hotness plaguing his tongue, and the dreaded Inui Juice kill his taste buds. And Kaidoh… ugh, he didn't even want to think about his eternal rival, otherwise his appetite will be ruined!

He pushed his bike, heaving another sigh. "Momo-chan!" He patted his pocket for his wallet. "Momo-chan!" He raised his head, looking right and left at whom called his name. "Gaah! Momo-chan! In front of you!"

He blinked, and looked in front of him. "Senpai!" He gasped, his jaw dropping, "Nee-chan! What are you doing here!"

Asuka grinned brightly up at him, her mood had been improved a lot once she saw Momoshiro trudging to his favourite fast food place. "Talking a walk," she shifted her violin case on her shoulder again, "Ne, why are you so depressed, Momo-chan?" She cocked her slightly in curiosity.

Momoshiro sighed. "The brat, Echizen rushed home before I could tell him that the hamburgers are at a special price if you buy over 5 burgers. And Eiji-senpai went off to buy his toothpaste, dragging Oishi-senpai with him. And why would I ask my other senpais to pay for me!" He shivered.

Asuka laughed. "Tezuka-san will tell you to run laps! Kawamura-san will say something about no sushi in his burning mode if he holds his racket. And... Fuji-san and Inui-san will probably put wasabi or Inui Juice in your drink when you're not looking…" She shivered, and her face paled slightly.

Momoshiro winced. "I pity you, Nee-chan…because you always fall for it…"

Asuka's cheeks reddened. "It's not my fault!" She whined, "And don't mention it! I can feel my tongue burning because of the wasabi sushi that Fuji had gave me, and the all the Inui Juices, that Inui gave me…" She shuddered at the memory.

"You always fall for it, Nee-chan!" Momoshiro laughed, "Don't you ever 'learn from your mistakes"?" He snorted.

Asuka pouted and huffed, she looked away, muttering "Stupid Fuji, and his wasabi. Stupid Inui and his terrifying Inui Juice..."

"Ne, Nee-chan, let's go eat!" Momoshiro pointed at the fast food restaurant that they were standing in front of.

"Okay, but I'm not paying! Pay for your own!"

"Yea, yea."

Asuka smiled sadly as she took a tiny bite from her hamburger that she was clutching. Momoshiro, next to her, of course, wolfed down his mountain of hamburgers hungrily. He paused, and took a rather loud slurp from his extra large size bottle of coke. The brunette girl sighed. Momoshiro paused, and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "You okay, Nee-chan?" He asked.

Asuka sighed again and soft said, "I want to go back to Seigaku…"

Momoshiro frowned, and placed his hamburger down on his tray. "I don't know what school you went to, Nee-chan, but it obviously must be an elite school."

"It is…" Asuka said quietly.

Momoshiro shrugged. "I'm guessing that it has all those stuck-up pricks."

Asuka faintly smiled and nodded.

"Well, that school is the key to your dreams, isn't it, Nee-chan?"

Stiffly, the girl nodded again.

"Well," Momoshiro grinned, "I'll support you all the way, after all, it's your dream, and you had helped me a lot!"

Asuka cracked a tiny smile. "Yea, like preparing an extra lunch," She joked.

Momoshiro shook his head, "Nope, that's not it. Even though those bentos were delicious…" He quickly wiped away his drool, "You always encouraged me in tennis, telling me to 'man it up' and aiming it to the top. Sheesh, not even Tezuka-buchou screams out 'Go, Momo-chan! You can do it! Kick the lights out of him!'"

Asuka laughed, "Well… Tezuka is an ice cube. I don't think he will start laughing and cheering like a little girl."

Momoshiro chuckled loudly, "That's buchou for you. Seriously, he never smiles… and he never laughs. And what do they say? Laughing makes you live longer. Anyway, Nee-chan, I want you to pursue your dreams too. I… I have your back," he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "And if anyone hurts you, I'll beat them up for you! I bet Fuji-senpai will do the same!"

Asuka smiled happily, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. "T-thank you, M-Momo-chan," she choked out, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"Nee-chan! Don't cry! Gaah! I feel bad now!" Momoshiro panicked, flailing his arms.

Asuka laughed at his antics, wiping the tears from her eyes. "You're so funny, Momo-chan," she giggled.

"Why are you smiling when you're crying, you're so weird, Nee-chan…"

Asuka's POV

I gulped as I stood in front of the Hyoutei Academy's gates, and I clutched the strap of my violin tighter. 'I don't want to go, I want to go back to Seigaku!' I chanted repetitively in my head. One day at Hyoutei had been enough for me. One look at the so-called-great 'Atobe Keigo'-sama gave me a headache. I shuddered inwardly. Choutarou is kind, and Kabaji seems tolerable enough, despite his 'Usu.' And that Shiseido guy is a jerk. Just because he can play tennis, and have long hair (that's longer and finer than mine) doesn't mean that he's almighty and superior!

"Make way! Make way for the great Atobe-sama!"

I froze, and quickly scurried away, just before fan-girls scrambled over, hearts in their eyes, and gifts of chocolates and flowers in their arms.

I closed the door of Music Room 11. I smiled at the familiar room, and ran my fingers over the lid of the upright piano. This room, though small compared to the music rooms upstairs is comfortable, and gave a welcoming feeling. It also reminded me of the music room back in Seigaku. I sighed comfortably, and placed my bags down.

Immediately, I opened my violin case, and attached the shoulder rest to my violin. I turned the endscrew, which tightened the bow's strings. I gently placed my violin on my shoulder, and tucked my chin on the chin rest. I closed my eyes, and drew my bow over the strings. Satisfied, I began playing.

(No one's POV)

Shishido opened his eyes, as he heard music. He frowned, and sat up.

"It's that squeaky instrument… violin…" He murmured to himself, and closed his eyes, and relaxed against the tree.

He smiled, brushing his brown strands away from his eyes, "It's nice…"

Asuka ended with a vibrato, allowing the notes to thrum. She opened her eyes, and muttered, "It's…not…what I want…" Slowly, she sank to her knees, and stared mournfully at her violin in her hands.

"It's…not perfect."

Shishido opened his eyes, once the violin's music ended.

"It ended…" He said softly, and sighed. "It was such a nice piece too."

A smile flitted over his lips. "Heh, Choutarou was right for once."

Asuka quickly slid down in her seat, gently placing her violin case and bag on the floor. She glanced at the sleeping boy next to her. 'Class is going to start and he's still sleeping?' she thought in confusion.

A boy came swaggering, and his foot accidently touched her violin case. "Oops," He snorted, and didn't even spare a glance at her, and not even an apology. Asuka inwardly scowled, and swallowed back some colourful words as the teacher came in. She quickly placed her violin case back where it was.

She lowered her eyes. She knew her place at Hyoutei Academy. Her family status is poor, her parents works night and day for money, and hardly came home. Her neighbours, and on some occasions, her nearby relatives would cook some food for her. She sighed, a sad light reflecting her eyes.

Jirou stirred slightly as he heard the teacher's voice ringing a 'Good morning'. He opened his eyes to find his seatmate, her head lowered slightly, and her eyes reflecting sadness. He blinked in confusion and cocked his head, his messy orange curls bouncing.

Asuka placed her chin on her palm, staring out of the window, as the bell rang for break. 'I wonder what Momo-chan and the others are doing now,' she thought. The students quickly scampered out, not even bothering to tuck their chair in. They jostled each other, laughing loudly, their voices echoing in the hallway, and soon enough met by other's classes.

Soon enough, the class was almost empty. Asuka glanced at the boy sprawled out on his desk. "Jirou-san," she spoke softly, as she gently shook his shoulder, "Ne… it's break time."

She smiled sadly, as she thought of Eiji who sometimes fell asleep in class, which thankfully the teacher didn't notice.

Flashback

Asuka suppressed a smile behind her hand, as she saw the redhead acrobatic player slumped on his desk, his head resting in his folder arms, and his textbook standing covering his head, so the teacher won't catch him sleeping.

The bell rand, signalling the end of the first period, and the start of break. "Everyone," the teacher spoke, tapping the board with his finger, "Homework, do exercises one and two on pages 124, to will be due next lesson." The class nodded, some people groaning quietly. The teacher left the classroom, and soon enough, the class followed him out of the door.

Asuka stood up, as the classroom was empty, except for a few people. "Eiji-san," She said, shaking his shoulder, standing in front of him. He groaned softly. Asuka suppressed a giggle. "Eiji-san, wake-up!" She sighed, as Eiji didn't budge. "Eiji…Eiji… Wake up, please." Her eye twitched, as Eiji didn't even wake up, but snuggled his head more comfortably in his arms, murmuring something related to tennis. "Eiji… EIJI KIKUMARU!" She yelled.

"A-Ah – ah, WAH!" Eiji screamed, as he stood up rapidly, blinking the sand away from his eyes, "Ah! GOMENASAI, TEZUKA-BUCHOU! I-I didn't mean to hit that ball to your head! GOOOMENASAII!" He jerked into a perfect right angle bow repetitively, screaming out apologies. Asuka sweat-dropped.

"Saa… you're awake now?" A smiling brunette, with his eyes closed approach the pair.

"Ah…ah…ah!" Eiji turned his head sleepily to the brunette's voice, his half-lidded eyes snapped wide open when he caught the brunette smiling at him, "AH! FUJIKO! You scared me! Eh? Su-chan? What are doing here? It's still class time!"

"It's break time," Asuka sighed, "Class had just ended. You… fell asleep."

"Eh?" Eiji scratched his head, "Oh! Whew, thank goodness that wasn't true!"

"Eh?"

"Well… I was serving in tennis, and my hand slip, nyah! And the ball hit Tezuka on the head… Mou, it was so scary! His glasses glinted, and there was lightning behind him, a-and he told me to run 100 laps!" Eiji explained, shuddering slightly.

"Saa…that was an interesting dream," Fuji commented, his smile never leaving his face. Eiji shivered.

Asuka sighed. 'Typical of Eiji and Fuji…"

"Mou, Fujiko! Can't you be nicer! It was so scary, nyah!"

End Flashback

Asuka blinked in surprise as Jirou stirred slightly. "Eh?" He raised his head sluggishly, and stared at Asuka with a confused face. "Ah! You're that monkey girl who was in a tree! Ah! You're also that girl who ignored and talked back to Atobe! Sugoi!" His eyes were clear now, as he jabbed his finger at Asuka's face.

"Eh…"

"Haha," Jirou laughed, "You're really interesting!"

"Eh… thank you?"

"Ahaha… Zzz…"

"…Why did you fall back asleep again…?"

~Special~
|First Encounter|
~Eiji Kikumaru~

Asuka's POV

I place my bag on my chair, as I hoisted my violin case over my shoulder. As usual, I came early to class today, and as expected no one is here yet. I tucked a loose brown strand over my ear. 3 years I'd been in Seishun Academy, and I'm not well known despite being awarded several times in music. I smiled ruefully. This school is more into sports than academics, art and music, and those who are in a sports club are pretty well known, especially those in the boys tennis club. Such as Tezuka Kunimitsu, the buchou of the boys tennis club, and a National level tennis player, Fuji Syuusuke, a tensai – not only in tennis but as well as other various activities, and even that 1st year tennis regular, Echizen Ryoma, who is becoming quite increasingly popular with the female population of Seishun Academy…

I sighed. Suddenly, the door burst opened, and a redhead boy came bursting in, his eyes round and wide. He quickly looked around the classroom, his eyes landed on me and his eyes brimmed with hope. He breathed a little sigh of relief, and dashed right in front of me. My eyes widened.

"Ne, ne, you're Sato Asuka-chan, right?" Eiji asked quickly.

Dumbly I nodded. I didn't even know that that famous acrobatic tennis player of Seigaku knew my name. And why he even added 'chan' to my name. We're not close friends or anything. In fact, this is the first time, we met face to face.

"Did you finish your maths homework?" I nodded again.

"Whew…" Eiji breathed a sigh of relief, a smile, etching of his face, "…can I please, pretty please, copy it? Sensei is going to kill me, nyah! Please, please, please with a cherry on top, with chocolate sprinkles and vanilla donuts on the side, with strawberry ice-cream, and uh…eh… whatever you like!" He clasped his hands right in front of face, and went down his knees, his forehead pressed to the floor. "PLEASEEEEEEE!" He screamed melodramatically.

I cracked a tiny smile. "Okay."

"YEEEEEEEES!" He screamed in delight, bouncing off his feet, pumping his hands in the air, his eyes sparkling. He stopped jumping around, and halted in front of me, wrapping his arms around me, and squeezing all the air out of me. "THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH! You're so kind, nyah!" My feet were lifted of the ground as he whirled me around.

My eyes rolled all around, and my face went blue, from the lack of air. "K-Ki-ku-ma…ru-s-san… can't breathe…"

Eiji stopped and placed me back on the ground. I immediately leaned over my table, and took several deep breaths. Eiji gave a sheepish smile, "Hehe… Gomen, gomen!"

I smiled softly, and rummaged through my bag quickly, before handing a sheet of paper.

"Waah, thank you, nyah!"

"Your welcome," I replied quietly. I shifted my foot, "Ano… I need to go practice…um, violin," I jerked my chin at my violin case.

Eiji gasped, his eyes looked ready to pop from their sockets. "NYAAAH!" He wailed, "I have tennis practice in 5 minutes! Gaah! I have to hurry and copy this before Tezuka-buchou assigns me more laps! Nooo! I put this back in your bag, Asuka-chan! Thank you, nyah!"

He immediately sat down, and pulled out all his own homework sheet, and pencil and began scribbling down the answers, glancing at my sheet quickly here now and then.

I smiled, amused at my classmate, and quietly left the classroom. A bigger smile stretched onto my face, as I stepped quietly down the hallway. "I surprised he called me 'Asuka-chan' even though it was the first time we met…" I whispered, and chuckled softly, a delighted look in y eyes.

"SU-CHIBI-CHAN!"

I blinked, and glanced right and left, wondering who had such a ludicrous nickname.

"Su-chibi-chan! Mou, stop ignoring me!" Someone tackled me on the back. I gasped, as my knees buckled from the unexpected weight.

"Kikumaru-san!" I gasped, "Please get off me!" The students in the hallway giggled and pointed at us, whispering something to their friends, an amused light dancing in their eyes.

"Hai, hai!" Eiji laughed, and jumped off my back, much to the relief of my aching back and knees,

"Ne, who were you calling me 'Su-chibi-chan'?" I asked, turning to face him.

A wide grin spread over his face. "Obviously, you, nyah!"

I blinked. "What?"

"Su, for Asuka, and chibi, because you're short!"

I glared at him. "Mou, don't mock me, because I'm short, Kikumaru-san!"

"Hehe! Gomen, gomen! Call me, Eiji…Su-chibi-chan!"

…Oh, woe me.

A/N: End~

If you're wondering what the special side story, "First Encounter" is, it's just a mini, special story in when she FIRST met some people. I was wondering if I should do Tezuka Kunimitsu, Fuji Syuusuke, Echizen Ryoma or anyone else in the next chapter. Tell me who you will want next XD

These short stories aren't necessarily in middle school, because Asuka could had met them beforehand XD

Anyway, Momoshiro calls Asuka "senpai" when they're at school, or sometimes out of habit. He calls her "nee-chan" (Big sister), because they're really close.

You know, I really wish there was no homework and no assignments... If there was no homework, then I would update more... QAQ

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed this :)

.

easily1994addicted: Thank you!~ :D Haha, Fuji might appear in future chapters, but he will appear in flashbacks or something :) Thank you :D (Haha, I stuffed some of them, and did well in some XD )

Annae03: Thank you very much for your kind review! :D

Charmainelst: Thank you! :D But their relationship still has a long way to go == Right now, it's intense dislike for each other xD Haha, isn't the so-called great OREO-sama always egoistic? XD

Niji95: Thank you!~ :D Ore/o-sama is not a cookie! XDDD

Yuki Mizuho: Thank you!~ Yep, Asuka sure did XD

Lya The Crying Girl: It's a shame Q_Q Shishido is such an interesting character... Aha, I will! Thank you so much!~ XD