A/N: Seriously :( I know, minna-san. I am late at updating. Why? Because Fanfiction chose this time to have errors. I mean, couldn't they do that when I am not going to update? Oh well, nothing we can do, that's the reason chapter 6 is not up yet, sorry.
Disclaimer: Eurie-sama would like to bring you Prince of Tennis by Takeshi Konomi-sama. Even if Eurie-sama wish to write/draw the manga, she's not talented and creative enough.
St. Rose Academy, 9:15 in the morning...
Hotaru walk in the same corridors towards her classroom. In the entrance, she saw a group of girls blocking her way, she halted and wonder why third years are in front of her classroom, but resumed on her feet. Before she could pass through them, one girl grab her by her arm. She look at the hand that was stopping her, then to the owner. She saw the same girl who threw a hamburger on her. "May I help you, senpai?" She asked in monotone voice.
"Yes," she growled, then yanked her. She pushed Hotaru and grab at her again before she hit the floor. She's shaking Hotaru so hard that those who see gasped and panicked. Someone run to get the teacher, and the other third years attack Hotaru too.
They stopped when they saw Murosaki's group who also yanked Hotaru, but instead of atacking her, she pulled her away from the bitches. Mafuyu, Reina, and Mizuki blocked the third years path. Leader bitch raised her hand to push Reina but the teacher arrived.
"Who cause this disturbance?" the teacher said. Everyone who dare to tell on without being scared, point at the third years. "What are you doing here?"
"I-it's cause we..we..want-" leader didn't finish her sentence when the teacher glared. She shut her mouth close because she was afraid.
"I will like you to return to your classes now, but because you didn't just push and yank Kinomichi-san, a kouhai at that, but you also have the guts to say what you plan to do with her." she lead the five third years to the west wing...where the principal's office is. "We will discuss your punishments in the principal's office.
"Teacher," she begged, "teacher, no. If..if my parents learn about this..."
"It is not I who started it," the teacher said in a very serious voice, "but I will finish it."
"You can't do this to me!" the third year yelled at the teacher. She stopped, then slowly turn around to look at the girl.
"You may be one of the richest girl in this school, which I know you're not," she leered at the leader, the girl shivered, "but I am the TEACHER. You will do as I say."
"Hahaha.." the girl laughed nervously, "Do you want to get fired?" she threaten. However, the teacher seems like she doesn't care.
"Do you want a scandal?" she said, dark aura envelope the teacher, "I could continue yours. But the reputation that will be damage is certainly not mine. Now shut up, and follow me."
The third years shut up, their leader cannot answer back, so they could not talk to. While everyone watch what happening with amusement and satisfaction, Hotaru proceed to her seat.
"Are you okay, Hotaru-chan?" Tanaka asked.
"Dummy," the Yankee said, "of course she's not okay. What if I yank and pull you too? Wouldn't you cry? Huh? Crybaby."
Reina pout, "Am not."
"Are too."
"Am not."
"Are t-"
"Quiet," Mizuki snapped, "can you please be quiet for just a minute, Murosaki? You are disturbing the peace."
The group of four loomed at Hotaru, showing their concern in different ways. Hotaru laughed inwardly, it really is great to have..friends?
"There's a bruised on your arm, Hotaru," Tanaka said. "Are you really okay?"
She nodded.
"Everyone back to your seats." the teacher said. She look at Hotaru and asked, "Do you want to go to the nurse?"
"There is no need, sensei," she answered. The teacher shrugged.
When Hotaru arrived in the in the cafeteria, whispers started circling around the room. They saw the bruise that mark her skin and some of them pitied her, but most of them said that she deserves it. However, Hotaru doesn't care. As usual, she went straight to the foods and order what she like.
Before she can turn around to find a seat, Murosaki is dragging her to their table already. Without any protest, she came with her.
"Aniki was out last night too," she heard Mafuyu said. "I don't know where he's gone to, but there were times that he sneak away at night."
"My brother too," Tanaka said, "Although I know that he's playing tennis somewhere."
"He's playing tennis too?" Mafuyu asked, her eyes widen. "My brother always bring his tennis bag too."
"If I don't know, those too are having a romantic rendezvous," Mizuki said. Murosaki glared at her. "What?"
"Shiro is not gay," she said, grinding her teeth. "I don't know about Nobu-senpai, but Shiro is definitely not gay."
Everyone, except Hotaru, stared at her.
"I didn't say anything about that," Mizuki glowered, annoyed.
"That's what you implied when you said they went to romantic rendezvous together," she said.
"With girls of their own?" she raised a brow, "Besides, I don't think it's about that, really. Maybe they are playing together?"
"How do you know about that?" the shy Tanaka said.
"They do?" Murosaki asked the other girl brusquely.
"W-well, my brother told me," she answered.
"He always tell you everything, huh?" Murosaki asked, a bit jealous.
"Of course. I'm her sister," she beamed. "Well, not really. He doesn't need to tell me anything about him. Sometimes I am just a bit observant and can make him tell me what I want."
"Nobu?" Hotaru asked, trying to conceal her curiosity.
"Yeah, my older brother," answered Mafuyu. "He and Tanaka's brother are friends. We are neighbors before, then we went to Osaka and live there. After I graduated middle school, we returned here, except, our house became four blocks away from them."
"Hmmm."
"What abot you Hotaru?" Mafuyu said, "Do you have a brother?"
She nodded but didn't give any more details. The girls shrugged and continue eating.
One month passed after their engagement. "Milady, the P.I. Sent this," Maria held an envelope on her hands. Even though she was against this private investigation thing, Hoatru couldn't help herself from looking at the information being sent to her.
She opened the big envelope and bring out its contents. The first thing she saw is a picture of Atobe with a girl in a cheer-leading uniform. The girl's heart shape eyes stared at Atobe like a rabid dog eying its bone. She looked at the next photo, it is Atobe again, with another girl. This time, they were wearing civilian clothes and seems out in a date. Hotaru want to frown, however, she keep a cool face in front of her maid.
The next photo is Atobe again with another girl. She set the photos down, she doesn't like to see those pictures of him with another girls.. different girls, exactly. She picked up the papers. As she look through it, she saw that it was Atobe's schedule the past month. "What a stalker," she murmured. Every hour, there were different activities in it. What caught her eyes is the very detailed way of writing it. She read, "7:00, he woke up in the morning and before he go to his walk-in closet, he take off his shirt. He has a nice abs and hard-looking chest. Then, he come out from his walk-in with a white robe, the rope tied in his low waist, his chest was showing from a little opening-" She blushed furiously.
"Are you okay, milady?" Maria asked. "You are a beet red, are you sick or something?"
"No," she said, still flustered. What the heck is that P.I. Doing? The details of his report was rated M. I.. I cannot forgive this. "Maria, you can burn these things."
"Okay, milady," the maid said. Hotaru went out from her room.
"Game, set, and match. With the score of two sets to one," the announcer said. "six-four, five-seven, and six-zero, Hyotei Gakuen will advance to the next round! "
Atobe grinned as his followers, or should he say, other members of the tennis club cheered as they went out of the court.
"Wheee, that's so easy," Jiro said.
"No doubt," Oshitari said. "We don't even need to use second and first singles."
"Yes, it's such a great feeling," Gakuto smiled.
They chatter as they walk to the clearing, their coach went somewhere, maybe to talk about the next game tomorrow. They suddenly stop when they notice Fudomine walking their way.
"So you guys won too, huh?" Kamio said. "Good luck for the next match."
"Kamio, we are going to play them you know," the raven haired guy next to him said. ( I still couldn't remember his name so if you do, please tell me.)
"I know," he smirked. "I think they will need good luck though."
"Maybe you are talking about yourself?" Gakuto asked heatedly.
Kamio glared at him, "What did you say midget?"
"M-midget?" he stuttered. "Who are you calling small?"
"Y-" Kamio start, however, his captain cut his sentence.
"Stop it, Kamio," Tachibana Teppei said, captain of Fudomine's tennis club.
"Oi! Oi!" a high-pitched, always happy voice cooled down the tension. "Ne, ochibi, look, there is Fudomine and Hyotei."
"Hn," said the ochibi, "Can you get your arm off me, Kikumaru-senpai?" he said irritated.
Eiji laughed and do as he told so. Momo joined him while he ruffled their kouhai's green-black hair. Echizen tried to get away but no can do.
"Oh, so the one who is going to win will be our opponent, nya?" Kikumaru said.
"Hey, Eiji," Oishi said worriedly. He can still feel the tension from awhile ago. He doesn't want to start one.
"Oh, so it's the three of us huh, Tezuka?" Atobe asked the Seigaku's captain. "I will beat you."
"You are going to face me first though, Atobe-san," Fudomine's captain said. Even though he cut Kamio before, he doesn't want the thought that Atobe think they defeats them already.
"Huh?" Atobe started, switching his stare to Tachibana, "Oresama will not going to lose to you. Not anymore. One time is enough."
The Seigaku's captain is smart enough not to say anything. Tezuka remained silent as the two captains of other schools shamelessly bicker at each other. Not that Atobe is not graceful as he do so, and Tachibana is still solid rock too. His face expression, not lower.
"Hey, Echizen, where are you going?" Momo called out.
"I'm going to get a drink," the little one walked away.
"Hey! Hey! Wait for me," Momo called.
"Baka," Kaidoh murmured. "Fssssshh"
"Oi, Mamushi, I heard that," he threaten before running to catch up with his best friend.
"Well, good luck to both of you," Oishi said, "See you." The Seigaku went back to their school after waiting for Echizen and Momoshiro.
Atobe get out of the limo and walk inside the mansion, the butler worriedly walk behind him while the maids stopped what they are doing and bowed to him for a greeting. Instead of stopping, he went straight to where his father usually is. His office.
"Dad, what is this?" he asked as he held an invitation card. His butler gave it to him when he got to the limo.
His father raised a brow, "It looks like an invitation?"
"Yes, an invitation," he said.
"Then what's the problem?" he asked.
"It said that I need to go with my fiancée?" he said sarcastically.
"And?"
"I don't know where she is," he answered.
"You never bothered," his father said. "Besides, shouldn't you know where her house is?"
"But, I don't."
His father sighed. He open a drawer and throw an envelope in the desk. Atobe pick it up and read through it. It contains info about Kinomichi. He put the documents back and nodded.
"You are going?" his father asked.
"You know I will," he answered. "Tell the Kinomichi's"
"Yes, yes," said his father before losing his head to whatever he was doing before his son opened the door.
Atobe went to his room and took a shower. He read a bit before deciding to sleep.
"Milady, your father asked for you," Maria informed her. She nodded and went to her father's office.
"You are to go with Atobe-san in this party," he put the invitation in the table. "Atobe-san is picking you up on Thursday. Be sure you are ready. Now get out, I have many things to do." Without a word, Hotaru return to her room and open the invitation envelope. Her eyes widen at the place the party will occur.
See you on Thursday, my love, she thought. She smile a little as she read "Tanaka residence." And you too, Shiro, Reina.
A/N: there you go minna-san. Thank God, FF decided to act up and be okay. Although I panicked when my computer's ISP is the next one to have trouble. Thankfully, my sister knew what to do.
Please forgive me for any mistakes in grammar and errors on spelling.
I's still looking for a beta-reader. Thank you in advance. Please contact me if you guys wanted to.