Ok I realized Ryoma is a bit OC…but I need to give both Ryoma and Hoshi little pushes to realize their emotions for each other! So please…forgive me T.T
"Oh Tennis Gods! I beg of you! Please spare me!" I shouted as I raised both my hands in the air and sat on my knees on the hard cement grounds of the tennis courts.
"It's not THAT bad Hoshi!" Ami assured me as I got hit in the back of the head with a tennis balls. "Ok…maybe it is…"
I then gave her a look that said 'yes-it-is'. She just chuckled nervously and moved away. I got up and dusted off my white shorts. The Girl's Regular Soccer Team where training with the Boy's Regular Tennis Team. Why? I don't know. I think it's because they hate me. I shivered. Man it was cold out. I mean I could even see my own breath and here I was outside in shorts and a t-shirt for crying out loud [the Regulars showed up at my house and dragged me out half-asleep and still in my PJs]! I rubbed my arms in an attempt to warm up but that proved futile. Maybe if I ran laps I'd warm up. I got up and started to run laps around the school. I just kept going faster and faster till I was out of breath and had a burning feeling in my lungs. My face was slightly red from all the running and I had a slight coughing fit. Once I stopped my coughing I went back to the tennis courts to see everyone was finally here. Ryoma was late so we couldn't start practice till he came.
"Today we will be practicing our aim. First we start with tennis." Aniki announced as we all nodded and went to separate courts.
"Wee…" I said sarcastically as I waved my index finger in the air.
"It's really not that bad Hoshi." Haruhi said as I pouted.
"Yes it is. When your as bad as me it is." I answered with a sigh as I shivered.
I then felt something on top of my head. I looked up to see it was a white jacket and when I picked it off of my head I realized it was Ryoma's Seigaku Tennis Jacket. I looked up to see a somewhat blushing Ryoma pulling his cap down.
"Your cold." was his simple reply as I got what he meant.
"Oh…Arigato Ryoma-Kun." I thanked as he blushed deeper and just walked away as I put on the jacket that was about one size too big…but it fit so nicely and was so warm.
His jacket smelled like Ponta…grape Ponta…my favorite.
"Hey Hoshi get a racquet and let's start to hit these babies!" Zora shouted as she waved a yellow tennis racquet in the air.
I grabbed a spare silver one and walked over towards Zora, Haruhi and Maki. Once I reached them they where smiling and gossiping with each other.
"You guys ok?" I asked a little freaked out as they nodded their heads.
I think the cold was getting to them. I shook it off and got at the baseline of my side. Zora served the ball nicely as I clumsily returned it. That was how it went for a while. We where just rallying. I have to say this is my best. We continued hitting it till the racquet flew out of my hand, causing me to blink owlishly at my empty hands and miss the ball. I heard a bonk and a loud 'Ouch'! I turned my head to see Eiji on his butt rubbing his red forehead as a certain silver tennis racquet laid in front of him.
"You need a tighter grip." a voice from behind said causing me to jump and turn around.
"Huh?" I asked to see Ryoma walking towards me.
"Use the Eastern Grip. It's easier for beginners." he said as he held out his racquet.
"Eastern Grip? What's that?" I asked as Ryoma tossed the racquet on the ground.
"Pick it up." he ordered as I looked at him quizzically but bent down and picked it up anyway. "That's the Eastern Grip. Hold the racquet as if your picking it up off the floor [I hope I got that right]."
"Like this?" I asked as I held the racquet in the same position, only tighter.
"That's it. It should be easier to swing and the racquet won't go flying away." Ryoma explained as I held out the racquet for him to take back, which he did.
"Arigato Ryoma-Kun." I thanked as he blushed a bit but turned around and walked away as he lowered his cap.
I rushed back to Eiji and apologized a million times. After he hugged me and told me I was forgiven and to just call him Eiji I was able to get the racquet back and actually hit some good balls back. I was actually having a good time and…smiling…I never smiled when I played tennis…never. I think I saw Aniki smile too but it quickly went away when Oishi turned to talk to him. It was fun and Zora was trying funny tricks while the other Regulars where having fun…I was actually staring to like the sport again…until…
"Hey isn't that Tezuka's younger sister?" a voice whispered.
"Yeah…but she's not as good as him…in fact she makes a baby's tennis skills look pro." another girl commented in a hush voice.
"I thought she was suppose to be good at tennis…you know being a Tezuka and all…" an almost inaudible voice said as I felt my face heat up.
"Her name means 'Star' right? So shouldn't she be a star at tennis?" another girl commented quietly as my grip tightened.
"Yeah but she's just the opposite!" another voice giggled quietly as I just dropped the racquet and let the ball fly past me.
My bangs covered my red eyes that where a bit wet. My nose felt stuffy and me face felt hotter. Aw man did I feel stupid right now.
"Hey…Hoshi are you alright?" Zora asked as she walked up to the net.
I nodded and wiped away some of my tears that spilled out of my eyes. I felt like a baby.
"Yeah…" I said trying not to have my voice crack. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom." my voice cracked as I hurriedly walked past the giggling girls who mocked me.
I didn't make it into the bathroom…heck I didn't even make it inside the school building. Once I was away from the courts I hid behind a bush and brought my knees to my chest and rested my forehead on my knees. I hated this…crying over what a few girls thought of me…I should be more confident with myself but every time I find something that I like about myself, someone has to find a flaw I have. It makes me feel inferior to Aniki and a bunch of other people, the Boy's Regular Tennis Team for instance. It's like I'll never be good enough for anyone…and to think…all this started when I was playing tennis…and actually enjoying it…well…
"I hate tennis…tennis isn't my thing…" I mumbled as I sniffled a bit.
"And why's that?" a male voice asked as I looked up to see Ryoma standing in front of me.
"Tennis makes everything worse." I admitted as Ryoma gestured for me to scotch over.
When I did he sat next to me.
"Tell me about it." he said.
"What? Why?" I asked dumfounded at the boy.
This shocked me. Why would Ryoma, of all people, wanna listen to other people's problems…especially mine. I'm not that special.
"Because…you…well…uh…" is the Ryoma Echizen lost for words? "I can't explain it…so just tell me about your problems…" he muttered as he pulled down his cap to try and hide the pink that had dusted itself on his cheeks.
I blinked once. Twice. Thrice. I opened my mouth. Closed it. Then opened it. Closed it once more. Than finally.
"It all started when I was 4." and so…I told Ryoma Echizen the entire story.
Of why tennis isn't my thing.