DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN PRINCE OF TENNIS.

If there may be errors below, I apologize in advance. I didn't have time to edit much this chapter but I'll surely correct them. Just not today. Well, enjoy!

"Thank you…"

It was faint; yet melodious. One would fail to hear it if he was standing more than five feet away from reciter. Fortunately, a red head was to catch the gentle voice and message that probably carried the sincerity he was least expecting. As wide eyed as he could be, he watched her. And with dry mouth, he watched her once more, this time to walk away from him.

A girl of probably thirteen or twelve walked slowly onto the path where the sun sets. Her dark green permed hair flowed carelessly behind her as the gentle blow of the wind caressed it like a silk of velvety cloth of a highness. The shadow caused by the setting sun looming behind her leaving physique made it almost impossible to see the plum jersey she was wearing. That was the only thing she had given him for recognition. To somehow explain the points that emphasized her beauty. To somehow explain to him how he became wordless.

How he wanted to say a word. Even an utter will do. Even a syllable will do! Just a word! A single word to explain or let his emotions out. But as he was about to speak, she turned and gave one malicious smile that made him more astounded.

And then it all vanished…

"- k so ignore me more!"

"H-huh? W-What?" A red head turned to the voice only to see his mushroom head friend look at him with a very much pissed off expression, hands on the hips, weight on right footing.

"Welcome back to Earth Mr. Kamio Akira! How's your trip from Dreamland? Have some souvenirs for me?" An gave out a sarcastically as she held out one hand towards him, eyebrow raised in irritation.

"W-well. Sorry for spacing out…. Again." He added the last sentence as soon as the dark glow from the girl emitted a much more hazardous current that was certainly felt up to the tips of his hair.

Kamio being the clever one chose to remain quiet as An sat at the left open desk beside him and gave him one menacing look.

"Sorry? Wow. For the third time this day Kamio! Tell me, what's wrong? And don't give a 'heck it's nothing' because it's definitely far from nothing." A slam on the desk and an angry An made Kamio flinch and slowly move his desk away from the girl on flame. That daydreaming of his was certainly not helping him and their current situation. If only I had asked her name…

Honestly said, Kamio Akira had been daydreaming the whole day. It was mostly embarrassing to admit, but he had felt those hormones kicked in him and make butterflies in his stomach fly by whenever he picture the girl he had bumped onto yesterday.

Everything was mostly accidental though, when she suddenly ran onto his chest and gave him a shout followed by a scowling expression. But even when with a scowl and an implication that she wasn't pleased with how he had been on her way, he still couldn't shake the emphasizing fact blinking in front of him with blinding red lights: the girl was gorgeous. Don!

So if he weren't the type of guy who denies his feelings, he could have accepted the truth that he fell in love with her, at very first sight. Great! How cliché.

"U-uhm I'm just worried about my English test a while ago. I-I think I made a lot of mistakes."

"Oh?" An said as she straighten up and blinked for a thought.

"Forget about that! You know Mr. Hanyu; he'll probably give you some special test in case you fail. I think he'll give me one too." Kamio heard the last part as a murmur, as for the rest; it passed from ear to ear. Because seriously? He was sure he aced the test after staying up so late at night to study. That so happens when a certain permy won't let you… Aaah stop it you wrecked mind!

"If that's all you're worried about, let's start preparing for the audition! We have lots of things to work on." Kamio followed An as she stood up and went for the doorway. He was sure the girl was babbling though his mind could not grasp on what it was.

Ears on the situation, mind out for a walk.

If only he could recognize her face… it was too familiar; he knew he had seen her somewhere… the small mole on the right cheek… it was very much familiar.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"W-What?"

"Oh Sakuno didn't you hear what I said?! For the fifth time! RYOMA-SAMA IS BACK!" Tomoka shouted followed by a squeal that surely shows how thrilled she was of the comeback of their so called Prince. Eyes opened wide, Sakuno still could not decipher how to take in the situation.

A few months… it was only a few months when he left and here he is now, back onto the Land of the Rising Sun and Sakuno was too overwhelmed of his return. Weren't it was just a few days ago when she was daydreaming of the Prince? Now she can count the regulars as complete once more.

"Could you keep your voice down!? We could hear your voice even at the end of the hallway." Both girls turned their head at the intruder only to see Horio, the self-proclaimed tennis genius with 5 years of tennis experience, entered the class room with his nose in the air, breaking Tomoka's wide bubble of joy and starting off a riot.

"Well if it weren't the useless knuckle head!"

"Who are you calling knuckle head?! You blabbermistic being!"

"So now you're saying my news are blabbers!? How could you! Or perhaps you're just jealous because Ryoma-sama would surely get all the attention now that he has returned."

"Why would I-! Wait! Echizen's back?!"

It was Tomoka's turn to raise her nose in the air. Knowing almost every up to the minute news at school really is an advantage.

"Uh-huh!"

"T-tomoka. The sensei is-"

"AND YOU'RE GOING DOWN HORIO!"

"Miss Tomoka! Meet me after homeroom!"

Sakuno's warning came too late and Tomoka was nonetheless left dumfounded of the professor's voice. Her only option was to join the class as they fell silent and scampered their way to their seats, afraid to be the next victim of their teacher's morning lecture.

Their homeroom teacher, Mr. Watanabe was known for his morning oration that left a student bowled over for a couple of days, well, except for those who're not affected much (take Echizen for example). As for Tomoka, she was used to it any case.

"So for today a student, whom I know all of you already recognize, has returned after several months of… tennis tournament in another country."

Knowing the information before-hand, Sakuno was given the advantage of shock avoidance as the room was filled with whispers and chatters about who the student may be, shouting the fact that gossip flew by so fast.

"Everybody quiet!"

"…"

"As I was saying" Mr. Watanabe continued as soon as the murmurs died down. "… someone has returned for reasons I don't mind not knowing. Kindly enter, Mr. Echizen."

His voice carried the bitterness one professor would have for a hard headed student. He and Echizen really didn't have a nice history back then, Sakuno could remember. It would always be him finding Echizen sleeping, him scolding Echizen for being late, him reprimanding Echizen about tennis balls and homeroom lessons or him finding Echizen spacing out and awfully bored. So seriously, there was a reason for Mr. Watanabe to be virulent about the child.

But what can he do? As much as he wanted to kick the boy out of his homeroom class, everything was on the principal's discretion; and unfortunately, the principal was almost always in favor of the young tennis player after he had brought a great deal of recognition to Seigaku.

So here he is now standing in the front of a classroom, less than enthusiastic for the prince's return, eyes closed, a vein throbbing on his forehead and blood boiling within as the young boy with dark emerald hair opened the classroom door making the whole class (almost) squeal in delight.

Sakuno, as much as she wanted to scream and run to the prince, smiled to herself as soon as she saw those bored cat-like eyes that she had long seen before. And for now, she was content to know that he was back.

At least she could have someone to look up to again.

=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=

"A-ano Ryoma-kun… W-welcome back." Golden orbs looked to his left only to see a bento box offered to him.

For this afternoon, he had been presented with fifteen bento, all of which he had (spitefully) rejected. Bento boxes which as he could deduce was bought from a store near the campus. How he could tell? Simple, all of them had the same boxes and wrappings. How the girls bought them, he didn't want to know.

But this one, the one latest offered to him was different. There was no red cloth and black bento box but rather, it was a blue bento box wrapped with printed pink and yellow cloth. Yes, it was entirely different. And he might consider this one bento too, just this one.

He shifted his head backwards to see the one who offered the homemade bento (he was sure it was homemade) and was somewhat unsurprised to discover who it was. Why was it somewhat expectable?

"Ryuzaki." He said in a tone which made the young girl in braids raise her head from her bowing position. Her wide open orbs currently showing her surprise from the boy's call.

Watching her for a moment, he somehow analyzed the girl up front. Long auburn hair in braids, large brown orbs and stuttering voice. Obviously Ryuzaki Sakuno, their coach's granddaughter.

After confirming the fact that she was the girl he had known to cheer them on (particularly him) before, he took the neatly wrapped bento box from her shaking hands. Why was she shaking anyway? It's not as if she's onto poisoning me.

Another reason why he wouldn't accept any other bento. His senpais had warned him before that some fan girls would go as much as trying to poison, no not poison, but to a certain extent magically make them fall in love with them. It's not as if he believed in those, but it's better to make sure especially with fan girls these days becoming overly devoted to their idols.

So perhaps this one bento would be an exception, he had eaten Ryuzaki's bento before and there would be no difference with eating those again now, right? At least in case of serious food reaction, he could easily point out the culprit.

But he doubts the girl can do that. No, not Ryuzaki, she's different he could say.

"Sankyuu."

A small smile graced Sakuno's lips as the boy took the chopsticks between the neatly folded cloths and opened the bento. She didn't think he was going to accept it; in fact, she doubted giving the bento to him, especially since he had rejected the last fifteen offered to him.

The bento.

Just that morning, she had the urge to make another bento. There was really no particular reason why but the urge continued up to her bringing the other bento to school. Hers was already done with and this extra bento has nowhere else to go. Tomoka already had one and the ichinen trios buy their lunch at the school cafeteria.

So it was nearly incidental. No. Reasonably, it was really incidental that today is the Prince's return. At least she had given him a sort of welcoming gift although unplanned at the very beginning.

"Are you just going to stand there?"

"Hm?"

She watched as Echizen moved to the right of the bench, giving enough room for her on the bench to sit on. The bento resting on his lap as he munched on some Tonkatsu included on his meal.

"A-ah. Thank you."

Sakuno sat and the milieu turned too quiet for her own liking.

"How's the food?" asked Sakuno just to start a conversation. An action she immediately regretted doing. The Prince has to look at her to confirm if she had spoken and all she could do was to face the other way to avoid him seeing the creeping blush on her face.

What if he told her he didn't like it? What if he was just forcing himself to eat such a food? He's from America after all. Back where he was offered foods that are delicious enough to pass five star cuisines. All those uncertainties flooding within her along with the blush on her cheeks.

"Hmmm." Taking a peep to her right, Echizen was already taking another bite of his lunch and appeared as though he was considering the food intently. Sakuno couldn't help but flinch as she saw his eyebrows raised.

"It's edible." Another flinch.

"And… good. Better than American dish." He lastly said as he took a last full bite. Beside her is the girl that couldn't distinguish the sounds surrounding them. Her ears repeatedly hearing the praise her cooking received which came from the Prince that's as prideful as the King of Hyotei himself.

He, Echizen Ryoma well known as the Prince who just doesn't acknowledge any one, had praised a simple home-made bento prepared by a meek girl such as her. What more can the meek girl ask for?

"But Ryuuzaki is still mada mada dane." A bento box that hit her forehead brought her back to reality only to see a smirking cat eyed boy in front of her. And she couldn't shake off the fact that some things can never change.

Nope. Everything is in the way he had left them before; especially the snickering bush not far from their left.

-.-.-.-.-.-

"Thirty-Love!"

"Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!" a girl with dark green permed hair continuously hit her bright pink tennis racket along the railings of the tennis courts where she played.

"Atobe-chan, language." Riuka couldn't help but give a lazy glare and a pout to her right where Oshitari, her lecturer stood. Behind him were the boys' tennis team regulars all standing and watching them, the girls' team in all their glory.

"Isn't it wonderful to play beneath the heat of the sweltering sun, my dearest Riuka?" said her cousin Keigo standing out among them with the prodigious black umbrella above his head, held by his every obedient butler, Jim.

If her eyes were to shoot laser beams he would've been dead with the glare she was firing him.

"Why do I have to play tennis in the outside courts? I thought you said this injudicious place has inside tennis courts!" Riuka shouted, the maid on her right gently patting her forehead with a towel to dry the tiny droplets of sweat, careful not to anger the Atobe princess more.

"Ore-sama did declare that. Although, Ore-sama never stated for the inside courts to be used by commoners."

"But I'm not a commoner!" She stamped her foot on the ground as she threw tantrums, the scene played between the cousins slightly amusing the crowd.

Oh dear. Her father doesn't even let a single ray of sun beam hit her for a minute and then this cousin of hers has the resolve to do so? She just couldn't let her pride be footed.

"You-"

A cough just on his left made Atobe stop on his tracks. He was about to say how a commoner his cousin would be when compared to him but decided to let the matter go after the blue head's fair warning.

How could he almost forget the plans? To be the good guy in this kind of affair. To give the things that Riuka would like to have for the time being.

Slowly letting out a heavy breath to regain his composure, he turned to his cousin down on the court who was tapping her right foot impatiently. Somehow, he mentally patted himself for being able to give her the headache.

"Alright. Gather your belongings then."

Albeit a bit surprised, she resorted to following him with a prideful smile.

A princess needs to be treated as a princess after all.

"Kei-chan. I want to go shopping later on. I hope you won't mind?"

But a King never just spoiled a princess without a motive.

"It would never matter as long as it would make you joyous, Ore-sama's hime."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Yuu-kun!" The brown haired lad was immediately glomped before he could even turn his head. The giggling glomper bending him down further as he was too tall for her liking, her hand rubbing his short brown hair to give him the noogie.

"That hurts Nana-chan." He managed to pull away slowly as the girl finally let him go. Her giggles could beat the softness of a chime and with the matching lack of height, most had mistaken her as an elementary student if not for the St. Rudolph middle school uniform she wore.

"Nana-chan, you really should learn how to greet a person a properly." Yuuta bent down to reach her almond colored eyes and he couldn't help but feel like a father reprimanding a daughter which earns him a blush before standing up suitably.

"But you're so serious you didn't even hear me calling you for a minute already!" Another layer of pink covered his cheeks finding out just how spacious his mind had been for a while now.

"Am not! I was-"

"Neeeh." His short companion drawled out as she slowly moved closer. "Are you skipping tennis practice again?"

His eyes could've bulged out by his eyes and it only made the little one in front of him laugh again in a chime.

"NO! W-what makes you think that way? Tch. I-I was just… hungry." He tried to look to the left, suddenly finding the worn out lamp post very, very, very interesting.

"I always wonder how come you never learn how to lie so well Yuu-kun. That was just so funny." She wiped the tears she shed on laughing before asking him the dreaded question he was trying hard to avoid for the entire week.

"But seriously Yuu-kun, what's out there that you're willing to sacrifice practice with? Or do you really just enjoy polishing Mizuki-senpai's shoes?" She once again couldn't help the giggle that escaped her lips at the last statement. Finding out the reason why Yuuta was less blissful to play tennis by noticing Mizuki's polished shoes made her guts blow for three days straight.

"I don't enjoy polishing his shoes." Yuuta groaned, remembering how he had to stay up and be smeared with shoe polish all over just because of a demanding lassie. It was a nightmare. A very bad nightmare.

Suddenly being brought back as to why he had to escape practice again, he tried to think of the recent situation. What's the use of hiding the condition anyway? Someone's bound to find it out sooner or later, so why not save the long torturous explanation? And somehow, he needed to let out all these emotions that kept on confusing him like hell.

"But it's just that there's-… My friend had-…. You see she's-…. Audition-. I'll sing-."

Ring ring! Ring ring!

He rapidly took the phone off his school pants pocket to see the intruder.

Calling… Yuuki .

"Oh great she's calling. Nice timing." He groaned. "Nana-chan I need to go." Yuuta put the phone back where it belonged and patted the head of the small girl in front of him, not really caring at the still ringing phone at his pants pocket. She will lecture him anyhow later on, mind as well save the ears for now.

"H-hey. You haven't told me anything yet!" She shouted the last part as the boy was already running towards the school gate to exit the campus.

"Bye Nana-chan! Promise I'll tell you about it someday." Shaking her head, she could only think of how her friend had been acting rather strangely since his last punishment for skipping tennis' practice.

Always on deep frown as if contemplating something profound. Text too much even on tennis practice. Even sing when he was alone in the tennis club room which was the strangest to happen above all.

So she was sure the guy is hiding something more than having a fluffy pet bunny on his house. And she, Yukihara Konan will make sure to know what it was.

She wasn't labeled as 'The Stalker' for nothing.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Hey Maii! Care to toss some of those tennis balls?" Maii gave a full out glare to the silver headed caller before tossing the neon ball straight to his face which he easily caught anyhow. Figures.

"Careful. You can't ruin this ideal look."

"Come on Niou. Spare the PMS-ing girl a nuisance." Another glare towards the pink haired bubble gum freak on the other side of the courts.

"Marui I think you're making Maii-chan worse." Came from the volley specialist's partner Jackal who was trying his hardest to cool off the growing hostility between Yukimura Maii and his provoking team mates. Because these guys would surely face their death beds sooner if they don't stop.

"There's nothing you can do about their childishness Jackal. Spare the effort." The gentleman, Yagyuu said as he served the neon ball towards their opponent, Marui and Jackal, to start off a rally.

"Yukimura, perhaps you could let her off now." said Sanada as soon as approaching the well renowned captain for whose smile was still present. He had been observing the whole team including the girl on flame sitting on the tennis benches at a fair distance.

How he could risk his sanity for such a team, he never knew.

"88.56 percent chance he won't listen... "

"I can't just do that Sanada, especially now that I'm quite sure she's up to something wayward."

"…as proven now." Continued the data man Yanagi Renji the moment the captain ended his statement.

An exasperated sigh was Sanada could give at how Seiichi childishly yet protectively treats his younger sister. At a single glance, it would seem as the likeable protectiveness a brother gives to a sibling, though the problem would be the obvious repellant of the other party in the situation.

This small demise between them could cause a serious trouble if it continued on, Sanada deduced. With Yukimura Seiichi as the captain of the Rikkai tennis team and his sister being the troublemaker (in addition to the previous members the team handles), surely the team would be affected. Maybe not directly, but it would still be disturbed. And he, Sanada Genichirou would risk his life just to keep this team in line.

"If you hold her here any longer, you'll be straining the insecure relationship between the two of you."

"83 percent that three minutes of lingering here would make Maii realize how appalling being Seiichi's sister."

A vein throbbed on capped boy's forehead. What was his vow again? Ahhh. Yes. He, Sanada Genichirou must do his best to avoid the demise getting worse. And that would include educating his team mates a little bit of sanity.

"But to consent her to leave, wouldn't that seem being an irresponsible brother specifically when knowing she's up to no good?"

"73 percent she'll be doing something startling. 10 percent she'll be meeting with a friend as shown with how attentive she is of the time and 17 percent she'll be doing both."

Seiichi. Just how naïve is he when it comes to sibling-ship?

What a headline. He, the well-known Child of God in the tennis domain is as simple minded as a child is when it comes to overseeing a younger sister. But Sanada could not blame the captain at all. The Yukimura siblings had been away from each other for years and the only connection between them is his seldom visits to lass at Seigaku which only includes her glaring and the captain smiling mysteriously between their cups of ice cream. And in totality, that took only 3 to 7 minutes of their time.

So surely, the older Yukimura really had no idea how to babysit a sister, a rebel sister nonetheless.

"Yukimura, your sister is a middle school student; not a kindergarten that needs tending ever so often. Besides, what makes you think she'll do badly?"

"The… music sheets on her room."

"What does-. Wait. Mu… sic sheets!?" If not for the black hat that fairly hid his face, Yukimura may be seeing one of the best things this world has to offer.

Sanada: Caught Off Guard

Yukimura wasn't really surprised of his reaction (same goes to Renji's normal reaction of scribbling important information on his data book). Music sheets, Sanada was so sure, were the last thing he would hear Seiichi say. But here he is, hearing Seiichi say ever so calmly the word he spitefully cursed on his entire life.

Music…

Aaah. Seiichi hasn't heard and said that in a while that the word became so foreign. If not for a genealogical sister, the word may have never been revived on his hears. How come he never saw that coming? This girl, Yukimura Maii, his sister, is bound to give him troubles he never guessed to come.

Quite unexpected though, she came from 'her' anyway.

"I-I… " Sanada didn't know how to respond. Would he apologize? Would he tell him to just bear with it? Or would he tell him to stop the young lass? He didn't know anymore.

"93 percent she's about to blow her top."

"Colorful words Renji." Was Seiichi's last comment before a smaller and more girly version of him stood up front shining in armor-like confidence.

"Seiichi, I don't care if you stop me or strangle me or tie me or reprimand me or whatever but I'm leaving this place. Now." The last word being said on gritted teeth as Maii glared heatedly on her supposed to be brother.

Seriously, there has to be a sort of genetically unruly hitch when it comes to them being siblings. One cannot just be proclaimed as one by having the same parents, genes and appearance. Sibling relationships should be put into question as well. For not all siblings could attain such a relationship.

"Maii why don't you get your things ready. We're heading home-"

"NO!"

Clattering of tennis rackets, neon ball falling limply on the courts, heads turning, and a broken pencil, just a few of the scenes shouting how tense the environment has fallen.

If Yukimura Maii was known as the constantly protected sister, she was also known as the non-defying one. None in the Rikkai Dai Fuzoku, except for the tennis team, had known of the sibling conflict. Not with the sister always following the older, but unfortunately the younger one was ready to bellow how imperfect their sibling-ship is.

"I'm sick of this Seiichi! Sick of you always ordering me around. Sick of you protecting me as if I would ruin your reputation any second. I never wanted to be here anyways. But since you and your double-talk dad wouldn't let me get back to mom here's what I'll say; you can keep your gibberish reputation, your damn miracle or your freaking talent. However, LET ME KEEP MY DAMNED LIFE!"

If Seiichi was astonished or hurt of what the younger had said, he had kept his emotions well. His eyes never left the running figure towards the gate. Even after hearing the loud clatter of the slammed tennis gates above the deafening silence, he never flinched.

They had this argument for the umpteenth time; he was used to it. Every day. Every time he reprimanded her. Every moment she disobey he and his father's orders. Every night she gets home late.

The looping argument never ends. The only difference would be is that those were always hidden in the scrutinizing eyes of others. No. Not of the regulars'. They had seen the rampage of the little Yukimura every now and then.

But the eyes that surrounds them, waiting to find any notches on their perfection. The eyes that were only meant to see but never to feel what's within. And now that those eyes had found their most awaited fissures, the whole Rikkai would surely run riot tomorrow morning without even knowing what's true, what's faux, and what aches.

The rampage may have state what's seen by those eyes. But it would never state what the tennis regulars had caught sight as they watch the Child of God's smile grow wider.

For there, behind the spreading smile is a lie. A lie that even they can't amend. It was after all, a faux smile.

-.-.-.-.-.-

Fuji Yuuta rested his head on the metal lamp post he rest behind. Half an hour had passed and she showed no sign. Somehow, he repented not answering her calls for now he found no way to contact her. The girl had turned her phone off again.

What's the use of having a phone if she keeps turning it off? He thought as he let out yet another sigh from his lips. He might as well keep his time worthwhile and practice those tunes he still can't get a hang off.

Humming the tunes and being too consumed, he almost missed the bus that was approaching the station he was waiting in.

The third bus to arrive. Perhaps he'll be lucky and finally see her get off this bus.

Taking a few steps back, Yuuta tried to peer inside the bus through the windows, trying to make out the people within. Though a bit crowded, the faces of the riders weren't that hard to see.

It really wasn't that hard as he looked at every face scrambling their way to get off the lorry, immdeiatly shrugging them off as soon as he found them unfamiliar.

Big guy, curly hair. Nope.

Middle aged business woman in pink suit? Nope.

An old lady in auburn hair… Not her.

Sleeping guy in curly black hair and yellow and black tennis jersey… Now that caught him off guard.

Yuuta tried to blink his eyes rapidly, checking if everything was hallucination from starvation. But the curly hair remained to no avail and he, Fuji Yuuta found his lips uttering his name.

"Ki-Kirihara Akaya?"

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Kyaaaah! Ryoma-sama! Fight fight fight!"

"Ryoma-sama's comeback is so cool!"

"Ryoma-kun you're still the best! Kyaaaah!"

"Aaah. Isn't it nice to be back, Echizen?" Momoshiro glomped the still small freshmen of the team as he put him into a headlock.

"O-chibii! We missed practice with you so much!" Kikumaru Eiji just added to the weight the poor freshman has to bear as the acrobatic player glomped on the other side of the prince. Someday, he'll find a way to blame these guys for his height development.

"Saa. It really is amusing practicing with a louder audience again. Thanks to Echizen's fans. Isn't that right Taka-san?"

"ECHIZEN BURNIIING! Now that you're back I'll treat everyone dinner at the Sushi shop!"

"Wohoo! Another free dinner!"

"Yay! Yay! Yay!" and Echizen only found himself being carried up and down as the two most energetic players of Seigaku jumped into rhythm of their cheers.

"Now now, I'm sure Echizen here would like a rest first. After all, he just got back yesterday. He's probably facing jetlag."

"Oishii! Don't be such a worry wart! It had been a long time since we had been with our precious Ochibii!"

"Eiji-senpai that hurts."

"Possibility of Echizen rebuffing the welcome party: 64 percent."

"Waaah! Inui-senpai! Would you stop popping in and out of nowhere!? You almost gave me a heart attack."

"It's because you're a chicken!"

"WHAT'S THAT MAMUSHI!"

"Oi! Stop you two! Taka-san I need help-"

"BURNING! See all of them celebrating for you Echizen!"

"Saa… Now this is just an amusing scene to view. Isn't it, Tezuka?"

"Momoshiro and Kaidou! 30 laps around the court!"

"EEEH?!"

"But buchou-!"

"40 LAPS!"

Months.

Only months had passed. How could he expect changes to occur in only a series of months? Especially when he had these idiotic members as senpais. Though he would never say that to his captain or to Fuji or to anybody sane enough to tell it to them (he would have his head cut by then before they do).

Echizen Ryoma perhaps would never admit it. But he was glad to back. Back to where he could call his second home, a second family aside from his pervert of a father and a buffoon of a brother.

Seigaku tennis team would always worm itself in him. The habitual glomping of a red head, the endless riot of two senpais, the natural worrying of a mother hen, the deafening shout of burning power, the popping out of a spiky haired data man, the chilling statements of a sadist no-eyes, man even the booming laps the captain would punish them.

Echizen possibly had laughed or smirked if he didn't notice the miniscule change that befell.

The change was so miniscule he almost failed to notice. Change. He thought it didn't occur. But being gifted with those sharp eyes had its pros.

And somehow, he wished he hadn't notice at all. For now, he was bombarded with the emotion that followed.

An emotion so foreign yet familiar. He had felt it once, no twice and towards the same person. And up until now, he can't get himself get used to it.

He once again looked at the miniscule of change that hides behind the mask of glee.

For there, right beside the ecstatic pigtailed Tomoka, was the empty space he was used to spotting taken on his every match. A braided cheerleader is missing.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Number 56 please!"

Shouted a weary Tachibana An as she crossed out yet another name on the audition list. She could only shake her head when the two beside her let an exasperated sigh.

"An-chan we're running out of participants." Kamio slumped on his mono-block chair set up on a secluded part of the park where the audition was being held.

"I think we should consider the previous-"

"No. I told you Kamio. We're not going to share what's supposed to be for the orphanage. If they can't do charitable work then their out of the list!"

An was being so beat up with this. How could some people be so selfish? Can't they understand that being charitable meant sacrificing what they have just for the others without gaining even a single cent? But no. They insist to have a share on the winnings, a fraction of it.

"But An by doing this, we may not be able to find members and that would only meant giving nothing at all to the orphanage."

Kamio as well, was totally spent with the whole audition. Four hours. Four tormenting hours and still counting yet they found none. None was willing to enter their team after finding out that every single cent would be poured down to the orphanage.

How could An be so stupid to think that someone other than her would be eager enough to furnish their talent and gain nothing? Well, there goes Ryuzaki; but she's a different case. The girl was abnormally too nice, he could say.

As for him, he's just here to assist An who is entrusted to him by Kippei. Nothing more, nothing less. Helping the orphanage was just the topping above the cake. Something to avert his boredom while he do what he's supposed to do.

"I'm sure we'll find someone. We still have a lot of participants. Don't lose hope An-san, Kamio-kun." The both of them turned to the braided girl. Now Kamio was so sure. The girl is exceptionally and abnormally nice for her own sake.

"Ok." Kamio said. "Let's end this audition. Now, why isn't the next one in the center yet?"

"Who on their factual diminutive mind would stop an Atobe?! Bestow me a way you horrid one."

The trio looked up from the audition sheets as a commotion took place on the area where the other participants wait. "Who was that?"

There behind a few numbers of trees, An could make out the crowd looking behind them to where the other participants began making a path to whoever was coming. It was blurry but a dark green permed hair together with three tall and built looking man was somehow to be the root of the uproar.

"I wonder what's going on." Kamio said on his right as he spun a mechanical pencil in between his fingers. A mannerism he possess whenever his curiosity was piqued.

"Do you think we should intervene, An-san?" came from Sakuno whom An soothingly shushed as the culprit of commotion started to get nearer. Kamio's pen slowly spun faster and An's inquisitiveness mounting higher. Sakuno could only swallow a lump on her throat at the sudden change in atmosphere.

This person, whoever may be sure knows how to do his or her grand entrance. Just like that person in Hyo-

"Who dared to not apprise the Atobe princess of this ordeal?! It is every princess' calling to welcome any gala."

And Kamio's pen spun so reckless that it fell onto the table with a soft thud. And though he could never question why, his heart seemed to continue the sound of the fallen pen in a much hastier pace.

Thud thud… Thud thud… Thud thud… For there, standing all too assertively, the source of his sleepless nights and unwitting daydreaming. Then the butterflies fluttered oh-so happily…

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

An heard it all. The proclamation of a challenge. The name that marks her attitude and confidence. And the sound of Kamio's pen hitting the table. But even before she could turn her head to see Kamio's wide open eye, new arrivals hard-pressed them towards bewilderment.

"Sorry we're late! Fuji Yuuta and Yukimura Maii. Number 56. At your service!"

"Atobe-san! I told you not to run off again!"

"Now tell me Yukimura-chan! What are you doing with him!?"

Astonishment. Surprise. Wonder. What more is there to describe the expression evident on the three judges' faces as they stare at the scene, or rather who was in front of them.

The self-proclaimed buoyant princess of the Atobe family guarded by three men in black suit.

Fuji Yuuta held by a blue haired girl that appeared to look like the girl version of Yukimura Seiichi of Rikkai (not to mention the family name which was the same)

A panting Choutarou Ootori bent over to catch his breath.

And a black haired perm boy in yellow and black tennis jersey pointing an accusing finger to the Fuji boy, Kirihara Akaya.

What a nice scene to make secrets go out of hand!

And done! It took me years to write this. That so happens when my brain function. Sorry for the long wait! It may take a long time before I updated, but I'll be editing the first few chapters. I find them lacking things I want to put in my story.

Thank you for the read. I really hope you'll have time to review!

I'm off!