Bribe me

By Jerui

Author's note: Thank you for those who reviewed, added this story to their alert settings and those who added this story to their favorite list. I appreciate the feedback. I'm more or less a newbie in writing although I have been a member in fanfiction for almost 5 years. So I hope I meet your expectations. I also hope you get the perspective without me adding whose point of view was used. I really can't bear marking it because the format will be sort of bothering me.

Have you watched the New Prince of tennis episode 8? I rolled on the floor laughing when Echizen and Kenya did the "Ina Bauer" move. Ha ha.

I might make the next chapter on a single perspective but I haven't decided yet whose view I will use.

This is the next chapter. And it will be longer than 1000 words. heh.

Chapter 1 Exams

"Echizen!"

I looked back. It was a reflex whenever someone calls anybody's name, right?

But I regretted it when I saw who it was who called out.

"Morning, Echizen!"

I should've known it was that Satoshi Horio. I'll remember his voice next time.

Horio is a blabber mouth. He talks about his personal experiences every time he talks to me. Behind him were his other friends, Katsuo Mizuno at Kachiro Kato. I like them more because they don't see the need to fill each silence with talk.

They caught up to me. They were chatting but I tuned them out and gazed ahead.

"Echizen-kun, have you reviewed for the exam on English?" Kato asked. I just yawned and then 'hn'-ed.

"English is too difficult. I wish I pass this exam," Mizuno thought aloud.

Our homeroom teacher never informed them that I came from America. I personally think it would hurt their pride if their student knows more than they do. I do have advanced studies when I was in America, and being a native English speaker and fluent in Nihonggo, I have the advantage when it comes to studying (though I have this huge problem with history.) I never told them either on the first day of class and I now thought that it was the right choice. I can't bear to think how much letters I would receive if they knew I'm a dual citizen. Probably they would think I'm good at everything.

We arrived on the gates. I sensed those stares I received but ignored them. It was a disaster when I looked at one of them on my first week. And that person (a girl) fainted.

I pushed the thought away.

Today was the first day of midterm exams. I just remembered. So that's why I bumped into Horio and his gang this morning; they have no tennis practice. I have watched these three on the window during my library duties (I was punished for sleeping in class). I guess Horio's blabber about his five years tennis experience was a joke. Mizuno and Kato seemed to be working hard. But still, they have lots more to work on. I find the other regulars interesting, but not exciting enough to make me join the club. I didn't even go to the club orientations.

As we arrived on the shoe racks, I yawned but it turned to a sigh when I noticed two pink letters on top of my shoes. Horio peeked on my side and said "Lucky you Echizen, you aren't even on any club and you have admirers that much who confess to you every single day….." Yeah, another lucky decision I made, not joining the tennis club. Might as well stay inconspicuous and make my life peaceful.

I pocketed the letters and then I placed my sneakers on the shoe rack, wore the indoor shoes and then headed straight to the classrooms without waiting for the trio. I'll deal with the confessions later and I have to review history if I wish to pass the wearisome subject. I wish I took the Japanese history subject back when I was in America.

I gave out a long sigh.

Everybody was babbling. The door at the back of the class opened and the girls silenced at once. I need not look who came but I still did. It was Ryoma Echizen. Oh how charismatic is he really?

As I stared, our eyes met for a second. I blushed and averted my gaze. What a weird feeling, watching those golden eyes gave me a jolt. Maybe that's why girls liked him; it's one of those mysterious qualities. It was like the sensation the third year tennis prodigy Syuusuke Fuji-senpai's electric blue eyes gave me when we first made eye contact. But rather than shock, those blue eyes gave me a shiver.

I read my English notes again and scratched my chin. I wish I know someone who can explain this foreign language to me.

We are sitting alphabetically today. And Echizen was in front row. He was reading something. Was it the English notes? That's what people get when they sleep in class.

The homeroom teacher arrived and asked us to keep our notebook, book or any reference materials away. This is going to be a long day.

…

It was now the English test and it started 15 minutes ago. And then I heard an audible thump.

I looked up just to see Ryoma Echizen stooped over his desk, his head on his arms. He's sleeping again! I screamed internally. Just how unreasonable can he get? And why was it always English when he sleeps in?

The teacher approached him patted his arm and asked in a normal voice "Echizen-kun, are you done?"

He woke up, looked at Haruka-sensei, handed his answer sheet over and went back to sleep. My jaw dropped. I must have completely looked like an idiot.

"What? Echizen's done?" Horio-kun stated rather loudly.

Everybody groaned, including me.

When I came to, the exams are over.

I was still bending forward over my desk, when Horio slammed both of his hands on my desk.

"What?" I asked groggily, lifting my head a bit, only my right eye open.

"How did you manage to finish English that fast!" he asked threateningly, his face too close.

"America," I muttered inaudibly, burying my face on my arms over my desk again.

"WHAT did you say?"

"Stop that Horio-kun," a female voice appealed.

I straightened up, stretched and then leaned on the back of my chair. I scratched my forehead and yawned widely. I thought I heard the word cute but I tuned the chattering out and tried concentrated on what to say. "I'm an American citizen, so move away and I'll take my leave." I said all that in English.

I need to get home to practice. There's a singles competition coming up after this week. I stood up, grabbing my bag on the process, leaving a flabbergasted Horio behind.

I heard Mizuno asked "What did he say?" and Kato answering him with a "Who knows".

"It's English!" Horio shrieked.

Mada mada dane.

…

The Monday next week, when I came to school I was greeted by a group of girls with thick foundation and strong perfumes. They crowded in the lockers, and I passed by them, changing my shoes.

"Good Morning Echizen-kun, congratulations!"

"You topped the exams Echizen-kun!"

"Yeah! Congrats!"

Yeah,yeah. I thanked them back without a glance. Doing that would have given them false hope. I've read that on Nanako's magazine once when it was summer. How to avoid misunderstandings with the girls. Great article, very helpful.

Uhg.

"Sakuno, look! Ryoma-sama got the first place! By the way, congrats on taking the second place! Kyaaaa~"

Tomoka was literally jumping happily, her face red from excitement. The top 50 students list of our year was posted on the bulletin. And I got the second place. Ugh.

Damn that Ryoma Echizen. How come he was the first? I can't believe this.

…

Homeroom started. And class duties for this week were handed out.

"Ryuuzaki, Echizen. This week's yours."

And now I'm panicking. This week is crucial for the tennis practice of the team. And I can't think straight because a certain someone had the highest grade even though he sleeps in class. How horrible can life get? I raised my hand and to my surprise, so did Echizen.

"Yes Ryuuzaki?" Haruka-sensei asked.

I stood up. "Sensei, I can't do the duty for this week. The tennis team will be participating on the district tournaments. I have to go help them on their practice."

"I see. What about you Echizen?"

"Haruka-san, can I talk to you after class? I also can't do the duties for this week. I was on an errand for this week. Something personal."

Everyone was looking at him. And I too was looking. If I know better, he's a geek, studying all night, not having a life. It's too good to be true if he both have the looks and the brains. But he's too mysterious so it might be impossible to prove my assumptions.

"Alright. See you at the faculty at the end of the class. Both of you will do the duties next week. I give this week then to Andou and Uehara. Stand, bow."

The next week, I found out how very wrong I was about him.

To be continued.