Masquerade's Fate Chapter 2: The Arrival (part 2), a prince of tennis fanfic

Key -
.

"Thanks (ありがとう)" = "Thanks = in English (ありがとう) = in Japanese

{ - " Thanks. " - } = Phone call

[Thanks] = Typing

'Thanks' = background song

XxX = Change scenes in Flashback

Masquerade's Fate

Genius 1 - The Arrival
- Part 2

Ritsuka stood in front of a school's gates, reading the name on the sign. "Seigaku High, Boarding school, huh?" Ritsuka looked back at the gate and then at the school beyond it. Without so much as backing an eyelash, Ritsuka walked through the gate. As she walked down the pavement, Ritsuka looked at the people around her. The boys were wearing a white dress shirt and striped tie, with a navy blazer over it, while the girls had a very similar outfit. The only difference between their uniforms was that the boys' had pants and the girls were wearing a modus length skirt. 'Odd, I excepted it to be cuter.'

Ritsuka then drew her eyes to the land she was stepping on. The grass wasn't that green, but there were lots of pink-colored trees. The flower beds have very small flowers, that people had no problem using as a trashcan if they were not littering everywhere else. And the main building in front of her was an old looking building that was three-story tall. On the roof, Ritsuka could see a fence surrounding that area. 'So this is the school my old man went to... It's nothing compared to Hyotei! ... sigh... If only I could go there.'

Two really pretty girls walked down the hallway, towards the main exit. One of them had long, straight black hair and the other had curly brown hair. The only difference between the uniform they were wearing was that the girl with the black hair had on a strip gold-colored bow and the girl with the brown hair was wearing a purple, gray, and teel one. "You got to transfer to ATAP, Nikki-chan. Then I'll have someone to talk to," the girl with the black hair begged.

"I don't know, Chizuru-chan," Nikki, the girl with the brown hair, put on a worried look, "I don't think it would be the right fit for me."

"But, Nikki-chan...!" Chizuru, the girl with the black hair, reached for the exit door and was about to pulled it opened when someone on the other side pushed it. The moment when the door opened, the school bag that Chizuru was holding fell to the ground. "HEY...!"

"Hmm?" Ritsuka, the person walking in, looked down at Chizuru.

"Watch where you're going!" Chizuru barked.

"Why?"

...

Chizuru got to her feet and stood by Nikki's side, looking at Ritsuka. "Sorry, but what was that?" Chizuru narrowed her eyes at Ritsuka.

"I asked why should I watch where I'm going when I was just opening the door and trying to get in?"

Nikki pouted, "You could at least say you're sorry."

Ritsuka turned her head to faced the girl with the brown hair, "But why? It wouldn't be right for me to say that I'm sorry."

"..." Nikki bit her lip.

"How I see it, a person should only ever apologize when they feel sorry, and the fact of the matter is that I don't."

"... But it's still rude not to!" Nikki leaned forward.

"And lying would be so much better, how?" Ritsuka widened her eyes.

"But you're not ly-"

"If I'm not mistaken," Ritsuka walked over to the side and looked at the space between the girls and the door, "You were trying to open the door from one end, but I was trying to open it from the other, right?" Ritsuka looked at Chizuru.

Chizuru nodded.

"And because the door open inwards, and not outwards, you're bag ended up being knock down, right?"

Again, Chizuru nodded.

"So why should I apologize when it's not my fault, but fate and the door's fault because the only way to open it is to push it inwards?"

"..."

"Plus, if the rule had been reversed, I would never accept an apology from you, because you have nothing to feel sorry for."

Both girls stared at Ritsuka, not knowing what to say anymore.

After a few moments of silence, Ritsuka continued her walk, leaving the girls.

...

"Who was that?" Nikki suddenly asked.

"Don't know, but she sure doesn't act like a Japanese," Chizuru answered, with her arms hugging her bookbag.

Ritsuka stood in front a door, with a sign to the side that read - Headmaster's office. She took out her phone, and read the time on it. 4:02. 'Well, aren't I a lucky one.' She knocked on the door.

"Yes, come it." answered the man, on the other side.

Ritsuka opened the door and stepped inside, closing the door behind her.

The man, in the armchair, looked up, "Oh, is there anything I could help you with?"

"Pardon, but I'm Ritsuka Echizen. I have a meeting with you at 4:00."

"Really?" the man looked at his computer and type something up. "Yes... Yes, you are on here, Echizen-san."

' '-san'? What does that mean?'

"You're just on time. Please, have a seat," the man offered a hand, towards the seat, across from him.

Ritsuka did as the principal suggested, and took a seat, putting her bag and guitar on the floor.

The man got out of his seat and went for the filling-cabinet. Instead of opening one of the dressers, as Ritsuka expected him to do, the principal grab a file from the top of it, and then went back to his seat. He took one look at it and then smiled, "I have to say, I'm very impressed with your record, Echizen-san. It's not every day, that someone of your caliber shows up at our school."

"Really?" Ritsuka didn't sound surprised, nor did she wanted to answer, but knew that the only way to get this conversation over with is to give short answers that show that she is paying attention.

"Yes, it's all very impressive." the man chuckled, "You have an IQ of over 200, you're always in the top of your classes, you speak more than one languishes, and... it just so happen that you skip a few grades. Not to mention that you got a full scholarship so that you could attend our Seigaku," the man looked up at Ritsuka, "But according to this, it said that you have a bit of a habit of skipping classes and being late for them. Because of that, you were held back many years. Is that true?"

"Yes," Ritsuka shot the man an I-don't-care face.

The headmaster widened his eyes. He was not expecting such a blunt answered, "Ah... umm... It also said here that you used to be a student a Hyotei Academy, one of our rival schools; is that true?"

"Umm," Ritsuka nodded, "Hyotei was the name of the elementary and middle school I went to. I didn't want to say in one country, so I decided to become a National Student and study in Hyotei's sister schools, across the world "

"Ah, yes. Just double checking," he waved the file in the air, before dropping his smile and asking, "Oh, and I have been wondering, but why are you going to Seigaku when you have been attending Hyotei for so long? Oh...! But don't get me wrong, we are more than thrilled to have such a gifted prodigy attention our school, but really... why?"

Ritsuka blinked, "Simple, it's because my old man decided to transfer me at the last minute, against my wishes."

"Ah," the principal was whether quite disappointed and surprised to hear that, "I- Is that the only rest why?"

"Umm," Ritsuka gave a firm nod as she continued to stare at the principal with that same, emotionless face.

"So what you're telling me that you have no interested in my school, what-so-ever?" all happiness from the man's voice vanished and he made a serious face.

"Yes," Ritsuka crossed her leg.

"And if it wasn't for your father, you would be in Hyotei?"

"Yes."

"I see," the Headmaster looked down at the file again, "Then I guess it's a shame that you can't leave Seigaku."

Ritsuka tilted her head, "And why not? I'm only going to be here for a few months at most."

"You can't go because I need to accept your transfer form," he smiled at Ritsuka, "So without me, you're not leaving."

Ritsuka crossed her arms, "And why, might I ask, are you so dead set on making me stay. Wouldn't it be better for you if I were to go? After all, I'm not a team player."

The man chuckled, "Echizen-san, there are so many things that you need to learn about Japan before you should ask such a thing. Really, do you know how had Seigaku would look if I were to let such a gifted mind go to our rival school?" the man leaned forward, "So please, let's try to be friends."

Ritsuka smiled sweetly, "You're right."

"Good~!" The man leaned back, "I'm so glad that you-"

"I don't know much about Japan, yet, so let me ask you. If I were to get myself in so much trouble that you would have no other chose but to kick me out, what would have then?"

"..."

Ritsuka smirked, leaning forward, "Wouldn't it be bad for Seigaku if something were to ruin its name?"

"..." The name forced a firm smiled and shock a piece of paper in front of him, "Would you like to see your schedule, Exchien-san?"

Ritsuka backed her eyelashes, "Love to~!" and took the paper.

Seigaku's student Echizen Ritsuka's schedule

Gender - F *** Grade - 10th *** Birthday - Dec. 24, 1998 *** Dorm Room - C-09

Breakfast | 7:00-8:20

1 | Mathematics | 8:30-9:25 1-A
2 | Science | 9:35-10:25 1-A
3 | Japanese History | 10:35-11:25 1-A
4 | Japanese | 11:35-12:30 1-A

Lunch | 12:30-1:10
Clean up | 1:10-1:30

Dinner | 5:40-7:10

Lights off | 10:30

'Lucky... a 10 minutes transition between classes, AND 10 extra minutes for lunch. Now, why couldn't schools in America have this!?' Ritsuka gave the piece of paper one final looked, before looking up at the principal, "I got a few question. Is that alright?"

"Oh...! But, of course," the man smiled, putting his hands into his lap.

"First: Am I correct to assume that today's navy?

"... Yes, you are right. Today's navy and tomorrow's ivory. The days sort of-"

"Second: when it said that dinner is between 5:40 and 7:10, does that mean that I can only eat dinner between that two time?"

"... Oh, no. Common mistake, but no. That time is when the students, teachers, and staff are allowed to eat the school's food. The same can be said for lunch and breakfast. Anything else?"

"Yes. Third: am I allowed to make my own dinner, on school grounds?"

"No. But you can make it at your parents' place."

"I can live with that."

"That's the last one?" the smile on the man's face grew.

"No. Fourth: Is it mandatory for me to live on school grounds."

"Oh, you wish to live with your parents."

"More or less." 'Ha! No, like I would ever. I'm going to find my own place in the city to live. Maybe a hotel.'

"So are you planning to live by yourself?"

"But aren't I too young to do that?" 'Damn it. I need to play be cards right.'

"Not at all," the man chuckled, "It's not common, but it's possible for teens your age to live by themselves." (1)

"Oh..." Ritsuka widened her eyes slightly. 'Maybe Japanese isn't that bad.'

"But please don't get Japanese confuse with what you see one anime and mangas." (2)

Ritsuka blinked, "I don't read comics or watch cartoons."

"..." the man widened his eyes, "Seriously?"

"Yes. Especially the ones from Japan~!"

"Ah!" the man laughed. 'What a brat!' "... Oh, almost forgot," the headmaster got out of his seat and made his way towards a box - on the ground - and pick it up, "Here." he then walk back to this desk, and place the box on it, in front of Ritsuka, "These are your school uniform, along with your student-handbook and bookbag," he smiled.

Ritsuka got up and open the box. The first thing that she saw, was a little paper book, with the school's symbol - on the front cover. Ritsuka picked it up, and quickly took a glimpse through the pages. Afterwards, she put it to the side. Once Ritsuka did that, she saw, inside the box, a navy blazer - inside of a see-through bag, and a little bag - filled with ribbons - on top of it. Ritsuka pick up the bag and asked, "What's this?"

"That, there, is your school's neck tie/bow," he chuckled.

Ritsuka chewed the inside of her cheek, again, "... I remember seeing many students wearing a different color tie, though."

"That's because they are not Transfer Students."

Ritsuka looked up at him, "'Transfer-Student's'?"

"Ah... Here," the principal pick up the handbook and open to a page, "Here, read this," he handed it to Ritsuka.

Ritsuka placed the bag, back inside the box, and took the book. When she did, Ritsuka saw a little picture of a couple of animated students wearing the school's uniform, 'How come the uniforms look betting in cartoons? They're really sending the wrong message to people.' Ritsuka then turned her head to the page, on the left side. She started reading what on it, out loud, " 'Students are to wear the colors via ties/bows/etc as demonstrated below.' " Ritsuka looked at the colors below, "Black, dark-red, and dark-purple are for 3rd years. Gold, golden-brown, and orange are for 2nd years. Regular purple, gray, and aqua are for 1st years. Green, light-pink, and white are for Transfer-Students. And Exchange Students' color are red, yellow, and purplish-blue." 'Okay... what?' Ritsuka looked at the headmaster, "... So the student-body is separated?" she tilted her head.

"Yes," he nodded, "I know it may be a bit different from schools in America, but... well..." the man strung, "Every school's different and Japan have some very interesting rules."

Ritsuka merely nodded, before putting it back down, and getting the blazer bag out. "Do you think it's okay if I open one?"

"Oh... by all means. Please."

"Thanks, (ありがとう)" Ritsuka opened the bag and pulled out her new uniform. At first, she was a bit surprised to find out that it was a bit big, but her half smile completely dropped when she found a part of pants. "... There seems to be a mix-up," Ritsuka looked back at the man. To her surprise, the man looked puzzled as well.

"That shouldn't be right," he stared, taken the uniform from Ritsuka. He examined it, before digging through the rest of Ritsuka's clothes, inside the box, "T-This isn't right...!" the man looked at Ritsuka, straight in the eye, "It seems that you have to get new uniforms."

'No kidding.' "When will it get here?"

"I'm sorry, but you have to get it at a store."

Ritsuka widened her eyes slightly, "Really. Which story?" 'Shouldn't the school deal with this? It's their fault!'

"This one," the Headmaster wrote something down on a piece of paper and hand it to Ritsuka, which she took, "But until you get your uniform, you would have to wear the boys' one for a while."

Ritsuka maintains her stone face, "It's fine," she then strung her shoulders.

"Ah...! That's the spirit. Now, if that's all, I subject that you get to your dorm room. All that you'll be needing to know, is in that handbook and on your schedule. So get going~ But one more thing..."

"What is it?"

"You need to wash the dye out of your hair. We have rules against different hair color."

'Great, I'm in one of those kinds of schools.' "Thanks, (ありがとう)" Ritsuka turned on her heel and walking out of the door, with the box in her arms, her guitar on her back, and her bag on top of the box.

Ritsuka looked to her left and then to her right. She sighed, "Okay, now where's the girls' dorm," Ritsuka started bouncing on her tippy-toes, again. 'Maybe I should ask for direction...' Ritsuka eyes landed on a boy, around her age, with short, black, spiky hair, who was hitting a vending machine and screaming at it.

'What's his probable? Is it broken or something?' Ritsuka starting to make her way over to him. The closer and closer she got to him, the easier it was for Ritsuka to make-out what he was screaming.

"Hey...! I want my Flamin' Hot Cheetos! Hey...!? At least give back my dollar!" he whined, kicking the machine.

'Is he seriously picking a fight with a machine...? What a child.' Ritsuka stopped walking when she was a few feet behind him. Because her hands were full, Ritsuka couldn't tap him on the shoulder. So instead, she just said, "Excuse me..."

"Huh...?" the boy turn around and looked at the bag and box in front of him. "... Oh, sorry, man. But this vending machine's broken. You can't get anything out of it."

Ritsuka was a tiny bit taken back by that. But didn't show it, "No. I'm not a fan of junk food. I just-"

"Wha...?!" the boy widen her eyes, "You never have a bag of chips before?! Unbelievable!"

Ritsuka blinked once, twice, and then a third time, just to make sure that she heard him right, 'What...?' "Actually, I did before, but I gave it up... Anyway, I-"

"Why?! Why would you give something as good as Flamin' Hot Cheetos up?"

Ritsuka widened her eyes, 'Okay... he's not listening. Maybe I should try asking someone else.' "My bad," Ritsuka turned around, letting the guy see her guitar case. "Please forget everything that I said. I'll just be on my way," before Ritsuka could take a step, the boy asked.

"Hey, are you lose or something?"

That caught Ritsuka's attention, so she turned around. "Actually, yes. I am," she turned back around, not because of the box and her bag, the guy still couldn't see Ritsuka's face, "Do you think that you can point me in the direction of the girls' dorm, please?"

"Oh, sure... but do you need help with your bags?"

"No need. I'm good."

"But it looks heavy."

Ritsuka stung a bit, "Not really."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. Here," Ritsuka extended her arms, signaling the guy to take the box and bag, while he did.

"Wow..." the moment when he got the stuff, he took serval steps backways, while Rituska loosened her shoulders, "This what you call not heavy?!"

"Hmm... yeah!" Ritsuka stung.

"Errr...!" the guy slowly put the stuff on the floor for a moment. When he got up, he was finally able to see Ritsuka. He ended up scanning Ritsuka from head-to-toe, 'Talk about flashy clothes. Really, who is he- I mean she... ...?' "Hey, who are you?"

Ritsuka raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms, "Well aren't you rude. Is that how you ask for something?"

The boy pouted, "Don't lecher me! You aren't that older from me, you know!"

"I know, but that doesn't excuse the fact that you lack etiquette," Ritsuka uncrossed her arms and placed one on her hip.

The boy narrowed his eyes and mock Ritsuka by placing a hand on his hip, "Hey...! Don't change the subject on me!"

"But weren't you the one who keeps changing the topic? I asked for direction and you said yes, but now you're rudely demanding that I tell you my name. Maybe if you ask nicely, I'll maybe tell you," Ritsuka smiled.

The boy chuckled, 'Cute...' "Find! Could you please tell me your name, your Grace," the boy bowed.

Ritsuka couldn't help but laugh, "Cute, but flattering will get you nowhere."

The boy came back up and widened his eyes, "But you said-"

Ritsuka crossed her arms again, "It common courtesy to introduce yourself first~!"

"..." he rolled his eyes, amusement written all over his face, "Find...!" he held out his hand, "Takeshi Momoshiro. And you?"

Ritsuka turned on her heel, "I'll tell you after you take me to the girls' dorm."

"Hey..." Momoshiro waged a finger at her, "You can't keep adding things!"

"I believe this is the first time I added something," Ritsuka looked beyond her shoulder, "So, we're going? If so, I need you to carry the box for me."

Momoshiro widened his eyes, "But didn't you said that-"

"Change my mind~!"

"..." Momoshiro pouted.

"Oh, but before we go..." Ritsuka walked passed Momoshiro and placed her back and the bottom of her left foot against the machine. She lifted her left foot and raised from right fish, for a moment, before using it to kick and punch the vending machine. All of a sudden, one of the corer started spinning, making a bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos fall off of it. Afterwards, Ritsuka turned around and bends down to reach for the bag of chips, in the slot hole. Once she got it out, Ritsuka turned around to hand it to Takeshi, "Here."

"Oh...!" Takeshi gladly took it, "... Thanks. Wow," he looked down at the bag and then at Ritsuka, "That was really something."

"Consider this my way of making it so that I don't owe you anything after you help me to my dorm."

Ritsuka stood in front of a large build and turned around, "Thanks... Takeshi, was it?"

"Umm. And you," Momoshiro handed Ritsuka back her box.

'... sigh... Why not...' Ritsuka half smiled, "It's Ritsuka Echizen."

"Ritsuka, huh? Is that really your surname?" (3)

Ritsuka tilted her head, "No... Why would I tell you my last name first?"

"..." Momoshiro half smiled, "Y- You're not from around here, now are you?"

Ritsuka stook her head, "No, does it matter?"

"Well... in a way... Yes!"

Ritsuka slowly nodded, "O... kay... Well, thank you again," she then turned around and started walking into the building.

Ritsuka stood in front of a door with the number C-09 on it and put down her box, looking through it. 'Now let's see... I should have a room key... AH!' Ritsuka took out an old looking key and put it into the keyhole. She turned the key and then push opened the door. When Ritsuka was inside, she saw that it was a three person bedroom and that there were already two people in here. Ritsuka put her box down and placed a hand on her hip, "Hey...!" Ritsuka called to the two girls that were looking through her stuff.

Both girls froze and looked at her. "I- It's you!"

Word Count: 3,884

Japan REAL facts...
.

1) It is allowed for 15 and over to live by themselves.

2) Anime and Manga are a BIG thing and people often mistake real life in Japan for it.

3) People introduce and address each other by their last name first and then their first name.

Date - 2018, Feb 2

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Ritsuka Echizen
.
Age - 15

Birthday - Dec. 24

Height - 160.02 cm (5'3)

Weight - 110 lb (49.9 kg)

Bra Size - 32B

Hair Color - Black with different color highlights (hair dye & hair extensions)

Hair Type - Wavy

Eyes Color - Amber

Favorite Subject - Science, Advance Tec-Arts-of-the-Performing (A.N. - I think I made that up)

Easiest Subject - English, Cooking

Hobbies - Singing, Making videos, Baking, Shopping, Nosing around, etc...

Likes - Music, Silver, Kalpin her cat, Butting in, People with passion, Her cell phone, etc...

Dislikes - Sexist comment, Boys who think they're men, Her father, Tennis, etc...

Nickname - Princess of Tennis, Little Machina-chan (explain later on), Ice Queen, The Mask Maiden (explain later on), etc...

Ritsuka Echizen is the main character in all of this. She is a beautiful, young woman who believes that if you want something, then you much make it happen. She has a habit of being very teasing and flirty with people, but making it a rule of her not to date. Ritsuka has been playing tennis since she was about 2 and have been making music since she was around 5. But only had started to take the whole performing business seriously when she was around 10. Because of some issue, that Ritsuka went through in China, she had given up on tennis and is now focusing on her music. She is always making sure that she watched what she eat and drink, because of how important your looks and voice are to a performer. With an exception to coffee and sometime fast-food. Ritsuka also does not like doing or using anything that will ruin her natural look, sure as using make-up, hairspray, nail polish, and dieting pills; with an exception to extensions and hair dye. She is also very vain and thinks very highly of herself. Ritsuka hated when people touch her stuff, especially her technology without her permission. Though she rarely shows it, Ritsuka has a lot of things to say but prefer to play it cool and don't say a lot.