Hello everyone! Thank you so much for the awesome reviews! Here is the next installment: Tennis once again. I hope you will enjoy your read! :D

RECAP:

Ryoma finally got over the psychological hurdle of playing tennis and joined the club (with manipulation from Fuji) but things are not exactly the same yet... Ryoma's still got a secret. Fuji still knows the secret.

"Ryoma-kun?" a surprised voice called out to Ryoma as he changed for the first time for tennis practice. He had always wore his uniform as the club manager and moved his own separate ways from the freshmen intake so he hadn't shown his face to them before. Ryoma looked up from his shoelaces to face the 3 tennis-crazed classmates, Kachiro, Katsuo and Horio. The voice had came from Kachiro, the shortest of the three with a more friendly and open personality.

"As I thought! It is really Ryoma-kun!" Kachiro said to the other two who stood by his side, looking a little unconvinced at first. Then he turned back to Ryoma, "You really look different with and without your glasses!"

At the moment, Ryoma was tying his shoelaces in one corner of the tennis shack and had left his glasses folded neatly at the side. He had taken it out when he was changing and had forgotten to put it back on.

Then faking a squint, he said, "Oh. It's you Katsuo." He then reached for his glasses and put them on, visibly (rather exaggeratingly) relaxed his eyes and uncrinkled his forehead.

"its Kachiro." Kachiro said, hurt.

"Oh. Gomen. I didn't have my glasses on and I sort of mistook you for Katsuo." Ryoma replied with a cocky grin that was anything but apologetic. He nodded to Katsuo, the tallest of the three.

"I didn't know you joined the tennis club." Horio said with his nose high in the air. "one more noob." He muttered to himself.

Ryoma said nothing to that.

"Oh Ryoma-kun." came the voice of someone Ryoma didn't want to hear - Fuji.

Ryoma pointedly ignored him, leaving the three freshmen classmates stunned. THE TENSAI FUJI knew RYOMA? What was going on?

Ryoma stood up and dusted himself. As he was about to make his way towards the only door, a tall shadow/figure blocked his way. "Ne Ryoma-kun, that's a bit cold right? You shouldn't do that. You shouldn't."

"Ah Momoshiro-senpai." Ryoma said, nodding his head causing his specs to slip off just a little bit.

"Momo-chan is good enough." Momoshiro answered with a grin. Then changing to a more serious tone, he added, "you shouldn't ignore your senpai who just greeted you." Momo said, tilting his head to point to Fuji.

"It's ok Momo. Echizen's got a reason to hate me." Fuji answered with a brilliant smile. "After all, I was the one who brought him in against his will."

A confused silence. Then everyone was talking and asking question at the same time. Everyone was curious to know fuji and Ryoma's little secret.

"Well it began on Sunday when I was reading my book and Ryoma came to sit beside me. Inui and Kaidoh (the 2nd year and 3rd year regulars) was playing a practice match at the courts and I happened to take Ryoma's specs…" Fuji explained, smiling as he went, seeming enjoying telling his tale.

"KONNICHIWA FUJI-SENPAI!" Ryoma suddenly shouted, blushing red in the face. The commotion in the room suddenly ceased at his outburst. All pairs of eyes turned to look at him. Ryoma was standing stiffly and red hot in the face. No matter the cost, Ryoma did not want Fuji to tell the things that went on between them. Who knows how he will twist the story and use it as another blackmail? Or expose the humiliating spectacles trick and his match with Momoshiro.

Fuji stopped his tale and gave him his very very poisoned smile. "konnichiwa Ryoma-kun." He said softly, evidently pleased at something. After Ryoma left the shack in absolute silence, Fuji remained silent and simply smiled secretively at all the burning questions of the room, answering nothing and leaving all the questions blank.

"1st years!" came Oishi the v-captain taking charge of the freshmen for that practice. "We are going to do basic stamina training and physical training." He announced. A collective groan echoed amongst the 30 new intakes. They had been doing physical training (PT) for every tennis practice ever since they were admitted and none of them were eager at what to come. For every PT session, it usually end up with them on the verge of dying and muscles cramping the next day for the next 3 days. It was not a pretty sight.

"First, running 20 laps." Oishi called. The batch of first years shuffled their way out of Court 3 which was their usual court and began to do their run. Oishi stood at the start/end line with a whistle.

"12 more laps. The pace is dropping first years!" Oishi yelled as the large group of 20some of them passed him again. Their shirts were already soaking wet with sweat and everyone was gasping to catch their breath. Amongst this group was also Kachiro and Katsuo. Horio was lagging behind the group already by some feet running with the 4-5 of them who were seriously having trouble to keep pace with the rest of the group. Ahead of the group were also 3-4 freshmen, largely separated in distance with Ryoma about the 3rd from the first male and quite some feet in front of the large group.

He was already on his 9th lap, a lap ahead still without much panting.

As the run went into the 12, 13 and 14th lap, the group became even more separated. The original large group of 20some runners had lessen to 10some as the rest lagged behind to join the slow group. The fast group continued at their pace with Ryoma now in the 2nd position after overtaking the previous 2nd.

"3 more laps!" Oishi called. "No walking. Keep moving!" He yelled at the lagger group whom some had already given up from running and slowed to a walk. Katsuo and Kachiro were starting to lag behind from main group but are still desperately trying to keep up. Both were red and puffing in the face with sweat streaming down their faces. Ryoma was also half way round of the court. Sweat was building up and his breathing was heavier but other than that, still in pace and normal.

"1 more lap." Ryoma overtook the first guy who started to walk having expended all his energy.

With ease, Ryoma completed the 20 rounds and was the first to report back to Oishi. Oishi nodded at him and he stood aside as the rest of the freshmen gradually came in one by one to the finish line. Most of them stumbling and tripping over themselves.

"That was an improvement from last time but it is still too slow. We will have to work harder on it." Oishi said as the last runner came in. Around him, freshmen were sitting down, lying down and panting in a haphazard rhythm. Ryoma and a few others were standing and walking around to cool down.

"Now we are going to do cardio strength training." For the next 1 hour, the freshmen group did sit ups, push ups and all sorts of exercise to build strength in the arms and legs. After strength training was agility training. All these exercises dragged to 5pm. The hot noon sun that greeted them when they started their run was also sank low in the west in a rich red-orange glow.

The freshmen group laying collapsed on the tennis courts, thoroughly exhausted from all the training. None of them spoke as each tried to catch their own breath. Oishi walked over to them and dropped his stern look and smiled. "Good job freshmen! For the remaining time until the end of the club activity, you may get your rackets and hit some balls within this court."

That got the freshmen a little excited. For the first time, they were going to be allowed to hold a racket and play a game! Despite the excitement in their hearts, most were too tired to even more from the spot on the group where they lay. Ryoma picked up his racket with his right hand and swung it around to loosen his shoulder. He looked around for a partner but most of the pairs had already formed and the rest just sat by the side, keeping out of the way but in no condition to play.

"che." Ryoma muttered to himself as he pushed the door of Court 3 open and let himself out. Tucking the racket under his right arm, he walked towards Court 2 and Court 1 where the seniors had been having practice matches. Although he had seen the seniors play and practice, this was the first time the regulars were playing serious practice matches.

Other than Inui and Kaidoh-senpai, Ryoma knew little of the other regular's strength and power. At Court B, the second year non-regulars were having a match. Ryoma slowed as he walked by them giving the match a good look. The two players were about equal in strength but nothing too special.

"Mada Mada dane." Ryoma muttered to himself as he continued onwards to Court A where the regulars were having their practice matches.

In the courts were Momoshiro (the guy Ryoma had fought at the outside tennis court) against Kawamura. The battle was blatantly a power battle. Each side fought with more on power shove than actual technique. Ryoma stood by the side of the fence alone. The rest of the seniors and regulars were gathered at the other sides.

Kawamura was a 3rd year. A really quiet senior, soft-spoken as far as Ryoma knew, but the Kawamura on the courts were almost a completely different person. RAGING with fire. Ryoma had played against Momoshiro-senpai before at the street tennis courts. He have a rough gauge of his strength which he didn't play with his fullest then. Ryoma knew Momoshiro was strong too. Exactly how much he didn't know but definitely strong in the power way but against this Kawamura-senior he was being pushed back by mere power.

Ryoma flicked a glance at the score board. It was 2-1 in favour of Kawamura Takeshi and the current match score was 30-0 in favour of Kawamura.

Ryoma returned his gaze back to the match. A power rally was currently a play. The ball bounced from court to court. Both players were exhausted but Momoshiro was being pushed to the corner. As far as Ryoma could tell, Kawamua-senpai did not have as precise control as Momoshiro but while Momoshiro had better control, he couldn't do anything against the strength of the ball hit by Kawamura.

40-0. Momoshiro missed the last ball by inches as his racket fell short of the distance. The ball bounced and hit the metal fence hard with a loud and audible clang. Almost as though rock against metal.

Momoshiro rested his hands on his knees and panted. Sweat was flowing down his face and dripping onto the court. He was visibly tired. Kawamura on the other hand was also tired and breathing heavily but in better condition than Momoshiro comparatively.

Momoshiro straightened himself from his half-crouch and flexed his wrist to loosen it. In that instant, Ryoma registered a flash of pain as Momoshiro rotated his wrist. The flash of pain disappeared as fast as it came, replaced with a confident grin Ryoma was familiar with. But Ryoma knew full well what he saw - Momoshiro had hurt his wrist.

"Ok senpai! One more time." Momoshiro called loudly as he returned to his receiving position.

"Stop." came another voice just as Kawamura was about to serve.

The court fell silent as the tall figure of Tezuka entered the courts.

"Buchou." all the members greeted. "Cheers."

"This game is set and won by Kawamura. Momoshiro is in no condition to continue." Tezuka said loudly.

"Wait buchou!" Momoshiro said. "I'm perfectly fine. I can continue." He insisted.

Tezuka took a few long strides to Momo and grabbed his right wrist tightly. An unmistaken yelp of pain escaped from Momoshiro as he dropped his racket onto the floor, his arm losing all his grip. The court murmured amongst themselves. Momoshiro had been hurt. No one amongst them had noticed it. Not even Kawamura.

Kawamura dropped his racket as he walked over to Momo, very concerned. "Momo! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Kawamura-senpai." Momoshiro answered back with a brave grin although buchou was still holding onto his wrist and sending jolts of pain throughout his body.

"Kawamura, fetch the first aid box." Tezuka ordered as gave Momo a stern look as he was about to protest. Then Momoshiro followed Tezuka quietly out of the courts.

As they left, the two of them walked past Fuji who had been standing near the gates of the court. "Sorry Fuji. I'll need to tend to Momoshiro's wounds. Would you find another practice partner for today?"

Fuji and Tezuka were supposed to be the next practice match players which was why the court had so many spectators gathered. All wanted to watch the acclaimed Tezuka Kunimitsu play.

Fuji nodded to Tezuka's words and stepped into the court. He was somewhat disappointed that he couldn't play against Tezuka. Standing in the courts, Fuji glanced around at the spectator. He didn't particularly feel like playing against any of the non-regulars. Whenever he did that, it would either turn out into a one-sided 6-0 match or if not a tutoring style match where Fuji was lower his level to play at the same level with his opponent which was no fun for him at all.

But on the other hand, if he didn't practice Tezuka would give him an earful so he definitely needed to do it. Just when Fuji was about to pick any random tennis player standing at the sideline, his eyes fell onto a single freshmen wearing shorts. (all the 2nd and 3rd year wore long pants).

Ryoma.

"Ne! Ryoma-kun, play a match with me?" Fuji called, giving him his eyeless grin.

All the players at the court stopped to stare at Fuji and then at Ryoma - the rumored freshmen, brother of Echizen Ryoga. But he said he had never played tennis…. His entry to the club was confusing and many second years secretly opposed to him joining.

Ryoma turned to look at Fuji's disturbing smile that really always meant something nasty would happen. "Whatever. I've nothing better to do anyway."

So Ryoma made his way to the courts under the watchful eyes of the almost the entire 2nd year, 3rd years and regulars.

Yep next chapter of course will feature Fuji and Ryoma in their first faceoff! :D But Ryoma is not completely the same Ryoma yet... I wonder what will happen!

Shiroi Mi.

Thank you for reading!