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*angelg0722 doesn't own Prince of tennis*

"Speech"- Japanese

"Speech" English+ location references

'thoughts'

Mystery POV

"Same old, Same old, I guess. Ryomi will always be like that." The first figure sighed.

"Hah. You're right," murmured the second figure. "It's a good thing we came to check up on sort of trouble would she get herself into?"

"Yeah, but the case hasn't been settled in America yet. You're taking a risk, you know." the first figure admonished.

"Well, Let's just stick around for a while and see how Ryomi is settling in." proposed the first figure.

"Agreed."

"Regulars go to the clubroom. Practice is dismissed." The regulars trudged back to the club room in dreary silence.

As everyone sat down, a thick tension filled the room only to be interrupted-

"Tarundarou!" snarled Sanada-san. "This is utterly humiliating! Rikkaidai can not be defeated that easily!"

Yanagi shifted and spoke.

"Echizen Ryomi is the new transfer student in class 1-A. She does well academically though sleeps often in her classes. She transferred here just dominant is her left even though she is ambidextrous and has a below-average height of 151 cm. She is an all-rounder player and seems to have a respectable amount of stamina as she wasn't sweating profusely when she finished a six-set tennis game."

"Yeah, but what are we going to do? I mean we were just showed up a bratty kid in front of the entire school!" Complained Marui popping his gum loudly as if to prove a point.

"She had the guts to turn down our invitation!" raged Akaya..

As regulars grew more and more agitated and frustrated.

'The girl raised a good point. The lose would definitely motivate not only Niou but the rest of the team too. They were predictable enough for me to know that they would be more demanding of themselves and train harder. In fact, despite the team's wounded pride and ego, the girl had actually helped them.'

Yukimura continued contemplating when-

"I want her on the team." Everyone froze when they heard Yukimura's voice.

"But, buchou, she already refused! We don't need her!" Akaya cried out indignantly.

My hard stare quieted him immediately.

"All of you saw her potential." Nobody could deny that. The team quieted. They were able to recognize a worthy opponent when they saw one.

"Our team is invincible now, but what about next year? We must have a strong foundation if we wish to keep the championship name to our Kouhai."

Akaya looked as if to protest.

"Akaya-san, you have my complete confidence." I smiled at him. "But even if you win all your matches, tennis is a team sport. we cannot just freely put the fate of the Rikkadai tennis team in the hands of some amateur novices. The foundation must be strengthened and support must be added and I believe that girl is the key."

The team fell back silent, absorbing my speech.

"In any case, she's female, how would the girl join a men's tennis team?" Jackal spoke up, possibly the most "normal" of us reasoned.

"I understand..." Yukimura reasoned. " This matter will be put on hold. Practice for the regulars will continue."

Yukimura stood up. "Yanagi-kun start the new training menu you and I discussed. " And with that, I left the club room.

'I want that girl on my team...and I always get what I want.'

THE NEXT DAY

I sighed and drank my Ponta. I looked up lazily at the blue sky above me as I ate my bento on the rooftop of the school.

It was lunch time and life was utterly boring the morning had been a blur of faces and classes. I had gotten a good nap.

Evidently, stories of the English teachers demise had spread. I would do anything for a tennis match... Then again, I eat, breathe and live tennis . Maybe the old man is right. I grumbled

Yesterday's match was the most satisfying in a long time though. It felt nice not having to hold back and play as I might.

That guy wasn't bad either. Not bad at all. If I hadn't seen through his technique, the game could have easily gone the other way.

That was a real prodigious skill.

'Niou Masaharu' Ryomi hummed under her breath.

'That guy wasn't the strongest- but definitely one of the most troublesome... The rest if the regulars near the court... They looked normal enough though the baldies ethnicity could be questioned. Probably Brazilian... Well, Rikkaidai doesn't seem so bad after all.

Then all hell broke loose.

"On three. One, two-"

"Wait, wait. Are we leaving on three or when you say go. Or is there going to be some sort of signal?"

"Just go when I say so! Now- One Two "

"Bu-"

"THREE!"

Ryomi opened a eye to stare lazily at the intruder. Only to see the girl and boy that had bothered her in class yesterday.

"May I help you? " Ryomi's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"See, we noticed that you weren't in the classroom during lunch so we went looking for you! I mean, it would suck if I were stuck as the new kid and I din't have any friends! I mean, what kind of life would that be? So-"

The mother hen of a boy interrupted his friend. " What she meant to say is to ask if we could sit with you at lunch."

The girl bobbed her head furiously. Both looked hopeful.

"There's nothing preventing you from doing so."

With a cheer, the two plunked down next to Ryomi and started introducing themselves

"My name is Haruhi Akito! Of course, I already told you my name yesterday, but Kito thought that you might not have been paying attention because you fell asleep right after!" She pouted in chibi form.

"But, I really don't mind! Anyhow, I like to play the violin! And the piano. And the flute. And the drums. and the guitar. and-'

"Shush!" scolded Akira. " You're over-whelming her!"

"He looked toward me respectfully.

"My name is Daisuke Hisayuki. I am in you class and a childhood friend of Akito-sans. I enjoy photography, but I enjoy most fine arts in general. It's very nice to meet you."

They looked at Ryomi expectantly.

"You know my name don't you? " Ryomi continued calmly sipping her Ponta.

"We want to know about you! Your hobbies! Likes, dislikes and secret pleasures! Just your everyday basics. We're your friends!" exclaimed Haruhi.

Ryomi thought for a while. The two stared...

Ryomi shrugged.

"Well, I would certainly like to hear about you, Ryomi Echizen." A fourth voice interrupted the trio.

Haruhi and Kito turned around and gasped.

Ryomi stared lazily.

"Y-you're..." studdered Daisuke

"That's right. I am." the person smiled non-nonchalantly.

After all, in the doorway to the rooftop stood...