*angelg0722 doesn't own Prince of tennis*

"Speech"- Japanese

"Speech" English+ location references

'thoughts'

Ryoga glomped Ryomi again. "Why not? They might as well get to know me. And besides, you need all the help you can get. You being so anti-social and all."

"Shut up."

"You need to get along with your club members after all!" Ryoga continued grinning.

"What are you talking about? I'm not in the club."

"Chibisuke...?"

"Very funny, kid." Ryoga patted Ryomi's head. "Now get your butt over there. I'm still this team's manager, remember? You have to respect me."

"I told you! I'm not in the club!" Ryomi glared at Ryoga.

Ryoga scrutinized Ryomi's face for a long time looking for clues about this unexpected decision.

"Why?"

"Figure it out yourself. " Ryomi scoffed. She turned around and left the tennis court, the gate closing noisily after her.

"So... Echizen-san? We should get started soon" Yukimura said.

"W-What? H-hai.." Ryoga stared at the retreating form of Echizen Ryomi.

"Let's get to work." Yukimura patted Ryoga's shoulder reassuringly.

"Everything will be alright." 'Everything indeed...'

"Ok." Ryoga agreed.

' I'll get to the bottom of this. '

Echizen Ryoga was many things, but he wasn't a fool. He knew something was up. After all, it was Ryomi who had wanted to go to Rikkadai even though their baka oyaji had insisted on Seishuen Gakuen.

True, with their new house, Seigaku was a lot farther away than Rikkadai. But, Ryomi wanted to go to the Rikkadai. Period. And nothing would have changed her mind. So what...?

Ryomi stared outside the classroom window. The teacher was droning on and on and on... Her thoughts turned and tumbled as she was bored out of her mind. Hhn. A frail boy with chin length blue hair and gentle blue eyes. Huh. 'I wonder why I would think of that guy'

Ryoga was in town now too. Che. Baka-nii. He and Kevin were supposed to come a month later... And now he was sure to be hellbent on having her join. She sighed wistfully. She did want to play. The tension of the ball on her racket, the aching in her muscles and sun on her skin...

But...no. It wasn't time yet. The tennis at Rikkaidai now wasn't...fun. Provided results, yes. Trained players to improve, yes. But, All Ryomi wanted was some fun and fierce games with strong players. Not to play in a harsh and unforgiving environment.

Rikkaidai... was harsh. If you were weak, you were torn down. Only the strong survived. Rikkadai was ruthless.

However, Ryomi sensed that underneath all that, the players had real passion and love for the sport. Of course they did, what else would fuel the fire of success?

No. Ryomi refused to be in such an unforgiving and cold place. So they would change. The regulars would change. Ryomi would change them.

Ryomi walked home. Looked like seaweed-sempai decided not to bug her today.

'I guess the practice schedule changed after Ryoga joined. Well, whatever.' Finally, Peace and quiet. Maybe baka-nii has some uses after all.'

"Oi! You!" A loud and bratty voice pierced the "peace and quiet" Ryomi sighed. Never mind. She glared at Akaya.

"Shouldn't you be at practice? In fact, the district preliminary is coming up soon isn't it?" Ryomi kept walking.

"Yeah, yeah. Ryoga-kun let us off today easy, cuz he just wanted to get to know us." Akaya stared at Ryomi."Sheesh. Who would have guessed? He's completely different from you." He shook his head in disbelief.

"So this was what Akaya was up to~Puri " Ryomi and Akaya turned around them.

There was Niou, Jackal, and Marui stepping out from a bush.

"Neh, Akaya, we let out off for one practice because we had detention and you start walking home with a girl? That's cold." Marui whined.

"I'm not walking home with her! She's just my neighbour!" Akaya shouted indignantly.

"Yeah yeah, save it lover boy." Niou drawled. He put an arm around Ryomi's shoulders. " She would obviously prefer to have me walk home with her right ~ " Niou winked.

"No thank you, sempai." Ryomi responded monotonously never taking her eyes off the road ahead of her.

"~Echizen and Akaya sitting in a tree ~ K-I-S-S..." Ryomi groaned. What was with these idiots?!

Ryoga thought and thought. ( Not something he did a lot by the way) What to do? He had stuck around for a few days and observed the tennis practice...

These kids... They were obsessed with winning! You couldn't lose... Such a mindset,,, especially at such a young age would never be good. They didn't know how to have fun playing tennis anymore.

I see... Ryomi plays tennis because she thinking its fun. This school is completely the opposite to her natural mindset. But, if that's so why didn't she leave? She must believe she can change them... Heh.

A small smirk tugged at Ryoga's mouth. That girl... she's going to change this team... So I have to help her... I have an idea...

"Would Echizen Ryomi please report to the principal's office, I repeat Echizen Ryomi, please report to the principals office. "

Ryomi woke with a start. Where was she? She looked around drowsily... ah. It was fourth period. What? The principal's office. Whatever...

Principal's office

Ryomi quietly slipped inside the office and closed the door. Much to her surprise, Yukimura, Sanada and Ryoga were all in the office with her along with the principal, of course.

"It has come to my attention that you wished to join the boy's tennis team?" The principal asked.

"Well, actually-"

"We believe that Echizen-san could be a great addition to the team." Yukimura smiled gently. "As I had discussed before, Echizen-san joining the team would be no problem at all. Since Rikkadai doesn't have a girl's team, Technically, any girl that can pass the standards set by a male sports team may join if there is no current girls team. The tennis association of Japan also adheres to this rule."

"Soka."The principal nodded.

"Ryoga-san, what do you think?"

Ryoga-san shifted and spoke.

"Or course, you must understand that because Ryomi is my younger sister my view could possibly be seen as biased by the school, and in usual circumstances, this sort of thing would never be allowed. But, sir, I sincerely believe that Ryomi has the ability to join the regulars. I think she could be just what the team needs especially considering that nearly all of the regulars will be graduating this year except for Kirihara-kun."

The principal looked thoughtful. " Four time American Junior champion,you say? Certainly this would be a great addition to the team...I see. Well, I give my permission for Echizen-san to join Rikkdai's boys tennis team."

Yukimura beamed."Wonderful! Now-" He pulled a stack pf papers from seemingly nowhere- " If you could sigh nere, here and here..."

Ryomi twitched. What had just happened?