Hey guys, here is chapter 4!
It's been one long year! However, I am back at writing this story!

In this story, I know that Tomoka is completely OOC. I mean she's suppose to be loud and sassy as based on the anime. She also is the sporty type as shown in one of the episodes in the anime when she easily rally a tennis ball on a wall with Sakuno and Ryoma.

Well, I don't think it really matters much, I just won't make here too much OOC or a Mary Sue. I think some may find her annoying; they don't show it though.

I had writers block and somewhat moved onto a different fandom (again) but I love Prince of Tennis too much to leave! This story might take time to actually be completed, but I won't let this story be incomplete . Thank you for clicking this story.

Anway...enjoy the story

~Yuka Hara

Unedited: Published 7/31/2017

Tomoka blinked as she stood in the middle of the hallways. There were a few students around the area, talking and walking to whatever their destination was. But here s he was standing alone, not knowing what to frowned thinking that Momo and Eiji dragged her out of the classroom, but she couldn't hate them or even get mad. Senpai-tachi, how...how can you just ditch me here? She heaved a deep sigh. But there was something about their interaction just now that felt...nostalgic. Something she kinda missed. They were always a bit absent-minded like that, and she thought it was funny.

Instead of going back to her classroom, she decided to go buy a drink from the vending machine and at the same time, try to look for Ryoma. Since she already knew people were looking for the first year boy, she would feel bad about herself for not trying to help, at least. One way or another, she felt a bad feeling swell up in her stomach. She was starting to feel guilty. When she saw Eiji's smile knowing that she was Osakada Tomoka, she felt horrible knowing she left without telling anyone. She just disappeared on them, yet they still remembered her. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she always thought she was just a tiny bit annyoing. She thought she was too loud. But she couldn't really help it. When she saw their tennis moves, her heart swelled and she just let her mouth run happily without a care in the world. That Tomoka; she was FREE.

Some day, just some day. She wished she could tell everyone everything. Then maybe, they would accept her again and everything would be alright. Go back three years as if nothing ever happened. But she knew that things would change. It had to.

Tomoka heaved a sigh and went to find a vending machine. What a mess. She was quite thirsty now and had a strange craving for strawberry milk. A thought ran through her mind, 'Every girl need their sweets'.

She found the nearest vending machine and quickly placed in her 100 yen coin in. She didn't notice someone walking towards the same vending machine that she was looking closely at. When her milk was released to the pit of the machine, she grabbed it and turned, only to take a few paces back. Echizen Ryoma was only a few inches away from her and staring at her with his fierce, feline-like eyes. Strangely enough, he didn't take his gaze off from her. Was he analyzing her or something? It had been at least a year probably since she last saw the cocky tennis player. She lost track of time in that one instance. it felt like ages.

He didn't say anything. Instead, he subtly ignored her presence as he turned his attention to the vending machine and pressed the button for a ponta.

She pondered whether or not she should leave. Just seeing him was making her feel uneasy. After all, her relationship with him now is different. Its more...distant. And the worse part was she couldn't explain every single detail about what the heck was going on. Only her parents somewhat knew, but no one knew the full details. Only herself.

Tomoka finally made up her mind to leave since Ryoma was only leaning against the machine to take a sip of his drink. As soon as she turned around to leave, he called out to her. "Oi...Osakada. Where are you going?"

It was weird to hear him say her name again after so long. Before it had always been her who started to strike a conversation first, and he would only reply with a 'Hm'.

She turned back again to face Ryoma and huffed a little, "Back to my classroom." She asked, trying to avoid saying his name. She knew that if she said 'Echizen-san', the conversation would last even longer and she remembered the time the boy's voice seemed distant. He had become completely confused by her choice of words. When Ryoma said no more, she decided it was time to head back to the classroom; however, the said boy had started to follow behind her.

"What are you doing?" Tomoka asked looking at the boy and raising a brow.

Ryoma merely remained quiet for a few seconds before he talked hesitantly, "...We're just going in the same direction."

Tomoka wasn't entirely sure if he was speaking the truth. Was he just hesitant with his words?

The brunette kept her mouth shut. She didn't want her emotions to start spewing any second now. Then she realized who was in front of her and why she was out in the hallways in the first place. "Momo-senpai and Kikumaru-senpai were looking for you." She started to say, clutching the milk carton tightly. "Aren't you going to eat lunch with them?"

He didn't answer back as quick as she would've liked it to be. "Doesn't matter." He says with a sigh, "senpai-tachi...they're clingy."

Instantly, Tomoka smiled at the childish frown on Ryoma's face. Is he sulking? How cute. "Hehe, I think that's great." He faced her with an eyebrow raised up in confusion. Was he interested in what she was going to say? "Ah, well, it's their last year right? I'm sure they can't wait to play tennis with you again." Truthfully, she was a little jealous about the tennis club's friendship. It was something so bright, so lovely. But she wasn't part of it. Was it even a good idea for her to attend Seigaku High School? She instantly remembered her responsibility at home. I have to take care of my younger brothers.

"Heh...Momo-senpai is sure sentimental." Ryoma stated, taking a sip from his drink.

Tomoka stopped in her tracks when she saw her classroom. "Echizen-" She couldn't even finish calling out his name before he cut her off.

"Ryoma."

"Eh?" Tomoka didn't understand what he was trying to say. Sure she knew that his name was Ryoma, but what about it?

"You can call me Ryoma." He stated nonchalantly. Spending time in America, everyone called him by his first name. So going back to Japan, he didn't care much about how they greeted one another. But for some reason, he wanted her to call him his first name. Just like before. Of course he wouldn't elaborate his reasoning to her. There was no way that he would say he missed her shouting."We aren't strangers." After saying that, he simply left, "Ja Osakada." The prince walked off and made a right turn up the stairs.

She didn't want to stand outside alone in the hallways anymore, so she went back to her classroom. The rest of lunch time was her and Narumi chatting up a storm. The two girls asked simple questions such as favorite colors, food, hobbies and things alike. It was a sort of way to get to know each other more. Although Tomoka was ecstatic that she made a new friend in high school, she couldn't help, but miss her old friends. Well more specifically her old best friend; Ryuzaki Sakuno. Really, if things were simple. If she weren't scared. If there weren't so many if she probably wouldn't be in such a deep mess right now.

So much for a high school life. The brunette grimaced at her solemn monologue. Running a hand through her hair, she lifted a lock in her fingers and inspected it nonchalantly. It was a little weird to have her hair down like that. Then she touched the ribbon tied on the left side of her head. That was different too.

When the wind blew, her hair lying behind her neck would tickle gently. Oh, she did-kind of-sort of- missed the usual breeze that swept by when her hair was up in large, bushy pig tails. However, this hairstyle was nostalgic too. It brought her back to her childhood days. Back before Seigaku.

"And this is our stop." Narumi says with a smile.

It was after school, and the two friends were chatting a bit all the way to the gates of Seigaku. Tomoka still remembered the sound of the tennis balls when she walked close by the courts. Going back to her friend she nodded, "yeah. Well, see you tomorrow Narumi-chan. I have to pick up my younger brothers today."

"Oh yeah! Um, you should hurry Tomoka-chan, I don't want you to be late or anything."

Tomoka waved one last time to her friend and watched Narumi walk off. Still even if Tomoka had the responsibility to pick up her brothers, she wasn't in any sort of hurry. Right now, she watned to take in the moment. She turned around to face the school. And then she just stared at the large building in front of her. High school. It was kind of amazing that she was in high school now. Friends, love, all those things in shoujo mangas was something she kinda wished would happen to her. But life was gonna be tough. It always was and nothing can change that. Enough mopping. Tomoka thought to herself. She gently slapped both of her cheeks with her palms and smiled as new motivation rushed to her. "Alright, time to pick them up." The girl gave the school one last glance, not even noticing that someone in the corner. She smiled and started to run in the opposite direction of home.

After Ryoma said goodbye to Tomoka, he walked up to the rooftop to meet up with the other tennis regulars. Something about Tomoka made him feel strange. Just who was Osakada Tomoka? There was no way someone could have a personality change like that. After all she was loud at everything. If he could hang out with his friends comfortably, maybe the feeling would go away. When he opened the door, it made a creaking sound. He heard his name almost instantly when he made one step on the rooftop.

"Oi! Echizen, hurry up and eat !" Momo was sitting with the rest, wearing a big wide grin. He scoffed down his food and suddenly started to choking.

Oishi instantly went to mother-hen mode, panicking about Momo's condition. Before anything can escalate, Kaidoh pushed a water bottle in Momo's hand.

"Mamushi..." Momo trailed off as he stared at the boy next to him. Ryoma watched the scene with an eyebrow arched. Just what the heck? Was Momo staring into Kaidoh like one of those romance movies? Before he could even say something about the two 'love-birds', Momo had cut him off by patting Kaidoh's back. "Thanks dude!"

"Oi, don't touch me Peach-head." Kaidoh glared. Even if they were friends, he didn't want to be all friendly and touchy. Suddenly he snorted before saying, "idiot."

Then the argument ensued. And of course no one cared because it was a common scene for them at every practice.

Tezuka kept his cool as he watched his friends. "Everyone, meet at the tennis courts today after school."

"Hai" Everyone said in unison.

Ryoma saw her standing in front of Seigaku by the gate. There was no tennis practice today, but all the tennis regulars had a meeting about their practice regime that Inui had planned for them. And when he saw her, he saw her in a different light. She truly became someone different. Then she ran away, out of the gates.

"Ah...that took longer than we expected." Momo said throwing his hand behind his head. "If only Taka-san didn't grab the racket."

To make things short, the meeting was going slowly until Kawamura picked up a spare racket on the ground. At that point, he probably forgot about his weird split personality that would appear every time he touched a racket. Then he started to wave it around, shouting English words that only some of the regulars could understand. He demanded a match with any one of the regulars. It took them a while to grab the racket away from Kawamura because he was too determined for a match.

Fuji was smiling when he thought back to the event, "your grip is really sturdy." He noted to Kawamura who was standing beside him. When the tensai pulled at the racket out of Kawamura's hand, it took more strength to do so. "Your power improved."

Kawamura smiled and laughed sheepishly. A little embarrassed by the compliment. "Thanks Fuji."

As the rest of the regulars started to walk towards the gate, Eiji spotted their young prodigy just well...standing there.

"Ochibi, what are you doing standing there?" The rest of the regulars followed Ryoma's eye and saw someone turning around the corner and disappearing.

Oishi looked at Ryoma and was about to ask when the boy cut him off. "It's nothing senpai."

The regulars didn't ask. Ryoma didn't seem like he was in the mood to answer any questions. However, they were curious. It wasn't everyday that they see the arrogant tennis player with a face full of confusion.

Night time.

After dinner, finishing up homework and everything, Tomoka went to her room. Her parents were still up, wanting to prepare some side dishes for the next day. Her brothers? Already fast asleep in their room.

"Don't stay up too late Tomoka-chan!"

She heard her mother calling from downstairs. A smile creeps on her face as she rushed down the stairs. If she shouted, she was afraid to wake up her younger brothers. "Good night okaasan! Otousan! I won't, I promise."

"Tomoka." The said girl turned around when her father called her out. "Let's speak in the living room." She didn't answer back because she knew she had only one decision. Her dad did not ask her, it was a demand.

Tomoka took a seat on the couch next to her dad. "What is it that you want to talk to me about?" She was confused. If it was about the plan and everything, she already explained to her dad. She really didn't want to have another lecture. "If it's about-"

"There isn't any problems in your school right now?"

She stared. "No, nothing." She paused. "I did make a new friend. Narumi-chan is nice." With a smile she finished speaking. She really wasn't sure what her dad wanted to hear. "Otousan, it's going to be different from elementary school. I- I won't do something like that ever again."

"Tomoka, you know how worried we are about you. Just last year you were like that again..."

The girl rushed her speech. "Otousan! Look at me now. I'm fine. Happy. Doing well in school. Nothing is going to change that. I promise nothing stupid will happen to me ever again." The girl glared slightly at her dad, "no, don't drag okaasan in this. You know how sensitive she'll get if you try to have a conversation like this. It's already a miracle I can attend Seigaku high."

"I know."

Tomoka smiled at her dad's comment, "then you know you should trust me. I'm your daughter after all." She stuck a thumb to herself, "just like okaasan, I think I'm strong enough to fix up my problems."

The conversation was finished. The brunette girl did not want to speak any more about the topic. She said goodnight to her parents one last time before going up the stairs. Images flashed before her eyes. Memories. Memories of her family crying their eyes out because of her. I'm not letting that ever happen again, Tomoka thought to herself determinedly. I'll never think like that again...

Just before the girl went to sleep, she picked up her cell phone. Scrolling down her contacts, she chose her two childhood friends.

From Tomoka:

Sent to: Flower-chan and Grouchy Bear

Good night guys. I hope to see you soon. Tell everyone else I want to see them too! If you guys visit, I'll definitely show you guys around.

Smiling at the message with satisfaction, she clicked sent. Closing her phone, she set it aside. Too tired to wait for a reply, she closed her eyes and waited to be greeted by another bright morning.

Hi everyone thank you so much for reading!
Hopefully you guys catch on that there is some sort of mystery. I didn't give too much information out did I? Wondering what happened in Tomoka's past, don't worry! It'll be explained in the future chapters. As for now, it's kind of like Tomoka's daily life in Seigaku high.

Tomoka won't have any pairings as of right now. Even though this is supposed to be a Tomoka-centric, I'm just not sure if it makes sense that everyone falls in love with her.

If you guys have any specific pairings you want to see, I might think about it.

Anyway, have a great day!