CHAPTER 4
The last bell had rung for the day indicating that it was now time for after school activities. Ryoma had actually woken up as the noise rung out throughout the entire school. He felt completely refreshed despite what happened today. Sitting up and fixing his hood he slowly got to his feet just as the principle walk through the door.
"Oh, Ryoma you're already awake." Looking at the boy he couldn't help but let a smile grace his lips. "It's seems your tail doesn't agree with being hidden again." With that Ryoma snapped lifting his jumper up and letting it curl around his waist. Already knowing that if he gets to play tennis it will be easier to move with it there than around one of his legs. "You know you're going to have to wear shirts eventually. You'll get too hot in what your wearing now."
"Oh, yeah Shan already sorted that out and got custom made ones with the hoods attached but still long so they go down to my thighs." That's when the principle realized how much Shan meant to the boy. He seemed to instantly relax at the mention of the man and by the looks of it loved talking about how great the man was.
"Did he tell you about the other person who is going to be living with you? His nephew if I remember right Seiichi."
"Yeah, I've sent a couple of emails to him before and Shan has shown me a picture of him too. He seems nice. I really hope he recovers from his illness. It makes Shan sad to know his ill and there's nothing he can do." With that said Ryoma left the room just before grabbing his tennis rackets which where laying next to the sofa and went on his way to figure out where the tennis courts are.
He was really starting to get annoyed not once but twice today he had walk into someone but this one seemed less weird than the last. He had black spikey hair and by the looks of it, it was caked full of gel.
"Hey watch it kid. You should look where your going?"
"Where are the tennis courts?" Ryoma asked as soon as Momo stopped talking.
"What no apology. Oh, and the tennis court is that way." He said pointing his finger from where he just came. "Anyway aren't you a bit young to be here. How old are you?" The tick mark on Ryoma's forehead just kept getting bigger. Looking up and giving the Stranger the best glare he could muster and passed the second year student while he stood grounded to the spot.
"I'm 16, damn it!" He yelled and stomped of like a 5 year old.
Finally arriving at the courts after Momo had given him the wrong directions he looked around only to find the 3 first years along with 3 other guys on the courts. Deciding to keep quiet he watch from a distance as he saw what they where doing. But he finally made up his mind to join when he heard a prize of 10,000 yen.
'Hmm...' He thought. 'I could use the money to buy ponta then Shan can't keep blackmailing me with it.' That was when one of the second years saw him.
"Hey, you there. Wanna try hitting the can?" Ryoma with his head still bowed let himself smirk slightly. Giving a slight nod to them. Walking into the courts and unzipping his bag grabbing the first racket. While the older students just smiled to themselves.
"Just wondering, is the can filled with rocks. If so then a normal hit won't knock it." Looking up at them with a confident smirk and making his way to the centre of the court. He was happy, he was in his element. The one thing he knew he could do. Throwing the ball in the air and smacking it down it flew across the net and hit the can sending it to the ground. Along with the top popping open and rocks falling out. All 6 watched in silence as the teen carried on sending one ball after another at the can. "Nee, if I hit it a hundred times will you give me a million yen." As he was about to hit another a tennis ball came soaring though the air and hitting the can. Not only that but with so much force it lifted it off the ground and hit the fence not far behind it.
"Oh, I hit it. Lucky!" Came the annoying sound in Ryoma's opinion of a voice the sounded familiar. Looking up and noticing the gel hair guy he took a step back hoping that he wouldn't talk to him.
"Hey Arai, just because the 3rd years aren't here doesn't mean you can pick on the freshmen." Leaving them to gape like a fish out of water at him, Momo left and turned to the 1st years. "Yo."
"Nice to meet you." All three said and bowed slightly. Ryoma took this time to try and leave quietly.
"Oi, who said you could leave?" He asked in a daring tone of voice.
"Ehh, Ryoma?" Not a second later came the questioning sound of a girl. Looking up to see the brunet from this morning.
"Waaa," An excited squeal came from the other one next to her. Making Ryoma wince at the high pitch noise. "He's the one I heard about. The super mysterious one. Is he in you class Sakuno?"
'Ryoma.' Momo thought for a second then it clicked. A conversation the regulars had with their coach just before the others went off for a match.
(Flashback)
They had all just settled down in the club when just before the coach had arrived. Talking about what every came to mind that was until Fuji spoke up.
"So Tezuka I ran into a little golden eyed boy. Correct me if I'm wrong but was he the one you where talking about." Tezuka meanwhile slowly looked to Fuji giving him a nod. "He does seem interesting though. When I first saw him I thought he was in the wrong school."
"Nya, Fujiko what are you talking about? Who was he?" Replied Eiji.
"Ah, so Tezuka has already met Ryoma." They all look to the door to see a woman in pink tracksuit. "And Fuji you shouldn't scare the boy like that."
"What's so special about him then?" Ask Momo finally deciding to join in with the conversation. While the tensai was getting over the shock of actually being listened in on when talking to the kid.
"First I thought he was 12, then he eyes are this golden colour. He keeps his hood up all the time." Fuji started to count the reasons with his fingers.
"He has the look in his eyes of a wild animal." Tezuka added.
"Yeah, but so does Viper." Came Momo's comment right after.
"Sssss, What that meant to mean idiot?" Kaidoh replied suddenly.
"Enough!" Shouted Sumire. "All of you, I'll answer some questions on him but please make them sensible."
"Why does he wear the hood all the time?" Asked Fuji
"No comment."
"I thought you said you would answer?"
"Something's I can't seeing as it affects Ryoma." They all glanced at each other.
"Can he play tennis?" Inui knowing what questions the lady in pink really wanted them to ask.
"As a matter of fact yes. He even has a few good moves up his sleeve like the twist serve." Ryuzaki smirked know that she got all of there attention.
"Nya, how long has O'chibi been playing for?" Most sweat dropped at that. After all Eiji has never met him and is already giving nicknames.
"Why give him that name Eiji?" Asked Kawamura shyly.
"Nya, By Fujiko's description he sounds like a child."
"Yeah. Well Kikumaru don't tell him you called him a kid he will probably scratch your face in." Sumire said letting her self smile just that much more. "And if you want to know the answer to that and any other questions why don't you try talking to him. Though he most likely will ignore you and walk away."
(End Flashback)
"So you're Ryoma." Momo said now finally deciding to take in the features of the boy and realizing that Fuji and Tezuka where both right. "Hey, how about a game? I heard you can do a twist serve."
Pausing at the chance for a tennis match he spun around got his racket out and stood on one side of the court. Momo was grinning seeing the boy actions. He really didn't seem like the type to talk in his opinion. Walking to the net he held his racket upright and asked.
"Rough or smooth." With that he got a thumbs up indicating for smooth. "Alright." He spun the racket and landed on Rough. "You know what seeing as I gave you the wrong directions earlier I'll let you go first." Ryoma holding his tennis racket in his right hand and went for the serve. It was fast but had no special twist to it. "Hey, I thought I said to use your twist serve."
"'Che' Why should I waste something like that on you?" It was the first time he had spoken to Momo since he got to the courts and the gel haired teen couldn't help but think that at least he is getting somewhere with the boy.
"Come on or was doing the twist serve something that you pretended you could do." Annoying Ryoma even more than he had already done. He got into position and served. As the ball landed on the other side of the court it sprung up in to Momo's face. After a moment of shock he collected his composer and checked to make sure his hair was still in place. "That's it. Do that serve again." He called with hint of excitement entering his voice.