CHAPTER 127

"Hey, look it's Seigaku." Whispering was heard as they watched Seigaku walk though the park. One gulped as he spoke quietly to the one next to him. "And that's their captain." The people in hiding also known to be Ginka's tennis team listed off one by one the second and third year regulars of Seigaku, explaining each of their abilities.

"You're making it sound like we don't have a chance against them." Sighing, the one who had described all the Seigaku tennis team spoke again.

"No, that's not it. For some reason they have a first year playing. And get this. He's a shrimp." Suddenly they were all pumped for the game.

"A first year let me play him." One stood and shouted.

"No I want to be the one!" Another exclaimed. As this was going on. Ryoma had walked a bit behind his other team mates and heard all the commotion. He stopped with his back to them as one of the Ginka team spotted him.

"Oh, there he is. That's the shrimp I was talking about." Ryoma felt a tick mark appear on his head. He knew they were talking about him. Turning round the boy glared.

"I'm not a shrimp. You're just too tall." He shouted and stomped on of his feet. All of the Ginka team were stunned to silence. 'It's him!' They all shouted in their head. "What! I'm 16 and perfectly average for my height." Ryoma blew them a raspberry before running to go catch up with his team realizing they were much further in head now than he thought.

"Match against Ginka and Seishun Gakuen will now begin." Ryoma stood in-between Fuji and Eiji, smiling and humming happily. The reason for his good mood was the fact that everything was settled between him and his hero. He was snapped out of his happy thought when Ginka's captain shouted.

"All right team! Are you ready?" Hearing all shout in agreement. Oishi could only stand there clenching his teeth in worry. 'There all really pumped for this. It's going to be a difficult game.'

"We have stomach aches." Seigaku's opponents all shouted at the same time as they held there tummies. "We forfeit." Oishi along with the rest of his team minus Ryoma was left just staring at them wide eyed. The boy had just tilted his head.

"Are you okay?" Ryoma asked in slight concern. Just as the boy was about to carry on asking them he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Why don't you find somewhere to sleep Ryo-Chan? Just make sure it's where we can see you." Nodding the boy wondered to a tree that was away from the path, but at the same time wasn't covered so he could still see both Mitsu and Syu clearly in view.

Dan Taichi smiled as he looked around as he left the bathroom. "I've changed my shirt. I need to scout out Seigaku-desu." He looked over to a group of students who were talking. "Speaking of which my Senpai said that there was a first year in the team." Dan muttered to himself. Just as he was about to search for the said student his head band fell over his eyes. "Jeez. It falls down so easily." He jogged as he tried to lift the cloth off his eyes. "Ahh, I just stepped on something and it's still dark."

Dan heard a groan from underneath him. Finally managing to get the headband back onto his head he looked down to see a boy looking back at him. Ryoma yawned and rubbed one of his eyes.

"That hurt." The cat whispered as he placed a hand on the spot he was stepped on.

"I'm so sorry!" Dan shouted causing Ryoma to look at him confused, since he wasn't expecting an apology. "Hey, you from Seigaku-desu. So that means your going to cheer that first year Echizen on, right?" Dan's eyes sparkled causing the cat to wonder if something was wrong with him. "It's amazing. Even though his a first year like me... I wonder how he plays?"

Fuji was happily talking to Eiji and Kawamura about the finals, but paused when he saw Ryoma talking to someone. Frowning, he ignored the other two third years and went over to his tiger, making sure to stay slightly out of sight.

"Wow, so Echizen is only 151 centimetres tall. He's just barley shorter than me-desu." Dan looked down to his note book at all the information the boy had given him about Ryoma Echizen. From being an all rounder to the moves he uses. "I remember Akutsu saying something about the boy being like a cat." He said softly to himself. Ryoma gave the other a blank look not understanding what he meant, while Syu who was still staying out of sight, with his eyes open in concern. He just hope Jin Akutsu wouldn't tell anyone what he really saw and would keep quiet.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Dan looked to the cat and realized what he said. "I mean nothing. Ah! It slipped down again." His hands going straight to his eyes.

"You saved my life." Dan smiled sweetly at Ryoma. As the cat helped the other push his band up onto his head.

Syu felt a hand slip into his. Looking to the side he watched as Mitsu was watching with concern as well. "What's happened? You seem to be worrying over something?"

"Akutsu's going to tell Ryoma's secret. Isn't he?" Syu sigh as he felt Mitsu squeeze his hand.

"I met up with him during the week. We made a deal. If Ryoma wins he has to keep silent, but if Akutsu does he can do what ever he wants with what he found. I tried to change the deal, but it seemed that was the only one he would agree with." The Seigaku captain frowned. "I haven't told Ryoma about it. I don't want him to feel pressured to win." Giving one last glance at Ryoma. Mitsu let go of Syu's hand. "I have to sort out the order for the finals." With that he left.

"Ryoma!" Kachiro called as he stood with Horio and Katsuo. The cat smirked at Dan as he picked up his regular jacket that he was using as a cushion. Running over to the other freshmen he made his way to the tennis courts with them, leaving a wide eyed Dan Taichi. Syu chuckled, choosing to leave quietly.

"Won by Yamabuki 6-3!" The referee shouted as both Syu and Kawamura made their way to shake hands with their opponents. As they left the court to go to the side-lines you could hear the comments from others saying how strong Yamabuki really was.

It was the golden pair up next and Oishi was trying his best to calm down his beating heart. He still remembered what happened last year when he was paired up with his Senpai. They had lost. It wasn't just a simple loss either. It was 6-0 to Yamabuki. They didn't even score a single point.

"Oishi calm down, nya." Eiji said while not taking his eyes off the opponents and spinning his racket round his wrist. As the match started Ryoma sat on Syu lap, leaning his back into the others chest.

"Why are they just attacking Oishi? I was told that you shouldn't pick on people." Syu smiled placing his lips on the cat's neck before whispering.

"It's the other teams style of playing. This is what happened last year. The third year Oishi was paired up with had this done to him. But Oishi moved to help only to leave half the court unattended." Ryoma's face went slightly red when he felt Syu kiss his neck before humming into his skin. Trying to ignore the tensai, the boy let his eyes drift back to the match.

'Stay clam. They want to ruin our formation.' Oishi kept repeating in his head as he had told Eiji not to help. It was then that one of the Yamabuki players slipped up and missed hitting the ball on his racket directly causing the ball to slowly make it's way onto the other side.

"Moon Volley!" The Seigaku students yelled as Oishi performed his signature move.

"Did you think you could win with the same move as last year?" The vice-captain ask. His voice filled with confidence as he spoke those words.

"Eh, I see. It looks like we can have some fun." Muttered one of players from Yamabuki to the other as they was Eiji and Oishi exchange a high five between them.

Sumire smirked and looked to the bench next to the one she was sitting on. "What's wrong Banji? You don't look to good." Suddenly the man put his hands to his chest in pain. "Hey, you really don't mean..." Sumire got up and went over thinking he was having a heart attack. As she got closer the man stopped and stuck his tongue out like a child.

"Just kidding." Feeling annoyed Sumire pitched one of his cheeks before sitting back in her stop. "Ryuzaki-Sensei. The wall gets higher and higher." His attention went back to the match.