So so so sorry about the late update. Life's catching up again and I'm getting more working hours. Plus this chapter was a bitch to write. Well, enjoy :)
CHAPTER 153
It had been 3 days since the match against Inui and Tezuka. Shan was expected to arrive home after school. Meanwhile everyone was more concerned about a certain second year who hadn't turned up to practice since he found out he was no longer a regular.
The trio were busy picking up tennis balls and like normal gossiping about the latest news going around the school. "Yeah, I heard he folded up his tennis jacket and just left." Kaichiro said as he grabbed the closest ball to him.
Suddenly hearing a yawn the all looked to the fence to notice Ryoma waking up. "Ah, Ryoma!" Two of them shouted as Horio stared at the slightly dazed look in the boys eyes.
"Oi Echizen! So do you know is Momo-Senpai is coming back anytime soon?" The unibrow asked as he folded his arms.
"I haven't seen him in a while. Last time I saw Momo was the ranking matches. Anyway won't Momo just come back when he's hungry? That's what Shan use to do if I ever went off. I would get hungry after a time and come back." The three tried not to sweat drop at Ryoma's comment instead they nodded finding it easier to agree with the cat's logic then try to explain why his reasoning was wrong.
"First years over there. Your voices aren't loud enough!" Came the commanding tone of Oishi's.
"He seems quiet irritable today." Inui noted as him and Fuji stood to the side watching others practice. "Ryoma." The data collector called the boy as he passed him. "How about we warm up together?" Getting a nod from the first year, Inui and Ryoma went to a free court.
Seconds later everyone was looking to the court Oishi was on when they heard shouting and as they saw Eiji get pushed down to the ground by his best friend. "Eiji, sorry I..."
"Now I'm pissed." The red-head announced. "I don't want to be paired up with that guy anymore."
"Eiji, Oishi no fighting on the courts. Both of you 20 laps." Tezuka appeared on the scene as he looked around at the team making sure they went back to their practice.
Momo sighed as he rested his racket against his shoulder. Just as he was about to carry on he felt something hit the back of his head. "What are you doing here Momoshiro?" Turning round while rubbing the back of his head the second year raised both eyebrows in surprise.
"Ann." Tachibana folded her arms as she looked at the state of Momo.
"Is this okay? To be here? Shouldn't you be practicing for the Kantou tournament?" In the back ground were the two doubles players that played both Momo and Ryoma in the first round of the tournament trying to give Ann the silent message of 'stop talking.'
"All our players have recovered from their injuries. They are currently undergoing intense training under my brothers coaching in order to get ready for the kantou tournament. We'll get our revenge on Yamabuki and Seigaku of course and Kamio is still saying how he'll defeat Hyotei's captain Atobe..." After she finished she noticed Momo wasn't even looking at her. "Hey, are you even paying attention?"
"Hm... Yeah. I can't lose either." He smiled as he faced her with confidence in his eyes. "You want to play a game of tennis? You do know how to play, right?" He asked as they doubles pair told Momo that they were leaving before wishing him good luck in the tournament.
"Of course." As they started the game Momo sent a power shot towards her. 'From the looks of it she won't be able to return it.' He smirked only to loose face a second later when she sent a perfect shot back. 'The must be it... My bad habit.' he thought as he went to the ball sending it back across the net. 'I tend to judge my opponents strength bases on their appearance.'
Jumping up Momo did his finishing move the dunk smash. "Don~!" Ann smiled.
"Looks like you're back to your regular self." The Seigaku student turned his back as he let out a sigh.
"Really? But I don't feel any different." Glancing to the girl he carried on speaking. "But I want to thank you Ann." As she was about to reply to Momo they both looked over to the stands when they heard a voice.
"Looks like you're having a lot of fun Momoshiro." Keigo smirked as he looked down from the stands at the two on the court.
"Hi." Momo glanced at all the Hyotei regulars.
"I won't be making the same mistake twice. We'll be using our real regulars against Seigaku." Leaning forward he placed his elbow on his knee and rested his head on his hand.
"Hey Atobe, is this guy really a Seigaku regular?" Oshitari asked as he stared down at the second year. "He doesn't seem like much..." He smiled at the end of his comment.
"Hey! If you want to insult me then do it inside the court." Momo yelled as Oshitari folded his arms.
"Are you going to pair up with that girl?"
"Sorry, but we only play doubles." Mukahi called down from next to his partner. From the stair case that lead up to the courts they all turned when they heard the excited voice of a certain cat.
"I found you Momo!" Keigo held in the urge to shout out to the boy, but lucky Momo beat him to it.
"Eh, Ryoma are you here on your own? What about Fuji-Senpai and Tezuka-Senpai?" Ryoma bounced over to Momo happy to of found the other.
"Mitsu had to go to the old lady's office and I snuck away when no one was paying attention. This was the first court I could think of and I kind of managed to follow your smell here." The Hyotei Regulars looked at the cat who wasn't taking any notice of them.
"Aren't you the first year that beat that monster Akutsu? He must have not been very impressive if he got defeated by someone like you." Oshitari commented as it was not long followed by a comment from his teammate Mukahi.
"You said it Yuushi! The delinquent must have smoked too much. I bet his body ran out of stamina!" Laughing he jumped off the stand landing behind Momo. "How about I take both you guys on at once?"
"No Way!" Both Seigaku students shouted at the same time. "Ryoma sucks at has no sense of sharing the court with others." The cat huffed.
"You're one to talk. You barge round the court like a wild boar." Storming over to the stands, Ryoma looked up to Keigo. "I want a match against you." Atobe smirked as he watched golden eyes brimming with determination. Just as he was about to reply to Ryoma's challenge his phone rang.
Kei walked away from the others so no one heard the conversation that was going on. When he returned he slipped his phone back into his pocket. "Everyone, Ore-Sama's got some business to deal with." The Hyotei students gave their goodbye to their captain before Keigo turned to the two Seigaku students. He grabbed Ryoma's hand and pulled the cat towards where his limo was waiting. "Momoshiro hurry up or Ore-Sama will leave you behind."
Momo shifted awkwardly on the seat in the limo as he stared at Ryoma who was sitting on Keigo's lap while he talked about what he had done at school today. "And then I went to go look for Momo when Oishi and Eiji started to fight."
"Brat, I thought we discussed last night. I was going to sort out what was happening with Momoshiro while you stayed at school with Syu and Mitsu." Momo frowned when he heard that.
"Wait! What do you mean you were meant to sort me out?" Looking to the Hyotei captain with caution.
"Mitsu may not look like he cares, but when you stopped showing up to practice he did start to worry. It's annoying because he starts having these weird habits. You can't imagine how hard it is to sleep next to some one whose either turning every other second or sitting up to read while murmuring to himself." Momo tried not to show he was surprised at the small amount of information.
As they sat the rest of the ride in silence, Keigo dropped them off at the entrance of the school before telling the cat that he would meet him back at home. Momo headed straight over to where the captain was ready to receive his punishment like a man. All around the courts everyone was making bets on how many laps he was going to run while Eiji had accidentally talked to Oishi which ended up with them making up with each other. "100 laps." All the students one and off the courts were left speechless.
Tezuka looked around as he knew Ryoma was probably trying to avoid punishment for wandering off without informing anyone. "Ryoma 200 laps." He shouted knowing that where ever the cat was he was bound to be in hearing range.