This is the next chapter of the story. Beginning of all beginnings, Prince of Tennis characters don't belong to me but my OC's do. This chapter will start as Junior High then slowly progress to High School so this will be a long one. The rest of the chapters now will have more of the original characters and at the end of the chapter will be in Izumi's POV.

JUNIOR HIGH, GRADUATION

It was emotional for the girls, they'd be attending different high schools after talking it out and told each other that they'll be ok. Inori and Izumi both stand in the gym hall, the 3rd years at the front and the rest of the years behind them. Their principle makes his speech like he does every year, some of the teachers sniffling and proud of their 3rd years for graduating. Izumi stands at the back whilst Inori stands at the front due to height differences, some of the boys still not understanding that Izumi is a girl as they whisper and make fun of her still.

"Finally, I'd like to say well done to all the 3rd years at Hokkai Junior High. I hope you all have bright futures ahead of you, live your life to the fullest and don't look back on regrets. We're all proud of you. Thank you everyone at Hokkai Junior High," the principle finishes his speech and everyone claps, the 3rd years throw all their fists up in the air for graduating and celebrating new life ahead of them. Izumi and Inori both hug each other, their diplomas in hand. Inori's mother snaps a photo of them at the front gate, all the while sniffling.

"Shizuka-san would be so proud of you, Izumi," Inori's mother, whose name is Yuka hugs her like she wa sher own daughter. Izumi hugs her back, some tears spilling out as she felt the warmth of a mothers hug. Inori hugged them both, but her small arms couldn't reach far so Izumi chuckled as she let Inori in the small gap.

"Congratulations, kid," Izumi's father appears, flowers in hand. Inori glares, without realising and Yuka tut's her for it.

"Thanks, I guess. What are you doing here?" Izumi replies, her expression changing. Masa's eyes downcast, then he tries to make eye contact as he clears his throat.

"To congratulate you... since I haven't been there for you I thought maybe I should try," Masa replies and Izumi sighs.

"You're too late, I appreciate you turning up but it doesn't make a difference. If you got time to show up now, you had enough time to show up to all my events previously. Look, this is a happy occassion, you're raining on our parade. Take your flowers and give them to your Mistress, I'm sure she'd like that," Izumi says spitefully, her fists clenched from the anger. Yuka realises this and gently puts her hand on her shoulder.

"If it's alright with you, Masa - we'd like to go out for a celebration meal so we'll make our exit," Yuka speaks, her smile in place and this calms Izumi down as Inori drags her away to the car, all the while glaring at Masa. Masa could only nod, then bows as they leave. For the first time, Izumi cries in the car with frustration and anger that she kept all this time. Yuka pities the poor girl, so she decides to drive them to the hospital to spend time with Shizuka. Upon arriving, they were greeted by the nurse who was smiling at them. They enter the room, there she lays still unmoving and Yuka also greets her as if she was awake.

"Long time no see, Shizuka-san! We graduated," Inori says, grinning as she sits down next to the chair that the nurses provided. They chatted about random things until Yuka decided to step out to get some food for the two girls.

"Dad turned up to graduation, I don't see why he did when he never turned up to anything else," Izumi chats and Inori chews on her poky sticks, all the while listening to her best friend rant, "it's stupid. He turns up to one of the many important events, doesn't even turn up to my tournament, doesn't congratulate me or anything...it pisses me off, mother. You don't deserve to be here," Izumi finishes, sighing heavily and Inori pats her back.

"You planning to stay at your dads even in high school? You know you're more than welcome to stay with us," Inori says again.

"I know, but I can't just crash at yours. I'll happily get a part-time job, it's allowed in high school isnt it? I can save up and start from there," Izumi replies as she munches on a poky stick.

"Yeah but with your volleyball, studies and all that you won't have time," Inori protests, trying to get her to change her mind but Izumi shakes her head. They continue going back and forth on the conversation, when Yuka returns with some sushi - they both thank her and begin to feast after opening the window to let the cool breeze in.

Izumi wakes up to the smell of breakfast being cooked downstairs and she wondered who was cooking. She padded downstairs to see her mother, standing there cooking as if she was never in a coma. Izumi's eyes widen in shock, there was no way that was her mother but as she steps forward - Shizuka hugs her, saying she missed her daughter. Izumi could only cry and hug her tightly, her mother was finally awake and she was making egg omlette, one of Izumi's favorite dishes. As Izumi breaks from the hug, she gasps upon seeing her mother's eyes black and then suddenly everything around her faded - turning black and grey. Her mother begins to get further away, Izumi's hand outstretched to grab whatever she could but to no avail.

"Mother!" Izumi shouts, waking up from her nightmare/dream, sweating. She looks next to her, 6am - it was a weekend and she couldn't believe she dreamt that. She get's up to freshen in the shower, the house still and quiet. Figures, her father was probably somewhere with the mistress. As she gets out the shower, she checks her phone and no messages from anyone. Inori would still be in bed, so Izumi wasn't sure what to do as she was wide awake now. As she ponders around, she decides to make herself a milkshake from the leftover fruits.
In the end she decided to go for a walk, she would of did a run but she showered so walking would be better. She didn't want to visit the hospital today, not after that nightmare - she feels as though if she turned up, it'd happen for real.

Her feet take her to the park where she would usually sit, the swing now too small for her but that didn't bother Izumi one bit. It was her comfort place as this was where she and Shizuka would always play when she was little just a little before meeting Inori. She gently swings, her mind elsewhere - completely unaware of her surroundings. Perhapes instead of being here, she should be practicing her volleyball but she didn't have the energy nor the will.

"It's you again," a deep baritone voice speaks, Izumi looks up to see the same boy as before, she slightly nods.

"Yeah, I didn't get your name, Tezuka though right?" Izumi replies and he just stares then nods.

"Tezuka Kunimitsu," he introduces himself properly and Izumi smiles slightly.

"Kanagawa Izumi, finally got your name," she teases a little and his stoic expression stays the same. Once more, they awkwardly just stand there or him standing, Izumi sitting. After a couple minutes of silence, Izumi couldn't handle it and so she decided to ask him if he wanted to hang out. He seemed hesitant but agreed as they decided to go to that sports shop, Izumi needed new shoes and he somehow needed something new as well. The two walk in awkward silence for a while until Izumi broke it.

"You're a 3rd year at Seigaku right? I assume you're going to the High School branch?"

"Yeah, and you?" He questions back, his response was brief and she shrugs.

"Yeah, I got into Seigaku High School too," she says and he glances at her, he didn't need to glance far becaus the girl was almost his height. Once they reached the shop, she asks the assistant about size shoes, "do you have size 8 shoes for women? Volleyball specifically," the assistant nods as she smiles showing her the section. Izumi wasn't picky about what shoes she wears, as long as they were comfy and actually playable she would grab anything. Tezuka walks the other way to look for new rackets, and after choosing their items, Izumi felt like it was about time they split.

"Well, I'm heading home. It was a pleasure, I hope we'll see each other again in the new year," and with that Izumi walks away, not giving him the chance to reply. She knew if she waited, she'd want to spend more time with him and that was bad, for her anyway. She needed to focus on volleyball and part-time jobs.

HIGH SCHOOL ENTRANCE CEREMONY IZUMI POV

I look at myself in the mirror, my height now reaching 177cm at 16 - I couldn't really believe it. Well I do, but I chose not to. I sigh as I adjust my new uniform that looked abnormal on me, I might as well of worn the boys uniform to suit my long legs. My hair is now shoulder length with a straight cut, my fringe neatly tucked on the side. One more sigh and I adjust my bow, then head downstairs to make my own breakfast of just toast and jam with my protein shake. After I was done, I headed outside, the entrance ceremony should begin in an hour, giving me time to get the train.

Uneventful train journey until I got a text from Inori, saying that she'll miss me badly. I giggle slightly at her message, it would be weird not being with her but the two of us needed this, to follow our own career paths. We'd still see eachother, we are next door neighbours afterall but she takes the other way to Hyotei. Once the train stopped, it was a walking distance and I saw several students with the same uniform walk, all the while chatting to each other. I suppose they either attended the same middle school or they could be the current years.
Upon arriving to the gate, I look up at the building, it's huge and from the corner of my eye I saw their huge field for track, rugby, football and so on. I walk alongside the other new students as we were being guided to the gym hall, which is bigger than I thought.

"All new students please follow the route this way, we will place you in height order as you would all be shown a presentation," a teacher speaks through the megaphone, it wasn't too loud but it was enough to be heard from the back. The shorter ones go in first and then towards the end, it was I and only girl with the boys. I saw familiar brown hair and that stoic expression, however Fuji was slightly towards the middle, in front of me and Tezuka was 4 boys behind - goodness he's tall.

"Saa, fancy seeing you here, Kanagawa," he smiles, greeting me and I'm surprised he wasn't shocked that I'm wearing the girls uniform.

"Excuse me, but I'd like to question as to why you're wearing the girls uniform?" A boy behind me asks rudely and I glared at him, my eyes menacing. Already making enemies, how great. I'm beginning to get fed up, that's one way to ask about your gender. I was about to reply when Fuji did.

"You should mind your business, you're going to make the wrong enemies," with his eyes still closed, he is scary. He chuckles as he faces forward, I look at the boy who was taken aback as he apologised, I just nodded and we all begin to walk inside, ready for the announcement and presentaion from the principle.

Hey guys, I hope it's going alright so far. Feel free to let me know if there is anything wrong :) I'll be writing in Izumi's POV as I mentioned above from now on, occassionally change POV but mostly Izumi's. Stay tuned for the next one!