Tennis no Oujisama © Konomi Takeshi, Jump, Shueisha

"Contrary to popular belief, Ryoga does know how to ask permission whenever he wants to take some things from Ryoma."

Permission

All Ryoma wanted was a moment of silence.

Just one moment. That would have been enough. Just one short moment just so he could do the Literature homework which Rinko had strictly ordered he'd do or else suffer the consequences of a tennis-less weekend. For Ryoma, a weekend without tennis was surely unthinkable so obeyed his mom like any dutiful son. And he was certain he'd be able to finish his homework fast. He really just needed that one moment of silence.

But that day, the Tennis Prince realized that silence was simply impossible inside the Echizen household-especially with Ryoga around.

"Hey, Chibisuke, can I borrow your Gameboy Advance?" the older boy yelled as he hastily pushed the door open, loudly slamming it against the wall.

Ryoma muttered a curse inwardly as he raised his eyes off his book. Didn't Ryoga know how to do things without making much noise? Without looking back, the Seigaku Regular replied in a blatantly irritated tone, "It's on the cabinet."

"Thanks!"

Ryoma heard the older boy's footsteps coming nearer and then farther. And then , he heard the door slam, signifying that Ryoga had already left. Ryoga's absence caused Ryoma to sigh in relief.

But a minute later, he realized that there's was actually no reason for him to feel relieved yet.

"Chibisuke, can I also borrow that new game you bought two days ago?"

Despite his growing vexation, Ryoma forced himself to sound calm. "It's in the cabinet."

"Okay, thanks!"

After he heard the door slam for the second time, Ryoma waited for a short while for any more of Ryoga's unwanted intrusions. When Ryoga didn't show any signs of coming back, the Tennis Prince returned his full attention back to his book. But no sooner than he had done this…

"Chibisuke, can I borrow your mobile phone, too?"

Gritting his teeth, Ryoma grasped the edges of his book tightly. Really, his patience with the older Echizen was starting to grow thin. "Get it on the bedside table."

A few seconds later, he heard the door close for the third time.

Ryoma released an exasperated sigh. He knew that if Ryoga didn't stop barging in and out of his room, he wouldn't be able to concentrate on his work, so when the door opened for the fourth time…

"Hey Chibisuke…"

Ryoma hastily turned around and glared at the other person in the room. "Could you just take what you want and stop bothering me!"

Ryoga paused momentarily as he looked at the annoyed expression on the younger boy's face. Afterwards, he shrugged. "Well,if you say so..." Smirking, he brought the mobile phone he had borrowed earlier to his ears.

And then he spoke the words, which instantly added him to the Tennis Prince's blacklist:

"Ah, Sakuno-chan? I'm sorry but Chibisuke is not available right now. I am very free to go out with you though." He grinned at Ryoma evilly. "Hey, Chibisuke, I'll be borrowing your girlfriend okay?"

Fin.

Thank you for reading.