[1]

Ryoma Echizen

I signed as I stared out the window of the car. How long had it been? It seems like only yesturday I was standing on these grounds, handling my raquet and winning the final point in the Nationals. 2 years ago, I had led our team to victory, a hard earned one. Now I'm back, a high school student this time. However, it's like nothing had changed.-

"RY-O-MA!~" Well...except that. I turned around to see the same blue eyes staring at me, waving from the bleachers.

"Hurry up or we'll be late!~" She cheered. I sighed and gradually made my way over. When I did, I flicked her on the forehead.

"You know, you're getting annoying. Why are you here again?" I mumbled as I watched her understurbed cheerfulness.

"Because I love you silly!"

"You didn't have to follow me back to Japan." I grumbled. Her eyes looked at me in confusion and pain.

"You don't want me here?" She asked, tears forming.

Why oh why are girls so emotional I thought to myself with a sigh. I stepped towards her and pulled her into a hug.

"You know I was kidding. Now stop being a cry baby." I mumbled.

She chuckled. "Cry baby? I just wanted a hug. You know you always fall for that. Love me too much?"

"We're gonna be late." I mumbled, avoiding the topic. Kiss a girl and she follows you a life time. I can't possibly imagine what she would do if I told her I'm in love with her.

"Say it." she said in a threatening tone as she clung to my arm. It was 7:00a.m. Our flight had landed one week ago but now we were just taking a walk before our first week of school here in Japan.

"We're gonna be late." I repeated.

"Say it." She persisted.

"We're gonna be late."

"Tell me you love me!" she pouted.

"What makes you think I will?" I mumbled walking on ahead.

"Fine don't." She mumbled, "I'll see you at school then." By the time I turned around to see what she meant, she had already taken off towards down the street. So troublesome. I thought as I ran after her. As I passed her, I took her hand and half raced her to school.

As we made our way to the office, barely any students were there, only a few were starting to arrive. "Shall we walk around?" I asked, turning to look at her. She looked up at me, her light brown hair shining in the light. "Let's go!" She cheered happily. I sighed. Her constant happiness was always something I had to work on getting used to. But I smiled. It was what made her, the way she was.

It didn't take us long to walk along the side of the school and soon to the back.

"How'd I know." She chuckled. We were at the tennis courts, there were many students there, at least every court was filled. Tennis practice, I figured. I sighed, I missed those times. Of course, I played plenty of times in America but playing tennis here was different.

"OCHIBI!~," the oh too farmiliar voice shouted. It felt as if no time had passed and everything was the same as 2 years ago. The same senpais, the same team. I guessed I wouldn't be surprised if they were all still on the same tennis team, just older.

"Oi! Echizen! Is that really you?!"

"Echizen!" All three senpais, Momo-senpai, Kikumaru-senpai and Fuji-senpai yanked open the door to the tennis courts and ran over.

"OCHIBI!! LONG TIME NO SEE!" I twitched. I'd forgotten how loud this one senpai could be. He ran over and jumped on me in an embrace.

"Ei-Eiji-senpai!" I protested. Things just don't seem to change around here. Even though the fact is, I'd grown, the senpai still towered over me which made me wonder if my growth spurt had been a hoax the whole time.

I heard a soft chuckle beside me. "See I'm not the only one that does that, you over exaggerate Ryoma!~" I sighed. That's true. But she's probably the only one that does do that, that doesn't nearly knock me down every time.

"Well I'm gonna go head to the office, I'll be back in a bit okay?~! Don't miss me too much!" She reached up and pecked me on the cheek with her very soft lips. I wouldn't ever admit it, but everytime she does that, my heart gives an irratical flip. "Bye!~" She sang, skipping off. No literally, I mean skipping off.

"Oi! Echizen! Who is that girl? She's so cute!" Momo said. Beside him Fuji chuckled. Eiji, who was still hanging on my shoulders, nudged me on the head.

"Senpai!" I protested again.

"Ochibi finally has a girlfriend, neh?" he laughed, cheering.

I sighed. "Well, that's what they call them. Girlfriend...." I never really got my head wrapped around that fact. But yeah, I guess that's true.

"So, how'd you guys meet?" Fuji asked in his usual calm state.

"Long story..."

note: this is neither my first prince of tennis fanfic nor first non-oneshot. but it is the first prince of tennis fanfic I'd updated on the web. Please support me. It means a lot. Chapters will be up once - twice or more a week depending on my mood. but there will be at least once a week. Thanks for the support. (Btw i still haven't watched the OVAs I'm soo behind. But I didn't feel like it because it wasn't being uploaded on youtube but it is now :P) And just so you know. Ryoma is an awesome guy but I totally own Fuji and Eiji. :P if not, just Eiji. Or Eiji and Ryoma... but something along those lines. Ttyl. Keep Reading!