Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Like, I don't even have an excuse. I've been thinking of transferring this story onto archive of our own. Opinions?

"Speech"- Japanese

"Speech" English+ location references

'thoughts'

angelg0722 does not own Prince Of Tennis

Nanjiroh's Truck

"U-Umm..Ryomi?" Sakuno asked.

"Yeah?" Ryomi looked up. She sat in the bed of the truck. Around her were all 300 balls.

"I-I wanted to thank you. You were really amazing." Sakuno said.

"Hn."

"Yeah! You were totally awesome!" Tomoka cheered.

A soothing silence settled over the three girls.

"We're not going down without a fight." Sakuno said.

"Pardon?" Ryomi asked.

"I said, we're not going to go down wihtout a fight. Seigaku will win this year." Sakuno gulped at such a brazen statement but didn't take it back.

"We're strong this year. Takumi will defeat you." Sakuno blushed at the name.

"Takumi?" Ryomi raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah! He's a freshman regular just like you! Takumi Hitori!" Tomoka added.

Ryomi grinned.

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

Echizen Household

"Ryomi are you going to be on time?" Nanjiroh raised an eyebrow.

Ryomi paused, toast raised half-way to her mouth.

"I'll be fine. Seaweed-senpai is picking me up." Ryomi continued munching. "Rikkaidai is the first seed anyhow. Our game don't start until this afternoon."

Kanagawa District Tournament

"Hisa-chan Hurry up! C'mon!" Haruhi excitedly hopped around.

"I'm coming. I'm coming" chided Daisuke.

"I can't wait to see Ryo-chii play!Hisa-chan, hurry UP! We're going to be late!" Haruhi huffed.

The two stopped in front of the information and registry desk.. only to find out that the Rikkaidai team wasn't scheduled to play for another forty-five minutes.

Daisuke glared at Haruhi. Haruhi meeped.

Whispers picked up. Everyone seemed to stop whatever they were doping to stare in awe.

"Hey, they're here."

"They are finally here"

"Lucky!" Haruhi proclaimed. "It looks Ryo-chan got here just now too!" She pointed at the yellow mass moving toward the information desk.

Nearby witnesses muttered and pointed at the team as they approached the deck.

"Rikkaidai Fuzoku would like to register." said the blue-haired gentle-faced captain.

"Whoa, it's Rikkaidai."

"Wow they look tough."

"Look it's Yukimura-san!"

"What's that girl doing with them? I didn't know Seigaku had a manager."

"Whoa, a pretty one too."

"Ryo-chiii!" a voice yelled.

Ryomi turned around surprised- and was immediately glomped.

Daisuke sheepishly pried his childhood friend off of Ryomi.

"Daisuke? Haruhi? Why are you guys here?"

The rest of the team watched curiously.

"Well Hisa-chan here is the photographer for the newspaper club! They needed photos from the tennis team! So I decided to come along."

"I should probably introduce you then." Ryomi muttered.

"Senpai-tachi, these are my classmates, Daisuke Hisayuki and Haruhi Akito." The two said freshmen bowed.

"On my team's behalf, its nice to meet you- or at least re-meet in my case" Yukimura replied.

"We should probably hurry up, our opponent' Singles 3 match should be starting soon." Renji warned.

"Thank you Renji." And with that the team headed toward the courts.

Court C

"Alright so for the first game, our line up is Doubles 2, Marui-kun and Renji-kun." Both nodded. "Bring us that first victory."

"Than we have Jackal and Niou." Yukimura flipped a page on the clipboard. "Their school's forte is net shots, make sure to keep an eye out you two."

"Yaguyuu, your taking Singles 3." Yaguyuu simply readjusted his spectacles in acknowledgement.

"Singles 2 is Akaya." Akaya pumped his fist.

"And last but not least, Sanada is playing Singles 1" Yukimura smiled. "Win."

And with that, everyone dispersed and started warming up for their respective matches.

"Wait a second, buchou." Ryomi stopped Yukimura. " Why aren't I playing?" She pouted.

Yukimura smilled. "Actually Echizen-san I had been meaning to tell you some news. After careful deliberation, Sanada and I have decided that you won't be playing in official matches until the Kanto tournament."

"Nandatou! What do you mean! Why!" Ryomi yelped.

"Well, the fact that Rikkadai has a female regular would be devasting wouldn't it? We decided that it would be better if other schools assumed that you were our manager. That way you would be able to scope out the other teams."Yukimura answered.

"What with your analytical eye, it only made sense." Ryomi frowned.

"Hmph. Renji-Senpai could have done just a good as a job as I could." Ryomi argued.

"Yes, but he is recognized." Yukimura paused. "Please, Ryomi? These matches are no challenge for you anyhow." Yukimura gestured towards the court where Renji and Marui were pounding their opponents to the ground.

"Fine." Ryomi snapped.

"Arigato Echizen-san! So right now, we will be sending you to the Tokyo districts to watch Seigaku's matches." Ryomi npodded glumly.

"Oh! You can bring Haruhi-san and Daisuke-kun as well if you wished."

Ryomi merely grumbled and shot Yukimura a dirty look as she exited the court. She closed the gate with a harsh clang.

Tokyo District Tournament

"So how do the tennis tournaments actually work?" Daisuke asked.

"Well, In order to get into the annual tournaments, contestants from each school gather in their respective areas." Ryomi explained. "There is a District tournament, prefecture tournament, Regional Tournament than Nationals."

"Oh... And Rikkaidai as been the National Champions for the last two years?" Ryomi nodded.

"We've also been the Kanto Regional Champions for the last 15 years. Which means we went to Nationals but didn't necessarily win the last two years we were champions because that was when Yukimura-buchou, Sanada-fuku-buchou, and Renji-kun joined the team."

"Wow! Our school is awesome isn't it!" Haruhi exclaimed.

"Hn." Was the only reply they gought from the tennis player.

"There's Court A." pointed Daisuke.

The trio arrived just to hear the announcement.

"Game, Set and Match! Seigaku's Kaidoh Kaoru Wins 7-5!"

"Ehhhh? 7-5... What a tight game." Ryomi says as the bandanna wearing player limps his way over to his bench.

The white and blue clad players congratulate him.

"Excuse me, do you know what the overall score is?" Daisuke politely asked a nearby brown-haired girl.

"Its 2-1 right now. Fudomine won the first two Doubles sets." The girls replied.

"Hehhh? Seigaku dropped two sets?" Ryomi muttered.

"Hey. Look where you are walking!" A voice snarled. "Gomen!" A small voice squeaked.

The trio looked over surprised. There was Sakuno!

"Just a sorry? You stepped on my shoe! And it's a limited edition too!" 'Uh oh...'

"Compensate me 3000 yen for cleaning fees!" The boy demanded.

Ryomi was about to intervene when a another unexpected person join the fray.

"Hey, stop pursuing the matter. She already apologized." amended the brown-haired girl who was previously watching the match.

"Busybody! Get lost!" Seeing that the boy was about to raise his arm to strike, Ryomi decided to act.

"Ow!" The boy howled while clutching his hand. He had tried to hit the girl only to be blocked by a red racket!

"How about I report you for harassing girls during the tournament and get you banned instead." Ryomi said glaring.

"Ryomi-chan!" Sakuno said in recognition.

"Yea, you big bully!" Haruhi added.

The boy reluctantly left cursing at his stinging hand.

"Arigatou!" Sakuno exclaimed. Ryomi simply nodded.

"Thank you, You saved me from a nasty hit." the brown haired girl said gratefully. "I'm Tachibana Ann."

"Echizen Ryomi. And that's Haruhi Akito and Daisuke Hisayuki." Both waved hello- or at least Daisuke waved and Haruhi gleefully jumped around Harassin- alking to Sakuno.

"Now let's hurry up and watch the match."

"The fourth match will now begin. Seigaku's Takumi Hitori and Fudomine's Ibu Shinji."

"Seigaku's using a freshman?"Anne said in shock. "He won't stand a chance!"

"You know them?" question Daisuke.

"Un! Tachibaba Kippei, the captain is my older brother. " Ann answered.

"Is this that Takumi person you guys were talking about?" questioned Ryomi.

"Y-Yeah! He can do it!" Sakuno studdered.

"Hn. We'll see."