Echizen Ryoma, the lone daughter of Nanjiroh, the legendary samurai of the tennis circuits had immense talent in Tennis but one thing: She doesn't want to play at all and is more interested in Karate. Can someone convince her to play?

Chapter 25: Bring back what's lost

xOx

Things were not so good for Seigaku's Tennis Club. This month's Intra Ranking Tournaments results just got Momoshiro booted from the Regulars because he was in Block A, with Inui and Tezuka as his opponents. Inui, whom they later got wind from Kaidoh that he trains 2.25 times harder than what he assigns them showed his results. Even Tezuka had slightly had a hard time with him.

And since then...it had been three days since Momoshiro had shown up. 'Hey Ryoma-san...' said Kachiro as F-3 approached her. 'Is Momo-sempai alright?'

'...who knows. I haven't seen him lately either.' said Ryoma as she went to get a ball.

'What do you mean 'who knows'? Aren't you two best friends?!' Katsuo continued. 'Aren't you worried?'

'Not really. I know Momo. He'll get over it and come back. Give him time.' said Ryoma. 'A guy hates showing his feelings to others. He's probably venting out somewhere where he won't be seen.' "Just like someone I know." she thought as she looked at her buchou who was barking orders. Even Tezuka was having a hard time giving her orders without sporting a pained look on his face, but she felt nothing for him literally. He was just a friend to her.

Then she saw Oishi being irritable lately and he even made a mistake by hitting the net, and he took it out on the freshmen, although gently. 'Hey you freshmen! Your voices aren't loud enough!!'

'...Oishi seems irritated lately.' said Inui as he walked behind Fuji.

'Yeah...it's because he cares more about club affairs than anyone else as he's also worried about Momo.' Fuji told him before chuckling, as Inui then approached Ryoma.

'Hey, since you don't have anyone to warm up with, how about with me?' he asked.

'OK. As long as I'm not drinking your crap, Inui-sempai.'

In their little match...Oishi blew up on Kikumaru, as the others nearby winced as indeed, he was being insensitive and that did not suit well with the club's motherhen. '...Inui-sempai...I think the club's going bonkers.' she said as they watched Kikumaru and Oishi have a fight...for the first time.

'...that's an understatement, Ryoma.' said Inui as their game ended. 'I think it will only end...if they made up.'

'But you know men. Too stubborn to admit some things they trouble themselves.' Ryoma sighed. 'I'll find the idiot and put an end to this.' and she walked away.

'Ryoma, practice isn't over yet, get back here.' Tezuka called out as he saw her leaving the courts when it was only halfway through practice.

'I can hardly call this ridiculous atmosphere 'practice'.' and she left. Tezuka kneaded his temples, wishing for an aspirin.

'...indeed, this atmosphere is choking for a girl who's more sensitive and perceptive concerning emotions, Tezuka.' said Fuji, walking towards him. 'Did you not hear her say she'll find Momo to put an end to this?' he asked the buchou who sighed.

'That's if Oishi and Eiji made up first.' he said. He just sent the Golden Pair onto twenty laps for fighting in the courts, which Kikumaru started. Oishi was right, Kikumaru was being insensitive, but he could have said it at least gently, not blow out on the childish redhead.

Ryoma knew one place she could find her best friend, if he were not in school: Street Tennis. There, she saw him play with Ann from Fudoumine. "She's not bad and very strong in basics." she thought. "If she joined I won't be the lone girl in this freaking game." she sighed as she watched the two. When their match was over, she decided to show up by clapping her hands, if it weren't for the fact a laugh got to her first.

'I thought you'd be here, Momoshiro.' said Atobe as his team showed up. 'We'll get back at the Kantou Tournament for sure at Fudoumine...your brother hit us hard, Ann-chan.'

'You got NO right to call me by name!' Ann snapped.

'Heh, that doesn't matter.' said Atobe as Ryoma chose to show up to break up a potential fight.

'Neh, you're skipping practice lately.' she said as she came up to show herself to Momoshiro and Ann, as well as to the Hyoutei players. 'Buchou will sentence you to a hundred laps, you know.'

'Ryoma!'

'Ryoma-san, you came at the right time!' Ann sighed in relief. She just can't stand the arrogant Hyoutei regulars and Momoshiro alone is not enough to help her withstand. Atobe was relieved to see his princess again and he saw her in her regulars' jersey, surprising his teammates.

'So you came, Ryoma.' said Atobe, but to his surprise, Ryoma asked him a clueless 'Who are you?'

'HOW CAN YOU FORGET ME IN JUST ONE NIGHT?!' Atobe cried in shock and disbelief, staring at her. 'We met at the party!!'

'...one night?' all three crowed, confused. Then Momoshiro remembered his best friend's one annoying trait. 'Crap...I forgot! Ryoma forgets any person she only met once and never remembers ever again unless she sees that person everyday!' that was quite a shocker for Ann and his highness himself and Ann was lucky she was not yet forgotten by the girl even though they met just ONCE.

'...what are you talking about? I don't even know his monkeyness, Momo-sempai.' Ryoma drawled. 'I came here to drag your sorry ass home.' she said, yanking and twisting his ear, earning a loud yelp.

'OWOWOWOWOWWW! DAMN WOMAN LEMME GO!!' Momoshiro yelped as Ryoma continued to drag him.

'By the way Ann-san, you're pretty good yourself. I saw everything.' said Ryoma, turning to look at the brunette. 'If you're a regular I'd be glad to play you.' Ann laughed sheepishly.

'Even if I did, I know I won't stand a chance with Ryoma-san.' she said, laughing as they left.

'That girl...is she the rumored female player?' asked a bluehaired boy with glasses.

'Yes. She defeated Fudoumine and St. Rudolph's aces and Yamabuki's monster Akutsu.' said a silver-haired boy. 'She's so cute.' he sighed, making Atobe twitch.

"I can't believe she forgot about me that quickly!"

Back at Seigaku's Tennis Club...indeed, Momoshiro was sentenced to a hundred laps, a new record which shocked the whole club. 'I knew that'd be the penalty.' Ryoma said, approaching Tezuka who sighed. 'Hundred laps...frightening.'

'Where'd you find him, Ryoma?' asked Inui.

'Street Tennis, letting off steam. I'm sure by there he realized the reason why he lost, so it's easy to drag him back here.' said Ryoma. 'I can also see Oishi-sempai and Eiji-sempai made-up too.' she said as she saw the two boys laughing together.

'It's back to normal as you wanted, Ryoma.' said Tezuka. 'By the way, for leaving in mid-practice, drink Inui's Penal Tea.' he added.

'WHAT?!'