The Quiescent Princess
It was just the end of the Japan Junior Kantou Invitational Tournament where the selected players from different Tennis clubs won the game against the American Representative. It is a normal morning practice at the tennis court of Seigaku. All of the students were gathered and all fired up for the upcoming National tournament. Meanwhile, at the staff room, Ryuzaki-sensei is talking to Tezuka and Oishi.
"The Nationals are coming very soon, Ryuzaki-sensei," said Oishi with a big smile.
"Oh yeah, we made it…" gives a forced smile, she looks like there's something bothering her.
"You seem so worried? What's bothering you Sensei?"
"Ah.. It's the female tennis club" sighed
"What about the female tennis club?" Tezuka asked
"I heard they ranked fifth at the Kantou Tournament; it's not bad at all. Don't be upset Sensei; they did a good job too."
"Ah yeah, but It's not that"
"Then what is it?"
"The committee gave an invitation letter to participate at the Nationals"
"Oh really! That's great! Both Male and Female clubs will go to the Nationals!"
"The problem is…" paused, she was about to utter the next word when the door slammed and a female student appeared before them.
"Ryuzaki-Sensei (gasped), I-Ise-Chan, has…" she end up burst in crying
"Oi! Hinamori-san? What's the problem?" Oishi looked at the two with such troubled eyes.
Meanwhile the classes start at the third years' 6th class, Eiji seems so energetic as usual as Fuji approaches.
"Hey! Good morning Fuji!"
"Good morning too, Eiji. You look energetic as ever"
"Oh yeah, by the way have you heard the news?"
"What news?"
"Oh, the captain of the female tennis club transferred in the middle of the school term"
"What? That's troublesome, what was her reason?"
"I don't know, that's what I heard from Oishi when he talked with Ryuzaki-sensei, Tezuka and Aoi-chan"
"Aoi-chan is the vice captain of the club right?"
"Oh yeah"
The conversation between the two was cut when the Professor came in.
"Good morning class!"
"Good morning sensei"
"Before we start our lecture, I would like to introduce a new fellow to you"
The students murmur around, it's unusual for a transferee at the middle of the school term.
"Please enter and introduce yourself."
The whole class gasped and was amazed to see the student who entered the room. She is Japanese but then there's something different with, it's like there's a mixture of some westernized appearance, her gestures, eyes that look so fierce, and a cold attitude.
"This one resembles a person I've known before; I just can't figure it out yet, right Fuji?"
"Oh yeah" Fuji smiled it's like there's something in his mind too
It was break time and the students were all rushing to the school cafeteria, Momoshiro as usual carrying lots of food to eat, two hotdogs, hamburgers, blueberry juice, etc... Momo saw Oishi and the others at the table so he decided to sit with them.
"Oi, why all of you were gathering up here guys?" then he noticed the two girls sitting on the other side
"Aoi-senpai and Harada-chan, you're here too, it's very unusual to see the male and female club officers together." Momo stopped when he realized that no one was reacting. He wondered why then Oishi told him what had just happened.
After class all students went to their respective club activities, at the tennis court the 2nd year female club members were chatting while the 1st years were swinging their racquets 'til they finished 50times.
"So what will happen now? Will Aoi-senpai be the new captain?"
"I don't know let's find out who will be the captain after the Intra-School Ranking tournament on next week"
"I will surely be able to be a regular soon! I'm so excited I will give my best!"
Sakuno is not focused on their practice, she heard what her senpais were talking about, and she felt a little bit sad about that, suddenly she remembered what had just happened to the males' tennis club when Tezuka went to Germany for his rehabilitation, but it's different from what happened to their club. They were abandoned by their own captain. That's it, ABANDONED.
They keep on practicing, it's very quite low and their vigor was all down knowing that they have just lost one important person, and that is the support of their very own captain. Without knowing there was another person who is longing for a loss, that person is watching the students while practicing.
"Hello there" a voice called out
"Huh?" the person was surprised; it was Fuji who greeted the person.
"I'm Syusuke Fuji, we're in the same class. You were the transfer student right" he's with Oishi, he smiled at the person to whom Fuji was talking too, then Aoi who just came after at Oishi was a little bit shocked to see that person,
"Uhm, yes, that's me."
Meanwhile, Aoi who is in shock uttered a word in her mind "Is that her? No I can't believe it, how come she's in this school?"
"Hey, Fuji, do you know her?" Oishi asked
"Oh yeah, we're in the same class"
"Hello there, I'm Suichiro Oishi. I'm in my 3rd year; Fuji and I were in the same club by the way. Your name is?"
Aoi on the other side was looking at the person from head to foot, while waiting for her to answer, she seems like she wants to confirm it before she react
"I'm Yuuki Yamada, nice meeting you"
"Oh me too, by the way this is Aoi Hinamori, she's a member of our club too… ah, Hinamori-san?" Oishi saw Aoi quite trembling.
"Y-You are Y-Yuuki… Yamada? As in the Yuuki Yamada?" said Aoi.
"Huh? Yes?" all were wrapped in silence for a second when…
"Yuuki Yamada! The "COURT PRINCESS", the champion of the girls National Championship five years ago!" Aoi said it was very exhilarating.
Everyone was shocked
"Oishi-kun it seems like our problem was solved!"
"hu-huh?"
"Yuuki Yamada! I'm Aoi Hinamori Seigaku's Female Tennis Club Vice-captain. Please, join our club and be our captain!"
"What a straightforward request" said Oishi
"As expected of Aoi-chan, she's always like that" Fuji smiled
"A former Tennis champion, looks like it's a good idea" Oishi seems to agree with what Aoi has for Yuuki.
The three guys looked at Yuuki and waited for an answer. They were all expecting a Yes.
"No.", she said in a dominant tone
"Why?" Aoi asked its look like she cannot accept what Yuuki said
"There's no reason, and besides… I quit playing tennis five years ago" she said and just turned her back.
"Quit… Tennis?" Aoi still can't believe but since she's determined to pursue her to join the club
"Please! Yamada-kun join our club, your talent should not be wasted, please help us... and lead our team's dream to the Nationals!"
Yuuki stopped from what she had heard. "A dream"
"Yamada-kun please, I don't know what happened five years ago. I know that we all have the same dream as a player. I hope you'll understand why I am so persistent. Now that we're abandoned by our own captain, we have lost one thing, there's a missing part, and I don't want to fail anyone else…"
Yuuki turned and looked at Aoi, there were voices in her mind "ABANDONED. LOST. DREAM."
"Please... Fill that missing part! Be our CAPTAIN!"
"All were quiet, it seems like the words that Aoi has just said get into her." Said Oishi
"Uhm, yeah" Fuji agreed
"I… I have…" it was Yuuki
"Why are you guys not in the court?" a voice called, it was Tezuka
"Oh, Tezuka you're here" Oishi said in gladness
Tezuka walks near them, he noticed the unfamiliar silhouette of the girl in front of him
"Tezuka-kun!" it was Aoi, "please help us convince her to join our club!" pointing out to the girl before him, before he said a word that girl turned around and look, she was surprised, the same with Tezuka
"Ku-Kunimitsu Tezuka?" she said in blankly
"You know each other?" Oishi is getting it imprecise
"That's great! That means Yuuki-san can be a part of Seigaku because they were acquaintances of Tezuka-kun!" Aoi said in gladness but it was all ruined when….
"I told you… I refuse, and I don't play tennis anymore, I will be just a burden for your team… you'll just have another lost because of me…" and she turned back and left them
"There was sadness in her eyes" Fuji said in his mind and he took a look at Tezuka who seemed to be worried at Yuuki "Why?" another question popped up in his mind
"Running away again… Yuuki?" it was Tezuka, it made her stopped then she answered
"It's none of your business…" and walked away without looking at him
Then there were only Tezuka, Fuji, Oishi and Aoi left.
"She said she's not playing tennis anymore… for five years" Aoi is really sad, "I can't believe why, what happened that time?"
"It looks like we'll be having a hard time convincing her, what d'you think? Tezuka?" that was Fuji, now he was smiling there's something in his mind
"Yeah."