Author's notes: This is based on the manga, since I like it far better than the anime, especially the characterization of Sakuno and Kirihara. I have hopes to make it into a series, depending on how people like it.

Chapter 1

Kirihara Akaya quickly slinked away from the Seigaku tennis courts, trying to put as much distance as possible between himself and the fiasco he caused. He for one didn't want to suffer the brunt of Tezuka's wrath, unlike those poor luckless Seigaku students.

"Uggh…it's just bad luck today!"

Earlier, he overslept on the bus to Kakinoki, thereby missing his school's practice match. He then inadvertently started the ruckus currently unfolding on the tennis courts, and Tezuka's foreboding expression had compelled him to make a quick exit before he found himself running laps with everyone else. Now he found himself the owner of one of Seigaku's tennis balls.

He stuffed the ball in his pocket. Knowing Tezuka, the captain would have every ball accounted for, but he just didn't quite have the courage to go back. He didn't think he would get off lightly if he did, and he needed his body in one piece if he was going to survive vice-captain Sanada's wrath.

He morosely wandered around the school, hoping to find the way he went in. He found himself lost instead. Seigaku had a big campus, nearly matching Rikkai in size.

Pok! Pok!

Akaya heard the unmistakable sounds of a tennis ball landing repeatedly against a wall. Hoping that it wasn't one of the tennis club members who had been on the courts, he cautiously peeked around the side of the building.

"Whew!" He sighed in relief. "It's only a girl." One who was earnestly practicing her forehand swing.

Akaya scrutinized her closely. She had terrible form and worse reflexes. Despite her awkwardness, she gamely went after the ball, every sign of concentration evident in her flushed face.

The girl's pig-tails bounced up and down as she swung. Not fashionable at all, he decided. She didn't look very athletic either, but that must be why she was trying so hard. On the whole, she was somewhat plain-looking, expect that for some inexplicable reason her clumsiness was undeniably cute…

Eh? Where'd he come up with that? "Come on, Akaya," he reprimanded himself. "You were never one to ogle girls."

Absorbed in watching her ungainly form, he almost missed the speeding tennis ball that headed for his face. His lightning-fast reflexes saved him, as he quickly twisted his face away from the incoming missile and snatched the ball in midair.

"Oh! I'm sorry!" The girl, blushing, apologized profusely, "Are you okay? I'm so sorry!"

"Nah, I'm fine." He dismissively waved her away.

Sakuno examined him, wondering what an outsider was doing here in Seigaku. She noticed the tennis racket bag slung over his arm. Probably one of the competitors scouting the male tennis team, she concluded.

"Are you looking for the tennis courts? It's over…"

"No!" Akaya hastily interrupted her. Anywhere BUT back there.

"Actually, I'm looking for the way out." He smiled, putting on what he hoped was his best charm. 'Would you mind terribly if you could direct me?"

Sakuno gave him the directions, perplexed at the panicky expression she'd seen on his face.

"Umm…" she said shyly. "Can I have my tennis ball back?"

"This? Oh yeah, sure." He casually tossed the ball in her direction. She ended up fumbling the ball, sending it rolling back in his direction.

Definitely a clumsy one.

He sighed, picked up the ball, and walked towards her. "Here ya go." He deposited the ball in her palm, observing that he had at least 15 centimeters on her.

Sakuno blushed furiously at the unexpected closeness, incoherently stammering out apologies.

Akaya raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. So she was a shy one, huh? He smiled mischievously. Maybe he could have some fun…

"So..you look like you could use some help in tennis. Want me to help you out a bit? I'm not half-bad, if I do say so myself." Akaya silently congratulated himself on his modesty. After all, what girl could resist such a modest invitation?

"Umm..that's all right…I…"

"That's all right," he overrode her stuttering protests. "It's no trouble at all. So how 'bout it?" He leaned close to her, observing her discomfort in glee…

Except that glancing at his watch, he realized that he had completely forgotten the time.

"Damn!" I'm going to miss the bus!" He quickly ran away, calling out "thanks" behind his back.

Sakuno watched him run away. "What a strange guy…" She blushed again, remembering his uncomfortable proximity.

"Though a little scary, too…" Despite his seeming cheerfulness, he had an aura of intimidation around him, like the ones she'd felt emanating from her senpai…

She furiously shook her head. "Sakuno, concentrate on your tennis!" she scolded herself, willing her mind to turn back to her swing.

"Ah! There's my way out!" Akaya sped up when he saw the open gate. In his rush, he blindly stumbled into someone, and they both fell heavily to the ground. "Hey, kid, you all right?" he asked the boy.

"Yeah," the kid mumbled.

Akaya noticed the tennis racket slung over the kid's back. "So you're in the club huh? Kinda late, aren't you…"

Well, he thought, as good a time as any to return the ball. He casually tossed the ball in the boy's direction. "Return this on your way!"

To his surprise, the kid caught the ball on the face of his racket, not even bothering to glance back.

Oh? Pretty good, he mused. Maybe Seigaku isn't that weak this year.

Minutes later, Akaya was once again parked on the bus. Well, might as well take a nap, he decided. As he lounged back in his chair, his thoughts drifted to images of a short, pig-tailed hair girl… She was awfully cute, except that…

The sudden realization jolted him back into awareness.

"I forgot to get her name!"