Important to note: Timeline starts two years after the original PoT storyline. The Rikkai tennis regulars consist of the same members as in the original timeline. Having graduated from middle (or Junior High) school, they're currently pursuing the remainder of their secondary education at Rikkai Dai Fuzoku's senior high school department. With the exception of Kirihara, the rest of them are in their sophomore years.

This story centers around the Rikkai regulars and the OC. But hey-ho! Who's going to stop other canon characters from popping up every now and then?

While the plot doesn't seem to be going anywhere at first with all the 'humour', I can assure you this isn't the case as the story progresses. Nevertheless, I hope you'll enjoy this story.

Rikkai Dai Fuzoku – a prestigious private institution in Kawasaki of Kanagawa Prefecture; notoriously well-known throughout the Kanto Region for its competitiveness, drive and formidable achievements in the field of academics, sports and cultural activities. All in part thanks to the diligent efforts of the students revered and feared by rival schools, but also among peers.

But like any other schools, it's an ideal ground for all kinds of unfounded gossips and rumours to sprout. Weaving in the web of deceit and confusion until it bore no semblance to the archetype, they spread around like a contagious disease, or the waft of spoiled leftovers shoved to the back of the fridge – a terrible stench that wouldn't go.

As the centre stage for various mischiefs was set, tales of mishap and tomfoolery began to take shape on this fine summer afternoon at the high school department…

XXX

"Have you heard about this new rumour that's been circling around the seniors?" asked Girl A in a dramatic whisper.

"That a witch is really hiding in the broom cupboard on the upper floor!?" replied Girl B in the same dramatic whisper as Girl A.

"No! Wait –what!? Urgh never mind," Girl A sent a reproachful glare at her snickering friend. "Anyway – while I was waiting outside the teachers' office for Kobayashi-sensei, I overheard a conversation from inside the room –"

"She was having a one-sided conversation with herself?" Girl B gasped incredulously.

"No! And can you please let me finish?" Girl A sighed exasperatedly as they turned around a corner to the stairwell. "Long story short. Apparently, there's a new student transferring to Rikkai tomorrow, and she's from the United Kingdom! How exciting is that!?"

There was a long stretch of silence as they continued their trek to the ground floor. It wasn't long before it was broken though.

"Are you done talking now?"

"Oh for goodness sake!"

Girl A was about to tell her friend off, who was practically in stitches, when a strange sight made both of them stopped abruptly.

On the first floor's landing, another female student was stooping down on one knee and bent over the ground such that the curtain of black hair obscured part of her face. With her back facing them, the two unsuspecting friends were unable to tell if she was a senior or a fellow first year like them.

Girl A wondered if she was feeling alright. 'She might be feeling ill!'

Meanwhile, Girl B was surprised their loud chattering (and not to mention her laughs) was not heard.

Unsure if they should proceed seeing as she was blocking their path, they glanced questioningly at each other; the same thoughts going through their head: 'You say something!'

In the end, Girl A relented after much hesitation. She put one tentative foot forward, raising an uncertain hand to the girl's shoulder. "U-umm…are you alright?"

The moment her hand made contact with the shoulder, the girl visibly jerked in surprise and turned her head around after removing something from her ears.

No one knew who was more scarred by the encounter.

The two poor girls, who were now convinced the witch of the broom cupboard was real and not just a spook story?

Or

The 'witch', who happened to have her earphones plugged in and stopped to adjust her socks when the girls appeared behind her.

But from Girl A and Girl B's point of view, all they saw was one brown eye peeking through the curtain of black hair.

XXX

Out in the school grounds, all activities came to a complete halt when a high pitch scream tore through the atmosphere.

Yukimura Seiichi, the much respected captain and coach of the boy's tennis club, tore his eyes from the tennis match he was supervising to the direction of the East stairwells where the source seemed to emanate from.

While the regulars around him appeared bewildered at the disruption, he remained calm and composed. "Yare yare – such vigour. We must emulate that fiery energy and do our best to win the national tournament."

His best friend and the ruthless vice-captain, Sanada Genichiro, snapped back to his usual sternness and barked an order for everyone to resume practice.

A smile crossed Yukimura's features.

'Something tells me, it's going to get interesting around here.'

XXX

Next day

News that two freshmen saw the famed 'Witch of the Broom Cupboard' with their very own eyes was circulating around the school before homeroom began. It even went as far as reaching the ears of the principal, who at that very moment, could feel another large migraine growing in his head.

Students were buzzing with excitement at this piece of news, discussing among friends about its viability. The social network and the blog ran by the Supernatural Club were swamped with more conspiracy theories and rumours. Some didn't take it seriously, while others decided to use the other stairwell on the north side of the building and avoid passing the cupboard on the upper floor altogether.

One particular student –a second year to be precise –was starting to formulate a brilliant plan to prank his unfortunate targets. He had a few names at hand; one of them –a certain team mate –was on top of his list.

Niou Masaharu grinned toothily as he listened to the conversations around him.

Everyone was talking non-stop about the news.

A small voice at the back of his head thought that the story behind the rumour was getting a bit odd to the point of far-fetch. It ranged from the witch carrying a one-eyed crow on her shoulder, to anyone who so look her in the eyes would instantly turn into a block of wood.

'Although that will be so amusing to watch ~puri' he sniggered to himself.

His thought bubble burst when he heard someone calling his name.

Niou turned around in his seat to see his fellow classmate and best mate, Yagyuu Hiroshi, was staring at him from behind his glasses. After spending so much time around his bespectacled pal, a quick glance told him Yagyuu was giving him the looks of exasperation.

"What?" Niou inquired, putting on the innocent front perfectly.

But his best friend was not one to be fooled.

Yagyuu pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Whatever you're scheming, stop it right now. If you get another detention, Sanada-kun will have your neck on the chopping board when he's done smacking your face with the back of an encyclopaedia –a thick one if I may add." He let his hand fall onto the table and continued, "You can't afford to miss another practice because of that, Niou-kun. The National Tournament isn't that far from now."

There was a long pause in which they stared back at each other unblinkingly –although it's hard to tell with the other.

"Tsch – what gave it away?" Niou asked, scratching the back of his neck.

"I hang around with you too often ever since middle school. Plus you always have that disturbing glint in your eyes whenever you're planning something," he said without a pause, adjusting his glasses once again.

The class president of 2-B has had that habit for as long as Niou known him – and like his friend had said – since middle school. It was very annoying at first, but the trickster soon realised that it was just a part of him and had grown used to it.

Anyway, he had quite a few habits himself.

"Maybe next time I should wear a pair of glasses just like you to hide that glint," he smirked.

Yagyuu was about to retort back when the classroom door was sharply slid open and in came their homeroom teacher, Miyagi Junichi, with a clipboard tucked neatly under one of his arms.

Miyagi-sensei, who had only turned sixty a couple of weeks ago, was their chemistry teacher as well as their go-to person for school related problems. He was the most happy-go-lucky teacher any students had ever met. That, and coupled with his stout height and gentle gruff voice, he was very well liked by both students and peers.

Class 2-B (especially Niou) was extremely lucky to have him.

Everyone quickly scattered back to their seats.

Yagyuu gave Niou a warning look before rising to his feet. One of his job as class president was to call out the order to stand and bow at start and end of each classes – and homeroom period was no exception.

"Good morning, Miyagi-sensei!" echoed the entire class.

"And a jolly good morning to you all," Miyagi-sensei chuckled, motioning to the class for everyone to sit down as he stood in front of the blackboard.

Yagyuu blinked confusingly after seating himself comfortably. 'Miyagi-sensei left the door opened? Unusual…since protocol calls for classroom doors to be shut during homeroom and lesson periods….unless…'

"Everyone, I know there's been a rumour about a new student coming to study at this school –"

The class burst into murmurs of excitement. Could it be? It's always thrilling to have something new around; and even more so if said new student was to be their classmate!

Unperturbed by the chattering before him, Miyagi-sensei continued " – then I am pleased to inform you that this new student is…" he trailed off for dramatic effect as his students leaned in, holding their breaths in anticipation "…none other than the 'Witch of the Broom Cupboard'!"

A handful of students groaned in dismay.

Apart from being well-known for his 'cool' attitude, his jokes were – well, left much to be desired.

Yagyuu adjusted his glasses while maintaining his calm composure. Niou might have heard a cough from outside the door.

Miyagi-sensei burst out in laughter at the funny looks his students were giving him. After calming down a little, he cleared his throat and motioned to the door, "Everyone, I would like you to welcome Miss Noda Akemi!"

All heads snapped to the direction of the door just as the new student nervously stepped into the classroom and closed the door behind her.

As if she was walking through a mine field, the new girl cautiously made her way to stand beside Miyagi-sensei.

Noting her visible features, Yagyuu guessed that she did some sort of sport. But the one thing that stuck out the most was her pale skin. It was not a sickly pale though, if the subtle rosy cheeks were of any indications. Her thick curtain of black hair reached just past her shoulders and was wavy towards the end. Her soft brown eyes darted about the room as she struggled not to fidget on the spot.

"Where are your manners now, boys and girls?" Miyagi-sensei chided, wagging a finger at the class as Noda Akemi stiffly bowed and muttered a quick 'dozo yoroshiku'.

'Cue' Yagyuu stood up and bowed. "Welcome to Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku, Noda-san." He looked up at the girl who was staring bewilderedly at him until Miyagi-sensei introduced him as the class president, prompting a swift greeting. The bespectacled boy remained standing as Miyagi-sensei called out the name of the class' vice president – the other megane, Hinata Chitose.

"Hinata-san will give you take you around the school at the end of today's class," he said as Hinata and Noda bowed to each other. He then motioned Yagyuu and Hinata to sit down. "Would you do the honour of writing your name on the blackboard?" he asked, handing her a chalk. When she turned around to face the blackboard, Miyagi-sensei continued to address the whole class, "I know a lot of you have questions to ask her, but seeing as we've yet to take down attendances and time is running out, I will only keep it short –three only!" he said, prompting a chorus of disappointed groans as hands immediately appeared in the air.

One of them belonged (Yagyuu noted with impending doom) to Niou.

Yagyuu could only hope – should Noda picked that hand from among the others – Niou would not ask anything too embarrassing.

"Y-you next to the third window from the front," Noda pointed at Satoshi Yurika who left off an excited squeal.

Yagyuu could only guess where this was going.

"What – and please tell me where – products did you use to get such beautiful pale complexion?!" she gushed.

Noda for her part looked startled, but she quickly regained her composure and chuckled sheepishly. "Believe me, I don't use any beauty products at all if you exclude moisturisers." Satoshi uttered a rather loud "Really?" But Noda was unperturbed by it. "Maybe it will help if I tell you where I've lived for more than a decade before moving back to Japan."

XXX

"Noda Akemi. Age sixteen. Birthday falls on the same day as Halloween. Originally hails from United Kingdom – more precisely, Scotland?"

The scratching sound of pencil meeting paper was almost drowned out by the noises that filled the school's cafeteria.

It was currently lunch break, and the entire tennis regulars were out in full force.

There wasn't a need for them to buy lunch as their respective mothers had done themselves a great job in preparing their bentos.

Nevertheless, a change of view was always good – even if it meant having to ignore the horde of fangirls currently sitting beside their table and constantly ogling at them.

Yanagi Renji, the team's treasurer, had his notebook out in front of him with the pencil held firmly between his fingers. There was an occasional flick of the wrist as he moved the writing tool at an alarming speed.

If his fellow team mates had not known him for a long time, they would have given him a very weird look.

As it was, Yanagi's specialty was gathering data.

'But why on a new student?' was the thought that went through everyone's head at the moment.

Yagyuu who could finally have his lunch in peace (well for the time being) after being interrogated for information on his new classmate by Yanagi, was left feeling slightly disturbed by the data master's interest in her. He was about to enquire to this mystery but their youngest team member beat him to it.

"Omphphairowuthyieng?" asked Kirihara Akaya through a mouthful of food.

"Akaya, swallow your food before you speak," Jackal Kuwahara reprimanded, smacking the back of the first year's head without making him cough out the content in his mouth.

Kirihara glared at his senior, but obediently did as he was told to after managing to gulp down a huge lump of noodles. "Why are you interested in her, Yanagi-senpai?" He asked, rubbing at the sore spot where Jackal had hit him.

The rest of his team mates turned to look at the one in question.

"What are you on about, Akaya?" Yanagi asked in a genuine confused manner; eyes still on his databook.

"Well, you wanted all available information about her the moment we sat down. And now you're scribbling in your book…" Yagyuu replied, adjusting his glasses.

The pencil frozen, hovering a few centimetres above the paper as Yanagi lifted his head. "I don't see what's wrong in collecting information on a new student. Who knows – it might turn out to be useful in the future," he shrugged nonchalantly.

"So you're not actually interested in a girl?" Marui Bunta blurted, shoving a mouthful of chocolate cake that he had managed to smuggle into his bag when his mother was not looking.

Yanagi chuckled. "Romantically? No."

Marui deflated; slightly disappointed but not at all surprised by Yanagi's blunt reply.

"Well, if you're interested to see how she looks – there she is with Hinata," Niou motioned at the cafeteria's entrance with a lazy flick of his chopsticks.

"Where!? Let me see! Let me see!" Marui exclaimed excitedly, jumping to his feet and straining his neck to see over the heads.

Noda was staring with her mouth half-opened in wonder as she gazed around the cafeteria.

Yagyuu noted her previous nervous exterior she wore throughout their classes were mostly gone. Now, she looked every bit like a different person when her lips were upturned and the corner of her eyes slightly wrinkled as she chuckled heartily at whatever Hinata had said to her. He adjusted his glasses as both girls turned around and walked away from their view.

"Che – she's not really a looker," Marui remarked, sitting down.

"That isn't a nice thing to say about a lady, Marui-kun," Yagyuu immediately chided; switching to gentleman mode.

But Marui merely shrugged off the comment, and turned his attention back to the lunch before him.

As everyone resumed theirs, Yukimura turned to his best friend beside him and muttered something that only the two could hear. "You were staring at her for a very long time. Has our vice-captain finally admitted that his hard shell can be broken?" he said light-heartedly, smiling like a fox that had caught its prey.

Sanada scoffed at the remark, but held back a retort; his face remained the same stoic expression that he seemed unable to live without. However, Yukimura – having known him since they were in elementary school – was very good at reading the vice-captain.

A ghost of a smirk crossed his face.

'How interesting indeed...'