Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis or its characters. This is purely a fan made story.

Chapter 1 – Small talk at the tennis courts

It was another hot afternoon at the Seigaku tennis courts, as a boy in a green shirt whipped his unibrow and started complaining to the two other boys beside him.

"It's soooooo hoooooottttt… How can the captain expect us to practice in this heat?"

The taller of his two companions responded.

"Horio-kun, you're the one always going on about practicing, practicing, practicing, doing whatever it takes, to get that regular jersey!"

"I know that, I know that already Kachiro! Still, this is inhuman."

Just then a voice shouted from the distance.

"Oi, oi, you three. Stop slacking off. Is that the impression of a Seigaku tennis club member you want to leave on the freshmen?"

They all yelled in surprise, "Momochan-senpai!"

Horio then added, "Well you're one to talk Momochan-senpai! You used to slack of a lot in second year."

Momo answered, "That's in the past, and you shouldn't bring up the past. You just shouldn't." He smiled and added, "Besides, I am the vice-captain now after all. And I don't wanna shame Oishi-senpai's legacy."

Katsuo marveled at him, "Wow, Momochan-senpai is so cool!"

"By the way," Momo added, "have you heard that Tezuka-buchou is playing in a pro tournament in Germany right now?"

"Really?" Horio answered astonished, "What happened Momochan-senpai? How's he doing?"

"Well, he's into the quarter finals of the tournament right know", Momo revealed, "and he hasn't dropped a set yet."

"Wow!" said Kachiro.

"As expected from Tezuka-buchou!" claimed Katsuo.

"Well, I knew it all along!" bragged Horio.

"What about Ryoma-kun?" asked Katsuo. "Any news on him?"

"Yeah, I was wondering the same thing too" added Horio.

"Nope, none at all" confessed Momo. "I just hope his training in the US is going well."

Silently though Momo was thinking, "Echizen were the hell are you? What are you up to?"

Another person suddenly joined in the conversation.

"What are you three second years doing? Why aren't you warming up yet?"

"Ka- Kaidoh-buchou", they stammered. "Excuse us, we'll get to it right away". They then started laps around the courts as if there was no tomorrow.

Momo smirked, "Oi mamushi, you'll never get popular with the club members if you continue to act like that."

Kaidoh shot back, "Fssssshhhhh. As if I care what anyone thinks."

"Maybe you should, as captain you have to maintain a respectable image. But then I guess that's asking too much from you now isn't it?"

Kaidoh just gave Momo the death stare, then walked away spurting off his trademark sound, "Fsssshhhhhhh."

Momo shook his head, "Oh boy, how did he become the captain?"

He then watched Kaidoh pick up a tennis racket and feel out the strings.

Momo whispered, "Oh yeah, he's strong."

Meanwhile at the gates of Seigaku, a student carrying a tennis bag approaches. Back here again huh." he mutters to himself.