Tennis no Ojou-sama: A Prince of Tennis Fan Fiction

CHAPTER 31: Couple Outfit

At the Echizen Residence

Ryoma buttoned his shirt from the bottom-up and smoothed out the collar.

"Meow..." Came the soft purr of Karupin as he slid his body across Ryoma's ankle.

"Kyou wa dame, Karupin. (Not today, Karupin.) I don't have time to play." He told his cat.

"Maw..." Karupin said.

Ryoma smiled and picked him up. He placed him on his basket. Then he took some cat treats from his drawer and gave them to Karupin.

"Be satisfied with that for now. I'll give you milk later." Ryoma told him.

"Meow..." Karupin replied as he started on the cat treats.

Ryoma ran a comb through his hair and went downstairs. He was putting on his sneakers when Nanjiro hooked an arm around his neck from behind him.

"Oi, seishounen... Where are you going? There's no classes today." Nanjiro said.

"Hanashite, oyaji. (Let go, old man.) You're crumpling my shirt." Ryoma replied, a bit annoyed.

"Why would you care about your shirt?" Nanjiro said with a grin. A thought hit him and he let go of his son's neck. "Mushukashite... Deito? (Can it be... A date?)" He said with a teasing voice.

"Well, something like that." Ryoma answered as he continued to put on his sneakers.

"E?" Nanjiro said.

"Ittekimasu. (I'll go now.)" Ryoma said and went out of the door.

Nanjiro was dumb-founded for a moment then he put on a knowing expression and placed a hand under his chin. "Souka, souka... (I see, I see...) He's really in that age now..."

"Oji-sama. I'll be going now." Nanako said from behind him.

"O, Nanako-chan." Nanjiro said.

"I notice Ryoma-san leave. Aren't there no classes today?" Nanako asked.

"There's no classes. He's out on~a~date..." Nanjiro said, emphasizing the words in a singsong voice.

"A date?" Nanako said, surprised. "That is so unexpected and uncharacteristic of Ryoma-san. Are you sure, Oji-sama?"

"The brat said it himself." Nanjiro replied.

Nanako smiled. "Sou-desuka? (Is that so?) I think it's wonderful for him..." Then she made a thoughtful face. "But I can't help but wonder... What kind of girl will Ryoma-san be interested in?"

~~~

30 minutes later

"Oy Ryouko. You're supposed to be accompanying us and not him so get over here." Ren said moodily.

Ryoma and Ryouko stopped in their tracks and turned around to face them.

"Did you say something, Ren-nii? Sorry. I didn't hear." Ryouko said.

Ryoma smirked.

A vein throbbed dangerously on Ren's temple. That brat... He didn't change a bit.

"So... Where do you want to go, Setsu? Since you guys planned this and all, I'm sure you have some places in mind that you want to visit. Say the general overview of the place and I'll help find some that fits the description." Ryoma said.

"Anywhere without you." Ren answered.

"I'm sorry, Ren-san, but I wasn't talking to you." Ryoma retorted with a nonchalant expression.