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

CHAPTER 41: Hate and Hate

Ryouko and Atobe looked at the Hyotei tennis club regular members in an almost comical way. "Temeira... (You guys...) (Actually translated as 'you bastards' but it had always been Atobe's own way of pertaining to other people not just limited to his own club members but towards the other clubs too.)

There was silence for a while before Gakuto let out a long whistle. "This is interesting..." He mused.

"Ya." Ryouko called, fixing them a hard stare. "You think you can help us with this instead of standing there looking like idiots?" She said.

They looked at her, quite dumb-founded at her tone. "Waa... Kowa... (Scary...)" Gakuto commented.

"Kabaji." Atobe called with authority in his voice.

"Usu." Kabaji replied, stepping forward in front of the other club members.

"Come untangle this." Atobe instructed.

"Usu." Kabaji said and went towards them. Even though his hands were big, he was able to take out the knots one by one very delicately to the point that Ryouko did not suffer from further tugging and pulling of her long, dark hair.

She made a curious face which Atobe answered. "He crochets." He said matter-of-factly.

"Oh." She muttered in understanding.

After the fiasco of the tangling of Ryouko's hair to Atobe's wristwatch, he called for a maid to set up a larger table that will fit all of them. Ryouko sat on a chair, scanning the faces of the Hyotei tennis club regulars seated around the table.

Several maids went to serve the new arrivals some refreshments as Ryouko ignored the obvious stares of the boys around her. She took her teacup and took a sip. Then she reached over for a basket of butter rolls.

"Oujo-sama, you're still going to eat?" The maid that served her earlier asked impulsively with wide eyes.

"Why? Is there a problem with that?" She asked, blinking innocently.

The maid blushed and bowed her head. "No, there isn't. I'm sorry to intrude."

"Do straighten up. I don't mean anything wrong." She answered before reaching over for another butter roll. She handed it to the maid saying, "Here, have some. We can't be the only ones eating."

The maid hesistantly took it, muttering a 'thank you'. Hiyoshi looked at her as if it were the first time he ever saw a girl in his life. Even Jirou who usually just dozed off looked wide-eyed and smiling.

"You're peculiar." Ryo Shishido commented.

"Gee, thanks for the compliment." Ryouko replied.

Shishido's cheeks went pink and he added, "I meant it in a good way."

Ryouko shrugged. "Who said otherwise?" She said before munching on her butter roll.

"You're one hard girl to talk to, aren't you?" Oshitari commented.

"So I've heard. Bear with me for a bit more. I'll be leaving as soon as my business here is over." She answered, sipping more tea.

"We've heard about you... You're the Seigaku manager. But they didn't say anything about how pretty you are." Jirou told her, his eyes shining.

"I'm flattered that you think that way, Akutagawa-san." She replied.

"You know my name?" Jirou said in surprise, rising from his chair.

"Akutagawa Jirou-san, the magic volleyer of Hyotei. Loud, easily excited and is constantly asleep." She told him.

Jirou pointed a finger at her, jumping excitedly. "She knows me, she knows me!" He squealed in enthusiasm.