The regulars scattered themselves to help in one-on-one question and answer sessions with the first years.
Tezuka approached Ryouko as she talked to a group of three freshmen.
"Ryouko, I'll take care of things here. You go to another group." He said.
"Hai, Buchou. I'll leave them to you." Ryouko said before switching to the table next to them.
"Bu-bu-bu-buchou... (Ca-ca-ca-captain...)" One of the first years stuttered as Tezuka sat down on their group's area.
"What subject are you struggling in?" Tezuka asked.
"Mathematics." One answered.
"Japanese." Another one said hesitantly.
"English." The last one replied.
"Let's start with Mathematics." Tezuka said.
"Waa... Captain Tezuka is cool but having him tutor us is scary... Ryouko-san, why did you have to leave us... Tasukete... (Help...)" They all thought.
In another group, Fuji was having a breeze in teaching algebra. "And that's how you perform substitution in an easier fashion." He said.
"Waa... Sugoi... (Amazing...) I understood everything." A first year commented.
Fuji smiled.
In another area, Momoshiro was tutoring the freshmen trio group with the addition of Shimada Ritsu.
"The kanji for that is this." He said as he scribbled it down. "Uhh... Or is it this?" He said as he scribbled down another character.
"Or maybe this?" He said uncertainly as he wrote another character.
"Senpai, do you really know the answer?" Mizuno asked in exasperation.
Momoshiro laughed. "Don't worry about the smallest things..." He said.
Kaidoh happened to be standing behind them. "You don't even know that, you stupid bastard. I'm surprised you got yourself in the second year." He commented sarcastically.
"What did you say, mamushi (viper)?" Momoshiro said, irritated. "How about you? Do you know the answer?" He added in his annoyance.
Kaidoh sat down and took a pen and paper. "The kanji for number one is this." He said as he scribbled it down.
"The kanji for number two is this. And this one is for number three." Kaidoh said as he wrote the characters down.
"Naruhodo. (I get it.)" Horio said.
"Kaidoh-senpai is surprisingly intelligent." Kachiro commented.
"What do you mean by 'surprisingly' you first-year brat?" Kaidoh said angrily.
The freshmen trio cowered in fear. "We're sorry..." They said.
"Pssshhhuuuu..." Kaidoh said.
Momoshiro laughed at them. "Don't worry about the smallest things..." He said.
In another table, Inui was tutoring. "And so, if you solve the angle over here, it will be easy to solve the angle next to it." He said, pointing at the corner of an isosceles triangle."Did you guys get it?" Inui asked, looking at his tutees.
The freshmen were looking at Inui's paper with blank expressions. "Please explain it in japanese, senpai." One of them said.
"I did explain it in japanese." Inui said in exasperation.
Kikumaru wasn't having any luck.
"Senpai, what's the english word for 'gaman' (patience)" One first year asked.
Kikumaru folded his arms across his chest, closed his eyes and concentrated. He did so for ten seconds before he reached his maximum boiling point. "Nyaa." He said.
"I think it will be better for you to sit this one out, Eiji." Oishi said as he led his partner to a corner.
"Ryouko-chan, help me find a way to solve this question easier... It's giving me a hard time." Mami said as she approached Ryouko.
"Let me see." Ryouko said. She scanned the question and said, "Get all the given factors first. Then list down the factor being asked. Then you assign a variable for the missing factor and make a formula. See, it's simple." She said.
"Naruhodo. (I get it.)" Mami said as she looked at the formula that Ryouko jotted down. "You really are a genius." She said in delight and kissed Ryouko on the cheek. "If you're a boy, I would've fallen in love with you."
"Stop goofing around and go back to your seat." Ryouko told her.
"Hai, sensei..." Mami said and went back to her place.
"Oi, Ryoma. Don't just stand there and help tutor." Ryouko called to Ryoma who was standing at the foot of the grand staircase.
"I don't think you guys need me. There's lots of you already." He replied.
All of a sudden, Tomoka held onto Ryoma's arm. "Ryoma-sama... I'm really bad at english. Come over here and teach me." She said as she dragged Ryoma to a seat beside Sakuno.
"R-r-ryoma-kun..." Sakuno said, her face pink.
Ryoma sighed helplessly. His eyes scanned the room and landed on one spot where Ryouko was sitting beside Shimada Ritsu and teaching him how to memorize formulas easier.
Ryoma frowned.
All of a sudden, Ichidou went in between Ryouko and Ritsu. "Ryouko-chan, Ryouko-chan... you're needed in the kitchen. Let me take over from here." He said.
"Okay. Just teach him the proper way to derive a formula and he'll be fine." Ryouko said and went away.
"Yoroshiku. (Nice to meet you.)" Ichidou said, his eyes narrowed at Ritsu.
"Ha-hai. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu." Ritsu answered uncertainly.
The hours passed by until Ryouko opened the projector for the discussion of the list of questions she made.
"Jot it down. These will help you. I compiled these questions from the past examinations and from the new lessons in the textbooks." She said.
"I'll keep in mind to borrow Ryouko-chan's notes before our exams..." Mami whispered to Miyako.
"You shouldn't rely on Ryouko-chan too much and be sure to study with your own strength Mami-chan." Miyako said.
"Wakatteiru yo. (I know that.)" Mami said moodily.
At last, they were done and dinner was served. They had dinner in the large dining room of the mansion which didn't lose in terms of size to the main hall.
"The food is delicious!" Kikumaru said as he cleared his second helping.
"We should do this more often." Momoshiro said with a grin.
"Oi, oi. Have some restraint, you two." Oishi told them.
"Ryoma-sama~ Say 'ah'..." Tomoka said as she held a spoonful towards him.
"I told you, I have hands..." Ryoma replied in exasperation.
"There you go again, being shy..." Tomoka said.
"Tomo-chan... He doesn't like it..." Sakuno said with a complaining voice.
"Why don't you feed him too, Sakuno?" Tomoka said, ignoring her statement.
Sakuno looked at Ryoma and went beet red.
For the second time that night, Ryouko's voice echoed all over the house as she made another announcement. "Attention. After dinner, everyone is free to use the bathrooms to wash up or shower. The girls will be using the shower room in the third floor. None of the guys are allowed to go there. There are three shower rooms in the ground floor and each of the rooms in the second floor have their own bathrooms. It's currently 2 am at dawn. I advise everyone to move quickly. The lights will be put out at exactly 2:45 am. That's all." Ryouko said.
"How about clearing the mess we made in the dining room? It will be hard for Licht-san to clean that up by himself. We should help." Shimada said.
"Don't worry about it. Just for tonight, Ryouko hired several people to do all the cleaning. Did you think that Licht made all of the food you ate tonight? Of course not. Ryouko-chan hired chefs for the occasion." Ichidou told them with a grin. "You guys must be really important to her... She exerted effort to arrange this event."
The freshmen felt more respect and gratefulness towards Ryouko. She had done so much for them.
"We're so lucky to have Ryouko-san as our trainer." Ritsu said.
There were noises of agreement among the freshmen.
"You better go now and shower. When Ryouko sets a time, she's true to it. She'll really turn off all the lights at 2:45 so you better hurry." Ichidou told them.
At one of the bathrooms, Ryoma was getting ready to shower.
"Eek." Came the sudden noise from Horio.
"What's wrong, Horio-kun?" Ritsu asked.
"I forgot my toothbrush. Shimada, lend me yours." Horio replied.
"I don't want to. That's disgusting." Ritsu said, horrified at the thought of sharing a toothbrush.
Horio chased Ritsu around the large bathing area. Ryoma sighed. "Grow up already." He thought.
Tonight was a hectic and tiring one.
"Yo." Ichidou said as he entered the bathing area.
"Ichidou-san." Mizuno and Kachiro said.
"-san? Haha, that's not necessary. We're all the same age. Call me Ichi." He told them. Then he sat next to Ryoma.
"Hey, you're rooming in with me." Ichidou whispered at him.
"I thought I won't be given special treatment." Ryoma said bitterly.
"That insane girl said that you're rooming in with her, but that's not going to happen as long as I'm here." Ichidou said with the same bitter tone.
Ryoma was in the middle of pouring water over himself when Ichidou said that. He almost swallowed a mouthful of water. For a moment, it seemed like his heart skipped a beat. He coughed.
"Oi, are you alright?" Ichidou told him.
"Yeah." Ryoma answered.
"You're not thinking perverted thoughts, are you?" Ichidou hissed.
Ryoma threw a bar of soap at him. "Just shut up and wash yourself." He said.
As Ryoma wrapped a towel around himself, a thought bothered him. "Ryouko, that girl... I don't think she joined us for dinner... Did she eat?"
~~~
"That was refreshing." Inui said as he flopped down on the bed.
"The bedroom is really spacious." Fuji commented.
"As expected of the Fujioka clan. They don't disappoint." Inui said. "I'm really impressed that Ryouko made such effort for the freshmen. Bbut I do think that she went a bit overboard this time." He added.
"Hmm." Fuji replied. There was something that he can't help but think about.
"Is there something wrong, Fuji? You seem distracted." Inui asked.
"It's nothing." Fuji answered.
~~~
"Ji... (Stare...)" Ryouko narrowed her eyes at the clothes hanging on her wardrobe.
"Licht. Where are my clothes?" She asked.
"I'm sorry, Ojou-sama. But I'm afraid that Ren-sama and Natsu-sama packed all of your clothes and left the ones that your mother readied for you so you'll be forced to wear dresses everyday." Licht said.
"Why did you just tell me now? Then I would've bought myself some clothes from the department store." Ryouko said with a vein throbbing dangerously on her temple.
"I'm sorry, Ojou-sama. I just noticed it this afternoon and forgot to inform you because I had been busy with the preparations." Licht said with a bow.
"It's fine. I guess I'll hold out for tonight." She told him.
"I have prepared your bath." Licht said.
"Okay. I'll go in after a minute." She answered.
Licht bowed. He was about to go when Ryouko stopped him. "Oh. Licht." She said.
"What is it, Ojou-sama?" He asked.
"Did you tell Ryoma that he's sleeping in my room?" She said.
Licht cleared his throat. "Ojou-sama, forgive me for saying this but I was seriously against such an idea that Ryoma-obocchama will sleep in the same room as you."
"Why? We've slept in the same bed before." Ryouko said.
Licht restrained himself from reacting violently. "Ojou-sama. Eight years old and twelve years old aren't the same. Ojou-sama and Ryoma-obocchama are both currently in your puberty years."
"Dakara? (So?)" Ryouko asked innocently.
Licht cleared his throat again. "Anyway, Ichidou-sama had already said that Ryoma-sama will be sleeping inside his room."
"Hmmm." Ryouko said. "Fine then."
Licht heaved a sigh of relief. That conversation was enough to tire him out in comparison to this afternoon's preparations.
"Licht." Ryouko called him again.
"Hai?" He replied.
"You worked hard today. Thanks." She said with a smile.
Licht smiled back. "Dou itashimashite. Oyasumi-kudasai. (You are welcome. Sleep well.)" He said before going out of her room.
~~~
Finally, everyone was settled into sleep. Ryouko sneaked from the third floor to the back garden. A breath of fresh air was heaven for the hours of stuffiness inside the mansion.
Ryouko wasn't able to sit down. She was so busy taking management of everything. She stretched her legs.
All of a sudden, she sensed someone coming from behind her.
"Dare? (Who is it?)" She said with alarm in her voice and immediately went into a fighting stance.
Then, she saw Fuji carrying a silver tray full of food.
She relaxed her body. "What are you doing, senpai?" She asked.
Fuji laughed sheepishly. "Did I startle you?"
"And if you did, what are you gonna do about it?" She answered sarcastically.
Fuji just smiled at her sarcasm. "Here you go." He said as he settled the tray on a nearby tea table.
"What's that?" Ryouko asked.
"Rice balls, biscuits and hot milk." Fuji replied.
"I can see that." Ryouko sai, annoyed. "That's not what I meant with my question." She added.
"Oh. It's just that... I don't think I've seen you eat at dinner." Fuji said.
"What are you saying? I did ea—" She was about to argue when she recalled the night's events. She was so busy that she didn't have the time to eat. Her stomach chose that instant to make a noise.
Fuji gave a short laugh. "See?" He said.
"Tcch." Ryouko said in irritation.
Nevertheless, she sat down and took a rice ball. As she ate, Fuji looked at her.
"Kawaii fuku da ne... (That's a cute outfit.)" He said as he looked at Ryouko's night gown.
"Please mind your own business." Ryouko answered in a flat tone.
"You really don't like me, do you?" Fuji told her.
"I'm glad you noticed it." She replied sarcastically.
Fuji smiled. "I heard that it's because I looked like how your grandpa looked in his younger days."
Ryouko chewed thoughtfully and all of a sudden, got up. "Wait here." She said.
Fuji looked at her as she leave. She came back a minute later carrying a photo album.
"This is him. That youkai old man. (Youkai: monsters in japanese folklore.)" She said as she showed him a picture.
Fuji was speechless at what he saw. He looked exactly like Fuji with the exception of the eyes.
"I know right? It creeped me out too." Ryouko said. "I've heard that it was taken when the Seigaku tennis club was founded."
"Who's the girl beside him? She look like Tachibana An of Fudoumine." Fuji said.
"That's Ryuzaki Sumire-sensei." She answered.
"Really?" Fuji said with a smile. "How come she look more like An than her garnddaughter Sakuno?"
Ryouko shrugged "I dunno."
"Why would you dislike me just because I look like your grandpa? Are you in bad terms with him?" Fuji asked.
"I have a grudge against him." She answered.
"Why?" Fuji asked.
"It's because he kept on avoiding me. I want to challenge him into a match before he loses all of his strength. If I can't win over him, then I can't say that I've graduated from being his copy." Ryouko said.
"Is that so?" Fuji replied.
"Gomennasai, senpai. (I'm sorry, senpai.)" She suddenly said timidly as she twirled a biscuit in the glass of milk.
"For what?" Fuji asked.
"I'm being hostile towards you just because you look like the damn old man. It was childish of me to do so." She said.
Fuji gave a short laugh.
"Stop laughing at me. I'm being sincere here." She said, annoyed.
"I'm not laughing at you." Fuji replied.
"Usotsuki. (Liar.)" She snapped.
"You better finish your food so you can sleep. There's still school tomorrow." Fuji told her.
Ryouko ate all the biscuits and downed the glass of milk. "Thank you for the meal." Then she turned to Fuji. "I'm surprised that senpai knew that I haven't eaten. How did you know that?" She asked.
Fuji shrugged. "I just noticed."
Ryouko also shrugged and didn't bother questioning further. She sat on the steps of the entrance of the house that led to the back garden. Fuji sat down beside her.
"It's a full moon, isn't it? No wonder it's a bright night." Fuji commented.
"Hmm.." Ryouko answered and yawned quietly.
"I have to say... We're all grateful for all the things that you have done for the club. It made the younger ones even more determined. I'm glad that a girl like you is supporting the tennis club. Pretty soon, we'll no longer be here. Having you to support Momo, Kaidoh and Echizen will be a great help. Also, about your question earlier. I've noticed that you haven't eaten yet because I've been observing you. Do you know that you're really interesting?" He said.
When he got no answer, he looked at where Ryouko was seated.
"Ryouko?" He called and turned towards her. At that moment, Ryouko's head fell onto the left side of Fuji's chest. She was already fast asleep. Her gentle breathing can be heard through the silent night.
Fuji was taken with surprise for a moment. Then he smiled. "I guess she's really tired out." He thought. He patted her head like a brother would to a younger sister. "Gokurosamadeshita. (Thank you for your hard work.)" He whispered.
At the other side of the wall inside the mansion, Ryoma tightened his grip at the silver tray that he was holding and walked away without a word.