Chapter 50: Tennis Match

  I was walking aimlessly in the bustling streets of Los Angeles, USA, sucking on a lemon-flavored lollipop. The people passing by were all blonde-haired and blue-eyed Americans. The cultural differences between America and Japan are starkly different. The surrounding buildings were filled with a strong European and American style, whereas Japan emphasizes its ancient customs and culture.

  As for why I came to the United States, it was to explore the direction of America's economic flow, and secondly, to come to the United States to relax and have some fun. Xia Er and Zao are upset with me because I've taken in (Aoi Sakura, your home isn't an orphanage!!) a few more "people" who always wear a stinky face, Yang One suddenly releases ghosts for no reason, while Xiu Gege and Ling every time they meet will perform a loving and killing drama (it's just that when rivals meet, their eyes turn red), and also, Huan and Yi Mian went on their honeymoon (and were disturbed) ...

  "Bang, bang, bang......" The sound of hitting a ball came from afar, and curiosity drove me to walk towards the source of the sound...

  In front of me was a spacious tennis court, but in such hot weather, there were almost no people playing. The source of the sound was a boy wearing a white baseball cap, holding a red tennis racket, and hitting a bright yellow tennis ball against the wall in front of him. Every hit of the tennis ball was swung back very regularly, and the wall showed circular marks from the tennis ball, which could be seen that he had practiced for a long time and his hitting power was great.

  His willpower piqued my interest in him, and I sat down on a nearby chair, licking a lollipop while quietly watching him practice the basics of tennis.

  …………

  "Get out! We're taking over this tennis court!!" A rough voice rang out on the tennis court, breaking the quiet atmosphere that was originally filled with only the sound of balls being hit. The gaze shifted from the boy's body to two tall and burly men who had just entered the tennis court, and saw them roughly driving away the few people in the tennis court, leaving only me and the boy on the court.

  "Hey! You two little rascals, get out of here quickly! We're taking over this tennis court!" The man glanced at me and then looked at the boy who was practicing with an air of disdain.

  I narrowed my eyes, gazing at the boy with great interest. The boy put down his racket, grasped the rebounding tennis ball with his hand, turned around, threw the ball, jumped up and swung his racket, a series of movements that were both agile and swift.

  "Slam——" The man obviously did not expect a little guy to attack him, and even with a tennis ball. In a panic, he used his racket to block the flying tennis ball, which was heading straight for his face. After being blocked, the tennis ball fell to the ground.

  Because he had been facing the wall, I couldn't see his face all along. But now that I saw him clearly, I noticed his dark green messy hair, pale skin, and large amber-colored cat-like eyes, with a proud expression on his face. As I looked at his face, I felt like I had seen him somewhere before - could he be a character from some anime or manga?

  The boy looked at the man with a disdainful expression in his amber-colored cat eyes, raised his racket with one hand and said to the man, "You still have lots more to work on!"

  "Hey you little brat! Come here and let's have a fight!"

  "Wait! We're good at doubles!"

  Man A said, "That's right, you little kid over there, come here too. Let's have a doubles match, or others will say we're bullying kids."

  Kid? I blinked, was the uncle referring to me as a kid? I looked down at my outfit, a white shirt and simple black shorts, my brown hair tucked into a hat on my head. No matter how you look at it, I'm just a cute little boy. If they asked me why, it's because they all told me that when going out in America, I have to wear boys' clothes or else I'll be hitting on some men outside.

  Since I'm pretending to be a boy, I'd better act like one. I stood up and said in a boy's voice, "Mister, I don't have a tennis racket."

  "What's that, old man?! You little stinker, what did you say?!" I gave the man a weird glance, had I said something wrong? You guys are indeed old men, if not, then it's your fault for looking too old.

  "Don't be angry, it's just a little kid. Kid, get your racket ready."

  Hold the racket, pull the net line to see if it's tight, then walk to the boy's side "You go to the front, I'll go to the back." Squinting my eyes, I still like being as tall as Xia Le, and only one inch shorter than me.

  “……ah.” The boy walked slowly to the corresponding position, and I also went to the back to form a basic doubles formation. Although I had never played tennis before, I still understood the rules of tennis, which was to hit the ball that the opponent hit back and forth, without going out of bounds or hitting the net.

  …………

  "4-0." He hooked the corner of his mouth, this boy only hit back the ball that was hit over, completely without any team spirit, it seems he has never played doubles.

  …………

  “6-0。”

  "Despicable! I actually lost, and to this little devil of all people! Despicable!" The man, enraged with shame, picked up the tennis ball and swung his racket at the boy. I curled my lip, quickly stepped forward, stood in front of the boy, and hit the tennis ball back, unfortunately it happened to be right on his face.

  I looked at his swollen pig-like face and heard those two uncles say "Let's go home, kids."

  …………

  "Not bad, huh." The boy opposite him curled up the corners of his mouth in a sly smile, looking like he was quite satisfied with the big uncle's pig-headed face.

  "I think so too~" I'm also very satisfied with the pig-headed face of that uncle just now.

  "The young men were just fighting pretty well ~~" I don't know when an uncle appeared beside us, a lewd-looking uncle.

  "Ah, old man, why are you here?" The boy's cat-like eyes shone with puzzlement.

  "Haha... Of course, I'm watching your match, young man." The lecherous old man laughed without any image, then looked at me "You're playing pretty well, good power and speed, just the way you hold the racket is wrong."

  "I've learned my lesson."

  "Is the boy Japanese?"

  "Yes, you're Japanese too."

  "Haha... what a coincidence! Young man, would you like to consider coming to my place as a guest and have a match with me?"

  I blinked my eyes, so Americans are really open-minded. No, I mean people living in America are really open-minded. My gaze shifted to the boy, and I quite liked him. Anyway, there's nothing much to do in America, so I might as well agree. "Okay, can I stay at your place for a week? In exchange, I'll improve his tennis skills."

  "Haha... Of course, I'm Echizen Ryoma. Nice to meet you." The shady old man's gaze shifted to the boy, indicating that he should introduce himself.

  "...Ryoma Echizen." The boy blinked his large amber-colored cat eyes.

  "My name is Kurenai Tsubaki, please take care of me this week." I suddenly realized that this was indeed Echizen Ryoma. I didn't know what kind of person Muzuki's Tezuka was, but now I can save a week's worth of hotel expenses. (Are you poor, Tsubaki?)