Sakuno slumped onto the bench, gasping for breath. Running a full lap was harder than it looked. How the regulars were able to do that every day astonished her to the bone. She clutched the hem of her shirt tightly, trying not to show how fatigued she was to the less-effected regular team.

"It's been 2 months since ryoma left for the U.S open and I've been trying my best on playing tennis." Sakuno thought

2 weeks ago…..

…...

While I'm on my way home I received a letter from onee-chan.

...…

Dear, Chibisaku.

You know Chibisaku; because of the upcoming event at school all of the teachers are busy. So now I'm buying all the supplies that are needed in that event so I will not be in school for about 4 days.

P.S. tell this to obaa-chan, I haven't told her yet.

Love,

Sakura

…...

Then suddenly obaa-chan asked me.

"Who sent that?" sumire said while pointing on sakuno's letter.

"It's from nee-chan, she told me that seigaku will having an upcoming event so she won't be home for 4 days." said sakuno

"Hmm" sumire nod.

The next day….

Sakunowoke up and went into the bathroom to wash up for school. After she got out of the bathroom, her cell phone suddenly ran on the counter of her desktop. She quickly went to her desktop to pick up her cell phone.

"A mail?" sakuno thought she check the I.D number "it's from onee-chan."

From: your very loving cute sister _

Chibisaku, I told you that because of the upcoming event on school all of the teacher works, and now they kept me busy. Oh, before I forgot I told you that seigaku will have an upcoming event, well the principal decide to have a try-out to become a regular…. And that's why all of the teacher's are kept busy, cause since our school is the new number one tennis champion many students from other school like to inquire. And you also told me that you really like to improve your skills so I thought why you don't join to see if you can.

To: my super loving cute sister

Sakuno,

Sakuno walked down the stair as she hanged up her phone.

"Ohayo, obaa-chan," sakuno greeted her grandmother, who was reading her newspaper on the dining table.

"ohayo." sumire answered.

"obaa-chan, nee-chan sends me an email," sakuno started "she told me that, seigaku will have an upcoming eventa try-out to become a regular?"

"Ahh," sumire said "I totally forgot that."

"Mou, obaa-chan" sakuno said.

Sumire chuckle "maybe I'm really getting old," then she fold her news paper to look on sakuno "so are you going to join?"

"Hmm." sakuno said as she nod

So she decides to inquire at seigaku for the tennis tryout for girls division, where they will choose some applicants to become regulars for the upcoming competition.

At the present time….

And now sakuno start to train herself everyday but she realizes that she's not improving….

"How can I be a regular with this kind of training? Yeah, it's impossible I thought so but I can't let my sister be disappointed, but can I make it? , It's in 3 days from now What should I do? Training alone in a wall cannot make me win a match! What should I do?

I can't be a downer now, I have to enhance my skills but simply striking the ball at wall doesn't have progress at all?"

…...

While sakuno is walking with tomoka, her friend suddenly decided to visit some new shops….

"Ne, saku-chan let's go shopping, they said that there's a new store on the train station let's check it out." tomoka said

"Gomen tomo-chan, but I still need to practice, honto gomen." said sakuno

"Iie, Iie saku-chan," said tomoka while signing to sakuno that it's ok "let's just go their next time ok." while smiling cheerfully

"Hai" said sakuno

"I need to go now, my mom is not home so I need to look for my brothers, Ja ne sakuno-chan." said tomoka while waving on sakuno

When tomoka leaved sakuno decide to practice in a public tennis court.

"I need to work harder so I could be like ryoma-kun I need to work harder "sakuno thought.

Suddenly, a group of boys approach sakuno.

"Hi kawaii ojou-chan, do you want to drink with us?"

The boy said while holding sakuno's hand,

"u-uhm sorry, but I need to go now." said sakuno while trying to remove the boys hand on her wrist.

"We won't do anything we just want you to hang out with us."Said the other guy

"Sorry but I really need to go" ...then suddenly a boy with a messy hair and green eyes come to join the scene.

"A -akaya kirihara-san!" said sakuno with eyes widen due to shock

"Hey let her go." kirihara said while holding sakuno's shoulder.

"And who are you?"The boy said while pointing on kirihara.

"He-hey, that's akaya kirihara." the other boy said with a nervous tone

"So?!" the boy said with irritating look on his face

"So?!, He is the tennis player that they're talking about the one with de-devil mode." the other boy said

"You-you mean the one that beat liliadent krauser in the national semi-finals?" said the boy while shivering as they look to him.

"Go- gomenasai!" and suddenly they all run

"Wow, so I'm that popular hehehe" kirihara said while scratching his head

"Ano... a-arigatou gosaimas" sakuno said while facing the ground

"No, no it's ok" while signing his hands that's its ok "uhm...Your ryuzaki-sensei's granddaughter the one with seigaku players right?"

"ha-Hai" sakuno said

"Then what are you doing in a place like this don't you know that it's dangerous for you to come in here all alone" said kirihara with a worried look on his face

"I-im here to practice for my tennis tryout, ho-how about you kirihara-san?"

"I just feel bored, so I went to have a stroll then suddenly I saw you" kirihara said then he look at sakuno's racket and it give him an idea

"Ne, how about we play tennis?"

"De-demo I'm not that good you may get bored" said sakuno

"Daijobu" said kirihara

Then they start to practice kirihara thought sakuno the right position to play tennis. The right position to serve, block, and attack.

"Go-gomenasai." said sakuno with a shy look on her face

"Why are you apologizing?" said kirihara with a confusing look

"datte-datte." sakuno said while trying not to cry

"No-no it's not your fault being a slow learner" kirihara said (trying to comfort her)

Sakuno look at him sobbing because what kirihara said just gotten through her.

"Don't cry your just trying your best I know you can do it while practicing a lot" kirihara said with a gentle reaction on his face.

Kirihara smile and said "by the way I still don't know your name"

"Sa-sakuno ryuzaki des yoroshiku no negaishimas." as she bow her head and give him a proper greeting

"Then from now on I'm going to call you sakuno-Chan and you're going to call me kirihara-kun ok"

Sakuno replied him with a blush on her face "ha-ha-Hai."

…...

It was already 4:00pm when sakuno got home

"Where did you go?" sumire said while drinking her cup of coffee

"I practice tennis on the public court oba-chan" sakuno said then she climb on her room to change her clothes and get some bath.

Class is already over so sakuno decide to practice tennis again. She suddenly gets bumped on someone.

"go-gomenasai" sakuno said while facing the ground "I'm not looking on the way gomen"

But suddenly a familiar voice spoke

"Oh it's SA-chan, nya" the voice spoke "are you ok?"

"e-eiji-senpai," said sakuno while her eyes widened due to her shock "ha-Hai."

"What are you doing in here sakuno-chan?"Said momoshiro

"Maybe she miss OCHIBI ne, sa-chan." said kikumaru

"I-iie uhm-ano, I'm here to practice my skills in tennis" sakuno explained

"Ahh, for the try-out?" eiji said.

"Hmm" sakuno nod.

"But, all by yourself?" momoshiro said

"ha-Hai."

"You must be really working hard for ochibi ne, sa-chan." kikumaru said

"h-hmm." sakuno nod

Momoshiro suddenly remember "Eiji-senpai we need to go boucho is waiting for us, Ja ne sakuno."

"Matashtane, sa-chan." kikumaru waved to her. While sakuno watch them as they leave.

Sakuno start her practice by hitting balls on the wall when suddenly kirihara saw her.

"Yo" said akaya while his hands inside his pockets

"Ki-kirihara-kun"

"renshu(Practice)?"

"Hai"

"Can I join?"

"ha-Hai" sakuno answered with a cheerful smile on her face.

Suddenly akaya got stiff "do-doushite, is something wrong?" sakuno asked

"na-nademonai" said akaya with sweat drops on his head "let's start"

"Hmm" Said sakuno as she agreed by nodding

While they're in the middle of their practice akaya suddenly stop.

"Sakuno-chan, I think we should search for some more suitable court, I'm not comfortable….no…. I'm ….. Sorry …. But it's just that I just got used with our wide court at our school….. So….. I just thought if it's okay with you." said akaya

Suddenly akaya got an idea

"Let's use our school court" said kirihara

"Haa?, de-demo I don't think they would let us, specially your senpai-tachi."

"Don't worry," kirihara assured "they're not that type of person and also you're my friend so I'm sure they would let us," with a cheerful look on his face "so can we go on Saturday?"

"h-hmm" sakuno answered with a smile.