Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis and its characters.
Summary: This fanfic is Sakuno-centric… in this fic, Sakuno would try things to make the most out of her summer. Like learning photography, fishing, making juice, gymnastics, playing video games and a lot more. As she gets help from her beloved senpais while Echizen is in the U.S, her senpais would start appreciating and noticing how special she is, thanks to the lessons. All they want to do is have fun! There might be a possible trip sponsored by the one and only Atobe Keigo… Sakuno x ???
From the author: Yoh, people! Listen up! Haha, this fic is dedicated for the existence of summer! Summer is when we have fun! Haha, Sakuno would be experiencing summer stuff in this fic! Where she would be mingling with her senpais from Seigaku… and possibly from other schools too, namely: Hyotei, Rikkai Dai, Fudoumine and St. Rudolph! She would try photography, fishing, and all the other stuff you can possibly do this summer… This is the summer before Sakuno would be entering High School so it has been some time since she met her senpais… Sakuno would act more mature (since she is fifteen), and wouldn't be as childish as before. Same goes for the others. I'm sorry if I would not be able to portray your favourite characters here the way they were in the series/manga, but I'm trying my best to fit the characters in and I'm basing some of their attitudes from some fanfics I read. Like for example Fuji's sadistic nature, Eiji's cheerful yet childish nature, Oishi's motherliness and so on and so fort.
-Having Fun This Summer Break-
Chapter 1: Summer Ideals for the Remaining Days of Summer!
On a hot summer day, a certain auburn-pigtailed girl was determined to make the living room dustless and absolutely neat and clean. Today, her grandmother would be having a visitor in the house. As she dusted the mantelpiece, swept the floor, wiped a couple of picture frames, fixed the cushions and sprayed air freshener in the room, her grandmother was busy in the kitchen. Sakuno hurriedly finished her task to be able to help her grandmother in cooking. If there was one thing that Sakuno enjoys doing; it's baking and cooking scrumptious and delectable food. When she finally achieved in making the living room sparkle from cleanness and everything was perfect, she immediately headed for the kitchen and found her grandmother already placing some bento on a plate, ready to eat.
"Ano… obaa-chan, are you done?" Sakuno continued to stare at the plate full of bento. "Wouldn't that be too few?" Sakuno then began counting on her fingering. "We could add some tempura, onigiri, rice cakes…"
"Sakuno…"
Sakuno continued to count, oblivious to her calling grandmother. "… beef teriyaki…"
"Sakuno…"
"… sushi…"
"Sakuno!"
Sakuno had stopped blabbering and turned to her obaa-chan. Sumire smiled at her granddaughter. "Nah, Sa-chan, it's enough, don't worry… All this bento could fill that person up!" She cheerfully assured Sakuno. "If I knew you better, I bet you're just saying it's few because you want to cook… am I right?"
Sakuno blushed. "Obaa-chan!" Sumire chuckled at her granddaughter's 'caught-look'. "Anyways, is there anything else I could do for you?" Sakuno asked her grandmother who shook her head then looked at her with a straight face.
"Sakuno… I appreciate you helping me with things… but it is summer! School break! It's the time for fun! Enjoy yourself!" Sumire patted her granddaughter's shoulder.
"Nah, I'd rather help around the house, and besides, WHAT can I do this summer?" Sakuno looked at her grandmother, this time, it was Sumire's turn counting on her fingers.
"Well, you can have a summer job…" Sakuno smiled at the thought. She imagined herself probably baby-sitting… 'Now that's a good one… maybe I could get I few tips from Tomo-chan…' then her thoughts drifted to the children bullying her, making her suffer for being such a push-over. Sakuno then shook the thoughts out of her mind and resumed listening to her grandmother.
"… painting…" Sakuno then imagined herself in the countryside, trying her best to paint the beautiful scenery and ended up accidentally spilling paint on her because of clumsiness. She shook the thought away again and resumed to listening.
"… swimming…" Sakuno then imagined herself swimming peacefully in the beach when it ended that she was drowning, helpless and in need. Sakuno shook the thought away once again and resumed to listening.
"… having a vacation…" Sakuno then imagined relaxing in the most awesome of cruises that ever existed and was having the time of her life. Everything was perfect! But… she shook the thought away afraid that that would be TOO good to be true, especially for someone like herself; the clumsy, wobbly, TOO long-haired, bad in directions Sakuno Ryuzaki.
Sumire looked at her granddaughter concerned. "Are you alright?" Sakuno blinked at her grandmother.
"Huh?" Sakuno answered, a part of her still lost in thoughts.
"Ne, Sakuno, you've been shaking your head since a while ago! Don't you like what I am suggesting?"
Sakuno blushed. "Nah, I like your suggestions, it's just that, I'm wondering if I could do it…"
Sumire looked at Sakuno gently. "Nonsense! Of course you can do it!" Sakuno stared at her grandmother then looked away. She sighed. Sumire looked at her granddaughter full of concern. "Sa-chan… what if I ask your senpai-tachi's to help you learn a few things over this summer break?"
Sakuno turned to her grandmother abruptly. "S-senpais? D-do you think they can help?" Sakuno stuttered at the sudden thought but was glad deep down for she would be having the opportunity to be close with them again.
Sumire nodded. "I'm sure they would be glad to help! As far as I know, they're all here in Seishun, too bad if Ryoma was here we could ask for his help too…"
Sakuno hugged her obaa-chan ignoring the teasing remark of her grandma. "Arigatou! Arigatou! I'm sure I would have fun!" Sakuno released her grandmother from the tight embrace and smiled sweetly at her, grateful that she wanted her to enjoy summer.
"I'm glad I could be of help…" Sumire grinned at her precious happy granddaughter.
Ding Dong
"Sakuno, the guest is here!"
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After accommodating the guest and helped her grandma making the visitor comfortable, she headed to her room and sat on her bed. She got a pink slim notebook under her pillow, grabbed a pen, and started writing down her thoughts.
Dear Vanilla,
I am so happy to help obaa-chan with her guest today! Too bad I didn't get to cook… I should have volunteered to do the kitchen work! Anyways, I am glad to be of help to her, but what really made my day today: knowing a number of things I can do to make the most out of summer! If only I wasn't oblivious to the endless possibilities of I can do, I should have done it as soon as summer break started! Sakuno, baka! Well, I can do nothing about it anymore so I guess I just have to enjoy the remaining days of it before I start as a High School student this coming school year. Honestly, I am actually excited of what obaa-chan would ask the senpais to help me with, but I'm more excited to seeing them all again! Oh, and other thing Vanilla, a while ago, I imagined myself having a very luxurious vacation! Relaxing, just hanging around, and having the time of life! I wonder if that would ever happen… I guess that that's just too good to be true… But nothing is wrong in dreaming right? It's free to dream! Dream to be someone who could play tennis well, dream to be someone everyone would notice, dream to be someone enjoying a perfect vacation… speaking of vacation, Tomo-chan's in one! Lucky! I wish she was here with me so that she could help me have fun in the remaining days of summer…anyways, I guess Vanilla, JUST dreaming wouldn't be of help… Probably I should try to learn and do things that would help me achieve what I want… I'm really looking forward to the countless possibilities of having fun! The better part of it is enjoying them with the people I know and care for… I will write to you soon!
Love, Sakuno
Sakuno ended her diary entry by signing her signature on the bottom of the page. She was happy and excited with the new thoughts she had acquired from her grandma. But she feels bad for being a total idiot and being so ignorant of ways to enjoy summer… is she just too darn weird that all she can think about is chores?! Nah… it is just that she cares for her grandmother so much that she forgot about herself. Thanks to her grandma's 'opening of her mind' she will soon have fun this summer and she can't wait! Suddenly, her cellphone rang and disrupted her from her own quiet time.
FILIPINO! FILIPINO! FILIPINO! Bebot Bebot Be-bebot Bebot…
Sakuno flipped her phone open. "Tomo-chan!" Sakuno wondered as to why her friend would be calling her all the way from the Philippines. (yeah, FILIPINO! FILIPINO!)
"Sakuno-chan! I am so glad to hear your voice again! Anyways, enough of the chit-chat, let's save it for later!"
"What do you mean by later? You're going to call again? Come on! Tell me now! How's the Philippines?!" Sakuno insisted on knowing about her bestfriend's Philippine adventure in a place they call 'Boracay'… (all Filipinos out there, I am sooooo sure you know this place)!
"I'm back!"
"Huh?!"
"I said, I.AM.BACK! Do I need to spell it out for you?" Tomoka teased her friend from the other line.
"Tomo-chan! I heard you the first time… I am just surprised! Where are you now?"
"In a cab… we just arrived a few minutes ago in the airport but we're heading home now… come over!"
"What?!"
"I said, COME.OVER! Do I need to spell that out to you?"
Sakuno flushed from her best friend's teasing. "I heard you the first time! I'm just surprised that you want me to come over so soon! Are you sure you don't want to rest? I will give you time-" Sakuno was cut.
"Sakuno-chan. Don't worry, I'm fine, I'm inviting you over because I want to see you and tell you about my vacation personally! And besides, I have a 'pasalubong' for you…"
"What?!"
"Oh gosh, do I have to repeat myself again?! I said-"
Sakuno chuckled from the other line. "I said 'what' because you said a weird word that sounds alien to me… what word was that again? Pasa- watchamacallit?"
"Ohh… 'pasalubong'! That means souvenir, sorry for that, anyways, are you going to come over?"
"Sure, why not? I'll be over in a couple of minutes… I might even reach your house first!"
"Okay Sa-chan! See you later!
Then Sakuno flipped her phone close.
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After eating up almost all of her time just convincing Sumire that she wouldn't get lost, she finally was able to dismiss herself from the household after which she immediately headed to the Osakada residence. "I am so excited to see Tomo-chan again!" Sakuno skidded through the streets and went left, then right, then right again… she was definitely, absolutely, 100 percent sure that she WON'T get lost this time. Gosh! She's been going to Tomoka's house for years! Well… with the exception that Tomoka was with her… "Where am I?" She stuttered nervously as she looked around the unfamiliar neighbouring houses. She was so excited to see Tomoka that she failed to notice where she was going. Okay, now, she was dead… for the millionth time (okay, that's exaggeration; hyperbole), the great Sakuno Ryuzaki won a billion yen! Joke! She was lost and had no idea where to go and where to return…
"Excuse me miss…"
'Yes, someone would help me with directions!' Sakuno turned to the person who called her with a big smile. Seeing the person in front of her, Sakuno backs away and prepares to sprint. It was Yanagisawa. The person whom she have feared the most in the St. Rudolph crowd.
"Nani… Yanagisawa, you scared the little girl away!" A familiar voice emerged as it continued to scold the duck-looking guy.
Sakuno looked back and saw Fuji Yuuta with Yanagisawa. "Fuji-san?!"
Yuuta stopped his bickering upon the mention of his name and saw his aniki's Seigaku kohai. "Ryuzaki-san! Nice to see you! Don't tell me you're lost… again…"
Sakuno blushed then scratched an invisible itch on her scalp embarrassed that once again, she was in this situation. "Yes… Ano…"
"Where are you going anyways? Probably we could help you…" Yanagisawa was trying to be friendly and walks nearer to Sakuno. With every step forward, Sakuno takes a step back.
A total chaotic scene has been prevented, with a braided girl screaming because of a duck-looking guy being friendly, thanks to the tennis prodigy's younger brother. "Hey, Hey, Yanagisawa! You're scaring her! Let me talk to her…" Yuuta approaches Sakuno. "Ryuzaki-san, since you're lost… again, we would help you… where do you intend to go?" Yuuta offers kindly.
Sakuno, due to embarrassment, clutches the hem of her skirt. "Arigatou… and gomen for disturbing!" Sakuno bows.
"Nani… It's okay, you didn't bother us, and as your senpais, we have a responsibility for the safety of our kohais… So, where are you going again?" Fuji Yuuta looks at Sakuno.
"I'm going to my friend's house, Tomoka-" Sakuno was interrupted.
"Is her last name Osakada?" Yuuta asks.
"Yes…" Sakuno says simply surprised that Yuuta knew Tomoka that well.
Yuuta notices Sakuno's surprised expression. "I know her because the Osakada family is known among a part of the neighbourhood where I usually pass by… because at times, there would be loud shouts from inside of the house like 'Ryoma-sama! Ryoma-sama!' and wild cheers and screams that seems to be coming from TV, after which another shout 'Tomoka! Tone down your voice and the TV volume!' that's why I know her… But it's been quiet these days, I guess they're in vacation…" Yuuta finished and sees Sakuno giggling.
"That Tomo-chan!" Then she looks at Yuuta. "So, you know where she lives?"
Yuuta nods. "I pass by that house every time I go to school…" Yuuta heads for a direction and swung his tennis bag over his shoulder. "Come on…"
Sakuno follows Yuuta and remembers Yanagisawa. "Ano… Fuji-san, how 'bout Yanagisawa-san?"
Yuuta turns around to look at Sakuno then at the expectant duck-looking guy. "Would you like him to come?"
Sakuno fidgets with her hands. "…"
Yuuta settles with the most likely answer of Sakuno. And so decides to let Yanagisawa stay. "Yanagisawa, I guess you should stay here first… Mizuki and the others might wonder where we are so… stay here and wait for them… I will be back…" Yanagisawa nods after which he started walking again.
Seeing Yuuta already leading the way, Sakuno follows him.
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"Hey! Hey! Mr. driver, could you please drive a little faster… my friend is coming over to my house today and she must have been waiting for ages because I am not yet there!" Tomoka fumes at the cab driver who was trying his best to do as she pleases.
"Tomoka! How dare you pressure the driver! Where are your manners?" Mrs. Osakada scolds her daughter. Tomoka folds her arms and looks outside the window. "Sorry about that sir…" Tomoka's mother apologizes to the man on the wheel. The driver just smiles at them.
Tomoka's younger brothers tug on her sleeve. "What?!" Tomoka snaps at them, obviously, she was in a bad mood. Her brothers were pointing outside the cab window… There was a familiar auburn-pigtailed girl walking with another familiar figure. Tomoka gasps. "Sakuno-chan!" Tomoka leaps to get her mother's attention who was in the front seat. "Ano, Sakuno-chan is outside!" Then she turns to the driver abruptly. "Would you please stop the cab?"
When the car stopped and before her mom could protest, Tomoka already stepped out of the car and hugs Sakuno tightly who still didn't see her. Upon the embrace, Sakuno and Yuuta were surprised to see someone get out of a taxi then just pounces at you with a big hug. With Sakuno and Yuuta still loss at words, Tomoka breaks the silence. "Sakuno-chan! I'm back, I'm back!" Tomoka releases Sakuno from the hug then jumps up and down still acting like a twelve-year-old.
"Tomo-chan!" Sakuno blushes with her friend's childish nature. Well, she was happy so that's the most likely reaction… and she didn't have to deny it either, she was happy that Tomoka was back… "Fuji-san, thanks for accompanying me…" Sakuno bows at Yuuta who in turn just pats her head.
Tomoka gasps. "Sa-chan! Don't tell me you got lost! Again! How many times have you been to my house but you still get lost!"
Before Sakuno could answer, Tomoka's mom shouted from inside the car. "Tomoka! Are you getting in or not? Or would you rather walk home?"
Tomoka drags Sakuno with her inside the car leaving Yuuta outside. Before closing the door, Sakuno thanks Yuuta again and off went the cab to the Osakada residence. Yuuta smiles as he watches the cab turn around a corner. "They should reach the house soon…" Then he heads back to Yanagisawa who was probably with the other St. Rudolph students already.
In a few minutes, the Osakada family started bringing their luggage inside the house with Sakuno's help. Tomoka brought her own luggage to her room and asked Sakuno to come with her so they could chat. After settling the bags and everything was in place, the only thing Tomoka would do was unpack… but she would do that later after the chat they were both looking forward to. So Tomoka started. "You know what Sa-chan, Boracay is such a wonderful place! The sand on the beach is white! Can you believe that?!" Tomoka bounced on the bed happily while sitting down.
Sakuno smiles at her best friend. She has a lot to tell her best friend too… "Wow… Boracay seems like a nice place… Did you meet anyone new?"
Tomoka nods. "Yeah, her name is Arah Saki, she's Japanese and she's taking her vacation there too… she's fun!" Tomoka grins at her friend. "But you're more fun to be with that's why I'm really excited to see you!"
"Tomo-chan, it has only been a month! Anyways, so aside from Boracay, where else did you go?" Sakuno asks her best friend who was enthusiastic in telling Sakuno more about her adventure.
"I also went to Baguio…" After minutes chatting about more of Tomoka's trip in the Philippines, Sakuno started telling Tomoka about her realization and summer ideals.
"Nani?! Really?! Your obaa-chan told you that?!" Tomoka gasps then switches to teasing mode. "Too bad Ryoma-sama is not here to make your summer even better…"
Sakuno blushes. "Tomo-chan!"
Tomoka chuckles at her best friend. "Maybe I could teach you how to dance…"
Sakuno looks at her best friend. "I didn't know you could dance!" Sakuno said surprised.
Tomoka grins at her best friend. "So, Sa-chan, want to see the 'pasalubong' I bought for you?" Sakuno nods. Tomoka stands up to get something from her suitcase. A few moments later, jewellery dangled in Tomoka's hand. It was a shell necklace. She hands it to the surprised Sakuno. "Like it?"
Sakuno nods then puts it around her neck. "Arigatou!" Interrupting the wonderful friendship moment, Sakuno's phone rang.
I wonder if you know, how to live in Tokyo, if you see…
"Moshi moshi… An-chan!" Sakuno answers the phone as she continues to look at Tomoka's present around her neck. "Can Tomo-chan come with us? Oh, wait, hold on…" Sakuno turns to the waiting Tomoka. "Tomo-chan, would you like to come with us to the mall?" Sakuno asks.
"I will ask my mom first…" Tomoka replies. Sakuno nods then returns to the phone call. "Okay, see you later, bye!" Sakuno flips her phone close.
"So… why'd she want you in the mall?" Tomoka asks a little jealous that Tachibana An and Sakuno are tight.
"She said she saw this new ad that there is an opening cake shop in the mall and she wanted to go because they were giving away free cakes today… so she asked if I could go with her…" Sakuno explains. "Ano… Tomo-chan, not that I don't want you to come, it's just that I guess you need to rest…"
Tomoka looks at Sakuno and was about to protest when there was a knock on the door. Tomoka stood up to open it. It was her mother. "Tomoka, would you please help your brothers unpack? I'm kind of busy cleaning…" Her mother stated.
Sakuno stood up too. "I guess I better leave now…" Tomoka nods then assist Sakuno to the door. "Thanks for the gift!" Sakuno said sweetly.
"Welcome…" Tomoka smiles back. Then Sakuno headed to the mall. This time she was sure she wasn't going to be lost…
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When Sakuno safely reaches the mall, without getting lost or whatsoever, she immediately spotted An in their meeting place. Without further ado, she approached An. "Sakuno! I'm glad you came! Come on! We might run out of free cakes!" An grabs her arm and they immediately ran to the cake shop. The place was crowded! But even with the humongous crowd, Sakuno and An didn't fail to smell the wonderful aroma of the freshly baked cakes. "Come on!" An drags her inside.
Upon their entrance, the two girls were shocked to see familiar people in the shop. Specifically boys. Boys who knew how to play tennis. Boys who study in the school named: Rikkai Dai. Noticing the newcomers, the girl in the counter warmly smiles at them. "Good afternoon and welcome to the cake shop! Come and try our freshly baked cakes!" The girl in the counter offers them two slices of chocolate cake.
As Sakuno and An approaches the counter to have a taste of the delicious pastry, a red-haired boy was about to snatch the delicacies but was fortunately stopped by the team's fukubuchou. "Marui! Those are not yours!" Sanada snaps at his teammate.
Marui Bunta, the volley specialist, whined. "But I want more cake!"
A feminine-looking guy calms his teammate down by handing him his cake. "Here, you could have mine… I'm full…" Yukimura said.
Marui smiles at the buchou. "Arigatou, Yukimura-san!"
Sanada then turns to Sakuno and An. "Gomen, for my teammate's rude behavior…"
Then a guy with black messy hair approaches the two. "Haven't we seen you girls before?" Kirihara said as he tries to remember the time they did see each other. An scowls as she sees Kirihara.
Sakuno on the other hand replies. "Hai… Kirihara-san, we volunteered in the tennis camp before… she is Tachibana An…" Sakuno looks at An. "… and I am Ryuzaki Sakuno…"
Kirihara, Yukimura, Marui and Sanada looked at them surprised. "You're the granddaughter of Ryuzaki-sensei of Seigaku?" Sanada asks.
"Hai…" Sakuno replies shyly.
"Now I remember… you were helping in the camp… you even took care of me when I was injured…" Kirihara looks at Sakuno. He didn't state that he knew An because of injuring Tachibana so that there wouldn't be anymore fights… Since the schools were already at peace…
Sakuno nods cutely as her braids bounced while her head moves up and down. "Hai, we were in the camp…" Sakuno confirms then asks a random question. "Say, is the cake good?" She asks softly.
The four nodded. "Try it…" Kirihara says to the two of them.
"Okay…" An managed to say, then heads for the counter to taste the cake. "Mmmm…" She mumbles as she continues to experience the heavenly taste of the treat. Realizing that all eyes were on her, she ushers Sakuno to try the cake to. Shyly eating the cake, she scans her eyes around the shop. There were a few tables and chairs, the shop windows were big glass ones. There was a door behind the counter probably leading to where they make the cake. As she continues to look around, her eyes fell on a poster posted on one of the windows.
Seeing the cute braided girl move across the room. All eyes followed her. Sakuno was unaware that all of them were looking at her. She stops when she was inches away from the poster after which she read what was handwritten.
To all young people interested for a summer job, just approach the person in the counter.
Now that made Sakuno excited. Seeing the sudden reaction of Sakuno. An with Kirihara, Yukimura and Bunta… checked the poster out. Meanwhile Sakuno approaches the person in the counter and asks about the job. After a short interview, she was accepted.
Sakuno exits the cake shop happily as An was glad for her friend. After having the interview, Sakuno told An and the Rikkai Dai players about her summer ideals. An said that she would teach Sakuno to sing as for Yukimura, Kirihara and Marui, they volunteered that they wanted to help Sakuno too! After a few convinces from the three, Sanada agreed that they would help Sakuno by advertising the new cake shop. How glad she was! In return, she promised them for free treats in the cake shop.
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When An dropped Sakuno off in her house, just to make sure she wouldn't get lost, Sakuno thanked An for letting her come with her then she entered the house. She was taken by surprise when she found the living room packed! Packed with Seigaku bishounens! "Senpais!" Sakuno said surprised.
"Sakuno-chan, was that An-chan who dropped you off a while ago, nyah?!" Kikumaru asked bouncily from his seat. Sakuno nodded. "You should have asked her to come in so that Momo would have seen her…" the red-haired boy teased Momo.
"Senpai!" Momo blushed.
Sakuno chuckled. All of them were smiling at her… well, except for Tezuka, he always had an impassive face anyway. Then Sumire stepped out of the kitchen bringing a pitcher and glasses for the guests. Sakuno immediately went to her grandmother to help her. When Sumire and Sakuno were settled down, Sakuno went to feed her curiosity. "Ano… obaa-chan… why are the senpai-tachi's here?"
"They came here to fulfill my promise…" Sumire grinned at her granddaughter.
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From the author: I hope you liked the story so far… It is still kind of boring since the story is just flaming up! Wait for the next chapters! And be thrilled by the power of the imaginary brain and typing hands! Haha! Up next: Chapter 2- Start of Summer Fun!
P.S.: People are free to suggest summer activities for Sakuno to make the story (and Sakuno's summer) even better!
