It is fine day in Tokyo. The weather is nice, people are on their usual routines, children are playing around, the sky is so blue, clouds seem to be big, floating cotton balls, birds are chirpi—
"EH?!" yelled a certain spiky-haired guy who was having a conversation with someone on the phone. "D-demo, E-E-Ech---"
"Fetch me at the airport. 11 am tomorrow. Ja." And the other line was cut off.
"WAIT! I GOT A DATE WITH TACHIBANA IMOUTO! HELLO!!" Takeshi Momoshiro, Seigaku's powerhouse, age 16, first year high school. That day, he burst like a human volcano. "ECHIZEN!!!"
"Obaa-chan, here's your lunch." Fifteen year-old Sakuno Ryuzaki said.
"Don't you like to go with me now?" Ryuzaki Sumire asked he precious granddaughter.
"Iiyo. It is too early. I still have to make lunch for myself and I want to some last minute reviews for our lessons and also Tomo-chan will fetch me so we could walk to school together." She said with a smile.
"Alright. But make it sure that you will not be late, okay." She reminded her while getting into the car.
"Hai." She was still smiling."Be careful, ba-chan." She waved her hand as the vehicle accelerated.
Sumire glanced at Sakuno through the rearview mirror. Her precious Sakuno really changed after three years. From a shy twelve year-old girl, she is now a more confident and mature lady. Add to it, her used to be long hair was cut within the shoulder level but still kept in braids. Her russet-colored eyes are still deep and somewhat spellbinding. One can say that she is truly beautiful and sweet. And Sumire, being the protective one, keeps on giving the girl some reminders.
She drive her way onto the school's parking lot. She was about to go to her office when she heard the noisy discussion of the tennis club regulars, excluding Tezuka, and members. She opened the gates and stepped in. "What's the commotion about?!" she yelled at them and everybody froze. "S-Sensei, well its because Momo told us that Echizen will return to Japan tomorrow, and i-if you don't mind, w-we just want to have a welcome party for him." Oishi explained.
"Eh, so he'll arrive tomorrow." She said half-smiling.
"That's right oba—I mean Sensei! Actually he called me early this morning and asked me or rather ordered me to fetch him at the airport." Momoshiro frantically stated. "And I just want to ask my other sempais if they can fetch that brat instead of me because uhm, well I have a very important appointment with someone." He can't help but to blush slightly.
"Saa, Ann will surely understand you if you explained this thing to her." teased Fuji.
"Ah no! it's not Ann!" his face is very red now.
"Yay! Momo is so in love! You can't deny it! It is really really obvious!" Kikumaru teased him more.
Momoshiro blushes like crazy. He looks like a spiky-haired tomatoe now.
"Well then, I think I can handle it." Everybody looked at their coach in disbelief.
"Sakuno and I can fetch him. Anyway its weekends, I say yes to the welcome party."
"YEAH!!" everybody gushed out suddenly.
Sakuno has no idea on where they will go. "Obaa-chan, where are we going? And why don't we just ride our own car." She ask in a low voice while they are inside the cab. "On the airport." "Eh? Someone's coming? Who?" she asked curiously. "You'll see later. C'mon we're here." They walked inside and stayed at the lobby. "We'll meet him here."
She is too curious now. "Obaa-chan, why don't you just tell me who will come to day?" she pouted, demanding for the answer. But Sumire seemed to ignore her. "Mou!"
"Ryuzaki-sensei." Sakuno stiffened. She knew that voice. Slowly she turned to face that someone.
"Welcome home." Sumire smiled.
"Ryoma-kun…"