-Shrugged Emotions-

At last, winter season was about to start. Cool breeze swaying randomly and a gray sky that tells snow will begin to tumble on the ground. While walking with Karupin on his arms, Ryoma saw a Cherry blossom tree. Nice place. He thought. He headed under the tree and took a nap to relax himself after being pressurized to play against his teammates. Leaning his back against a tree trunk, Ryoma noticed someone's presence coming towards him but he just ignored when he recognized her aura. Didn't move even an inch. A girl with huge stunning caramel venus-eyes and mahogany twin-braided hair down to her waist was running excitedly towards him. She suddenly stopped herself and froze when Ryoma stared at her with

cold-blooded looks, expressing that he's annoyed.

"A-ano." She said nervously but softly. "Ryoma-kun, about your next game for the

Pre-final tournament."

"Hn?" He said unemotionally.

"I, I will be supporting you for sure. We will be cheering for you!"

He pulled his cap lower, shrugged a shoulder and continued on his catnap. Was it a thanks or so what? Silence took place with a chilling wind afterwards. She found herself a little awkward around him. With a blank expression on her face, she drew in a sharp breath and inconspicuously starts pacing backward to leave. The snow began to fall slowly.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he was actually paying a jot attention to her. He then stared at her as she walks at the opposite direction. Despite of her clumsiness, she was kinda cute. Her hair was peppered by snow that made her more stunning. She always has a positive outlook in life, cheerful, friendly which is the opposite side of Ryoma. Of course, he is aware of that. Not to mention, but whenever she's around him, Ryoma always felt a sudden tick inside him.

Well, if it is Ryoma, he will just ignore it for sure. He didn't want to waste his time in that kind of stupid matter.

Ryoma-kun…There's something I wanted to tell you, but I guessed you wouldn't give any concern to me after all…right? she thought as she slid a little further into her bubble bath. Ever since they'd met, his striking face had been perpetually stuck into her mind. Took a deep breath….

Flashback…

While sitting quietly inside the train, three wind-headed guys were talking egotistically about their tennis styles. One guy sway his racket performing a hot serve shot nearly hit Sakuno.

He continued on swaying his racket one at a time, trying to be cool in showing his annoying ability.

"Neh, you're annoying!" Ryoma said in a sharp voice.

"Nani?" (What?) A guy replied with a twist of an eyebrow on his face.

"Stop using eastern grip when you're talking about the western style." He said provokingly as he leaves off.

Sakuno, eyeing at the leaving guy and suddenly…Puff!

"Oh! I must leave as well." She said to herself as she regained his thoughts from wondering.

While waiting for her grandmother to pick her up...

"Neh! Do you know the Kaginogizaka tennis garden?" A sudden voice rang in front of him.

"Ah! You're the one from earlier…" pointing her forefinger towards him. "Oh! Gomenosai…I'm also going to the Kaginogizaka tennis garden and this is my first time to watch."

Puzzled. He asked again, "So where it is?"

"Ah! Sumimasen…. If you go to the south gate and head straight." She directed. (Though they seems to be a bit different from meaning, but gomenosai and sumimasen relatively means "sorry")

"The south gate eh? Thanks."

Not knowing that she pointed him the opposite way until her obaa-chan (grandma) came from the north gate to pick her up.

That was her first conversation against Ryoma and even though time had passed, she hadn't even trying to forget it. For her it was one of her most cherished moment. In short, she has been carrying the torch for him since that day.

End of flashback…

( I didn't really think I would end up making this scene, I can hardly recall so I paused it for a moment and watched this episode again... o)

"Sakuno! Sakuno! Dinners ready." Her obaa-chan's voice downstairs roused her from dreaming.

"H-Hai."

"Sakuno, you seemed a little pale today… are you alright?" her obaa-chan was worried about her.

"Iie…don't worry obaa-chan, I'm fine." (Iie means "no" and Hai means "yes")

But deep inside she was reeling, imagining those cold eyes glaring at her from earlier made her down and half of it is about what she overheard on the line earlier talking to her grandma. She let herself get mangled with all this damn situations, worrying about Ryoma and now another twaddle stuff appeared before her. She buried her face against a pillow, thinking deeply. Several moments had passed and she finally concluded.

"Well…come what may!" she said and fell asleep.

Maybe tomorrow she could find a way to solve this problem.

--- To be continued ---

"Konnichiwa minna-san!" ahm… this is the first debut of my story… hope you'll like it!Actually, I'm a little bit of hesitant with some of my 'weird' grammars…Sorry for that! And oh! By the way, I will do really appreciate if you guys would give me some comments and advice… o