As We Meet Again
By: shoujosmut16
Rated: Teen 13 years old and up
Genre: Shoujo, Romance
Summary: They met when they were 12 but love didn't blossom. Now that they are 21, as they meet again, will love finally blossom? A Ryosaku fanfic.
Author's Note: This story was set when they are already 21 years old. They never saw each other again after the anime. So please expect that the characters are a little bit OOC because they are already young adults and they have matured.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Prince of Tennis. It is owned by Konomi Takeshi-sensei.
italized words- thoughts of Sakuno
Chapter 1: Memories
Ryuzaki Sakuno has fallen into a very awkward situation. "Is it possible to safely get off at the next station? What should I do?"
"Hahahahahahaha! You idiots still don't know the rules for gripping! To hit the top spin, it's the western grip, ya know! I'm telling you, keep the racket like this and hold it like you're shaking hands"
"Oh! Of course Sasabe is different."
"Stupid! This is common sense!"
Sakuno was quietly sitting in the train and waiting to arrive at her next stop when suddenly three high schoolers came and stop in front of her. They started talking so loud, it was disturbing the other passengers as well. The worst part is the older guy with a strangely long hair started swinging his racket in front of her and muttering things about how to properly hold a racket and such.
Sakuno tried her best to avoid the tennis racket that flew quickly past her face. Mou! When will they stop?
"Yo! Can't you keep it down?"
Ah...? Sakuno looked up in surprise at the boy her age across the aisle that had spoken to the older boys in the train. He has this piercing cat like eyes...
Kring! Kring! Kring! Kring! Kring!
Ryuzaki Sakuno, 21 years old, woke up from her dream at the sound of the alarm. Geez! Is it that time already? Mou! Sakuno slowly opened her eyes to adjust her sight from the light peeking from the window. She started stretching underneath her blanket and slowly arise from her bed and stare at her surrounding. Even now, she's still in awe at the hotel room that she's staying in.
Sakuno is currently staying at The Jewel Hotel in New York City, a very chic hotel, comfortable, and has a homey or cozy feeling to it. It feels like you're never far away from home. The room has white walls, floors which were carpeted, has nice wooden furniture, has 60' LED Smart TV. The room offered a nice work area and desk, with smaller, highly adjustable task light, and easily accessible built-in power strips with outlets. A very comfortable queen sized bed with nicely designed comforter which matches the curtains of the floor-to-ceiling windows, that when you look outside it is overlooking the Rockefeller Plaza. The hotel is also down the street from Central Park, right around corner 5th Avenue shopping, a block from St. Patrick's Cathedral, Times Square, etc. It is just a great place.
Although Sakuno has been in New York a lot of times before, this was the first time she had stayed in a 3-star hotel. It has always been in the dorms provided by the agency, where you could always hear the noises, chattering, gossips created by those who also stay there. It was even worse when it's peak of the season. Since she's really doing well now, the agency made her stay at the hotel as an incentive.
I guess hard work really pays off.
Sakuno proceeded walking to the bathroom. The bathroom was large and has a nicely designed tile, with decorative tile inlaid which gave it an upscale feel. Though the sink area is small, there are lots of shelf space and the lighting was very good.
The young woman suddenly stared at herself at the big mirror. Who would have thought that the once shy, clumsy and wobbly-hips (which what Ryoma always teases her) with oh so long hair 12 years old Ryuzaki Sakuno would one day become a Top Model. Although she is not drop dead gorgeous or has a bombshell body like the other models, she is a very fine lady and has her own charms that melted a lot of people hearts and garnered lots of fans from Asia up to the US.
Sakuno was first discovered when she was 14 years old during her third year in middle school. That day, she was intending to get a hair cut. Although she loves her long hair, she's been having a hard time managing it for a while now, and it's also almost summer time so the weather will be awfully hot. Tying her hair in a high pony tail or bun is not even a good idea because by the end of the day it will give her a head ache and a stiff neck. Putting it in twin braids is way off the trend as her best friend, Osakada Tomoka, would say. Luckily she got a coupon for a top hair salon courtesy again by Osakada Tomoka. Unfortunately that day, Tomoka couldn't come with her because she has to baby sit her twin brothers.
As she entered the salon, she was greeted by the staff and was led to an empty spot and was asked what they could do for her that day. Little did she know that one of the regular customer of the shop has been observing her since she step foot in the shop.
A couple of minutes past, the staff and the customers momentarily stop from what they were doing and looked at the little girl. It's like seeing a plain little duck suddenly transformed to a beautiful swan. Even Sakuno was shocked at how different she looked after she got a haircut. Her hair was not too long but not too short, just the right hair length, the ends of her hair naturally curled and a nicely cut side fringe, it was perfect for her heart shaped face.
"That hair style really suits you." said the hair stylist.
"Hai!, Arigato gozaimasu." Sakuno said as she sent a heartwarming smile that made the hearts of the onlookers skip a beat.
"By the way, how much would I have to pay for the service? I also have a coupon right here." Sakuno suddenly said.
"Actually we could make it for free if you're willingly to let us take a picture of you." a pretty looking lady, who was the manager of the shop, suddenly said as she step in front of Sakuno.
"Eh?"
"You see every month, we choose among our customers who made the biggest transformation or makeover. He or she will have a big portrait that will be displayed at the shop's front window. It is our way of advertising our shop. And most of the people we have chosen were scouted to be models. So would you like to try?"
"E-eto... a-anou..." Sakuno tried to answer but she's still contemplating whether she's gonna do it or not. Sakuno never thought of herself as a pretty girl. She had always considered herself to be among the plain ones. So having someone suggesting she could be a model feels like she's in a gag reality TV show and there's a hidden camera somewhere. So she looked side to side but couldn't find one. Finally she noticed some photos that were displayed at the walls of the shop. Wow! So that person also started here.
Sigh... I know that I'm nothing like a model so there's a low chance of me being scouted by some agency, so even if my picture was taken no one will bother and having this service for free saves me a lot of money. I will be able to keep both my peace and my money. So whatever.
"A-alright, I- i'll do it just this one time" Sakuno finally said.
"Thank you! Now if you could sign this paper. It states that you're giving us permission to take your picture and view it to the public. You also have the option whether you want us to give your basic information to those registered/ legal scouters who would like to inquire about you."
Sakuno signed the papers and checked the NO option regarding her information. She wants to keep her privacy as much as possible. And most of all, she doesn't want stalkers.
"Alright! Thank you for participating. Now if you could sit back on your chair and we will put some make up on you. And maybe if you could change into some fashionable clothes as well."
Two of the staff went to Sakuno's side and started putting some make up on her. A little make up was put on just to enhance her facial features and because her skin was clear and smooth, there was no need to cover up. The other was putting her hair in a cute hairstyle. A couple of minutes later, they made her go to the second floor of the shop to change her clothes into something fashionable and get her photos taken. At first, she was little bit awkward in front of the camera. So to make her relax, they started asking her some questions, stuff that interest her and then she would answer them with a beautiful smile. Little did she know they were already taking photos of her. After that, she changed back to her normal clothes and went back downstairs to give her tip to the staff that helped her and said her thank you's and goodbye.
"Thank you for coming to our shop. We hope to see you again. And please look forward to your picture." said the manager.
"Hai, Doumo arigato gozaimashita." Sakuno politely bowed in an elegant way. (a/n: the traditional way of bowing, like an ojou-sama) making the staff and some customers be in awe because they rarely see teenagers now a days bow that way, and the way she bowed was beautiful and refined.
As Sakuno exited the shop and past a couple blocks away, she was suddenly stopped by a man which was around his fifties wearing a weird outfit and sporting a silly grin.
"La mia ragazza bella!" said the weird looking man.
"E-eeeh?"What did he say?
"I was entranced by your transformation. It made my heart skip a beat. So as a prize, I would like to invite you to join our agency and be a model."
"Cho- Chotto matte! A-anou... E-etou... I'm not trying to be rude but I think you need your eyes to be check, because e-etou I'm nothing like a model."
"Oh? But in my eyes you are One, my dear."
"Ehh? How could you say that when you haven't seen my pictures yet." Sakuno was starting to freak out.
"Mia bella, I didn't need to. I have seen a lot and I'm contented with it. Besides I have been observing you since you stepped into the shop." The man seemed to have noticed Sakuno starting to get scared so he said "Well I'll let you think for a while and if you have decided to be One you can contact me. Here is my card." He handed an exclusively looking card to Sakuno. She politely bowed like before and took the card, turned around and walked away as fast as she could.
"What a very interesting girl." the man said as he smiled.
To be continued...
A/N: So there you have it guys. My first Ryosaku fanfic ever. At first I thought, I only joined this website to read Ryosaku fanfics and give my opinion but I was inspired on how the others write. So I tried making one. And that was why I wasn't able able to review those fics that I was following, so as not to copy it and have my own unique story.
So for those who are reading it, don't just read but please also leave a review even if it's just a sentence or two. I would really appreciate it and I would like to hear your opinions about it. And if there are questions, I am willing to answer it.
Thank you guys. Hope to see you in the next chapter. Bye. See ya!
shoujosmut16