This is my second fan fiction in Prince of Tennis.

Please read and review!

I'll greatly appreciate comments and suggestions!

Chapter I: Temperature Rising

Sakuno tapped her fingers impatiently at the table. She glanced at her wristwatch for the nth time: 9:15 p.m. and still no sign of him. She had been already waiting for more than an hour.

He was not even answering her calls. Late she could accept but if he ditched her on this very day, that she could not allow. He has to have a good reason for being this late.

"Excuse me, miss," a waiter said. "But is there anything you want to order while waiting?" He already had a pen and paper ready on his hand.

"A tall glass of ice-cold water would do. ICE-COLD please," she emphasized smilingly to the attendant.

"Right away." In less than a minute, he returned with a tall glass of water brimming with ice cubes.

"Thanks," she said as she took a quick sip.

"By the way, we just like to inform that the food you have instructed to us is already done, waiting to be served at your signal."

"Oh, that's good. But I'm still waiting for someone," she smiled weakly.

"Just call us if you need anything," the attending waiter bowed and left.

Momoshiro isn't answering her calls and she have this crazy notion that the two are playing tennis again. Better to call Momo's girlfriend, Ann Tachibana.

After three rings, Ann answered."Sakuno-chan! What's the matter?"

"Ann-chan, is Momoshiro with you?"

"Nope, I'm at home studying for our exams. Why?" queried Ann at Sakuno's worried voice.

Sakuno heaved a sigh. "Ryoma's not answering my calls. I thought he's with Momo probably goofing around."

"I dunno. But Momo said that he would be playing with some bunch of friends tonight."

"Thanks, I'll just try to call the two again."

"Try it. You know those two are best buds," laughed Ann before saying goodbye.

Ann had barely ended the call when Sakuno immediately dialled Momo's number. Fortunately, he answered.

"Sakuno-chan! Why have you called?" greeted Momo in surprise.

"Momo-sempai, is Ryoma with you?" asked Sakuno in a called manner.

"Yeah," answered Momo. "We've just finished playing tennis with Kaidoh and Kikumaru-sempai. I think he's still changing clothes."

"Sakuno-chan!" a cheerful voice sounded that was unmistakenly Kikumaru's.

Her hunch is right, he's playing tennis again and he ditched her for his beloved game. "Please tell him that I've been trying to call him for the past hour."

"Er, alright," replied Momo. He could sense some kind of misunderstanding already.

"Thanks, Momo-sempai," she said before ending the call.

Sakuno gulped the remaining of water as she tried to calm herself. Now she knows why he wasn't even answering nor returning her calls.

He was busy playing tennis with his friends.

Too busy that he ditched her.

Too busy to remember this day.

Too busy to remember that this day marks their first anniversary.

He was always like that and she's always been the one who would try to understand.

She had enough.