Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis. If I did, I wouldn't go to college anymore :P

"Bye Sakuno! I'll see you tomorrow 'kay? Oh and don't forget to bring that banner we made for Ryoma-sama!"

"Hai!" Ryuzaki Sakuno answered as she gathered her things.

The bell rang 10 minutes ago signaling that the last class for the day was over. Sakuno was eager to go home and do her weekend homework. She needed to finish everything by tonight since she promised her Obaa-san she would do them. It was the only way she'll let her go to see the game since the Nationals were being held in a place 5 hours from Tokyo. She really couldn't get to and from Tokyo so easily so her grandmother suggested that she stay with her in the hotel they were staying at and then go back to Tokyo on Sunday.

Sakuno closed her bag and swung it over her shoulders. She smiled as she exited the classroom. She was getting excited at the thought of watching the finals but felt nervous and worried that something might happen again that would injure the regulars. She decided to shake the feeling off seeing as it wasn't healthy or right to think that way.

"Seigaku regulars are strong! They should be fine." Sakuno told herself.

She was already at the school gates when she suddenly stopped walking. A feeling crept through her, she felt like she had forgotten something…

"Oh crap! Sakuno, you idiot!" she scolded herself.

She had forgotten to bring with her, her English notebook which was the thing that would help her in doing her homework. She was very bad at English and desperately jotted notes during class in hopes of understanding it when she got home. She could never really grasp the concept of English no matter how hard she tried. Even the constant borrowing of 'Easy Guide to English' book from the library didn't solve the problem. She wasn't like Ryoma, who spoke fluent English due to the fact that he had lived in America for quite some time.

She needed her notes in order for her to answer the guide questions or else she'd be doomed.

She ran as fast as she could. She needed to go home quickly since she had tons of homework to do and only a limited time of doing it.

After 10 minutes of running (her classroom was on the 4th floor), she reached the classroom panting. She bent down and placed her hands on her knees for a while before entering the classroom. Sakuno placed her hand on the handle and was about to open the door when she suddenly heard a voice.

"Yeah…I know that…But…"

"Who the hell could still be in here? I was the last one to leave the classroom." Sakuno thought. She could tell it was guy and it was obvious that he was talking on his cell phone since he didn't hear anyone else's voice, unless he could be talking to himself which would make him slightly insane.

"Wait a minute…that voice sounds familiar…"

She slowly opened the door but not to its full extent; it was just enough for her to see who was inside and also enough for her not to be seen.

She blushed as she saw who the mystery guy was. It was Echizen Ryoma, talking on the phone. So I was right…

She felt silly for spying on him and so she decided to open the door and get her notebook. She needed to start on her homework if she wanted to go see the game. She was about to come in when she heard something that made her heart stop beating.

"Yeah…okay I'll go back to America after the Nationals."

She couldn't breathe the moment she heard the words slip from Ryoma's mouth. She tried to move but found that she couldn't. It was like she was glued to the spot. She was in shock. Several thoughts and questions filled her mind in an instant.

Is this a joke? A dream? Is this for real?

Deep inside, she knew that Ryoma would someday go away. She just refused to entertain the thought because she couldn't accept it. She was in denial.

She knew his tennis meant the world to him and therefore would take every opportunity to improve his skill. That was just the kind of person Ryoma was, he had a strong will to defeat his father in tennis and going to America would help him greatly.

Sakuno woke up from his thoughts and realized that she had been standing there like an idiot for quite some time already. She still needed to go home and finish her homework.

She breathed a sigh and entered the classroom. Ryoma looked at her curiously. He wondered what she would be doing here seeing as class ended almost an 45 minutes ago. Did she hear the conversation with my father? Was she spying on me? How long was she there?

"Gomen Ryoma-kun…I didn't think anyone would be still here. A-Ano…I just need to get my English notebook and I'll be on my way."

"Uhn" Ryoma managed to utter. He was still lost in his thoughts about the girl.

Sakuno approached her desk and quickly found her notebook. She bowed to Ryoma and hurriedly got out of the room.

Sakuno ran as fast as she could. She didn't give herself time to entertain her thoughts on Ryoma going back to America. She wanted to get home as quickly as possible, finish her homework then go to the game and have a good time.

"Everything will be alright." She tried to convince herself but she couldn't stop the tears from flowing as she arrived at the front door of her house.

"Ryoma-kun's leaving…"