1. Giving up on their Love.

Sakuno puffed out a heavy breath on her cold hands rubbing them together to get some warm as she waited for Ryoma to come to the park. The practice was taking awfully long but Sakuno waited patiently for her boyfriend knowing fully well he would rush here as soon as it's done. She smiled gently at her thoughts of him. She was a little worried today with little dark thoughts running through her mind since yesterday night Ryoma told he wanted to talk something important yesterday night while they were chatting. She hoped it was nothing bad she really did and the wait was getting more on her nerves as anxiety filled in her.

Ryoma ran towards the park almost out of breath as he cursed their coach for having extra practice today. He knew Sakuno would be waiting for him in the park but it was already 2 hours since he called her and today were really cold and the sun had already set, he was failing as a boyfriend big time including all other times he screwed up. He cursed again remembering the other times but the park was in view now and he ran faster finding her sitting diligently waiting for him on the same bench they always did. He stopped right in front of her and tried to apologise but he had to catch his breath. Sakuno looked at him concerned but happy knowing fully well what had happened she got up and made him sit. Sitting beside him and taking his hand in hers, she squeezed it showing she was not angry. In the years as they dated she had gotten more daring and mature. He took a deep breath and turned to her's looking apologetically as she smiled sweetly. He sighed as he squeezed her hand and realised it was stone cold even though it was already January it was really cold and she was not wearing gloves. He got up and looked at her scowling "I'll bring something hot to warm up you are freezing" He turned and went to the vending machine.

Buying a hot chocolate milk he goes and drops in between her hands and sits down. Sakuno wrapped her hand around hot drink feeling warm radiating it from it making her warm. He sighs a little then says slowly.

"Sorry, Sakuno for being late" she smiles at him gently showing forgiveness and whispers back its ok. He smiles a little and then turns back towards the sky stuffing his hands in his jacket he starts explaining her reason to call out.

"I got an offer from a well-known coach he is dad's friend also. He will train me fully for participating in pro circuit." he starts she beams at him he smiles at her reaction. "But his whole training faculty is in America I have to shift there after high school," He says looking down feeling anxiety fill his heart at thought of her reaction he just hoped she won't cry.

"Congratulations Ryoma-kun," she says beaming with happiness as he looked at her surprised she understood his unasked question.

"I had always expected this to happen Ryoma-kun and I always wanted it to happen. From the first time we met, I knew one day this was gonna happen and I am really happy for you even though you are going far away, I still feel only happiness for me because I love Ryoma-kun the best when he is playing tennis to his fullest. I will fully support you Ryoma-kun, your dream coming true is like my dream coming true." she says smiling gently like an angel. He fell in love once again ith her as he pulled her into a hug feeling really emotional closing almost whole distance not wanting to let her go he never wanted to let her go. He smiled gently as he looked at her pulling back he brought her up for a kiss trying to express all his churning emotions through his actions. He kissed her deeply, slowly, lovingly and she kissed him back the same way. She could feel all his emotions, bringing her hands around him she desperately clung on his back feeling breathless from all his feelings overflowing in her she never wanted him to let her go.

They broke it up and smiled at each other. He connected his forehead their breaths mingling as he whispered lovingly a promise as she started crying happily hearing it.

'I will never leave you Sakuno.'


For the next seven months, they spent their days making various memories and celebrating various special occasions together. Her birthday, Valentine's day, White day, and so on. Making seven months worth of memories not only of themselves also with their whole group and their friends close and distant. They all wanted to make lots of precious moments with each other. Sakuno who had asked Fuji to take lots of their photos together on various occasions had stacked them pinning them nicely on the wall in her room. Hoping silently in her heart that it will make up for the next coming years when she will immensely miss him.


Two months later Ryoma and Sakuno were filled with tedious and busy schedules hardly getting time to talk each other, most of their talks were shorts and mostly greetings in chats. The distance was growing and both of them were aware of it but they kept it off as their busy schedule. Ryoma especially had it hard he was busy on almost all days and on his free days, he felt like resting since his schedule was every day packed with heavy workout and practice routine that he was very tired and exhausted mentally. He would try to talk to her but Sakuno would ask him to rest, she didn't want him to not get enough rest just to have some talk. She always told him they can talk later and he would always agree as his muscles screamed for rest. The later never came, though. They hardly knew what was going on each other's life, there new friends and all other things they should have known.

Frustration, desperation, need and yearning. They were filling slowly drip by drip and not knowing how to remove them made both of them more sad and frustrated. Sakuno would swallow them and say herself to be patient and make hope for good times. Ryoma would exhaust them by practising harder, telling himself break is gonna come and then he can return back to Sakuno and spent lots of time with her. They both tried their hardest willing the days to go by so that their hope to meet each other in holidays will come true.

But it got all shattered as 2 weeks before summer holidays his coach called him and told him "Ryoma it is a good news you have been selected to take part in some of the tournaments in ATP world tour. It's a great opportunity to start your pro career." He was smiling proudly as he looked at him expecting him to be overjoyed. Which Ryoma was but till he remembers the dates of the world out coincide with his holidays. He dreadingly asked for the schedule of matches and found he was playing two tournaments out of the four tournaments during summer and worse he didn't get to play in Japan open but instead he gets to play in another tournament. He felt frustrated but he didn't show it to his coach, just with usual monotone face nodded at him and left the room. He was happy to take finally part in all the awesome tournaments but he also just desperately wanted to meet Sakuno, he wanted to talk to her, hold her and even kiss her. God, he missed her just too much. He called her in evening (there morning) and told her about it. She as always cheerfully supported him telling best of luck in her cute voice but Ryoma didn't feel happy, ' Did Sakuno miss me as much as I did her?' he shook it away knowing fully well Sakuno was just trying to be supportive for him still, he felt disappointed and frustrated.

Sakuno sighed as she plopped down on her bed no longer feeling like gong college she texted Tomoka a vague excuse and stared at the ceiling as tears started leaking out her eyes. She desperately missed Ryoma she had lots of things to talk to him, lots of things to show him. She desperately missed his touch and his voice and his smell. She wanted to be in his arms but she didn't want to be selfish so she bottled it all up and like a good girlfriend she should be she supported him. She hated this long distance relationship and she hated herself for feeling like this when Ryoma was trying so hard to achieve his dreams.


It was in October when seeing a depressed Sakuno watching Ryoma's reruns on ATP tournament that Tomoka decided enough was enough. She had enough of Sakuno mopping around every day, she just can't see Sakuno like this so she was gonna give her some cheering up. She had talked to her other friends and decided on taking her to some clubbing to make her get some de-stressed and have some fun. She hardly had some fun what a uni student should be having, that's why it was up to her to make her have some fun. With determination, Tomoka told her plans to her on Friday showing clearly that she won't take a no for an answer. After an hour or so of convincing and putting up a compromise conditions, Sakuno had agreed to the plan. The next day on Saturday the both girls had dressed up and gone out to have some fun that night. Sakuno had texted Ryoma but sadly he didn't reply back he was busy with his matches, feeling dejected by it Sakuno decided with determination she was gonna fully let it out today. She wanted a break and she was gonna enjoy it fully.

Four hours in one of the most reputed clubs in the town with all her friends and after drinking four straight Vodka shots Sakuno was down. She was drunk as hell and no longer had any conscience on her actions. With a slurred speech and wobbly legs, she danced around the hip hop song playing in the club. After a little while tired she went back to their seat and slumped against the table as she checked her no phone to see still no new messages from Ryoma which made her feel more depressed. Noticing her dejected her friend Sera-chan offered her a little beer. The girl was not a big fan of drinking so she had only ordered beer in the club making every one of them boo at her, but she ignored them with a flip of her hair. Sakuno smiled cheerfully and drank a big sip of the drink and gave back to her not filling any lifted. They, all looked at each other with a silent question, they all came here to lift her moods but even after getting drunk she was depressed.

A second later though Asuka smiled brightly at them only making them a little scared. Asuka was known for her crazy devilish plans (just like certain someone). she started with her cunning voice "Let's play King's Game!" she grinned and they all sweatdropped at her but Sakuno smiled cheerfully and agreed "Let's play! let's play!" clapping her hands a little seeing her cheerful they all agreed too. Asuka pulled out the sticks and set them in middle grinning the whole while, They all looked at her and sweat dropped wondering the same thing 'She had it prepared it all along'. After setting the rules they all started playing the game.

In the first round, it was Asuka was the king making them all a little prickly, she smirked cunningly. Shuichi sweatdropped and said her "Asuka keep this PG-13 ok?" she pouted but nodded and shouted "No.3 go and sit on No.5's lap for 3 rounds", Sera got up and sat on Tsukamoto's lap, both of them blushing as other giggled at them. The lots drew again and it was Asuka again making everyone looking at her surprisingly as she smirked evilly shouting she is lucky. "No.7 go and kiss No. 1 on their cheek." Shuichi looked up and blanched as he saw who was No.1, Atsushi also shared the same look making everyone start laughing at them. They both looked away and said they were not gonna do It but no was not an answer as the girls attend coaxing them to do it, Asuka and Tomoka being the loudest among them. With a sigh, they both gave up. He got up and hurriedly kept a small kiss on the other guy and sat down looking embarrassed. They all laughed and the game continued, for the third time it was again Asuka and now some of them having suspicious that she rigged the game voicing out their accusations she turned to them looking angrily and said " I did no such thing" She said definitely looking pointedly at everyone that they all sunk down at her glare. She grinned at that, already mood up and continued "No.2 And No.3 Hug closely for five minutes." she said with her usual cunning smirk.

Sakuno got up at her no. and at same Atsushi got up too. She looked at him surprised and he did too, she glanced at Tomoka, she gave a nod with confidence and Sakuno nodded back. She looked at him again, he looked at her awkwardly and she gave a shy smile taking a step forward she wound her hands around his back and he did same keeping them awkwardly on her waist. They both blushed embarrassed but Asuka looked disapproving at them "come on get more close and look less awkward!" she said with a disapproving tone. They blushed more and tried to relax as he tightened his hold on her waist and she did same, blushing a little more she silently apologised to Ryoma. "I am sorry" she heard him whisper in her ear which made her blush more as she felt his breath near her ear. She only nodded in his chest making him blush too, they both were embarrassed and their stupid friends were not helping with their catcalls. Five minutes up and they hurriedly let go looking away and sat down still embarrassed making everyone laugh. she glanced right and caught Asuka smirking weirdly at her mobile, she wondered what it was but before she could ask, everyone had started another round and Sakuno forgot the whole ordeal.

The game continued with other people becoming king too, The dares were a little daring but none of them let it go too far and continued the game for more 5 rounds after which they all got tired and decided to call it a day.

Sakuno was almost asleep by the time she and Tomoka reached home when she hit the bed felt exhausted but happy. She had thoroughly enjoyed the day and with a smile, she slept off feeling light hearted. Next day she woke early with a heavy headache feeling all her energy being seeped off from her. She groaned as she got up from her bed and slowly with heavy steps went to her bathroom. She looked horrible, she had forgotten to remove her makeup resulting in all her mascara and Eyeliner to smudge and her lipstick too. She let out a pitiful moan and sat down feeling too tired to clean her face up. She hears light footsteps and she looked up to see Tomoka looking tired as well but better than her. She handed her two white pills and some water, she took them immediately. with a sigh she tried getting up but she was too tired, Tomoka bent down and helped her get up and whispered lightly "Come on sleep off your hangover." she just moaned pitifully and flopped down her bed, she wanted to check her mobile but her eyes hurt so she turned towards her bestie and motioned her to check it, the girl did. "Uh Sakuno Ryoma-sama wants to talk to you it seems" she tiredly looked at her and said "Say him I'll text in evening for sure" the girl nodded and texted him while even adding the fact that Sakuno was tired and needed rest.


In evening she was woken up harshly by Tomoka who was panicking. She rubbed her eyes still tired and asked her what's wrong. The girl frantically shook her and pushed her mobile in her face. "Sakuno this is bad". the girl moved a little back to get a good look and her eyes widen at what she saw. "What! who? when?" On her tagged photos, there was her photo hugging Atsushi intimately, the dare's photo was taken and even posted without her knowledge. The others in the college didn't know about Ryoma since he was famous and all it would cause various problems so she and Tomoka had kept it a secret, telling everyone she was single. Tomoka exclaimed " It was Asuka! I should have known" she clicked her tongue and turned apologetic to her "I am sorry Sakuno i should have known" the girl smiled and shook her head " No its ok Tomoka even i kind of noticed bit ignored it" the girl smiled back but then turned and called Asuka looking furious as she started going out of her room she turned at her door and said determinedly "You go and talk to Ryoma-sama clear up things I'll give this idiot a piece of mind and make her take down the photo." The girl nodded amused a little, as her best friend went out and she could hear her loud voice shouting at their mischevious friend.

She then checked her mobile open to see no new text which made her worried. She first sends him a text asking if he was free, at this time there were chances of him being in practice or a match. Immediately though she got a text back saying he was free, she called him and in two rings he picked up.

"Sakuno" he greeted his voice cold and stiff, he saw the picture, she was sure of it but he didn't seem angry and he didn't say anything more maybe he gave her a chance to explain herself, if that's so then before he misunderstands more she will clear it up, she doesn't want them to fight right now. She clenched her sweaty fist determinedly and started with the strongest voice she could muster.

"I–Ryoma-kun I am really sorry, I actually–Tomoka and I went out yesterday drinking as I had told you, we kind of got really drunk, even me and then we were with other friends of ours from college and we decided to play a small game of Kings and in it–Asuka didn't know about us so she just without asking me kept that picture. It was nothing like that, it didn't mean anything." She stuttered with nervousness, she now hoped he would understand.

"Sakuno I guessed that much," He said making her relax a little but his tone had not changed.

He continued "Sakuno I wanted to talk something more important to you"

She suddenly felt worried hearing his tone. She listened, though.

"I wanted to break up with you." She froze as the words processed in her head, she had even stopped breathing and a minute later hyperventilating she squeaked out a shocked what. He took a deep breath in as he tried to stay strong to explain his thoughts and feelings.

"I thought about it a lot Sakuno, Since I left I have been always been busy I can hardly talk to you and even if we do it's only for some measly hours, I have not been able to keep my promise to meet you, we hardly know what's going on in each other's life, when I saw your friends photos yesterday at first I felt really jealous but then I realized it was not your fault at all and I didn't have a right to get angry at you. After all, I never actually ask you about your university or your friends or how is your life right now. I have been not telling you anything also. We have been separated and I have been hurting you, I have been hurting myself. I knew it would never work out but I wanted to work it out with you but it won't, I know now that's why Sakuno we should break up"

She was crying by the time he was done, her voice was not coming out but she had to say something now or else. She took a deep breath in and with a shaky voice, she started saying her words the ones she wanted to say from so much time.

"Ryoma-kun I love you that's why I want this to work out, we have been a little different for some months but it's not your fault. It was never your fault. You want to make your dreams come true and for that, you have been giving up everything and I thought it was very cool and devoted. But Ryoma-kun I'm not letting you give us up, give our relationship up." She practically screamed but then calmed down a little as she continued "I'm sure of it if it is us we will work it out even if its hard we can make it work out because it's us, we have gone through many things but we are still together. So ne please don't say break up is the best thing. because it is not." She was pleading, hoping he would understand her. Her chest hurt as her heart painfully squeezed, she gripped her shirt around her chest with a painful grip, her breaths were irregular as more tears streamed down her face. Her heart pounded with his silence but she didn't say anything she knew Ryoma needed this time.

"Sakuno" he whispered painfully breaking her more." I can't do it I miss you so much I wanna hold you I wanna kiss you I wanna spend time with you and every day when I wake up feeling that, I feel myself breaking. I can't even hope to meet you I won't be able to come there ever again and even if I come from a stroke of luck who knows how much time I can spend with you, we might never actually spend any time and even if we do then after that if again I have to leave you there and come here. I won't be able to do it, I don't want to do it." he sounded broken, frustrated "I don't want to leave you but I can't even quit tennis every day here is so much fun playing! I can't choose either! and in that process I am hurting you!" he was screaming, frustrated at himself "I just can't do it anymore Sakuno. I just can't."He whispered pitifully the sound of a broken man. And sakuno felt her heart breaking she didn't know what to say him she had known it well, she had known it all along, they both had known it but they stubbornly clung to each other always looked away from the truth because they loved each other and they wanted to stay together.

"I love you" she whispered as if hoping stupidly that those three words would save their relationship but she should have known better it was hopeless Ryoma had decided and once he decided something he won't change it ever.

"I love you too Sakuno" he whispered back "But I need to do this I don't want to hurt us anymore." He told her with finality but she couldn't take it. She didn't want to loose him.

"Please, Ryoma-kun! Don't do this!" she was begging but she should have known better.

"I am sorry Sakuno." with these final words the line went dead and just like that their three-year relationship broke. All their promises, wishes, memories, dreams, everything broke, they were all now part of their past, only their past. And that realisation broke her heart more and as her sobs screamed out of her in a lame way of soothing her broken mobile was still clutched tightly in her hands, trembling but she held it strong hoping it will somehow keep her hold on to herself. The mobile tinged and she shot up, hurriedly checked it hoping to see him back but all her hopes were crushed just like that. Written there in a single word was the most painful word ever told to her.

'Goodbye,' She broke down and cried and cried letting put all her pain. She vaguely remembered Tomoka coming and saying something to her but she didn't even hear her anything not even noticed her at that time. Maybe hours or minuted later she was not sure she had fallen asleep crying. And next day even after waking up she just holed up in her room staring at his last words and trying to text him in vain he had not even replied one. She cried out and out every day but one day suddenly her tears had dried up she couldn't cry anymore. All of her texts she sends in those days vainly hoping he would be back were ignored by him cruelly. In coming days she had even started smiling even though his words kept repeating in her heart. In another year she had taken everything that related to him and packed them in a box and kept the box away in a dark place never to be opened by her again.

Sakuno had told herself she had moved on.


A/N- That completes the first chapter.

This is my gift for Tamago-hime. You wanted an AU story where Sakuno and Ryoma break up and then after years when they are adults they get back together. Ryoma should have it hard to get her back but get a happy ending. Well, I tried my best to stick to the prompt you wanted. I do hope you like this and let me know your opinion in the review. There is still two chapters left I'll be posting them in the coming days as fast as I can. ( I'll definitely post them so please don't worry. 3 ). Hope you enjoy.

And special thanks to RyoSaku Express to conduct the exchange. Thanks a lot guys for your hard work :D.

Don't forget to read and review.

Xoxoxo.