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It's Hard to Forget

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Chapter One:

Invitation

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A/N: Hello, minna-san! Actually, this is kind of a sequel for Love Between Friends. So, if you haven't read it, I advice you to. So, please read and review.

Disclaimer: I don't own PoT.

Ryoma never forgot their promise but after 3 years he began to realize some things.

He hit the ball forcing it towards the wall and waited for it to return. Hitting it one last time, he went to his bag and took his water bottle. He drank and returned it to its previous location. He sat on the bench and stared at the photo peeking from his open bag.

"It takes time to forget someone very special to you, but sometimes we really have to move on and face the fact that certain chapters of our lives should really be closed forever."

He smiled bitterly and then looked up at the sky.

Flashback...

My heart was beating fast. My breathing was irregular. My eyes were frantically searching for a certain brown-haired girl, hoping that she was not yet aboard the plane. I lost all my hope when I saw a girl with long brown hair ride a plane. I turned my back, wanting to get away from everyone before I become unable to control my emotions. I looked up to see my buchuo… smile? What did I miss? Then, it hit me. She must still be here. That would explain buchuo's uncharacteristic smile.

There she was. I walked to her with everyone else following behind me. I waited as they all stepped back to give us some space. I stayed silent, just staring at Ayumi.

"I got an order to take the next flight instead of this one," Ayumi said as if I asked here why she was still her. But I guess I did, but not aloud.

An order? Buchuo? I remembered buchuo's sure smile back then. "Ah."

"Here," she said, handing me a photo.

"Mn…," I mumbled as I took her gift. Then, I raised my left pinky and spoke, "A match…"

She nodded and smiled. "If we meet again, we'll have a serious match to decide who is better," she said as she raised her left pinky and intertwined it with mine.

"Sayonara, mina-san!" Ayumi said before boarding the plane.

End of Flashback

He never realized what she meant. He never paid attention to the difference between 'if' and 'when'. Or how much 'ja ne' is different from 'sayonara'.

But now- after three long years of waiting- he understood it all. "I'll probably never see her again."

"Never see who again, O'chibi?" Eiji asked as he pounced on Ryoma, giving him a bear hug.

"Senpai, c-can't… breathe…" Ryoma said as he struggled to break free.

Echizen Ryoma, a professional tennis player famous around the world, still calls his former schoolmates his senpai even if they have long been separated. This was their first reunion after they have separated to chase after their dreams.

Tezuka Kunimitsu has entered the world of professional tennis, too. He participated in several international level competitions winning awards and recognition.

Fuji Syusuke has chosen to enhance his skills with his camera. He went to a college in Paris and studied Fine Art. He is now practicing what he has learned in a well-known company.

Oishi Shuichiro, taking his motherly side with him, took medicine and is now striving hard to help those in need.

Eiji Kikumaru is teaching acrobats to young teens and would participate in competitions once in awhile with his partner Oishi Shuichiro.

Momoshiro Takeshi and Kaidoh Kaoru would sometimes play in competitions as a pair but they are more often seen playing in different single competitions. Their rivalry continues as they fight to see who is better.

Inui Sadaharu, being the data man he is, was recruited by a famous American team as a manager. He would collect data about the team's member and give ways for improvements. When needed, he would spy on the other teams to record their strengths and weaknesses.

Ryuuzaki Sakuno, leaving her shyness behind her, is a well-respected reporter. (She became known because of the articles she wrote about certain famous tennis players. Guess who.)

"Eiji… let go of him. He really can't breathe." Oishi said as he tried to pull Eiji away from poor Ryoma.

"Gomen, gomen," Eiji said as he let go and smiled at Ryoma.

"That's right. It's been three years since Ayumi-chan left." Sakuno looked at Ryoma.

"Kaho-chan… huh?" Momoshiro muttered as he remembered the girl.

"According to my data- and these results are not 100% accurate because the collection of her data has been stopped- there is 7% chance that her treatment went wrong and she died," Inui's listeners gasped. He continued, "45% chance that she is alive but the treatment worked but it did not cure her completely and 48% chance that she's alright."

"So, she should have come here by now, right?" Momoshiro said as he noted that Ayumi getting completely well held the most percentage.

"Hmn… According to my calculations, there is 5% chance that she's been too busy to come, 43% chance that someone is stopping her from coming and 52% chance that she's is avoiding us or Ryoma, at least."

"Nya, what do we do?" Eiji asked.

"Nothing, whether she shows up or not, its all up to her, right?" Fuji said as he looked at their former buchuo.

"Mn…" was Tezuka's response.

"Anyway, let's go to Echizen's house for food." Momoshiro said as he took everyone's thoughts away from their friend.

Momoshiro led the group as the rest followed. Eiji pushing Tezuka to come along and smiling as though he did not feel the deadly glares his former buchuo has been throwing at him. Fuji and Sakuno were the last in the group excluding Ryoma.

"Oi, oi," Ryoma looked at them. "Che," he muttered as he slung his bag on his left shoulder. 'You're leaving the owner of the house you're going to?' he thought before half running toward the group.

---

'It's been three years since I was last in Japan. I wonder how everyone is doing.' A brown-haired gir- I mean, lady with hazel cat-like eyes thought as she looked out the window of a car. 'I miss them.' She watched as buildings went in and out of sight. Then, she smiled bitterly. 'But then, it's not like I can see them again. I can't risk having him see me.' She sighed.

"What's wrong, Aimelyn?" the man driving the car asked, glancing at her.

"It's nothing, Ryota-kun." She responded, looking at him. He has blonde hair, blue eyes and a good physique. "I was just thinking of how the contract signing will go. Not to mention the reporters that will be there today."

"Well, there's nothing we can do if the company's president loves publicity." Ryota flashed her one of his smiles that could melt any girl- except for her, of course. She's been around him enough to get used to it. "Don't worry about the contract signing. A lot of people would die just to be business partners with you. He'll surely sign it." He encouraged.

"Thanks." Aimelyn suddenly felt guilt for lying to her… fiancé.

"Oh, and we're having a party for your birthday." Ryota said, looking straight at the road.

"A… p-party?!" she exclaimed. "No parties!" she said firmly.

"Too late. I already sent invitations." Ryota said as he parked the car. "Reporters are here. Remember to smile." He said as he opened the door for Aimelyn.

"I can't believe you did that." She muttered.

---

"Oi, Echizen, there's someone outside." Momoshiro said, his mouth full of food.

"Mn." Ryoma muttered as he went to see who it was.

"Nya, who do you think it was?" Eiji asked.

"Saa..." Fuji said as he wore his usual smile.

Momoshiro smiled as he stole the food from the plate of Eiji.

"Momo-chan! Give that back, nya!" Eiji commanded when he saw his empty plate.

"Too late," Momoshiro responded after devouring Eiji's food.

"Ryoma-kun, what's that?" Sakuno asked, noticing Ryoma holding a card.

"A... Aimelyn..." Ryoma whispered.

"Huh?" Momoshiro asked as he snatched the card away from Ryoma. "An invitation to a party to celebrate the birthday of Aimelyn. Who's that?" he asked Ryoma.

By this time, Ryoma has already recovered. "Kahoko Ayumi," he said.

Hearing her name, Tezuka, Inui and Kaidoh looked at him. Everyone seemed to be puzzled, except for Tezuka, Fuji and Inui who already understood what Ryoma meant.

"Nya, O'chibi, what does Aimelyn have to do with Kaho-chan?" Eiji asked.

"They're..." Ryoma seemed to be at loss of words.

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A/N: Okay, so here ends the short first chapter. What do you think of it? Please do tell me. Leave a review. I really need your comments for improvement and encouragement for me to continue. So, please do leave a review. Thanks.