Chapter 1: Cherry Blossom

Hi! I'm back! I hope you read the Author's Note, it explains everything. So I know that you have been waiting for this chapter to release and here it is, I hope you would like it. Sorry to keep you waiting, I am truly sorry.

On with the Story…

(Sakuno's POV)

So here I am, sleeping, dreaming of what will happen near future, wondering what will happen this day. Until I realized someone put his arms around me, hugged me, tighter and tighter. My back was facing him, and he continues to snuggle. But I just smiled, closed my eyes and pretend to be asleep. But what surprise me more is that he kissed my left cheek causing me to blush madly.

"Ohayo Sakuno." He said in a warm, soft and low voice.

"Ohayo, Ryoma-kun"

Until a minute passed, my eyes are getting heavier and heavier, until my eyes are fully closed. But those happy days can't seems to forget, that one special day, the day we met, the day where my life started to feel very uneasy, the day where my future lead me to this, where my happiness starts, in short that one peaceful day happened 7 years ago.

(Flash Back, 7 years ago)

(Normal POV)

7:30 am

One beautiful morning in Ryuzaki Household, you can hear the birds singing, the sound of their neighbors being friendly to each other. But in her conscious, she forgot, School.

(Sakuno's POV)

I am still in my bed, sleeping very soundly but still in the back of my head I keep telling myself to get up but I can't, the bed is so soft and it's like it wanted me to sleep more. As I was about to go to sleep again…

RING…

RING…

RIING…

"What the?!" I shot my eyes opened, shocked and surprise.

'It's just my alarm clock' Still yawning, I look up to the clock that I was holding on, reading the number where the small arrow is pointed.

"Ah… 7:40 and class starts at 8:00"

"EHHH?" I jump out of my bed, hurried to the comfort room, and changed my clothes.

(7:45am)

"I'm late, really late!"

I get my bag, tied my hair in to braids, I like braids and I have been doing that since I was a kid. And I can't think of anything suitable for my long hair, it's not long, but I just can't help myself not to cut it. I like it that way, so anyway… I hurried out to my room, headed downstairs. But yet, I feel so uncomfortable; our house seems to be quiet. I like it that way, Quiet but it's too much I think.

When I reach downstairs, I saw my Obaa-chan I the kitchen, cooking something and our table has mountains of food. 'It's seems that Obaa-chan is quite excited on me going to my new school.' I said to myself.

But I can't eat right now, I'm late for class. So I tip-toed and reach for my lunch and one toast. I turn around headed toward the, and open it really quietly.

"Where are you going, Sakuno?" An old, angry voiced was heard behind me.

I turn around saw my Obaa-chan with a fearful smile on her face.

"I… Umm… Late… for… school…" I tried to explain it to her, But I seems can't to look at her, she's too scary to look at.

"Without having breakfast?"

I looked down desperately trying not to look in her eyes.

"Go take your breakfast first!" She commanded, turning around and headed toward the kitchen again to finish her uncooked meal.

When I see her walking away, I immediately opened the door widely open enough for me to fit, and run out of the house.

"G-gomen, Obaa-chan, but I'm late for school. Bye!" I shouted and waving at her who was in the door speechless.

I put a smile on my face and started to run faster, reaching the school before the bell rings.

(8:00 am)

Well I reach the school on time, good thing I have ask for some directions to that traffic officer. The school is quieter than I expected, the hallways are empty and not even one student is seen, well except me.

'Class 2-1' I read the sign that was above the door in front of me. It was like I was just standing there and still not going in. Well I can't help myself, I was so nervous, what if I am in the wrong classroom? What if I tripped on my way in front? What if I forgot my name when introducing? What if my classmate doesn't like me? What if I will not have any friends at all? What if… What if…

I got back on my conscious when I felt that someone tapped my from behind. I instantly turn around, and surprised that a young lady smiling at me like there's no tomorrow.

"Ryuzaki-san right?" She began to talk, well more like asking and yet smiling at me.

"H-Hai."

"Welcome to Seishuun Gakuen"

"A-Arigatou?" I said with a weak smile on my face. She may be the principal or maybe a Sensei.

"I almost forgot, I'm Kinamoto Sakura, Hajimemashite."

I just nodded in agreement. Who is she? I mean, is she a sensei? Or a student? I don't know!

"Eto,. I'll just go and speak to my class and when I called you, you may now come in and introduce yourself, Okay?"

"H-hai."

She then began opening the door, not so wide and I think the students haven't seen me at all.

(Inside the Classroom)

As Kinamoto-Sensei stepped inside, the students run through their seats. Sitting quietly and looking at the person who just come in.

"Ohayo minna." Kinamoto-Sensei said, greeting her students with a smile.

"Ohayo, Sensei." The class response in chorus immediately,

"Today, I have a surprise for all of you" Kinamoto-Sensei announced, She looked at her students who are previously quiet who is now talking in chorus.

"Come in." She added, all of the students eyes were in the door that was opening really slowly. The curiosity on their faces appeared.

As I was told to come in, my head is still lowered looking at the cold hard floor. I was walking very slowly shy of what will happen. My head is spinning, I don't really know what to do, and I just don't want to embarrass myself in the whole class.

When I reach in front my head is still down, so many questions on my head that I just can't answer. What if they hated me? What if they thought that I'm weird? What if I tripped? And so on…

I came back to reality when I heard that Kinamoto-Sensei talk and asked me to introduce myself.

"R-Ryuzaki Sakuno des, Yorushiku" I said still blushing in embarrassment. I look at them and what I saw just surprise me; they were all looking at me with their boredom eyes and not even blinking. It feels like they are wondering, I don't know. What should I do?

"Today, Ryuzaki-san will sit over there" As Kinamoto-Sensei finished her words; she pointed at the empty sit beside the window. The sit right next to where I will be sitting is also empty, maybe the person sitting there is absent or something. All of the student's eyes followed the finger where Kinamoto-Sensei is pointing at, all of their eyes were wide open like, they were shocked. So I decided to move and walk to the empty sit where I'll be sitting from now on, when I reach there a warm smile is given to me by the person in front of me.

She is girl with a brown hair that is tied in twintails and has brown eyes, she also has a tiny mole below her right eyes, she is smiling at me, so I don't want to be rude so I gave her a soft smile in respond.

So then the class begins…

(Break…)

When the bell rings Sensei left immediately leaving all of us, some of my classmates leave while some stayed and one of the person stayed is me and the girl in front of me. It's pretty quiet inside no talking and we are just eating our own foods. Until someone tapped me from behind and I realized that the girl in front of me is gone, I turn around and surprise that it is that girl again.

"Konnichiwa." She said giving me that warm smile.

"Konnichiwa."

"Osakada Tomoka, Yorushiku"

"H-Hai?" I respond, well it's pretty awkward because I'm used on to this kind of situation so I gave my sweetest smile ever, she very friendly though.

"Want to have lunch with me? I know some good place to eat." She then began dragging me out of the room caring my lunch and so are hers.

We reach the school ground and headed toward the big tree beside the school building, it's a cherry blossom and it's very pretty, Osakada-san run towards the tree and seated down, opening her lunch.

"Sakuno, over here!" She was waving at me, and began calling my name, my first name. I like her; she's kind, cheerful and sweet.

"Why are we here Osakada-san?" asking her while taking my sit on the grassy land.

"Oh, Please! Tomo-chan will be okay."

"Ahh.. H-Hai."

The silence begin again, we are both eating our lunch so it's not that awkward.

"Ne, Sakuno!" Tomo-chan suddenly put her hands in her chin looking at me and looked pretty interesting.

"Hmm?"

"Are you dating someone?"

I almost chocked at her question, it's just that I'm drinking my water and I just can't imagine that she would ask that kind of question, and her question made me blush.

"N-Nani?"

"It's just that you're very pretty, and I know you are dating someone. It's impossible that you wouldn't" She said looking at me, more interesting this time.

"I don't, Tomo-chan."

"Ehh? Really?"

I almost laugh at her expression, it's very priceless. She is looked very bored when I gave her my answer, Well it's true, I'm not dating and I think it isn't yet the time for me in that kind of relationship.

"Well I do know someone who would you like." She added, she hold my right hand and trilled in excitement.

"There is one popular guy in campus, he is very cool. He has a blackish green hair and those hazel eyes are so beautiful, he is also school's heartthrob, even though he doesn't make some expression. But when you see him play tennis, he is so cool." Tomo-chan explained to me while I was giving her a sweet smile, her eyes were sparkling when she explain it to me, she like imagining it.

"But you know, he is not much of a tall person. Though compare to his tennis, he is so cool" Tomo-chan explain to me very further. I was laughing at her quietly because of her expressions, but I did it really quietly cuz I don't want to be rude. So I just continue to listen to her.

"Isn't he great, he is also called The Prince of Tennis"

"Tennis no Ojii-sama?" I have been surprised of what I have heard, Obaa-chan also told me something about a prince, but I never knew that he would be studying here.

"Right. He's in the same level like us, Do you know that empty sit beside your chair?"

I just nodded in agreement. Tomo-chan is busy her lunch again and talked to me just like before.

"He is the one who seated there." My eyes shot wide open when I heard her words. If he is our classmate, why isn't he in class? I asked myself ignoring Tomo-chan that keeps on talking.

I just can't forget about the Prince word, I know that Obaa-chan told me something about that but I just can't remember it, she told me his name, but I can't remember. Until the moment where I heard what Tomo-chan said.

"His name is Echizen Ryoma." She said and just like that, the words that Obaa-chan told me flashed in my head.

(Flash Back)

It was the time when Obaa-chan and I is eating our dinner.

"Ne, Sakuno. Why don't you take up tennis lessons?" Obaa-chan asked me while I was about to eat the sushi.

"You will have fun I swear. You know there is one guy in Seigaku that is really obsessed about tennis, well he can't help it. His father is supposed to be the world's greatest tennis player." Obaa-chan said putting a smile on her face, and it's like she is remembering something from the past.

"Supposed? What happened?" I asked her in curiosity, I continue to listen at her, forgetting about the food in the table.

"His father retired, and now nobody knows what happened next. I am also his couch when he is still a kid, and now his son is what I'm couching now. That son of him just wanted to join the tennis club so that he could beat his father, and he thought that the only way he could beat him is through tennis."

"And now people are calling him 'The prince of Tennis.'" Obaa-chan added.

"What is his name?" I asked her after a minute when she is done talking.

"Echizen Ryoma."

(End of Flash Back)

"SA-KU-NO!"

I returned to my conscious when I see Tomo-chan in front of me, looking worried.

"N-Nani?" Tomo-chan backed away looking at her watch.

"Ahhh..!" I have been surprised and look in front of me, Tomo-chan was surprised too, but she the one who shouted, I wonder why?.

"I almost forgot, I have to attend the meeting to attend"

"W-What meeting?" I asked her who was standing up immediately and grabbing her lunch, ignoring my question.

"Gomen Sakuno, but I have a meeting to attend so, see you later. I am truly sorry, I'll make it up to you later, see you at class." Tomo-chan was already running and waving at me, she has a worried look on her face when she was running.

I leaned at the tree beside me, looking up in the sky. I don't know what to do so, I started unpacking my lunch. But yet I still stayed there, I have no idea where am I, I am alone again, I don't want to get lost, I'm just new here so I don't know any places yet. This school is so big!

"NANDE?!" I shouted like I never did before, and it's alright no one is here anyway so no one can hear me.

"Oy!" I was about to get up and go back to my classroom when I heard a voice, I looked back and the voice was coming from the tree where I've just lean on.

"You're too loud" It spoke again, so I headed forward to the tree and walk at the side of the tree where the voice was coming from.

When I look at there, there was a boy his back was leaning in the tree and his hand was supporting his head. Yet his eyes are both closed and beside him were a tennis bag, he has a blackish green hair and from the length of his legs, he isn't that kind of tall. And in that tennis bag there was a name.

'Ryoma E.'

"R-Ryoma Echizen?" I cover my mouth in surprise, trying not to wake up the sleeping guy in front of me. But he isn't really sleeping, just taking a nap I guess. But how long is he been there?

"Antadare?" He was staring at me with curious eyes, I was staring also at him, with those boredom voice, and those hazel cat-like eyes are very disturbing, until I came back to my senses and answer his question.

"E-eto, R-Ryuzaki S-Sakuno." I replied immediately still looking at him.

"Ryuzaki ka?!" with that, he close his eyes and lean in the tree that was behind him.

Again, silence…

I was about to ask him another question when suddenly the bell rang, late. I run immediately forgetting about that Ryoma guy, I'm not supposed to be late in the 2nd class, I'm just new here what would the people said. I run and run, trying to remember where the directions are when Tomo-chan is dragging me.

Finally, I reach the class in time, when I got there, there's no teacher yet and Tomo-chan was there talking to guy with a brown hair and has a unibrow.

I did not hesitate and decided to come in, it's my classroom also. I was about to take the turn and headed toward my seat, I stopped when I saw the empty chair that was supposed to be Ryoma-kun's seat, is that there he is, Ryoma-kun, he is seating there quietly with his boredom eyes looking at the boy who was Tomo-chan was talking to. How did he get here so fast? I left him right? And I am the first one to leave.

"Ahh… Sakuno!" Tomo-chan shouted and finally notices me; she was waving at me and smiling.

I walk towards her and take my sit. But I just can't seem to look at Ryoma-kun, I don't know. I just had known him for like 10 minutes ago and I feel a little awkward talking to him, asking him how does he get here so fast?

"Sakuno, where have you been? I've been waiting for you." Tomo-chan said placing her hands in my table, looking at me eye to eye.

"Gomen Tomo-chan, I… lost my way here." Trying to pretend that nothing happened between me and Ryoma-kun, I just have nothing to do but to lie. But there nothing really happened to us, it's just that I don't want to explain to her that I saw Ryoma-kun behind the tree where we was talking, and I just had been paralyzed because of his handsome face, that would be really embarrassing.

"Oh? Souka?" Tomo-chan decided to let go of this topic when she heard the door opened and the sensei just come in.

(After Class)

After class, I packed my things immediately and say good-bye to Tomo-chan who was assigned to be the cleaners today; Sensei said that I would be on Friday's, Thank God!

"Bye Tomo-chan! Sorry I can't stay with you today, I have to go to work so, Bye!" I wave my hand to Tomo-chan who was smiling at me the whole time. I already explained to her that I have a part-time job at a Café shop near the playground in 2nd street. I have been working there for almost a year and I am a waiter there, I was insist by my friend Ann who was working there also, and she said that they needed some waiters of their store.

I was about to go when I forgot to tell Obaa-chan that I will be late today, some of my co-workers are taking a day off so me and Ann-chan was informed to take over their place and stay until 10 pm.

I was looking around trying to find the tennis court, after a minute I found it, 'Wow! What a big school' I said to myself. There is a lot of senpai-tachi in the court, some of them are wearing blue jacket and pants while some of them are wearing blue and white.

I notice that Obaa-chan was inside the court yelling at the players to hit the ball; I opened the gate and decided to go in.

"Obaa-chan!" I yelled at her and she finally saw me, she was gesturing at me to come to her. I have no choice and I have to hurry or else the manager will get angry again. I run towards her, trying to ignore the senpai's who was looking at me. Did I just ruined their practice?

Before I reach her, I saw Ryoma-kun on the court beside my Obaa-chan was practicing, he was playing against a senpai and his opponent is sweating a lot yet Ryoma-kun seems to be relaxed. I saw him serve the ball in an incredible speed and left his opponent steadily.

"Game Echizen, 5-0" The Chair Umpire announced.

I just walk through them still looking at them with wide eyes. Until I reach Obaa-chan I turn towards them, but the umpire's voice is too loud and I can still hear it.

'15-0'

"Obaa-chan, I will be late today, I am working overtime because some workers have taken a day off, so I have to replaced them"

'30-0'

"Oh? Is that so, well then don't be late, and tell me if I have to pick you up."

'40-0'

"No need Obaa-chan, I can do it, you just have to take a rest and I will be home in no time."

'Game and Match, Echizen 6-0'

I take my leave, turning around. Obaa-chan said I could so I better hurry, when I look back, I don't see Ryoma-kun or his opponent anymore. Is the game done already?

"You're too much Echizen, its just practice." And suddenly I saw Ryoma-kun shaking hands with his opponent between the net.

"Mada Mada dane, Senpai."

I take my leave immediately; I don't want to be late again.

(Sakuno, finally reach the Café Store on time)

I just finish changing and helped with the serving.

"Sakuno-chan, Sakuno-chan." A sweet voice behind the counter was calling me. It's Ann-chan, she was handling the change to the costumer in front of her.

"The Yellow Tennis Uniform guy's is here again." She said pointer outside the window some guy with yellow uniform, some of those guy has a black messy hair, while some of them has a red hair that keeps on eating cakes and a blue hair guy that is tied in braids at the back that keeps on saying 'Puri'

"Akaya-kun."

Finally, I'm done! After 100 years, joke. Hahaha!

So how was the first chapter good? It's kinda different from the last time isn't it? Sorry…

I need your suggestions guys, please help me. I don't know why I bring Kirihara Akaya there. There's not much RyoSaku here right? I was thinking on putting KiriSaku also here, I think they both look okay. But I'm a RyoSaku fan. Yeah!

Please continue to R&R until the next chapter… ThanYou

Cherry Blossom is a milk chocolate and has a coconut shell with liquid cherry center, it is also common in Canada.

Chapter 2: Prince

Japanese Vocabulary:

Ohayo- Good Morning

Obaa-chan - Grandma

Gomen- Sorry/I'm Sorry

Konnichiwa- Hello!

Hai- Yes

Arigatou- Thank You!

Hajimemashite- Nice to meet you

Minna- Everyone

Yorushiku- Please take care of me

Nani- What?

Nande- Why?

Souka- Really?

Antadare- Who are you? (In brat tone)

Senpai-tachi- Upperclassmen