Hi again! This is the second part of the story. It is a bit long though. Thank you for the reviews That really motivates me to continue. I will try my best on making this story. Please bear with me thanks.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Prince of Tennis.

Chapter 2: First Date?

Chapter Summary: Finally, Ryoma asked her on a date. Will their date be turn out fine?

"Hey! Ochibi, what's the matter?" Eiji asked.

"What are you talking about?"

"You've been spacing out again. It's not like you not holding a tennis racket. Tell me what's bothering you man." Eiji kept bugging Ryoma on a Sunny Thursday. They were in the tennis court practicing with the regulars.

"I'm fine, don't worry about me. Go back practicing Kikumaru-sempai, I'll join you guys later." Ryoma told him.

"I believe that it has something to do with Ryuzaki-chan." Inui pointed as he approached the two.

Ryoma flinched as he heard the girl's name. "Bull's eye!" Inui continued.

Momoshiro and Oishi joined them as they vibrated that something interesting was going on. They just finished their match.

"So tell us Echizen. What's bothering you? You were just okay the last time I saw the two of you." Momoshiro retorted.

"Nothing, okay. Now will you please leave me alone?" Ryoma said as he stood up to have some practice.

"Oh! No you don't. Come back here." Eiji said as he chased and grabbed Ryoma from the back.

"L-let me go. Hey!" Ryoma said with an irritating voice as he trying to escape from Eiji.

"I have an idea. Why don't you have a very special drink of Inui's juice? You might change your mind." Momo exclaimed.

"That's not bad; I'll have it ready in a moment." Inui said while touching his chin, playing his part on the scheme.

With Ryoma's widened eyes, he finally gave up. He said his words with his restless shoulder. "Okay, okay. You win. Are you happy now?"

The regulars just smiled at Ryoma's words.

After a few minutes:

"WHAT! You said that to her." The regulars said in chorus.

"You're lost man. You don't know how to make a girl happy. No wonder that she's avoiding you now." Eiji said.

"Why can't you say her name, Echizen? It's not a big deal. It is definitely rude to address her in her surname when she is already your girlfriend." Momoshiro explained.

"It is not easy." Ryoma bluntly told them.

"And what is there that is not easy for you to do? Get a grip Echizen. It is your girlfriend we are talking here." Momo continued.

"I can't."

"Why?" they said in chorus.

"Because…."

"Because…." They mimicked.

"That's because—"

"SPIT IT OUT ALREADY." They shouted.

"Because it is embarrassing, that's why." Ryoma snapped. "I never said a girl's name before."

A moment of silence occurred. Suddenly they bursted out laughing that made Ryoma irritated. "What's so funny?"

"You're worried about nothing. Ochibi! I can't believe you." Eiji said as he stopped laughing.

"Do something Echizen, Ryuzaki-chan will definitely be happy in anything that you will do." Oishi said.

"Yeah, ask her on a date or something." Momoshiro remembered something. "Oh. Yeah, you never asked her on a date, aren't you?"

"Shut up! Mind your own business."

"That hits the spot. You are one hopeless romantic guy. Don't be like that, if you don't want her to completely avoid you. Mark my word Echizen, girls can't wait forever." Inui warned him.

The regulars' words did stick in his mind. They were right. It was his fault that Ryuzaki was avoiding her now. It was already three days since then. Though, she was always at the court during practice to support the team. But leaves after his turn. She didn't wait for him unlike those previous days. He definitely needs to do something.

While the regulars were taunting Ryoma; Sumire, Tezuka, and Fuji were just watching them.

"Young love." Sumire signed.

"It's your granddaughter that we are talking about sensei." Fuji said.

"I know. That's why I am guarding them."

"heh, why don't they just practice instead of solving some other people's affair." Tezuka retorted.

"The fun will subside if we do that. But anyway, you are right. It is time for practice."

Sumire called the entire team to resume on their practice.

The Next Day:

The practice had just ended. Sakuno needed to leave the court before she found by Ryoma. It had been four days since he said those things to her. It was just five words but it hurt her. She was just not ready to face him again.

And Valentines Day is just 6 days away. What should I do? Sakuno thought of herself.

She was in that state when a group of girls blocked her way. Glaring at her like they wanted to eat her. She tried to excuse herself from them but they just don't let her. Instead they push her rudely. Good thing she didn't fall down the ground.

"You have got some nerve aren't you, Ryuzaki-chan." The girl with a long hair said emphasizing her name. "If I were you, I will stay away from Ryoma-sama."

Sakuno was shocked. "W-why would I do that? I-I am his girlfriend so—"

"Then break up with him. You don't deserve him. You're just in the way of his fame."

"I don't—"

"Give it up, you're just a pain. A big trouble for his fans. Get lost."

That snapped her. She tried to shout as she could when she said her words:

"That's not for you to decide." She ran away from the group of girls.

Why is this happening to me? They can't tell me that. I am Ryoma-kun's girlfriend. Sakuno thought as she continued running while her eyes were closed. Ever since they started going out, the girls who admired Ryoma were glaring at her. They tried to break them apart and this was not the first time. She began to think if she was doing the right thing. She would do anything for Ryoma because she liked the boy a lot. It was actually a dream come true. But he was popular. Would she be able to hang on in this relationship?

She almost screamed when someone suddenly grabbed her hand from her back. She felt relieved when she recognized who grabbed her hand but only for a second and she began to get nervous again.

"R-ryoma-kun." She said to him. Ryoma was catching his breath like he just ran a minute ago. Wait, did he chase her? Did he see what happened earlier? Her thoughts were answered as the boy spoke.

"You run fast but not as fast as I can. Those were nice words you said back then." Ryoma smirked.

"P-please let-let go." Sakuno pleaded.

"Why would I do that?" He tightened his grip into Sakuno's wrist. Well not too tightened.

"Y-you heard them, Ryoma-kun. I don't have to e-explain to you that."

"Nonsense, I chose you because you are not annoying. Don't avoid me anymore."

He chose me because I'm not annoying. Shouldn't it be that he likes me? Sakuno couldn't voice out her thought. Oh, this guy never ceased to upset her.

"….date."

"Eh?!" Sakuno was distracted. He was still holding her hand not letting her go.

"Let's go on a date." Ryoma declared pinning his hat down to hide his embarrassment.

Even Sakuno herself couldn't believe what she was hearing. Date. He was asking her on a date.

Since Sakuno didn't say anything, Ryoma took the chance of his plans.

"Meet me at the park on Sunday at 10am. Don't be late. Okay." He said as he let go of her hand and walked away from her.

Sakuno once again was left behind. It took time to realize what Ryoma had said to her. She began to blush. "R-r-ryoma-kun asked me on a date…"

Sunday:

She still didn't know what to do. Although she wore her best dress for today after a long night of searching. She decided to wear a baby blue dress which only above knee, pairing with a white shoulder bag. Ryoma didn't solve the problem but asked her on a date instead. Didn't she dream of this? She just hoped that everything would turn out fine.

"You're late." Ryoma retorted as he waited at the park for ten minutes. He was wearing his usual attire with his Fila hat. Well, no matter what he looked, he always appeared presentable to her. Only he didn't know how to appreciate the mood.

"Sorry" Sakuno said in an apologetic voice.

"And I said that you shouldn't be late today. Let's go." Ryoma began to walk.

Sakuno sighed as she followed her boyfriend.

Meanwhile on the other side of the park, the regulars were secretly following their freshmen's date. Momoshiro predicted that this was going to happen so he tailed Ryoma and found out the result.

"This is going to be exciting." Eiji said.

"Yeah, let's follow them or we might lose them now." Momo replied.

They tailed the two but only to find disappointment on what they were seeing.

"What kind of date are you making Ochibi? That's not gonna work." Eiji complained while hiding far away from the couple.

"We should just teach him how to handle a date. Geez he is useless." Oishi said.

This was what they tailed for: They went to a bookstore, taking time enough to read some books that Ryoma liked. Sakuno just trying to read some books too. Then, they watched a live match of tennis. They rode a horse that Sakuno almost fell. Well, she enjoyed the ride most likely. They practiced some tennis in a stadium. They went to a tennis museum exhibit.

Sakuno was beginning to bore herself. She noticed that all the places they went were all related to tennis. Well, except for the horseback riding of course. Ryoma didn't talk much and it was already afternoon. She couldn't take it anymore so she asked Ryoma.

"A-are we really... dating, R-ryoma-kun? Sakuno started.

Ryoma was shocked that he faced her. "What makes you say that? Aren't we dating right now?"

"It is not what I see it." Sakuno faced the ground as she said that.

Ryoma was about to say something but she continued before he did. "Y-yeah, w-we are together today but even you are not in your world, you still enter another world which is tennis. I-I know that y-you love tennis t-that's why I will always support you." Tears was almost coming down when she said her next words and gradually facing him. "L-let me h-have a part in your world, Ryoma-kun."

Ryoma was speechless and blush a little. He was staring at her. She had realized that so she turned away. He pushed his hat down and said, "Wait here."

Ryoma went somewhere and when he came back, he bought two ice creams. Then he carried her to some place that made Sakuno felt a bit of happiness. It was the most beautiful spot for sunset. They were standing on the best spot and it was almost Sunset.

"R-ryoma-kun, t-this is." She can not continue her words that she felt like crying.

"I didn't bring you here just to see you crying. So stop that." Ryoma said as he faced her.

Sakuno just apologized to him.

"I discovered this place the first time I set foot here and I found this place amazing. I thought of bringing you here as I planned. We did those things because we both like tennis." Ryoma explained to her while eating his ice cream.

"I am so sorry. I just... I just... "

"Don't worry about it. Ryuzaki, you are already a part of my world. Don't think that you are not." Ryoma bashfully declared looking away.

Sakuno turned red as she heard his words. "R-yoma-kun I-I don't mind you calling me by my surname." She said as she stared at the sunset. He stared at her as she continued speaking. "I-I just realized that it didn't matter anymore. Y-you accepted just as I am and t-that is enough for me."

She was just staring at the sunset knowing that Ryoma was staring at her. The next thing she knows was very fast. He held her hand where her ice cream was and licked it. She blushed a lot of what he did.

"Your ice cream is melting, eat it now." Ryoma said as he licked his.

She didn't realize that her ice cream was melting because a lot of things were invading her mind. She licked it just to realize something. I-isn't this an indirect kiss.

"Come on we still have time to spare." Ryoma said as he began to drag Sakuno along.

They continued the date. They board a boat, a love boat, to be precise. Next was they went to a picture booth to take some pictures. Both of them have a copy. They ate dinner in a fancy restaurant.

The regulars who tailed them decided to stop from following the couple.

"So Ochibi, surprised us huh." Eiji said

"Yeah, didn't expect that he prepared something on their date. He is actually growing up." Momo replied.

"Well, let's leave them and eat on our own, I am hungry for following them the whole day." Oishi complained.

"Yeah, let's go" Momo said as they started to leave the place.

It was already 9pm when they decided to go home. They reached Sakuno's home.

"Thank you for today, Ryoma-kun. I-I had fun." Sakuno was blushing when she said that.

"Uhn" he nodded. "Go inside now."

She turned after she nodded to him. She was about to open the door when suddenly Ryoma called her;

"Ryuzaki."

"H-hai." Sakuno faced him slowly again.

He moved closer to her and to her surprise he hugged her. It was like a slow motion when he did that. It took time for her to realize that he was really hugging her. "R-r-ryoma-k-kun." She stuttered as she blushed a lot.

"…Your name." He started. Sakuno was stiffened as she heard that. He continued. "…Your name, I am just finding the right time and right place to call you by your name. So wait for me, okay."

Sakuno was pleased so she just nodded. "O-okay."

"Good." He released her. Another thing that she was so dense about was when Ryoma kissed her on the forehead. Yep, she was really dense. She blushed again after that.

He fixed his cap as he waved goodbye to her. Another realization came to her mind. A lot of things happened but they hadn't kissed yet. Well, aside from the forehead. She put that thought aside. The thing that made her happy was what happened today. And that was all that matters.

So how was it? I hope you enjoyed this. Please tell me what do you think of this. Thank you again.

Reviews please.

Next Chapter: Confession and A...