Chapter 2. Get a partner

Fuji had just come home with an invitation in his hand, Tezuka's just walking in beside him. As usual Fuji always has a smile on his face and Tezuka always wear a cold frown.

"Tezuka?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to visit sensei once before reunion?"

"Fine with me."

"Alright, 4.00pm Seigaku front gate!"

"Ok, I got to go now, bye."

"See you tomorrow!" Fuji said with a grin on his cheeks

"Grandma! You said you are going to practice with me!"

"Sakuno, I said I couldn't today. 1 week later is the reunion, I am very busy today and also Tezuka kun and Fuji kun are going to visit me today, so if you like, I cold ask them to practice with you."

"Tezuka buchou and Fuji senpai are coming today? Is Ryoma coming along as well?" Sakuno asked hopefully.

"No, why? You want him to come along?"

"No, I am just asking." Her heart is beating faster whenever someone is talking about Echizen Ryoma, even though she waited 3 years for him and there is still no response from him, so her heart is already dead, but she still do that for some reason.

Suddenly there is a light knock on the door, "come in."

"Konnichiwa, sensei." say both ex-students.

"Nice to see you both back here." Says Ryuzaki sensei.

"Konnichiwa, Tezuka buchou and Fuji senpai!" Sakuno greets with a sweet smile.

"I see you have grown up, a lot higher now!" Tezuka whispers in a surprise.

"Sakuno, stay here with your senpais for a second, I am just going to make some tea for all of us." Her grandmother leaves them for a chat.

"Sakuno Chan, I see you are a lot prettier than I last see you," Fuji tells her and asks, "Do you still play tennis?"

"Ne, I quitted last year, I thought tennis is just not really my type, so I started fashion designing!" She replies cheerfully, clapped her two hands together in front of her chest.

"Fashion…Fashion Designing?" Both of them stares in shock, and think 'so that is why she grown a lot prettier.'

"So senpai, you still play tennis right?"

"Yeah, we made into the state already." Fuji is nodding towards Tezuka, who's still managing to act to cold.

"Congratulations, hope you guys can make the champion of the whole country!"

"Arigatou! Sakuno Chan, are you going to the re-union?" Fuji asks curiously, "Is it the club one?"

"Sure, obviously I want to see the regulars again." She suddenly turns paler, as someone stabs a knife on her heart, 'I don't want to meet him again.' She thought in silence.

"Are you alright, Sakuno? You look… so pale." Her grandmother puts the tea aside and went over to check on Sakuno.

"I am fine, really! What about our promise?" Sakuno asks without paying attention towards what is she saying.

Fuji and Tezuka both stares blankly, without knowing what is going on.

"What promise?" Tezuka asks.

"I promised her to teach her tennis, again. Oh, before I forget Sakuno, I will not be home at earliest 2 o'clock in the morning."

"No please obaa-chan. I don't want to be alone."

"Fuji, I know as a leader of your team, you are very busy, but can she stay over at your place just for tonight?" she has no choice but to ask her ex-student to look after her.

"Sure, she can stay over at my place, but that is only if she can stand my brother Yuuta."

"Oh, Yuuta Kun, I know him, I've met him when we are having a match with St. Rudolph."

"It's getting dark, so you three'd better get going."

"Aniki, I am home!" Shouts Yuuta, "Do we have a guest today?" raising an eyebrow, "and it's a girl." He identifies by looking at the shoe size and pattern on the shoe.

"Yep, let me introduce, this is my brother Yuuta and this is my ex-coach's granddaughter Sakuno."

"Nice to meet you, Yuuta Kun."

"Baka aniki, where is she suppose to sleep? Not in my room!"

"I am so sorry, I have brought you a lot of trouble," Sakuno says as she's glancing down at her feet, feeling guilty that the brothers have to fight because of her.

"It's alright." Yuuta is getting quite annoyed when he sees girls have tears.

"Yuuta! Is that how you treat a guest? Especially someone younger than you and it's a girl? Didn't that manager of your team, teach you manners?" Fuji's sister Yumiko suddenly steps out, she turns to Sakuno and softens her voice, " You want my room? I'd be going out pretty soon and I'm not going to be home tonight!"

"But … But I don't want to be alone." She replies desperately.

"Ok, you can sleep in my room then, I will just sleep on the sofa chair next to you." Fuji says still smiling.

"Aniki! You are not going to do anything …Weird, are you?" Yuuta particularly shouts.

"Ne, I trust Fuji senpai, he had always look afters me since junior high." She let out a small chuckle.

'Wow, she looks so pretty when she smiles or laughs.' Thought Fuji, opening his eyes a little.

Back in their rooms, Sakuno's already in Fuji's bed, ad he's sitting in his favourite sofa chair.

"Are you thinking about Echizen Ryoma again?" He pointed out straight on the point, he does not like guessing game much.

"How do you know?" Sakuno is filling up her eyes with tears.

"Gomen. I don't want to hurt your feeling." The prodigy apologized and hand over a tissue box.

"No, it will probably be the last time I will cry for him. I guess the whole thing is over now." she's trying to convince to herself that he doesn't worth her tears but the tears just trickle down on ther cheeks.

"Well, I am actually glad the whole thing is over."

"What do you mean, Fuji senpai?" She stoped her sobbing, but she's really confused by his words.

"I mean, I don't want to witness you suffer even more, I had always liked you, but you are always there cheering on for that freshman. You know I am actually quite jealous seeing so." He finally feel the big rock that is floating above his heart is finally settling down as he mumbles out what he always wanted to say.

"…"

"So will you give me a chance by going to the cruise ship with me and be my formal girlfriend?"

"… Fuji senpai, I …Don't know what to say, no one had actually said such sweet things to me before, I guess!"

"That means a yes! Yeeeeeees! I am so happy to hear that!" He quickly gave a light peck on Sakuno's forehead.

Ding Dong

"Aniki, your coach is here." Yuuta opens the door and welcome his brother's ex-caoch.

"Konnichiwa."

"Konnichiwa." Fuji answered politely.

"Sakuno, quickly grab your things and we are going to the airport."

"Airport?" Not only Sakuno but the Fuji brothers asked too.

"Haven't I told you before?"

"No." all three of them shook their head in unison. (A/N: you can imagine how funny it is, Yeah lame joke, Sayonara!)

"Your twin sister is coming home, and we have to welcome her home."

"How come I don't even know I have a twin sister? And what is her name?"

"She went to china with your parents when you guys were born so …. Her name is Sakino."

"…"

"All right, gotta go, see you guys around."

"Ok bye Sumire chan!" Fuji joked.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me Sumire Chan!"

Sakuno giggles besides her grandmother, "Sayonara!" she waved and went into the car with her grandmother.

As soon as they are out of sight, Fuji opens his eyes revealing his sharp blue orbs, "finally here it comes."