Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis and its characters.

From the author: WAAHHHH!!! Summer is like almost totally over! Well, actually it is… but my classes start next week… anyways! As I said, this story still continues! Kk?! Chapter 4: Challenge Accepted! Up next! Okay, so the bakeshop is starting to be like totally crowded with all those fangirls thanks to ore-sama's so-called "brilliant" idea! Well, would it really be brilliant or not? And, Sakuno gets to bake! Yay! Good for her… would she be too exhausted along with Tezuka, who decided to help too, for next day's fishing lessons? Read and find out! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

-Having Fun This Summer Break-

"Hoi! Hoi!" Kikumaru called out to the team for something caught his attention. "Is that Tezuka in an apron?"

Chapter 4: Challenge Accepted!

-SJD# 1 PART 3

"Oh come on... Tezuka..." Fuji convinced Seigaku's national-leveled captain. "... don't you pity the Hyotei regulars one bit?" Fuji asked as he and Tezuka glanced at the bombarded team.

Tezuka shook his head. "Not one bit..." He said nonchalantly.

Fuji sighed. "Come on Tezuka... Sakuno needs your help with her 'summer ideals'..." Fuji inquired. "It's the duty of senpais to help their kohais..."

Tezuka looked at Fuji, then at the Hyotei regulars, then at Sakuno. Fuji looked expectantly at him, waiting for his decision. "Fine..."

Tezuka was feeling very regretful right now. He was doing the most embarrassing thing in his own entire existence: He was wearing a ridiculous apron while serving cake to these unformidable, annoying girls. If it weren't for the sake of Sakuno and her summer job in the Cake Bake Shop, he wouldn't be doing this. He swore that on the first day of classes, he would make Fuji run 100 laps... He took a quick glance at his teammate who came from the kitchen carrying freshly-baked cakes. Tezuka sighed. He only hoped that no one else would see him like this... He made sure that he only served in the parts of the shop that were away from the windows... Just then Yukimura, who decided to help the shop along with Kirihara, Marui and Sanada (who was facing the same embarrassment as Tezuka), approached him to inform that they needed to add tables outside the shop for the other waiting customers. Tezuka gulped but complied half-heartedly.

He then went outside the shop, arranged the tables as fast as he can but was surrounded by girls who he glared at with the deadliest of his glares. Instantly, the girls withdrew. When he was fixing the last table, Fuji came out and asked him to come inside and help with the serving already. Right after, they both went in, oblivious that their fellow teammates just saw them in an apron with shocked faces.

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After Kikumaru's sudden and bewildered comment, all Seigaku regulars shifted their gaze to the small but very crowded Cake Bake Shop with squinting eyes to catch the said figure with the ridiculous apron. It was a fact... Tezuka was in an apron.

"G-g-g-g-g-a-a-a-h-h-h!" (Momo looked like Horio whenever he finds something unbelievable... like the time when Seigaku played Rikkai Dai...) Momo pointed shocked at their buchou who was arranging tables outside the shop for the out-of-control customers. It was obvious and plastered in Tezuka's face that he wasn't enjoying what he was doing.

All the other regulars were open-mouthed and silent as the cool summer breeze passed by them causing their shirts to flutter... Kikumaru then broke the silence with a chuckle and stated something else for he spotted something again. "Hora, hora! Is that Fuji! Nyah!" Kikumaru sweatdropped while giggling. Oishi followed his doubles partner's gaze and did see Fuji... with the apron, like Tezuka. But it seemed like Fuji was okay with the fangirls tugging on him for his smile was still present. But we never really know what goes inside the tensai's mind...

Aftering gaining composure, the others managed to go back from the 'is-this-for-real' mode. Inui started writing down on his infamous data book, Kaidoh started 'fshh-ing' again while giving Momo annoying glares for being so hysterical finding Tezuka and Fuji in an apron, and Kawamura scratched an invisible itch on the back of his head looking sheepish.

"Is this for real?" 'Is this really a meeting?' Oishi whispered to himself. But Inui heard him and started blabbering about percentages.

"What we are seeing right now is 100 percent real... and there is a 70 percent chance that Fuji called us to help them in the bake shop..." Inui said after he had calculated the possibilities of the situation.

Oishi gulped. Then Kikumaru tugged on him and insisted that they should go in and eat. Oishi started having second thoughts of going in after what Inui said. "Eiji... uhmm... I don't think going in there is such a good idea..." Oishi started.

Kikumaru looked at the team's fukubuchou confused. "Why?"

"Because... uhmm, Inui said that there is a 70 percent chance that we would be asked to wear those aprons too..." Oishi explained.

"Nani...? You're kidding right?" Momo said after over hearing what Oishi said. "Uh-uh, no way I am going on there if that is what's going to happen..." Momo shook his head.

"I hate to admit it, but I agree with porcupine-head..." Kaidoh said his opinion. Momo fumed but controlled his anger from the comment.

Kawamura just remained silent but nodded after Kaidoh spoke, indicating that he agrees that it is a bad idea to enter the shop.

Oishi sighed. "But we can't just leave 'cause they don't know we came, and I said that we would come..."

Kikumaru whined. "That sucks real bad... I want to eat cake but I can't 'cause if I do I would surely be forced to wear that ridiculous apron..."

Inui was silent, trying to find the best solution to the problem at hand... "Hmm..."

"Why don't we just go home?" Momo suggested. "Then we could tell Fuji-senpai that we can't come 'cause we have stuff to do?"

Oishi thought for a moment thinking about the suggestion.

"Or... how 'bout if we do tell Fuji that we can't come, but we stay in here and check-out what happens..." Kikumaru snickered at his own suggestion. "It isn't everyday that you see Tezuka and Fuji in an apron! Nyah!" He said cheerfully.

"I take back what I said! How 'bout we do what Kikumaru-senpai suggested?!" Momo shared the same enthusiasm with the acrobatic player and did a high five.

"Fshh..." Kaidoh didn't want to enter the shop which leads to wearing the apron... but he did favour the idea of spying on what happens...

Kikumaru handed Kawamura a tennis racket and the powerhouse then started shouting. "BURNING! Yeah, I'm not up for those embarrassing fabric but I do favour staying and checking out what happens!" Some passer-bys who were heading for the shop looked at him weirdly but continued their way inside.

As Inui was still silent thinking of a solution, he scanned the Cake Bake Shop. He spotted familiar figures aside from Tezuka and Fuji. He saw Fudoumine's Tachibana Kippei, Tachibana An, Shinji, and Kamio. Rikkai Dai's Yukimura, Sanada, Kirihara and Marui. Hyotei's Atobe, Oshitari, Mukahi, Akutagawa, Shishido, Ootori, Hiyoshi and Kabaji. And the very own Sumire Ryuzaki's granddaughter: Sakuno. "Hmmm..." Inui adjusted his glasses then turned to his frantic teammates. "It seems like Tezuka and Fuji aren't the only ones in the Cake Bake Shop that we know..." The team looked at their data player. "Look..." Inui pointed.

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Fuji chuckled to himself as he saw Tezuka return to the serving tables service, as the girls try their best to get his attention. He avoids them nonetheless and leaves with the usual stoic and impassive expression. 'Obviously he is not enjoying what he is doing...' "I might look ridiculous... but Tezuka looks more ridiculous with that scowl on his face..." He whispered to himself happily trying to comfort his own embarrassment as he continued to serve another table. 'Where are the others anyway?'

Meanwhile, the Hyotei regulars were not having the time of their lives too. "Oshitari-senpai! How long are we going to do this?" Hiyoshi whispered to the blue-haired player as a girl continued to tug on his sleeve begging for attention.

"Until we satisfy all the customers..." Oshitari replied as he placed two plates of cakes on a nearby table of shrieking girls.

Shishido joins in the conversation. "This is totally embarrassing... It seems like we're doing this for nothing! Are we even sure Atobe does have feelings for Ryuzaki-san?" Shishido asked while being harassed by another group of girls, trying to pull him to their side. He continues to struggle.

Hiyoshi scowled. "I told you we are going to regret doing this..." He said as he accommodated new customers leaving the harassed Shishido and shrieked-at Oshitari.

Oshitari and Shishido sighed and glanced at their captain who seems to be enjoying himself with the company of the girls in his presence. "This is really embarrassing..." They both said as some non-girl customers snickered at their present situation.

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"Atobe-san's plan seems to be working well..." Sakuno hinted herself while mixing the bowl of ingredients made for a cake. She dipped her finger in the bowl to taste the cake mixture. "Hmm... not sweet enough..." She stated then added a pint of sugar in the bowl. When she poured the bowl of ingredients in the pan and placed it inside the oven, Sakuno checked the bake shop out. Man, it was really crowded... Counting the tennis players plus the humongous number of girls. Sakuno smiled to herself. Seems like her first day was a good one. Her employer approached her from another part of the kitchen.

"Sakuno, would you be kind enough to buy cocoa powder from the nearby grocery store? We ran out..." The young adult said as she stirred contents in another bowl of ingredients.

"Hai..." Sakuno obeyed and headed out the shop passing the back entrance. She skidded out the kitchen, then around the shop to reach the main pathway of the mall heading out to the nearby grocery store. Just as she managed to reach the pathway, she caught sight of a group of teenage boys who were behind a plant box, checking out the Cake Bake Shop... they were awfully familiar. Sakuno decided to ask the group what in the world they were doing behind a plant box. She approached the group, disregarding her errand for a moment. Upon reaching the boys, she cleared her throat. "Ahem..."

The group stiffened and turned their heads around slowly to see who had caught them in their 'spying-scheme'... "Ryuzaki-san..." The team managed to say meekly, slightly embarrassed for being caught behind the plant box.

Sakuno smiled at her senpais. "Nani... what are you doing in here... and most importantly behind a plant box?" Sakuno wondered with a freaked-out look on her face.

Momo laughed fake. "W-We were just checking out the local scenery! Haha!" He explained stupidly earning an insult from Kaidoh.

"What a lame excuse, only someone as stupid as you would believe that, porcupine-head..." Kaidoh commented which in turn cause Momo to fume.

"What did you say Mamushi?! Let's see you think of a better excuse then!" Momo snapped back as Kaidoh and he were both calmed down by Kawamura and Oishi. Their 'lying-scheme' was obviously not working...

Kikumaru stood up and smiled at Sakuno. "Hoi! Hoi! Ryuzaki-san! Want to see Tezuka and Fuji in an apron?" The acrobatic player asked his kohai cheerfully ignorant that Sakuno came from the bake shop and knew exactly what was going in there. Sakuno smiled.

"Kikumaru-senpai, I already saw them in an apron..." She said sweetly. And from her statement, the others looked at her confused. "This is the bake shop I was working for... and Tezuka-buchou, Fuji-senpai along with the others, Rikkai Dai, Hyotei and Fudoumine are helping me with my summer job..." Sakuno explained to the group. Inui started writing on his notebook again, filling it with fresh data...

"F-Fudoumine is here?" Momo said in a dilemma whether to be shocked or be excited.

Kikumaru snickered at Momo. "Nyah... seems like Momo wants to enter the shop now and check-out Tachibana's little sister, ne?" He slyly said causing Momo to blush.

"K-Kikumaru-senpai! What made you say that?!" He defensively cried.

Kikumaru giggled. This time, all the regulars stood up from their crouching position and smiled warmly at Sakuno. Oishi sighed. "Well, it seems like we have to enter the shop after all... If Tezuka, Fuji, and the other schools are helping Ryuzaki-san... we should be ashamed of ourselves for not accepting the challenge..." Oishi stated, and his teammates nodded in agreement.

Sakuno smiled. "Ano... It's nice to hear that you want to share the burden with the others by wearing the aprons..." Sakuno then started walking again, finally continuing her way to the grocery shop. "I need to buy cocoa powder for some cake... I need to go now! See you in the bakeshop!" Sakuno said and turned to her destination. Then someone called for her.

"Ryuzaki-san! I'd come with you!" The red-haired boy ran towards Sakuno. The others wanted to follow as well to avoid wearing the apron but was stopped by Oishi.

"We have to go in..." He said feeling rather sorry for the others in the apron, and so wanted to share their burden. The regulars sighed. Then they headed their way in the bake shop, finally accepting the challenge in the Cake Bake Shop.

Oishi along with Momoshiro, Kaidoh, Inui and Kawamura entered the crowded bake shop half-heartedly. After catching sight of the team's prodigy, they immediately approached him. "Fuji..." Oishi called and immediately the tensai looked at their direction and gave a smile that reached from ear to ear.

"Ah... I'm glad you came..." He said rather sadistically. "I called 'cause I actually wanted you to join Tezuka and me in eating... but it seems like the bake shop got pretty crowded and we need all the help we can get..."

Oishi smiled. "No problem... s-so, where do you say the aprons are?"

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Sakuno smiled as she walked with her red-haired senpai who was humming a happy tune. After a few more strides, they reached the grocery store and entered. Kikumaru tagged along Sakuno as she passed by rows of shelves looking for a box of cocoa powder. Thanks to his wonderful eyesight, he immediately found one among the fully-packed shelves and grabbed a box. "Ryuzaki-san!" He called out bouncily and handed the box to Sakuno.

"Arigatou..." Sakuno smiled then they both headed to the counter and paid for the merchandise.

Right after acquiring the ingredient, the two headed back to the bake shop when Sakuno's phone rang.

If I could escape, and re-create a place as my own world, and I can be your favourite girl, forever, perfectly together, now tell me boy now wouldn't that be sweet? If I could sweet, I know I've been a real bad girl, I didn't mean for you to get hurt, whatsoever, we can make it better, now tell me boy now wouldn't that be sweet? Sweet escape... Sweet escape...

Sakuno took time answering her phone due to the fact that she was holding the paper bag with the cocoa powder. She finally handed it to Kikumaru and answered the call. "Moshi moshi..."

"Sa-chan! It's obaa-chan!"

Sakuno smiled gleefully. "Nani... obaa-chan! How's America?" She giggled which attracted Kikumaru's attention.

He whispered. "Pst... Ryuzaki-san, who called?" He asked curiously.

Sakuno grinned then mouthed 'Obaa-chan'.

"Ah..." The red-head said and continued to eavesdrop in the conversation by putting his head near the cellular phone.

"It's great! The meeting is soon! Anyways, just called to check you out... So how's your job?"

"It's wonderful! The shop is crowded thanks to Atobe-san... and the others are helping out too..."

"Atobe?" Sumire was obviously surprised. "Okay... Sa-chan, I'm happy you're fine... take care, okay?"

"Hai..."

"Bye"

"Bye..." Sakuno then flipped her phone close and turned to her senpai. "Let's go..." She said but before walking insisted that she carry the bag.

"Nyah, Ryuzkai-san, let me carry the bag... It's wrong to let you carry it since you're a girl..." Kikumaru smiled.

Sakuno blushed. "Ah okay..." And the two headed back to the Cake Bake Shop.

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The tennis helpers were totally exhausted from the volunteering and were all as limp as a rotten vegetable after the shopped closed. Sakuno thanked the group vigorously bowing in front of them a lot of times and was only stopped when Tezuka asked her to. "Ryuzaki-san, it's okay... we're glad we helped..." Tezuka said. "... and you can stop bowing now..." She bowed for the last time then smiled at the present company. After which she headed back to the kitchen to get something. She returned with a bag of chocolates, handing one to each of the persons who helped her. She first approached the Rikkai Dai group... "Yukimura-san, Sanada-san, Marui-san and Kirihara-san, arigatou..." Next the Fudoumine group. "An-chan, Tachibana-san, Kamio-san and Shinji-san..." Sakuno smiled then approached the Seigaku regulars. "I'm glad you came and helped, Tezuka-buchou, Fuji-senpai, Kikumaru-senpai, Oishi-senpai, Momo-senpai, Kaidoh-senpai, Inui-senpai, and Kawamura-senpai..." Last but not the least, she approached Hyotei who was the school that suffered the most due to the fact that they served the longest and was bombarded the most. "Oshitari-san, Shishido-san, Ootori-san, Mukahi-san, Hiyoshi-san, Kabaji-san..." Atobe waited for his name but it never came for Sakuno headed back to the kitchen after giving Kabaji his chocolate.

'Nani... where's ore-sama's chocolate?' Atobe wondered as a hurt look was plastered on his face.

The rest looked at him almost with pity. After a few moments, Sakuno headed out of the kitchen with a mouth-watering cake in her hands. "And this is for Atobe-san for coming up with the idea and brought lots of customers..." Sakuno smiled as she handed Atobe the cake.

Atobe was surprised but thanked her with gratitude. "Arigatou... and ore-sama and his teammates are glad that we helped Ryuzaki-san with her summer ideals, ne Hyotei?"

"Ossu!" The team answered. 'Atobe sure did find a wonderful love interest...' Hyotei printed in their minds.

After the touching moment, Atobe returned to his arrogant and super-sized ego nature. "And just as I thought, Hyotei left the others in the dust with this 'help-Ryuzaki-with-her-summer-ideals-thing'" Atobe had a smug face on and continued blabbering. The other schools flinched but decided to leave him with the statement since he did think of the idea. As Sakuno cut the cake and offers some to the others, since it was a big cake, the number of cake slices decreased immediately. And they were all oblivious that there will be nothing left for the great Atobe. Just when Atobe finished his blabbering and was about to take his slice, there was nothing left.

"Nani! You didn't leave any slice for ore-sama!" Atobe looked at the others who were happily munching their share. "It was ore-sama's cake! You could have at least left a slice!"

Sakuno bewildered at the commotion immediately took action. "Ano... Atobe-san, I would make you another cake tomorrow..." Sakuno said hoping that Atobe would comply.

Atobe sighed. "Nah, it's okay... It's the thought that counts..." He said rather sadly. 'But I do want to taste the heavenly taste of the treat...'

Sakuno insisted. "No, I would make you one tomorrow!" Sakuno said firmly causing Atobe to comply for he was surprised to see her act that way.

"Okay! Okay!" Atobe said defeated.

His teammates snickered at the sight in front of them.

Sakuno then suggested something. "How 'bout joining Tezuka-senpai and I fishing tomorrow?"

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From the author: Yay! Chapter 4 is done! Kk! Up next! Chapter 5: A Day With The Two Captains! Lesson#2: Fishing! Please R and R!