Author's Note: Thanks for reading and reviewing minna-san!

Disclaimer: Nothing in POT belongs to me. All OoC-ness, OCs, events, situations, venues and tournaments are just figments of my imagination.

Thanks to princeoftennis .wikia .com for all the relevant information.

CAUTION: Some plotlines might not be following the original storyline from manga, anime or movie! Characters may be out of original character-ness!

"xxxxx" Conversation

'xxxxx' Thoughts

xxxxxxFlashback

Current Age: Tezuka, Oishi, Eiji, Fuji, Takashi & Inui (18) Sakuno (16) Tezuka Kunikazu (74) Tezuka Kuniharu (50) Tezuka Ayano (47)


UNEXPECTED CHANGES

Chapter 14: Decision

"Game won by Seigaku, Tezuka Kunimitsu 7 games to 5." The umpire announced 3.5 hours later. The deafening roar and applause from the enthusiastic crowds hurt Sakuno's eardrums but she paid no mind to them. Her eyes and attention were on the young man sitting on the floor of the court, sweating and gasping for air.

"BANZAI! BANZAI!" "Omedeto!" "Tezuka-senpai is the best!"

"SUGOI! SUGOI! SUGOI!" Tomoka-chan shouted as she hugged Sakuno while jumping up and down.

Sakuno managed to smile back at Tomoka-chan but she turned again to watch Tezuka as he walked toward the Seigaku team who welcomed him with cheers, laughter and heartful pats on his back.

"Well done, Tezuka-kun! Thank you for your hard work!" Echizen-sensei winked at him and gave him a thumb-up.

When everyone had moved away to exchange congratulatory high-fives with other people, Sakuno quickly walked over to give him a towel and a water bottle. "Omedetto, Tezuka-senpai!" she said but she kept her eyes on his rising and falling chest. Her breathe hitched when his warm hand wrapped around hers causing her to look up at him in surprise. His warm dark honeyed eyes captured hers and his lips curled at the end into a rare warm smile as he whispered, "Arigato, Sakuno." Somehow the noises and people around them faded into oblivion, leaving both of them entranced in their own little world.

Not far from them, Fuji watched the couple gazing at one another and felt a pang of jealousy but he cared for Sakuno and hoped she would be happy should she chose Tezuka.

The continued loud chatterings of the Seigaku team brought them out of their trance soon enough. "Neh! Neh! Sakuno-chan! What about our promised feast?" Kikumaru Eiji rubbed his hands with glee with shiny eyes. "That's right! That's right!" Momoshiro came over to stand next to Eiji, "our manager promised to give us a sushi feast if we won the championship."

Sakuno blushed to see them and the rest of the team looking at her eagerly but she was saved by the coach. Echizen-sensei waved a hand to silence them, "Yo, seishun-shonen, Ayano-san, Tezuka-senpai's mother have invited all of us to her house for a celebration feast tomorrow Sunday afternoon. Our lovely manager Sakuno-chan of course would be preparing the promised sushi feast."

The team cheered even louder for Sakuno who turned red and shy. She looked around for Tezuka but he had gone off to collect his sports bag. With a sigh of longing, she stared at his broad back and shoulders, 'I have talk to him soon.'

As for Tezuka, he packed his tennis bag even as his mind turned to seeing her at his home, 'I have talk to her soon.'

- To Be Continued -

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