Disclaimer: I do not own POT.

A/N: A big shoutout to my reviewers and those in the RyoSaku fam! Glad to know you're still out there, somewhere, somehow.


Something was different between them. Although it was not evident in their routine, in their conversation, a distance between them had formed. It seemed as though whatever progress their relationship had reached stagnated suddenly, abruptly. And, as the young lady uneasily averted her gaze from Ryoma's for the nth time that morning, she knew it was he who drew a line between them; one that wasn't there before, one that neither dare cross.

"You got that, right?" There was a hint of annoyance in Ryoma's tone, reprimanding her for what he thought was lack of focus.

Sakuno only nodded stiffly in reply. Her gaze was running elsewhere.

"I shouldn't even be telling you this. Get your head in the game, will you?"

Doe eyes turned to him. A tear of sweat trickles down the side of her face. "All right." She breathes, wiping the sweat on the side of her head with the band around her wrist.

"It's a hot day. I don't want you in the court longer than you should." He finishes. "Wrap this game up."

At this, Sakuno huffs and, with a resolute expression, returns to the court where her opponent was already waiting.

A few minutes into the game, Ryoma shot to his feet, sweat dripping from the side of his face, about to curse to the heavens when he caught himself and simply turned to the steaming ground beneath him. The heat was scourging hot that day. And out on the arena, he knew that Sakuno was far into her limit.

"7-Point Tiebreak!" Called the umpire.

Sakuno wiped the sweat over her eyes. She was parched, her mouth dry, but she knew drinking water would do no change. She took a step forward, she knew she did, but it took a second before her body actually moved. Her senses were lagging. She shook her head, trying to get a hold of herself. She turns to the umpire, blinded by the sun behind him, and waits for his signal. But, it never came.

With her head spinning, it takes her a while before she notices a group of people running towards the other side of the court. Suddenly, she is hit and brushed aside from behind. And, as she thinks she's about to fall to her knees, a sturdy figure to her left steadies her and keeps her aright.

"It's this damn heat." Ryoma grits, his lips next to her ear. Then, he turns to her, surprised at the paleness of her face. "Can you make it to the bench?"

Sakuno blinks and thinks she nodded.

"What happened?" She asked, turning back to the other end of the court. "I can't see anything apart from everything glittering."

"Minomoto fainted."

"What?" Sakuno rasped in shock. And, before Ryoma is able to stop her, she pulls off his support – about to run to the other end of the court in anxiety – when she halts. The field before her seemed to have doubled in length. The next thing she knows, she is swept into Ryoma's arms and brought to their side of the court, where a cool wet towel was thrown to her.

"We can't have you fainting as well."

Sakuno looks up at Ryoma and, finding his expression dangerous, conceded.

Later, when she leaves the shower room, Ryoma is waiting outside. He himself had changed his clothes. With her hair damp, she stops before him, waiting for him to speak – to tell her the judge's decision. In her gut, she already knew what had come of the game. And, the instant Ryoma turns to her, her lips quiver and her eyes fill with tears. In her mind, all that registered was that it was over. All of it was over.

So, she cried.

With a sour taste in his mouth, Ryoma took a step forward and coaxed Sakuno's sobs into his embrace, finding the end, as it was, unwelcome.


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The Boy who Stands Still

Chapter Six

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Sakuno found it ironic; how the world continued to move when her life lost all meaning. It was unforgiving how it didn't matter to anyone that she lost a huge part of her life. It's been a day since she lost the competition. But her emotions felt as raw as the moment she first found out. She wanted nothing more than the world to stop turning; to pause for a moment while she coped with the loss. While she never expected to reach far into the tournament, she couldn't deny the fact that for a moment - she hoped, she believed she could win. Then, she guessed, maybe, that was just Ryoma's effect on her - that with enough perseverance, anything was attainable.

Gaze lowering to the dirt path she took to the shrine, she realized that he thought wrong. His confidence in her could only get her so far. Because, unlike him, she didn't have his skill, his talent. She had nothing.

And, she sighed, finally looking up, it was time she accepted this. Placating herself, Sakuno decided then and there, that she would stay within her means. Now, she could be a better girlfriend; she could go on dates in a moment's notice and return the sacrifices Tomoya's made for her when she first started in the tournament. She could hang out with Tomoka more and enjoy their last year in high school together; maybe double date. And, Ryoma - her brows rise, her gaze meeting familiar Cheshire eyes; striking, handsome. By the entrance of the shrine, amid waves of people stood Ryoma donning a yukata. His hair was astray; his demeanor aloof. By the stone staircase leading to the shrine, her initial surprise turns into a smile on her pink lips, wondering when the young man would stop surprising her. She never would have imagined he'd wear traditional clothes in public. "I can only wonder how Tomo talked you into coming; let alone in a yukata." Then, she remembered she saw him once wearing a yukata at his home.

The young man shrugged, a smirk playing on his handsome features. "It's comfortable."

Sakuno's smile stiffens, averting her gaze; a light blush touching her cheeks. Then, regaining her composure, tells him good-natured, "You look handsome."

Ryoma only quirks a brow at her. And, finds himself smirking. "Where's Yoshino?"

"Tomoya-kun?" Sakuno repeated in surprise. "He already made plans." Her voice was soft, not loud enough for Ryoma to hear. Not that he really cared to listen. He had already turned away and proceeded to the shrine where Tomoka and Kaidoh was waiting for them.

"What is this?!" Tomoka cried as the pair approached her, indignantly gesturing to Sakuno's casual clothing. "Where's your kimono?! Tell me you brought a change of clothes!"

The timid girl sighed and stole a glance at Kaidoh in hopes of knowing how to reply to appease her best friend. Of course, the university student had none to give.

"I came from an errand." Sakuno lamely made up. And Tomoka only gave her a disbelieving glare.

"Let's go." Ryoma cut in with a whine. Still unmoved, Tomoka turned her glare at Ryoma and was soon led away by Kaidoh's gentle tug.

"Fine." She conceded. And soon enough, she was engrossed with Kaidoh.

"Sorry." Sakuno whispers in passing at Ryoma as she took a few quick steps to walk alongside her best friend.

Before him, Ryoma watched as the auburn-haired girl giggling, whispering (what he suspected to be) a litany of apologies to Tomoka who only started laughing. The closeness between the three of them, Sakuno, Kaidoh and Tomoka in between, brought an odd sensation to his gut. And for a moment, he pauses in his step, a feeling akin to envy fills him.

"Ryoma-kun?" Sakuno calls to him, her face etched in worry.

He looks up and his lips quirk into a smirk. Sakuno always looked worried. "Walk with me." Ryoma simply says. And, Sakuno nods with a smile.

Though out of spirits, the brunette forced enthusiasm for the sake of company. Eyes wandering from booth to booth, her lips quirk at the sight of a spirit mask. She strayed from the group who didn't seem to notice. At the bazaar, she was about to buy a mask for the unenthused Ryoma but hesitated. She later opted to buy yakitori.

Unknown to her, Ryoma was behind her.

"Ryoma-kun." She greets in surprise, having thought he was with Tomoka and Kaidoh and away from the crowd. The handsome young man only looks down at her and she looks away, a flush making its way to her cheeks. When they made their purchase, they returned to where they left the couple. Only, the said couple was no longer there. "Let's wait for them here, neh?"

Ryoma only nods. They were quiet as they ate. The buzzing crowd was enough to fill the void of their silence.

"Tomoya-kun couldn't make it because he had to visit his parents." Sakuno suddenly says, much to Ryoma's surprise. The boy only nods, not knowing where she was heading at. "It's good, really. I mean," A self-deprecating laugh escaped her lips. "I don't know how to tell him I'm out of the tournament." Then, her cheeks flushing in humiliation as she absentmindedly played with her food. "And after telling him how hard we've been working." Her voice nearly broke.

Ryoma's brows creased. It was painful to listen to her. She was quick to revert to her old ways. The confidence she had gained over the past weeks vanished with a snap of a finger.

"What must he think of me?" When she looks up to him; when Ryoma meets her self-pitying stare, he released a frustrated sigh.

"Ryoma-kun," She starts. "I'm so sorry."

Ryoma's brows rise in genuine surprise, not understanding.

"For wasting your time." Still not getting it, Sakuno continued. "Because I lost."

At this, Ryoma only frowns, close to reprimanding her for apologizing when she didn't need to. So, instead, he simply grits, "Ryuzaki." And tries to keep himself from saying something he'd soon regret. Sakuno, in her vulnerable state, was not in a position to catch his foul way of address.

Thankfully, Tomoka and Kaidoh were back. The girl was carrying a teddy bear, and Kaidoh was sporting flushed cheeks. Seeing them, Ryoma rolled his eyes while Sakuno kept herself from squeaking.

After praying at the shrine, the group was divided by the long line behind them. For the second time that night, Sakuno and Ryoma were left to stand idly by the side, waiting for the couple happy lazing around in their own bubble. Sakuno, of course was happy for her best friend. But Ryoma, he could only fathom why Tomoka invited him along in the first place.

"Ryuzaki." Sakuno, who had been lost in her own thoughts, turned to Ryoma in surprise. "I appealed for re-assessment."

Sakuno's eyes widen and her brows start to knit in confusion. And Ryoma just looks ahead, nonchalant as he took a sip from his cup of hot rice wine. The hands of the girl holding the cardboard container of her own drink start to tremble. A rage swelled in the pit of her stomach.

"What?" She asks with a shaky voice. The taste in her mouth starts to sour. Then, she urged in a higher tone when Ryoma refused to speak. "Why did you do it?" She almost cries in utter disbelief.

Initially surprised by her tone of voice, Ryoma finally turns to face her with a straight expression; as if merely a matter of fact. "Because I know you wouldn't."

At this, Sakuno flushes red and before she is able to say anymore, Ryoma stands up and walks towards the couple waving over for them.

Sakuno is behind the group, not knowing where they were headed, seething and staring daggers at Ryoma's back. Her grief was quick to turn into emnity. Not wanting to cause a scene in front of the happy couple, she kept to herself and was battling between just leaving or confronting her unsympathetic trainer. She decided for the latter. It was unthinkable what he's done. She lost. There was nothing more to it than that.

When Tomoka and Kaidoh decided to play a game, as they walked away, Ryoma turned to Sakuno, knowing she had a mouthful to say. Oddly enough, she only glared at him, as if waiting for him to speak; to apologize.

"What?" Is all he bites. And Sakuno's glare deepens.

"You had no right to do it." She seethes. "And without even consulting with me!"

Ryoma just sighs.

"You're irrational."

"And you're a prick!"

It was Ryoma's turn to glare at her.

"What did you expect me to do?"

"Nothing!" Ryoma scoffed, exasperated. "I need you to stop— pause for just one second!" She ends up crying, her cheeks flushed red. "I lost already! Give it up, please! Take back the appeal!"

"If you stop now, you'll have a difficult time getting your head back into the game." Ryoma lashes at her, surprised by the intensity of his tone. He takes a step back, running a hand through his hair in an attempt to cool down. "You're the one who needs to wake up. You shouldn't have lost. The game didn't even end."

"But— I— did. I lost, Ryoma-kun!" She cries in frustration – at Ryoma, at the tournament, at herself. She turned away, looking as if she was about to walk away. But, she turned back to face him, a finger pointed angrily. "You shouldn't have done it." She practically yells at him. "You had no right to meddle! And without even asking me!" She repeated in indignation.

Defensive, Ryoma answers with the same heavy tone. "I was there. Your shots were cleaner. Undeniably, the point when the game ended was a close one – but, your advantage was clear. There's no question you should have won."

"You're wrong! She caught my slices perfectly and managed to alter the spin – that's why she scored as much as I did. And – I used my backhand even when I shouldn't have!"

Ryoma tried to keep from laughing at how senseless she was being. "That has nothing to do with the point-system – that's your playing style! Besides, you did them to catch her slices. Perfectly like how I taught you. That's why three out of your twelve points bounced out of the court in record time, before she could even take a step to stop it!"

"Cut it out!" Sakuno's hand angrily slices through the air between them and laughed bitterly. "We both know what you really think of my playing."

The boy raised his brows. "What?"

Sakuno continues to laugh self-deprecatingly.

"All of this is a lie, isn't it?" She says with a semblance of finality. At this, Ryoma's expression sobers. "You're doing this because it wouldn't have sat well with you, would it?" She looks away, unable to face him any longer. Unshed tears start stinging her eyes, and her voice grows coarse. "To have coached a loser."

Her eyes challenged him to deny her claim, to prove her wrong. She was so sure he wouldn't. She had never been so certain about anything in her life.

Biting her lip, eyes trembling and brimming with unshed tears, she - no longer knowing what to tell him, just now taken in utter disbelief at Ryoma's insensitivity - turned and walked away; leaving Ryoma standing there in astonishment at how little she thought of herself.

Before Ryoma leaves later in the evening, he turns back to Sakuno who looked up at him with dread in her eyes, afraid how he, of all people, could see right through her.

"Quit then." Sakuno's eyes tremble at the stillness of his tone, grave and biting. "You're right. There's no point to all of this."

Sakuno swallows the voice lodged in her throat. And her eyes stings with unshed tears.

"There's no point until you quit undermining yourself." He tells the coward before him. Her hazel doe eyes cast down in obvious disgust; frustrated at her shameful lack of self-confidence. "If not yourself, who else do you expect will help you? Support will come and go. But, your whole life, you'll have to live with yourself. How can you live your whole life with someone who doesn't believe in you?"

Sakuno is in an absolute blank. Her mouth was dry. And Ryoma words rang in her ears.

As he walked away, had she not been in the middle of a crowd, her tears of frustration, the same ones now pooling in the corners of her eyes, would've poured into a mess of sobs. How many times must she make a fool of herself in front of Ryoma? She thought in utter shame.

That night, as Ryoma walked away, she didn't doubt it would be the last he'd see of him; not in the courts, not at his home; nowhere. There was no longer anything linking them together. There was no reason, no relation, that would induce Ryoma to see a spineless coward like her.


To be continued.


A/N: Sakuno was adamant against the appeal Ryoma made because she was afraid of the result - she was afraid of being rejected, of losing a second time. She'd rather not try to avoid any chance of getting hurt - at the price of success. Obviously, she wants to continue in the tournament. She entered it and for the longest time, managed by; she's happy playing tennis, with her progress, her growth. It's just that she has no belief in herself, thinks so little of herself, so insecure, that she'd rather stay in a bubble than truly live the life she wants and face the challenges that come with it.