When she arrived at school on Monday, the first person to notice her hair was Ryoma.

"What happened to your hair?"
"What do you mean?"
"The red streak."

"Oh yeah...about that..."

"I liked your plain hair."

"Well it was sort of Eiji's way of remembering him."

"Oh well, you still look cute."

Kome spotted Sayomi and rushed over.

"Oh my gosh! Sayomi-chan, your hair!"

"Oh come on, it's not that different."

"There's a red streak in your hair! How can you be saying it's not that different?!"
"Because it's just one."

"You talk too much."
"Oh be quiet Ryoma, no one asked you anyway!"

"He's right Kome, you talk too much. I'm going to class."

Sayomi turned around and headed inside, leaving Ryoma and Kome with their shocked reactions.

After class, Ryoma slipped her a note.

"It's been only a week since we first met,

but it's a moment I won't forget.

If I didn't have this reputation,

I'd tell them I liked you without hesitation.

On the outside I seem calm and cool,

But when I think of you I feel like a fool.

I've never felt this way before

when we're together, that's what I adore.

When you come over tonight, it won't be for kicks,

I've planned something special, come around six.

P.S. This took me all day to write.

-Ryoma"

She decided she'd take the time to go home and write in her journal.

Sayomi's Journal, Monday, April 13

It's been a week since Ryoma and I first met. It feels like such a long time ago since I first tapped him on the shoulder and challenged him. I'd heard of him before, back when I was in Canada. I think I even saw him a few times when I went to America for tournaments. When I came to Seigaku and found out he'd be in my class, I was ecstatic.

Every day since school started, I saw Ryoma and his friends go to the tennis courts. And every day, I'd go too. I'd practice with my right hand on the closest court, while admoiring his amazing skill. Even though I'm the best junior female player in North America, I wanted to practice more and more until my skills were on par with his. He was so focused and determined, and it was so inspiring.

I always loved watching him play. But sometimes, I wondered if I could ever beat him. I'd wonder, but I never thought I'd ever have the chance to play against him. But last Monday, something just came over me. I wanted to know so badly. I wasn't exactly confident that I'd win, but by some miracle, I did.

It wasn't just a regular game. We were playing for something. Since I won, I got a date with him. But if I lost...I would have had to cut my hair. It was a long shot, but I took the risk. I really wanted that date with him.

I've learned that it's good to take a few risks in life. I mean, look where just one has gotten me. If I hadn't challenged Ryoma that day, I wouldn't be going over to his house tonight for that "something special" he planned. I'm shy, but I'm going to try my best to break out of my shell and take more risks. After all, if I didn't take a risk, I never would have met Ryoma.

Since Ryoma was planning something special for her, she felt like she should do something special for him to. She looked through her closet and in the very back, she found a dress that her friend Tiffany gave her as a parting gift when she left for Japan. It was a knee legnth periwinkle blue dress with a black trim and a halter top. She tied a black obi around her waist and put on black ballerina flats. Then, she put on silver earrings and a silver locket, both in the shape of a heart. Lastly, to make the outfit even more special, she even put on a bit of makeup. Before leaving, she stuffed a small handmade Karupin plushie in her black clutch that had silver heart buckles.

When she arrived at Ryoma's house, he was once again reading under the shade of a tree in his usual t-shirt, shorts and cap.

"Um...hello." she smiled weakly.

He looked up and saw her all dressed up, not recognizing her.

"Uh..hi? Who are you?"
"It's me, Sayomi."

"Oh...didn't see that one coming..."

"I thought I'd do something special too..."

"Well your something special definetly beats out mine."

"What is it?"
"If I told you now, it wouldn't be a surprise."

He took out a blindfold and covered her eyes.

"Again with the blindfold?"

"Oh be quiet. Don't you want it to be a surprise?"

"Yeah, yeah, lead me wherever."

Ryoma guided her into his room.

"Alright, take off the blindfold. I hope you haven't eaten yet."

She took off the blindfold to see a picnic blanket set up on the floor, complete with dinner, flowers and a few candles. There were even a few rose petals scattered on the blanket.

"You...you did all of this...for me?"

"Yeah..."

"You lied when you said your something special beats mine."

"You getting all dressed up like that is way better than this picnic."

"But this is so sweet!"

"The only other time I've seen you in a skirt is when you wear your uniform."

"I wear my uniform every day."

"Yeah, but it's not like that's your choice."

"Either way, this was really sweet."

"And we don't have to worry about my dad bugging us because he's not home."

"So what did you make?"

She looked at the bento in front of her.

"Open it up."

She did as she was told and found some dumplings, onigiri and a few vegetables delicately cut into flowers.

"Aww, you did that for me?"
"I know it's not very fancy, but yeah, I made it myself."

"That reminds me, I made you something too."

She took the Karupin plushie out of her purse and gave it to him.

"It's...my cat?"

"Well, I thought that since your favourite thing in the world is Karupin, I'd make something Karupin related."

"What did you use for a reference? I never gave you any pictures of my cat."

"Who said I used a reference?"

"But all the detail..."
"All from memory."

"Just makes you all the more amazing..."

Without hesitation, she ate one of the vegetable flowers.

"Mmm, I love cucumbers! How did you know? I never told you."

"You'd be surprised at how much information you can find on the internet."

"But that doesn't nessicarily mean it's accurate information."

"In which case, it was just a lucky guess."

"Hey...yours is different..."

"Not as carefully made as yours." he laughed.

"You've got sashimi!"

"Is that a bad thing?"
"No...but I like sashimi..."

"Then you can have a piece of mine..."

He picked up a piece and fed it to her.

"I bet everyone else would have thought that was cute."

"I try to create a moment for just the two of us, and you're still thinking about the others?"

"I'm sorry...I just thought it was a cute moment..."

"So let's have another cute moment...hopefully this one keeps your mind on us."

He took a piece and put it in his mouth, then kissed her, allowing her to eat the other half.

"Gosh, could you be any cheesier?" she laughed.

"Well that depends, do you like it?"
"Yes."

"Alright, then let's see what I can come up with...I need a map because I'm getting lost in your eyes."

"Okay, that line was seriously clichéd!"

"But it still made you blush."

"Oh be quiet, I'm not blushing that much."

"If you blush any more, I might mistaken you for a tomato."

"So should I say something super cheesy too?"

"If you want."

"It's not so much cheesy as it is sentimental."

"So let me hear it."

"A week ago, I'd rather be hanging out with Kome than doing anything else..."
"That's your idea of sentimental?"
"I wasn't done yet!"

"Go on, I'm listening."

"A week ago, I'd rather be hanging out with Kome than doing anything else...but right now, there's no where else I'd rather be than here with you."

"Let me continue that by saying that no matter where we are, I'm happy, as long as I'm with you."
"Ryoma-kun, you're so sweet! You've changed a lot in this past week."

"I haven't changed at all, I've merely shown you another side of me."

Karupin entered the room, meowing to acknowledge his presence.

"He's the only one who's ever seen this side of me, besides you."

She picked up Karupin and stroked his soft fur.