Hey, happy January you guys!

I totally am very happy that people are continuing to read my stories and favoriting or subscribing me as I go. You guys must love my work that much! ^.^

But seriously, I love you guys the most because you go online and take the time off into reading my fanfics and I absolutely love you for that. You are all my blessings and I swear you are the ones the keep me going!

School stresses you out yeah, but after that I totally have some free time now! You see, I am in this elective class Yearbook, where you can create pages of the Yearbook. I take pictures after school, and sometimes that get cuts in my free time. Not to mention essays that hurt or help your high school classes and that put a lot of weight on you apparently.

But I don't care about any of that! I care about you guys, and how you guys still continue to read and read. Reading is fun and can capture the feeling as much as TV or movies can.

This series has really got me top on the charts... Well to my opinion that is. Whether you review, subscribe, favorite, it can help me and my stories grow a lot bigger than some might think!

You guys pushed me when flames knocked me down, and no one has ever defended me like that. Like I said, you are my blessings. More than that, my miracles. :D

Enjoy reading and I absolutely do appreciate what you guys do. Readers are more important the writers, always.

- Lauren Eisenman

P.S I am also very excited because it's almost a month until my birthday! This year it's on a weekday so I get to celebrate it at school for the first time since elementary. It's on February 26, but I'll post updated chapters on Feb. 14. Yes! A Valentine's Day themed story!

"Wait… So you're not going to Florida with him?" Shikotsu raised her eyebrow as she listened to the story from Sakuno.

"Yeah, he made it really clear that he wasn't going to go anymore now that he found out that his brother will be there. He said he'll get teased to death." Sakuno explained sadly.

Through the phone, Sakuno sat quietly on the ground of her room as she flipped through a photo album she bought. It was empty, but page after page she began filling it with sections of pictures.

"Oh, so now you both can't have that romantic vacation you dreamt of." Shikotsu teased.

Shikotsu was writing in her notebook once again on a desk right next to the glass window. She gazed at the busy bright streets of Tokyo as it shined above the dark lit sky.

"Don't call it that! I'm actually glad that we're not going." Sakuno stubbornly argued.

"Oh really? I wonder when the both of you are going to have another romantic moment. It's been a long time you know, it's all because of…" Shikotsu stopped.

"Hi-chan… is your brother right?" Sakuno asked sympathetically.

"He is not my brother and he will never be my brother." Shikotsu answered coldly.

"Hikaru-chan was at fault, he shouldn't have said those mean things-…"

"Just forget it Sa-chan. I don't want anything to do with them." Shikotsu interrupted Sakuno and hung up.

"Wah, Shikotsu-senpai. What's going on?" Sakuno looked at her cell phone sadly.

…

"Sakuno-senpai!" Hikaru waved with energy as Sakuno was walking to school.

With irritation, Sakuno walked forward with no words spoken. Thinking she was joking, Hikaru playfully caught up and hugged her neck from behind.

"That's cold Sakuno-senpai. Ignoring your boyfriend." Hikaru kissed Sakuno's forehead.

"I-I a-am not your girlfriend, neither are you my boyfriend. And I am not talking to you!" Sakuno angrily shook him off.

"Is it because of Onee-san?" Hikaru smirked.

"Stop calling her that. She has no interest into becoming any part of your family. And neither do I." Sakuno walked faster.

…

"So then I took the soda from the old man and ran!" Momo-senpai finished his story with a knee-slapper as the new Seigaku team bursted with laughter at the courts.

"That is the dumbest story I've ever heard." Ryoma drank some of his Ponta.

Momo-senpai's eyebrow twitched before he tackled Ryoma jokingly. "Oi brat. You should tell us the story about Ryuzaki and you."

"Hey, Momo-senpai, Echizen-senpai. It's Ryuzaki with that newbie." One of the soon-to-be regulars pointed at the irritated girl followed by a persistent boy.

"Hey Echizen! Let's go teach that boy a lesson… Echizen?" Momo-senpai found the prodigy was not under his arm anymore.

"Sakuno-senpai, come on. I know you can't ignore for that long." Hikaru smiled, still trailing Sakuno.

"Leave her alone. If she doesn't want to talk to you so be it." Ryoma sat on the bench right next to them.

He was still drinking his Ponta, his tennis bag on his right. Ryoma was in his Seigaku Tennis Team uniform, black shorts and the t-shirt. His hat was tipped over his head.

"Ryo-Ryoma-kun!" Sakuno gasped in surprise.

"Well if it isn't the infamous prodigy. Listen Ryoma-senpai, you keep making trips and promises to Sakuno-senpai. If you love Sakuno, stop making up lies to keep up. So in argument, no maybe you should leave her alone." Hikaru smirked as he crossed his arms.

"Hikaru-chan! You are in no place to say something like that. I am Sakuno Ryuzaki, not you. I think it's best if you left." Sakuno pointed at the entrance of the school.

Hikaru was surprised at first, but gritted his teeth. "Che. I'll be back, and I promise to steal you away from Ryoma-senpai."

Hikaru, with his hands in his pockets, left in irritation and defeat. Ryoma was still sitting on the bench with his bangs covering his eyes. Sakuno stood there as well, staring at him. A breeze flew past them briefly, and time moved slowly.

"You've grown stronger." Was all Ryoma could say.

"He's right. You haven't been doing anything lately and all you've been doing is confusing everybody by saying stuff you haven't meant. You put your hand over your heart and say you like me but even when I still try to forget you. After we broke up you haven't said a single friendly word to me like everything was over! During Hi-chan's and my date, you just started being a jerk again. I hate that about you!" Sakuno cried slowly in her arm as she held it to hide her face.

In a split second, Ryoma got up, dropped his tennis bag, and hugged the crying girl.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I want to start over. I'm sorry. What can I do to make you forgive me?" Ryoma's surprising words made it harder for Sakuno to cry.

Sakuno held Ryoma tighter with every word he said. "We need to talk more. I like your voice. I want to go on seasonal dates, like summer dates and winter dates."

"Is that all?" Ryoma asked.

"I've always wanted you to say I love you before you kiss me." Sakuno blushed with a deep red line on her face.

Ryoma smirked as he held her tighter. He kissed her softly, saying the word I love you between small kisses.

"Stop pushing!" A familiar voice came in from the background.

Shikotsu, Atsuko, Ai, Akane, Aiki, Takeshi, and Eiji fell down from a Sakura tree and on the ground. While rubbing their heads, Ryoma was above rage as Sakuno blushed furiously and was also above rage.

"Hey, um. I heard the bell. Haven't you guys?" Shikotsu's tear dropped as she began to grow scared of their fury.

"Yup! Ha, definitely heard it. Let's go Momo!" Eiji grabbed Momoshiro's arm and dashed out of there.

"Oh my goodness, Atsuko look at the time! The manager expected us a half hour ago! Well, have to run! See you later!" Ai waved and dragged Atsuko.

After everyone left, Aiki just stood there. "Aiki has nothing to do. We were all spying on you guys and I had to barge in. Oh!" Aiki took out small hearts chocolates and handed them to the new couple. "For you two. Goodbye!"

"I'm killing them tomorrow." Ryoma sighed and walked towards the entrance.

"Hey, wait! Right after we make up and you go ahead on without me." Sakuno pouted as she tried to catch up.

"Oh, sorry," Ryoma took her hand and gave her a sneaky kiss. "Serves you right."

"Ryo-…" Sakuno stopped with her hands covering her blushing face. "You meanie!"