"... That would be all for today. Good night." The professor immediately gathered up all of his things before he gave a dismissive wave to the students of the class.

"Right on time." Sakuno muttered, looking at the time in her wrist watch that flashed, 7:30 pm. She gathered her things and slid them all in her bag neatly. The room was already half-way empty with the students exiting towards home or to another night period class.

Thankfully, it was her last class for today. She took her sweet time, waiting for the majority of the crowd to exit the door so she wouldn't have to bump with anyone during the rush. Finally going out, a tap on her shoulder halted her.

"Sakuno?"

She turned her head, facing the owner of the familiar voice that she hasn't heard for a while, "Kate-san?"

Kate's emerald eyes gazed at Ryuzaki's for a while, an awkward smile plastered on her face, "It's been a while."

"Are you sure you're okay, eating here?" Sakuno threw a glance at her pink-haired companion.

"Of course, Sakuno. Don't be silly," Kate chuckled, "I do eat here sometimes with Kevin and Ryoma."

The small diner located near the university's main building is a far cry from the high end restaurants that serve haute cuisine. It was bustling. The school's night students seeking for affordable yet delicious dinner filled the tables. The sound of chatter and laughter became the staple over the very public establishment.

On one table nearest to the glass windows sat Kate and Sakuno. Their eyes glued to the tray of ordered food being placed by one of the shop's attendants in front of them. It was the american girl who picked on a french fry first and popped it in her mouth. Meanwhile, the japanese girl took a spoonful of the chicken soup.

"I heard that you moved out of your shared boarding house with Ryoma?"

The sudden question almost made Sakuno choke on her soup. She already expected that Kate had her reasons for suddenly seeking her out. Though, the girl thought it was surprising that this was all about her moving out.

"I did." Sakuno replied casually, careful that she doesn't show any kind of heavy emotion over the consequences of what she deemed to be the best way forget.

"Really?" Kate's brows furrowed. Her eyes held no malice or happiness, only curiosity over her decision, "Why?"

"Well..." Sakuno found it hard to explain, "... I-It's a long story not even worth mentioning..." She stuttered, unconsciously fiddling with her spoon.

Kate was giving her a questioning look, probably wondering why she was reacting that way to her simple inquiry.

She knew that she had to tell Kate what really happened. The reason why she really moved out. That she was giving up on her feelings for the tennis prince... this time, for real. And Kate could actually stop thinking of her as a love rival, finally.

"Hey... It's okay if you don't want to talk about it," the american girl took notice of the girl's tense expression,"That's not the reason I sought you out, anyway."

"Eh?" it was Sakuno's turn to be surprised.

"Well, I've been MIA for almost two months without actually saying anything to anyone..." Kate mused, a sad smile in her face.

It was true. Sakuno has not seen Kate for almost two months. Even as she assumed that the tennis prince and her friend had definitely something going on-- what with the kiss she witnessed, she didn't really see her around. Which would've been weird, thinking about it now. The twin-braided girl just assumed that the Thompson heir just had some things she was too busy about.

In addition, a month after they came back from Japan, Sakuno had herself wrapped around in her own busy schedule. She's too caught up with her escape to the reality that forgetting her first love isn't as easy as proclaiming it. And that no matter what she does, just as long as she's around the prince of tennis, it's impossible.

"I'm sorry that I didn't contact you the past months, Kate-san..." Sakuno apologized, admitting how she completely dismissed the possibility that Kate wasn't really busy, but in fact, isolating herself, "I just don't know what to say, after all that happened in Japan..."

"Oh... It's okay, I won't receive them anyway." she gave a light-hearted chuckle, "I purposely cut off any contact through my phone."

"Why would you do that though?" Sakuno wondered.

Kate put down her spoon and used a napkin to wipe her lips. Then, she gave a sly smile to her companion.

"Coming to think of it, what did you mean by saying, 'after all that happened in Japan'?" her green eyes were boring into hers, "I don't really remember telling you anything about my Japan trip, Sakuno."

"Eh?!" realizing how she was caught, Sakuno's face turned red in embarrassment. Her voice was small when she explained, "I passed by Kevin-kun outside Ryoma-kun's house. Then, I saw you and Ryoma-kun kissing."

Kate blinked, her surprise visible at her friend's revelation. It wasn't like she loitered around Japan back then, so it was impossible for them to cross paths. The american girl was even more surprised that Kevin didn't tell her anything about meeting with Sakuno.

"Oh. So you were actually there, huh." Kate grabbed her glass of iced tea and took a sip from it before covering her face with her hands. "So embarrassing..."

Seeing Kate's reaction, Sakuno ignored the sharp jab of hurt in her chest. Instead, she took a deep breath, mustering the words that she should've been ready to say since the time she asked the tennis prince to forget about her confession.

"Well, this might be late Kate-san, but stil," she gave her a smile, "Congratulations on getting together with Ryoma-kun. I'm happy for the both of you."

Sakuno's words were sincere. And even if she still felt quite affected, she's very quick to dismiss those negativity. She did went out of her way in trying to bury her feelings. That's why she was taken aback-- unsure why Kate's expression scrunched, as if the twin-braided girl just claimed something outrageous.

"Are we talking about the same thing, Sakuno?"

Sakuno's earnest smile drooped to an awkward one. She wasn't sure what Kate was talking about.

"What do you mean?" she asked and for the umpteenth time, ignoring the pang in her chest as she utters yet again, "Aren't you and Ryoma-kun together now?"

Then, Kate gave a hearty laugh that would've been inappropriate and too loud were they actually eating in a fancy restaurant. Kate's laughter only mingled with all the noise inside the diner.

"Why would you think that? Because of the kiss?"

Sakuno timidly nodded, an abashed blush on her cheeks.

"I guess it can't be helped," Kate exhaled, finally stopping her series of laughs, "I mean I did kiss him, after all. But it's definitely not what you think it is."

And then, Kate started her own re-telling of what happened in Japan, minus the fact that she rejected Kevin. She also minimized talking about how she handled with everything especially from the rejection she experienced, twice. She was straightforward, throwing bits of jests here and then to prove that she was in fact, finally okay now.

"... The reason why I didn't contact anyone for almost two months was because of all this self-reflection and thinking. Anyway, I'm confident now that I finally moved on. It's not that easy, but I think it's definitely doable." Kate chuckled, finishing her story.

"She moved on in two months?" The thought struck Ryuzaki's brain, "I can't even say I'm completely over with Ryoma-kun now." She internally grimaced, not really sure what to feel over the fact.

Meanwhile, Kate gave her a knowing glance. "Tell me, Sakuno," she spoke, "Did you and Ryoma got in a fight?"

"W-Why would you think that?" Sakuno shook her head in denial, "Ryoma-kun and I weren't fighting."

"Eh? Then, why did you suddenly decide to move out? I mean, I know Ryoma could be quite a handful, so I definitely understand if that was your reason--" Kate mused before realizing what she just said, "I'm sorry... You didn't want to talk about that, right?"

"No worries," Sakuno assured her friend. "It's not like I intended to keep my reason a secret to you."

Sakuno took a deep breath before starting to speak.

"The truth is, I moved out because I wanted to finally dismiss my feelings for Ryoma-kun." she confessed.

"Then..." Kate speculated, like clockwork, she's starting to connect the dots, "Was that because I kissed Ryoma and you got the wrong idea?"

"W-Well, it was a factor too... But I figured that it was really, about time to stop." Sakuno awkwardly smiled, hoping that those words won't betray her, "After all it was years already. And if Ryoma-kun would want to return my feelings, he would've done so years ago."

Dinner passed, and both women found themselves standing outside the diner. Because of their catching up, they spent nearly two hours inside the diner. It was a miracle that they weren't asked to come out. Kate was thoughtful enough to leave a large sum of tip for the inconvenience.

It was already late, and just as when Sakuno was about to say her goodbyes and head home, a blond mop of hair approached them. It was as if he was running late. And as he came closer, both girls realized that he is, in fact, Kevin Smith. Panting, he greeted them.

"You're late." Kate mischievously slapped the boy's arm.

"Well, you know, I was too busy looking for Ryoma in the hospital and the guy actually went home without saying anything." Kevin grumbled, a vein comically popping on his head.

"Hospital?" Sakuno worriedly asked.

"Yeah, you went to the hospital with Ryoma?" It was Kate's turn to ask.

"I actually sent you an e-mail, you know." he turned to Kate before answering Ryuzaki's question, "Ryoma got in an accident and injured his head."

At the instant Kevin revealed Ryoma's accident, Sakuno visibly paled. Worry etched her face, as she fiddled with the hem of her shirt. It was as if in an instant, the wall of indifference that she's starting to build over the past month just crumbled. How could she ever not worry about him?

Not being able to take it anymore, she ran away all of a sudden. She left the confused duo of Kevin and Kate who could only watch her as she quickly left the scene.

"Oh my, Sakuno. So much for trying to forget, eh?" Kate chuckled, as Kevin looked at her puzzled.

"What do you mean?" Kevin inquired, still breathing heavily from his run.

"Let's just say we're finally witnessing a long overdue event." the pink-haired girl turned her back on the blond boy as she took a step forward.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Kevin put his hands up in defeat, shaking his head.

Kate paused from her step and looked back at him with a wry smile in her lips, clearly perplexed at the boy's slow taking. Still, she sighed. Her expression changed to an amused one as she giggled, making the boy's heart skip a beat.

"Why don't you just walk me home, dummy?" She called for Kevin, her tone as demanding and stubborn as how it usually was around him.

And yet, Kate was sure that nothing's ever the same anymore.

Sakuno didn't mind her loud heartbeats pounding against her rib cage as she ran. Her twin braids flailed in the air, bangs parting against the wind. The faintest night breeze that rustled the trees ever so slightly felt cool on parts of her exposed sweat-stricken skin.

The pathway towards the university dormitories were well-lit by the lamp posts that dotted the sidewalk. There were still few students sitting by the benches. Some were just plainly loitered around the campus despite the curfew to come in half an hour.

She arrived at the gates that led to the area where the boarding houses were located. The girl briskly trudged through the familiar route which led to the place she once shared with him. It has been a while since she passed by that path. Since the boarding house she relocated was on the opposite way, the only times she gets glimpses of this area was whenever she arrives by the entrance gate.

The tug on her stomach tightened yet again as her previous boarding house came into view. Situated at the edge of the whole mini village, ensuring contact with other neighbors to be as minimal as possible. Still, the house wasn't really designed to be different from the others-- the same color palettes, materials, and fixtures. Yet, Sakuno could recognize it among all others.

The porch was lit as well as the outside lamps that decorated the front of the house. But it was quiet. There wasn't even a single TV noise that would've indicated that the tennis prince was in fact watching TV. There were no lights inside too, at least from Sakuno's point of view from the outside where the windows only looked dim.

The girl would've believed that the house was abandoned, if she didn't know that it was the prince of tennis who resided her. It was just as how she comically predicted what would happen to that very house if ever she moved out.

"Is he asleep?" She wondered, noting how around this time he would either be settled in his room after eating dinner or outside the house, doing some wall practice on the kitchen walls. It would be better to assume that it was the former. She hoped that he wouldn't force himself to practice when he was injured.

Sakuno stood in front of the porch, an internal battle within herself whether she should just knock or dismiss herself. After all, she wasn't supposed to do that. She shouldn't be there. And it was all just a mindless impulse that led her feet to find him.

What would she tell him, if he asked for the reason why she was there? On the dead of the night, breathing heavily due to running. Her hair probably looked messy as bits of her fringe clung on her sticky forehead.

She would very much like to go away and pretend that this didn't happen. But the troubling concern she had for him continuously ate at her. The girl was sure that she wouldn't be satisfied unless she sees him before her own eyes.

Sakuno took a hesitant step forward to the doorstep. She had no other choice but to knock. It was hard to think about what happens next, but the girl decided to just throw it all aside. Just this one time, she'll let her feelings think for her again.

She took a deep breath. Her other hand was already raised in a fist to knock at the wooden door. Numerous thoughts and scenarios ran over her head that the sudden vibration on her pocket, pulled her out of reverie.

In surprise, she reached for the device. The screen lit up, a notification plastered. It was a text message from her current housemate. She pressed it open.

Sakuno, it's almost curfew. Will you be staying out tonight?

- Cheska

"Wait. What time is it?" she murmured, her hazel eyes frantically looking at the top right corner of the screen for the exact time.

9:53 pm. It flashed. The estimated time on her walk home would be at least five minutes if she sprints. She nervously looked around, taking note of the quiet environment. After seven minutes, the university's security guards would start their patrol. If she gets caught outside, who knows what kind of penalty she would receive.

Should she just give up and go home for the night or knock at his door to propose the idea that she would stay over for tonight? The latter idea terrified her, as a furious blush engulfed her face. "How could I even think about that?!"

Sakuno swallowed the lump on her throat. Her mouth forming a small pout as she decides over her fate.

"What am I even doing here?"

Her lips pursed. Just when she finally managed to push the idea of him out of her system for almost a month, there she was again. Standing in front of his doorstep, deliberately throwing her progress away. It always turned out like this. The huge amount of effort she poured in order to move on, only for her to always find her way back to being this affected. Surely, there has to be a limit to such stupidity.

The girl's heart felt heavy, torn between wanting to go and stay. It was the genuine truth that her worry constantly nagged at her. As a friend, it was perfectly normal to feel worried. And surely... surely, she didn't have to go such lengths in order to express it. She could ask him tomorrow, like a normal schoolmate and acquaintance. She should do just that, right?

Fighting her own resolve, Sakuno's feet felt extremely dense. Her small steps that should've been a fast sprint continued to faze. She only moved a few steps away from the porch. If she continued with her terrible pace, she would definitely get caught.

Sakuno knew that, and yet, her body just won't move the way it should have. Tears started to well in her eyes as she bit her lip. She turned her head down, internally berating herself for being so emotional at the wrong place and time.

"Ryuzaki."

She continued to trudge her feet, dismissing what she deemed as her own imagination.

"Ryuzaki."

She heard his voice again, making hear heart ache in a painfully hopeful way. Her ears perked up and she gave a brief glance at the wooden door to his place. It was still closed. No signs of anyone around and just like how she first arrived, the lights were still off inside the house.

"You're imagining things, Sakuno." she concluded.

"Ryuzaki, up here." She heard his voice again, this time a bit louder as he instructed her to look up. And she did.

The moment her hazel eyes met up with his intense golden amber ones, she felt out of breath. There he was, the lamp light outside illuminating his face and upper figure. The slight breeze made the curtains flutter and his dark green hair ruffled. She could see his bandaged forehead, the look of surprise in his face made apparent by his expression that seemed caught off guard.

The prince of tennis gazed down from the windows of her previous room.

A/N:

Thanks for reading!