For all RyoSaku fans.
Chapter 3 is here! Nothing special in this chapter, just some out of character. Haha! Review if you want. This chapter is for all those who leave reviews, thanks a million!
Note: I don't own Prince of Tennis
"Wow, Echizen is really playing well today." Horio commented. He was watching Ryoma playing against Atobe.
"Must be Sakuno's words that inspired him." Tomoka said.
"Brat, you purposely made me in the lead yesterday huh?" Atobe said and hit the ball over.
"Are you awed at my powers now?" Ryoma asked. He returned the ball.
"Shitty brat! Grow up already!" Atobe said angrily. He was insulted by Ryoma's words. He smacked the ball down towards Ryoma.
"Mada Mada dane!" Ryoma said. He moved a step away from his position and returned the ball.
"How come you can do almost every techniques?" Atobe asked. He missed the ball.
"Game won by Echizen. 5 games to 4. Echizen leading." The umpire shouted from his seat.
Atobe frowned. He was not impressed by the technique known as "Ryoma Zone." Ryoma grinned and pointed his racket towards Atobe.
"I thought you said you will thrash me today? Give me your best shot, Monkey King." Ryoma provoked.
This brat mood is different from yesterday. He seems more energetic, what made him like this today? Atobe thought.
"I will be the champion for this tournament, brat!" Atobe said. He tossed the ball in the air and served.
"Please say that after you've won. Sadly, you still have a long way to go!" Ryoma said and returned the ball.
Half an hour passed and Ryoma won the match with the score of 6-5.
"I can't believe you won." Atobe said.
"Why are you surprised? I am sure you will lose today." Ryoma said.
"Never mind, I'll make sure I will win the Japan tournament this year." Atobe said and walked off the court.
"Ryoma sama! You did it! You won!" Tomoka said happily.
"Echizen! Treat us lunch. You did receive a lot of money from this tournament." Horio said.
"Lunch?" Ryoma said. He suddenly had a better idea on how to spend the money.
"Horio, next week is the school holidays right?" Ryoma asked.
"Yeah, but we still need to come school for tennis practice." Horio said.
"Let's skip practice." Ryoma said.
Horio and Tomoka stared at Ryoma.
"Seriously? What is more important to you than tennis, Echizen?" Horio asked.
"We are going to Kyoto this Sunday. Leave all the expenses to me." Ryoma said. He turned to Tomoka.
"You have her address right?" Ryoma asked.
"Sakuno? Ummm, yeah but she stays in a girl's dorm. I am not sure if they allow boys in." Tomoka said.
"Whatever. Just tell her you and Horio are dropping by. I want to surprise her." Ryoma said.
"Uh, ok..." Tomoka said.
"Echizen, you are paying for our fares, food and hotel?" Horio asked.
"I told you I am paying for everything. Just accompany me ok?" Ryoma said.
"He must be really rich." Tomoka whispered to Horio.
"Let's meet at 8am on Sunday at the train station. I am going off to buy the tickets. Don't forget to tell Sakuno you are dropping by, Osakada." Ryoma said. He packed his bag and walked off.
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"Sakuno, Horio and I are dropping by to visit you this Sunday afternoon. We are staying at a hotel for a few days." Tomoka said.
"Tomo chan! How sinful! Staying in a hotel room with a guy?" Sakuno shouted over the phone.
Darn, what is this girl thinking? Tomoka thought.
"We rent separate room of course." Tomoka said.
"Oh, ok. Tomo chan, I am so happy that you are dropping by. I will bring you around Kyoto. There are so many cute guys in Kyoto." Sakuno said excitedly.
"Um, yeah. So I'll be reaching there around noon." Tomoka said.
"I am looking forward to see you." Sakuno replied happily.
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"Sakuno, your friends are coming today right?" Yukino asked.
"Yeah, but I have to go out for a while. They are coming in the afternoon but I will be back by then." Sakuno said.
"Where are you going so early in the morning?" Shizuru asked. She is the manager of the dorm.
"I am meeting Yashiro san for breakfast. That guy keep on begging me to go out with him so I had no choice." Sakuno said. She quickly combed her hair and put on her shoes.
"Wow, that made her date numbers eight for this week. Sugoi!" Midori said.
"As if I enjoyed the dates. Bye, got to go." Sakuno said and left.
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"This is the girl's dorm?" Horio asked.
Ryoma, Horio and Tomoka stood in front of the big mansion. Tomoka shrugged and went to ring the doorbell.
A lady with short brown hair opened the door.
"Can I help you?" Shizuru asked.
"Hi, we are Sakuno's friends. Is she staying here?" Tomoka asked.
"I see. Sakuno is not here at the moment but you can come in and wait for her." Shizuru said.
"Thanks." Tomoka said. They entered the mansion and followed the lady to the living room.
"Give me back, you little rascal!" Yukino shouted.
"Haha, no way!" Midori stuck out her tongue at her.
"Midori..." Yukino turned and saw the three of them.
Tomoka smiled and waved. Yukino stared at Ryoma.
"You... that tennis player!" Yukino stood up and walked towards Ryoma. She remembered the tennis match that she watched with Sakuno.
"Huh?" Ryoma said.
"Echizen Ryoma right? You are friends with Sakuno?" She asked.
"I am back." Sakuno said as she entered the living room.
She saw Tomoka, Horio and... Ryoma.
"Ryoma kun!" Sakuno said in surprised.
"Ah, Sakuno." Tomoka said and ran to hug her friend.
"Tomo chan, I am so happy to see you." Sakuno said and give her a big hug.
Ryoma stood in silent and observed Sakuno. She was much prettier than before. Her hair was slightly shorter and she did not braid it. She became fairer and her cheeks were rosy.
Ryoma blushed when he saw Sakuno looking at him.
"Ryoma kun, thanks for dropping by." Sakuno said.
"Sakuno, how is your date today?" Midori asked as she tugged on Sakuno's sleeve.
"Date?" Ryoma repeated.
"Midori chan..." Sakuno said.
"Speaking of dates, two guys called and asked to speak to you earlier." Shizuru said.
"Whoa Sakuno. You seem popular here in Kyoto." Tomoka said.
"Oi Sakuno, you liar. When I asked you about him, you said you don't know any Echizen Ryoma." Yukino said.
"Yukino!" Sakuno scolded.
Ryoma was horrified. He came to Kyoto and found out that he was forgotten from Sakuno's memory.
"I... uh, don't know her." Ryoma said.
Sakuno turned and look at Ryoma.
"What did you say?" She said.
"I came to accompany this guy here." Ryoma pointed to Horio.
"Hey, Echizen..." Horio said. He stopped himself from continuing with his words. Horio noticed that Ryoma was upset.
"That's right. I asked him to accompany me. I want to get the feeling of playing tennis here in Kyoto so I invited him to come. He is my tennis partner." Horio said.
"Lame excuse." Tomoka whispered to Horio.
"Oh, so you really didn't know Sakuno?" Yukino asked.
Ryoma looked at Sakuno and their eyes met. He turned away.
"No I don't." Ryoma said.
Sakuno felt her heart breaking.
"Haha, then you should get to know her. She's really nice and all the guys are crazy over her. I really envy her." Yukino laughed.
"Yeah, the both of you make a good pair since you both play tennis." Midori said happily.
"Enough already." Sakuno said.
"Sakuno, where can we get a good hotel here?" Tomoka asked.
"Hotel? Why don't you three stay over here? Don't waste your money. We got rooms to spare here." Shizuru said.
"Really? Cool." Tomoka said.
"Sakuno, why don't you bring your friends around town? We help to bring their things up to their room." Yukino said.
"Uh, ok." Sakuno said.
Sakuno brought them to a restaurant for lunch and sight seeing. Ryoma had been quiet the whole afternoon. He was too upset to even look at Sakuno.
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That night, Sakuno, Yukino and Tomoka went to the dorm's outdoor hot spring.
"Sakuno, you noticed that Ryoma sama is quite upset today right?" Tomoka said.
Sakuno nodded. She sighed.
"Why should he be upset?" Yukino asked.
"Actually, it was Ryoma sama's idea to come here to visit you. He was supposed to pay for all our expenses here." Tomoka said.
"Ryoma kun's idea?" Sakuno asked.
"I think he really miss you so much. You did watch his match against Atobe san right?" Tomoka asked.
"Ryoma kun played well against Atobe san." Sakuno smiled.
"He told Horio he won that match for you. That is why he decided to spend the money he won to visit you." Tomoka said.
"Sakuno, are you sure you don't know Echizen Ryoma?" Yukino asked. She was confused.
"Yukino, I do know Ryoma kun." Sakuno said.
"Sakuno is Ryoma sama's fiancée." Tomoka said.
"Did the both of you have a fight? Is that why you left him to study in Kyoto?" Yukino asked.
Sakuno looked down. She was confused too.
"I want to forget him, that's all." Sakuno said softly.
"Being apart doesn't mean you can forget about someone. If you love him so much, you will miss him even more." Yukino said.
"I thought Ryoma kun didn't care if I left... but I was wrong. When he said the sweet words to me, I know that he miss me a lot. I... I want to go back." Sakuno said. Tears started to roll down her cheeks.
"Sakuno..." Tomoka said. She wrapped an arm around her friend's shoulders and pulled her close as Sakuno cried on her shoulders.
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Sakuno got up from her bed. She turned and noticed that Tomoka was sound asleep next to her. Sakuno walked out the room and went downstairs.
She pushed the door open and stepped outside into the cold, dark night.
"Ryoma kun!" Sakuno said. She turned around to find him standing in front her.
"How did you know my name?" Ryoma asked.
"Of course I know your name." Sakuno said. She was annoyed with his question.
"I thought we don't know each other." Ryoma replied.
"What?" Sakuno asked.
Ryoma shrugged.
"Never mind. You are pretty cute and I would like to get to know you." Ryoma said.
"My name is Echizen Ryoma." Ryoma said. He held out a hand towards her.
"Ryoma kun. Stop this nonsense." Sakuno demanded.
"Wow, we just met and you called me Ryoma kun, shouldn't it be Ryoma san?" Ryoma laughed sarcastically.
Sakuno frowned.
Fine, I'll play along with your stupid game. Sakuno thought.
"Ok, my name is Ryuzaki Sakuno." Sakuno said as she shook Ryoma's hand.
Ryoma bring her hand towards his lips and give it a kiss. Sakuno blushed. His kiss left a warm touch on her hand.
"What a pretty name." Ryoma said. He let go of her hand and looked at her.
"Yours isn't bad either." Sakuno said.
Ryoma started laughing.
"Mada mada dane, Sakuno." Ryoma said. He had enough of his acting.
"Huh? What are you trying to do?" Sakuno asked.
"Sakuno, I want you to come back to Tokyo." Ryoma said.
"Why must I?" Sakuno asked.
"I made a mistake by letting you go. I don't want to make the same mistake again." Ryoma said.
"I am sorry... I can't go back." Sakuno said.
"Why?" Ryoma asked.
"I can't. I am schooling here." Sakuno said.
"Fine! Then stay here as long as you want." Ryoma said angrily. He turned and walked off.
He was angry that Sakuno was being stubborn.
Sakuno can always transfer school. Ryoma thought.
"Ryoma kun... wait..." Sakuno said.
Ryoma continued to walk, leaving her behind.
Sakuno chased after Ryoma and hugged his waist from the back. Ryoma stopped walking as she leaned closer and rested on his back.
"I... I really miss Ryoma kun. I don't want to lose you too." Sakuno said softly. She started to cry, leaving her tears on Ryoma's shirt.
"Then why don't you come back?" Ryoma asked.
"I want to continue to study here. The school has a subject that I really like." Sakuno said.
"What about me?" Ryoma asked.
"Ryoma kun, please try to understand. You are important too but..." Sakuno can't find the right words to say.
Neither one of them said a word for a moment.
"I guess we can... try to work things out. Kyoto and Tokyo isn't that far. I can always visit you if I miss you, right?" Ryoma asked.
"Ryoma kun..." Sakuno said.
"Sakuno, just promise me that you will come back to Tokyo after high school. Then we can go to Tokyo University together." Ryoma said. He turned and faced her.
"Don't you want to be a professional Tennis player after high school?" Sakuno asked.
"Oh, I can still be a professional Tennis player in University right?" Ryoma smiled at her.
"Ryoma kun not angry at me?" Sakuno asked.
Ryoma touched her cheek.
"How can I be angry at my fiancée? I love you so much." Ryoma said. He congratulates himself for saying the "three words" to her.
It sounds right when he called me his fiancée today. Ryoma kun seems sincere when he said he love me. Sakuno thought happily.
Ryoma leaned closer and kiss her softly on the lips.
(Note: Mada mada! Please forgive me for this lame chapter!!! Gomenasai!!! It is not the ending yet. Please wait for the next chapter. Haha.)
