Disclaimer : The Prince of Tennis and its characters(namely Ryoma, Sakuno, etc, you know) do NOT belong to me, and belong to Takeshi Konomi instead.
EDIT: Wow. Honestly; thank you, readers in the past. You probably won't read this again, but I've made some changes in the centre, extrapolating on Ryoma and Sakuno's thought processes. It's been years since I've written fanfiction; the only thing I write these days are uni research essays and assignments which are far less colourful than fanfiction. When I look back, I realise that writing has never been my strong point, but it had been an invaluable forum for me to express my thoughts, emotions, and ideas. I am seriously grateful to you readers and reviewers; you were all incredibly kind to the much younger me, whom I must say, was sh*t at writing. Almost seven years later, re-reading all this makes me feel like I need to redeem myself. It would be overkill to re-write all of these stories, but I might start with the one-shots and see how I go.
That day was just a normal day in Ryoma's life. School, tennis, home, Karupin. However, everyone was talking a lot about New Year's Eve. Everyone knew that at midnight on New Year's Eve/Day, there will be a lot of lovely fireworks in the sky. Momo said he was going to take An-chan to see the fireworks on a hill(not knowing that she had also accepted Kamio's offer to see fireworks at that very moment). Eiji was chirpy and excited about celebrating the new year.
On the other hand, Ryoma was not doing anything. Who cared about the beginning of a new year? It's just like every other year. Why the fuss? Instead, he was going to play tennis that night, just like what he did on every other day.
"Seishounen, where are you heading to tonight? See fireworks with your girlfriend?" Nanjiroh Echizen smirked, looking at his son. Ryoma couldn't care less about what his father thought.
"No. And, none of your business, oyaji."
"Hey, HEY! Don't just go off like that! Show some respect for your da-" Nanjiroh exclaimed, only to find out that Ryoma had left the doorstep of their residence.
"Classic Ryoma," Nanjiroh muttered under his breath, now turning back to the 'newspaper', which actually had a magazine with beautiful girls in bikinis hidden beneath the pages.
Ryoma often spent the new year with his Himalayan cat, Karupin. Somehow, this year was different. Momo and Eiji had forced Ryoma to spend the new year away from his house, and Ryoma HAD to agree, because they said that Ryoma was entitled to have sushi in Kawamura's sushi shop. And free sushi makes everyone happy.
"Echizen, enjoy your youth; don't be cooped up in your house. Especially not on New Year's Eve!" Momoshiro chirped.
And the thought of free sushi was just. so. appealing.
I'll just tell them when I next see them that I spent the day out; my dad can vouch for that!
After all, they only said "Spend the new year AWAY from your house." That meant Ryoma could practise tennis with the wall near the street tennis courts.
Ryoma enjoyed silence. He was quite a loner, and was definitely anti-social. There was no need for talking anyway, unless he really needed things to be done, for example, winning a tennis match. As the saying goes, "still waters run deep".
Someone else also had the same way to spend the new year. He or she was playing tennis against the wall. However, that person wasn't as good as him. He or she kept on running to the bushes to look for the tennis ball.
Amateurs.
Ryoma decided to approach the person. He or she (Ryoma was unable to see in the dark) had very long braids, probably until her waist.
Ryoma realised that person was none other than Sakuno, the granddaughter of the obaa-san of Seigaku. That girl was also in Seishun Gakuen. She had very long braids which was recognizable even from far. Her tennis skills were unlike her grandmother's. She would swing her racket the air so many times, and yet she never gave up.
"Ah, where did that ball go this time.." Sakuno said, looking for her tennis ball. She couldn't lose THAT tennis ball, the one where her best friend, Tomoka, drew Ryoma's face on. Ryoma saw that ball fly to his direction, and picked it up.
"Is it yours?"
"Ah, yeah! Gomen nasai! Arigato, Ryoma-kun," Sakuno said, her face turning to a shade of red. He was confused. Why does she blush so much, especially when talking to him?
Oh my goodness. That's Ryoma. Stay cool. Thoughts raced through Sakuno's mind.
Silence. For two solid minutes.
"Well, um, are you going to use the court?" Ryoma asked, bouncing the ball off his racket and the ground.
"Um, um... no that's fine Ryoma-kun! I've practised all day; it's all yours!" Sakuno said shyly, bowing as she left the boy.
Perfect; the court's all mine! I can imagine the sushi in my mouth as I gloat about this bet of being out of the house on New Year's Eve! mused Ryoma.
Sakuno dashed off to the nearby convenience store, now frazzled after her encounter with Ryoma. She bought herself an isotonic drink, and headed back up towards the tennis courts where Ryoma was practising.
Sakuno, you should totally ask Ryoma to watch the fireworks with you! How romantic would that be! Sakuno thought to herself.
But who are you to speak to Ryoma, the prince of tennis; let alone ask him out to watch fireworks?! On New Year's Eve? Maybe he's going to watch it with some other girl. Her pulse was racing.
And he must have seen that ball with his face on it. Now he's going to think I'm totally obsessed with him, which is ... not... true?
But he's just so talented, and so suave. Gosh. What if he has a soft side?! I want to know him more! But what do I say to him?
But Sakuno knew it was now or never. The fireworks only happen once a year, and if she wasn't going to ask him, she would probably beat herself up all night wishing that she tried.
Ryoma had always been observant. Not long after he was left to his solitude with the tennis ball, he heard little footsteps approach.
He turned his head, and it was none other than Sakuno.
I hope she doesn't want to use the court again; although she could probably use the practice much more than myself...
Sakuno watched Ryoma for another 5 minutes, before breaking the silence.
"Ano, Ryoma-kun..."
"Yes?"
"Have you ever seen fireworks?"
"No."
"They're really beautiful."
"Uh-huh." Ryoma was getting impatient. He wanted to get back to tennis, the love of his life.
"Did you want to come and watch them with me?"
Silence.
"Um, there will be some other people going as well; Momo-senpai, Kikumaru-senpai, and a few others... we've scouted out a good spot which has a great view over the city and the fireworks!"
Great. More people. I hate people!
But something clicked in his mind. If he was going to get that free sushi, he would have to prove to Momo and Eiji that he did in fact spend New Year's Eve away from his house. What better way could he do it by surprising them at the gathering later?
"Sure."
"Wait- really?" Sakuno couldn't believe it. Ryoma just said yes!
"Um, um... we'll be meeting at the hill just around the corner! Oh wow. Yes. Um. See you then!" Sakuno stuttered. She could feel her knees getting weak.
"Mm. See you then."
11.50 PM. Ryoma said he couldn't break Sakuno's promise. Besides, he had nothing else to do anyway. This was going to be the first time he would be seeing fireworks. This year was going to be different. And he was going to prove to Momo and Eiji that he could spend New Year's Eve out of his home.
He hated being around people, but perhaps he could do this just this once, and stop all the teasing he got for being a hermit.
It was like a party; there were some familiar faces chatting away with each other. Fuji-senpai had brought sparklers, and were handing it out to everyone there.
He could see Kamio fighting with Momo, Kawamura and Shinji trying to break the two. An-chan didn't know what to do; why couldn't these boys just get along for one night? Her brother was sitting with the other Fudomine regulars, and many people from other schools were going to watch the fireworks as well.
Ryoma wanted to be alone, and he wanted peace and silence in order to admire the fireworks, and the situation wasn't helping him at all. He walked away from the spot where everyone was, and he sat at the edge of the hill.
He's probably not coming, Sakuno thought. He must have forgotten... I guess, it would have just slipped his mind, and he has a lot of other things to think about, like tennis, and school...
I wish it were just the both of us admiring the fireworks, but I'll have to start slowly; there's no way I'll get him to agree to hang out with me one-on-one...
Speak of the devil, the tennis prodigy with his signature baseball cap had actually come. He looked bewildered, overwhelmed at the chaos on the hill. School kids chatting, sparklers being handed out, and the air was all abuzz. He walked away from the centre of the crowd, and found a rock a little bit further from everyone else, but still with the view that they had all gathered for.
Well, you did invite him, so you should probably say hello... Sakuno thought. Besides, when will you ever get this opportunity to talk to him about things other than tennis?
Sakuno took baby steps, and her heart began to race like before. Wow. I cannot believe that Ryoma-kun is here. It's like a dream come true.
"Ah! Ryoma-kun.. I thought you wouldn't come," Sakuno said softly.
"Sorry, I just got a bit overwhelmed. There's quite a lot of people here tonight, I got lost in the sea of people."
"Yes, I didn't realise that so many people were going to come out here tonight. But I guess this is the best spot to watch the fireworks," Sakuno gushed.
She sat beside him quietly. That was what Ryoma wanted; silence.
"You've seen fireworks before, right, Ryoma-kun?" Sakuno asked. He nodded his head. He had seen them as a child; his parents would take him out to the garden on New Year's Eve at midnight, and his father would be pointing at the illuminated sky. That was back in California, and when he was only a toddler. Ryoma would just stare at the sky, amused.
"I love watching fireworks. I watched them with my parents every year," Sakuno said, looking rather sad.
"Why aren't you watching the fireworks with them this year, then?"
"My parents passed away two years ago, at this very day." Sakuno's face turned glum.
Uh oh. Wrong question.
"But there's no use for me to dwell upon them, right? We must all face tomorrow, despite the challenges that we have to face," Sakuno continued, smiling again.
Why is she smiling? Isn't she sad that her parents are gone?
"Oh. Sorry."
"It's alright. I was watching fireworks last year by myself, and it feels better to watch fireworks with someone else than to watch them alone."
Suddenly it hit Ryoma. He enjoyed solitude, but not everyone did. And it must be so hard for Sakuno to deal with the loss of her parents, especially since each year reminds her that her parents weren't around to ring in the new year with her.
"Hey, Sakuno, um.." Ryoma mumbled. He couldn't imagine himself being nice to someone. Especially if that person was Sakuno. Why did he even care about her? Why didn't he just shrug and leave her in the dark to contemplate life on her own?
But Ryoma couldn't do that. Even if that person was Sakuno.
"Yes?"
"Er, if you ever want to watch fireworks.. er, or um, go for any festival, I'm.. uhh.. always.. free to um, accompany you."
"Eh! Hontou ni, Ryoma-kun? I heard the Spring Festival is really pretty, when all the sakura flowers bloom! Oh, and also.. ah. I shouldn't bother you all these things, you've got to train for tennis. Ah gomen nasai," Sakuno said.
"If you want to go for all those festivals, I'll go with you."
"Really?" Sakuno asked. There must be some reason why Ryoma was being so nice to her. He nodded his head in reply.
Sakuno died and just went to heaven.
Ryoma-kun, little does everyone know about your tender heart...
Ryoma checked his watch. 11.59 PM. There was only 10 seconds left till the new year.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4.
Three, two, one.
Fireworks shot up from the city, and cheering could be heard from a distance. The fireworks lit up the dark night sky in colours: pink, green, gold, blue; marking the beginning of a new year. Ryoma could see Sakuno smiling from the corner of his eye as she gazed into the sky; her face more radiant than ever before. He was amazed at how fireworks could make a dark, dull night be interesting and beautiful. But maybe it wasn't fireworks alone that changed the night.
Maybe some company will be good.
Sorry for the abrupt ending, minna! So, happy new year, happy '05, and may the new year bring you more happiness, joy and luck! About whether Sakuno's parents passing away, I'm NOT sure, I have the feeling they're still alive. Just to err, spice up the story. Review, sankyuu! I hope you like it! It's longer, and I got one idea from Cinpii, about the 'why is she still smiling' thing. Thanks a lot! HAPPY 05!
2014 Edit: I tried to touch up the story without detracting too much from the main storyline and concept of the development of their relationship (or at least, what my fangirl mind can conjure up). The abrupt ending had always been an element of the story, especially to end a one-chapter story. Comments would be much appreciated and valued!