Mata POT Ryosaku!! Yoroshiku ne!

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Chapter 13

Sakuno was hoping to see her old friends by coming to Seigaku High. If a certain tennis player also came to this school, it would be icing on the cake. But she had told herself many times, that even if he had forgotten about her, she could wait.

And she would wait. For she had been given a peek into her future, and she knew that all she needed to do, was wait.

2 years ago, after she Changed, she also came to an understanding about herself. She was weak. She was weak because life was uncertain, humans were afraid of getting hurt, and they were afraid of change. Her magical Change brought with it an emotional change. Mayu taught her many lessons in that aspect, and now although the world remained the same, Ryuuzaki Sakuno had changed her view of it.

Once, she was privileged to have a little of her future shown to her. And because of that eventuality, her heart was stronger. All things from now till then ceased to be so threatening, and all things from now till then were eagerly embraced for each would bring her nearer her goal.

Once, she was afraid of change, very afraid right up to the last moment before Change took place. And then, she discovered, changes brought new and exciting things; and the state before change was a lot more frightening then the state after. She had resolved to look forward to the state after, rather than uselessly cling onto the state before.

Her aunt commented before she left Osaka, "Sakuno-chan, you should see yourself now, really see yourself. The physical change in you is nothing compared to the change in your spirit. You are stronger now. I am very glad that you were who you were, and that you are who you have become."

She was too. And she was very thankful for the gift, the gift she was once terrified of receiving.

On the first day of high school, Sakuno arrived early for the special assembly. She had not kept in contact with any of her old classmates, not even her best friend Tomoka. She wanted to see them in person before trying to explain her long absence.

She couldn't tell them the real reason she left, so she had come up with a plausible reason of needing to be with her Aunt. That was lying by omission, and Sakuno didn't like lying to her friends. She figured the least she could do was to lie sincerely in person rather than hide behind the cover of a phone call.

There wasn't much time to look for her friends during assembly; the new students had to sit through the long introduction by the principal and teachers, and were then led like obedient sheep to their homerooms.

Having led the students to their respective classrooms, the teachers-in-charge introduced themselves then gave the students time to get acquainted to all the new things and people around them.

Sakuno was quietly settling down at her new desk when a few of the boys approached her shyly. She was happy to make new friends and smiled as they introduced each other. But all too soon, the boys were emboldened enough to ask for dates. Sakuno didn't want to be rude to new friends. She gently, but firmly refused their invitations and decided to leave them to wear off their enthusiasm. Using a washroom trip as an excuse, she smoothly avoided more unwanted invitations.

She had opened the classroom door but found her exit blocked. By a group of tennis players, all of whom she knew from before, especially the one in the center, the tall boy with the gold catlike eyes.

She recognized him. He was taller. His face was sharper, but his eyes remained the same. Her heart pounded, reminiscent of long ago, then she remembered her future, and she smiled, the first genuine smile she gave this day.

Momoshiro was staring at her, and she mentally chided herself for her poor manners.

"Ohayo, senpai-tachi. Ohayo, Ryoma-kun."