Together on the Courts

Chapter Three

Remember

I'm late, she thought hastily, rushing from the restroom while heading towards the front gates. A girl had stopped her to ask about Ryoma-kun, the other girl which she found to be in Kato-kun's classroom, had asked if Ryoma-kun was her boyfriend or if he even had one. She wasn't shocked, after only a month of being closer to Ryoma-kun people had continually asked if they were together or would ask about his personal life and now, nearly two years later, she had grown use to it. She gave a short answer, apologizing for not giving a better response before rushing out. She had finally caught site of the gates when someone tugged her on her wrist, starting to drag her away.

"Momo-chan-sempai," she gasped slightly surprised as she caught sight of who was pulling her, "um... I- I have to go, Momo-chan-sempai."

"Hold on," he said, looking over his shoulder with his infamous grin, "just tell Echizen that you'll see him even after you go to Hyoutei so he can stop pouting."

"Ah, but--" she began before Ryoma-kun walked up and pulled their hands apart.

"She said she had to go, Momo-sempai," Ryoma-kun said flatly, his eyes slightly narrowed up at the taller boy, "don't bother her with stupid things."

"Heh," Momo-chan-sempai said, leaning over to the Ryoma-kun and slinging his arm around the boys shoulder, "well it's not my fault you kept getting quiet when I started--"

Ryoma-kun brushed his arm off with an audible, "che." He moved a step away from Momo-chan-sempai who didn't look bothered by this at all, instead the elder of the three looked amused. "Ryuzaki, a guy from Hyoutei wants you. The one with that really fast serve..." Ryoma-kun trailed off, his eyes lowering as he tried to think of the name.

"Ohtori Choutarou?" Momo-chan-sempai offered, laughing at Ryoma-kun's expression while patting him in the back.

"Ohtori-san?" Sakuno asked, remembering why she was in such a rush in the first place, "Do you know where he is...?" Ryoma-kun pointed behind her and she trailed off, turning her head before waving at the other boy who smiled before walking towards them. She turned back around to say her thanks but Ryoma-kun was already was heading off—or tried too, seeing as Momo-chan-sempai pulled the boy back quite roughly and forced him to stay.

"Um..." Sakuno said, titling her head slightly at the two.

"Don't mind," Momo-chan-sempai answered before giving a nod of acknowledgment, "Yo, Ohtori, hows that serve?"

"Hi, Momoshiro-kun," Ohtori-san said, grinning. Sakuno turned to face the taller boy, whose height probably surpassed Momo-chan-sempai's. "It's gotten faster, thank you for asking. I'm sorry to bother you Sakuno-chan, if you want maybe--"

"No," she cut in, blushing lightly, "I'm sorry for being late. Um, I have to head to the school anyway so please show me around today!" as she bowed slightly she could hear Momo-chan-sempai laugh.

"See, Ryoma, is wasn't a date," Momo-chan-sempai muttered, although it was loud for the group to hear. Ohtori coughed slightly while Sakuno looked down refusing to look at any of them. "You worry to much about Sakuno-chan, far to much," he continued, chuckling.

"Che," came Ryoma-kun's response, "you were the one who mentioned it in the first part Momo-sempai, if anyone were listening they'd think you like Ryuzaki."

"R- Ryoma-kun, stop it," she said, softly before turning back around to the two Seigaku students.

Ryoma-kun merely turned his head as he shrugged off Momo-chan-sempai's grip while Momo-chan-sempai merely looked pensive before giving an energetic wave of good-bye. "I'll see you both later!"

"Uh, we're going then?" Ohtori-san asked, probably feeling awkward.

"Yes, please," she said, walking besides him.

- -

"Stop pouting, Echizen," Momo said, crossing his arms as he leaned over to eye the boy even further.

Ryoma moved back, forcing himself not to roll his eyes. "Whose pouting?" he asked, watching Ryuzaki and Ohtori walk pass the gates and towards a car. He scowled, not liking this odd feeling of being left out when he saw her enter the car. He shifted the weight of his backpack as Momo chuckled, a hand falling onto his shoulder.

"Then why are you scowling?" he asked.

"Sorry, you're just annoying me, sempai," Ryoma said, hiding a smirk as Momo narrowed his eyes at him while leaning forward to met the shorter boy's eye. Ryoma simply stared back being far too use to this and knowing fully that Momo would just burst out laughing a second later, making Ryoma the winner. And just as expected, Momo did laugh with a shake of his head.

"Brat," Momo said, ruffling his hair. This time the pout that came really was because of Momo, who soon mentioned something about paying for burgers this time. At the thought of free food, Ryoma grinned.

"OK, Momo-sempai," he said, following Momo to the front gates were his bike was waiting. Momo often came by to visit and because of that, a space still was left empty for him on the bike rack. "I'll pay next time," Ryoma said, lying with a smile.

Momo rolled his eyes as he sat on the bike and waited for Ryoma to get on. "No you won't," he huffed, starting to peddle, "but Kikumaru-sempai wants to hang out with you so it'll be his treat next time." Momo laughed, as if this was the best idea in the world.

Ryoma merely rolled his eyes.

"Do you remember when we were first years?"

Ryoma hands tightened slightly on Momo's shoulders but he didn't take notice of it as he frowned, thinking back to when he was a first year. He didn't think he was that mean to her, honestly, he just didn't know her so it was reasonable that he didn't want to talk to her or even took bother to notice her. He closed his eyes, feeling oddly guilty and nostalgic at the same time. He rolled his eyes at himself, so what if she was leaving? If he wanted he could just call her or something...

His hands tightened a bit more on Momo's shoulder and Momo let out a sigh before saying, "loosen up, Echizen."

"Huh?"

"You're squeezing my shoulders too hard," Momo explained, smirking as he turned a corner.

"Sorry," Ryoma muttered, loosening his grip.

"Don't worry about it," Momo said, waiting for Ryoma to say something but when the boy had grown completely silent he decided to continue, whether or not he was listening. "People always have to leave at one point, there's no point in fussing over it. Just gotta make sure that they don't forget about you, that's all."

Momo stopped peddling and the both of them got off, Ryoma was still quiet as he waited for Momo while he locked his bike up. However, as the older boy was about to turn, Ryoma asked, "Are you talking about Tachibana's little sister?"

Momo froze for a moment, his lips slowly twitching into a smirk. "Heh," he muttered, turning to face Ryoma, "maybe,"

Ryoma offered a little smile which was almost sympathetic. "Momo-sempai," he said, walking besides Momo, "mada mada dane."

"Brat," Momo said, smiling as he ruffled Ryoma's hair again. He laughed when Ryoma glared up at him, the kid was just too cute.

- -

After asking about the tennis clubs, Ohtori-san had gone on about stories he heard from the girls club. Even though he probably didn't mean to make the stories sound funny but more scary, she couldn't help but laugh at the end. "Sorry," she said, stifling a giggle.

Ohtori-san smiled as well, a light blush of embarrassment touching his cheeks. "Ah, well," he said, before pointing to a trophy case, "they may have their odd moments but their far more amazing then in junior high. They won these," he continued, as Sakuno leaned forward eyeing the trophies admiringly.

"Wow," she whispered, looking at the pictures and trophies. She eyed the middle trophy which they had won a year ago, her eyes traced over the words that were written on the large trophy and she smiled.

We shall not fear lost,

We shall not fear the pain,

We shall not fear the sacrifice.

We shall, instead, want the win,

Want the pride,

Want the happiness.

And remember what made us love this so much!

"Ohtori-san, where can I sign up for the girl's tennis team?" she asked, looking back at Ohtori-san who stared back, a bit confused.

"I thought you were only focusing on your studies, Sakuno-chan."

"Hm, true," she said before smiling, "but I changed my mind."

Ohtori-san smiled before nodding, he motioned for her to walk down the hall. Following that path Ohtori-san met her pace easily, his long legs stretching out in long strides. "Sakuno-chan," Ohtori-san said suddenly, after a moment of silence between them, "Did something—or someone—inspire you to play tennis?"

Sakuno looked away from Ohtori-san, a small smile on her lips as she looked in front of her. She could practically see her younger self, standing by her grandmother, as she watched Ryoma-kun play for the first time against a high schooler. Her smile grew slightly as she pictured Ryoma-kun playing against Fudoumine, his eye injured as he played against the time limit and another prodigy. Unknowingly her eyes watered, she paused. Ohtori-san paused as well, noticed her teary eyes, and touched her shoulder in concern.

"Ryuzaki, don't go to Hyoutei."

She shook her head, as she forced a smile at Ohtori-san who handed her a handkerchief with a sympathetic smile. "I'm fine," she said, wiping lightly at her eyes.

"You sure?" Ohtori-san asked, bending over to meet her eye.

She nodded, her smile widening. "Yes, I'll be fine," she said, more to herself, "after all I remembered why tennis is so important to me."

Ohtori-san blinked, a bit confused still but smiled any way. "Good, I'm glad," he said, standing at his full height before motioning to the door besides them, "this is where you'll be signing up."

Sakuno nodded, taking hold of the doorknob and entering it.

And remember what made us love this so much!

End

Chapter Three

Author's Note:

1. Sakuno is a polite girl, through and through, so that's why, unlike Ryoma, she thinks in honorifics all the time.

Oh and this will be the last chapter for about a week or maybe just three-four days, if I can get away far enough to write and upload this. Hehe, it's going to be my sixteenth birthday on the 7th and people are telling me to clean up the house so it'll be ready for family members to look at. It's going to be a small party but we're very strong on responsibility and such.

Plus, I've been neglecting my training for tennis. But, shh, I never told you that. XP