Chapter 4: Distance

"Neh, are we really going to walk like this?" Ryoma asks, he stop from walking waiting for a certain girl who walks slowly like a turtle. Both hands on his pocket, staring at her.

It's been a week since the young prodigy transferred, and since that day, the boy was true to his words, Ryoma would always pick and walked her home after his practice, in which the young lad, demanded her to stay and wait for him until practice was over. Sakuno still not returning back for her part-time work, since, Sasaki, her boss given her two weeks leave with pay to extent her recovery. In which Sakuno rejected, since she's not that ill by the way, she just lost consciousness, and have a mild fever, yet her boss insisted, according to her boss, considered it as her reward for being an efficient and trusted employee since she started working, and she should learn and value her health, since the young girl has been exerting her best effort to her shop. They even eat bentos together during lunch, most of the time they prefer to eat on the rooftop together but sometimes the freshmen trio and her best friend Tomoka would join them. And ever since that day, her best friend keeps bugging her, asking or much appropriate to say, demanding on what's the real score between them, coz since the day that the young tennis prince came back, they seem inseparable.

"Mou, gomene Ryoma-kun!" Sakuno said, blushing as he speeds up her pace trying to be at least six steps behind to the young prodigy. She blinks, confused on why he was still staring at her, not moving an inch of his feet. "Nani, Ryoma-kun?" She suddenly asks, the intensity of his stare somehow drowns her in an instant, enough for her heart to crumble inside, completely aware that she might blushing so hard right now. She looks down, fidgeting her fingers in a purpose of doing something to calm her heart.

But it didn't happen. Sakuno flinched as she felt his warm hand touches her hand, surprise, she tilted her head up only to find that he was still looking at her with the same intensity, she felt her whole face burned.

Ryoma intertwined they fingers together. Gently squeezing it as he slowly pulled the girl for them to resume from walking.

Her heart racing so fast inside her chest. Sakuno couldn't help but to stare on his back, she was wondering and confused on sudden closes they have.

"Neh, don't be so surprise, from now on, these things would definitely be normal for the both of us" Ryoma said, he turns his head to her wearing his signature smile, "I told you to be prepared right?"

Sakuno felt her whole face burned, she tried to open her mouth to speak but something was stock on her throat. She was confused bigtime. She was literally wondering of sudden changes they have, Ryoma is never been like this to her, in fact, he's always been so, so far away to her, his distance is always been out of reach, she was just right there, looking at him, silently supporting him even he didn't know. He never showed her any interest, though for some circumstances, the young prodigy would offer his help and casually talked to her. She was fully aware that ever since they exchange letter since middle school, their relationship between for being acquaintance advances to being friends.

'But what are we now? friends don't hold hands like this right?'

Though, how much her brain refrain for that possibility, her heart shouting for it, invading her being, in the deepest area of her heart, there is a tiny hope that keeps lighting on her.

'Mou... There's no way Ryoma-kun would ever... What am I thinking anyway?"

'I don't want to assume things, and hurt to the end'

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"See? I told you, they are dating"

That was the first thing Sakuno heard as their feet touches the ground of Seigaku High School. Ever since the young tennis prince came back, every day they always become the topic of interests of students in their school. Most especially, the prince prodigy fan girls. Wondering of what exactly they relationship was. Of course, she answered them politely, like we are just friends but even how many times she said that it seems they are not really convinced.

"I heard Yuuki-chan of class 1-1 has been rejected too"

"Maji? She's totally a beauty!"

"He's always seen with Ryuuzaki right?"

''I heard, even Nakashita of judo club is rejected by her.''

''honto? He's totally cute right?''

''Maybe because of Echizen-kun?"

Almost every day, she heard many stories about them, as if they're both surnames are highly connectedly always in each other's, that one's name would never be said without the other one.

Though she couldn't blame them at all, Afterall, the tennis prince is not really sociable person at all. All he done is tennis, tennis and tennis, he never seen interacting with people aside from his senpais and of course her. He seldom talks too, he's so snobbish too and whenever he opens his mouth to speak, the only words would come to his mouth were 'taunting words' or simple 'un', 'hai', or 'chissu' and his famous catchphrase 'mada mada dane'

'Maybe that's the reason why they put colors on the friendship we have'

'flick'

"Aww..." Sakuno touches her forehead where the certain prince flicked. "What was that for?" She asks, trying to give her best glared at him.

"I've been talking to you. Are you still sleep or what?" Ryoma retorted, he was staring at her, smirking as if he found her amusing.

"Mou. I didn't hear you talking" Sakuno replied, looking at her shoes trying to hide her embarrassment.

"Try at least not to space out, Ja. I'll be going, see you in the classroom then" the young prodigy said, raising his one hand as he continues walking, with one hand on his pocket walking to the direction of the tennis court to attend his morning practice.

"Chissu" Ryoma greeted his senpais the moment he reaches their locker. He saw his other senpais gathered together inside.

"Oi.. oi.. oi.. Ochibi! You're late!" Eiji, his acrobatic-tennis senpai retorted, he raised his pointing finger wagging it in the air.

"Oi Eiji, you're just arrive like Echizen" Oishi said, getting his tennis racket in his bag.

"Saa.. I wonder why Echizen comes late in morning practice?" Fuji smiled. He was dribbling a ball using his tennis racket.

"So young ... So young ..." Momoshiro teases his one finger was on side his ears. "Nah Mamushi?"

"Fssuuhhhh"

"Che "

"What you all still doing here?" Tezuka, their captain asks, he was holding his one hand on door knob looking sternly to them. "Run 30 laps on the court now!"

"Haiii!" They all flinched, dashing outside the locker room. Not wanting to add the running laps.

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"Naa... Echizen, what's the real score between you and Ryuuzaki-chan?" Momoshiro asks, he runs faster to level his pace.

"Probability that Echizen and Ryuuzaki-chan dating 0%" the data tennis player said, fixing his eyeglass with the absence of his notebook.

"Che, why you all curious about my personal life?" He retorted. His eyes closed, as he keeping his pace faster.

"Oi..Oi..Oi.. Ochibi! It's not a secret to all of us nya! We all know you like Ryuuzaki-chan! And she likes you nya!" Eiji chanted, he even put his hand over the young prodigy shoulder.

"We even know it first better you realized your feelings to her" this time, the tensai, Fuji said running with the same pace as them.

"What taking so long to confess?" Momo asks again curiously, his eyes narrowed in an instant as he thinks of something, he smiled at the young prodigy, teasingly "don't tell me? You are chickening out?"

His eyes widened; he looks at his senpai giving his best glare " is not like that!" He yelled. It's just ... I don't know how to confess my feelings to her.

It was harder than he thinks it was.

Never in his entire life that he, Echizen Ryoma would imagine that confessing to a certain braided pigtailed girl would be so complicatedly harder like this.

Who wouldn't thought that him, the young tennis prodigy, the prince of tennis to be called off, who beat many and almost players, who never back-down on his toughed opponents, who recklessly challenge anyone, would have this kind of mind wrecking and patience blowing difficulty in terms of love confession?

Giving the fact that his not interested to anything not related to tennis, coz his life revolves around in tennis, tennis, and tennis only, twenty-four seven a day on his sixteen years of existence in this world, not until he realized and finally accepted the fact that he is just an ordinary boy just like the others that will mercilessly strikes and hit by what they call love.

Ryoma never expected any of it, he never imagined himself falling in love to someone too, he never thought that he will fell in love with a certain braided pigtailed too... Of course, it is not like it suddenly crossed his mind in just a snap of the finger that he loves her. Of course, he also goes through and experience some sorts of 'stages of love', denied it at first after he finally accepted his own feelings to the girl. And what makes him decide to confess his feelings? It's not like he knew that the girl have feelings to him, he has not dense at all, though he failed to realized it before, he felt that somewhat he was special to her, but, that is not the reason why he was confessing his feeling, whether that braided pigtailed hair girl accepted or refuse him (whom he highly doubt that, yet still, if there is a possibility of her refusing him, he will used his PLAN B, make her fall in love to him so, there is no way she can say no to him!) he just wanted to expressed what he really felt for her, because he knows that one day he can no longer hold and hide it to himself. But the point is, he thought confessing is simple as a rocket science, just go straight to the girl and confessed. But that's not how it works. For him it is harder than doing hundred laps over the Tokyo, or drinking juice made by his senpai- Inui, or being beat by his own oyaji all over.

"Then what?" Momo asks again

"It's like I don't know how to start..." The young boy confessed shyly; he pinned his hat down trying to hide his sudden embarrassment.

"Just tell her how you really feel nya! Be true to yourself nya!" Eiji winks at him

Thinking about it, he wasn't a type of sweet-talker person, he was very aware of that fact, he was blunt, he talks without filters and such. He even has a habit of taunting people whenever they push his red button. He doesn't like sugarcoating words; he is more into act-person.

Does it work for that girl?

Sometimes, it crosses his mind just go straight to her and tell her how much he likes her, no more long talks, no more sugarcoating words. Just as plain as that. But he was afraid, knowing that girl, she would run away from shock before he might get a chance to hear her reply.

"Just tell her with all your honesty," this time it was his Oishi senpai who encourage him. "I'm sure Ryuuzaki-chan will accept your feelings"

"Don't confused her with your actions. Don't give her a mix signals" Momo said seriously.

"Un"

"Oiii.. Oi... oi.. Our ochibi is growing fast. He's seeking now for love advice!"

"GREAT-O! ECHIZEN IS SO MANLY"

"Heh, mada mada dane senpai-tachis" the young prodigy said. Surely, he has his own ways to say thank you to his senpais.

"Sakuno, let's finish this fast to watch tennis match!" Tomoka, excitedly said.

Classes are already ended and few students left in the campus doing cleaning chores and activities in their perspective clubs. it was Sakuno's cleaning duty day, her best friend volunteer to help her, since her supposed to be partner is sick.

Hurriedly, Sakuno took the dustpan and broomstick and started to sweep the ground, she was humming softly, enjoying her chores when her attention was caught by a pair of black shoes in her front. Curiously, Sakuno tilted her head, only to see her fellow freshman student Ahiru Yuuki.

"Konichiwa, Ryuuzaki-chan" she said, flashing her perfect smile on her front. "Can we talk for a moment?" She asks, hoping that she will be agreed.

Stunned by her sudden appearance, she didn't realize that her best friend, Tomoka was already in her side. "What do you want to talk?"

"Privately" Yuuki added, dismissively not minding Tomoka. Her eyes never falter on her.

"Okay" Sakuno agreed, she face her best friend Tomoka, "Tomo-chan, you can wait for me in the court, I'll follow you after" she suggested.

"Demo..." Tomoka was hesitant.

"I'll follow you here"

"And it's not like I going to hurt her or something" Yuuki said "I really wanted to talk to her please"

"..."

"..."

"Fine,"Tomoka agreed after series of careful thinking. "Just be sure you follow as fast as you can, or else-"

"Arigatou Osakada-chan" Yuuki said, bowing.

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"What do you want to talk about Yuuki-chan?" Sakuno ask shyly.

"Are you dating Echizen-kun?" She asks straightly.

Sakuno seems shocked for a moment, "We are not dating Yuuki-chan"

"Honto?" She asks, "You know, I... I confessed to him, yet he politely declines me, when I asked him why, he just shrugs and left me alone" she confesses, there is a trance of loneliness on her voice. "And I don't see any reason why"

Of course, she is Ahiru Yuuki, the school queen; who wouldn't know her? She's the most beautiful girl in their campus, from her perfect doll-like face and petite body, plus not to mention how talented and witty she has. She is so perfect.

That is why it's a total shocked from the whole campus when she confessed to the tennis prodigy.

"I've never like someone like this before" Yuuki said in all honestly. "He rejected me on the spot without showing no mercy but still... I still like him despite his bluntness and so" she continued

For some reason, Sakuno sympathized her, she clearly can feel her adoration to the young prince. Of course, she nurturing one too, right? She, herself was deeply and madly in love with the prince since the day she met her.

"W-we're just friends" Sakuno said, but why is so hard to say that they are just friends? She felt a slightly pang on her chest saying that. Completely shrugging it off, she looks at her.

"Honto?" She sighed. " Yokkata" Yukki smiled. " I honestly thinking that you both are really dating. Since you are the only girl, he's been always with."

"I-ie, we've known each other since middle school, my obaa-chan was his former coach, that's w-why... That's why-" for strange reason, Sakuno suddenly felt heavy while talking, something was not right, she clearly knows that.

"If that so, can I ask you a favor?"

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Sakuno was acting strange, Ryoma could sense it. Gently, he squeezes her hand that he was holding, walking slowly to their path.

"Tell me what's bothering you?" Ryoma asks, he didn't look at her, one of his hands in his pocket as he led their way home.

"Uhm. N-nothing, Ryoma-kun"

"Ne, you're a bad liar you know" he retorted. They stop from walking; he looks at her "so what is it?" He asks again

"Anou... Ryoma-kun" Sakuno started, she sighed trying to calm herself, contemplating whether to say what's inside her head, she wanted to hit herself so badly, why it is so hard to say?

"Hey-"

"Echizen-kun! Ryuuzaki-chan!" From nowhere, Yuuki Ahiru runs towards them

Ryoma automatically furrowed his eyebrow, he saw how the unfamiliar girl runs towards them, his brows furrowed more when this twin braided pigtail girl snatches her hand away from his hold.

"I am just wondering, if you had time this Sunday? I have this ticket for-"

"Nope. I'm busy" Ryoma cut her off, who is this girl by the way? Asking him out of nowhere. "I have a tennis practice that day" he continued, of course he was not lying when he said it, he has a tennis practice with this braided girl, who is not looking at them all of a sudden, they already have plans for that day.

"Uhm. Maybe on afternoon? Or morning perhaps?" She insisted.

"I'm sorry, I already have plans on that day" Ryoma said in his usual monotonous tone, feeling bored and just wanted to finished this conversation to go home.

"M-Maybe we should cancel our tennis lesson this Sunday"

'What the heck is that? 'Surprised, the tennis prodigy looks at her, staring intently and wondering at her as if his ears are deceiving him.

"We can reschedule it for the next Sunday Ryoma-kun, so you can g-go with Yuuki-chan."

"And why would I do that?" He bluntly says, the hell he cares. 'Is she gone mad?' why would he go out on some girl he doesn't even know the name? There is something wrong with this, the tennis prince clearly felt it. The reason why this brunette girl, acting so strangely is somewhat connected to that girl, he was pretty sure too, she saw them holding a hands earlier, something is off, and Ryoma is indeed pissed and annoyed at all.

"Mou. Ryoma-kun you're not being polite!" Sakuno looks at him trying to give the same intensity of his stare. Ryoma looks at her on her sudden expression she has.

"Why does he feel like they going to fight over this if he didn't agree?'

"Is this what you want?" Ryoma asks, he was so annoyed to argue, his pissed, that supposed to be their day, they already planned out that they, and in just a second? This will happen? And why he has this feeling that, Sakuno is helping this unnamed girl in his front?

Sakuno didn't answer, she ducks her head, trying to hide her face. Of course, she doesn't like that. But the idea of someone would be heartbroken because of her, she doesn't like it either. They are not into relationship to owned Ryoma like that.

Ryoma muttered something that she can't clearly understand, he put his both hands on his pocket, huffing, "fine then" he retorted. Not looking both of the girls in his front.

"Honto? Thank you Echizen-kun!" Yuuki squeak from so much delight. "on Sunday then. Ja" she giggled, she started running away from them but before she muttered a soft thank you to Sakuno.

"YOU WHAATT?" Tomoka shouted, she almost bangs her hand on her table in disbelief.

"Tomo-chan!"

"Geez, I can't believe you! Sakuno! What on earth you did that?"

"I-I j-just..."

"You just what?" Tomoka cut her off shuting whatever her stupid reason at all. "Have it cross your mind what Ryoma-sama would feel when you said those things right in front of his face?" Tomoka said in calmer voice. "He must be feel being push away!"

"It's not like that, we both know that we're just friends! We are not into relationship at all! I don't even know what he really felt for me though" her last words were almost a whisper.

"But it doesn't give you a permission to decide from him. Sakuno, don't you really get it? At least a tiny bit, you don't feel it?"

Realized what she done is wrong, Sakuno ducked her head "I just wanted to help that's all, and I don't know what you are talking about Tomo-chan" or not. Of course, she can feel it. The attentions giving by her by Ryoma, those holding hands, late night talks, and those simple gestures that the guy would do to her. She's not that dense, she just... Refuse to believe that part. She's too afraid to be hurt when she was only wrong on her little assumptions.

"Geez, sometimes I really want to slap your face hard, for you to understand," Tomoka deadpanned, "Ryoma-sama is not into words, right? He expressed his feelings more in action, I don't understand why you didnt feel those. Of all people, you should be the first one to see it since it was all directly to you, you know, it was obvious, you know, he was trying to convey his feelings to you. We're not blind to see it. How about you?"

Of course, the idea crosses her mind. But she was so afraid, afraid that everything is not true at all.

"What if there is no meaning to all of those?"

"And what if there is a meaning for all of these?" Tomoka asks back. "Maybe you should be brave this time, it's about time to be true to yourself, right?"

Right! I should be true to myself this time!

But days passed just like that, though Ryoma still picks and walks her home, Sakuno felt empty. She can see the distance they have right now. He might be right now with her holding her hand just like before but, somewhat she felt that the boy was aloof to her. Whenever they together, although they still talk, but she felt something was missing.

'He still mad at me?'

"Ryoma-kun-"

"Nani?" The boy asked, his attention was in the road, one of his hands was holding her, while the other was on his pocket, wearing his usual Seigaku jersey uniform, wearing his signature fila hat on his head and tennis was Saturday, the weather seems nice but not what they felt.

"About tomorrow-"

"I know, you don't have to remind me" he cuts her off, suggesting to cut the topic right away.

"It's not about it- I-" Sakuno was determine, she have to say what she has to say.

"Ryuuzaki..." Ryoma called her name, they both stops from walking, still holding her hand, she felt him squeeze her hand lightly. "It's okay, you don't have to explain it" he said, there is an emotion runs in his golden eyes that he quickly hides. "It's getting late, you should go inside your house"

She looks at her side, not realizing that they were in the front of her house.

"Ja" Ryoma said as he started to walk away leaving her watching his retreating back.

'it's not like it. Mou. Why he didn't let me speak! Ryoma-kun no baka!'

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Sakuno was staring blankly on her room. I wonder what they are doing now. She sighed in umptieth time, rolling over to the side of her window, she saw her alarm clock.

It's past lunch time. Sakuno stared at her clock as if something is amusing on it. She sighed heavily, hugging her own knees in the process. 'Mou. Ryoma-kun'

"Sakuno!" Her grandmother, Sumire, knock on her door, hurriedly Sakuno fix herself. "You haven't eaten yet, is there anything wrong?" Theo old lady asked, worriedly.

"Nothing, I just don't feel doing anything" she said, smiling to her grandmother. She sat on her bed.

"You can lie to others but not to me Sakuno. Tell me what really happened? I thought you have a tennis practice with Ryoma?" Sumire asks.

Sakuno looks away.

"Did the two of you fight?" Sumire asks again, this time she seat right next to her granddaughter who is hugging her knees.

"Uhm. It's not like that obaa-chan, it's just-" Sakuno couldn't finish her words, she felt her throat dried, and tears would come in bay.

"I hate to interfere, but I heard it from Tomoka" Sumire said, she looks at her" that you push Ryoma to date someone, why you do that? You don't like him now?"She asks straight to the point this time.

"No! I like Ryoma-kun! I like him so much!" Sakuno said, tears pool down her eyes, she clenched her fist in her skirt.

" But why you did that?" Her grandmother asks again.

"Because I don't want to be selfish! I can't be selfish to him! He's not mine to begin with! And I can't even say no to Yuuki-chan, coz from anyone else, I know how she feels, I do understand how she feels." Sakuno puts her hands on her eyes crying. "But I'm such a terrible person, obaa-chan! I'm regretting what I did! I feel so guilty! I shouldn't feel this way! I' m not in position to feel this way! I'm just his friend! Ryoma-kun was still mad at me! I'm afraid that we will back to what we are before! I'm afraid that he will like Yuuki-chan!" She confessed. "But what will I do? I'm so confused,"

Sumire stared at her granddaughter, she sighed, as much as possible, she wanted that her granddaughter would realize things on her own, but maybe a little knock on her senses would help, right? "Sakuno, Ryoma is Ryoma. He will never do something without any reasons at all. Just like what he is doing right now. Maybe his not good at words at all, but his best in way of showing it is by his actions. And besides, I don't know what's going on between you two, but the way I see things between you both? It's not like when you still in middle school, if you know what I meant."

Sakuno looks at her grandmother, tears are still visible in her eyes, but she stops from crying.

"Just look at inside your heart, you maybe miss a thing coz you busy pretending not seeing it. Trust me, and be true to yourself this time."

Slowly, Sakuno nodded her head. "Thank you obaa-chan" she smiled.

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Sakuno keeps hitting the tennis ball on the wall. Right after her heart-to-heart talk with her grandmother, she decided to go in the tennis court that supposed to be their meeting place.

"Mou... I am not hitting the same spot!" Sakuno pouted, she repeated what she was doing, runs left to right catching the ball, trying her best as she could to hit the ball in the same spot.

"You bend your knees too much. And don't flip your wrist like that. You opened your shoulders too wide. And your hair's too long. You should cut it."

Sakuno stops from hitting upon hearing that voice, her eyes widen in surprised as her racket stops midway in the air, slowly she puts down her hand, ducking her head, restraining herself to look at him, coz she keeps holding back her own tears to fall.

'Why is he here?'

"Seriously? What happened to your trainings?" The young prodigy asks, "I thought senpai-tachis teaching you well " Sakuno flinched as she felt him leans his forehead from the back of her shoulder, from the corner of her eyes she could see the brim of his white cap. Her heart pounded fast inside her chest like a drums, as if it creating a vibrating sounds in it's perfect percussion melody.

"I thought you were with Y-Yuuki-chan?" Sakuno asks, trying all her luck not to stutter in his side.

"I got bored, I prefer to go home" He said, still in that position.

"."

"."

"Are you still mad at me?" For some unknown reason, Sakuno manage to ask him straight, she closed her eyes in the process.

"."

"."

"Mad? I am not mad at you..." Ryoma said, she felt relief. "I am annoyed... Pissed... And upset... You really made me upset... Ryuuzaki"

Sakuno eyes wide open, she felt her heart constrict in pain, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-" She stops midway, suddenly it feels like harder to speak, "I didn't m-mean that way R-Ryoma-kun" she felt like crying, but for unknown reason at all, seems her eyes doing good this time, she can hold back her tears.

"You should be..." The tennis prince bluntly said. "But I guess, that's quiet okay, since I properly said my reason for refusing her, " the young prodigy said. The funny thing is, Ryoma just remember her earlier. Sakuno simply nodded her head.

"Are you not curious of what I told her?" Ryoma asks, Sakuno flinched from that, was she ready to heard it? Seeing that the young lady wouldn't ask, he decided to continue. "I told her; I like someone already"

Sakuno eyes widen in shocked, her eyes dilated, as if she forgets to breathe for an instant. "Do you have any idea who she is?" Ryoma asks. "She is a totally klutz, I never met someone who's clumsy as she was" Ryoma paused for a while, "And she's such a zero sense of direction, I can't beleive that she can point wrong direction at someone who will asks her way, and easily get lost all the time, what a navigationally-challenge girl" He added, chuckling from that part.

Sakuno on the other hand, hold her breathe, tears are in bay as her heart keeps pounding so fast inside her chest. Slowly she felt her whole world suddenly moves slowly.

"She's a weirdo, I never met a girl who stutters a lot whenever I talk to her, who blushed so hard" Ryoma continued "She was too shy, and sucks at tennis" Ryoma smirked " but despite of her wobbly hips and her hair is too long, she's too kind to everyone, she's willing to do to everyone, she has her own principles too, she's way stubborn in her own ways, that's how she did by forcing me to date someone else today, she's too selfless too and she's the only person in this world that can make me talk so long like this. She's so good to be true." Ryoma added. They covered on a long silence. After the young tennis prince ended his speech.

"In other words, I LIKE YOU, Sakuno"

Sakuno gasps, both of her hands went to her mouth, she didn't even realize that the racket she was holding where fell in the ground, her restraining tears finally fall in her eyes like a river keep flowing down on her cheeks. She didn't know that her heart will restrict in pain for so much unsaid happiness, never on her life she imagined this day would come, trembling knees, she felt it turns into jelly as she lost control.

"Oi..." The tennis prince quickly held her one of her wrists when she sat down on the ground in bended knees. Slowly, Ryoma kneeled in front of her. "Oi...stop crying! Why are you even crying? Matakku... Did I say something wrong?" He asked confused and panicking. he let go the hand that he was holding as he put both of his hand on her cheeks, wiping her tears away but tears keep rolling down on her lovely face.

"Because... Because I am so happy" Sakuno answered still crying, but she smiled genuinely, she even closes her own eyes in the process "I am so happy Ryoma-kun" she said, her smiles somewhat warms his heart.

Ryoma's brows narrowed, "there is no way you should cry when you are happy, baka" he said teasingly.

"Mou. This is happy tears!" Sakuno pouted her lips, she wipes the remaining residue of her tears. But still her tears keep rushing down on her cheeks. Ryoma, smirked on her, his eyes intently looking at her

"Neh, are you not going to say something?"

Sakuno smiled genuinely to him, still with remaining tears she dashes herself to him, hugging him, the young prodigy seems shocked, he lost his balance causing them to fell on the ground, she landed on his chest, both hands circling on his neck, while he was seating on the ground, both of his legs are wide-open caging her tiny body inside, his eyes widened from the sudden attack.

"I Like you too Ryoma-kun!" She giggled, still hugging him, Ryoma smirked, his gazed becomes warm overwhelmed with so much emotions inside, slowly, he encircles his arms on her waist, hugging her so tight.

" Heh, mada mada dane, Sakuno" Ryoma grins

"Mou. What's that means for?" Sakuno pouted her lips she tilted her head to look straight in his eyes meeting his golden eyes, slowly, the tennis prince planted a soft quick kiss on her forehead making the girl blushed in an instant.

"That's it, for now" he said smirking as he stared at her lovingly. He embraced her once again.

They both enjoy and savor the moments in each other arms, without they knowing that ten pair of eyes are watching their scene.

"So young... So young..." Momoshiro said, his face looks like a proud older brother

"Sugooii... Ochibi! " Kikumaru beams, making a V sign both of his hands.

"Fsuuussshhhh" Kaido hissed with slight blushed on his face.

"Oishi just smiled at their kouhai. Seems happy and proud.

"Saa...should I give them a copy of these?" The tensai, Fuji smiled creepily, his hand was holding a camera that they used to captured everything.

"Ii data" Inui muttered as he was busy scribbling on his green notebook.

While the Freshmen-trio and Tomoka were all crying. "Sakuno, I'm so happy for you!" Her loudmouthed best friend said, while biting her handkerchief in hand.