Author's notes: Thanks for all the reviews!

This chapter might seem a bit rushed. Sorry for that!

It's really difficult having to complete chapters for 2 fics at the same time! But for all those who support and review my fics regularly, watashi wa kitto ganbarimasu!

Thank you and enjoy chapter 3!

Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis.

Chapter 3: Escape

"SAKUNO!"

"Tomo-chan!" Sakuno said in surprise. "What are you doing outside my house so early in the morning?"

Tomoka ran up to Sakuno and hugged her. "Mou Sakuno, it's your last day in Seigaku. I want to spend more time with you! I want to be with you every moment of your last day in the school where we met!"

"Tomo-chan…" Sakuno's eyes were filled with tears as she returned her friend's hug.

"Don't cry Sakuno!" Tomoka wiped the tears off Sakuno's face. "It's your last day in Seigaku! I want it to be filled with laughter and happy memories. So don't cry, ne?"

"Ok Tomoka, I promise you. But promise we'll always be best friends ok?" Sakuno asked.

"What are you saying Sakuno! OF COURSE we'll always be best friends! I'll stand by your side, whatever you do!" Tomoka proclaimed.

"Tomo-chan…arigato…" Sakuno looked at Tomoka gratefully.

"Come on Sakuno! We better get going or we'll be late for school!" Tomoka grabbed Sakuno's hand.

On the way to school, Sakuno and Tomoka chatted to each other about everything that happened to them. Past memories, happy or sad, were brought into the conversation. The girls cherished every memory they had. In their hearts, they swore that this friendship would always be held dear to them.

"Tomo-chan, I made bento for you today! I know this will be the last time I will be making bento for you, so I made extra today!" Sakuno said cheerfully.

"Really?" Tomoka's mouth watered at the thought of Sakuno's cooking. Although Tomoka was not a bad cook herself, she had to admit that Sakuno's cooking skills far surpassed hers. She had always enjoyed her bentos and was sad she could no longer do so.

"Did you make some for Ryoma-sama too?" Tomoka asked.

Sakuno blushed. "Hai…"

"Have you told him yet?" Tomoka asked excitedly.

Sakuno hung her head down and her eyes concentrated on the road.

"You haven't?" Tomoka asked incredously. "Sakuno, it's your last day in school! If you don't tell him, you'll never get a chance again!"

"I know Tomoka…" Sakuno replied in a soft voice.

"You'll have to do it today no matter what, Sakuno." Tomoka said in a firm voice. "Go on! You can do it! You are the great Ryuuzaki Sakuno!" Tomoka cheered her friend on.

"Thank you Tomo-chan." Sakuno smiled at her friend. She had also wanted to do as Tomoka said. However, she was afraid to face Ryoma after what had happened the evening before. Sakuno remembered the strange look on Ryoma's face after what she had done. She now had to gather much more courage just to confess to him her true feelings.

"Come on Sakuno! Let's go for lunch!" Tomoka jumped up excitedly. She had been thinking about the delicious food Sakuno had prepared and could not concentrate on the lessons before lunch.

"Ano Tomo-chan, could you wait for a while?" Sakuno asked Tomoka. Without waiting for an answer, Sakuno took out a bento and started walking towards Ryoma's desk.

"A…ano Ryoma-kun…" Sakuno started. "I want you to have this!" Sakuno said as she outstretched her hands with a bento on it.

"I…I don't know if you like it but I made extra food today. Hope…hope you like it…" Sakuno stuttered. Her job did not help her when it came to facing the tennis prince.

"Thank you. The food you cook is always good anyway." Ryoma replied and took the bento from her.

Sakuno beamed at his answer. "A…arigato!" Sakuno said shyly.

"Sakuno!" Tomoka whispered and nudged her.

"E…eh? Ano, ano…Ryo…Ryoma-kun…" Sakuno stared at the floor as she struggled to get the words out.

"Ryoma-kun…" Sakuno looked up. Ryoma was no longer in front of her. Instead, he was being chased by a large number of male students.

"Echizen! I want Sakuno-chan's homemade bento!"

"Echizen! I'll give you 10,000 yen for that bento!"

"I'll give you 10,000 yen plus a whole carton of Ponta!"

"Echizen………"

Sakuno was left there staring while the tennis prince tried to evade not his fangirls, but a whole army of fanboys gunning for Sakuno's homemade bento.

"Come on Sakuno, let's go. There's nothing you can do now." Tomoka said to shocked Sakuno and pulled her to lunch.

The last lesson of the day for Class 1-3 was that of their form teacher's.

"Class, I have an announcement to make. Everyone please listen up."

The class sat up on the teacher's words.

"I am sad to say this, but it is Ryuuzaki-san's last day here in Seigaku." Many gasps were heard and everyone turned their heads to face Sakuno who had her head bowed down.

"As all of you know, Ryuuzaki-san is doing very well in her job as an entertainer. It will have to take up a lot of her school time and so she has to change schools to be able to graduate from high school. It is regretful to lose such a good student and classmate but I hope all of you would congratulate her and wish her all the best!"

Applause sounded throughout the classroom. Sakuno stood up shyly and bowed.

"Arigato, minna!"

"You all can bid your farewells after class. Now we have to start our lessons."

The class protested but no one was able to change their teacher's mind.

When lessons had ended, everyone rushed to Sakuno's seat.

"Sakuno-chan! Is it true you are changing schools?"

"Where will you be going?"

"I will miss you a lot!"

"Why didn't you tell us earlier?"

"It is true I will be changing schools. I will be attending Hyotei Gakuen." Sakuno answered. "This was decided suddenly by my manager so I could not tell all of you in advance. I'm sorry. But I will still be in Tokyo so if I have the time, we can meet again right?"

"Hey! Give way!" Tomoka said in a loud voice. Everyone turned to look at her.

Tomoka was in front of many students who were carrying many things. She had a huge grin on her face.

"Sakuno! These are the members of the newly set up "Ryuuzaki Sakuno fanclub" in Seigaku with me as president! I told them of your to-be departure and all of them got you something as a farewell gift!" Tomoka exclaimed.

"Sakuno!" Tomoka said as she approached Sakuno. "Although you will not be in Seigaku anymore, you'll always have the support of Seigaku! Right guys?"

"RIGHT!" Everyone in the classroom screamed in unison.

"A…arigato!" Sakuno started tearing.

"Sakuno! You promised me not to cry!" Tomoka hugged her friend.

"I…I'm too happy, that's why! Arigato Tomo-chan!" Sakuno said while still crying.

Many girls started crying together with Sakuno. Some boys were holding back their tears while others were frantically trying to stop the girls from crying.

"Oh Sakuno-chan, we will miss you so!"

"Sakuno-chan! You'll always have my support!"

Just then Ryoma walked over.

"Ryuuzaki, is that what you wanted to tell me yesterday?" Ryoma asked.

Sakuno looked up at him in surprise. She did not know how to answer him, not in front of so many people.

"I wish you the best of luck." Ryoma stretched his right hand out.

"Ah… arigato…" Sakuno stretched her right hand to meet his. She was disappointed.

Sakuno went to bid her teachers goodbye. She had received many presents from students and teachers. She was glad a manager was going to pick her up later.

"Ok, now is the boys' tennis team!" Sakuno said aloud. The Seigaku tennis regulars had helped her a lot ever since middle school and she felt she had to thank them as well as bid them goodbye. Sakuno also hoped Ryoma was there. She had made up her mind to tell him her true feelings.

"Ryuuzaki Sakuno! You can do it!" Sakuno cheered herself on.

Sakuno ran to the tennis courts. There she spotted Oishi and Tezuka.

"Oishi-senpai! Tezuka-buchou!" Sakuno called out.

"Sakuno-chan! What are you doing here?" Oishi asked in a friendly tone.

"Ano…well, it is because it is my last day at Seigaku today. So…so I thought I should thank all the regulars for taking care of me for the past few years!" Sakuno smiled brightly.

Tezuka went over to the courts. "All regulars, come out of the court now." He commanded.

On his order, the rest of the Seigaku regulars besides Ryoma went out of the courts.

"Sakuno-chan!" Eiji exclaimed as he eagerly approached her.

"Kikumaru-senpai." Sakuno acknowledged.

"Ryuuzaki-san has something to say to us so listen to her." Tezuka nodded to Sakuno.

Sakuno bowed to Tezuka slightly. "Ano, today's my last day at Seigaku. I will be going to Hyotei tomorrow. I…I would like to thank senpai-tachi for all the care and help you all have given me throughout the years. Thank you very much!" Sakuno said as she bowed to the regulars.

"So the rumours are true? Ah! I'm gonna miss you Sakuno-chan!" Eiji jumped in front and hugged a shocked Sakuno. Oishi, seeing that Sakuno was uncomfortable, quickly pulled Eiji away.

"Sorry Sakuno-chan! Sorry!" Oishi apologised profusely.

"It's ok Oishi-senpai. I have some cookies for you all as a farewell gift. I made them myself." Sakuno smiled shyly and handed out packets of beautifully-wrapped cookies addressed to each and every regular.

"Wow! These cookies look delicious! Thank you Sakuno-chan!" Momoshiro said aloud.

"Sakuno-chan's homebaked cookies! All my friends will be jealous! Sankyuu nya!" Eiji thanked Sakuno.

Every regular thanked Sakuno and even Kaidoh thanked her in a small voice. He did not show it, but he was rather glad to receive the cookies from the petite girl.

"A…ano, where's Ryoma-kun?" Sakuno asked after handing out the cookies. She had noticed his absence only when she was not able to give his cookies to him.

"Ah Echizen! He's gone to see some teachers and will not be coming down for practice so early." Momoshiro answered. "Why do you ask Sakuno? Didn't you see him at class? Missing him already?" he teased. "Are you going to give him a big farewell kiss…"

Momoshiro stopped, feeling Tezuka's death glare being directed at him.

Tezuka faced Sakuno. "Is there anything you would like to tell him? Echizen won't be down so early. You can wait for him if you have the time. If not I would gladly help to pass the message."

Sakuno did not know what to do. "Do I wait for Ryoma-kun or do I seek Tezuka-buchou's help? Will telling Tezuka-buchou be easier?" Sakuno contemplated with these ideas being formed in her brain. One thing she knew though, she did not want to say it out in frnt of all the regulars.

The sound of a phone ringing broke her thoughts.

"Sorry, it's mine." Sakuno apologised and took a few steps away to answer her phone.

"Hai! Tanaka-san?" Sakuno spoke into the phone. "You are here already? Is it possible for you to wait for a while? It is urgent?"

Sakuno listened for a while. "Ok then, I'll see you in five minutes time. Bye…" Sakuno said with a sigh before she ended the call. She then ran back towards the regulars.

"I'm sorry but I have to go now. My manager says there are some things that have to be sorted out at my new school." Sakuno bowed.

"It's ok Sakuno-chan. What would you like to say to Echizen?" Oishi asked.

"Ano…ano…" Sakuno was still undecided.

"Ano… please thank him for me! Please help me to thank him for all the help he has given me, for all his tennis lessons and for all his care! Please thank him for me!" Sakuno said in one breath.

"I'll do that." Tezuka reassured her.

"I…I have to go now. Goodbye!" Sakuno did not show it, but she was regretting it already.

"Good luck Sakuno-chan! I love you!" Eiji waved frantically to Sakuno.

"I will support you Sakuno!" Momoshiro shouted.

"Good luck." Kaidoh said in a small voice.

"According to my data, the probability that your popularity will grow is 100!" It was Inui as usual.

"Say hi to Fujiko-chan for me over at Hyotei!" Kawamura said.

"All the best Sakuno-chan! You are always welcome to come to us for help!" Oishi said in a very big-brotherly tone.

"Good luck Ryuuzaki-san." Tezuka was straight to the point.

"Arigato, senpai-tachi!" Sakuno bowed to them one last time and left. Sakuno was happy she had such good senpais.

Sakuno got into the car. As the car drove off, she had a last look at Seigaku. She will definitely miss the school, the teachers and the students, especially Tomo-chan, the tennis regulars and most of all, Ryoma-kun.

"Ryoma-kun… Why didn't I tell you after all?" Sakuno blamed herself as Seigaku slowly became out of sight.

Notes:

1. arigato – thank you

2. minna - everybody

3. senpai – senior

4. buchou - captain

5. sankyuu – thank you

6. senpai-tachi – all (my) seniors

I hate my laptop. Please R&R. Thank you.