Been thinking of finishing this story. This has been finished by hand actually, years back. I just want to share the finish product of this. I started this in my other account but did not get the chance to finish it due to some personal matters. I just wanted to write again.

Hope this will entertain you.

Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis. Feel free to leave your feedback, just no hate please? Thank you.

Chapter 1:

"Once upon a time…"

Every fairytale in every children's books starts with this phrase. But Sakuno thought it was pure hypocrisy. Not everyone are meant to meet their one true happily ever after. She thinks fairytales are made for children to believe in love. She once was fell in love but then she also had her heart broken by the same man. Ten years later, she ended up being bitter about it. And her friends knew why.

She was done with all the mushy stuff. And she has to take control of her life now. Gone was the stuttering, shy and naïve little Sakuno. She faces her battle head on and had avoided anything involving love or a certain Ryoma Echizen.

You read it right. She was in love with the Prince of Tennis himself. They were classmates in middle school. She was his number one fan. And all the while she thought he considers her as his friend. But no. Everybody knows that he was invited at the US Open at the age of twelve. From then until now he never returned.

She sighed. Thinking about how crazy she was before. When he went over to the States she never failed to send him any emails, texts, or even letters. But she never received a response. She was optimistic that he was just like that and that he must have been receiving a lot of messages from his fans. It was okay for her. As long as she gets to tell him what has been happening over at Seigaku. But 6 years later, she stopped. Why? She had found out he was engaged to be married. Yes. The Great Ryoma Echizen is getting married once he turns 25. And that is a few months from now.

For the past 6 years she had been busy with Sweet Twists. Yes, she owns a café along with her best friends Tomoka Osakada, also known as Mrs. Tomoka Kaidoh, and An Tachibana, also known as An Momoshiro.

Sounds familiar? Her best friends are either married to former Seigaku regulars who became their friends as time goes by.

Wondering what happened to them? They simply grew up. Syuichiro Oishi, is now a resident doctor at their own hospital. Syuske Fuji, did not pursue being a tennis pro and eventually became a well-known photographer. Sadaharu Inui has his own day job as a researcher and product developer from a well-known company. Takashi Kawamura is a Sushi Chef and currently owns about 5 restaurant. He is married to Ryoma's cousin Nanako. Eiji Kikumaru along with Takeshi Momoshiro and Kaoru Kaidoh has been managing three branches of their tennis clubs. These clubs were owned by the previous Seigaku regulars. They were all partners.

Are we missing someone?

Ah yes. What happened to the Captain? The well-known Kunimitsu Tezuka. He has been the CEO of the RT companies. The company produces good quality sports equipment. They sponsor the Twist Serve tennis club as the club had produced the best players up to date. And he is engaged to be married to the younger sister of Syuske Fuji, Yuki.

Life was good for everyone. But none of them knew how she had to fight the pain and hurt that she had gone through. So she had buried herself in their business. Hence the success of the Sweet Twist.

She had gone home late that night. She knew her grandmother was waiting for her but she found her sleeping in her room. Her grandmother, Sumire, is at her 70s now. She had retired from coaching a long time ago. She had decided to stay in Germany where her son, Sakuno's father was. She wanted to enjoy the last of her days doing what she likes.

Sadness has enveloped her heart while she was looking at her grandma's sleeping face. The years was so good to her. She does not even look like she is at her 70's. She knew that her grandma needed the time with her dad.

With a sad smile, she adjusted her blanket and gave her a kiss. She knew her grandma has busy day tomorrow as she will be joining the Seigaku regular's yearly reunion before her flight.

She sighed as she entered her room. She has been very busy juggling between branches of the Sweet Twists as Tomo is on maternity leave and An was finishing a project for her side job as a graphic artist.

She was invited at the reunion but decided not to go. The café needs her. She guess a quick shut-eye should do the trick.

He was slowly walking out of Narita Airport. No one noticed him as he waited for a cab. He inhaled the Japanese air he missed so much. He still loves Japan than the hustle and bustle of New York. He knew he will be staying here once he retires whether his old man wants or not.

Why he is back? It was for his peace of mind. He has been winning the Grand Slam every Grand Slam there is since he was 12 but when he turned 18 it seems like it did not appeal to him anymore. Despite growing up in the States, he still likes to stay in Japan. His friends are here, though Kevin has been a pretty close to one while he was in the States as well as his brother Ryoga. But it was the Regulars who knew him the most.

They have been very supportive of him for the past 13 years. Some of them even went to his games which he really appreciate. Though he rarely expresses it. But they know him better.

But why go back to Japan at the peak of the US American Open? He does not know. He was getting tired of all the attention he gets. He loves tennis and it was his life for more than 2 decades now. But something is missing.

He unconsciously reached inside the pocket of his jacket and felt something round in it. When he took it out, he then realized why he was back.

He was poor in remembering names or even faces if they don't interest him. But every time he sees the tennis ball with a caricature of his face on it, it only reminds him of the shy, twin-braided hair girl with big auburn eyes who stares at him with awe all the time. The same girl who he hopes to see on the bleachers every start of his games in the US. The girl he had taken for granted for a long time.

What had gotten into him? He does not know unless he is able to see the girl who haunted his dreams when he last saw her 5 years ago.