Hi! I'm sooooo happy! =D I've got reviews! And I have followers! O.o I still don't believe it lol Thank you so much for those of you who have reviewed, followed or favorited (yes, some people even did that O.O lol I swear I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it haha. And if you just read the first chapter but you're here again, thank you too =) Wow, I just couldn't stop myself from smiling / You guys didn't made my day, you just made (at least) my week haha I hope you will continue to support this story!

Aaand I have good news. No, I'm not posting two chapters at once, sorry :P I have a beta-reader! Sooo, there won't be those weird sentences nor mistakes =) Still, we're humans, so if you notice some mistakes, please feel free to tell me ^^ I'll try to at least post one chapter every month, unless I can manage to write more (which is quite improbable).

Just two things I'd like you to have in mind for this chapter and future chapters. I do not study medicine nor anything similar, so I try to make everything coherent, but that doesn't mean it's true. If you notice a big mistake, please tell me. Otherwise, please think this done like this so the story is coherent and I can develop it the way I want to. Hope you understand ^^ The second comment is about the characters' personality. I try not to make them Ooc, but please notice they're older than they were in the manga/anime and also that there's no situation like this in the manga/anime, so they react the way I think they would if something like this happened. Some of you already told me you think they would react like they did in the first chapter, so I'm happy to hear that =) However, if you notice anything really impossible, feel free to say it, I promise I won't bite anyone =) I don't know if it's me or this paragraph sounds harsh… I swear it's not meant to be like that, I just wanted to tell you that I'm aware that there may be weird things, but I can't really help them. Hope you understand /

As always, any (civilized) comment will be veeery appreciated ^^ Hope you like this chapter!

Chapter 2. Reset

Ryoma was sitting on one of the corridor's chairs, outside the room where Sakuno was constantly looked after by nurses and doctors that were coming in and out without uttering a word. Inui and Tezuka were close by, standing up and in silence.

They had taken Ryoma to check him up once they had put a foot in the hospital. He had tried to stay with Sakuno but Tezuka had persuaded him. However, the doctors couldn't prevent him from running back to her once they'd told him there was nothing to worry about and had his head bandaged. Tezuka and Inui had looked over him when he approached.

"How is she?" he had asked, anxious.

"We don't know yet", answered Tezuka with his usual stoic face. "What have the doctors told you?

"Everything is okay."

After that, neither of them had uttered another word and it had been more than three hours since then. Meanwhile, the other regulars had arrived and were sitting a little further, talking in a low tone.

"Ryoma!"

All the regulars turned to the source of the voice and saw a woman running to them, followed by a man. Despite Ryoma's distant behavior, they had known his parents for a long time, so they recognized them instantly. It had been difficult to contact his parents because neither of them were at home, so Nanako –Ryoma's cousin- had promised to find them. Rinko, Ryoma's mother, kneeled beside her son, asking him questions anxiously.

"Are you ok?"

Ryoma nodded curtly without looking at his parents or saying anything. Rinko looked at him, still anxious, and asked him in a softer voice.

"And Sakuno-chan?"

Ryoma's and Sakuno's relationship had been getting closer to the point where they had become good friends. Ryoma didn't usually talk much, but the regulars and Sakuno were the only ones who could get him into a proper conversation. Rinko had picked up an interest in Sakuno since she saw her the day Ryoma went to the US Open. She had seen how Ryoma just shrugged when she asked for her until he had started to get nervous while explaining something about her. She also knew Sakuno was Ryuzaki-sensei's granddaughter, the old coach of his husband, but she has never had the chance to talk to her.

"No-"

Ryoma didn't finish the sentence, hearing the door of the room where Sakuno was opening again. The doctor in charge of Sakuno approached them and asked:

"Tezuka Kunimitsu?"

"Hai", answered the always serious captain.

The doctor was surprised at this, not having expected one of the boys to answer, so he wanted to be sure.

"Are you in charge of Ryuzaki Sakuno?"

"Yes, I am."

"Are you a relative?"

"No."

"Her boy-"

"How is she?", interrupted Ryoma, tired of all those useless questions.

The doctor turned to him and observed his anxious expression and his bandaged head. 'I see', the doctor thought. That answered his unfinished question. Seeing all of them waiting for an answer, he decided to postpone the administrative issues.

"She's stable", he saw their faces relaxing. "We can't say she's out of danger yet, because the accident has been severe and until she wakes up we won't know if there are any consequences. We're going to leave her in the unit care until she wakes up and then we will get her a room". Seeing all those almost happy faces of the group he felt bad, but it was better to warn them. "However, there is a possibility that she won't wake up. The anesthetics are still working, but she could fall into a coma and, if that happens, we can't predict when will she wake up… Or even if she will."

They froze. Coma? Sakuno may not wake up? It was too much.

"I know it's difficult to accept", went on the doctor "but is a possibility you should be prepared to see. The blow on her head has been very hard, so even if she does wake up, there could be consequences."

The doctor saw how Ryoma clenched his fist and the sadness and the incredulity in the faces of the others, so he chose to change the topic.

"That's why I need to know who is in charge of her. There must be an adult who takes the responsibility", added looking at Ryoma's parents and the coach, the only adults.

"Her grandmother Sumire Ryuzaki is the one who's legally in charge of her", answered Tezuka. "She's also her only relative alive, so we know, but we can't contact her because she's on a journey. She asked me to keep an eye on her, so I'll take the responsibility."

"It can't be, it must be an adult."

"I'm eighteen. Legally I'm an adult*, so I can take the responsibility, can't I?"

"Well, yes, but…", the doctor looked away, uncomfortable, to the only ones he really believed to be adults, but none of them stood against the idea. He had to surrender. "All right. However, it would be better if there is another adult who also takes responsibility."

"We will", said Rinko while Nanjiroh nodded, serious for once.

"All right, follow me."

~Two weeks later~

"Kawamura-senpai, don't you have to help at the restaurant today?" asked Momoshiro while approaching the gate.

"My father has given me spare time today so I can go with you all to the hospital", answered Kawamura, shyly.

Momoshiro nodded and went back to practice, which was almost finished. It had been two weeks since the accident and the prognosis about the coma has proven right. Sakuno had never woken up, not even once. All the regulars had gotten used to visiting her every afternoon, once practice was over, and Sunday mornings*². Kawamura went too, even though he wasn't a member of the tennis club anymore, having decided to help his father at the sushi restaurant in order to learn, but he was still a classmate and friend of the third years. He often went to their matches and, once they were over, they all went to his father's restaurant. Although he wasn't there when the accident happened, he knew about it and was as worried as the others.

Tezuka was surveying the practice along with the coach. They both had decided to use the summer break to focus on the new members, because since the competitions had already finished they could help them to improve. To achieve it, every regular and non-regular were playing matches to improve everyone's weaknesses: strength, power or precision. Inui had helped to plan the training program. Every regular –except Tezuka- or any non-regular member with an outstanding skill was playing a match with one of the other members; since the number of members had increased, however, while half the team was playing, the other half was doing exercises that will improve pliability, power, strength and basic tennis moves, (though they could also take short breaks to watch the practice matches). The roles reversed when practice was half done. The next day, in order to avoid the monotony and demotivation of the players, the regulars would be playing matches between them while non-regulars would be doing other activities, also planned by Inui, who had been recollecting data about them. The last part had been suggested by Oishi and all of them had agreed.

Today they were playing regular vs. non-regulars matches. At the beginning, the first years had been worried (the other non-regular members too, though they'd never have recognized it), uncomfortable at having to play matches against regulars, but day by day they had grown used to it and the practice program seemed to be working. Tezuka and the coach observed them outside the courts, looking for mistakes or aspects to improve and praise in order to maintain the motivation and teamwork.

When there were only ten minutes left, Tezuka's phone sounded. No student could have had their phone on during school, but because of Sakuno's condition, the coach had allowed Tezuka to have his phone with him.

"Moshi moshi."

Tezuka moved away a little, giving his back to both the coach and the court, so he didn't notice Eiji looking at him and the calling the others, stopping the matches and approaching Tezuka. The coach did notice, but he didn't even try to stop them. Soon after, Tezuka hung up and noticed the silent courts. He turned to see what was happening and he almost instinctively backed because of Eiji's closeness; he had apparently been trying to eavesdrop something. Despite the situation, Tezuka managed to keep his stoic façade, even though Fuji noticed something weird in his eyes.

"Practiced is not over yet."

"How is Sakuno-chan?" asked Eiji, ignoring the captain, who looked at him but didn't answer.

"Come on, Tezuka", stepped in Fuji. "We know it's from the hospital: you wouldn't have answered otherwise."

Tezuka looked at the regulars, who had approached him and were now looking at him, waiting for an answer. Even some of the non-regulars had approached. The coach, outside the semicircle the regulars had formed, was also observing him and nodded slightly. Tezuka sighed inwardly before answering, accepting the defeat.

"Sakuno has woken up", he answered straight-forwardly, having to wait for the other to stop celebrating to continue. "She seems to be fine, but she's still confused and weak, so they have asked me to go. You all will-"

"We'll come with you!" shouted Eiji while jumping around them.

Before Tezuka could refuse, the regulars nodded. Oishi turned to the coach, who nodded too, and then turned again to Tezuka with a small smile while he shrugged. They both knew there was no way to stop them. Even if they banned them from going, they'd find a way to go and see her, and there were less than five minutes left of practice. Once it was over, there would be nothing they could do to avoid it.

"All right. Go change, we're going to the hospital."

Momoshiro turned around, looking for Ryoma to talk with him, but he couldn't find him.

"Hey, where's Echizen?"

All the regulars looked around, searching for him, but they couldn't find him.

"He's at the changing room. If you don't hurry up, he'll leave without you", answered the coach, smiling.

"Ah! Not fair, Ochibi!"

Eiji ran to the changing room followed by Oishi, who was trying in vain to calm him down. Momo and Kaidoh followed them, for once without fighting with each other. Fuji, smiling and with his eyes closed, also went to the changing room with Inui, still writing something on his notebook while walking, and Tezuka.

Half an hour later, all of the regulars along with Kawamura went to the hospital. In the beginning it had been weird. Eiji and Oishi used to go together to see her, but they always ended up there with Tezuka, who spend most of his time there, Fuji and Inui. Kaidoh and Momo also used to visit her almost every day, so they all decided to go there together, thinking that Sakuno would have liked it.

The problem had been Ryoma.

After the accident, he hardly went to class and never was at practice. They had never seen him with Sakuno either, but they knew he visited her because the nurses and the doctor had told Tezuka. When Momoshiro tried to talk with him, Ryoma just ran away, ignoring all of them, even his parents, until Tezuka confronted him, a week after the accident.

Flashback

"Echizen."

The boy grimaced, but didn't open his eyes nor move. It had been a week now and Ryoma was still unable to go to class and seer her empty chair or go to practice and search for her figure in vain. There wasn't anyone to cheer for them anymore, no one to help them with their training. At least, no one he cared about, so he had gotten used to spendind most of his time at the rooftop even though that place also brought back memories about her. But, at this time, could he do anything that wouldn't remind him about her?

If he had known something like that could happen…He would have never gotten close to her. He wouldn't have let her be with him.

Tezuka, tired of the situation, had gone to the rooftop. Actually, they all knew he was there, but no one had dared to go. Sakuno was the one who always went to search for him when he was ducking out of something. And she always made him return and participate, no matter how stupid was the school activity he had tried to avoid was.

"Echizen, how long do you plan to keep this up?" Tezuka asked, impassive about his kouhai's unresponsiveness. Seeing him still not answer, he kept talking." Until Sakuno wakes up? What if she never wakes up?"

Ryoma cringed before the possibility but didn't answer so Tezuka went on. He wasn't going to stop until Ryoma answered.

"And even if she does wake up, there could be consequences. She may be unable to talk or move. She may forget us. Or it could take years for her to wake up. Are you going to stay here, not doing anything even after she saved you, maybe at the expense of her life?"

Tezuka knew he was being cruel, but what Ryoma was doing to Sakuno was cruel too, even if she never knew about it. Because Sakuno had saved him so he could live as she knew him, not for him to be a mere shadow of what he used to be, lamenting and running away from everything.

And yes, Tezuka knew that, had Sakuno been there, it would have been now long since she had stood up in front of Ryoma and had asked Tezuka to leave him alone, saying that what he was doing wasn't right. But Sakuno wasn't there and Tezuka wasn't one to stay still.

Ryoma had dropped his guard and now he had to accept the consequences. And if he wasn't willing to do it, Tezuka was sure going to make him do it.

Ryoma, unable to keep listening, stood up, leaning on the fence that surrounded the rooftop and through which he used to look every time he wasn't pretending to be sleeping when someone appeared, and went towards the door without saying a word. However, when he passed by Tezuka's side, the former caught his arm and pressed him over the fence, effectively blocking the younger from moving. A sound of protest escaped Ryoma's lips, but fell silent after seeing his captain's face.

Once, years ago, Tezuka had slapped Ryoma like he was just a capricious and arrogant kid. And, in a way, he was, at least the arrogant part. That had been a lesson. Tezuka hadn't been angry at Ryoma, just disgusted and a little disappointed. And the slap had made Ryoma react, because he didn't want to be an arrogant kid nor, by any means, did he want to disappoint his captain.

Things were now a lot different. Tezuka was angry. Or maybe furious was closer to what he was feeling. His face, usually impassive, showed now his emotions. Fry, disappointment…Scorn even. Ryoma flinched because of the unknown face he was now seeing and would have moved backwards, had he been able to. The slap had been almost a kid's game. Now was serious. They weren't kids anymore.

"Enough with the avoiding, Echizen. It's about time you accept what's going on. Sakuno's in the hospital, in a coma. She may not wake up. She may be dying right now", Tezuka ignored Ryoma's grimace in pain and just went on, without stopping. "She may wake up and not be the Sakuno we all know. And she may wake up and be exactly how we remember her to be, if there's someone who could remain unchanged after an accident like that. But, whatever happens, it was her decision. She did it for you. And what are you doing? Staying here while pretending to sleep every time someone steps in here. Running away from everything and everybody. Atobe was right. Did she save you for this?" he asked with rage while he strongly gripped the uniform's collar.

"I didn't ask her to do it!" shouted back Ryoma, also gripping Tezuka's shirt's collar. "I didn't ask her to save me! I didn't ask her to di-"

Ryoma choked, unable to finish the sentence. His hands loosened their grip and slipped, still in fits, until they reached the captain's chest. Ryoma pushed him weakly, his head down.

"I didn't ask her to..."he whispered.

"She didn't do it because you asked her to. Even if you could have told her not to do it, she would have done it anyway, and you know why", Tezuka's voice was now softer, more understanding. He didn't voice Sakuno's name because he was aware of the pain it brought to the boy. "She had always cared for you, she'd always wanted you to be happy. That's why, even if the worst happens, don't you think that, in a way, you owe her?"

"I can't…"

"Echi-"

"I can't. Every time I see her I remember every smile, every time-"he choked again on his words and had to breathe to keep talking, even though he didn't finish. "And then I see the accident once again. I dream about it. She isn't in class either, nor in practice. Everything reminds me of her. And the worst of it all…Is that maybe she won't come back."

Tezuka, whose grip had loosened, put his hand after Ryoma's head, bringing him closer until he was hugging the youngest with one arm. Ryoma went still, his eyes wider and brilliant than usual because of the surprise, the pain and the unshed tears. Then, Tezuka's voice sounded near his left ear.

"We all miss her. A lot. But we know that she would want us to go on with our lives. If it had been the other way round, would you have wanted her to stop living or would you have wanted her to go on and try to be happy?" he paused, letting his words to sink in. "And even if we know it, we can't just forget her. That's why we all go to visit her every day. She may not hear us individually, but she sure can hear us together."

Tezuka fell silent, observing the city through the fence. He missed Sakuno too. They had all gotten so used to her presence that, after the accident, they didn't really know how to react. Eiji had been the first one to come up with the joint visits, thinking that Sakuno would be happy to see them all together and thus she would wake up sooner. Tezuka inwardly wondered if having went to talk with Ryoma was to help Ryoma himself or for Sakuno. Probably for them both. They all craved to see the young girl smiling by their side again.

"It's worth a shot, don't you think?"

Tezuka's soft whisper made Ryoma react. His hand started trembling again and grasped the captain's uniform.

And then, after the first tear fell, the rest followed, retained for so long.

End of flashback

After that, Ryoma had returned to classes and training, even if he found it hard to concentrate. He had also accepted, though reluctantly, to visit Sakuno with the others and had slowly returned to his routine.

Once in the hospital, Tezuka asked for the doctor. Eiji and Ryoma had tried to go and see Sakuno directly, but Oishi and Tezuka had stopped them. The doctor was soon there with Ryoma's mother, who used to visit Sakuno every day since the boys had classes –or training- and couldn't stay with her. She used to take turns with Nanako, Ryoma's cousin, when she couldn't go. It seemed that it had been Rinko who was with her when Sakuno had woken up and who had called the doctor.

Ryoma didn't seem surprised to see his mother there, but once he saw her he knew something was wrong. His mother was too serious but, even though he craved to ask what was happening, he waited for Tezuka to start the conversation. The tennis captain bowed before them and waited, knowing the doctor hadn't told him everything.

The doctor looked at them. Deep inside, he knew they all would come together, but he still didn't agree. How could a teenager be in charge of another teenager who had suffered a severe accident? He inwardly sighed, knowing it wasn't the time to discuss it…again. He started to explain the real condition of Sakuno to Tezuka.

"Ryuzaki-san has already woken up. We've made different tests and she seems to be physically fine. We're going to have her in the hospital some more days, but she's out of danger."

Tezuka, who had approached the doctor and Rinko when they'd appeared, ignored the happy cries of his teammates. He knew there was something else.

"Physically?"

The doctor looked straight to him, searching for the correct words. Rinko's face showed sadness while she looked at her son, who hadn't echoed the happiness of his friends and was simply looking at them, waiting, as with Tezuka, for them to continue.

"It seems the blow on her head has affected her memory", the doctor paused, like he regretted what he was about to say. "She not only doesn't remember the accident, she can't even remember who she is."

That silenced all of the declarations of happiness of the regulars, who looked at him, stunned. For a moment, no one –not even Tezuka or Fuji- knew what to say. Eiji was the first one to recover enough to ask:

"Is she going to be ok? Will she get her memories back?"

"It's still too early to know and it's also a delicate matter. She could remember everything tomorrow or need years. She may not be able to remember ever again. What it is important now is for her to be calm and feel safe. We'll try to make her recover her memories slowly, but she has just woken up from the coma and it is better not to run any risks. If we push her, be it physically, mentally or emotionally, she could suffer a nervous breakdown."

The boys looked at each other in silence, not knowing what to say. This time, Ryoma was the first one to react, his face serious but calm. Apparently.

"Is she awake now?"

"Yes."

"I want to see her."

"I don't think-"

"Please."

The regulars and Rinko could only look at him, frozen. In three years none of the players –except Tezuka- had ever listened Ryoma asking for something with a "please". Even her mother couldn't recall the last time she had heard him say it. Tezuka, who still remembered the day Ryoma went to his house to ask him to let him participate in the friendly match against the American team, was probably the only one who could understand what Ryoma was thinking. Even though Momo was his best friend, Tezuka was the one who understood him best…along with Sakuno.

"We also want to see her", said Tezuka then. It was unusual how he had included all of them, seeing that leading nine boys to a room where there was a girl that didn't remember her name didn't seem like the most sensitive plan, but neither of the regulars protested.

Except for the doctor.

"No, that's impossible. If I allow visits, it will be for a close familiar, someone who could help her. She's still confused after the coma and her amnesia isn't helping her. I can't allow nine strangers showing up in her room, it will only make things worse."

"We're not strangers!" exclaimed Eiji. Osihi tried to stop him, but Eiji avoided him, though he did lower his voice. "We and Ryuzaki-sensei are the closest people to her."

"Even if…"

"I can talk to her first, explain her what's going on and then let them in. This way she won't be frightened nor surprised", suggested Tezuka.

Fuji and Inui observed Tezuka. It wasn't like him to be so impulsive, but it was long since they've realized how important Sakuno was for him. They had even thought he had fallen in love with her, but it wasn't the case. He protected her, cared for her. He loved her, yes… As a sister.

The others didn't pay attention, anxious to know the doctor's answer; he seemed to be at the edge of losing the already short patience he still had and kicking them out of the hospital. It was Ryoma's mother who stepped in to help them.

"I agree. Sakuno-chan has always been close with them and I think seeing them could help her regain her memories. If Tezuka-kun talks to her first and explains the situation, I think everything will be ok. At the end of the day, being alone won't help her, will it?"

The doctor looked at her, exasperated. He knew he had lost and couldn't do anything about it, so he had to surrender. He sighed.

"All right. However", he added looking sternly at Tezuka,"I'll be with her all the time and none of you can give her too much information. She knows she has had an accident and that that's why she doesn't remember, but that's all. You can tell her some things, but not too much. Telling her everything won't help and it's important that she remembers by herself and, above all, that she wants to remember."

The boys nodded, serious, though the happiness of being able to see her was obvious. The doctor frowned but didn't say anything, leading them to the already well-known room.

"All right, we'll go in. You", he added turning to face the other "will wait here" finished with a hard voice and looking at Rinko like he was asking her to keep an eye on them. The woman just smiled, calm.

The doctor entered the room followed by Tezuka, who closed the door behind him and left the others outside.

After Seigaku won the national championship three years ago, Ryuzaki-sensei started to receive invitations to other parts of the country. They weren't long journeys nor did they affect a lot of practices, but she had refused to go. Sakuno had asked her why, but her grandmother had avoided giving her granddaughter a straight answer.

The club all knew too, but they also couldn't get any logical reason out of their coach. Fuji and Inui, always watchful, suspected it had something to do with Sakuno. Because of that, the tried once again on a day Sakuno hadn't gone to practice to see them.

"Saa, Ryuzaki-sensei" started Fuji with his usual smile, getting the attention of the other regulars. "Now that Ryuzaki-chan isn't here, would you tell us why you don't accept the invitations?"

As always, Eiji, Momo and Kaidoh seemed lost, not understanding the connection between the two things. Oishi seemed worried and Inui waited for the answer, notebook in hand, even if he already had all possible answers. Kawamura seemed calm, just waiting, and Tezuka had his usual stoic face, though he was listening. Ryoma was still in America.

Ryuzaki-sensei, on her side, seemed amused at the tensai's discernment, though her eyes were still serious. She observed them for a moment, not saying anything. She seemed to be challenging them to keep asking and Fuji, more competitive than what his calm exterior showed, accepted the challenge.

"It has something to do with Ryuzaki-chan, doesn't it? Every time we ask you about it, you look at her before giving an answer. If you're worried about her being alone here in school, you don't have to: we'll take care of her."

The others nodded and the woman smiled.

"Thank you, boys, but I'm not worried about that" she looked at them once again, as if she was assessing them, and then sighed. "I don't want to leave her alone at home."

That wasn't the answer they had been expecting and they all seemed surprised. Inui stood in.

"What do you mean-"

"Obaa-chan, nothing's going to happen to me" interrupted a soft voice.

They all turned to the voice. Sakuno had already arrived and was approaching them with a smile.

"Sorry I'm late. Fukumura-sensei asked me to give this to you, he says he needs it tomorrow" she explained while giving some papers to her grandmother. Then, she smiled again and continued. "You should accept those invitations, I know you really want to go and I'll be all right. We share out duties at home, so you don't have to worry about that, you know I can take care of it. And Tomo-chan is here, so I'll be safe too.

Sumire Ryuzaki looked at her granddaughter, who was smiling calmly. She knew she was right, but it was difficult for the woman to leave her. Eiji's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Ryuzaki-chan, where are your parents?"

"Eiji!" warned Oishi.

"It's ok, Oishi-senpai" smiled Sakuno, turning to look at Eiji calmly. "My parents died in a car accident when I was five, so I live alone with my grandmother."

"I'm sorry!"

"It's ok. It's been years since it happened."

Despite Sakuno's words, they all knew it wasn't true. They've never heard her talking to them without stuttering or blushing (or both…). However, Sakuno continued with the previous conversation without giving them time to react.

"Really, obaa-chan, nothing's going to happen. You should go."

"But you'd have to go and come home alone. You'd need to buy groceries too. Besides, you're easy to distract and I'm sure it gets dark before you're finished and I don't want you to walk around at night just because you were following a cat."

"M-mou, obaa-chan! That was o-only once! He was so l-little and se-seemed to be so hu-hungry…I couldn't walk away and l-leave him without-" she stopped rambling when she listened a soft laughter. When she lifted her heard she saw her grandmother, trying to hide her laughter while all the regulars looked at her, smiling. Automatically, she blushed and looked to the ground. Seeing her like that, her grandmother couldn't hide it anymore and openly laughed.

"M-mou, o-obaa-chan!"

The woman patted the head of her embarrassed granddaughter and messed up her hair, satisfied to have gotten Sakuno to forget the sadness about her parent's death. The coach looked at her players, who were smiling. However, judging by the look on Tezuka's and Fuji's faces, she knew that both of them knew what she had just done.

"Anyway, I don't want you alone at night!, she told her.

Sakuno sighed. She knew her grandmother wanted to go to those journeys, but she also knew how stubborn she was, she knew her well. In any case, she was as stubborn as her.

"We can walk her home" Tezuka then suggested, surprising them all and leaving them unable to react.

"That's true" seconded Fuji, first to recover.

"Are you sure?" asked Sumire.

The boys nodded. Kaidoh didn't accept, but he didn't oppose either and they all knew that was his way of saying "yes".

"Then I guess it's ok, it would be only a few days."

"W-wait" said Sakuno, so surprised that she hadn't been able to refuse until then. Had Tezuka-senpai suggested to walk her home? The stoic and ever-serious Tezuka-buchou? "I-it's not necessary, we live a little far and I'm su-sure they have th-things to do" she stuttered, her face red.

"Don't worry" answered Osihi, smiling. "We can take turns if someone can't come. Ryuzaki-sensei is right, you shouldn't go home alone that late."

"And it's also our way to thank you for coming to cheer for us" shyly added Kawamura.

"Or to cheer for Echizen/ochibi" said at once Momo and Eiji.

Sakuno blushed even more after hearing the last sentence.

"M-mou, se-senpai-tachi! To-Tomo-chan and me cheer for you all."

"Well", saved then Sumire her granddaughter, "then it's settled. If they walk you home I don't have any problem."

Sakuno sighed, defeated. She knew she didn't stand a chance, so she smiled and bowed to them.

"Arigato gozaimashita, senpai-tachi."

After that, Ryuzaki-sensei had been accepting other invitations, knowing the regulars were taking care of her. Even later on, when the third years graduated from Middle School, they still took turns walking her home when needed.

And time passed by.

Ryoma returned from America in the first year of High School when all –or almost all- of them were together again, this time with a stronger bond. Everything was going on perfectly.

Until Ryuzaki –sensei fainted.

The stress and her age had combined and Sakuno and the others had forced her to take a vacation. Sakuno, usually calm and quiet, had even forced her not to call and forget about them until she was back. In fact, neither of the boys really knew where she went and, seeing that her vacations were to toggle of, they couldn't tell her what had happened to Sakuno and take the risk of the woman suffering another crisis.

Because she would surely, surely, have another crisis if she saw or knew what Tezuka knew and was seeing right then.

Sakuno was still in the bed, seated so her back was resting in cushions on the headboard. She was as pale as Tezuka remembered and the bandages on her head didn't help. Her eyes, though opened, had lost their warm shine and even her hair, let loose to make it easy for doctors and nurses to take care of her, had lost its life. Tezuka and the others would never forget the first time they had seen her without her pigtails. When Ryoma returned from America they all decided to go out to celebrate. Sakuno, who as always was running late, didn't have enough time to braid her hair, so she appeared in front of them as is, her face red from running, her breath labored and her hair loose. Even Fuji –who had opened his eyes- couldn't react for a while. Sakuno became more nervous with each passing second, thinking they were angry at her, until they finally remembered how to speak. Then, Sakuno had changed from worried to embarrassed as they wouldn't stop praising her.

But that was just a memory now…One she didn't have. There in the hospital bed, half lying and half seated, it was hard to recognize her. She seemed so fragile, so tired, so weak, so…vulnerable.

"Ryuzaki-san, Tezuka-san has come to see you."

"Tezuka…san?"

Sakuno's voice was both the same and different from what he remembered. It was still soft, but weaker. It was hard to see her like that and he couldn't do anything about it, not even embrace her. But Tezuka was good at keeping his face blank.

Maybe that was what scared her, because when she looked at him, her hands gripped the sheets that were covering her. She didn't try to move backwards, but maybe it was because she couldn't.

So vulnerable.

"Hello, Sakuno."

Tezuka didn't try to approach her, but he did soften his voice. Softer, lower. Sakuno was still nervous, but she had at least freed the sheets.

"He-hello."

The doctor observed the young lady, measuring her emotional response. She didn't seem to recognize him, but she didn't seem to have a bad response either. He guessed her first frightened expression was normal with his stoic face. However, before he would let the others in, he had to be sure she was ok.

"Do you remember something about him?" Even if it's a sensation or just an image."

Sakuno didn't answer right away. She toyed with the hem of the sheet, nervous, while looking at the doctor, Tezuka and her hands alternatively.

"I don't remember anything, I'm sorry" she answered finally, without looking at them. "But…I do have a weird sensation, as if I knew him…But I don't remember knowing him. I'm sorry.

Tezuka exchanged a look with the doctor. Seeing the former nod, he approached her and took a seat near the bed. Slowly, he extended a hand and reached for Sakuno's right hand. The girl blushed at the contact and didn't seem to know where to look, but didn't pull off. With her little hand between his, bigger and stronger, Tezuka observed her while gently caressing her hand, trying to make her relax without words. They'd never needed them. It seemed to work, because soon after she looked at him, shyly, between the hair falling both sides of her face.

"There's no need for you to apologize. I am Kunimitsu Tezuka, captain of the tennis team of Seigaku. We both go to the same High School and we're friends" he explained her calmly.

"Tezuka-san is also the person who's in charge of you too, Ryuzaki-san."

Sakuno nodded slowly. Neither of them said anything for a while. Tezuka continued to caress her hand softly until Sakuno was completely relaxed. Exchanging another look with the doctor, Tezuka spoke again.

"More people have come to visit you. They're also your friends and members of the tennis team. Do you want to see them?"

Sakuno looked at him with her big brown eyes for a moment and then nodded softly. Tezuka let go of her hand and walked to the door. The doctor, who had been observing her all the time, saw her moving the hand Tezuka had been caressing to her heart along with her other hand while following the boy with her eyes.

Tezuka, already at the door, opened it and let the regulars in, one by one. Sakuno observed them entering, each passing second more nervous, seeing so many people in her room. She again got that weird feeling of familiarity. She saw a redheaded boy walking oddly, as if he wanted to start running but was restraining himself from doing so resulting in little jumps. For a moment, she wanted to laugh, but she restrained herself. There were too much people she supposedly knew but couldn't remember. It was too confusing. She lowered her gaze to the bed, blushing again. The doctor, still surveying her, seemed uncomfortable but didn't say anything.

When they were finally all inside the room, Tezuka approached her again. She slowly lifted her eyes and looked at them, one by one, though she blushed every now and then and lowered her head again. She tensed and relaxed her hands alternatively, trying to ease the tension she felt.

The boys, however, observed her without moving. They were happy to see her awake, but she had a weak look they'd never seen on her. She had always been shy, true, and a little clumsy as well, but never weak. They didn't really know what to do, whether to introduce themselves or wait until she said something, so there was an uncomfortable silence.

Ryoma, the last one to enter and the closest one to the door, couldn't take his eyes off her. On one hand it seemed as if he was seeing the same Sakuno, but on the other hand it was like he was seeing a complete unknown. Then, his golden eyes met her brown ones and he wasn't able to think anymore.

Sakuno, who had been slowly observing them, suddenly got caught in a golden gaze. She couldn't think. A part of her wanted to stay there, looking those eyes forever. The other part screamed for an escape. Her breath quickened and her eyes were full of unshed tears. Her hands, previously tightening and relaxing alternatively, closed with so much force that they started to tremble. The part of her that was crying for an escape won over the part that wanted to stay.

But she couldn't move.

The shy smiles of the regulars disappeared when they noticed the changes. Tezuka approached her again, trying to get her attention in vain. It was like she couldn't hear him. The doctor asked them to leave then, but none of them paid attention, still worried about Sakuno. Tezuka put a hand on her cheek and made her turn her head to look at him. The moment the visual contact between Ryoma and Sakuno broke, she burst into tears. Tezuka pulled her to him and hugged her tightly. Sakuno clung on him while the others looked at them, impotence filling them leaving them unknowing of what had happened. Not even the doctor tried to approach them.

The sobs were faltering; she had been hyperventilating before she burst into tears and now it was even more difficult for her to breathe. Tezuka caressed her back with one hand, trying to calm her down, but it was useless. There was no way to comfort her and each second seemed to last eternally until Sakuno eventually fainted.

Tezuka sensed how the tension left her body almost at the same time as the sobs ended. He moved her away a little, wary, to look at her face. Her cheeks were humid because of the tears and her expression, even unconscious, was full of sadness. Tezuka dried the tears of her cheeks with his hands and lied her down in the bed, softly, before covering her with the sheets, his eyes sad.

Ryoma-kun.

* I know 18 is not the legal age for adults in Japan, but I needed Tezuka to be the one in charge of her, so I changed that…

*² I think Japanese students go to class from Monday to Saturday, so I'm following this calendar.

And that's all for today =) Every time I post a chapter it's because I've already written and sent (or I'm going to send) the next chapter to my beta-reader, unless it's being too long since I lasted posted a chapter.

Ah, I already have aaall the plot-line (I have a sketch for every chapter, I made it before I wrote the first chapter). That's why I was really surprised when some people told me not to kill Sakuno. I was like: "hey, why do you think I'm going to kill her?". Until I remembered the summary haha I'm quite proud I manage to do a summary without any spoilers, that made it more interesting muahaha I'm sorry lol

Awko Taco Tales: You're review made me soo happy! But I was sad because I knew I would disappoint you with this chapter… Although I was relieved part of you also wanted this to happen =) Hope you still like this plot-line ^^ You actually made me consider of doing another version where Sakuno dies, but I'm not capable of doing so right now, maybe in the future?

Kyproth: I have already corrected the sentence you told me. Thank you so much. Literally translation only goes that far it seems haha =D Sorry I didn't answer you before, I was waiting to post this but it took longer than what I originally expected… I already had a beta-reader when I saw your review, but thank you so much for the offer anyway! I may ask for your help in the future if you still don't mind =)

Aaand that's where the boring part ends haha Hope you liked it =D See you in the next chapter (or so I hope :P).