Hello,

I honestly apologize for the long delay ='( I don't know if anybody still remembers this fic... I'll try to go back to uploading once a month at least. I hope I can stick to that calendar until the end of the fic =( Despite all the faults in this fic, I still do not have any intention on abandoning it. Thank you so much to everybody who has left a review and/or added it to favoruties/alerts. It means a lot to me and gives me motivation to keep writing (even though it took me so long to update it really means a lot to me /). I hope yous till like it and that you keep reading it ^^

Oh, I don't have a beta-reader anymore (which is completely understandable since it took me forever to upload... I don't plan on searching for another one so I'll just try to do my best on my own =') Anything weird you see please feel free to tell me, I'll appreaciate it ='). Happy reading! ^^

Even the doctor had been unable to stop the joy and the enthusiasm of the regulars after knowing that Sakuno had begun to remember. The doctor was still cautious, although he considered it as a positive sign: Sakuno could still take years to remember or remember some things and then later paralyze the process and never remember anything else. The regulars, confident, hadn't paid much attention to this, expect for Tezuka and Ryoma. Oishi, although reticent at the beginning, had finally joined the others in their enthusiasm, dragged by the optimistic logics of Eiji and Momo.

Sakuno, on her part, was even more cautious than the doctor. Even though she was glad to remember, even if it was only one piece of her memory, she was scared that the doctor's prediction may become true. All of them had been so happy upon knowing she had remembered something that, if she was unable to correspond their expectations, Sakuno would feel really guilty, even though logic told her it wouldn't be her fault. Sakuno had noticed that Tezuka and Ryoma didn't look as certain as the others that everything would work out great, but the girl decided to hide her fears and assure them –along with the others, Nanako included- that everything would surely go smoothly.

Therefore, they all had become used to gather, taking advantage of the summer break, as if that was a warranty for Sakuno to regain her memories. That day, however, they had stayed in Sakuno's house, since Tezuka and Nanako considered it would be better for Sakuno to review what she knew –and that fortunately she hadn't forgotten- and to update her on the stuff she had missed while she had been at the hospital. Although Eiji and Momo had protested, they all had finally agreed on using those days to update themselves with summer homework.

Eiji had been the first one to ask for a break, barely half an hour after beginning, and had switched on the television despite Oishi's complaints. It hadn't taken long for Momoshiro to join him. Sakuno had laughed, already used to the antics and completely different personalities of the players, but she had then gone back to studying. From time to time, when after trying for a long time she could not solve an exercise, she shyly called Tezuka, who was reading beside her, and asked for his help. Once, Ryoma, who had been observing her for a while from his place at the other side of the girl, leaned towards her and pointed a sign.

"When you multiply two negative signs, the result is positive, not negative. That's why the answer doesn't make sense", he pointed.

"Ah", Sakuno blushed, but soon she looked at him and smiled. "Thank you, Echizen-san."

Ryoma shrugged, and turned to his own homework. Sakuno didn't feel uncomfortable anymore at the non-answers from the tennis player, because she had realized it was part of his character and that it didn't mean he was angry of annoyed at her. Tezuka observed them both above the book he was pretending to read, but after a little while he went back to reading. Ryoma had seemingly also gotten used to Sakuno calling him by his last name and didn't seem to give it any importance, although the captain was sure the situation still hurt him as much as the others.

Like that, every now and then Ryoma also helped Sakuno, until them both became stuck at the same exercise and Tezuka had to help them. However, while Tezuka was explaining it, Eiji changed the channel and the song that began to play made Sakuno lift her head. The movement was so sudden that Tezuka stopped mid-sentence, which in turn attracted the attention of the others, except for Eiji and Momo who, concentrated at the TV, didn't notice. Eiji was going to change the channel once again when Fuji, with his eyes open and without looking away from Sakuno, stopped him.

All the regulars, along with Nanako, observed Sakuno. The girl watched the TV without blinking even though she wasn't really watching it, failing to notice the looks the others were crossing. Sakuno was feeling something weird. She was sad, really sad, but at the same time she felt relieved, and she didn't understand where those feelings were coming from. A teardrop slipped by her cheeks, but no one tried to approach Sakuno.

Come on, Sakuno. Sing with me.

It was a female's voice. A voice she knew well, even though she didn't know whose voice was it. She wanted to hear that voice again. Hear it for real, not only in her head as the ghost of a memory she didn't have anymore. She closed her eyes, trying to concentrate, trying to remember whose voice was that strong, but joyful, voice.

Who are you?

An image flickered faintly behind her closed eyes for a second, but it was enough. She had seen that face before. She opened her eyes at the same time that Nanako was approaching her. Sakuno stood up and sped up towards her room without uttering a word. After recovering from the surprise, the others hurriedly followed her. When they reached her room, Sakuno was already picking up a book from her desk and was quickly flipping through it. Nanako, after exchanging a look with Tezuka, slowly walked toward her and saw that the book she was holding was actually a photo album. Sakuno had stopped and was intently looking one of the pages.

"Sakuno-chan, are you okay?"

"Nanako-san, who is she? –asked Sakuno in turn, turning around to the other girl with the album in her hands.

Nanako approached her and looked at the photography Sakuno was pointing. There were two girls, hugging and smiling. One of them was Sakuno. The other one was a little bit taller, with short light brown hair. Nanako lifted her head and looked at Sakuno.

"I don't know who she is, I'm sorry", answered sadly. "But why do you want to know it so suddenly?"

"The song from before. She was singing it and wanted me to sing with her. I'm positive I know her and that it's someone important to me. I can't remember her name, but I want to see her, I want to know who is she" answered Sakuno, her eyes bright because of the tears. After a short pause, she added, a little surprised, "I miss her".

Tezuka, who had been observing her, slowly approached until he was beside Nanako, in front of Sakuno, who lifted her head to pleadingly look at him. The captain looked down to see the picture Sakuno was talking about. Nanako hadn't met her, but Tezuka had, although he had barely talked to her since he has mostly met with her brother. For a second, Tezuka didn't know whether to admit he knew her or not. However, after looking back at Sakuno in the eye, he knew he couldn't lie to her. Even though the doctor had banned them from giving Sakuno too much information, Tezuka also knew that Sakuno needed help to recover her memory.

"Her name is Tachibana Ann. She's Fudoumine's tennis team manager."

"Fudoumine" whispered Sakuno, looking back to the picture. "Ann... Can I see her?" she asked, looking at the captain once again. "Please?"

Tezuka and Nanako exchanged another look. Nanako nodded slightly and Tezuka turned back to Sakuno, who was pleadingly looking at them.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am" answered without doubt the girl, looking at Tezuka squarely in the eye.

"Alright. I will try to talk to Tachibana. But", added when he saw Sakuno's smile, "I can't promise you will be able to see her. They might have gone on a trip since it's summer break.

That didn't make her smile disappear and Sakuno just nodded. Tezuka turned around, but before he could walk out of the room, Momo stopped him.

"Buchou. I know where they are now".

Half an hour later, they were heading towards some tennis courts, the same were Ryoma had met Atobe and the rest of the Hyotei team, although Sakuno didn't know that. Tezuka was carefully watching Sakuno, who seemed nervous but not afraid. In fact, the girl was talking with Eiji normally, although she kept looking the screen where the next stop was announced every so often. However, Tezuka was calm. Sakuno was still adamant about meeting Ann and being nervous was a normal reaction in her situation.

All of them, with the only exception of Nanako, had decided to accompany her, excited at the thought that she may remember something else. When they finally stopped at the stairs that would lead them to the courts, Sakuno lost the thread of the conversation and Eiji, seeing her so nervous, caught her hand and smiled at her. She smiled back at him, anxious, but she still started to go up the stairs, followed by the others. The tennis players heard the clear sound of the tennis balls hitting the racket, louder with each step. Sakuno had found a racket in her room, but she hadn't used it and she also hadn't seen the regulars train since she woke up. That's why, even though the sound was familiar to her, she couldn't identify it.

Once they were up the stairs and could see the courts, Sakuno suddenly stopped. Eiji, who was still holding her hand, noticed the tension of the young girl. However, her face didn't show any fear, not even anxiety. Only surprise. The tennis players looked at Sakuno, but they didn't say nor do anything. Tezuka and Ryoma observed Sakuno's face, carefully monitoring the slightest change that could appear in her expression. In spite of it all, Ryoma couldn't help but look, from time to time, at the intertwined hands of Eiji and Sakuno. What he was feeling, though, wasn't jealousy. It was rage. But his rage wasn't focused on the acrobatic player nor on the young girl. It was focused on himself.

The day had started alright. He would be able to spend the whole day with her, even if it would be doing homework. The first time she had been unable to solve an exercise, Ryoma hadn't dared to do anything but look until she had called Tezuka and he had looked away, feeling hurt. Ryoma felt that part of her was scared of him. Whether it was because of the accident or because of what had happened when she had woken up, the tennis player didn't know. When Ryoma saw Sakuno with one of the regulars, even with Kaidoh, she behaved in a similar way to what she had before, just shier. But when Sakuno was with him, Ryoma noticed she was distant, as if she didn't want to be alone with him. As if she was afraid of him. The young prince of tennis didn't know what to do to make her feel more at ease with him, and even though he wanted to help her and make her happy, some part of him was scared. And it was that part of him what made him unable to help her with her homework from the beginning, what had made him unable to approach her and hold her hand, like Eiji had done, so she knew he was there if she needed him.

The Fudoumine tennis team was still training in the courts, although only the regulars were there. Momoshiro, the only one who had looked away from Sakuno, found Ann observing the regulars of her brother's team with her assertive blue eyes. Soon enough, though, the Fudoumine regulars noticed the presence of their friends and rivals and the practice was halted. Ann, confused, turned around and her eyes brightened when she saw them.

"Sakuno!"

Ann run towards them, but stopped in front of Sakuno, confused once again after seeing the worried face of her friend. She saw the intertwined hands of Sakuno and Eiji, but it wasn't the first time she had seen them like that, so she wasn't surprised. What did worry her were the tense expressions of the regulars, whose attention was solely fixed on Sakuno. Ann looked once again at Sakuno, who was watching her with a sad expression but without saying anything.

"Sakuno, what's wrong?"

But Sakuno didn't answer. Releasing her hand from Eiji's, and with her eyes full of tears, she walked towards the other girl and hugged her, crying without knowing why but unable to stop. Ann, surprised and really worried, was unable to react for a while, but when she finally did she hugged her back and tried, in vain, to calm her down. The Fudoumine regulars had approached and were observing the two girls, confused and not daring to get any closer. Tachibana, the captain, looked at Tezuka, but the latter only looked back at him for a second before looking back at Sakuno again, apparently impassive. Fuji also looked at Sakuno with apparent calmness, but his open eyes betrayed him. Momo and Kaidoh, however, had looked away from Sakuno, feeling impotent.

Ann, unable to calm Sakuno down enough for the girl to tell her what was going on, lifted her head and looked at the Seigaku tennis players. None of them, except for Tezuka and Fuji, were able to keep up with her look. Ryoma and Eiji, though, didn't look away from Sakuno, sadness clear even in the eyes of the youngest.

Ann knew Sakuno well. After Tomoka, Sakuno's best friend, had moved house in the second year of the girls, Ann and Sakuno had become even closer. Sakuno was a good girl, but she was shy and calm, so even though she had a good relationship with her classmates, her closest friends were Ryoma and Tomoka, and both of them had left. Sakuno and Ann had not lost contact after they first met and they had kept seeing each other from time to time. After Tomoka's departure, Sakuno had been really down, more than any of them had ever seen her, even after the departure of Ryoma. The regulars had tried to lift her spirits, but hadn't really succeeded. It had been Ann who, little by little, had managed to make the young girl smile like she used to. And exactly because of all the time they had spent together in the last years, Ann knew there was only one person who could make her feel so sad. The Fudoumine's manager eyed the culprit.

"You!" she shouted with rage while she protectively hugged Sakuno. "What have you done to her now?!"

Ryoma finally looked away from Sakuno to look at Ann, but didn't utter a word. The girl, who really didn't know him that well and, in fact, they had almost never talked, was unable to see the sadness in his eyes. Ann took a step towards the –in her eyes- impassive boy, although it wasn't as menacing as she had originally intended because Sakuno was still holding onto her and she couldn't move properly. Before she could keep blaming the younger, though, her brother and Fudoumine's captain advanced until he was in front of Tezuka. After glancing at Sakuno for a second, who was still crying but now without energy, he looked at Tezuka in the eye and asked:

"What happened?"

The regulars of both teams, with the exception of Ryoma who was still looking at the two girls, alternatively looked at Tachibana and Tezuka. The latter looked at his friend and rival for a second, as if he was deciding what to answer. Fuji was observing them, a glint of suspicion in his almost closed eyes.

"Sakuno has lost her memories. There was an accident before the friendly tournament and now she doesn't remember anything, not even who she is."

An incredulous silence fell on the courts while the Fudomine tennis players absorbed the captain's words until, one by one, they all turned to Sakuno. Only Tachibana kept looking at Tezuka, although his eyes mirrored the sadness of the other captain.

Ann, after hearing what had happened, had looked again at Sakuno, shocked. Not knowing how to react, her hug had lost its strength and a chocked whisper escaped her lips.

"Sakuno…"

The girl wasn't crying anymore, but she was still hugging Ann. She felt safe there. It wasn't the same feeling she had when she was with Tezuka, but it was similar enough to slowly calm her down. However, despite the contradiction, it was that same warm and safe feeling what had made her cry. When she had seen Tezuka for the first time, the fear had suppressed the tears. But there, seeing that girl with brown hair and assertive eyes, she had felt again that warm and safe feeling. What had probably been a great friendship had now become nothing. Sakuno was positive she knew her, the same way she was sure she knew Tezuka and the others. But she couldn't remember it; there was nothing to hold onto but a faint safe feeling. Maybe that was why, the instant she saw the smile Ann had given her upon seeing her, she felt a twinge of sadness and she could no longer hold the tears in.

Ann felt paralyzed, looking at the Seigaku regulars as if she was expecting them to say it was all just a joke, even though she knew that, being them, it was impossible. She wanted to cry, ask what exactly had happened, but she saw the regulars' faces and knew it wasn't the moment. Her eyes met Momoshiro's who, unlike her teammates, wasn't looking at Sakuno but at Ann. The girl didn't find any answers in those violet eyes she knew so well, but knowing she wasn't alone gave her the strength she needed to overcome the sadness. She moved away a little, not letting go of Sakuno but enough to be able to face her. Hiding her sadness, Ann asked with a soft voice and a kind smile:

"How about we sit down over there and we talk for a while?"

Sakuno looked at her, not crying anymore, and, after rubbing her eyes to get rid of the tears, she nodded. Ann smiled at her again, caught her hand and lead her to a bench at the edge of the courts, far enough to not be heard but close enough to be visible.

Oishi was about to follow them, worried about what Ann could tell her, but Momoshiro stopped him by catching his arm. The vice-captain looked at him, worried, but stayed where he was.

Sakuno and Ann were sitting in the bench, in silence. None of them dared to speak up first. Sakuno didn't know what to say after what had happened and Ann didn't know how to deal with the situation at hand. Should she wait for Sakuno to start speaking? Should she introduce herself? She didn't understand how no one had told her what had happened with Sakuno... She felt guilty she hadn't tried to get in touch with her the lasts weeks, but Sakuno had told her she would call her and, after what had happened the last time they had met, she had decided not to push her. She had thought Sakuno would need time and would be keeping herself busy to forget-

"I'm sorry", said Sakuno, not looking at the other girl. "I didn't want to start crying. I… I don't exactly know what has happened", she blushed. "W-we were at home and e-eto so-somehow I… don't know how I've seen your face and…well w-we've come here.

Ann caught Sakuno's hand between hers and, when the girl lifted her head and looked at her, the older one smiled to calm her.

"It's okay, you don't have to apologize." Ann faltered, not knowing what to say, but the shy smile Sakuno gave her back lifter her spirits. "I'm happy you've come here. I'm really sorry I haven't been there to help you. "Sakuno's smile faded and she shook her head, but before she could say anything, Ann continued. "But I promise you that from now on I'll be there whenever you need me. Anything, just tell me and I'll help you."

Sakuno, surprised, didn't know how to react. Truth was she didn't really know what kind of reaction she had expected, but she sure hadn't expected that one. Ann looked worried, but besides that she was calm and was warmly smiling. She felt again the twinge of guilt, but she forced herself to sincerely smile back.

A weird sound attracted Sakuno, who turned her head to the sound. She saw the Fudoumine team beside Seigaku's team, but instead of talking they were looking at the courts where the Fudoumine's team was training. Or that was they had been doing, because Sakuno only saw one of the Fudoumine's tennis players. The other one was Ryoma. Upon recognizing him, Sakuno abruptly stood up and took some steps towards the courts, unconsciously letting go of Ann's hand.

The young manager of the Fudoumine's tennis team was also looking towards the tennis court, although she was frowning. However, soon enough she looked back at Sakuno, who had gone from surprise to nervousness and anxiety. Unsure, Ann observed her, not daring to say anything. But she had to check it.

"Do you want to watch it? We can go closer."

When Sakuno turned around to look at her, Ann saw the doubt in her expression.

"I don't know if I should" answered the youngest, unconsciously nibbling her lip while she turned to look at the courts again. "Maybe Echizen-san wouldn't like it."

"Why?"

Sakuno blushed and looked at the floor, thus not seeing Ann's gaze darkening.

"W-well, a-after the accident… When I s-saw him the fi-first time I…eh… didn't react well "she finished, ashamed.

"Why?" Ann asked, surprised. Did Sakuno…

"I... d-don't know why but… I di-didn't feel well. I w-wanted to s-see him and not to s-see him ever again a-at the same time". Sakuno shook her head, as if she was trying to break free from the memory or from those feelings. "And at the e-end I fa-fainted.

I wish I didn't have to see him every day. I wish I didn't have to see him ever again.

Ann felt again the same rage and pity she had felt the last time she had seen her. Sakuno looked so guilty… Should she tell her? But if she told her… Maybe it will get worse. Sakuno would go through it all again. Maybe it was better she didn't remember it. If Ann made sure it wouldn't happen again, maybe Sakuno could overcome it, even if she recovered her memories. If she managed to-

"B-but he has been really good to m-me" suddenly said Sakuno, as if she was afraid Ann would misunderstand it. "I-it's just t-that I think he's un-uncomfortable when we're together"

He wasn't uncomfortable, realized Ann, he was feeling guilty. Ryoma was feeling guilty. He hadn't defended himself when Ann had blamed him, and before that he hadn't looked away from Sakuno. What should I do? thought Ann while inwardly sighing. She finally approached Sakuno and intertwined their arms.

"Don't worry; I'm sure there's nothing wrong. Come on, let's go see the match. Tennis is fun, you'll like it."

Sakuno's heart jumped upon hearing those words, but she ignored it, sure it was because she was nervous to see her first tennis match. Or, well, at least it would be the first tennis match she would remember. They both soon reached the court were Ryoma and Shinji were playing, but they remained a little far from the other tennis players who were also looking the match. Tezuka glanced at Sakuno, but he soon returned his attention towards the match. Sakuno, however, was unable to concentrate on it. Her heart was beating furiously because of her anxiety, and she had a bad feeling. She couldn't understand why she was feeling worse every second. Unable to keep looking, she was going to turn to Ann to tell her she wanted to sit down when something weird attracted her attention. She paid attention to the match once again, but she couldn't see anything out of place. Well, it was a little bit shocking to see Ryoma returning the shots with both his right and his left hand, but no one had said anything about it, so she guessed it was something normal for him. No, it wasn't that. For a moment… For a moment, it had seemed to her that Ryoma stayed still, not returning the ball. But it couldn't be. Ryoma wasn't smiling, but he looked a lot more at ease than Sakuno had ever seen him. Unconsciously, she let go of Ann's arm and got a little closer. Once again, it looked like Ryoma hadn't returned the shot, but she knew it was just a mirage when she saw both players still hitting the ball. Her head was beginning to hurt.

He hits slices and topspins alternatively.

Spot.

Dizzy, Sakuno closed her eyes, bringing her hands to her head at the same time.

"Sakuno, are you okay?"

Sakuno opened her eyes and, upon looking at the tennis court, she saw how Ryoma's racket fell behind the boy, but the image disappeared after blinking.

"I-I don't know…"

It's an insult to tennis players when they fans start to harass them.

Her headache grew and she closed her eyes again, but this time the images didn't disappear. Ryoma in the floor, a hand in the ground to support himself and the other covering one of his eyes, which was bleeding. Oishi trying to cure his wound. An old woman (whom Sakuno recognized as her grandmother thanks to the pictures in her house) talking to Ryoma. A flood of images that made her fall to her knees, groaning. She felt hands in her shoulders, supporting her. She heard voices that called her name, but she was unable to recognize any of them. She couldn't put in order the images and her headache was growing every second. Suddenly, she felt a hand in her right cheek, making her turn her head, but she refused to open her eyes, fearing what she would see if she opened them.

"Sakuno…Sakuno look at me."

She recognized the voice, but she refused to open her eyes again, even if that didn't make the images disappear, nor the headache.

"Sakuno, everything is going to be alright. We're here. Look at me."

Unable to keep refusing, Sakuno slowly opened her eyes, afraid. Soon she saw the golden gaze of Ryoma, but in less than a second she saw again the same image of Ryoma, with an eye bleeding and the other looking at her angrily. Sakuno shook her head, trying to break free from the image and Ryoma's hand, which was still in her cheek.

"B-blood… The... The b-blood do-doesn't stop... You n-need to go o-out of c-court. Why do-don't y-you go o-out?"

Ryoma looked at her for a second, worried and surprised. It couldn't be that Sakuno… He shared a look with Tezuka, who was supporting Sakuno from her shoulders and saw in his eyes the same surprise. The captain nodded once. Ryoma leaned forward and tried to put both hands in Sakuno's face, but this time she fought back, clumsily trying to stop him. Tezuka let then go of her shoulders and hugged her from behind, softly but firmly so she couldn't move her arms freely.

"Sakuno. Sakuno look at me."

"No…No! The blood…The blood-"

"Sakuno there's no blood. No one's bleeding. I'm not hurt. It's a memory, just a memory. Look at me. Look at me now." Sakuno still refused, shocking her head without opening her eyes. "Look at me. I know you can do it. Focus Sakuno. I'm here."

The girl opened her eyes, breathing shakily, and focused them on Ryoma, who returned her gaze calmly.

"That's it, very good. Look at me. Don't worry, everything is fine" Ryoma soothed her, smiling softly to make her relax.

"Ry-Ryoma…"

"Yes, it's me" he answered, trying to ignore the fact that his heart had just missed a beat when she had said his name. It wasn't how she used to call him, and it had sounded strained from the fear, but she hadn't called him by his surname, in that polite but distant way she used to talk to him ever since the accident. Ryoma didn't look away from her, making sure to keep the visual contact. "See? There's no blood."

Sakuno nodded, slowly. She still seemed afraid, but she looked a little more calm.

"What have you seen? Tell me. No, don't stop looking at me. I'm here" added him upon seeing her tensing and the fear going back to her eyes.

Sakuno swallowed, anxious. She hold onto the material of Tezuka's jacket, who was still hugging her despite the fact that she wasn't resisting anymore. The headache still persisted, but it was fainter now that, thanks to Ryoma, she had finally managed to block the images. She was afraid. Afraid that telling him would make the images come back. Ryoma said it was a memory. For the first time, Sakuno was afraid of remembering.

"Everything will be alright."

A tear slipped from her eyes, but Ryoma wiped it off with his thumb, always looking at her in the eyes and his hands still in her face. Ryoma's eyes were kind and warm, but there was something more in them. Expectation? Eagerness? Sakuno couldn't identify it, but she couldn't disappoint those eyes.

"B-blood" she whispered. "I've s-seen you, b-bleeding. Your eye" the girl frowned. "N-no, not the eye…The e-eyelid. It w-wouldn't stop b-bleeding"

"Very good. Have you seen anything else?"

"O-Oishi…Oishi-san was t-trying to stop t-the bleeding but h-he… he couldn't. And t-there was… there was a w-woman. I think… I thi-think it was my g-grandmother? I've…I-I've seen pictures o-of her a-at home. Pictures of u-us two to-together…"

"Yes, your grandmother was there", confirmed Ryoma softly. Nervous, he glanced at Tezuka, but the captain didn't say anything, he only nodded briefly again. Ryoma focused back on Sakuno. It was obvious she was starting to remember, but it didn't look like she was completely aware of it. "It's a memory, one from years ago. Do you... Do you remember how I got hurt? Do you remember what was I doing?"

Something in those words caused a new flood of images. Sakuno gasped and closed her eyes, confused, but this time the headache didn't grow and it was easier for her to regain control. She breathed deeply, trying to calm herself down while she felt how Ryoma caressed her cheeks, comforting her. She noticed she could move her arms again, although Tezuka –she knew it was him even though she couldn't see him- was still hugging her, giving her the safety she needed. She searched through the images the answer she needed, concentrating. And that was how, little by little, Sakuno managed to put in order all the images until they became an only, but full, memory.

"I-I remember it. I remember it" she smiled. It was a small smile but of true happiness. "You w-were playing a tw-tennis match w-with him", she turned to the boy Ryoma had been playing with before. "He u-used some t-technique and you c-couldn't return the ba-ball nor hold t-the r-racket appropriately. Y-you tried to hit b-back the ball b-but..."

Sakuno paused, unsure, and looked away from him. Ryoma removed his hands from her cheeks to softly hold her hands. That gesture made Sakuno look at him, surprised once again by the completely unusual behavior of the boy. Ryoma wasn't smiling, but he was looking at her calmly, waiting. When he saw she was looking at him again, she kindly insisted.

"But?"

Sakuno sighed and looked away from him, but answered with a calm voice, although sad.

"The s-strength of the m-movement made the ra-racket fly out of your g-grasp, i-it crashed with the p-post of the net and hit y-you on the e-eyelid. O-Oishi-san couldn't make the b-bleeding stop, but you de-decided to keep p-playing, so my g-grandmother helped you... Y-You won in less t-than ten minutes."

Ryoma softly pressed Sakuno's hands, relieved and happy even though his voice didn't give away the depth of both feelings.

"Very good, Sakuno".

Sakuno lifted her head and shyly smiled. She then remembered Tezuka and turned around to look at him. Tezuka was calmly looking at her, but Sakuno already knew him well enough to be able to see the happiness in his eyes. The captain nodded, and she understood it was his way of saying she had done well. Sakuno's smile widened. Relieved, she sighed and leaned against him, freeing her hands from Ryoma's grasp to hug Tezuka back. Ryoma and Tezuka looked at each other, but none of them said anything.

The other players and Ann sighed, relieved. They all had been closely watching the scene, anxious but without interfering. Fudoumine's team, who were still surprised at the news of Sakuno's memory loss, didn't seem to know what to do, but the Seigaku regulars started to celebrate it, finally carrying along the others. Full of happiness, they started to talk about what had happened and what they should do now. The only ones who didn't take part -besides Tezuka, Ryoma and Sakuno, who hadn't moved- were the captain Tachibana, who was looking at Tezuka with a serious expression, and Fuji, who was suspiciously observing the two captains. Oishi turned to Tezuka.

"We should go to the hospital"

"It's not necessary. The doctor had already advised me something like this could happen. As long as Sakuno is okay, it won't be necessary. In a couple of days she has an appointment."

"But..."

"It's better for her to rest for now" said Tezuka while looking down at Sakuno, who was still in his arms. Oishi looked down too and understood.

"Is she asleep?" he was a little surprised, but after what had happened, it was normal she was exhausted. He nodded after looking back at Tezuka. "Then it'll be better to take her home" the other regulars nodded, agreeing, but before anybody could do or say anything else, Ryoma spoke.

"I'll carry her" announced, looking at Tezuka squarely in the eye.

The Seigaku's captain looked at him for a while, as if he was evaluating him, but he soon nodded and helped him carry Sakuno in his back, careful to not wake her up and so that he could carry her without falling while Oishi apologized to the Fudoumine tennis team for the sudden entrance and bid good-bye. Ryoma stood up with Sakuno still asleep in his back, but when he turned to leave, he found Ann there, blocking his way. She observed him with a serious and resolved expression.

"If you hurt her again, I'll get you for it."

Ryoma only looked at her, not reacting until he finally nodded briefly. Ann, after hesitating for a little while, moved away and observed them leave. She noticed Momo looking questioningly at her, but she didn't look at him and he didn't say anything.

That's all for now! ^^ I hope you liked it =) Mi intention is to upload a new chapter by February or March at the longest. Any update about the new chapter (progress and aproximate date of update) will be posted on my profile ^^ Any (polite) comment will be veeery much appreciated! ^^ Hope you all have a great weekend! ^^

P.S: Do you think Ryoma was too Ooc in this chapter? I think so =( I'm sorry TT-TT I couldn't resist to write it like that