Chapter III
"Mada Mada Dane."
Oh shoot! This phrase was very familiar to her.
"Who are you? Show yourself up!"
One of the guys reprimanded.]
"Heh? One in a shot. I need three more tennis balls."
'Is it… Is it… really Ryoma-kun?' Sakuno thought. Then in an instant, that familiar guy hit the three guys in the head. They ran away carrying their 'leader'. And then, the guy showed himself up to the trembling girl.
"Psch. You even want to thank me, nee, Ms. Twin Braids?"
Just by what he said, she remembered this guy whom she loved for all of her life. Her eyes widened when he gave her his killer smirk.
"R-Ryoma-kun…"
"Finally, you call me by my first name again."
There he goes, the prince of tennis himself- Echizen Ryoma. He has changed a lot. His body, voice, attitude and even the smirk. After the interview, he walked a little to go to his former coach's house after he heard that they haven't moved out, until he saw a familiar girl harassed by a group of men. Thank goodness, he's carrying his tennis racket and managed to save her.
"Ryoma-kun…"
"How are you, Sakuno?"
Once again, her eyes widened with what he just had said. Sakuno. It's the first time he called her by her first name. Ryoma tugged down his cap (he still wears that cap up until now) after asking her.
"I-I'm okay… Y-you? I-I didn't know… that you came back here in Japan."
"I'm fine. I just have some business to settle down."
But Sakuno, being Sakuno, still can't hide her slightly shade blush on her cheeks. She's still stuttering and shaking when he talks in front of her.
"I-I see."
"Why are you walking alone? Don't you know it's too dangerous for you like what happened earlier?"
His voice was loud. Hint that he's totally worried for her.
"S-Sorry, I just want to be alone."
"Huh. Anyway, come with me."
He suddenly grabbed her arms and took her somewhere. While walking, his hands slid down into her soft palm, giving her a shocked expression.
"Anno, R-Ryoma-kun, where are we going?"
"Just follow me."
She stayed quiet and kept following Ryoma, until they stopped in a vending machine. Really, Ryoma's love for ponta doesn't even changed.
"Mou, Ryoma-kun, you still want to drink that stuff. Ah, did you come here with your family?"
"Iie, they said they'll follow after."
"After? After what?"
"After my engagement."
Engagement? Oh no. So, he has a girlfriend now. She thought, that the girl who captured his heart was lucky. Wait a minute. Captured his heart. She remembered that line. He once told her that when she confronted him at a tennis court back then. So, as a little curious, she asked him.
"R-Ryoma-kun, is the one who would be engage to you, also the one you mentioned at the tennis court 10 years ago?"
"So you still remember that."
She blushed.
"N-Not really. But-"
"Yes. She's the one I mentioned."
"Ah, I see."
"Nee, I'm asking you something."
He handed her a grape ponta.
"T-Thanks. Uh, what do you want to ask?"
"Do you still like me?"
Whoa! How could he ask it? Why now? She thought he already forgot that, because he said that he doesn't like her.
"Iie. I already forgot that."
"Psch. It just became worser."
________________________________________________________________________A/N: Hah!!! I finished the third chapter!!! :D
I am hoping for more reviews!!! Thanks minna-san!!!
