First of all, I would like to thank for the guest who reviewed. It's a good motivation to continue writing. Thanks for making may day.

It really makes my heart pound whenever I get one, wondering if it will be a good or a bad one. Lol!

Disclaimer: I wish I own the characters of Prince of Tennis

After the practice's closing meeting, Sae walked to the school gate to wait for Ryoma.

"Let's go get some burgers! Kikumaru-sempai will pay!" the girl heard a cheerful voice from a distant.

"Eh!? Why should I pay!?"

"Because you lost to Echizen on the practice game, right Echizen?" Momo cling his arm on Ryoma's shoulders.

"I'll pass," Ryoma answered as his eyes were fixed on a certain girl standing at the front gate. The two seniors followed Ryoma's gaze.

"Oh, it's Sae."

"Nyaa? So that's her name," Eiji's eyes shone as if he discovered something really good.

"Oi, Sae!" The girl waved when she heard Momo calling her.

"Ochibi, why don't you just invite her?" Eiji asked.

"Did I hear that right? Kikumaru-sempai is going to pay, yay!"

"I didn't say that, nyaa!" However, Momo acted as if he didn't hear him and ran to the girl.

As Ryoma and Eiji walked closer, Momo already asked Sae to join them.

"Would that be alright?" Sae looked at Ryoma as if asking for his permission.

"I need to take you home early today." Ryoma answered in his usual tone.

"Aw Echizen, you sounded like an overly protective father."

"Pfft!" Eiji contained his laughter at Momo's comment.

"It doesn't look good if she gets home late on her first day of school."

"Momo, he's right," Eiji patted Momo's back. Eiji turned to the girl, "I'm Eiji Kikumaru by the way. You're Sae right?"

"Yes, I'm Saeri Ichinomiya. Nice to meet you... Kikimaru-sempai?" Sae froze as Eiji's face move closer to her. With a hand under his chin, Eiji's eyes trailed on her face, examining her from every angle. "Is there something on my face?"

"Hm, not bad. Not bad at all," Eiji turned to Ryoma and smack him at the back. Ryoma almost fell from the hit.

"What was that for!?"

"You've got good eyes Ochibi!" Eiji sounded very proud of his kouhai, "your girlfriend is very cute."

"G-girlfriend?" Sae felt her face became hot as she said the word.

"She's not my/his girlfriend!" Ryoma and Momo answered at the same time. Both shot a glare at their sempai.

"She's not?" Eiji scratched his head.

"She's a distant relative."

"Nyaa!? I'm very sorry!" Kikumaru bowed his head low in front of the girl, "I didn't mean to cause a misunderstanding."

"It's fine really." Sae waved her hands in front of her, "please, raise your head." The girl tried to lift Eiji's shoulders to make him stand up.

"No, I-" when Eiji looked up, he came face to face with Sae. The distance between their faces was merely an inch that they can feel each other's breath. Eiji's face became as red as a tomato up to his ears. Before long, two arms pulled him away from Sae.

"Really, Kikumaru-sempai, what do you think you're doing?" Momo asked while holding Eiji's arm.

"I-I... I d-didn't..."

"I guess we better get going," Ryoma said after letting go of Eiji's other arm.

Sae stood dumbfounded from what happened. When she came to her senses, Ryoma was already pulling her arm.

"We're going home." Ryoma commanded leaving no space for arguement.

Sae only nodded as a response and let Ryoma drag her.

As they watch the two go on their way, Eiji turned to Momo.

"Momo, I-I really didn't mean i-it, nyaa!" Eiji shook Momo's shoulders. Eiji had a pleading expression on his face. Momo had a boring look on his face as he look as him.

"You didn't mean what?" The two turn to see Fuji walking towards them.

"Huh? You're still here? Where's Echizen?" Oishi asked knowing that the three went home ahead of the rest of the regulars.

"Oishi!" Eiji wailed and hugged Oishi. He started crying as he buried his head unto Oishi's chest.

"Eiji, what's the matter?" Oishi patted Eiji's head. Eiji looked at him with teary eyes.

"I didn't mean to do that to her! Please believe me!"

"What are you saying?" Oishi turned to Momo, "what happened, Momo?"

"Well..." Momo told them about the 'almost kiss' incident a moment ago.

"Eiji, you still haven't kissed a girl before, have you?" Fuji smiled mischievously. Eiji's face grew redder almost like smoke was release from his ears.

As they walk home, Ryoma was holding her arm the whole time, but the lad didn't seem to notice. Sae realized this but she kept silent and watched Ryoma's back as they continue to walk. She remembered the same incident with a certain boy during her childhood.

Sae cannot recall his face but she remembered how she used to hide behind his back every time other kids tried to pick on her. After every fight, he would walk her home while holding her hand. However, his strides were much longer than hers that she always ended up walking behind him and gazing at his back. Her reverie stopped as Ryoma stop walking.

"We're here." Ryoma said when he saw Sae looking dazed.

"Um, Ryoma..." the lad trailed her gaze and found his hand still holding her. He immediately let go and averted his eyes.

"They must be waiting for us. Let's go." Ryoma changed the subject and started heading for the stairs.

The next day...

Ryoma went straight to the tennis court for the morning practice. He stopped when he realized that someone s following him.

"Why are you following me?" Ryoma spoke without looking behind him.

"Well, I-I just want to watch the tennis practice." Sae answered. Ryoma thought for a moment then shrugged.

Outside the court, Sae watched as the players are doing their routine. She mentally take note how the players, especially the regulars, were doing. Suddenly, she felt a finger tapping her shoulders. She turned to see who it was.

"Kikumaru-sempai? Aren't you supposed to be inside the court?" Eiji scratched his cheeks as he look down. His fingers were fidgeting.

"About yesterday... I'm really sorry." Eiji bowed down, "I didn't mean anything wrong, honest." The anxiety Eiji felt went away when he heard a soft laugh from the girl in front of him.

"Kikumaru-sempai, you really don't have to worry. It's an accident. No one's at fault." the heavy burden he felt was lifted upon hearing her answer. He felt so relieved that he felt like crying. He hugged Sae to the point that the girl cannot breath anymore.

"Eiji! 50 laps around the court… now!" A deep voice rang across the court. Eiji let Sae go and started running in panic state.

The girl sighed. When she looked up, her eyes met Tezuka's.

Coach Sumire saw everything from her office window. She smiled as she looked at the girl with brown hair.

"She looked exactly like her," Sumire thought to herself. In her hand is an old picture of a group of children with bright smiles on their faces.

That's all... for now

(=^.^=)