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

"Have you heard the news?"

"Yeah. Fuji-sempai already has a girlfriend."

"I think I'm going to cry."

"Really!? Who's the girl?"

Rumors are spreading fast around the school about Fuji's girlfriend. It stirred everyone's curiosity since the Fuji is known as a sadist- what kind of girl would he like?

Tomoka ran back to their classroom. As she was still catching her breath, she stood at the door and looked for a certain someone. She walked straight to the person's seat and slammed her hands on the desk.

"Is it true!? You're Fuji-sempai's new girlfriend!?" Tomoka's loud voice ran across the room.

The classroom suddenly became quiet. Everyone stopped what they are doing and turned their attention to Tomoka, who is glaring at the girl in front of her.

Sae was startled at Tomoka's reaction. She cannot tell from Tomoka's reaction if she is angry or not. She put aside her pen and looked at her.

"Yes, it's true. I'm Fuji- I mean Syusuke's girlfriend." Sae averted her gaze as her face blushed at her words.

Ryoma, who was seating next to her, was also surprise from what he heard. He had no idea that the two are going out. He studied Sae's reaction and saw red tint on her cheeks. Can he assume it's true? He felt a stabbing pain on his chest as the thought crossed his mind.

"Eh? So it's you," Tomoka placed her right hand under her chin as she studied Sae's reaction. "How did you do it?" Tomoka sat on the seat in front of Sae with eyes full for curiosity.

"Do what?" Sae tilted her head on the side.

"You know, how did you make him fall for you?"

"Well, that's…"

Sae was not able to finish her sentence when a hand pulled her arm strongly.

"R-Ryoma?"

"Come with me." Ryoma's gaze felt like piercing daggers when Sae looked at them.

Ryoma did not wait for the girl's reply and dragged her out of the classroom.

"Ryoma, where are we going?" Ryoma's steps are fast that the girl had the difficulty to catch up to him.

Ryoma did not say anything as he continued to drag her somewhere. However, when he turned to a corner, he suddenly halted. Sae's nose crashed at Ryoma's back at the sudden stop.

"Why did you suddenly stop like that? " Sae asked as she stroke her nose with her free hand.

"Fuji-sempai." Ryoma called the person in front of him. Ryoma does not understand but he felt somehow irritated just saying Fuji's name.

"Fuji-sempai?" Sae peeked from behind Ryoma. Fuji still has his usual smile on his face.

"Hn? What did you say?" Fuji asked the Sae. Realizing what she said, she immediately corrected herself.

"I-I mean, S-Syusuke." Sae averted her gaze from Fuji. Fuji noticed Ryoma's eye twitch after hearing Sae's address to him.

"That's more like it," Fuji showed his usual smile, "where are you two going?"

"Um…" Sae looked at Ryoma for help.

"I have something important to ask her."

Fuji's gazed turned to Ryoma's hand which still held on Sae. Sae noticed this and tried to brush Ryoma's hand off her but his grip was strong.

"Something important?" Fuji raised an eyebrow.

Ryoma did not say anything. He just continued glaring at Fuji as if waiting for him to let them pass.

Sae stood in front of Fuji trying to block Ryoma's form from his view. "Um, Syusuke, please. It has something to do with our class. It will not take long." She felt the atmosphere between the two is getting grim so she decided to interfere.

Seeing the perplex look on the girl's face, Fuji chuckled. He ruffled her hair as he bend to her level.

"You don't need to be so stiff." Fuji's face move closer but two hands held Sae's shoulders and move her away from Fuji.

"We'd better be going now, otherwise, we'll be late for class before we finish," Ryoma turned to Fuji, "excuse us Fuji-sempai."

Ryoma walked past Fuji, still holding Sae's arm.

"See you later, Fuj-Syusuke."

"Things are getting more interesting than I expected," Fuji thought as his gaze followed the two.

Sae can feel the wind blew as she lean on the rails and watch the panorama of the city from the school's rooftop.

"Why did you bring me here?" Sae asked curiously.

Ryoma just stared at her. He did not understand why he got furious all of a sudden after hearing the conversation she had with the girl Tomoka. He recalled the scene a moment ago when Fuji-sempai move closer to Sae. His felt his blood boiling that he unconsciously grabbed her from him.

"Ryoma?"

"About you and Fuji-sempai," Ryoma averted his gaze, "is it true?"

Sae did not expect that Ryoma would ask that question. She cannot blame him. Things became all too sudden. Sae nodded.

"Since when?"

"Only this morning."

"But how? I didn't even know that you're going out with him." Ryoma raised his voice. He knew that he is being too nosy than he should but he cannot help it.

"Um, it's not like what you think. It's hard to explain," the girl sighed, "I'm sorry. I did not know you will be concern about it this much. Anyway, what are you so angry about?"

"I'm not angry," Ryoma immediately denied.

"Oh? Then maybe you're jealous of Syusuke," Sae said teasingly, followed by a giggled, "as if that will happen."

Ryoma got irritated hearing Sae called Fuji's name so casually.

Sae stopped laughing when she heard the sound of the railing on her sides. When she looked up, Ryoma already stretched his hands on the railings on her both sides leaving her with no place to go. Ryoma's eyes look straight to her green ones.

He's being too close. Sae panicked and fixed her eyes on the ground.

"So what if I'm jealous?"

Sae felt a shiver in her spine when she heard Ryoma whispered the words in her ear. Her heart is thumping really fast, she thought it might explode any minute.

"R-Ryoma, s-stop joking," the girl said without looking at him. She pushed him away but Ryoma remained on his spot.

"Why don't you look at me and tell me if I'm joking."

Sae shook her head furiously without looking at Ryoma.

"Syusuke and I…"

Clang

"I don't want to hear his name coming from you!" Ryoma slammed on the railings before he spoke.

Suddenly, the door to the rooftop opened.

"Ah, there you are. I've been looking everywhere for you," a cheery voice greeted them from the door.

"Momo-sempai." Sae looked at him, feeling relieved in his presence.

Momo noticed that there is something odd between the two.

"Did I interrupt something?" Momo asked as he approached Ryoma and Sae.

"I-I'd better get going now," Sae immediately excuse herself and ran to the door.

"Eh? That was fast," Momo looked at Ryoma, waiting for an explanation. Ryoma just heaved a deep sigh. He reached out for the drinks from Momo's hand and gulped it down without a word.

Sae ran downstairs. On her mind, she just wanted to get away from Ryoma. She felt so confuse.

As her mind played back the conversation they had, she continued walking aimlessly in the building.

"Sae?"

Hearing her name, she returned back to her senses.

"Captain Tezuka."

Tezuka studied her face for a moment. She looked bothered over something.

"Are you alright?"

Sae stayed silent. Afterwards, she nodded in response.

"You don't look fine to me."

"I'm fine really. Please don't worry too much."

Tezuka stared at her before he spoke, "follow me."

Tezuka led her to the tennis club office (also known as Coach Ryuzaki's office). He gestured her to the seat next from where she stood.

"I'm not in the position to interfere in your personal life but I have been hearing rumors about you and Fuji being together. Is this true?"

The girl hesitated fora moment before she answered.

"Yes, it's true."

"I see." Tezuka was surprise but he did not show it on his face.

"But it's not like what you think. Fuji-sempai and I-"

"You don't have to explain," Tezuka cut her words, "I just want to hear the truth from you."

Sae sighed. Is it really a good decision to agree with Fuji-sempai's plan?

Flashback

"Fuji-sempai?" Sae looked at Fuji in surprise, "how long have you been in here?"

"Not too long," Fuji flashed his usual smile. "I heard, Inui was looking for you."

"I see. Thank you."

Sae found it strange to bump into Fuji there of all places but she immediately erased the idea. As she walked back to the direction of the tennis court, Fuji called her back.

"Sae."

"Yes?"

"I heard what you said to Tezuka about the letter," The girl was surprised at his words, "I have a proposition for you."

"A proposition?"

"Let's pretend that we are going out."

"Pretend to be going out?"

Fuji walked closer to Sae and held her hand.

"What I'm trying to say, I want you to pretend as my girlfriend."

"Y-your g-girlfriend!?"Sae's face became all red from Fuji's proposal.

Fuji found her reaction very amusing.

"It's for your protection."

"How is becoming your g-girlfriend for my protection?" Sae stopped when she realized where Fuji is coming to. He does have a reputation of being a sadist and manipulative person in school. Even she, who is only a new student in school, knew that much. If she is to be known as his someone important to him, people who wanted to hurt her would think twice before doing so.

"It seems that I don't need to explain it to you further."

Sae thought for a moment.

"I-It's just temporary right?"

Seeing that Sae is getting convince, he smiled inside.

"Yes. It's just until we find the culprit."

Sae sighed before she spoke.

"Okay. I accept your proposal, Fuji-sempai."

"Hn? That won't do."

"What do you mean?"

"If I will act as your boyfriend, you have to call me by my first name."

"Eh!? Your name?"

"You do know what it is, right?"

"Um, S-Syu-" Sae find it hard to say in front of him, "Syu-suke."

"Yes?"

Sae blushed at his answer.

"It's a good start," Fuji patted her head, "and one more thing, we must keep this a secret from the team."

"A secret? But why?"

"You have to fool your friends if you want to fool your enemies."

"I understand that, but…"

"Don't worry, I'll find the culprit as soon as possible. Afterwards we can explain them everything."

Sae simply nodded at Fuji's words.

End of flashback

That's all... for now

(=^.^=)