AN: Sorry for not updating for so long! Really was busy and had a lot of work to do so I couldn't finish it.
A little note: Tezuka , Echizen and Ryuuzaki is going to be OOC because in my mind they have turned a bit wacky due to spending too much time with the Seigaku regulars and others (other school regulars) and I also, well, wanted to put a bit of humour in it.

After many rewrites, well then, enjoy!

"It's just a dinner at the Kawamuras'... It's OK. I can do this. I just have yet to meet them for... five years? You can do it, sure you can, Sakuno!" This monologue continued on with various mumbles added as Sakuno twirled on her braid worriedly and shifted on Tezuka's car seat once, twice, and again.

"Ryuuzaki, at this rate, my car seat is going to spoil unless you sit tight. It's just a dinner. Don't worry too much about it." Tezuka smiled a miniscule smiled which probably won't be noticeable unless you placed a magnifying glass over his lips.

"Right! Sorry!" Sakuno snapped out of her monologue and straightened her back which rested awkwardly on the back of the seat. Then, she took out a pocket mirror (hey, women do grow vain as they age!) and looked into it. "I look fine. Nothing to worry about." She muttered as she pulled the mirror further away from her face.

I had never peg her as one of those women who bring that reflective thing wherever they go...

Tezuka mentally sighed as he saw her from his rear view mirror.

"Uh huh. I do look great. OK Sakuno? Let's do this!" She started her little pep talk as she saw her lips move.

Uh huh. My lips do look great with that pink lip gloss. My blusher is still intact and my mascara is not smudged... I'm getting off track here. Sigh...

After months of being friends and with much encouragement from Tezuka, Sakuno has finally plucked her courage to meet her seniors from middle to high school. Though right now, she doesn't seem to be doing that great.

"Ryuuzaki, as mentioned before, Echizen will also be there. You'll be fine, won't you."

"D-definitely. I am r-ready as I could be."

"..."

"Believe me! I could pull a wallop if I wanted to."

"..."

"I guess that wasn't the response you wanted? Ha ha..."

"..."

"Ah ha ha ha..." This is awkward!

"... I have faith in you."

Why do I feel so reassured all of a sudden? A clap sounded and a very relaxed sigh was heard from Sakuno... As if I could punch Echizen-san and get away with it... Oh it sounds nice...!

Why is Ryuuzaki being so weird now? I really do not understand women.

Tezuka pulled in front of the Kawamuras' place and adjusted his mirror.

"I'll go park the car. You should enter first."

"O-okay..." Tezuka-san! Why are you leaving me in the lurch now all of a sudden!?

Mentally sighing, Ryuuzaki got out.

"Have faith." Tezuka said, from his seat, smiling lightly once more before driving off.

... So you really did have faith and decided to toss me to face them alone.

Ryuuzaki sweatdropped and a grim smile appeared. Cold sweat broke out, her bravado leaving her almost instantly.

"OK Sakuno, remember? Apologise? Smile? Be friends aga-" As she muttered to herself while pulling her braid, the door to the restaurant slid open harshly.

"I thought I heard Tezuka senpai's voice just now but I guess I was wro-oh!" Momoshiro's voice came out from the opening.

Eeep! She jumped up.

"Hey Momo! Don't spoil the door!" An annoyed voice sounded from inside while the chopping of something could be heard.

Was that Kawamura-san? Why does his chopping sound so scary!? Why is his voice so scary!?

"Woah! Is this Ryuuzaki?!" Momoshiro widened his eyes in surprised as he looked down (while ignoring the scolding he got), only to see Sakuno with overly sized eyes, hyperventilating.

"Does he plan to have me as meat!?

"Long time no see!" Momoshiro clapped Sakuno's shoulder, taking no notice of her distress (as if he was ever perceptive of such things anyway).

Don't tell me he wants to serve me to his guests!?

"We never did talk since... For how long? You're too cold, Ryuuzaki, too cold..." Momoshiro patted her, his thumb and forefinger between his chin and shook her head a few times.

Too cold!? So you want to heat me in the oven?

"Nya, Momo! What are you doing at the door! Hurry and come in!" Another head popped out from the entrance. "Oh! Ryuuzaki! Long time no see! Why didn't you keep in contact?"

My gosh my gosh... In the oven... I am roasted meat!

"Who's outside, Kikumaru?" A voice called from inside the restaurant.

"Ryuuzaki! Our kouhai!" He answered back enthusiastically and then, he swung his head back harshly. "Why are you doing outside anyway? Quickly come in! Ochibi is here too!"

Someone help-

She was pulled in before she could run away.

"What's up? We never kept in contact for so long. Missing us?" Kikumaru grinned. "Or rather... Someone?" His arms were around her shoulders and Sakuno was starting to feel suffocated. From her peripheral vision, she could see the rest of the regulars or staring at her in surprise, even Echizen.

Did Tezuka-san not tell them I was coming?

"W-what? No..." Sakuno lifted his hand away. "I just... Came here for a drink." She smiled thinly as she took a step in to the restaurant. There was no turning back now even with a white lie. Kikumaru and Momoshiro, who was behind him blinked twice.

"EH!?" Both of them burst out. "Ryuuzaki, you can drink?" Momoshiro exclaimed.

"Yes, after all I am an adult." Sakuno smiled.

"I guess you aren't our little kohai anymore... We should have a drinking match!" Kikumaru declared, nodding his head at her with sparkling eyes.

"Eiji, don't spring up on Ryuuzaki like that! Sorry for that, Ryuuzaki." Ooishi who stood up to handle Kikumaru.

"No, it's fine. Besides, I can't drink too much. I have work tomorrow. Sorry." Sakuno smiled apologetically.

His kind face didn't change... Neither did Kikumaru-san and Momoshiro-san.

"It's okay, I am just glad to see you again, Ryuuzaki! Besides, you have really changed a lot!" Kikumaru grinned. "Come sit!" With that, disregarding his doubles partner's protest, he pushed her towards Echizen who seemed uncomfortable which went unnoticed by most.

"Thank you," Sakuno smiled. Whatever tension, fear and worry she had in her for some reason, disappeared. "But first, I am sorry!" She said, bowing. "I am sorry for not keeping in contact for so long when you've always been together with me. Any excuse is unacceptable!" Her eyes never wavered, taking all of them in, noting their surprised faces.

Silence ensued.

"Uh, it's OK, Ryuuzaki, ha ha. That was surprising!" Momoshiro laughed, the first to break the ice. He clapped her back.

"Yeah!" Kikumaru nodded his head vigorously.

"Well, I don't really think there's anything to be sorry for..." Ooishi chuckled nervously.

"There's no need to apologise." A monotone voice appeared.

I-Inui-san...

"You're here already." With that, he continued to sip his tea.

"That's right," Fuji smiled serenely as he popped a vile looking green sushi into his mouth.

"Yup," Kawamura nodded, and continued to slice the salmon.

It's kind of quiet... "Where's Kaidoh-san?" Sakuno looked around only find him not around.

"Ah, he was sent overseas by his boss and will only be back next month." Momoshiro said. "Can you believe it, Ryuuzaki? He works in the sales and marketing department! Like me!" He wailed. "Why do we always seem to be together? From middle school to university and even in the same company in the same department!"

"Perhaps you're fated." Sakuno giggled and he gagged while everyone else laughed.

That's really too bad. I wanted to see him too.

"Ryuuzaki, you're definitely like an adult." Kikumaru commented.

"Eiji, that's rude." Ooishi chided.

"So I am," She smiled. With that, Kikumaru widened his eyes.

"She's really grown up, Ooshi!"

... I am 23.

"You're so cold, Ryuuzaki, adding a 'san' at the back now. Weren't we schoolmates?" Momoshiro grumbled and then turned. "Oi, Echizen! Why are you so quiet? Ryuuzaki's here you know!"

"That's right!" Kikumaru chimed in. "Hurry and talk to her!"

Awkwardly, Echizen turned his body to face her and took a short bow which Sakuno returned.

"Another cold one here," Momoshiro muttered. "Ignore him, Ryuuzaki, how are you?"

"O-oh?" She sweatdropped at the many expecting faces. "Well, I am fine I guess, I am doing something I like."

"Oh? What's that?" Inui asked, his glasses flashed as he took out his trusty nth notebook. A shiver went down her spine.

"I am a kindergarten teacher."

"Oh, that's nice," Fuji complimented. "It suits you." Then, he took a sip of some blue liquid.

"You were always great with kids," Kawamura smiled shyly as he rolled some sushi.

"Ii data," And scribbles could be heard.

"That's cool!" Momoshiro and Kikumaru exclaimed.

"I am glad you like your job," Ooishi said gently.

"..." Echizen continued to sip his tea.

"What about everyone else?"

"I am currently in medical school." Ooishi replied.

"I entered a specialised school for science." Inui grinned evilly in which everyone shuddered in fear except for Fuji.

"As you know, Kaidoh and I are working in a company under the sales and marketing department."

"Nya, an actor! Surely you've seen me on TV?"

"Sorry Kikumaru-san... I don't really watch television..." Sakuno smiled apologetically.

"Oh? It's OK, nya, I'll bring you some films I acted in!"

"Ha ha... As you know, I am sushi chef." Kawamura chuckled.

"I'll be sure to come by often for some sushi." Sakuno said determinedly.

"Ha ha, please do." He grinned.

"... Tennis player." Surprised to even hear Echizen answer, Sakuno was stunned for a moment.

"I-I see." Not surprising there...

"Yeah, as if we didn't know that!" Momoshiro exclaimed before choking him by the neck.

"Momo-senpai... C-can't breathe..."

Just then, the door slid open.

"Sorry I am late." A monotone voice said.

"Tezuka! Quickly come in! Ryuuzaki's here!" Tezuka looked at her and then looked at everyone else.

"I was the one who brought her here." He deadpanned. "A cup of tea please,"

With that, the place went silent and then, the outburst appeared with many protests as to why they were not informed before hand.

"It was a surprise..." Sakuno smiled lightly. "I'd like some raw salmon and sake please."

The night continued.

"I'll walk you back, Ryuuzaki." Echizen said.

"Okay." Sakuno agreed and readjusted her bag on her shoulder.

There's some things that we need to iron out.

With a wave and a promise of keeping in contact, everyone left the restaurant and headed back home. Tezuka simply patted her on the shoulders and nodded with a miniscule smile which only, she caught before walking off to get his car.

"Shall we go?" Echizen called.

"Yeah," Sakuno replied and walked a little faster to catch up to him.

With that, their walk became silent.

"Ryuuzaki, seeing you today," Echizen broke the ice. There was a pause but Sakuno waited. Those kind of words were hard to say. She braced herself for it.

"I am glad." She blinked and looked at him in surprised. That was not what she was expecting.

He took a deep breath and continued. "If I never saw you again, I don't know what I'll do..." He walked in front of her and turned his back. "You left a gap too huge to cover."

"It sounds like a confession." She mused.

"It isn't." He said firmly.

"I know. You're lucky I didn't mistake your extremely misleading line." She looked at him in the eye and giggled when he blushed slightly at his extreme poor choice of words.

"You are... A... A good friend." He finally said. "I guess I was not old enough to realise what kind of love I had for you."

"No. I guess you didn't." It was a little heart breaking to know that the boy - now man never loved her the same way she did back then. If she was younger, she could have bawled her eyes out or perhaps pig out on some of her favourite food or scream and hit him and always say why did he had to be like that.

However, she's older. Mature.

Besides, why did she even love him in the first place?

Was it his tennis?

His looks?

Or perhaps, his less than perfect attitude which most would have wished to step on endlessly?

"I owe you an apology." Sakuno widened her eyes. He never apologised.

He bowed.

"I am sorry."

Silence enveloped them.

She nibbled on her lower lip and inhaled harshly through her mouth.

"I never changed my number. Why now? Do you even know what you're sorry for?" Some how or rather, despite no longer loving him, why does her heart still break piece by piece?

"I didn't had the courage..."

"..." She parted her lips but no words were said. She wanted to pull her hair or do something yet, she remained motionless.

"Sorry for making excuses." He said softly as he took a step towards her. "However, when I saw you today, I just thought that I had to do something or I'll never be able to clear this up." Gently, he placed his hand on her shoulder. "I wanted to make amends."

Slowly, she shook her head. "There's no need to." She smiled sadly at him. "You can't make amends for something that did not exist. However, you've done enough." With that, she grasped on to his hand and squeezed it gently.

"How you feel, is enough for me." She whispered. "I am satisfied." With that, she smiled firmly to put her foot down on this matter.

Another silence occurred.

"Do you regret it?" Echizen finally asked.

She smiled. "Do you?"

"No."

"Neither do I."

The ex-couple grinned at one another.

"I am glad it happened." Sakuno admitted shyly. "I just realised that now."

"Why?" Both of them started to continue walking once more.

"Well," She started and he leaned closer to her. "It's a secret!" He grunted at it.

"Well then! You are pretty close with Tezuka-senpai."

"Yup, we became friends a couple of months ago."

"What?"

"Right, that long. I needed to pluck up my courage too you know. To come see everyone."

"Oh."

"Would you like him?"

She paused in her tracks before continuing. "What's with that question?"

"I just thought you two looked great together."

"... I never thought the day would come where I would hear you say anything remotely romantic other than just now, which didn't really count." She deadpanned but the effect wasn't too great as she could feel her cheeks heating up.

"Hey!"

"If you ever have a girlfriend, I must have her know about your lack of romantic skills." She snickered.

"I never thought you would be someone that mean."

"Well, people grow!"

"As did I! What's the fuss?"

"Well, no one would have expected that from you!"

"..."

"Well, you sure stopped being talkative now."

"You were never this chatty," He smirked. "How time flies."

"Somehow it did. Anyway, don't you feel free?"

"Uh huh." At his lack of response which didn't really annoy her after knowing him for so many years, she smiled.

"Maybe I will. Someday."

"What?"

"Yeah, if I do, you'll be the second one to know."

"Why second?"

"Tomoka comes first."

"Right. And your grandmother?"

"Well, third? I need time to take things to that level and time to tell her."

"Sure."

This time round, a comfortable silence enveloped them.

Sakuno smiled again.

"Do you really want to know the reason why?"

"Kind of." He scratched the back of his head.

"Well," She inhaled harshly and paused for a while.

"It made me who I am today."

Without waiting for his response, she folded her arms behind her and skipped.

"Hurry up, slow poke!"

"What? Hey!"

With a giggle, Sakuno started to sprint in to a run and laugh with Echizen running after her.

For now, she would like to enjoy this sense of victory.

AN: Uh huh. This is the end. I hope it wasn't too rushed because my juices flowed out suddenly and so I sit in front of my computer typing like crazy till the end. I hoped the meeting wasn't too rushed too. They seem to be a group of people who wouldn't hold it against you... Or so they seem? Also, I wanted Echizen and Ryuuzaki to come to a common understanding that what happened may have hurt both of them but it is not necessarily a bad thing because they would change and new doors would be there for them to open. Whether Tezuka and Ryuuzaki would like each other, I don't know. :3
I have never liked someone before in all of my close to 18 years of life (not even a crush, you can laugh at me) so I can only wonder what romance and love really is so if this story doesn't seem realistic enough, well, please forgive me.
Well then, I have to apologise because I know some of my readers would like Tezuka and Ryuuzaki's relationship to be like official and everything but somehow, I don't think it fits in here so I can only leave a hint. And perhaps another sequel? By then, you'll have thrown rotten apples and bananas at me for not updating for so long. I bet you're already ready to do that now...!

Ok sorry for rambling.

Well, then, do leave a review! It's my first time writing humour with friendship and some hurt/comfort in it.

*so liking my new accomplishment now*