Disclaimer: I do not own Tennis no Ohjisama and Card Captor Sakura, especially each respective anime's characters. Iwase Kumiko-san and the Reverie Café are my own creations. Any similarities with real people and/or place are unintentional and coincidental.

Author's Note: This story is not a crossover fanfiction regardless of Daidouji Tomoyo's and Hiiragizawa Eriol's occasional appearances.

Enjoy reading!

The Sadist of Seigaku

Chapter 3: Inspiration

Tennis practice is always brutal.

It has always been like that since middle school. No major changes have occurred, except that each training day becomes more and more difficult and technically absurd. Trust Inui Sadaharu to plan a tennis boot camp and all members will definitely fall down.

He breathes deeply before sighing loudly. He has been observing the other regulars gasping for air. Eiji, Kawamura, Momoshiro and Kaidoh lay motionless on the tennis court ground. Tezuka is walking the court's perimeter, gasping for air as well. Of course, the captain may be an excellent athlete but he is still human after all. Oishi is sitting beside him, water bottle in hand. The usually motherly vice-captain is out of words because of near exhaustion. If he weren't, Oishi would have been encouraging them and lecturing the regulars about team spirit and the like. Echizen is sitting, his back against one net post, staring blankly in space, while the perpetrator of it all – namely, Inui – is casually talking to Sumire-chan as if all of his teammates were everything but human.

He, on the other hand, is sitting down with his casually playful smirk. He does not have to say anything, really. He is tired, and that is a given. But of course, he is enjoying the rigorous training Inui is continuously revising for the regulars. Besides, every one of them must be thankful.

At least, it is Inui who is designing the training menu for all of them.

What in the world would happen to them, if one day, Tezuka decides to design the training menu instead?

That would be fun…

Amidst his musings, Fuji Syuusuke stands up quite abruptly that he startles Oishi.

"What's the matter, Fuji?"

The tennis prodigy simply smiles at the vice-captain as the former redirects his gaze in front of him. Oishi follows his line of view only to have his mouth hang open in panic. Trying to take control of his good head, he stands up and takes panicky strides towards the other regulars.

"Who told you to lie on the ground after running laps?"

Too late to save the others from the captain, Oishi looks on worriedly as each regular pulls himself together. Who knows what kind of punishment the captain is thinking of? They have just run 100 laps for who knows how long. That alone is short of torture for all of them.

"Cool down by walking for ten minutes. Stretch your muscles for better blood circulation. Sitting and lying down will only weaken your stamina," Tezuka instructs all of them as the regulars proceed to walk the perimeter of the court.

"Yes, that's right," Inui intercepts. "And after cooling down, you can savor the taste of my latest drink," Inui tells all of them as he shows a pitcher-full of bubbling lime green liquid.

It seems so repetitive: they train hard for one hour and then Inui will treat them to a disgusting drink that only the sadist of Seigaku can stomach. They should be getting tired of all of it, if only Inui were making the same concoction and executing the same menu every practice hour. But of course, creative Inui knows how to 'spice' up their lives, and so, here they are – except for Fuji Syuusuke – all in agony just because of a pathetic pitcher of slimy juice.

Mind you. They are not even interested in knowing what the juice is made of.

It is like tasting the juice just the same, so, why ask?

Inui smiles sadistically as he notices that the regulars – save Fuji – have taken several steps away from him. Even the usually stoic Tezuka is giving him a disapproving look. Inui, then, turns to Ryuzaki-sensei who also takes a step back.

"Would you like to taste this, sensei? It's good for your health," Inui says as he pours a portion of the juice in a paper cup.

"Er…never mind, Inui. Thanks just the same," Ryuzaki-sensei waves the offered cup off. She does not want to insult Inui, but then again, the data guy seems to enjoy the disgusting looks from them all instead of sulking at the fact that no one bothers to drink his creation. Well, there's Fuji as an exception, but that is a different thing after all.

Ryuzaki-sensei furrows her brows to erase even the memory of the slime when an idea strikes her. "Why won't we all go to the Reverie Café to relax a bit?"

At the mention of the café, almost all of the regulars are jumping mad in delight.

Well, every one, except for Inui, Tezuka, Fuji, Kaidoh and Echizen.

Inui does not comment but he prepares his trusty notebook for interesting data that may come his way.

Tezuka does not say anything, even after seeing Kikumaru and Momoshiro snicker like little children as they plan what to eat and drink at the café.

Fuji is still smiling, as always.

Echizen, on the other hand, feels a bit sick after hearing that they will be going to the café. He was greatly embarrassed the last time they went there. He does not know what entails him at the café today but he is sure that he does not want to make any impression on Ryuzaki-sensei regarding Sakuno. The last thing that he wants to happen is for the old lady to design his face with a black eye.

"Relax a bit, Tezuka," Ryuzaki-sensei suggests as she notices the stiff but ambiguous expression on the captain's face.

Tezuka watches the other regulars as they walk to the café. He and the coach are at the back end of the trail.

"It will seem as if we were celebrating something when we haven't had anything to hold on to yet," he mysteriously answers.

Ryuzaki-sensei smiles at him in understanding.

"You all have been practicing hard since day one. You deserve a break. The team will do fine," she finally says.

Tezuka regards the coach for a while and decides not to say anything anymore.

Ryuzaki Sumire is starting to regret that she has invited the whole team for a little treat in the Reverie Café. It is her treat and she is starting to wonder how much her protégés love her that they seem to be planning to rob her of her money. Well, Tezuka seems reasonable enough. The team captain has only ordered a cup of chamomile tea and has offered to share in the expenses. She has told him not to worry about it, and so, the young man seems not press about it anymore.

Of course, she has not seen Tezuka Kunimitsu give the regulars team a warning glare that has sent them all to Planet Silence.

And so, Ryuzaki Sumire raises her right brow at the sudden quietness of her students.

"What made you decide to quiet down? All of you are very rowdy a while ago."

The regulars, except Teuzka, look at each other with faces of mock innocence. Nobody dares to look at a decidedly stoic Tezuka-buchou who seems ready to make them run laps inside the Café.

"Err…" Oishi starts. "We noticed that we were attracting quite a crowd a while ago so we had to tone down our voices. We're sorry if it bothered you, Ryuzaki-sensei," he finishes while giving his good head a light scratch as he hears Kikumaru trying his best to stop from snickering.

Ryuzaki Sumire sighs. "I wasn't bothered at all," she says, missing the curious look Tezuka is giving her.

"Ne, Ryuzaki-sensei, does that mean we can proceed ordering now?" Momoshiro butts in. The excitement of eating a treat by their coach is already seeping in. Besides, it is the first time in their senior year that their teacher has decided to treat them for no reason at all.

The regulars take the waving of the coach's hand as a sign that they can order now. It is Kikumaru who bouncingly calls the attention of a brunette waitress.

"Ne! Excuse me!" He calls, loud enough for all the people in the café to hear.

"Eiji…" Oishi ducks his head in exasperation.

"Eh? Why, Oishi?" He asks, and then looks at the rest of the team.

Kaidoh's is also keeping his head a bit low.

Inui is, of course, writing something on his notebook. Whatever it is, Eiji has no desire of knowing it.

Fuji, Momoshiro and Echizen are grinning cheekily at him.

Kawamura, on the other hand, seems to be hiding his face from the whole crowd using the menu.

Then, poor, poor Kikumaru. He realizes that he is in BIG trouble this time.

Tezuka is sending him one of his reserved glares and Ryuzaki-sensei is not at the table to play arbiter for them.

"Ehehehehehe….." Kikumaru nervously scratches his red head as he thinks of a way to get out of the situation.

"Excuse me, but are you the Seigaku Tennis Club?" A feminine voice interrupts them all, thankfully for Kikumaru.

Nine heads nod at the pretty waitress before them, but they curiously furrow their brows because she is holding a video camera on her left hand and an order slip and pen on her right.

"Don't worry. I'm just taking a video of you so I can show it to my dear friend. She is from Seigaku, too, and a very big supporter of the tennis club," she finally explains as if she were able to read what is going in their heads.

"She is from Seigaku?" Inui asks.

He adjusts his eyeglasses as the waitress gives him an affirmative nod, but Inui quickly raises a brow when the waitress elegantly squeals when the café's door opens.

It seems as if time has frozen when the door has opened and a pretty girl with auburn hair enters…

…and somehow, seven heads at the corner table reserved for the Seigaku Tennis Regulars Team are still capable of keeping their faces straight as they watch, in unspeakable amusement, their youngest member blush several shades of red.

Well, besides the seven, there is also a video lens intent on capturing every breathing moment of the first year and it seems as if the owner of the camera is debating whether or not she will show it to her friend…

…yet

"Ah…good afternoon, senpai-tachi, Ryoma-san," Sakuno greets the tennis club team with a courteous bow, unaware of the shifting of a video camera to her direction.

The whole team greets her back with nods and friendly half-waves.

"Ne, Sakuno-chan," Kikumaru begins. "Are you going to play waitress for us again?"

Sakuno is caught at the eager question of her senpai. She has done it only once because of an apparent need for helpers at a very busy hour. She glances at her wristwatch and then, back at her senpai who is now wearing an irresistible innocent-puppy look. Sakuno blushes hard that she takes a step back at the overwhelming sight before her.

"Ano…"

"I did not know you have worked as a waitress once, Sakuno-chan," a sweet voice interrupts Sakuno. She turns to her right only to meet the lens of a video camera.

"Ah!"

Jumping and flailing her arms in surprise, Sakuno loses her balance and jerks forward to meet the edge of the table.

Good for her, Fuji has fast reflexes that he easily takes hold of her waist and helps her straighten up.

"Saa…be careful next time, Sakuno-chan," Fuji-senpai whispers softly to her that she barely hears him. "I won't be there to catch you always," he adds, with his eerie blue eyes visible.

"Ha…ha…hai…" Sakuno stammers, uncomfortable at their proximity.

"Kawaii!"

Sakuno's predicament, a result of her usual clumsiness, has prevented her from noticing her new best friend who has been capturing her every move upon entering the café. But of course, whether Daidouji Tomoyo intentionally lets her presence known or not, she will be noticed eventually.

"You two are sooo cute together!" She squeals in a low voice, but loud enough for every one at the table to hear.

Upon hearing her friend's comment, Sakuno blushes further and bows her head. She immediately withdraws herself from Fuji-senpai and then, she inches closer to Tomoyo-chan. Fuji-senpai has been nice to her ever since but she does not want to appear interested on him. Of course, Fuji-senpai is undeniably good-looking – handsome even – and she knows that many girls are after him. However, she is not interested in him in any way and the last thing she wants to impress on him is that she is abusing his kindness.

Fuji, on the other hand, has felt Sakuno-chan inch away from him. He is a bit bothered by it but he has decided not to say anything about it. He has also felt her discomfort at the sudden comment of her friend so he lets her be. And well, about the comment, he has not decided what to think of it for now. With that, he also leaves the brunette waitress alone. However, since the first year tennis prince is with them, he decides to use the comment to jumpstart his really good day.

"Really? That's good to hear, then," Fuji comments immediately.

At his comment, eight heads whisk to turn to him in shock.

Tezuka is not having problems showing shock right in front of the whole team. Besides, every one of them is shocked to hear the prodigy comment like that.

Inui is on that same train of thought. Playful and sadistic as he is at times, Fuji Syuusuke has never really bothered to look at women. Of course, he is a young man. He knows how to distinguish a pretty woman from another. He seems to know too, that he is good-looking, but for the many years Inui Sadaharu has played with – and sometimes against – the prodigy, he has never heard him comment like that, especially regarding the coach's granddaughter, Ryuzaki Sakuno.

On the other hand, Oishi, Kikumaru, Kawamura, Kaidoh and Momoshiro look like their jaws have decided to rest on the floor for a while. They aren't expecting to hear that comment from the prodigy too. The five are in dumbfound silence for a while, but Momoshiro dares to take a glance of Echizen Ryoma, only to be utterly disappointed.

He knows Echizen is a bit wary of being at the café since his blushing incident weeks ago. Momoshiro knows about it even though Echizen has not told him so. He has been awfully quiet upon Ryuzaki-sensei's invitation. Of course, Echizen has always been quiet but his silence usually exudes a very confident aura. However, right now, Echizen has his head bowed low, his cap covering his face so that nobody knows how he is reacting to Fuji-senpai's unexpected comment regarding Ryuzaki Sakuno.

"Oi, Echizen," Momoshiro whispers to his kohai.

Echizen turns to Momoshiro as he takes a sip of his soda float, his face void of any emotion. "What is it, senpai?"

Momoshiro is surprised for the second time of the day. Echizen is not showing any emotion.

Is there some sort of role-reversal in here?

"What's going on in here?"

All the people at the table, the Seigaku tennis club regulars, Sakuno and Tomoyo, turn to Ryuzaki Sumire who suddenly appears from nowhere after being missing-in-action for quite a while. After looking at the coach, they all turn to stare at each other as if pointing at each other who must retell the coach all the events that have occurred during her absence. However, Fuji's, Tezuka's and Inui's silence indicate the whole group to keep things to themselves for now.

Why?

They aren't afraid of anything, just to say.

It's just that, what are they going to tell Ryuzaki-sensei?

"Ohohohohoho!" They all hear Tomoyo's very strange giggle.

It surprises all of them but to distract the coach is what they really need right now. Hopefully though, she will not spill the beans.

"They are just posing for a video I am doing, Ryuzaki-san," she reasons out.

To Echizen, the reason sounds really lame, but Ryuzaki-sensei seems to buy it because she just raises a curios brow. On the other hand, Ryuzaki Sumire decides not to comment on the matter. They don't look like they're posing for a video, although they might be if Tomoyo is deciding to make a silent movie.

"Oh, by the way Fuji," she turns to the prodigy and takes note of his proximity with her granddaughter. "Someone requested me to give this letter to the principal of St. Rudolph tomorrow, but I have a meeting scheduled too…"

"Don't worry, Sumire-chan. I'll be glad to send that letter myself," Fuji cuts in, his jeering grin plastered on his handsome face. When he sees the coach's face getting deformed by the second – and he knows that means his face will be deformed too, any minute – he immediately blurts out, "can Sakuno-chan go with me, too?"

Now that is one question that has surely taken the voice out of Ryuzaki Sumire.

Momoshiro has been looking for Echizen for an hour or so.

It is getting dark already.

Of course, he knows that Echizen is far from the twerp he was years ago. The first year tennis prince is really, as what he has heard from his female classmates, very princely. Echizen is just a tad shorter than him and athletic in build. Echizen is not as muscular as he is, but he is not as lean as Fuji-senpai. He is still the brat that has battled the most formidable athletes during his junior year in high school. However, he is far from immature now. The kid is growing into a young man. Okay, he still calls Echizen, "kid", but he has been used to thinking of him that way, that sometimes, when he sees Echizen look the way he did at the café just a while ago, he is almost always blown away.

Echizen Ryoma has definitely grown up, but he still has lots of things to learn.

For example, dealing with his growing feelings for the coach's granddaughter, Ryuzaki Sakuno.

It is not only Echizen who has noticed the girl's sudden transformation from timid to mysterious, from cute to pretty. The Seigaku tennis club members have too, especially, as it seems, Fuji-senpai.

Momoshiro suddenly stops – as well as his musings – when he hears the familiar sound of a something hitting a wall.

Tennis.

Echizen!

He enters an unfamiliar park and tries to search for the source of the sound.

He stops after a minute of running only to find a tennis court and Echizen Ryoma doing drills a few feet away from him.

"Oi, Echizen!"

Echizen stops and turns to Momo-senpai with a very bored and annoyed look.

The first year wants peace and quiet for now – and something to do to vent his anger on. He has found it in tennis – what else? – and he is not about to give it up for another bashing. His experience at the café is enough for one day.

Fuji-senpai's comment…

He does not know how to react. It is hard to give any reaction, but he cannot lie.

He does not like Sakuno's and Fuji-senpai's new found proximity.

If anything, he hates it.

"Oi! Echizen! I have been calling you, you know," Momoshiro says as he approaches the first year who stands still, tennis racquet slung on his right shoulder. "Next time, when I call you, pay attention, okay? This is not the way to treat your senpai," he lectures amiably.

"Ah."

Echizen regards his senpai and friend for a second before placing his racquet on a bench a few feet away from them. He grabs his duffel bag and takes out his tumbler. He can see that Momo-senpai has not changed. He has already given his senpai a cold shoulder but of coutse, Momo-senpai is not the type to back out, especially on him.

Echizen raises a brow when Momo-senpai sits beside him.

"If Tezuka-buchou were here, he would have thrashed you for sitting down after practice."

Echizen just nods at the statement.

"You know, I have been the only one talking in here. It's a bit awkward. Say something," Momoshiro finally whines when he senses that his kohai does not have any plans of talking to him.

"There isn't anything to say," Echizen finally says.

Momoshiro laughs.

Echizen looks at him as if he has grown five heads.

"Ehehehehe…" Momoshiro tries to suppress his laugh to be able to explain. "You just said something," he finally adds as he gives Echizen a bonk on the head. He takes note of the embarrassed blush of the first year.

"Why are you here, Momo-senpai? I thought you went to Fudoumine to catch up with Tachibana Ann," Echizen finally says. He has to think of a way to get out of the embarrassing situation. This is the only one he can think of right now.

"Err…yeah…but I think she is busy right now. I came to look for you. It seems like you are having problems now, you know?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Echizen quietly answers as he grabs his duffel bag to leave.

It is a known fact that Echizen is an awkward liar. Tezuka-buchou can testify to that. However, it seems that the first year is unaware of it. Well, he has to know that lying cannot do anything good to him, especially now.

"Echizen," Momoshiro calls him back as he also prepares to leave.

The first year stops to look at his senpai. He takes a wary stance as he sees the unusual side of Momo-senpai: brotherly but serious.

"How long would you want to suffer, just getting jealous all the time?"

Fuji Syuusuke is grinning his biggest.

That is nothing new, however, since whenever he is with Eiji or just on court, he frequently grins. For now, though, he just feels good and at peace. He is going to visit his younger brother, Fuji Yuuta, and who can best accompany him other than Ryuzaki Sakuno?

Actually, he just asked permission from Sumire-chan to stop her from dismantling him into some sort of a specimen yesterday. He does not really need company today, but he does not mind having one either. Besides, Sakuno-chan is so cute and innocent that he is starting to enjoy her company. Of course, he is happy not because he has missed practice. If anything, that is the last one he wants to miss. However, when he has seen the trying-to-look-aloof face of Echizen Ryoma when he is leaving with Sakuno-chan, his day starts to brighten more.

Call him sadistic or what, he does not care.

Saa…

"Ano…Fuji-senpai…" a soft voice calls him.

He looks down to meet the curious face of Sakuno. He gives her one of his famous cheeky smiles to encourage her to continue.

"Ano…is St. Rudolph far from here?"

"Hmmm…no, it isn't. Why? Do you have to be back to the café early?"

"Ah…no…no…" she says, waving her hands in front of her. She wants to do something new for a while and she knows that Fuji-senpai wants to see her younger brother. That is why obaa-chan has given him this errand to do. "No, ano…I am just curious to where it is. I haven't been there," she shyly answers. "I'm sorry if I –"

"You haven't been there?" Fuji cocks his head to the right before turning to the girl beside him. "Don't worry Sakuno-chan. We won't get lost," he says, jokingly.

His smile widens more upon seeing a blushing Sakuno.

The two proceed walking towards the train station in Seishun City. The train ride is fast, but Sakuno does not seem to notice it because her eyes are focused on the scenery before her. Arriving at the train station near St. Rudolph Gakuen, it takes them several more minutes before getting out of the station. They proceed walking again, silently this time. Sakuno is taking her time sightseeing. She has not been there before and the new surroundings are quite nice to look at. Of course, she gets lost most of the time, and that means new sights to see. However, it is different to have someone who does not get lost like her, so she gets to appreciate the sights more. Besides, when she gets lost, her time is spent finding her way back, and not on sightseeing.

Fuji, on the other hand, is taking his time guarding the girl beside him and leading the way to St. Rudolph Academy. Sumire-chan has told him that Sakuno-chan is directionally challenged. So, he has to keep a close eye on her, or else, Sumire-chan may decide to shoot him out of the globe if he returns to Seishun City without her granddaughter with him.

"Saa…Sakuno-chan. We are here already," he calls on her.

They stop abruptly, with Sakuno taking in the new surroundings, awe evident in her eyes.

"St. Rudolph is a Catholic institution. It has its own dormitory. My brother attended here when he was in junior high. He is in his second year in senior high now," Fuji informs her as they tread the path towards the principal's office.

"Ah…yes…I remember him, senpai," Sakuno says, the image of Fuji Yuuta briefly flashing in her mind, as they both enter the school building.

Sakuno uncomfortably fidgets as students walking at the corridor watch her and Fuji-senpai. She supposes that because Fuji-senpai is popular in Kanto because of his tennis skills, people will recognize him easily. Fuji, on the other hand, notices his companion's discomfort, so he grabs her small hand to reassure her.

Sakuno gasps at the sudden contact and she immediately turns to Fuji-senpai.

"Don't worry, Sakuno-chan. They are just surprised to see people from Seigaku roaming freely in school," Fuji explains as the wide-eyed girl nods in understanding.

Fuji, then, stops in front of a door that has a gold plate where the name of the school's principal is etched. "We're here, Sakuno-chan," he says before knocking on the door.

Yanagizawa runs as fast as he can towards the lounge room of the boys' dormitory. It is the news for the year, to say the least, and he is sure that Mizuki will be more than glad to hear it. He has been walking at the school grounds when he sees the corridor packed with gossipers here and there. He approaches a girl who tells him that she has seen the famed tennis prodigy of Seigaku walking towards the principal's office while holding hands with an innocent-looking but very pretty girl. Who else is the tennis prodigy of Seigaku but Fuji Yuuta's older brother, Fuji Syuusuke?

"What's the rush, Yanagizawa?" Mizuki asks him, rather annoyed.

Yanagizawa pauses as he catches his breath. Then, he faces Mizuki with a deer-in-a-headlights expression. "I heard Fuji Syuusuke is in St. Rudolph, da ne! Do you think he is visiting Yuuta, da ne?" He asks almost shouting at Mizuki.

The other guys at the lounge watch in apprehension as they wait for Mizuki's reaction to Yanagizawa's babbling. The tennis club manager is known for his volatile temper and scheming ways that few dare cross his path even if he appears…rather…feminine to some of them.

To their surprise, even to Yanagizawa, Mizuki dismisses his teammate's unnecessary babble. Rather, the club manager appears so amused that he walks towards a window and gazes outside in deep thought.

"So my rival, Fuji Syuusuke, is here, huh?" He whispers to himself. He then turns to Yanagizawa. "Where is Yuuta?"

Yanagizawa scratches his head. "I do not know, da ne. He was here a while ago with the others but then, he suddenly disappeared, da ne."

"Then look for him!" Mizuki orders. Yanagizawa reluctantly obeys the manager and so, he sprints outside to look for his kohai.

Mizuki, on the other hand, turns towards the lounge exit only to bump into Fuji Syuusuke.

"It is a surprise to see you here, Fuji Syuusuke," Mizuki greets Fuji rather mockingly. He frowns, however, when the tennis prodigy walks past him and approaches a student who is sitting on a bar chair near the phone booth.

"Is Fuji Yuuta here?"

"Err…no, he is not here," the puzzled student answers Fuji while giving Mizuki side-glances. Why the tennis prodigy of Seigaku ignores the tennis club manager of their school is a puzzle not only to him, but perhaps, to every one present in the lounge.

"Where could he be?" Fuji whispers, but he says it loud enough for the student to hear.

As a matter of fact, Fuji Syuusuke is having a big problem right now. Ryuzaki Sakuno is missing. He does not know how he has lost her but the fact remains: she is nowhere to be found. So, here he is, looking for his brother so that Yuuta can help him look for the girl. Besides, Yuuta knows the place more than he does. The last thing he wants to happen is for Ryuzaki and him be lost in an uncommon place.

"Excuse me," the student calls Fuji's attention.

Fuji turns to him, his face blank but undeniably dark.

"Er…I think Fuji-san may be at the tennis court right now…I'm not sure."

Fuji regards the student for a while before nodding his head in thanks. Mizuki, on the other hand, stands in front of him to talk to the prodigy. To his shame, Fuji ignores him again for the second time in that day, but he does leave Mizuki a warning death-glare that quieted the club manager for all he is worth.

Meanwhile, Ryuzaki Sakuno is having this usual problem of hers: finding her way back. A pack of fangirls approached – if that is the best word possible – Fuji-senpai to have him sign autographs for all of them. Well, she does not want to break a leg or an arm so she walks several feet away from the commotion. It is not that far because she remembers still seeing Fuji-senpai with a seemingly blank look of boredom on his face. She, on the other hand, turns her attention to the koi pond nearby and watches as a koi swims for food. She remembers herself walking as she watches the pretty and huge fish, when suddenly, she notices that she is in a different area with no Fuji-senpai around.

And so, she decides to walk further in hopes of meeting a student of St. Rudolph who can point the way back to the main building. However, she has walked for fifteen minutes in vain. She has not met a single person and she is getting worried – for Fuji-senpai.

A familiar sound catches her attention and she unconsciously enters a forested area.

Who could be playing?

She is so intent on finding a tennis court when suddenly, a tennis ball comes flying towards her. She screams as she ducks to prevent the ball from hitting her right on the face. Fortunately for her, she ducks on time so the tennis ball hits the tree behind her.

"Are you alright?"

Sakuno seems frozen in her position as she raises her head to meet a very familiar face.

Very light brown hair…plays tennis…

"Ano…"

"Miss, are you alright? I'm sorry, I didn't know some one is here," the guy profusely apologizes as he bends to Sakuno's height to check if she is hurt.

Embarrassed, Sakuno whispers an inaudible 'I'm okay' as the young man continues to fuss on her. "I'm sorry for…screaming…ano…I'm not hurt," she stammers.

Taken aback by her shyness, the young man regards her for the last time and unconsciously pats her head. "Don't apologize," he says. Then, he finally notices that she is wearing a Seigaku uniform. "Uh…you are from Seigaku. Err…what are you…doing here?"

Sakuno blushes at the question. "Ano, I came here with my senpai to give a letter to the principal but then…I got lost," she quietly explains.

So that explains why she is in this forested area.

"Ano…"

The young man turns to her. How many times has she spoken, 'ano'?

"Ano…are you…Fuji Yuuta-san?"

The young man who goes by the name Fuji Yuuta is taken aback for the second time that day. It is not because someone has just asked him if he is Fuji Yuuta. He is surprised because some one has not asked him if he is Fuji Syuusuke's younger brother. Many times he has been asked that way and he dislikes it, to say the least. He left Seigaku because he has no identity in that school. Being in the same school with his aniki made him feel unappreciated for who he is. People just take notice of him because he is the younger brother of Fuji Syuusuke.

"Ah…yes…" Yuuta answers absentmindedly. "You are here with my brother?"

Sakuno blushes at their coincidental meeting. She nods in the affirmative.

"You can stay with me, then," he says, sighing. "Aniki may be looking for me now or you, so we better stick together," he reasons logically.

Yuuta helps Sakuno get up and leads her to the lone tennis court in the forested area. Sakuno takes in her surroundings before watching Fuji Yuuta pack his bag to leave. It is at that moment that she notices his scraped right palm. Pushed by motherly instincts, she unconsciously approaches him and gathers his left hand onto hers.

Surprised, Yuuta looks at her questioningly.

"Fuji-san, your right palm is full of scars."

"Oh…uh…I was practicing a move for the preliminaries but I kept on tripping…" he answers as he scratches his head with his left hand. "I use my right hand to keep my balance. I did not notice I had been scraping my palm all along," he explains.

"We need to tend to this, Fuji-san. I'll go get water," Sakuno says as she gently drops his right hand. She is about to leave the tennis court when Yuuta hands her a water bottle.

"Go use this. There's no faucet area near here."

Sakuno thankfully receives the water bottle and pulls out a small box of tissue paper and alcohol. She does not notice the twitching of Yuuta's eyes upon seeing the alcohol.

This is going to be painful.

Yuuta waits for the searing pain that has always been caused by the alcohol. Surprisingly, it does not sting that much. He looks at Sakuno questioningly and then, realizes something.

"What's your name?"

Sakuno blinks at him several times before tending to his palm again. "Ryuzaki Sakuno," she says shyly.

"Ryuzaki…Sakuno? Ryuzaki?"

"Hai…" Sakuno looks at him, cocking her head to her right as she notices the questioning tone in Yuuta's voice.

"You are Ryuzaki-sensei's granddaughter then?"

"Hai," she answers, rather proudly. A small but brilliant smile is pasted on her lips.

"Do you…play tennis too?"

Sakuno pauses for a while and regards Yuuta. "I used to, but I am not good at tennis so I stopped," she says shyly.

Noticing that he has embarrassed her, Yuuta immediately thinks of changing the topic. Silence reigns for a while. Yuuta knows he is not that good in conversing with girls. None of the St. Rudolph tennis club members seems to be good in that too. Well, buchou may be an exception but that is nothing new to him. Yuuta regards her for a while, in a way, thinking of what topic to talk about. She looks so innocent that he could have mistaken her for a child if she were not wearing a Seigaku senior high uniform. Then again, she is so pretty – and there is no use in denying that – that he has decided twice in considering her a child.

He sighs. He is not so good in this.

"Ano…Fuji-san," Sakuno begins.

Yuuta turns to her, surprised that the seemingly shy girl is starting the conversation. He nods for her to continue.

"Ano…the preliminaries are approaching. Do your best!" She says softly, smiling as she gently releases his already clean right hand.

Yuuta blushes hard at the motherly tending and the encouragement. He boyishly scratches an invisible itch on the back of his head. "Thanks."

Sakuno blushes, too, at Yuuta's answer. "Obaa-chan…" she pauses and looks at Yuuta. "She told me once that people who know their strengths and weaknesses give their best on what they do."

Yuuta nods in agreement but he is a bit puzzled because he is not getting Sakuno's line of thought.

"Do your best, Fuji-san. I will be cheering for you when you play…" she says, shyly. All of a sudden though, a girly grin appears on her face. "But I cannot promise you that I will be rooting for you when you play against Seigaku, ne."

Yuuta smiles at the comment and unconsciously pats her head. Sakuno smiles at the endearing action but thinks nothing of it. However, she notices the sudden change in Yuuta's expression: from cheerful to solemnly serious.

"Ryuzaki-san"

"Hai?"

Yuuta regards her for a moment. A question is seconds away from slipping off his tongue. "Do you think…I can become a good player, as good as aniki?"

Sakuno pauses for a while. She looks at him and conversations between Kikumaru-senpai and Momoshiro-senpai flash in her head. She has been hearing things about why Fuji Yuuta transferred to St. Rudolph but she does not know whether to believe them or not. She inwardly shakes her head, trying to erase thoughts of pity. She was once like him. They have both suffered being behind the shadows of some one great and one who they admire. Then again, she is also reminded of her obaa-chan's words several months ago that she, surprisingly, is able to look straight into the eyes of Fuji Yuuta.

"Fuji-san is different from Fuji-senpai. Fuji-san must remember that. He does not have to be as good as some one else or be better than some one else. Fuji-san, when he gives his best, becomes incomparable," she answers sincerely, tinge of tears present in her eyes.

Fuji Yuuta feels a surge of air rushing into his lungs. He breathes heavily as his mind processes Sakuno's statement. After a minute, Yuuta gives Sakuno the most sincere smile he has ever given.

The two sit in comfortable silence, not knowing that Fuji Syuusuke is standing just a few feet behind them.

I know it's quite long, but I hope you enjoyed reading. Review please!