Disclaimer:

I do not own Tennis no Ohjisama and Card Captor Sakura, especially each anime's characters. Iwase Kumiko-san, Yasuhiro-kun, Maeda Hideki-san, Furuya Akiyoshi, Furusawa Maya and the Reverie Café are my own creations. Any similarities with real people and/or places are unintentional and coincidental.

Author's Note: I deeply apologize for the late update, though I hope this chapter is compensation enough for you. Thank you very much.

Enjoy reading!

The Sadist of Seigaku

Chapter 17: Expatriation

Niou Masaharu unabashedly lets out a loud yawn as he treads the way out of school. With the sky dimmer than usual and the strain from the practice still fresh on his muscles, the thought of a warm bed is very much welcome.

He can't help but get excited to get back home.

Until he hears a screeching noise from the tennis court

Now, who, in their right mind, would still stay at this hour?

The trickster blinks at the thought when the image of Sanada Genichirou flashes in his mind. Oh, yeah. Him. With a huff, he continues his path to the school gates only to be pleasantly surprised when he sees Akaya Kirihara instead; the junior running circles in the court.

A smirk draws on his lips.

He thoroughly understands Kirihara's sudden change in disposition. Practice hour in Rikkai Dai is getting a bit boring these days. Yukimura's move to join the "friendly matches" offered by other schools is a good way to put variety in their training.

Seeing his kohai pause for a break, Niou breaks in to the court.

"It's actually a miracle that you're not yet going home."

"Eh? Niou-senpai, what are you still doing here?"

Niou waves a hand to his kohai's face before dropping his duffel bag on the bench. "Nothing much. It's just that I heard someone practicing in the court and suddenly, I wanted to know who that was."

"Oh," Akaya softly says as he plops himself on the bench. "Got to train hard for the match on Wednesday. It's just great that buchou agreed to Ryuzaki-sensei's offer."

"Yeah."

Silence ensues between the two, with Akaya fiddling his water bottle and Niou basking at the sight of the already dark sky. "So, aren't you going to continue practicing?" He asks in a teasing tone. "You better be prepared for a match with Echizen."

Akaya huffs at the statement, before shaking his head. "I never gave a thought to that. Besides, that brat is not my target anymore."

The famed trickster raises an eyebrow at that.

"Who is it now?"

A mysterious smile

"No one."

Mine.

Hazel eyes widen in surprise.

Blood rushes to her cheeks; she could also feel her heart beat so hard, it threatened to break off from her ribcage.

In all her innocence, Ryuzaki Sakuno stares back at her senpai in wonder and confusion, his every word sinking in to her soul.

She has never heard of someone regard her as theirs – or his for that matter; and to hear it from someone special to her is so overwhelming, she could not comprehend it with words.

Fuji could sense the atmosphere between them getting thicker by the second. He already predicted this reaction from her, what with her naivety and all; but then, the sight of her wide eyes and unmoving lips caused him to clench his unseen fist.

He must have been too fast.

Then again, there is no turning back.

He cannot say he is sorry or that he meant it in some other way because it would hurt her more in the process.

Squaring his jaw in resolution, he gazes right back at his favorite kohai, eyes heavy with unspoken words. He watches her eyes widen further as he takes her smaller hand to his, and as her already pink cheeks get tainted with a deeper shade of red as he caresses her right one with his other hand.

"Sakuno," he breathed out her name.

Fuji Syuusuke did not miss that nearly silent hitch in her breath when he called out her name. He smiles gently at her, somehow enlightened that the affection is not one-sided – him being the one adoring her to no end. Consumed with the desire to placate his kohai, he moves forward to imprison her in his arms, when she suddenly pushes him away, albeit gently.

"Ano…gomen…" she whispers hoarsely, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

The prodigy stopped from making his move, but he kept his proximity to her.

Sakuno bites her lower lip as she bows her head low. She does not want to see the hurt look that might cross his face because of what she just did. Then again, she has to stop herself from thinking that her Fuji-senpai regards her as someone more than a friend – as a lover to a beloved. If she does, she might endanger their friendship and she does not want that to happen.

He has become so important to her, that the thought of their friendship being destroyed would truly break her heart.

Gulping a sob, she bows to excuse herself and stands to dash away.

Only to skid to a halt because of a hand grabbing onto her own

"Fuji-senpai!" she squeaked.

Noticing the desperation in her voice, he lightens his grip on her hand; his gentle smile betraying the swirl of emotions in him, as well as his predatory gait.

His sweet and naïve little Sakuno is too overwhelmed of his confession, she took it as just one of his quirky ways of showing affection to his friends. It hurts a bit than expected, but he would be more understanding and patient with her.

She just has to realize that she isn't just one of his friends.

A thudding sound disturbs the two. Both looked at the court entrance only to find Tachibana Kippei standing a few feet from them.

The Fudomine captain blinks several times at the scene before him, his vocal chords unable to produce any sound even though he opened his mouth.

Upon sensing her senpai's hold on her hand has loosened, Sakuno quickly makes her exit, running past a bewildered Tachibana and away from an obviously disappointed Fuji.

When Sakuno could not be sighted from the court anymore, Fuji wordlessly turns to retrieve his things and make his own exit. He knows Tachibana would not ask questions, and he would not disclose what happened to others. Then again, the prodigy has to find some way to vent his own frustration and he has to move somewhere else, because him and venting do not go together.

When he is a few feet from the bench, he hears Tachibana asking him something.

"Would you like to play a game right now?"

Sakuno runs as fast as she can away from the court. When she is a good distance from that place, she unconsciously sits at a waiting shed, unmindful of the people passing by.

She knows she has hurt her senpai, what with her immature reaction and all, but she does not know what to do right now. Crying would not do much and she is too shy to even ask her grandmother for any advice. Besides, dear Sumire-baachan would only turn into one mighty mother bear against her Fuji-senpai if she finds out what just transpired between the two of them.

Breathing out, she takes out her mobile phone and dials the next person she trusts the most.

Tachibana helplessly watches as the tennis ball bounce and fly past him.

After recovering from the initial shock, he softly shakes his head at the way Fuji has been playing. If this is the Fuji Syuusuke that would play tennis, even the professional players should find a way to save their faces.

In short, the Seigaku prodigy is one monster to deal with when he plays seriously.

Then again, he could feel a lot of negative energy from his opponent, and so, instead of going back to his position, he walks to the net and lightly hits it with his racket.

"I think this is enough for now," he says.

Surprisingly, Fuji immediately nods and walks back to the bench. Instead of sprawling on it like any tired player, the prodigy's sitting position is slightly tensed, with his elbows on his knees.

"I think you have pieced everything to understand what happened earlier," he says as he looks up at Tachibana. "Sakuno-chan seems overwhelmed."

"Not everything, actually, but I do have an inkling of what happened between the two of you," Tachibana finally says as he sits down beside his friend. "An told me you seem to like Ryuzaki-chan in a not-so friendly way. I was inclined to think of it as just her girly hunch, but now, it seems more serious than what she thinks."

Fuji wryly smirks at the comment. "I told her she's mine."

Tachibana raises an eyebrow at that. "Seriously?"

When he did not receive an answer, he huffs loud enough for Fuji to hear. "Well, basing on her reaction a while ago, she seems overwhelmed alright. You've got to give her some time to think things out by herself. I know you know that, that's why you did not run after her a while ago."

"I nearly did."

"You didn't. That matters more."

Fuji turns to look at the ground once more. He would give her time, as well as himself. Sappy as it sounds, loving Sakuno is a decision of the mind and the heart, and while he missed being patient this time, he would now start taking things one step at a time. There is a lot of room for them to grow and he would not hinder their growth as persons.

When the right time comes, he would make her his.

She's worth the wait.

Daidouji Tomoyo gently brushes the auburn locks of her friend whose head is cradled on her lap. After a good half hour of sobbing her heart out, Sakuno fell asleep; too exhausted from the ordeal hours ago.

She knows what her friend went through a while ago is a very serious matter, but she cannot help but be disappointed that she wasn't anywhere near them when Fuji confessed to Sakuno. Then again, that was a very unpredictable move from Fuji. Of course, she knows that the Seigaku prodigy adores Sakuno – and that is an understatement; but she assumed that he would not be saying anything until they are older.

Well, it has happened already and now, her task is to help Sakuno to understand her own feelings…and help Fuji and Sakuno get together. Ohohohohoho.

With a grin, Tomoyo gently stands up from her bed and removes Sakuno's head from her lap, putting a pillow underneath. Grabbing her mobile phone, she proceeds to scroll down her phonebook and presses the call button when she finds the name of the person she intends to speak with.

And somewhere in the streets of Seishun City, a young man stops walking when he hears his mobile phone ringing.

"Hello, Fuji Syuusuke speaking."

"Good evening, Fuji-san. This is Daidouji Tomoyo, Sakuno-chan's friend."

The following day, Sakuno enters the school gates, still a bit dazed from last night's event. There are moments when she would ask herself if it indeed happened, but whenever the image of Fuji Syuusuke's heavy gaze would flash through, she would be reminded of how real it was. She already knows what she must do and say as crying through the night helped removed the clouds in her mind; but acting them out would be difficult especially if she would have to face the one person that matters to her.

With a sigh, Sakuno finally decides to give herself a day before speaking with her Fuji-senpai…

…unaware that the center of her thoughts has been watching her all along.

"Ryuzaki-chan seems a bit off today," Oishi comments as he joins Fuji Syuusuke at the rooftop. "Do you think she's ill?"

"I hope not," Fuji softly says as his eyes follow her form until it disappears from his line of sight.

"How about you, Fuji? Are you alright?"

The sudden interrogation catches Fuji off-guard, but he easily recovers and puts a genuine smile on his face. "Yeah, I am alright. It's just that…there has been a sudden change in the mechanics of my relationship with Sakuno-chan."

The words were so easily said that Oishi nods on reflex. Then, when realization dawns on him, he whips his head back to the prodigy, surprise written all over his face. "What?"

The grin on Fuji's face just widened, but he could actually see signs of worry in his eyes.

He never got a reply, but in a matter of seconds, the vice-captain was able to comprehend what the prodigy meant with the "change in mechanics" statement. He gulped at the thought, a bit unsure of what to do. While popular with the female population, he never bothered to think about having a girlfriend yet – as juvenile as that sounds.

And to think Fuji would be one of the last…

Sighing to himself, he just pats his friend's shoulder. "I hope things go well for you."

Fuji smiles at him again; this time, it is wider. "You sure you're not going to root for Echizen?"

Oishi's eyes widened at that. I totally forgot about him. "Oh, well, I might say the same thing if that should happen."

"I would be quite worried if that were the case."

Oishi inclined his head to the right, confused whether the frown on Fuji's lip was real or not. "Oh? Why?"

It appears to be real.

"I'm quite the possessive man."

"Kyaaa!" Horio groans as he stretches out his arms. Running around the tennis court twenty times is still exhausting, despite doing it for many, many years. Looking to his right where Echizen Ryoma is standing, he wonders how that young man can still stand despite the long run.

"I really envy Ryoma-kun," Katsuo sighs as he plops on the ground. "His stamina is so good, he looks as if he can run another ten laps."

The other two were just about to groan at the comment when a ball flies past them. "Ack! What was that?" Horio says after losing his footing.

"Oh, sorry 'bout that," Echizen's grim voice breaks the ice as he picks up the tennis ball.

"It's alright, Ryoma-kun. It was just Horio," Kachiro says with a teasing smile directed to the loud-mouthed classmate. "By the way, it seems the other regulars are assembling already. You better go ahead."

Echizen looks at him with his wide eyes before nodding impishly. After throwing the ball at a bewildered Horio, he lazily walks to the other corner of the court where Tezuka and the other regulars are standing.

"Oi, Ochibi!" Kikumaru shouts as he grabs the first year by the neck. ""You were so slow in walking. You better not mess up with our game tomorrow, nya!"

"Ei-ji-sen-pai!" Echizen calls his name, each syllable separated by a gasp, "I'll definitely mess up if you don't let go of me."

"Kikumaru."

Tezuka's grave voice effectively stops the red-head from strangling a nearly blue Echizen Ryoma. Turning to his other teammates, the captain clears his throat before pulling out a piece of paper from his pocket.

"Ryuzaki-sensei has informed me of tomorrow's lineup," he begins, carefully looking at each of his teammates before proceeding. "Doubles Two will be Kawamura and Momoshiro, versus Jackal and Bunta. Doubles One will be Oishi and Kikumaru versus Yagyuu and Niou."

Few heads nod at him. The Doubles matches were paired predictably.

"Kaidoh will face Yanagi, Singles Three. Echizen will face Akaya, Singles Two."

Tezuka pauses to look at Fuji, who in turn, looks at him expectedly. "Fuji will face Sanada, Singles One."

"Eh? The captains are not going to play?" Momoshiro bursts out.

"Urusai!" Kaidoh hisses at him. He received a glare in return.

Tezuka did not miss the exchange between the juniors, but he amiably brushes it off.

"That was an intentional move, and I think, a very wise one," Inui interjects. "At least one of the members could act as a third party analyst."

"Hmmm…you're not going to play, too, senpai. That would be your job as well," Echizen uninterestedly mentions the obvious.

Inui's eyeglasses shimmered. "Too bad, Echizen. I was tasked by Ryuzaki-sensei to negotiate with the schools from the other regions. I won't be able to watch the practice matches." Then, a wicked grin appears on his face. "I am afraid you would be under Tezuka's care and observation tomorrow."

Tezuka visibly twitched at that. Care and observation?

The regulars, sans Fuji, trembled in fear.

If Inui is bad, Tezuka-buchou is worse.

Fuji Syuusuke idly closes the door of his locker room, and then proceeds to sit on the bench to pack up. Practice hour ended without much of a nuisance and he is so eager to head out from school.

He has not seen Sakuno for the whole day – except when she entered the school – and he is worried that something has happened to her. Or she might be staying away from me. The thought did not settle well with him, and he could feel his stomach knotting in agony at that; but he promised himself he will give her time. Until when, though, is not something he knows yet.

He may be patient, but he is not that patient.

He knows there would be a time he would have to take matters into his own hands and confront her.

A wry grin appears on his face as he slings his duffel bag over his shoulder. He passes by a few club members on the way out; and then, he freezes upon opening the door.

His eyes focused on her hazel ones; and before he knew what he was doing, his duffel bag was forgotten on the ground, and his arms were around her small frame.

"Ano…Fuji-senpai…" he hears her, despite her voice being muffled by the cloth of his shirt. "Ano…people…."

Fuji Syuusuke wickedly smiles. "Sa, Sakuno-chan, don't change the subject," he says as he releases her, hands still on her shoulders.

"We need to talk."

And with that, the prodigy takes her hand, the other picking up his duffel bag, and runs away from the clubroom.

"Ano, senpai, where are we going?"

She seems hesitant to speak with him, and he can see her fidgeting as they walk. Her reactions are quite normal, almost to the point of instinctual, but he never gave any meaning to them. The fact that she did not stutter with her question is assurance enough for him. She is not afraid.

"To somewhere known to both of us," he softly murmurs, his head inclining to nearly rest on her. Just so we'll both be on fair ground.

"Oh."

He sees her nod at his answer, although the shimmer in her eyes tells that she still did not have a clue. Fuji gently smiles at her, squeezing her small hand encased in his, and proceeds to lead her on.

The walk to wherever they are going is a confusing one for Sakuno. She is not afraid of her senpai, but there is a weight resting in her stomach, and that bothers her a lot. Perhaps, the bout of nervousness is present because she knows what they are going to talk about, but she is not yet fully prepared for it. Nevertheless, she has decided not to run from him like she did before. If he were being honest, she should as well.

Heaving a sigh, she nearly gasps when she found them standing in front of the Reverie Café.

"I told you we'll be on familiar ground," Fuji softly tells her before opening the door.

He quietly leads her to "their" corner table, oblivious to a staff who nearly squeals in delight upon seeing the two.

Holding hands

Upon settling down, Sakuno starts to fidget again, noticing the heavy gaze her senpai has on her. She has already admitted that she is attracted to her handsome senpai; and the attraction is not the simple one a kohai has for a very good-looking senior. She knows that what she feels for Fuji Syuusuke is much stronger than her admiration for Echizen Ryoma. Then again, him telling and showing her he loves her is a different matter all together.

She simply does not know how to react.

"Saa…the variety in Reverie's menu is getting wider and wider," Fuji's casual comment breaks her string of thoughts, and she half-heartedly nods at that.

Fuji smiles at her antics.

"You seem tense, Sakuno-chan. Just relax. I am not going to eat you."

Sakuno blinks twice at his words, then stiffens as she feels his left hand caressing the curve of her cheek.

"Even though you look so cute right now, you are almost edible."

And with that, Sakuno's head nearly exploded in embarrassment. His cheerful laugh breaks the spell. "Mou, senpai!"

"Oh, good afternoon, Fuji-kun, Sakuno-chan!"

Iwase Kumiko's amiable voice breaks their little scene and the two immediately stand up to politely greet the proprietress.

Standing beside her is a sophisticated-looking woman, whose name is Furusawa Maya, who greeted them with a twang in her speech.

The name rang a bell to Fuji, but he could not pinpoint where he has heard that name as of that moment. Setting the thought aside, he gives the two ladies a polite bow as they excused themselves.

"Iwase-san's friend is so pretty and tall," Sakuno whispers more to herself, admiration evident in her voice.

"Is she the reason why your training today was cancelled?"

"Uhn. Iwase-san said Furusawa-san is going to do some business talk with her and it could not be delayed."

"Saa…Furusawa-san's timing could not be any better," Fuji says as he watches Sakuno cock her head, curious to what he meant. "That way, we could talk."

Sakuno started fidgeting again, but the tennis prodigy did not waste time in dropping the bomb right in front of her.

"Sakuno," he breathed, "what I said last night, I meant those words."

Blue eyes darken as the atmosphere around them becomes hot and heavy for Sakuno.

"I am serious about you."

Heart on a silver platter, ready to be taken

"Ano-"

Hesitation. She is still recovering from previous rejections…

"Sakuno-" He is about to cut her but he stops when she violently shakes her head.

"Ano, I really, really like senpai," she continues, eyes never meeting his, but the quiver of fear in her voice told him she meant her words, "but I think Fuji-senpai deserves something more than just my girlish infatuation for him."

Blue eyes darken further at the admission.

"Ano-"

This time, he did not give her time to reject his interjection. Left thumb pressed softly against her lips, Fuji Syuusuke silences his favorite kohai and renders her to a blushing fit all over again. "That's enough, Sakuno. You don't need to give me a definite answer right now, but always remember these…"

Fuji trails as he drinks every detail of her face; from her wide-eyed stare to her adorable little nose, and then to her soft pink lips.

He immediately refocuses his gaze to her eyes when the urge to force a kiss on her nearly took the best of him.

"Whatever your answer is, I will always stay…"

The relief that crossed her eyes made him smile, but Fuji Syuusuke isn't finished yet.

"And I will make you love me."

"What do you mean, Maya-san?"

Iwase Kumiko's stance became stiffer as she stood by the window overlooking the busy street in front of the Reverie. Furusawa Maya wryly smiles at the way her friend reacted at her words, but she knows the proprietress is intelligent enough to follow the trail of her thoughts.

"I am not getting any younger, Kumiko-san. As much as I want you to be my heir, I know you are too engaged in this beloved café of yours to accept my proposition."

A pause and then a heavy sigh

"I've seen the little apprentice of yours, and I am thinking of taking her under my wing if you're not really interested."

The answer caused a jolt right through Iwase, and feelings of joy and sadness overwhelmed her to the point where she could not talk anymore.

"Kumiko-san?"

"Oh, pardon me, Maya-san. I was just surprised with the statement." Eyebrows crinkle as the voiced idea sets. "Sakuno-chan is a very talented girl. I understand why you are interested in her, but isn't it a bit too early?"

Furusawa Maya smiles at her friend before standing up to join her by the window. "I know, but it is best to mold her to the culinary artist she could be early on."

Iwase avoids her friend's eyes and focuses on the figures of Fuji and Sakuno walking out of the Reverie. "It's not that I do not trust you, Maya. I have seen your skills as a master of the art and as a teacher. I know Sakuno-chan will learn much from you, but I hope you would give the child the space she needs to dream for herself."

Maya follows her friend's gaze. "Is that the reason why you seem so reserved about this idea?"

"Yes."

The taller of the two closes her eyes before reopening them, more glassy-eyed than before. "I understand, Kumiko. If you allow it, I will slowly take things from here."

The proprietress gives her friend a grateful smile.

"I plan to bring Ryuzaki Sakuno to Paris with me."

The Seigaku campus is abuzz, as a good number of its students filled the school halls to watch the team of good-looking tennis players from Rikkai Dai alight their school bus.

It is the highly-anticipated practice match between the two greatest schools when it comes to high school tennis. While the players took it as another day for training, the school population and the media are taking the event differently.

"Is it just me, or are there really too many people looking at us?" Kirihara complained as they tread the path towards Ryuzaki Sumire's office. "They give me the creeps."

"Get used to it, kid. The next thing you need to worry about after your tennis is the public when you decide to go pro," Niou comments as he walks past his kohai.

After the exchange, the group becomes quiet again even after entering Ryuzaki-sensei's office. "Hmm…you all look a bit dazed at the students' greeting," the elderly woman comments as she motions one of her staffs to serve the visitors tea. "Here, drink some tea first. The practice match will start in an hour."

"Thank you for your generosity, Ryuzaki-sensei," Yukimura bows, to which the others follow. "It is a privilege to compete with a team such as yours."

"Maa…maa…I think the same goes with you," she says, waiving her hand. "Anyway, I'll let Tezuka lead you on to the courts after tea. I know you're all itching to go there."

And as if on cue, the handsome captain of their rival school enters the office and stands right beside Yukimura, but not before giving his coach a bow.

The twinkle in the elder Ryuzaki's eyes was all that Tezuka needed as instruction; without wasting any second, he motions for all the Rikkai Dai students out of the room and to the tennis courts.

"Again, I would have to thank you for your generosity, Tezuka," Yukimura amiably says as they walk towards the courts. "I know this is just a practice match, but I hope we will all do our best."

Typical of the Rikkai Dai captain to be gentle but straight to the point; Tezuka's lips wear a ghost of a smile as he nods his ascent.

"It is just a tragedy that there is no more room for us to play against each other."

The Seigaku tennis captain turns to the man beside him, wary of his words. "There will be a time and place for that, Yukimura. How have you been?"

The blue-haired man's beautiful smile turned all the girls in front of them to a puddle of goo. Gentle and soft he may be, Yukimura Seiichi is like the sea that would come crashing against anyone without further notice; and it seems that the Seigaku captain is well aware of this. Or perhaps, he has experience dealing with such kind of people…that would be interesting. "I am doing well, thank you for your concern."

"Yukimura, we're here," Sanada's deep voice interrupts the conversation and their small party stop in front of the massive courts of Seigaku High.

And let's not forget about the horde of girls screaming at the beautiful boys before them

At this, Kirihara Akaya paled considerably.

"I thought I'd get a break from such hysteria."

"You should be thankful. Wait 'til you get to Hyotei," Marui says in between chews of his bubblegum.

"Why?"

"Girls there are wilder…except that their…ardor is directed to one person only."

"Eh? Who?"

"Atobe Keigo."

Sanada's face darkened considerably upon the mention of that name. Eager to change the topic of discussion, he turns to face Tezuka to ask about the other Seigaku players, only to be stopped when he hears someone screaming 'Ochibi!' to his left.

And much to his chagrin, he finds Echizen Ryoma standing a few feet from him.

"Eh?" The boy's monotonous voice causes Sanada's eyebrow to quirk. "You're here already?" He nonchalantly asks, surveying the group of other-school people standing beside Tezuka-buchou.

"Echizen, that's not polite," Oishi reprimands, his voice soft enough for only Echizen to hear.

"Every one's here already," they all hear Tezuka say. "Oishi, please call Ryuzaki-sensei."

The vice-captain blinks, confused at the instruction.

"I think it is best to start the match early."

Sakuno reveled at the sound of tennis balls hitting hard ground and being returned by a racket; she missed the smell of sweat permeating the grounds as her schoolmates run across the court for each score. Yes, it kind of sounds strange and all for a girl, but with a tennis coach for a grandmother, the tennis court is next to home for her.

And without further hesitation, she bounced off to the tennis court to watch the Seigaku regulars play against the tennis players of Rikkai Dai.

Too engrossed at the Doubles 1 match, she never noticed she is standing at the Rikkai Dai side, with all her Seigaku glory.

"Kid, I think you're at the wrong end of the court."

Sakuno immediately turns to her right, only to meet the piercing gaze of Kirihara Akaya on her. Taking his words, she scans her surroundings only to realize how right he has been. She was about to turn into a stuttering mess when a hand brushes against her own.

"Saa…pardon for the intrusion, Akaya-kun. I'll make sure my little girlfriend won't miss our end of the court next time."

"Uh?"

The Rikkai junior is left with a slackened jaw. "Fu-fuji Syuusuke has a girlfriend?"

"Ano…that was uncalled for, Syuusuke-senpai."

Fuji's blue eyes darkened with pleasure at the way she said his name, but he did his best to hide it from her. "Sa...you're getting the hang of it Sakuno-chan."

"Huh?"

"You said my name instead of the usual 'Fuji-senpai'. You make me so happy," he says, mockingly putting a hand to his heart.

"Mou, you're changing the subject, senpai."

Without skipping a beat, Fuji tightens his grip on her hand and pulls her closer to him. "Let me indulge, Sakuno-chan. It is fun watching their serious faces distort in disbelief."

"Eh? Disbelief?"

"Uhn."

"Why? Is there anything strange going on?"

"Iya. It's just that they think it is impossible for me to think of anything other than tennis."

Sakuno blinks in confusion at the statement, but before she can ponder over the thought any longer, her phone rings.

"Hello, Ryuzaki Sakuno speaking."

A few seconds of silence pass before Sakuno speaks again.

"Oh, Iwase-san, is there anything wrong?"

Reluctantly, Fuji lets go of her hand to give her some privacy. Hands in his pockets, he walks closer to the court and watches as Oishi drives the ball to a spot impossible for the opponents to run after.

And with that, the Seigaku Golden Pair gets a score.

"Syuusuke-senpai," her soft voice disturbs his thoughts, and he immediately turns to her. "Ano, Iwase-san told me she has to see me as soon as possible."

"You have to go?"

"Uhm. Ano…I'm sorry I won't be there to watch your match."

Hiding his disappointment, he buries his face onto her hair. "I'll just do my best, then, ne?" He says, his voice muffled by her auburn tresses.

"Uhn."

For the second time that day – not even an hour – Fuji reluctantly releases her. When his favorite kohai is far from his sight, he lets worry cloud over his face. He does not like the feeling that passed him when Iwase Kumiko-san gave her a call; the tightness in the stomach and the difficulty in breathing.

It was worse than what he felt when Yuuta met an accident; when he found Sakuno sprawled on the floor, unconscious and battling a very high fever.

Sakuno, don't you ever leave me.

Will you go with her?

Sakuno blinks for the umpteenth time that hour, eyes wide and unfocused, even if her beloved mentor is sitting in front of her.

"Sakuno-chan…"

Iwase Kumiko knew her apprentice would react that way. Heaving a sigh, she stands only to sit beside Sakuno, an arm wrapped around the younger woman's tense shoulders.

"You don't have to give an answer immediately, but I want you to think of the opportunity before you. Not all of us can go to Paris to study culinary arts, and should you choose to, you would be one of the privileged few."

Sakuno mutely nods at that, head turning to her mentor when Kumiko gently places a hand on her smaller ones. "Maya-san will leave for Paris during your summer break. If you want, I can accompany you and we can tour Paris for the best culinary schools there."

Again, the auburn-haired girl nods mutely, but this time, she gives Kumiko a small but sincere smile. That was enough assurance to the proprietress, and with a swift hug, she bids her student goodbye and leaves her to think by herself.

The moment her mentor leaves the room, Sakuno sinks to the couch, her brain a myriad of thoughts; but all centered on Furusawa Maya's offer to go to France with her.

I would like to sponsor Sakuno-chan, for her to be able to study in a university in France. Of course, that would be after senior high school and passing the exams; although I don't have any doubt she would ace those.

In all honesty, Sakuno felt a bit dictated upon. Apparently, Furusawa-san has a very strong personality, unlike the gentle Iwase Kumiko. Then again, Sakuno can feel the enthusiasm in Furusawa-san; the yearning to teach the younger generation and to pass her dreams of giving honor to Japan as an artist.

And in the deep recesses of her mind, Sakuno wants to be a pastry chef someday. She just does not know when and where to start; now, though, everything seems to be falling on to its place, and she would be ever grateful.

Closing her eyes in concentration, she tries to dig the source of loneliness weighing heavily in her heart.

Her family...her friends…Fuji-senpai

And with a crease of her brows, she bitterly thought that she was the first one to say she wouldn't want them to leave; and now, she has already thought of leaving them.

She felt totally awful.

"Oi, Fuji, you okay?"

Kawamura lightly ruffles Fuji's brown hair, an effort to lighten up the mood. The Singles 1 battle was a blast to begin with, but it ended like some deadly stalemate. The worst part is that the Seigaku prodigy looks as if he is carrying the whole loss on his lean shoulders.

"It was just a practice match, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, just a practice match, that's why you shouldn't be too serious about it. We all know the point of these things," Kawamura says as he sits beside his friend. "At least, you would be more prepared the next time you meet Sanada."

"Uhn."

A comfortable silence falls between the two as Fuji continues to slump on the bench. He could have won, but it seems it isn't just his day today; or maybe he is worrying too much about Sakuno. Speaking of her, he looks at his watch and proceeds to grab his mobile phone thereafter.

A few rings but no one answers his call

"I better go, Taka. I'll see you tomorrow."

He leaves even before the power player could react.

Moments later, the Seigaku prodigy is doing some mad fast-pacing as he treads the way to the Reverie Café. When the elegant building of the serendipitous café came into sight, he breaks into a run, but abruptly stops to compose himself…

…and to give way to Iwase Kumiko and Furusawa Maya come out of the door.

It seems, though, that the two are in a deep conversation, because he was never noticed. Out of curiosity, he stayed outside for a while and was able to hear snippets of it.

"She's considering it?"

"Yes," Kumiko say.

"That's good to hear," Furusawa comments, delight evident in her voice. "I hope she gives a positive answer."

"She has some reservations, but to ease her worries, I told Sakuno that if she agrees, I would accompany her to your trip to Paris."

At that, Fuji nearly lost his footing on the sidewalk.

Paris

With all the swiftness he could muster, he makes a mad dash into the café and searches for his favorite kohai.

This better not be one nightmare all over again.