Disclaimer: I do not own The Prince of Tennis

Chapter Four

Tezuka announced that there will be a training this weekend. Some of the regulars can't help to have a negative reaction towards their training this weekend since some of them planned to do something this weekend, especially their youngest member, Ryoma.

~FLASHBACK~

"There will be a fireworks display this weekend, do you want to watch it with me, Ryoma," Nina asked with a big smile on her face. She seems so happy, Ryoma thought, unable to resist the girl's beautiful smile.

"Okay then," Ryoma agreed.

"Thank you," Nina said while projecting another cute smile.

~END OF FLASHBACK~

The next day Ryoma told Nina about their training this weekend. At first Nina grimaced but Ryoma tried to clear things out.

"Most likely we will be dismissed early in the afternoon so I still have some time to watch the fireworks with you," Ryoma explained.

"Yehey! Thank you," Nina smiled and gave Ryoma a hug. Seeing her like this Ryoma can't help himself to get excited on their date this weekend.

Weekends finally arrived. Ryoma's alarm clock started ringing.

"Five more minutes," he told his alarm clock.

Few second later his father came to his room and woke him up.

"Oi, Ryoma! Are you going to sleep all day, or attend your tennis practice," Nanjiro bugged.

"Ummm…Yeah, I waking up," Ryoma said so that his father will stop bugging him. His father left his room as Ryoma expected. He continued his sleep until a dream or rather a nightmare struck him.

There was an old woman who collapsed and next to her was a young lady crying. Ryoma tried to extend his arms to comfort the young lady but when he extended his arms, the old lady and the young lady disappeared.

What a weird dream, Ryoma thought. He got up from his bed and did his morning rituals. He ate his breakfast and went to school.

On the way to the tennis courts he saw that the girl's tennis is also having their weekend practice. He overheard some of the regulars' conversation.

"Sakuno-chan, won't be able to attend today. Right?"

"Yes. I hope that she's fine."

For some reason, it seems that the world is telling him that this day won't be a good day for him.

Among the regulars in the boy's tennis team he was the last one to arrive, but he was not late. Most of them were starting to have their warm-up exercises. He tried to look for their captain but it seems that he's somewhere else.

"Where's Tezuka-buchou," Ryoma asked Oishi.

"He's being called at the middle school section," Oishi answered.

Ryoma did his warm-up exercises and joined the other regulars were doing. Later on, Momo asked Oishi if he can have a match with Ryoma, he agreed and they started their match. Minutes later, he saw Tezuka arrive. Ryoma's eyes were locked at him, suddenly the nightmare he had this morning started to flash in his mind. He heard Momo hit the ball, even though that he wanted to move he can't as if his mind was somewhere else.

"Hey, Ryoma what are you doing! That was an easy shot," Momo shouted. Ryoma didn't answer. He was not in his senses.

"Ryoma, Momo! It's lunch time already! Do you have your food? Let's buy some," Eiji shouted that made Ryoma go back to his senses.

"Ah, sorry about that Momo-senpai," Ryoma apologized. He went out together with Eiji and Momo to buy some food but before they head out, Tezuka told them to assemble themselves in front of their club room after their lunch break.

After an hour, Ryoma and the other regulars namely, Momo, Kaidoh, Oishi, Inui and Takamura were waiting in front of the club room. They saw Eiji coming from the girl's tennis courts.

"Hey! Did you hear the news," he shouted while running towards them.

"What is it about, Eiji," Oishi asked in a cool manner.

"Coach Ryuuzaki collapsed this morning and she was brought to the hospital, that's why Sakuno-chan was not able to attend her training today," Eiji panicked. When Ryoma heard former girlfriend's name his body shivered.

"Maybe, that's the reason why Tezuka was called at the middle school section," Inui commented.

"Where did you get that news," Takamura asked.

"From Marika-chan," Eiji answered.

"Marika Ichihara, the captain of the girl's tennis team, but since when did the two of you got close," Oishi asked suspiciously.

"Ahhh…Tezuka and Fuji," Eiji shouted to evade Oishi's further inquiry about Marika and him.

"Tezuka we heard the news that Coach Ryuuzaki collapsed this morning," Oishi repeated.

"Yes, that's the reason why I was called earlier at the middle school section," Tezuka said. "Oishi, please take over while Fuji and I go to the hospital."

"But, Tezuka," Eiji interrupted.

"I know that you also want to visit her but for now our priority is to win the upcoming tournament, and what do you think will Coach Ryuuzaki will feel if we won't make it to the tournament," Tezuka told them.

"Minna, Tezuka's right. Let's continue the practice, shall we," Oishi encouraged them. Eiji, Momo, Kaidoh, Inui and Takamura walked towards the tennis court and continued their training, but Ryoma stayed in front of the clubroom.

"I'm going to come with you," Ryoma demanded. Tezuka gave out an expression as if he's not going to allow Ryoma, but then Fuji, patted his shoulder as if he's saying that he'll be the one to handle this.

"Are you sure," Fuji asked with his eyes open as if there was another meaning on what he just said.

"Yes," Ryoma answered with determination. He knew what his senpai meant. Of course it's already expected that Sakuno will be there when they visit their former coach.

Throughout their ride to the hospital Ryoma remained quiet. He thought that maybe the dream he had this morning was an omen of something.

"We're here," Tezuka said. He opened the door. Sakuno was next to her grandmother who was lying unconscious in the bed. She was looking at them, especially at Ryoma. Then there were tears forming in her eyes.

"Ryoma…" she muttered out and ran towards him. Ryoma caught her and allowed her to cry in his shoulders.

"Obaa-sama…Sh…She co…collapsed this morning…I do…don't wa…want to lose anyone, anymore," Sakuno said. Ryoma understood what she meant. He knew that her parents died when she was still young, ever since then her grandmother was the one who took care of her.

"Everything's going to be fine, you won't lose anyone. I'm just beside you, so have faith that everything will go smoothly, okay," Ryoma said trying to comfort Sakuno. He moved Sakuno at the couch. He noticed that his senpais left but some of their things are still there. Maybe they went out to buy something, he thought.

"Arigatou, Ryoma," she replied while wiping her tears with one of her hands because Ryoma was holding the other one and rested her head to his shoulder. After that, there was a moment of silence. Ryoma found it a bit awkward so he tried to say something.

"Sakuno," he called out. He looked at her but then the only thing he saw was the girl's sleeping face. His fingers moved around her face, trying to move the hair that was covering almost half of her beautiful face. For some reason he felt happy and peaceful as if this is something that he yearns for.

Sakuno felt a gentle and protective hand touched her face but also she also heard that somebody opened the door. She woke up and felt that Ryoma let go of her other hand.

"Sakuno-chan, we bought some fruits for Coach Ryuuzaki," Tezuka said and handed the fruits to her.

"Arigatou, Tezuka-senpai, Fuji-senpai and Ryoma…-kun," Sakuno replied. Ryoma was a bit shocked when he heard this but then remembered that they were not in that kind of relationship anymore to call each other in first name basis.

"You're welcome Sakuno-chan. We shall head out already, it's starting to get dark outside," Fuji remarked and the three of them headed outside. Ryoma remembered that he's supposed to be watching the fireworks display with Nina right now. He opened his bag and searched for his cellphone. As expected there were some texts and missed calls from Nina.

"I'm sorry but I'm still with Tezuka-senpai and Fuji-senpai. We did some special training. I'm really sorry I can't come with you. I'll promise that I'll make it up to you next time," Ryoma replied to one of Nina's message. Ryoma didn't know that Nina went to their practice and knew that he went to the hospital with Tezuka and Fuji.

~Flasback~

Nina went to Seigaku to check if Ryoma was still practicing since he's not answering any of her calls. She saw that Takamura was returning the things that they used in their training.

"Excuse me senpai, where's Ryoma," she asked politely.

"He went to the hospital with Tezuka and Fuji to visit our former coach, Coach Ryuuzaki," Takamura replied.

"Coach Ryuuzaki?"

"She's the grandmother of Sakuno Ryuuzaki."

"Arigatou, senpai," she replied and smiled at Takamura but deep inside Nina felt uncomfortable. Emotions of anxiety started to grow in her chest but then a part of her is telling her that there's nothing to be afraid of since Ryoma is already with her.

~End of Flashback~

Nina wanted to cry when she read Ryoma's message. She felt betrayed and deserted and yet the only thing she wanted to him was "Why do you have to lie?"

A.N.: This is the longest chapter I wrote so far. I wish that you loved this chapter as much as you hated the previous chapter...hahaha...Please look forward to my next chapter I promise you that something big will happen...hahaha...Thank you for reading this. XD