The day went by well. Echizen even caught up with his best fried, Momoshiro. The ranking matches were the next day but Echizen was not bothered by that at all. Tezuka seems to notice that and had a small 'chat' with Echizen about his future and how he trusted him to become Seigaku's pillar of support.
When he got back home, he spoke to Sakuno and then got all his work done and went to bed.
Three years later
Three years past and Sakuno and Ryoma's relationship got stronger. Their parents were fine with their relationship and Nanjiroh even sent private nurses to help Sakuno's mother. He even went to the extent of baring all Sakuno's expenses during the stay.
Echizen never expected his father to be so helpful but he also knew that he couldn't judge a person by what they appeared to be on the outside.
In the last few years he had even gotten closer to Tomoka and he truly understood what Sakuno meant when she had said that she was a good friend.
The winter vacations were nearing and Sakuno's mother seemed to be getting better. So, Ryoma managed to convince her to spend the vacations with him.
"Come on Sakuno! I haven't seen you for seven months now! The last time you were here was before the school year started and you promised that you'll be here for vacations. Come on!" Echizen cribbed.
Sakuno had left for Paris when he was in his 1st year in middle school. He was now in high school. Most of his friends were attending the same school especially those in the tennis team. They had won the national tournament three times consecutively. Even Rikkaidai- the former champions- had no hope of winning especially when the boy's team was once again under Tezuka's captaincy. Although, when it had come to voting for the vice-captain it was an anonymous decision that Ryoma should be vice-captain. He was ready to decline the offer since it didn't matter if he was vice- captain or not, he was famous after he won the French and U.S open three years ago. He had a chance of staying in Paris for an extra year but his father did not allow it.
Eventually, he was vice-captain of the boy's tennis team even though he was only a first year in high school.
He woke up early that morning. Sakuno would be arriving in less than five hours.
He threw Karupin off the bed and rushed towards the shower. He took a shower, got dressed and ate his breakfast eagerly. He stared at the clock. There were four hours left. So, he challenged his father to a match.
He used all his techniques but not one of his shots- including his twist serve and cyclone smash- were successful. He ended up losing 0-6 to his father. Heck, he didn't even score a single point. He was too preoccupied. He looked at the clock at the end of his defeat. There were 1 ½ hours left.
"Can we leave now?" Echizen asked his dad.
"Don't be so eager young man. You don't want to seem desperate."
"Very funny. Can we leave?"
"Nope. You're old enough to go to the airport alone. Besides, she's not my girlfriend."
"Whatever." Echizen replied slightly blushing.
He grabbed his bike and dashed to the airport. The streets flashing by in a blur seemed like déjàvu to him. It was three years ago that he was racing to the airport to stop her from leaving and now, he was going there to get her back.
He was waiting at a signal when he saw a sports shop. He remembered how Sakuno had brought him a ball as a lucky charm when he was off to U.S. He parked his bike out of the shop and head in. he stood at the counter waiting for the cashier to be free.
"I want a tennis ball."
"Sure son." The cashier said as he grabbed a Dunlop ball.
He paid the fee and head out. He then took out a marker from his bag and wrote "I will always love you" on the ball.
He felt that this was the perfect present. He unlocked his bike and started peddling to the airport. He checked the information board. Her flight had already reached. He waited at the meeting point scanning through the crowd.
Suddenly, a warm familiar touch made him turn around. She looked vey different from the last time he saw her. Her hair was left open and revealed how curly it actually was. But, she had cut it short. It was only shoulder length now.
"You're hair is still too long" he commented before kissing her softly.
They broke apart and he took her bags. He got a trolley and loaded her bags on it ready to leave but she was waiting for someone.
"You've got to meet them. They're my best friends in Paris. I told them that I was coming to Japan so they came with me too. Don't worry they'll be staying in a hotel or something."
She waved toward three laughing girls. One of the girls was tall and had short ginger brown hair. The other two were about the same height as her but one had thick black hair neatly braided and the other had thick black hair which she wore in a pony- tail. They all looked very friendly.
"This is Aishwarya." Sakuno said pointing towards the girl with the braided hair "Sagarika" she said pointing towards the other girl with long black hair "and Joanne" she continued pointing towards the brunette.
"Guys, this is my boyfriend, Ryoma Echizen."
Joanne was a tennis fan so she replied "The one who beat Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in the U.S open? Didn't he also participate in the French open?"
He blushed and nodded his head.
"That's my Ryoma for you." Sakuno giggled.
They all grabbed trolleys and loaded their luggage onto them. Echizen invited them home for lunch so; they took two taxis and headed to the Echizen residence.