Chapter 1: Crossroads

A/N: Minna-san please enjoy and don't forget to review…

Due to the fame their tennis club had given them, Seishun Gakuen evolved from being just another middle school to a well-known University. Elementary, middle high school, high school and college of all different courses all in one setting. So it wasn't surprising when they still retained their legendary tennis players though all of them are already college students.

Girls from the outside the court giggled and blushed as they saw how sweat trickled from the players' body from hard practice. It had been six years but the usual bickering and care-free attitude of the team never really left them.

"Look! Look Ryoma-sama is about to do his twist serve!" one girl squealed followed by the others. The tall player with dark green hair threw the ball in the air and hit it hard. "RYOMA-SAMA!!!" the cheers were deafening as the ball bounced out of his opponent's reach.

His cat-like yellow eyes lazily wandered to the on-lookers. There as usual he saw that Osakada girl with her incessant "RYOMA-SAMA!!!" voice. He was taken aback when his line of vision traveled to the girl beside her. Long auburn hair styled in two long braids… he narrowed his eyes to see clearly. But when the girl began to scream his name like a wild fanatic… he didn't have to bother looking closely.

It was not her. She always had that demure attitude… she knew the decency of letting the players play a silent match. She would never call him with the honorific –sama. She always called him "Ryoma-kun,". Her voice was gentle yet captivating at the same time though her statements are usually incoherent because of her stuttering… he found it adorable when her cheeks would turn into a shade of red when his eyes met hers.

The sound of the tennis ball hitting the ground woke him up from his daydreaming. What the heck am I thinking about? She left… period. With that he decided to end the match, using his cyclone smash.

It had been six years already. Still he has this habit of looking at the fences, searching for a timid girl with long braided hair. It was hard to forget something you've grown accustomed to. During their first year ever since they met, she was always there watching him closely each match, making him obento sometimes. No one not even the over-active Osakada can match the support she was silently offering.

He was the only one she said goodbye to… though it was indirect. The feeling was both elating and depressing at the same time. Why was he the only person she bothered to say her farewell and on top of that… she wished him luck. Another false reassurance that she would be supporting him even though she was not there.

The charm he received that day still hangs on his tennis bag. It was not because I can't forget about her. He tired to convince himself every time he saw the charm during his matches. Still he can't help but feel a positive aura the thing emits every time he holds it. The feeling is the same as when he hears her kind voice calling his name.

Seigaku had grown strong to the point that even their female tennis club was now competing in a preliminary match. Through time, Tomoko became a Seigaku regular just like Horio and the others. "Ryoma-sama, watch me beat them to a pulp," the girl with high pigtailed hair said with all confidence as they walked to the courts. Interestingly, the preliminary tennis matches between universities both male and female are held in one place.

"Aren't we too confident?" a female voice said from a far. The Seigaku team turned around to see another tennis team wearing a black jersey. "Fudomine," the smiling genius slightly opened his always closed eyes.

"You just wait Tachibana," Tomoko bragged as she crossed her arms. "Bragging won't help you hit the ball," the girl with waist length light brown hair countered. "Now, now you two let's just register first before we argue," the concerned assistant captain came in between them.

"Ryoma-kun, I'm sorry but we have to beat Seigaku," Ann smiled at him. "Stop ogling Ryoma-sama!" Tomoko stood in front of Ryoma. "Ochibi's having girl problems!" the over-active acrobatic player leaned all his weight to Ryoma's back. Though their ochibi has already grown way taller, old habits die hard and in the end the title ochibi never really abandoned his life.

"Then how about this… whoever gets to be the champion will become ochibi's date for Christmas," Kikumaru immediately blurted out. "Kikumaru-senpai," Ryoma was about to disagree when "IT'S A DEAL!!!" the two girls replied all of a sudden. The poor guy only sighed in defeat at his helplessness.

Finally after reaching a certain compromise, Fudomine and Seigaku walk to the registration booth. "Hime-chan is so late!" they over heard one of the girls in a certain tennis team exclaim. "Yeah, and so is the captain and Akaya," the other girl bit her thumb in agitation.

"Ryuugan University… their tennis club is said to be the strongest new comer this year." An as-a-matter-of-fact voice introduced the team as they walked passed them. Adjusting his spectacles, the speaker scribbled something on his notebook. "Heh?" Ryoma's voice changed from being bored to being challenged as he heard Inui's statement. His senpai wouldn't say that a team is strong without unquestionable data.

As they were registering, "Gomen…" a female voice echoed from a distance. "Finally!" the Ryuugan team said in relief. "That's?!" the Seigaku regular with brushed up hair pointed at the three approaching figure. "Momo it's not polite to point," Oishi said as he looked in the direction he was pointing at. "That's…" some Fudomine and Seigaku players stared at the three figures.

"That's Sakuno…" hearing Tomoko's words. He dropped his half-drank ponta and looked ahead.

This was her first official match. Any player would've been nervous or excited. But for her it was neither… in truth she just wanted it to be over as soon as possible. It wasn't because she thinks she can beat them all but… the feeling of being there… at those courts… suffocates her especially when she learned that Seigaku and Fudomine are enlisted as well.

Well, I think the senpais can do it without me anyway. The female player thought of as they ran to their team. The sound of the dropped can caught her attention. She got a glimpse of something white and blue. Right then and there she felt like hurling, her stomach twisted and turned for she knew who they were.

She doesn't need reminding. The familiar colors never left her memory… it was all that she sees whenever she watch their matches back in her first year. Seigaku… I didn't think I would come across them this early.

Amber and chocolate eyes met for the quickest moment until she looked away. She hated that feeling... getting tingly all over just because she was again under his zealous stare. If she was still her normal self she would've blushed from the roots of her hair to the tips of her toes but… it was different now.

"Sakuno!!!" she was engulfed in a pair of arms. Her eyes became gentle "Tomo-chan," she muttered. "What's with the lack of energy? Didn't you miss me?" her friend pouted.

"Long time no see," she raised her sight to see that the Seigaku and Fudomine approach her. "Senpai-tachi… nice to see you all," she bowed slightly. "Hey, hey what's with the formality?" Momoshiro tapped her shoulder.

"Don't think we'll wait for you. If don't want to play better stay there with you friends," a sarcastic female voice broke their reunion. "Gomen minna, I have to go." Turning her back, but she stopped and turned around again. "Tomo-chan, Ann-chan, I'll be seeing you in the court," she bowed again then ran off.

The red tennis shirt hugged her curves as the loose jogging pants prevented him on seeing further than that. Her red Ryuugan jacket was tied over her waist as she carried the signature Ryuugan tennis bag. It seems only her short bangs escaped the grasp of her black baseball cap. She's different…

Ryoma told himself as he inspected her further. True she looked more…mature. But there was something beyond physical change that bothered him. When their eyes met, he expected her to blush or something close to fainting but… his male pride crumbled when she looked away without hesitation. The innocent smile that was always plastered on her face vanished replaced by something else.

"What's with those girls? Treating Sakuno like that!" Tomoko's outrage only added to his confusion. Do they have something to do with her change? He stared at the girl's disappearing figure.

Ryuugan's team was up against another university. Seeing the results of the match already, Sakuno walked to the bulletin board as she stared at the line-up. "Your team won't be facing Seigaku until the semi-finals," she felt her heart drop hearing his voice again.

Slowly turning around, she finally faced the very person she wanted to avoid. "Echizen-san," Ryoma was mentally taken aback as he heard what she called him. By using this kind of formality, it was as if they were only… acquaintances.

"It would be better that way," she muttered as she looked away again breaking the contact of their eyes.

A/N: Could I say Tadaa? Read and review onegai…