Hi! I am slowly getting there. It was such an opportunity to write a story and share it to everyone else. I am overwhelmed with joy and always will be. Please enjoy this climax. Thank you. ^_^

echizaki - Thank you for the review. I really appreciate it. And as for your question, you will find out now. Please enjoy. ^_^

music4life1791 - I really don't know what to say but thank you, Words are not enough to express my gratitude. I was surprised that you read all of my one shots. Thanks a lot that you like them all. I Won't say I'm in Love, Character Change and Himitsu no kiss. MitsukiJunko likes. tee hee hee. I don't know myself and I am a bit honored of your words. And for Ryoma's attitude, I just think some people who has the same attitude as him. That might be the case. And see my previous chapter I included the translations there. Sorry for forgetting about it and then please enjoy this next chapter. ^_^

DISCLAIMER: I do not own POT and never will. I just love all the characters.

Chapter 19: Reciprocated Feelings

Chapter Summary: It was too good to be true for her. She didn't expect anything that it all happened just in seconds. She was happy but will her happiness stay longer?

"Sorry," He started. "To have kept you waiting all this time…"

Her heart was beating fast. For the reason, she actually didn't know. The boy continued talking still not facing her;

"I know I hurt you a lot. I made you suffer and cry just to get away from you because of this stupid pride of mine," He stared at a distance and continued. "Without my own consciousness, I just realized that I was just lying to myself all this time. But I won't run. I won't suppress 'it' anymore."

She flinched when he faced her and said his next words;

"I like you, go out with me." though he said it with a bit stiff but she could sense the sincerity in his words… or she thought, she wasn't sure.

She was speechless. She blushed when he said that but she looked away as she wore a weak smile on her face, "P-please. D-don't kid me like that. Y-you can tease me with anything… but not that."

Ryoma didn't say anything. When she sensed that he was not saying anything. She looked at him. His seriousness could be seen on his face.

"Y-you are not… j-joking, aren't you?" She asked.

"Do you think that I'll joke something about this?"

She gripped her hands tight on her skirt that she was wearing that morning, "It's impossible… I-I know that you don't like me... s-stop it."

"That's right… I don't like you." Ryoma thought hard.

She gasped and looked down. He was really playing a prank on her. Why can't he make up his mind already?

"I love you… "

She looked up once again, even redder than before. She couldn't read his mind but every word he said was so… convincing. But there were still hesitations in her part, "Y-you said that… you don't… want me… " she couldn't utter the words properly.

"It was your fault for not letting me finished my words back then," He retorted. "And you misunderstood everything, you even said goodbye to me."

"B-but that's… I thought that it's useless. I gave up the thought of you liking me back."

"I didn't know what to answer you, when you asked me why I kissed you before," He said and then continued. "Now I know the answer… and you just heard it."

The sun rose at that moment. She saw a genuine smile on his face for the first time, a smile that he wore for her. The tennis prodigy said;

"I don't want you… I need you."

She covered her mouth with both of her hands. She felt her tears were about to fall. It was all too sudden to absorb everything. She was trembling all over and if she was dreaming she hoped that she would never wake up. She startled when the boy walked to her direction. Out of her reflexes, she turned around and attempted to run;

"Don't run!" he almost shouted that made her stop from her attempted 'escape'. "Don't you dare run from me because I won't allow it."

She remained there not facing him. Their position turned upside down. He was facing her back this time. No one said a word for a while. Sakuno was still trembling she could feel her knees were about to fail her. She wanted this. She really wanted this. But why was she running away now? She just couldn't understand herself. She felt that the boy was walking towards her direction once again but unlike earlier she couldn't move or else, her knees will definitely betray her.

"Let's make everything right. I want to fill the time I wasted for not expressing my feelings for you." he said as he was finally stood on her back and placed both of his hands on her shoulders.

"R-ryoma-kun…" She flinched. She was a bit thankful that he did that. Probably he sensed that her knees were starting to tremble and he just built a support for them.

Ryoma turned her around so that she could face him. She couldn't stare at his eyes. He wiped her tears; she didn't notice that she was crying already, "Give me a chance…" He tilted her chin up to make her look at him, "…Sakuno."

She did stare at him but not for long. His stare was different that the usual but his stoic face could somewhat be seen on his expression. As for her reply, she nodded involuntarily as she closed her eyes.

Ryoma was somewhat delighted. He hugged the girl carefully. She was shocked at first; she opened her eyes for a split second and then closed them again. There were all new to her. Ryoma spoke once again;

"I'll keep you now…"

She opened her eyes in a half-softened way, "b-but… I-I Just… answered you."

He hugged her a bit tight, "that didn't matter… we will go there anyway."

"Ryoma-kun… " she said as she closed her eyes again and gripped his clothes on his back as her response to his hug.

The sun rise was their own witness that morning. Definitely Sakuno couldn't believe that this day would REALLY come.

Later on:

Their hands were intertwined as they seated on his favorite spot on the rooftop. Both of them neither said any word. Sakuno thought that it was awkward; she was more embarrassed than before.

"You know that I am going to America."

She was startled when the boy suddenly spoke. She nodded as her reply.

"Will you be okay?"

She looked up to him. The boy was staring at her that she didn't know for how long, "I-I will be okay… I-It's not like it's your first time leaving Japan for America."

"Everything is different now, remember that." He said keeping a monotonous tone.

She understood what he meant. She pouted, "Don't you trust me?"

"I trust you… it's them whom I don't trust," Ryoma looked away. "Those nosy senpais and admirers of yours won't leave you alone."

"M-mou… you are so mean. Y-you can trust them. I mean our senpais. They're my brothers after all."

"Yeah right," he said as he pinned his hat down and continued, "They keep looking at you for they can sense that you are about to trip yourself, lose you way or if someone bullies you."

"R-ryoma-kun, you are-"

"But you are different… "

She was shocked. His last word felt so nostalgic. She smiled because of that thought.

"I even got my favorite game as my own rival to you."

He whispered his last sentence so Sakuno didn't hear it clearly, "What did you say?"

He looked up. "Nothing… "

She didn't bother ask him again but she asked another question as she remembered something;

"R-ryoma-kun… h-how did you get my number?"

Ryoma shrugged, "That loudmouthed friend of yours forced your number and her number into my contacts when she had the chance."

"S-top calling her that." She pouted once again.

"Che… " he looked at her and asked her this time, "How did you know that it was ME who's calling you?"

She blushed because of that. She looked down as she played with her fingers, "W-well… T-tomoka-chan did the same thing to me."

"I see… " he replied. It was the right thing to thank her. He thought afterwards.

"Uhmm… Ryoma-kun I need to go. I can't be away too long. I-I'll see you tomorrow then." She stood up hurriedly but Ryoma stopped her by holding her right hand before she could get away.

"Stay a bit longer." He was not looking at her when he said that.

She was blushing all the time and he never ceased her to stop that from happening. She bent a little to him, "I-I'm sorry… I-I really need to go back. O-obaa-chan only knew that I was doing morning exercises today."

Ryoma didn't say anything as he kept staring at a distance still holding her hand. She flinched when he suddenly looked at her with a non-changeable expression on his face. What she became more shocked for was when he held her left braided pigtail with his right hand and brought to his lips to kiss it.

Her heart was beating very fast and her face was not changing its color.

"Next Saturday at 9am, let's meet at the train station." He smirked when he said that.

Her eyes widened. Could he be asking for a date? ...Their very first date. She nodded bashfully. He finally released her, "I'll see you tomorrow at school then."

She started to walk when the boy nodded. She was about to climbed down the ladder when Ryoma spoke once again;

"You are not going to take your words back, aren't you?"

That surprised her. She looked at him again. Ryoma was standing already while staring at her keeping that countenance look on his face. She blushed for the last time and said, "I-I will be the stupidest person if I ever do that." She looked down as she hurriedly climbed down the ladder.

When Sakuno was out of his sight, he looked up to the sky once again. Fixing his hat on his head, he genuinely smiled that no one saw but that sapphire sky above.

xxx

When she got home and had her breakfast. She went upstairs to think over what happened earlier. She clasped both of her hands to her chest. She couldn't believe that it happened. They are a couple now. That thought kept ringing in her head. She sat to her study table and looked at the mirror.

Eh… she was a bit surprised to see that she was crying. She realized that all of her efforts… all of it were paid off. Ryoma returned her feelings that she cried today. She wiped her tears away but her heart was still beating so fast. She almost jumped to her seat when she heard her phone made a sound. It was Ryoma sending her a message.

'You might be crying right now so stop it. The next time you cry… it will be tears of joy.'

She smiled when she read the message. Since when did he know that she was crying at that moment?

Tears of joy…

He might be right. She knew that he was capable of doing that despite of his non-changeable attitude and reactions. Didn't he help her a couple of times? It was proven through time already. She replied to his message before going down to do her chores that day.

Three Days Later:

They managed to keep their relationship for that long until on Wednesday morning. They noticed the sudden change of their attitude and their meaningful stare at each other and then the girl will blushed after a series of staring. That happened every time they do that these past days. But they were not good at keeping their own emotions that's why they were caught.

"I can say that it's a hundred percent that they are a couple right now." Inui said as he scribbling down in his notebook.

The two flinched at the same time. Everyone looked at them, even Tomoka and the trio.

"What you are not denying it?" Fuji asked the tennis prodigy.

He just looked away. There was a slight red tint that could be seen on his face.

"Ahh—Ochibi is blushing." Eiji blurted out.

Ryoma reacted, "I am not." Sakuno just blushed.

Sumire went closer to the both of them, "Really, guys you like hiding secrets from us," She looked at Sakuno, "From me." the girl just looked down after saying her apologies. "Well, I knew that there was something going on when you went home that Sunday morning, so you are safe."

Eiji suddenly reacted, "Ahh—is that the reason why the both of you weren't on the event last Saturday night?"

Sakuno just looked away as she blushed. Ryoma just gave them a 'che' reaction. They should know the reason already.

"I see… so that's what happened." Fuji said as he thought something to tease them. He blocked himself between the two of them. Ryoma reacted;

"S-senpai, what are you doing?"

"I am finally giving her to you," Fuji looked at his kouhai in a warning look and leaned closer to him afterwards, "If you did something unusual that would make my beloved sister cry, I'll make you pay."

He glared back to his senpai and smirked mockingly, "Heh! Like I would do that... "

Sakuno interrupted, "R-ryoma-kun, N-nii- chan, stop it… both of you." she was blushing all hard.

"SAKUNO-CHAN! I hated you for hiding things like this," Tomoka hugged her from her back. "But I am happy for you. You can have the tennis prodigy forever."

Sakuno blushed a lot. "T-To-mo-k-ka-chan! W-wh-at are you—saying-"

Everyone laughed at her reaction. They kept teasing the freshmen even the practice started already.

"Okay… let's go to Kawamura's after our practice in the afternoon. It will be me and Kikumaru-senpai's treat."

"Oi!—Takeshi what are you saying-"

He didn't finish his words when everyone agreed, including Sakuno and Ryoma. Although Ryoma just agreed with his normal tone. Eiji just gave up and thought that he will make Takeshi pay in the future for this. Oishi was relieved that everything was back to normal now. In fact, their bond became stronger than before. He kept staring at the group; even their coach was having fun as well. He closed his eyes as he thought something;

Everything is amazingly fine… it is all thanks to her. He looked at a certain auburn pigtailed girl as he opened his eyes.

Saturday at 9am:

"R-ryoma-kun?"

She was shocked to see him at the front door of their house. She was about to leave their house thinking that she was late already. The boy talked;

"I knew that this would happen, so I came to pick you up instead."

"S-sorry… " She looked down. Mind her tardiness… really.

Sumire peaked outside and saw him, "Ah, Ryoma, you are here."

Ryoma bowed to his coach as respect, "Ohayou guzaimasu… "

"Ohayou," She nodded, "You better take care of my granddaughter, be sure to go back before dinner time."

"Hai." He bowed once again and turned to Sakuno, "Shall we?"

"U-un… " She turned to her grandma and bowed as well, "W-we'll be going then."

"Take care, okay."

"Hai… " they started to walk. Ryoma walked a bit faster from her and she was trying to keep his pace. She had the chance to look at his appearance. He was wearing a different hat from his usual one probably to avoid getting attention but it fits him… and he was looking good at his blue hooded-styled shirt and paired with sporty jeans.

I can't take his passion away even on a time like this. She smiled on the thought. On the other hand, she was wearing a spaghetti-strapped dress with a cute and small blazer on top of it. She thought hard on what to wear last night. She flinched when Ryoma stopped from walking and waited for her. He suddenly grabbed her hand and said;

"It's better this way," he said as they continued to walk. Sakuno was blushing. He was considerate after all. But Ryoma was not finished talking, "So that you won't lose your way if we get separated."

"M-mou… stop teasing me." she pouted. Ryoma smirked on her reaction.

"W-where are we going?" she asked him when they reached the train station. She didn't ask him this entire time for she forgotten all about it.

"Just follow my lead." He just said. They boarded the train afterwards. The ride was a bit long but she was noticing that were heading for the capital city.

"T-this is… Tokyo," she was surprised when they boarded off the train. "W-why here?"

Ryoma closed his eyes as yanked both of his hands in his pockets, "I don't want a bunch of senpais trailing us on our first date that's why I kept silent as possible as I can." He opened his eyes and looked at her, "Having our date here would definitely let us get away from them."

Sakuno blushed on his words but she smiled afterwards.

Ryoma took the lead on their date. They walked to the largest theme park and rode some rides there. She enjoyed the scene and views from a gondola that they also rode. She became frightened when Ryoma insisted her to enter a haunted house. She didn't know but she agreed to him. They entered the house with her eyes closed and as usual, she screamed all the way. When they exited the house, she cried a lot. Ryoma couldn't stop but to laugh.

"Really Sakuno, how can you be so coward when it turn to something like this? They are not real." He said as he wiped her tears with his handkerchief.

"O-Obaa-chan used to scare me when I was a kid. W-what do you expect?" She replied as she grabbed the handkerchief from him and wiped her tears herself.

Ryoma composed himself, "That is something that you need to overcome," He held her hands after saying that. "Stop crying, I don't want you to cry on our first date."

Sakuno tried to stop crying as she sniffed hard. You started it. She thought but she never voiced that out. They continued walking to the park. They played different games there. While Sakuno was busy playing a toss ring at a certain stall, he secretly sneaked to a certain item stand as he was noticed something. I'll get it this time. She thought but when she was about to toss the ring, someone grabbed her hand;

"That's not the way to throw a ring young miss," A boy at least two years older than her said while still was holding her hand there was another boy at his back smirking to them, "I'll teach you how, just come with me after I teach you."

Sakuno became nervous as she tried to struggle. She looked around but she couldn't find Ryoma anywhere, "N-no thanks, I-I don't need to."

"Don't worry; just go on a date with me for teaching you. I bet you are alone."

"I-I'm sorry. I-I'm with-"

"Do you have a business with my girlfriend?"

They looked at the person who spoke. Sakuno felt relieve to see Ryoma standing near them. She managed to free herself from the boy's grip and went closer to him.

"So, you do have a companion." The boy spoke but he flinched when he looked at his eyes.

Ryoma was glaring to the both of them. The glare that he states 'lay a hand on my girl or I'll kill you' look on them.

"W-what's with your look? Are you for real?" They boy said but they started to walk away.

Sakuno sighed when they walked away from them.

"This is what I am concern about," He said as he turned to her, "Good thing that Satoshi guy was with you before but you can't always ask anyone to defend you if this happens again."

"I-it was not my fault, t-they approached me. W-where were you anyway?" She asked him.

Ryoma didn't answer her question but said another words, "When I leave Japan, I don't want you to go off alone without someone else. Be it your best friend or Ryuzaki-sensei."

"E-eh?"

"You can ask senpai-tachi sometimes. Just be sure that you will just go around town."

"W-what are you-"

"And DON'T you ever talk to strangers. You hear me." He said. He was saying those words keeping his monotonous tone all the time.

"Are you r-restricting my actions?" Sakuno was able to ask him that. Ryoma looked at her and smirked;

"You forced me to be your boyfriend. That's why."

Sakuno pouted but blushing all the time. "I-I am not- You forced me to accept you." To her surprise, Ryoma leaned closer to her face. She blushed a lot because of that. "R-ryoma-kun… "

He was keeping that distance for a while before deciding to lean away from her, "It's your fault anyway… " he whispered that words but she didn't hear that. Sakuno tilted her head as she wondered. She flinched when he said, "Let's go somewhere else, we have all day."

Sakuno nodded. She was definitely enjoying their date when Ryoma took her to a strawberry farm. They tasted different delicacies of the fruit and to Ryoma's surprise; he seemed to be enjoying eating some of it. They ended up wrapping some food afterwards.

5pm:

"T-this is… " she was staring at the tallest tower in Tokyo. She almost jumped when Ryoma held her hand and escorted her to enter the certain tower.

"This is the main event, to watch the sunset inside the Tokyo tower." He said as they entered the place.

Sakuno was overwhelmed with joy as they watched the sunset. The view was really beautiful and memorable. The wind was not any difference. As she leaned closer to the open window she felt the wind to her face, causing her hair to sway with it.

'click'

She looked at the clicking sound. She was shocked when he saw Ryoma with his cell phone pointing at her direction. Did he just take a picture of her? Her thoughts were answered by him.

"I can always look at you in this picture, when I go to America." He smirked.

Sakuno was blushing all over again. And then she remembered something, "I-I want a picture of you as well." Without waiting for his reply, she dragged him to a photo booth in that tower and took a picture of them.

They stayed there for a couple of minutes until Ryoma decided to go home.

6:30pm at the Tennis Court:

Ryoma decided to go to the court for a while. They seated at the bench there. No one said a word as it was becoming awkward. It was too odd to go there without having their rackets with them.

"Nee, Sakuno."

"H-hai… " She flinched when he talked. She instantly looked at his direction but when she did that she met his lips with hers'. Her eyes were slowly dilated. He was kissing her… carefully and chastely. He opened his eyes half-softened. He made a small nod as he released her. She was left blushing again with her lips were slight opened.

"What?" Ryoma retorted, "I am just claiming what is originally mine."

Sakuno blinked twice as she bashfully looked away from him and looked down. She gripped both of her hands on top of her lap. Ryoma was still staring at her. She was aware of that but she couldn't guess what he was thinking. She was shocked when he suddenly placed his hand on top of hers'. That made her look at him once again;

"I may not be your first kiss but I'll assure you… I will be your last."

Sakuno became red for the record. Her last… Does that mean that she won't kiss another guy aside from him? That idea was too good to be true. Even the date as well, him as her boyfriend. Everything was like a dream. But she knew that she wasn't dreaming. It was ALL real. She didn't know how she managed to stare at his eyes but on what she did, she wasn't aware what she made Ryoma think that time. She flinched when he held her chin up. She knew what he wanted to do. Her eyes became softened as the red color on her face didn't leave her. Without saying another word, Ryoma crossed the distance once again and kissed her. She let him as she slowly closed her eyes and so he did the same. Her heart was pounding so hard. She wished that the boy wouldn't hear it.

'click'

They automatically separated from one another when they heard a clicking sound. They both looked at the bushes behind them and were surprised to see the regulars wearing their teasing smiles on their faces. Fuji was holding his digital camera that he just used to them and said;

"Perfect picture for the perfect couple." He said.

'I may not be your first kiss but I'll assure you… I will be your last.' Eiji mimicked his words just a while ago.

Sakuno blushed and felt smaller at that time. They saw them kissing and that have it photographed. Ryoma on the other hand was raging with anger. He was blushing as well; "S-senpai… "

"What? Do you want another round? I'm all set." Fuji said as he placed the lens of camera to his eye.

That snapped Ryoma. He instantly jumped from the bench and chased him, "Senpai, get back here. Give me that digital camera."

Everyone just laughed on his reaction.

"So, Echizen could give us that look and reaction." Momo said as he stared at him while chasing Fuji around.

"Y-yeah… " Sakuno agreed. "I guess everyone can change… " She was staring at him. Although she could still see his cocky demeanor masks on his face, he was starting to change when it came to her. She was really happy that day. But a bit worried at the same time… for his departure for the grand slam tournaments was just two weeks away.

Done! I did my best on making his chapter… just the way I planned it. Did you like it? Because I was thinking of someone when I wrote this… so I really love this chapter. I'll do my best to make Fuji satisfied with his answer. I don't know if you like the idea of treating Sakuno his beloved sister instead, but I am still thinking of a 'possible' girlfriend of Fuji, if there is. Anyway, the next chapter will be the last. Stay tuned… sighed… it is the last chapter already.

Sorry for the wrong grammar. It might be the effect of my worn out mind from work all night and been facing the computer till morning. I make efforts for my story as I really like to make one.

R and R please! If you did read this in the end please let me know what you were thinking. I could get a higher motivation on your words even it is just one or two that was coming from you.

Final Chapter: Departure