Author's Note: Blessed New Year, everyone! Here's Chapter 8 to brighten your first day of 2013. Please remember to write a review.
Disclaimer: Nothing in POT belongs to me. All OoC-ness, OCs, events, situations, venues and tournaments are just figments of my imagination.
Thanks to princeoftennis . wikia .com for all the relevant information.
CAUTION: Some plotlines won't be following the original storyline from manga, anime or movie! Characters may be out of original characterness!
"xxxxx" Conversation
'xxxxx' Thoughts
Xxxxxxx Flashback
08. Hope, Love, Joy
22. The Game
Ryuzaki Sakuno looked around the empty courtyard anxiously. Momoshiro-sempai and Ryoma-kun had gone off somewhere and the 1st-year trio were missing too. In fact, a few tennis players from other schools including Atobe Keigo and Sanada Genichiro had also took off for unknown reasons.
Earlier the whole team was stunned by the news about Ryoma suffering from temporary amnesia. After watching the loss of the 3rd. single match of their Captain, everyone had put their last hope on their rookie but then….
After watching the one loss and one win from the first double and the second single match, Momoshiro-sempai had angrily dragged the clueless and innocent-looking Ryoma out of the stadium.
'Where did they go? Will Ryoma be able to play?'
'What about Yukimura-kun? He thrives on challenges with strong opponents. He would be disappointed too.'
Sakuno shook her head in horror, 'What am I thinking? I'm supposed to root for Seigaku, not for Rikkai.'
She remembered what Yukimura had told her about his unique skill.
XXX FLASHBACK BEGINS XXX
'In all my matches, I robbed the 5 senses of my opponents.'
"How do you do that?" she asked curiously, "What happened to your opponents after that, Yukimura-kun?"
"It took me awhile to learn the skill. My opponents always gave up at the end since they couldn't continue playing anymore."
"Without their senses, how could they stand a chance? That's so cruel." Her words were met with silence.
Sakuno saw for an instant the sad look in Yukimura's eyes before he looked away from her and murmured, "But that is my tennis skill, Sakuno-chan. I can't change who I am or what kind of tennis player I am."
Before she could say anything, he got up quickly and excused himself, "It's quite late now and we still have school tomorrow. Oyasumi, Sakuno-chan."
When she got up the next morning, he had left without saying goodbye.
XXX FLASHBACK ENDS XXX
Sakuno didn't how to act when she saw him and his team today. They haven't spoken to each other since he stayed over that night.
But when their eyes met across the tennis court, she had smiled and waved. However, he only nodded his head in acknowledgment and that's it. She felt he had withdrawn from her. It made her more depressed. 'What do I say to Yukimura-kun now? Is this my fault?'
Her musing stopped when, from the corner of her eyes, she saw the familiar short figure in Seigaku's white-blue jersey and a cap.
"Oh, Ryoma-kun!"
The young boy walked closer and closer to her. He was about to walk pass her when she decided to be bolder.
"Ano, I've heard about your amnesia and ever since you taught me tennis some time ago, I had admired your amazing tennis which I like…"
"What are you saying, Ryuzaki?" Ryoma interrupted, "Sorry but can we talk later?"
She took a longer look at him and recognised the fighting glow in his eyes and the easy smirk on his lips. 'He's back again!'
"At the moment, there's someone I need to defeat in there." He nodded toward the tennis stadium where the first single match was being held.
"Ha..Hai, Ryoma-kun. Gambatte!"
He turned his golden eyes upon her and gave her a surprising sweet smile, "Ryuzaki, thanks for being a good supporting friend." With that, he walked briskly toward the stadium.
She was left standing there in stunned silence. Somehow, there was no heaviness in her chest upon hearing his words. Now she was sure it was a sign she no longer had any romantic feelings for the tennis rookie.
'Ah, I have to go!' It was time for the first single match between Yukimura-kun and Ryoma-kun.
23. The Confession
Yukimura Seiichi never thought this day would arrive. He was soundly defeated by the rookie and Rikkai had lost the National Tournament championship to Seigaku.
After commiserating with his Regulars, consoling the sobbing Kirihara, accepting the runner-up award and sending off his team, he had isolated himself in one of the empty locker rooms in the stadium.
Ready to collapse, he had laid down on one long bench. His body might be tired but his head was filled with the heart-shaped face of his love. He wished he had done more than giving her a solemn nod when she had smiled so sweetly and waved at him.
But her words had cut into him. "That's so cruel." It sounded like a rejection to his ears.
He sighed and sat up. With his elbows on his knees, he palmed his face.'I don't know what I'll do if she rejects me out rightly. If she's here now, I might go crazy.'
"Ano, Yukimura-kun, are you alright?"
He looked up to see a worried-looking Sakuno peeking from behind the door to the men's locker room. His heart raced faster as he moved closer to her.
"What are you doing here, Sakuno-chan?"
"Umm, I was waiting for you outside, Yukimura-kun but you were in here for such a long time that I started to get worried. Are you doing okay?"
The concern in her eyes gave him a measure of confidence, "I'm fine. I was just getting ready to go. Why don't you give me a minute?"
"Okay!" Her bright smile caused him to smile back and she closed the door. With sudden burst of energy, he quickly took a shower, got dressed and packed up his tennis bag. He walked out to find her standing a short distance away from the locker room.
"Why didn't you go back with Ryuzaki-sensei?"
"Um, I wanted to see you and talk to you, Yukimura-kun."
He had an idea what she wanted to talk about. "Let's go somewhere. We can get something to eat and talk later."
"You're hungry?"
A growling sound from his stomach answered for him causing her to giggle. He realized he missed her giggles.
Not far from the stadium, they found a nice ramen shop and were seated in a booth tucked in a corner away from the noisy crowd. They didn't talk until they had finished their ramen.
"What do you want to talk about, Sakuno-chan?"
"I am so sorry for my insensitivity! I had said something that night which had hurt you, Yukimura-kun."
"You were being honest, Sakuno-chan. There's nothing wrong in that."
"But you had this sad look in your eyes. You must have thought I was talking about you."
He frowned with confusion, "That skill is about me."
She smiled, "Not really. You are your own person and your skill is learned. When I said those words, I was talking about your skill, not about you as the person or the tennis player."
"But…"
"Kirihara Akaya had his own devilish skill, right? But he's a nice guy and an enthusiastic tennis player."
"So you are not rejecting me as a person or a tennis player?"
She blushed and nodded, "I don't like the skill but I….I do like the person, Yukimura Seiichi."
His eyes widened more and his heart raced with joy. 'She likes me! But what about Echizen?'
24. The Kiss
"Sakuno-chan, what about Echizen?"
"I talked to him before your match began and I realized my feelings for him had disappeared."
"Really?"
"Hai! I had finally opened my eyes to the truth about my feelings."
"The truth about your feelings?" He asked with rising hope in his heart.
She turned her soulful chocolate eyes to him and smiled shyly. "I realized someone special has captured my heart."
He faltered for a moment. 'Wait! Is she talking about me or someone else?'
"Do I know this special someone?"
"Hai! He's a responsible person who carries out his duties in the best interest of his school. He's a good leader who mentors those who needed guidance."
He sat there with a frozen heart. 'Why does that sound like Tezuka or Atobe!?'
"He always kind to me and cheers me up with chats and gifts. He likes spending time with me even at his own cost or comfort."
'Who else spends time with her and gives her gifts? Was it Fuji?' He wondered anxiously.
"He is the type of person who never gives up. He never gives up when his body almost failed him, when his team suffered a loss, when he underwent painful recovery and when he fought for his school in tennis."
His heart started warming up with hope and longing. "Sakuno-chan, can you tell me his name."
She just got up from her seat, leaned over the table and planted a kiss on his lips.
To Be Continued …
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Constructive criticisms are welcomed!