AN: Hello guys, Please enjoy and look forward for my next update. My schedule doesn't change.

PoT is not mine.

The next day was even more hectic, everyone was cheering, everyone gave everything they got.

"WAAAAAHHH two more marathon games and we're the champions!" Horio exclaimed as he let himself collapse on the soft green grass beside the field.

"I can't wait for the teacher to announce what kind of obstacle we'll be having!" Kachiro said as he panted. He won the badminton singles for guys in their year.

"Ryuzaki's game was the same as Kachiro's, right?" Horio asked.

"Yep." Kachiro replied.

"So? Who won?" Horio asked, making Ryoma look n their direction, also curious.

"Ryuzaki of course!" Katsuo answered.

"YEEEEES! SHE'S THE CHAMPION!" Horio cheered.

"Aren't you happy Echizen?" Horio nudged the spaced out teen.

"Huh?" Ryoma asked.

"I said, aren't you happy that Ryuzaki won?" Horio repeated once again.

Ryoma didn't reply, he doesn't know what to answer. Yes he's happy but all he could ever think about is their dilemma.

Meanwhile in the gym.

"Sakuno did you do what you had to do already?" Tomoka asked the auburn haired beauty as she approached her on the bench.

"I haven't yet... It's just that with the game and helping grandma out today. There's no time... Sorry." Sakuno said, wiping her sweat looking apologetic.

"Well, I do understand." Tomoka replied.

"Thank you Tomo-chan." Sakuno said.

"You guys have jump rope today too, huh." Tomoka added.

"Uh-"

"Yoooooooo!" Kachiro and Katsuo greeted as they walked towards the two ladies, Horio and Ryoma tagged along too.

"Hi guys." Tomoka greeted back, Sakuno was about to do the same when she saw her prince looking at her, she shifted her gaze elsewhere. She was hesitating, she wants to talk to him but she's afraid what he'll say to her.

"You guys want to see the volleyball championship?" Katsuo offered.

"Sure! I heard Kikumaru-senpai's class had been ripping it!" Tomoka screamed in delight.

"Then what are you waiting for?" Horio droned as he looked at the brown haired girl with distaste.

"Don't ruin my mood or else I'll turn you into putty!" Tomoka gritted her teeth.

"Let's just go." Kachiro sighed.

The 6 managed to go just in time to see their acrobatic senior's "Kikumaru Beam" attack.

Kachiro, Katsuo, Horio and Tomoka had no problem with each other's company but for the two it's the other way around.

Their atmosphere was quiet, and that's saying something if you combine Horio and Tomoka cheering. Sakuno refused to make eye contact but all Ryoma did was the opposite. He kept on looking at her, the princess felt so awkward that she thought that he was still mad at her.

Out of all the loudness Ryoma analyzed in his head that he should say something.

"I... ate... you..." Ryoma blurted out.

Sakuno's eyes quickly filled with tears, her face splashed with red and her features turned sad. She quivered and took a few steps back from him and suddenly bolted away.

Ryoma on the other hand was confused and shocked at the same time. All he said was "I saw Fuji-senpai ate your cooking." The prince bit his lip and looked for the crying maiden.

The prince searched high and low but he couldn't seem to find her.

"Ry-Ryoma-kun...h-h-hates me..W-What do I do now?" Sakuno cried her heart out in the home economics room.

It's half passed twelve and Sakuno is still nowhere in sight.

"I wonder where'd those two went." Tomoka worriedly said.

"I'm sure they're fiiine!" Horio leisurely said as he snacked on his sandwich.

Then the bell rang, DING DONG DING. Lunch time was over, Sakuno knew that they had jump rope next. She composed herself and got up. She weakly went out to see Ryoma at the end of the hall.

Sakuno shifted her gaze trying not to look pained, she continued walking.

"Finally.." Ryoma panted as he looked at the girl.

"L-Let's go." Sakuno simply said wearing her head down.

Ryoma couldn't reply, his princess already walked ahead of him.

"Oi.." Ryoma said, Sakuno simply ignored him.

"Oi.." He tried once again to only fall on deaf ears.

"Ryuzaki.. Wait.." Ryoma said.

"I will do my best to win." Sakuno replied, refusing eye contact.

"That's no-" Ryoma was cut off.

"SAKUNO! RYOMA-SAMA~ GOOD LUCK!" Tomoka cheered.

Sakuno simply placed herself in her team while Ryoma didn't have a choice but do the same.

Sakuno simply concentrated in what she was doing ignoring the eyes that stared at her the whole time and of course, they won.

As the game finished, Ryoma was determined to talk to her.

"Ryuzaki I.."

"I'm sorry Ryoma-kun, I have to go help grandma with something." Sakuno scurried away as she left the

gymnasium.

"Where's Ryuzaki going?" Horio asked.

"Away from me..." Ryoma sighed.

"What?" Horio didn't hear because of the crowd.

"Beats me.." Ryoma shrugged.

Sakuno rested behind the gymnasium as she calmed herself, she wants to talk to him but she's damn hurt. She can't possibly look at him and tell him she loves him now.

Ryoma spent the rest of his day having a blank stare and thinking about Sakuno. It was tough for him to see that his princess was ignoring him, she was the only one who can connect with him and he's afraid of what's to come.

He doesn't want to lose her and he doesn't want her to loathe him either.

Sakuno doesn't want to be a pain for Ryoma, she thought that he hates her but what she doesn't know is that it's the exact opposite. She blames herself for the thoughtless invite she gave to Jirou, she hates herself for being ignorant. Both feel the same kind of pain but both different reasons. After all they're connected with each other because they're destined to be in each other's arms.

Sakuno was worried about tomorrow, they're going to do the parade and she wasn't sure the contact between Ryoma was good for her right now. While Ryoma was glad that tomorrow they'll spent the day together, maybe he'll have the chance to explain everything to her and apologize.