Ryoma is not annoyed by the sudden turn of events...not even in the slightest bit. He just silently cursed his old man and idiot of a brother for endlessly asking and teasing Ryuzaki Sakuno about his possible relationship with her.

"I always knew that Ryoma liked the old hag's granddaughter...Haha!!" Nanjiroh teased as the said Ryuzaki blushed madly.

"Oyaji, to think that Ryoma likes this cute girl...He sure is lucky." Ryoga announced, patting Ryoma's back while snickering, much to the latter's irritation.

"I--It's n-n-not l-like t-that! Mou." Sakuno denied to the elder Echizens who stifled a laugh.

They've been sitting on the living room of the boarding house. Since Ryoma recovered from his fever, the two older Echizens have been doing their best to annoy the hell out of the prince by teasing him and Ryuzaki.

"Shut up, idiots." Ryoma nonchalantly said as he stood up, massaging his temples.

"Maybe taking a bath could somewhat relieve my stress with stupid oyaji and brother." he thought as he made his way to his bathroom.

Embarrassed, Ryuzaki Sakuno tried her very best to regain her composure in front of the two elder Echizens. She can't believe how opposite these two are from the Tennis Prince. They are family, but they act nothing like each other.

"Honey, stop teasing Ryuzaki-chan." Echizen Rinko who just entered from the kitchen, scolded.

"Ne, Ryuzaki-chan, you just tell me, or Oyaji here, if Ryoma's being a pain in the arse, okay? Ryoga-nii will come and beat that chibisuke for youuuu~" Ryoga even made this proposal whilst fighting the urge to laugh at his silliness. Nanjiroh also showed support on the teasings.

When Ryuzaki Sakuno couldn't take any more of Ryoga and Nanjiroh's embarassing words, she muttered a silent excuse. Offering to make them some tea in the kitchen just to escape.

"Okay then, Ryuzaki-chan! Make this old man taste the greatest tea you can prepare. Hehehehe." Ryoma's father said, earning a disgusted look from Ryoma who just came down upstairs, a fresh towel on hand.

"Go home, Oyaji. You're disgusting." Ryoma remarked.

The monk, already used to his son's remarks only grinned to himself in his own little world.

"Ne, chibisuke, you have your own bathroom in your room, right?" Ryoga eyed him, curiously.

"The faucet's not working." he only replied as he continued to walk into the kitchen where in its corner to the left is a bathroom usually meant for guests.

Ryuzaki Sakuno sighed deeply as she poured hot water from the kettle to the cups she found in the kitchen.

"Now, where are the tea bags?" she muttered quietly as she turned back from the table, tiptoed and tried to open the cupboard placed just above the sink. Within a few tries, she managed to open it, seeing a box of tea bags.

Now, it would all be easy if only she could reach far enough to get the box. But she can't. Trying her best, tiptoeing, her efforts were all wasted. She still can't reach.

Getting a chair was easy, and Sakuno found herself standing on it just to reach the teabags. She carefully opened the cupboard and immediately took out the item she needed.

"Carefully." she muttered under her breath.

Unnoticed by the girl, Ryoma found his way to the kitchen. He curiously looked at her who is trying her best standing at the top of the chair. Seeing the shaky footing of the chair, he silently went to her and held the chair to secure it from falling.

To say that Ryuzaki Sakuno wasn't surprised is an understatement. She was too focused on balancing herself that she didn't notice the boy who just popped out of nowhere that secured the chair she's stepping on. Realizing Ryoma's actions, her usual blush that she just can't seem to keep appeared.

"R-Ryoma-kun!"

"Hm?" he looked at her as if she was silly for being surprised at all, "Watch your step, Ryuzaki."

Feeling her cheeks being warm, Sakuno just quickly got down from the chair.

"Mou, Ryoma-kun...surprising me like that..." pouting, she only said her thanks with a quick bow, "A-Arigato, Ryoma-kun."

"Hm." was the Tennis Prince's only reply who is already going to the bathroom as he should have done earlier.

"Umm... Ano, here's the tea." Ryuzaki placed the tray in the table. Surprisingly, it was only Echizen Ryoga that was sitting in the sofa, peeling some oranges.

"Ano, Ryoga-san, where are the others?" Sakuno asked the older Echizen.

"Oh." he looked at Sakuno for a bit, before eating the peeled oranges, "Mother is upstairs, Oyaji's outside, and Ryoma...Hmm... I think he's in the bathroom." Ryoga smiled playfully.

Ryuzaki sweatdropped, "Ryoga-san is kind of the weird version of Ryoma-kun."

"Ah! Ryuzaki-chan, you should call me, Ryoga-nii." Ryoga pouted, putting emphasis on the words, 'Ryoga-nii'.

"B-But I can't call Ryoma-kun's older brother that." Ryuzaki explained, feeling guilty, "W-We're not that c-close either."

"Ouch!" Ryoga faked his pain, grasping his chest, "Ryuzaki-chan doesn't like me!"

"I-It's not like that, Ryoga-san!" Sakuno clarified, "I don't mean to be rude!"

"Eh? But why does it sound like that?" still with his drama, Ryoga asked.

With that, flustered Sakuno who doesn't know how to react couldn't answer. While what she said is true that she and Ryoga are not that close, she didn't mean it to be rude. After all, she's not really close to Ryoma's family to be calling them so familiarly.

"Ne, Ryuzaki-chan, do you play tennis?" realizing Sakuno being speechless, he suddenly asked.

"A-Ano, I do play but--" Sakuno tries to reply but Ryoga cut her off.

"No buts, Ryuzaki-chan." he grinned at her, "Let's play!"

Seeing the pushy Ryoga, Sakuno somewhat knew that she can't really say no.

"O-Okay, then." she sighed in defeat, "I guess its okay."

The heavy pants of Ryuzaki Sakuno who was barely keeping up with a relaxed Echizen Ryoga, was what you will notice in this friendly match.

"Come on, Ryuzaki-chan, one more point and you'll win our bet!" without signs of exhaust, Ryoga encouraged her.

After finding a nearby tennis court, Echizen Ryoga offered a bet to the still hesitating Sakuno. The Echizen wagered that if Sakuno's gonna win a full game, he'll stop teasing her with Ryoma. But, if he wins the whole set, she'll call him 'Ryoga-nii'.

Sakuno was actually determined to steal a game from her opponent. It's not like she really hates being teased with Ryoma. In fact, she was kind of okay with that, though she won't admit that to anyone. Who doesn't like being teased with their crush, anyway? She was only trying her best because she didn't want to bother Ryoma.

It was her turn to serve, and she tried her best. Focusing her mind on the game, she served the ball. But unfortunately, it was a fault. She tried again, and she was flustered. Her focus wavered, and it resulted to another fault.

Seeing how Sakuno continuously made mistake, the tennis prince who has been sitting on one of the benches for a while unnoticed by the girl, commented.

"Ryuzaki, your knees are too low."

Surprised, Ryuzaki turned to him. Her brown eyes can't mistake that it was indeed Ryoma Echizen, watching their match. He was even giving her advice.

Hearing the youngest Echizen's words, she adjusted her knees' position. She started to feel more natural, and comfortable.

"Chibisuke!" Ryoga called, annoying Ryoma, "Are you here to cheer for Ryuzaki-chan?"

"Tch. You must be really bored, Ryoga." Ryoma replied.

"You rarely play with me, anymore," Ryoma's brother pouted, "At least Ryuzaki-chan is keeping me company."

"Tch. Do what you like." was Ryoma's only reply, as he again, called Sakuno to say something.

"Ryuzaki," the only Ryuzaki in the are looked at him expectantly, waiting for another tip. "Your hair is too long. Why don't you cut it?"

He nonchalantly said those words that Sakuno even experienced deja vu. "M-Mou, Ryoma-kun." she defended, blushing, "My hair is not too long to play tennis."

"I see, chibisuke likes Ryuzaki-chan very much!" Ryoga who really likes to annoy Ryoma, exclaimed.

The Tennis Prince only glared at him as they continued the match.

After half an hour, the game finally ended. As expected, it was Ryoga who won.

"Now, Ryuzaki-chan," he excitedly said to the panting Sakuno, "Call me Ryoga-nii."

Defeated, Sakuno doesn't actually have a choice. "R-Ryoga...nii." she stuttered.

If you ask Ryoga on why he chose to be called Ryoga-nii by Sakuno if he wins, he won't be able to answer truthfully. He just wants to play and he can't think of anything he wants, so he just chose that easy one.

Clapping his hands while saying, "Nice game, Ryuzaki-chan!" and finally giving her a handshake, Ryoga earned an irritated look from Ryoma.

"Are you jealous, chibisuke?" Ryoga, who doesn't look tired at all, started his teasing again.

"Jealous of what?" returning to his uncaring facade, Ryoma answered.

"Because we're this close!" the older brother pulled Sakuno near him, hanging his arm from her shoulder, giving the girl a shock as her cheeks redden.

Ryoga failed to get a reaction from Ryoma, though. Because as soon as Ryoga pulled Sakuno, the tennis prince turned his back, muttering the words, "Idiotic brother." as he walked away, hands in pockets.

"R-Ryoma-kun..." Sakuno silently called.