Sakuno traced the paper's elegant flower patterns. It was gold and pink, meticulously partnered with a silk ribbon where a gem dangles at the ends. She held her invitation on one hand, and Ryoma's on the other.

Just a while ago, one of Kate's butlers delivered the invitations personally. The fancy envelope suddenly made Ryuzaki Sakuno's stomach churn. Seeing how rich Kate's family is, for sure, the event would be more like a ball for royal families and noble men. "Am I going to be out of place?" she thought, worried.

"Ryuzaki," Echizen Ryoma who just descended from the stairs asked. It is breakfast time already, "Are those the invitations for Kate's party?"

"Hai," the Ryuzaki replied, while the Echizen made his way to the kitchen. "Ano, Ryoma-kun..."

"You're having a japanese-styled breakfast?" He commented, seeing the girl's breakfast on the dining table.

"Hai," Sakuno replied, "I prepared extra. Would you like some?"

Ryoma hesitated for a bit, but he really wanted to have the opportunity. He's forgotten since when, to actually have breakfast everyday. And when he remembers just how much he misses homemade cooking, he can't really decline.

"Hn." he replied quite simply, "Thank you."

"Okay," the girl started on getting an extra plate, "You can just sit there, Ryoma-kun."

In a minute, Ryuzaki prepared the soup, some eggrolls, rice and some grilled fish. He ate contentedly, which made the girl's heart swell with happiness. It may be weird if she tells him this memory, but she recalled the last time on their first year of middle school, she made a bento for him.

She also ate her share, stealing some glances at the boy to see his reaction. "Did he like it?" she thought.

They ate in silence, and Ryuzaki's initial thought when Ryoma suddenly stopped eating is he finally realized her glances at him.

"Ryu--"

"Ryo--"

He looked at her in the eye, puzzled. "What is it?"

"A-Ano, it was nothing." The girl replied, trying to sound not embarrassed as she thought he caught her.

He stared at her. His curiosity is apparent. Lately, he's been feeling that the embarrassed around him 'Ryuzaki' is slowly going away replaced by the casual-but-still-kind-of-shy 'Ryuzaki'. The girl's acting right now seemed like she's being back to the former.

But the girl only smiled at him awkwardly, her cheeks flushed, and she tries averting his question by asking, "What is it that you're going to tell me, Ryoma-kun?"

Seeing the girl so keen on not telling him, he gives up on asking her. With a sigh, he told her, "You shouldn't go to that party."

"But why?" it was a fast recovery, but it told Ryoma just how much the girl cared for this party.

"I just don't think you'll enjoy it." he sounded casual.

The girl paused, recollecting her thoughts on the reasons as to why she shouldn't attend.

"But you'll attend this party, right?" she asks him, "After all, it's Kate-san's birthday party."

"I won't." it was a blunt answer that earned the Ryuzaki a confused look. Why, of all people would he not attend Kate's birthday? They are clearly close friends to the point that Kate claims he's her boyfriend. Ryuzaki is sure, that more than anything, she would have wanted him to come.

And to add, she's known the birthday girl for months. She knows that even if Kate can be quite loud or pushy at times, she's sensitive...and most importantly, has become one of Ryuzaki's friends in the US.

"I'll be going." she replied firmly.

The boy did not say anything, still eating his breakfast.

"Ryoma-kun, you should rethink your decision. You'll make Kate-san sad."

She said those words with such sadness that the Echizen is surprised for a little bit. "Since when are they this close?" The boy thought.

After breakfast, Ryuzaki Sakuno went upstairs to her bedroom. She really needed to think of what to wear. And boy, does she realize that she may have been in the biggest pinch in her life, yet.

Facing the mirror and trying on the dress that Kate bought for her the other day, she realized just how amazing designer dresses can be. The summer yellow dress that she wore looked simple, but it definitely looked sophisticated that even she can't believe that she's wearing such.

"Maybe Ryoma-kun is right, and I should just sit this out." She mumbled, having second thoughts on her plans. "I mean, even with this dress I think I can't fit in there."

Sakuno began picking up the discarded dresses and clothing in her bed, and returned them neatly on her closet. She sighed and made way to her bed where she just lay. "The people who would be there would be really flashy, elegant, if anything really beautiful. Certainly, what place would the simple and boring Sakuno would go in there?" she thought.

"I certainly don't belong there...I really shouldn't bother." She uttered silently to the white ceiling. "I know that Ryoma-kun won't be going, so there won't be any meaning to Kate if I arrive because by then, she will be really sad of Ryoma-kun's absence..." she talked to herself.

"If only a fairy godmother could arrive and magically fix all of this..." it was a silent wish, that's why the girl almost jumped out of bed when an audible knock is heard on her door.

"Ryuzaki," she recognized the Prince of Tennis' voice immediately, "Come out. Kevin wants to see you."

"H-Hai!" after her reply, she could hear the descending steps and concluded that the boy have gone down the stairs already.

Immediately realizing that she's in her pajamas, she changed into one of her casual pink dresses that was a lot accessible since she just put them inside her closet a while ago. She went out of her room and descended on the stairs.

Just before she goes to the front door, she caught a glimpse of Ryoma in his training clothes by the kitchen, looking like he'll be using the back door. She wondered when is his next match, but she immediately put it a side out of curiosity as to why would Kevin Smith want to see her.

"Yo, Sakuno." The blond boy greeted, "Seems like you're already ready."

"Ready for what?" The clueless girl asked.

"To choose a dress for Kate's birthday, of course." Kevin said casually, that the Ryuzaki was puzzled.

"W-What do you mean? Kate-san already gave me a dress last time." She asked curiously.

"Really?" the boy seemed to be thinking hard, "Oh! I remember Kate told me that the dress she gave you that time is not for her party, and she specifically told me that I need to make sure that I get you a suitable one." he reasoned.

To that, the japanese girl sweat-dropped, "Seems like I'll never understand how the rich thinks, huh?"

"So come here now," Kevin pointed to his car that is parked nearby, "Let's get you a dress."

They arrived at one of those boutiques that Ryuzaki remembered stopping by, on one of Kate's shopping sprees when she tagged along.

The attendants greeted them, and as if knowing what they were there for, immediately dragged the girl to the area where they keep some of their collections.

"W-Wait, please." she told the aattendants, "I'll just have to tell something to my friend here."

She tiptoed and whispered to Kevin's ear, "Kevin-kun, I can't afford this. Can we just go to other shops?"

The lad only chuckled, "Don't worry, Sakuno. I got this." He confidently said and he reached for his empty pockets.

He mouthed the words, "Go." to the attendants that immediately got what he meant, and continued to drag on to the girl who just seemed awkward and nervous as she usually is. Before turning to the aisle, Ryuzaki saw Kevin holding up his phone in his ear, calling for someone.

"Now, let's see if you'll fit in these dresses, ma'am." One of the attendants handed her a pile of dresses. Another one led her to the changing room. She felt uneasy, having only strangers around her.

The attendant who ushered her to the changing room must have sensed that, and told the girl, "Don't worry, ma'am. Your boyfriend would arrive here, sooner."

"B-But Kevin-kun's not my--" she got cut off, when another pile of dresses were readied just outside her door to reach. She figured that Kevin would understand and clarify to the attendants so she just stopped trying to explain.

"Ma'am, you can try and fit on those dresses then pick the ones that you like best. That way, when your boyfriend arrives here, you can just let him choose." The attendant told her. She shyly nodded, her cheeks flared up a little as she closed the door of the changing room.

She started on putting on some dresses, when a sudden knock from the door outside is heard.

"Ma'am, your boyfriend wants you to try on this dress."

She opened the door a little, and the attendant who knocked, handed her a white dress. She muttered a thank you, closed the door, and paused for a while, wondering about some things.

"Kevin-kun didn't really clarify our relationship." she sighed, thinking that it must have been really how things are in western countries where it was not really that much of a deal.

Then, she held up the dress, looking at it fully. It was a soft, white and powder-blue, long-sleeved dress. "It certainly looked simple, neat, but regal." She thought, "I can't just imagine how much this dress probably costs." To be honest, if not for the reason that she knows that Kate is behind this dress ordeal, she would've already told Kevin that she's having second thoughts attending. In addition, she's really getting uncomfortable that her friends would buy her an expensive dress out of their pockets because of a party. But then, she just told herself that she'll be telling them about how she feels as soon as possible, one of these days.

The dress fit like a glove that it amazed her just how accurate the size is. She felt really pretty, seeing her reflection against the mirror. "Wow, it must be really because of this dress." she stared at the dress she's wearing.

She opened the door to the changing room, and she's guided to the waiting area by the attendant. Expecting only Kevin waiting on her, she saw Ryoma sitting beside him, also waiting.

"W-What is Ryoma-kun doing here?" She thought as he cheeks started to flush a bit. "For some reason, I'm embarrassed..."

As she got closer to them, finally they noticed her. Kevin flashed her an approving smile, to which she can only smile back, and Ryoma just looked at her, no expression or anything. His lips are pursed, as if restraining himself from commenting, but she had no idea whether it is good or bad as he was expressionless and stiff.

"You should get that dress, Sakuno." Kevin commented, but the girl only fixed her eyes on tennis prince, eyes wondering.

"Ahem." Kevin cleared his throat, "What do you say, Ryoma?"

"It suits her." The Prince of Tennis gave a short reply, and shifted his white hat that it shadows his eyes.

Upon hearing his compliment, the girl's cheeks turned even more red and her heart started to beat fast, yet again. She looked at Kevin who amusedly looked at her expression, as if teasing her.

"She'll get that dress." the blond boy announced. Ryoma handed him what looks like a debit card, and then Kevin handed it to another attendant who went to the cashier and settled the bill.

"Turns out its okay that you pay for that dress, huh?" Kevin jokingly nudged at the boy beside him who glared at contact, "I mean, that dress really looks good on her."

Sakuno blushed at his comment, "T-Thank you." She then turned to Ryoma, "T-Thank you for the dress, Ryoma-kun. I promise to pay you back as soon as posssible."

"There's no need to pay me back." Ryoma replied nonchalantly and stood up on the chair.

"You heard him." Kevin told her with a smilet and gestured for her to change back to her normal clothes.

She bowed in thanks and went back to the changing room.

Her eyes getting tired, Ryuzaki Sakuno carefully hung her new dress on to her closet. Turns out, that she really will have to go to Kate's party. She recalled Kevin whom she told of her earlier worries said, "As much as Kate would be sad if Ryoma won't be there, her sadness would be tenfold of you won't want to be there, too. Trust me, Kate really treasures you."

She smiled at the thought. All along, aside from Ryoma, Kate and Kevin have been her companions and her closest friends in her immigration in US. Being shy in general and lot less energetic than Tomoka, she figured that they won't even think of her as interesting or consider her a friend at all. So that simple words from Kevin, really touched her heart.

Happiness welling in her heart, she made her way to her bed clad in her pajamas. She just stared at the ceiling and made a deep breath, appreciating the peaceful silence.

After a minute, she heard footsteps ascending from the stairs. Figuring that it was Ryoma, she blushed at the earlier memory. "It would really be a perfect birthday for Kate-san if Ryoma-kun would really attend." she thought.

At realization, she bolted up. Maybe it's not too late to convince Ryoma-kun of attending the party, afterall?

Almost running to her door, she quickly opened it. She's not too late, as the Echizen, who is also in his pajamas, is just opening the door of his bedroom across hers.

"Ryoma-kun..." the boy turned to her.

"What is it, Ryuzaki?" he asked.

"A-Ano..." she had been thinking and deciding so suddenly that she didn't really prepare her mental script of asking the tennis prince. "Y-Your decision of not coming to Kate-san's party... Could you think it over?" she feigned calmness as she asked.

Ryoma stared at her for a few seconds, then let out a sigh, "Don't worry, I'll be going after all." he announced .

"Really?" her eyes lit up in happiness. "Thank you, Ryoma-kun!" she smiled at him.

"W-Well, it's a bother if you get lost." he mysteriously got lost in a moment, "After all, the Thompson Mansion is huge."

"M-Mou, Ryoma-kun... do you really have to say it like that?" a flustered Sakuno shot back at him. "I-I won't get lost!"

"Mada mada da ne." his reply was more teasing as he looked at her with an amused smile.

That night, when he went to bed, he can't get out of his mind just how the girl managed to distract him when she smiled.

A/N:

Hello guys! I updated after around a month! Hehe. I've been getting pumped up lately as my favorite chapter would be next.

I hope you still follow! :D

As always, thank you for reading!Comments are really appreciated and gets me more energized to update, so if you would be so kind, I would be thankful.

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Thanks again! :D