It was a perfect day for a wedding, indeed. The almost cloudless blue sky was a nice touch to the reception venue in a private garden place. The royal blue backdrop in the wall behind the names, "Takeshi and An" was adored with glittery gold decorations. The couple's western style wedding just ended and it was already the reception.

While the couple danced on the dance floor, the hooting and teases of their close friends were particularly directed at the groom. The bride was chuckling over the embarrassed and blushing expression of her husband. At some point, the groom even looked over and called their Kikumaru-senpai to stop on leading the barrage of teases. It was very lively. And the gleeful faces of the new Mr. And Mrs. Momoshiro were enough for Ryuzaki Sakuno to feel so blissful for her friends' next step at life.

On the first row of the tables were the couple's closest friends and family. Two tables were reserved for the senpais and kouhais from Seigaku. Tezuka, who arrived at the last minute was seated with Fuji, Oishi, Kikumaru, Taka, Inui,and the best man Kaidoh who was uncharacteristically being the one with the most grin in his face. There was a first years' reunion in their own circular table by the first row. On Sakuno's left, Tomoka, Horio. In front of her was Katsuo, and by her right side was Ryoma, then Kachiro. The tennis prince silently ate at his dessert while listening to the Ichinen Trio and Tomoka's babbling.

The wedding singer who also had the role of an emcee, finally announced that it was time for the bouquet throwing of the bride. Tomoka excitedly tugged at Ryuzaki's hand, hoping to join the group of single girls that vie for the bouquet. While the girl thought that getting the bouquet would be lovely, she didn't want to be in the middle of the battlefield. So instead, she told her best friend to do well in her stead, to which the loud girl eventually agreed.

"You don't want to join them, Ryuzaki?" Horio asked, baffled at the girl's decision.

Ryuzaki shook her head, as she bit on her own dessert.

"It's not like Ryuzaki needed it anyway, no?" Katsuo said.

"Osakada seemed to need it more because of your slowness, Horio-kun." Kachiro turned to tease the brown-haired boy that earned laughs from the table.

"Heh." Ryoma held on his drink as he directed an amused smirk at the sole girl in their table, "So, you aren't interested, Ryuzaki?"

"I-It's not like that, Ryoma-kun," now she felt shy of the consequence of her decision, "I just don't think I can keep up with those girls who would like the bouquet."

"Hn. Souka." He replied nonchalantly as he drank his drink.

The previous first years then proceeded to watch the bouquet throwing from their table. In her white gown, Momoshiro An stood on the small elevated platform. She has her back turned from the crowd as she weighed the flowers in her hands. Momoshiro Takeshi meanwhile was standing near the platform, so to support her bride. Then, as An threw the flower bouquet over her head, she tripped on her high heels and what was supposed to be the trajectory of the prize went way off. As the married woman was startled, she had more force exerted so it flew way higher. It was a good decision that her husband was near that he caught her.

In mid-air, the gaping faces of the single girls stared at the stray bouquet as it landed way farther. There were even more shocked faces as it landed on someone's face by one of the tables.

Echizen Ryoma has never felt this awkward in his life. As the sought-after bouquet landed straight in his head then fell on his lap. The atmosphere was like those moments in a tennis game where it was match point. The crowd being silent at first, then cheered as the ball made it in. The feeling was like that. And though the tennis prince tried to play it cool, the snickers from his senpais were growing to irk him.

"Congratulations, Echizen!" He can hear the loud laugh of his Momo-senpai from the stage, "You should keep that."

He had a fight within himself, whether he should show how annoyed he was while in this wedding. In the end, he only sighed, accepting defeat than compromising the solemnity and peace of the event that his senpais seemed to thoughtlessly endanger. He nearly threw an irritated look at one of the staff who gave him a small paper bag to easily hold the bouquet.

By the end of the event, just after lunch, he was itching to play some tennis. The number one reason being his annoyance and rotten luck. Fortunately, he didn't forget to bring his large tennis bag that he left within the waiting room of the groom. When one of the staff personally delivered it to him by the end of the event, he was excited to hit some tennis balls.

After slipping from his other senpais' invitation to hang out before going home, he headed to the tennis playing center he often frequented before. As he opened the door of the shop, he came upon an unexpected face.

Ryuzaki Sakuno, still wearing the dress she wore from the wedding, stared back at the tennis prince with a genuinely equal surprised face. She can't quite believe her fate. When she noticed him slip away from their senpais, she just wanted to go with him. Figuring out that it would be awkward to ask him, she just let him go. She settled on her own adventure, hoping that she would stumble upon him by chance if she went to places he was most likely to go to. And when what she hoped for actually happened, she still can't quite believe it.

"Ryoma-kun?" she asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to play some tennis." He casually replied, already on his way to go to the store clerk and rent an area. "What are you doing here, Ryuzaki?"

"Ah...Ano," she racked her brain for reasons he could deem believable.

"I guess I just wanted to play too." she finally reasoned.

After talking with the store clerk who made his way first to the unoccupied spaces available, Ryoma looked at her questioningly.

"You should've brought your own racket." he commented, "They charge higher rates when you also rent a racket."

"H-Hai," she sweat-dropped, "I forgot mine, but I can just pay for it."

"It's okay. You can borrow my extra." Ryoma said. Then, he fished out from the tennis bag slung in his back, a red racket similar to what he usually used. At first, the girl was surprised that in his formal get up and wedding event he still managed to not only bring a single racket, but extras too. And then she realized that it was just like Echizen Ryoma to do those things.

"It was nice of him to do that." Sakuno thought. He's treated her like a friend and helping friends are the normal thing to do. The girl deeply appreciated the gesture.

He handed her the racket, to which she gratefully accepted, before he went on to the space he paid for. The girl approached the store clerk too, so that, her place can be beside his.

When she finally caught up with him, she never thought that anyone can look as good as him. She felt like she's watching an unguarded celebrity with his dashing looks. He played tennis with the attire he wore during the duration of the wedding. He didn't change out of it. He's even wearing a silver watch in his right hand and leather shoes that looked so expensive.

But more than his good looks, she was mesmerized by the tennis he plays. She's just there, a red racket in her hand, and watched him. Some things really doesn't change. And forgetting that she actually rented her own place, Ryuzaki Sakuno stood and stared at Echizen Ryoma playing against a ball machine. Like what her middle-school self would do.

The last of the balls were shot and hit. She was put out of her trance, when the person she was observing, suddenly spoke.

"Aren't you going to play?" the youngest Echizen asked, his eyes boring in hers that she felt fidgety. Sakuno didn't reply right away, and she saw him sigh.

He let his racket stand against the iron fence, then he approached her.

"If you aren't going to play, then can you see over my things?" he requested. He picked up the tennis bag that lay on the ground, as well as the paper bag that contained that dreadful bouquet of flowers that he ought to have dumped, earlier.

The girl nodded, as she got the tennis bag and the paper bag from his hands, "You can have that bouquet if you like," he said, "I don't have use for it, anyway."

Sakuno blushed a little at the idea of him giving her flowers, "Thank you, Ryoma-kun."

He didn't reply, as he already had a look where he was trying to think of something. Then, he removed his coat, revealing his inner white dress shirt. The poor girl tried her utmost best to not fantasize that he's giving her his jacket to wear in case she was cold.

"Can you hold onto this, too?" Ryoma asked, "It's in the way."

The Ryuzaki accepted, and she watched him get inside the court once again. He fed the machine more coins and at once, he was in his game again.

She planned to just stare at him as he was playing, like always. But a tap in her shoulder made her turn, and curious to see the person responsible.

Takenori Yuji stood behind her, a friendly smile in his face.

"How are you, Ryuzaki?" he greeted.

"Takenori-kun?" she sounded surprised, seeing the familiar face. She returned his smile and greeting, "I'm fine. How about you?"

"I can't believe I saw you again so soon!" the boy gushed, "Since hearing about the news that you continued your studies overseas, I lost hope of seeing you again this soon."

"Momo-senpai and my friend just got married, so I made the time to come home." Ryuzaki explained, a small part of her was happy that things didn't go awkward as what she thought it would be.

"Yeah, I heard about Momo-senpai's wedding," Takenori replied, "I was just at the reception for a few minutes, and that can be the reason why I didn't notice you there."

"By the way," Takenori added, "Are you with someone, Ryuzaki?" He finally asked, taking notice of her presence by the center without playing.

"Hai." Ryuzaki replied, "I'm with someone. He's currently playing there." she turned to glance at the tennis prince.

Takenori squinted his eyes at the said companion, thinking that he looked familiar. He also looked at the tennis bag, which is now propped by the bench beside them, bearing the name: E. Ryoma.

"ECHIZEN RYOMA?!" He almost yelled, unbelievably shocked at the revelation. "You're here with Echizen Ryoma?!"

The girl nodded awkwardly, feeling conscious as he loudly blurted out the fact for everyone to know.

"Ne," Ryoma butted in, while he still played inside, "I don't care about what the both of you are doing, but can you turn your voice down?" he didn't say it as a request. There was sharpness in the way he talked, and Ryuzaki was reminded of his cockiness that she has not seen much these days.

"What terrible attitude!" the guy from the outside, stated, "I can't believe that you're sticking with him, Ryuzaki! He even bullied you into holding his things!"

The girl didn't reply, clearly uncomfortable as to how the situation has started to unfold. She can see that Takenori's smile was wiped out of his face now and replaced by irritation. Then, he suddenly grabbed her hand.

"Let's leave now, Ryuzaki." he seriously ordered, "That guy isn't worth your time!"

"Let go of me, Takenori-kun." She calmly let him know, trying to ease the tension, "Ryoma-kun didn't bully me. He isn't as bad as you make him out to be."

But his grip on her hand didn't budge, and her squirming is threatening the bouquet of flowers and the coat to fall out her hand, "Please, let go."

"You heard her." Ryoma has stopped playing, and threw a glare at the man holding Ryuzaki. But he was ignored. It irked him, and so, he got out of the court, balls flying and all but missing to hit him.

The tennis prince, then grabbed his things from her swiftly with a hand, then with the other, he grabbed her other hand.

"Let's go, Ryuzaki." He tried to yank Ryuzaki out of the other man's grip, but it was firmly held.

"Looking at him closely now, I don't see anything great about him besides tennis, Ryuzaki." Takenori held his ground, "Tell me, Ryuzaki. How did you ever came to love this person so much for years already?" There was now bitterness in his tone. His vexed expression is now on the boy whom the brown-haired girl in pigtails continuously waited for.

Upon hearing Takenori's words, Ryuzaki Sakuno froze. He just told Echizen Ryoma her real feelings. She didn't like how it was Takenori who had to spill out those words for her. She didn't like how those words came out of his mouth. How easily he said those words that she slowly but surely tried to gather the courage to say. Bubbling frustration welled up inside her, and tears threatened to fall. With newfound strength, she forcefully drew her hand out from his grasp.

"Takenori-kun..." she can hear her voice shaking as she held her ground, "No matter my reason of liking or how long I've liked Ryoma-kun... is none of your business."

Her words were firm with the rare display of indifference that she had. Takenori's face turned from aggressive, to what seemed to be shame and hurt. As if she gave him the final blow, and now, he's hurting because of her. Before Sakuno feel anymore guilty, she stormed outside, carrying Ryoma with her.

"Let's go home, Ryoma-kun."

The said boy followed her.

It was weird how both of them instantly knew that the day was over. Even if it's just nearly twilight, and more things can be done. There was an understanding that it was an exhausting enough of a day, and they should probably head home. At least, that's what it seemed because he's walking her home.

The girl, Sakuno, still refused to look at the boy beside her. She didn't even say anything since they left the center. It was all too fast for the girl that she was unable to keep up. To add up, she didn't know how to approach the subject. Ryuzaki figured that she should say something, or even change the topic so that they would never have to talk about the earlier events. Perhaps that way, Ryoma won't even remember what Takenori Yuji said.

"Ryoma-kun."

"Ryuzaki."

For the second time, they managed to talk at the same time. Forgetting how she initially felt awkward to look at him, it was weird how Sakuno managed to look face to face with him again. When she finally realized the scenario, with flushed face, she quickly looked away.

"You can talk first." Ryoma said.

"Okay..." it was easier said than done, when she thought of trying to avert the inevitable confrontation that would happen about the events earlier. So she thought of the things the she wanted to ask him the most, questions that didn't relate to what happened at the center. Suddenly, she knew just what it is.

"Ryoma-kun," Sakuno started,"Why did you not come back within those five years that you left?" She bit her lip, hoping that her question didn't sound demanding, nor too intrusive.

For a moment, he didn't reply. She thought that maybe he didn't want to talk about it. But just as when she started to open her mouth and tell him to forget about her offending question. Ryoma spoke up.

"I guess... I was just caught up in my objectives." His voice was absent of any remorse that she expected, "Beating the US Open, going pro and getting a grand slam..." he said thoughtfully, pausing a bit as if trying to figure out his thoughts, himself.

"The reason I played tennis was to beat my father. What hooked me on tennis was the different objectives and challenges I want to achieve and beat." Sakuno now looked at him, really touched at the way that he seemed to be more open, "I guess those things take a really long time."

"Before I knew it, you were on my kitchen, trying to hit me with a vase." he unexpectedly chuckled, "And that was when I realized that I've never seen you in so long, and that five years has passed."

"Sorry." he apologized.

Sakuno felt embarrassed, remembering her first day at the boarding house with him. But at the same time, hearing his reasons, she realized that it was just like him. It made sense how he didn't remember his promise. He didn't really intend to be out of touch for so long, and that it had something to do with tennis. Tennis, what seemed to be the only thing that makes him so focused and determined. It was funny, realizing that a small part of her was jealous with the sport she has learned to love too. But tennis was also the reason that she met him, the Prince of Tennis.

In the end, she felt satisfied with his answer. And that one of the heavy things inside her was finally lifted up. She wondered why his answer didn't even cross her mind.

"It's my turn to ask, Ryuzaki." she can hear the tone of his voice going serious, and she dreaded the way she figured out what would come out of his mouth next.

"Back at the center, that guy told some things..." he brought up, "I wanted to ask about."

"W-What is it, R-Ryoma-kun?" now, she's starting to stammer again. And as her brain processed a lot of situations that his question may end up with, his actual question might as well made her mind short-circuit.

"Ano saa, Ryuzaki. Was it true that you loved me?"

He sounded so curious that she can't just dodge him and expect that she would succeed. Her mouth felt dry, realizing that the time has come when she'll finally tell him. She can feel her heart thumping against her rib cage as her cheeks felt hot.

"H-Hai, Ryoma-kun." She can't look him in the eye. She can't possibly look at his expression, that surely held his initial thought upon her confession.

"Since when?" he was unexpectedly calm about the situation, that Sakuno figured that it must be nothing for him. He must have gotten countless love confessions that the thought didn't faze him anymore.

"S-Since middle school." she confessed.

"That long?" he asked, "Do you still feel the same way now?" she thought that he sounded too composed, too unnerved, comparing to the bundle of feelings that she is now.

"Ryuzaki, do you still love me?" Then, he suddenly sounded concerned. There was a different wave of emotion whenever the word 'love' escapes his lips. As if in the case he weren't careful of his words enough, she'd explode.

"H-Hai. I-I still love Ryoma-kun, e-even now." her voice have never felt so small, and she was afraid that tears would start to fall. Just a little word from him that can possibly hurt her feelings, were enough to give her the heart break of a lifetime. Enough for her to probably swore off love, ever again.

"...Can you give me time to think?" at the corner of Ryuzaki Sakuno's eyes, he turned to see her. She appreciated how he didn't flat out reject her. He said he was going to think about it! Her mind was a mess.

She only nodded. And just as when she finally made out the silhouette of their gate, she turned to Ryoma without actually looking at him.

"R-Ryoma-kun... I-It's okay and I can walk alone now." she bowed, "T-Thank you for walking me home, R-Ryoma-kun."

She didn't even wait for his reply. Ryuzaki Sakuno almost ran to their house. Rushing like she was being chased by something... like reality. Her heart beating crazy, she closed their gates quite forcefully without even checking whether he was still there or not. Accidentally, the paper bag in her hand dropped and the flower bouquet from the wedding made itself visible.

She stared at the immaculate flowers, feeling forlorn as she picked them up directly. More than anything, she just wanted to be anyone but Ryuzaki Sakuno who's currently waiting for Echizen Ryoma's answer to her feelings.

A/N:

Here's the update, as promised! This was probably the longest chapter I've done from my usual around 2.5k words lately to 3.5k words now. What can I say? I'm just too excited and I had a lot of fun in this chapter. After 15 chapters, we finally get to a major point! Haha.

I've been rewatching Prince of Tennis, and I'm all for every RyoSaku feels I can get. It's a shame that the NPOT manga is rarely updated too. And after we get a flustered Ryoma because of Ludovic's questions about Sakuno!

Anyway, my author's note is getting too long. Lol. So, thank you so much for reading! Your comments are everything. ️

Honestly, I can't thank you all enough.