Ryuzaki Sakuno just may have found the biggest pinch in her life, yet.

She was just in the phone with her Aunt Ada, letting her know of her thoughts to transfer back to Japan. Somehow, in her fits of anxiety as to how she will eventually confront the love of her life, she came upon the thought of quitting Thompson University. "Why am I like this?" now that she called her aunt, she felt even more stupid. She's glad that the woman didn't probe even further at her impulsive decisions. What would she tell anyway? That she doesn't want to go back there because of her petty crush? Ryuzaki's head ached upon thinking too much.

All because Echizen Ryoma got her to confess her long-time feelings for him.

She sighed. But isn't confessing her feelings been the goal since the start? She thought that things might turn out different. Were she ready and had plans over the actual confession, she might not be this overreacting.

To be frank, it wasn't like the chance of him liking her back was big. So it bothered her that when he rejects her finally, how can she cope? How can she even live alongside him if ever that happens? Her heart can only take so much pain.

"Baka Ryuzaki Sakuno!" she paced in her old bedroom at her grandmother's house. The red orange hue of the sky turning dark was clearly visible in her room. An hour or two from now, her grandmother would arrive from Seigaku. "For now, I should avoid Ryoma-kun." she sadly concluded, not willing to mope any longer for the whole night.

She changed out of the dress she wore from the wedding, and put on a loose pink t-shirt that fell to her thighs and black shorts that hug her legs. The girl also untied her braids and let it down to comb, before putting it up in a messy bun. With a last check at her desk clock, she got out of her room to prepare dinner downstairs.

--

To say that it was a little rain would be a big understatement. It was raining cats and dogs outside. There was also these loud thunders that worried the girl, over her grandmother's safety who was driving home. It was a little later than the usual time that the Seigaku tennis coach would arrive home.

The smell of the frying pork cutlet reminded the girl that she was in fact, still cooking and should not be distracted. In her powder blue apron she carefully prepared dinner. As she was checking if the rice was properly cooked, she heard the voice of her grandmother coming in from the front door.

"Tadaima!"

"Okaerinasai, Oba-chan!" She tasted the soup for the last time before she turned the stove off and see Ryuzaki Sumire emerge to the living room. Behind her, cat-eyes awkwardly scanned the room, as his dark hair glistened with wetness. To add, his clothes were dripping.

She can't believe her luck.

"Sakuno, I invited Ryoma for the night," the older Ryuzaki announced, "The storm was too terrible to travel on."

The girl only nodded and looked down, not really trying to have eye contact with the said visitor.

"I-I'll h-heat some water and prepare the bath for Ryoma-kun!" she rushed back to the kitchen, then to the bathroom. She felt her heart pound against her chest, not quite prepared for the sudden meeting, "It's not even four hours since I last saw him!"

It was a miracle that Sakuno didn't manage to slip while filling in the bath tub. She was already checking on the temperature when Ryoma stood by the bathroom door.

"My clothes were dripping, so Coach told me to go here." she heard him say.

"T-The bath is ready, Ryoma-kun," she shuffled in her steps, quickly trying to exit the door, "Y-You can just chute your wet clothes by the washing machine here," Ryuzaki gestured at the machine outside the bathroom door, "... and I would dry them later." without looking at his face, she left.

"Are you sick, Sakuno?" her grandmother asked when she arrived by the kitchen, "Your face is red."

"Eh?" the younger Ryuzaki looked puzzled, but then excused with a strained chuckle, "Maybe it was from the steam of the bath, Oba-chan."

"Oh." her grandmother commented with a relieved expression, "It's good that you're okay."

"By the way, get spare track pants and t-shirt from the stack of boxes by the storage closet," Sumire added, "Find a size that can fit Ryoma."

"H-Hai!"

She tried to look energetic, even humming to herself as she went ahead to the storage closet where this year's extra and unused PE clothes were temporarily stocked. They were mostly larger than a regular middle schooler's size, so one set could be a perfect fit for their visitor. Sakuno rummaged through the box, then finally found a still sealed set that when she opened, looked about just enough. She also pulled out a towel, before she went back to the laundry room that is adjacent to the actual bathroom.

"R-Ryoma-kun, I'll be leaving a clean towel and some fresh clothes here. Feel free to use them." at least she wasn't as stuttering as she was when he first arrived.

"Sankyuu, Ryuzaki." his voice echoed from inside the bathroom. Ryuzaki can't help but get a pleased smile in her face. She then peered on the washing machine's tub, trying to see if Ryoma had already placed his dripping clothes there. Upon seeing his rumpled clothes inside, she turned on the machine.

As she got out of the laundry room, she went back to the kitchen and helped her grandmother set the table.

Echizen Ryoma had a spaced-out look on his face as he soaked in the hot bath tub after a shower.

He had such a tiring day. One of those rare days where it just sapped on his energy, all the dressing-up, walking, thinking, then finally getting caught up in the rain. The day was full of surprises and revelations that he can't seem to keep up.

Especially, Ryuzaki Sakuno's confession.

He prided himself in his sharp-eyes, immediately judging the expression of his opponents and calculating one's shot. He wasn't blind. And even if his middle school self was all about tennis, he still had a decent idea of how other people viewed him. For a long time now, he knew that way back in middle school, the braided girl was always there for him. She was always watching his matches. A meek cheerleader who tries her hardest to cheer and support whenever she felt he needed one. It didn't even escape him that she had always treated him more special than others.

He has always suspected that it was either she liked him a lot or she was just a really nice friend. But the thing was, he always assumed the latter. Thoughts about possible romance weren't even in the top five things that he used to think about, after all. And even if she did like him back in middle school, he didn't expect that five years later, she still does.

It baffled him just how much he was and still is loved by the girl.

However, the fact that he didn't really saw through her feelings and therefore haven't considered her as a proper love interest before, doesn't change. It's not like he has ever been romantically in love. His mind was always occupied by tennis. He didn't even have anyone he liked enough to ask out. When a person would confess their feelings for him, he would reply honestly and decline.

His usual bluntness would've easily rejected Ryuzaki Sakuno. But her blushing face and embarrassed eyes as she confessed, bothered him a lot. It was as if he'll feel terrible too, if he made her feel terrible. And for some reason he knows that if he responded thoughtlessly, it would hurt. The situation confused him.

Living with her for the past months may have made him really soft on her. He honestly would've preferred living with her over anyone. He enjoyed her company, her cooking, and the friendship that steadily grew between them over time. Ryoma liked her enough without thinking about love. Does that mean that it's possible for him to see her in a different light? Was it enough for him to say that he loves her too?

But what about her? Were those reasons going to be enough for her? If he told her his exact thoughts, would she think that he loves her too? Or would she just feel used, or taken advantage of? Most important of all, would she feel hurt? Betrayed even? He wasn't even sure just when did the tennis superstar Echizen Ryoma thought about these sort of things. Since when did he think about feelings? Since when did answering to Ryuzaki Sakuno be this difficult? Since when did she manage to squeeze herself into his life and affect him in this scale?

With a frustrated huff, he splashed water in his face. Whatever his final answer, it would be presumptuous of him to be sure that everything would still be the same after that confession.

Strangely, among all the contemplating, he still wasn't sure what he genuinely felt.

So in his walk home that afternoon, he unconsciously wandered while thinking. And it led him to Seigaku. It was just around the time where it was the middle of afternoon club practices that he used to attend to. Part of him was curious as to what became of the club now, and so, he used the opportunity to take his mind off of the certain girl.

While he was outside the courts and observing, his previous coach approached him. After some talking and catching up, the coach requested his advice on some tennis matters to which he obliged. It was a little late when the deliberations were over. When he decided to go home and call it a day, the rain just poured. With nothing to use for cover, he soaked in the rain for a while before Ryuzaki-sensei pulled over and told him to just stay the night at their house. The storm was getting stronger and appeared to not be over anytime soon. She told him that their house was closer, and the possibility of him getting sick would be minimized. It took him a while to reply before he agreed. And now, here he was.

With an exasperated sigh, he stretched his arms over the side of the tub. The hot water soothed his sore muscles. He felt temporary bliss, even with all of the thinking he was doing. Then all of a sudden, he heard some shuffling steps outside the door.

"R-Ryoma-kun, I'll be leaving a clean towel and some fresh clothes here. Feel free to use them." he heard the young Ryuzaki talk outside.

"At least she wasn't as awkward like earlier." He thought, instantly reminded of her shaky, clearly disoriented expression, and the almost permanent blush that she can't seem to shake off when she saw him step inside. He felt awkward too.

"Sankyuu, Ryuzaki." he heard himself say, hoping to sound the grateful.

She didn't reply, and all he heard was the sound of washing machine being turned on, and her faint footsteps as she got out of the door.

Dinner was over, and finally, she figured that she can just quietly withdraw back to her room, until he leaves.

But just as she finished washing her face in the bathroom, she found him sitting by the sofa on the living room. A can of grape Ponta was on the center table, and a western movie that seemed to be a mystery-suspense crime thriller was playing on the television. He looked absorbed, and she didn't really want to disturb him, so she quietly walked behind and descended the stairs.

Sakuno was going to open her door, when she heard her grandmother call her from the other side of the hallway in the coach's bedroom door. She heeded to her call.

"Sakuno, would you bring Ryoma extra pillows and blanket downstairs?" Sumire yawned, already ready to settle in her own bedroom.

"Hai, obaa-chan." she replied, a little worried that her grandmother appeared to be so tired to be retiring to her bed early.

First, she fetched extra clean pillows and a blanket from her own closet. Then, she descended the stairs. Quietly, she approached him, not really wanting to distract him from his television. She had the idea of just silently putting the pillows and blankets by the unused side of the sofa, unnoticed.

It seemed to be easier said than done though. She just stood there, facing the back of his head. Her arms were full. Her heart starting to pound louder against her chest, from the thought of approaching him. She had no idea as to how she was going to give him the things in her arms without being unnoticed.

With a defeated sigh, she just walked to him. When she placed the pillows and blankets by the side, he suddenly talked.

"I was afraid that you fell asleep standing there, Ryuzaki." he sounded amused as he regarded her, but his eyes didn't pry away from the screen.

"Huh?" she was puzzled.

"You just stood there behind me without moving for a while." then, he looked at her, "I saw your reflection by the mirror on the side." he pertained to the body mirror that hung at the side of the wall across them.

"Oh."

"You can watch with me if you like." she heard him say, and he turned his head back to the TV.

She was surprised, seeing him so friendly and... talkative. Before she even realized her actions, she sat on the carpeted floor, in front of the small table. She leaned on the unoccupied side of the sofa as she watched the TV. From the corner of her eyes, she observed him.

A few minutes later, to her further surprise, she saw him stand up from the sofa, then sitting down by the carpet, a few centimeters beside her. Then, he spoke.

"Ryuzaki..."

"W-What is it, Ryoma-kun?" she asked, stammering a little. A small blush crept on her cheeks.

"I have a favor to ask you." he said, then he stared at her.

She gulped, feeling tensed. Their eyes surely met. While her immediate response would be to look away, she was just too curious as to why he looked serious and concerned. She nodded, without further thinking.

"Ryuzaki..." he paused, and for a moment she was afraid that it was finally the time he would reject her.

"I was aware that I told you to wait for my answer," he took a deep breath, "But until I give you my answer, would you still interact with me the same as before?"

She didn't reply right away. Their little staring contest was broke down by Ryoma who continued on watching the show. "Am I really acting weird?" she thought.

Ryuzaki continued to stare. Her eyes finding reasons as to why Ryoma had to ask her a favor like that. "What were they like before?"

She averted her eyes and faced the television without actually watching. Instead, she recalled just how much time have passed since she found herself to be housemates with him in a foreign land. How her view of him slowly changed, even if her feelings didn't. How different yet the same, Ryoma was from his middle school days. How she felt closer to him day by day, even if it meant being just close friends.

And just how she risked everything when she didn't lie to him earlier. When she told him of her long-time feelings, surely... surely after his answer, everything would change.

Amidst the blood-curdling screams of the main character of the show, she was thinking that the cat-eyed boy may have realized the same thing.

"He must have thought about it a lot." she was happy that he took her seriously. It seemed like he was actually putting effort into sorting out his feelings.

If ever the times comes that he would decide and answer, she would accept it wholeheartedly. Yes or no. Then, figure out the changes later.

But for now, until that time comes, she can try and pretend like nothing really changed.

"Hai, Ryoma-kun." she wore a smile, but didn't tore her eyes off of the TV. From the corner of her eye, she saw him glance at her shortly before returning his gaze at the show again.

"Thanks." she heard him utter.

A/N:Hi everyone!!! I've been finding time to actually write continuously. I am currently a few chapters ahead, and if I feel satisfied enough, updates would be every week or two. Should nothing change about my story outline, this fanfic should have around 24 chapters excluding the Prologue and Epilogue. Hehe.

Btw, this chapter may not be as interesting as the previous ones. I literally made this too long that I had to cut and split this chapter into two. Since it's already done, I will be posting it around next week.

As always, thank you so much for reading! Comments are very much appreciated as they motivate me more. :)