His neck and back ached, sleeping while sitting. Upon waking up, he found Ryuzaki Sakuno by his side, in slumber while sitting too. They must have slept while watching TV. But the said television was already switched off.

"I guess, she really had a knack for sleeping anywhere." He silently chuckled, careful of not waking the girl up. She looked soundly asleep, just like as he remembered back when she slept on the sofa in their shared house while he was studying.

A sudden pain shot in his shoulders. He groaned, feeling his muscles sore, for the second time that week. With a sigh, he picked up the blanket which he instinctively wrapped upon the still sleeping figure of the girl who sat with him and watched movies last night. He also put some pillows by her sides so she won't fall hard when she loses balance.

From the center table, he saw his phone and his now dried up clothes from yesterday, neatly folded. The phone lit up with notifications. 30 missed calls from Kate Thompson. 56 messages from Kate Thompson.

His brows furrowed questioningly, thinking of the reason why the pink-haired girl would contact him so many times. Her latest message was:

From: Kate Thompson

Ryoma, It's an emergency. I have something to tell you. I'm at your house here in Japan.

With a disbelieving look, he slid his phone by his pockets. He also grabbed his clothes and went to the bathroom to change. He washed up his face, and as he got out of the bathroom with his own clothes, he tried to find Ryuzaki-sensei to let her know of his going home.

He didn't find the coach, but a note was pinned by the refrigerator in the kitchen.

Ryoma and Sakuno,

I left already for school. I have an early meeting. Feel free to make your own breakfast.

Upon reading the note, he went back to the living room. Ryuzaki was still sleeping. He then, decided to just shoot her a text instead of waking her up to say thank you for the past night.

Ryuzaki woke up, back aching at her previous sleeping position. With sleepy eyes, she checked on her surroundings. Did I sleep in the sofa and fell down?

She looked down to see a blanket wrapping her body. There were also pillows by both her sides. She groggily removed the blanket at her body, wondering how she got in such a situation. She revisited last night's events and realized that she may have fallen asleep while watching movies with the tennis prince.

"Ryoma-kun?" With a start, she wandered her eyes around.

No one replied. The house was empty and silent. She shivered a bit, realizing her being alone. There was a pang in her chest, concluding that the boy left the Ryuzaki residence without saying anything.

Letting out a heavy breath, she folded the blanket and gathered the pillows. She almost dragged her feet to ascend upstairs to her room. Setting the used blanket and pillows at the side of her comfy bed, she dropped herself to the soft foam. Lying on her back, she looked at the ceiling, her eyebrows furrowed.

Why do I feel like this?

Suddenly, her phone alarm blared. She sat up, reaching for her discarded phone last night which settled by her bed's bedside table. She pressed the stop button from the touchscreen which momentarily turned black, reflecting her pouting face. When the screen turned on again, she was greeted by a text message notification from Echizen Ryoma himself. "Huh?" was her initial thought that went to, "Wait! How did Ryoma-kun get my number?!"

Her pulse suddenly quickened and she found her hands clumsily pressing on the screen to view his message.

Ryuzaki,

Ohayo. I already went ahead. There was an emergency. Coach isn't around and you were asleep, so I didn't get to thank Ryuzaki-sensei and you personally.

Thanks for the night and the movie.

- Ryoma

Her heart clenched in a painfully joyous way. She can't hide the tinge of red that were on her cheeks. A simple message from him can really make or break her day. A small part of her dreaded that when Echizen Ryoma holds this much power over her heart, he can just as easily trample on it. But at that time, she didn't mind it much. She just basked on the excited feel that his message brought, just as how 12 year old Ryuzaki Sakuno would do.

The mood changed from the previous demotivated to a little too cheerful Sakuno. Humming, she descended the stairs with a towel flung on her shoulder. Passing by the refrigerator by the kitchen, she saw her grandmother's note which she read briefly. Brushing aside thoughts of what she should eat for breakfast, she made a beeline to the changing room that connected to the bathroom. She rinsed her face and brushed her teeth by the sink.

Against the backdrop of a mirror and the white-tiled sink, a silver Rolex watch sparkled in to her view. It was propped against the corner of the sink and the wall, strategically. It was done as if to prevent its falling or getting wet. The girl gingerly picked it up, curious as to when did she last saw this all too familiar-looking object. She racked her memory. A few moments later, she blinked. Finally realizing who was the owner, she carefully held on to it and went back upstairs again to change clothes.

She rummaged through her closet, trying to find the perfect outfit. Clothes were out of the closet and laid either on the bed or the floor. The girl had her braids on as she placed the selections in front of her and posed by the body mirror. In the end, she settled on a pink ribboned dress. Sakuno, then stored the expensive watch in a small pouch that she slid inside her brown sling bag.

The doe-eyed girl stared at her reflection in the mirror as she put on minimal make up. Finally donning a satisfied smile, she grabbed her sling bag. She didn't even eat breakfast, a thought that she unconsciously forgot. She made sure to lock the doors before she set out to deliver the watch to its rightful owner.

Things would go smoothly, she believed. That is, if she still remembers the way to the Echizen household.

"So, what's the emergency?" Echizen Ryoma asked bluntly as he closed the gates.

Two people stood by the garden beside the porch. The pink-haired girl, Kate had a worried expression, along with the blond boy, Kevin who currently stood behind her, boredom on his face. It was also the blond who put his hands on the girl's shoulder, as to encourage her. The girl opened her mouth, then closed, contemplating a lot more on her approach.

"Why are you two here?" Ryoma asked nonchalantly.

"It's... Uh, how do I say it?" Kate let out a nervous laugh. She fiddled with her fingers, struggling to say the right words, "Maybe it's better if Kevin tells it instead?" she turned to the boy beside her who sighed.

"Kate," Kevin shook his head, "It was you who did it, so might as well you, who tell him."

"Would the both of you quit beating around the bush?" this time, Echizen's voice hinted slight irritation. His amber eyes fixated on the suspicious duo.

Even with Ryoma's obvious temper, the girl's lips remain pursed. She kept on glancing over the american boy to ask for help. But the said boy didn't budge. He crossed his arms.

"Maybe I should go for a walk, while you two sort it out." Kevin announced. Without waiting for any reply he made his way to get out of the gate.

Seeing her companion leave her, Kate face-palmed.

"That idiot." she muttered under her breath.

"What's this all about, Kate?" now feeling annoyed, the tennis prince can't help but feel ignored.

"Ryoma..." she took a heavy breath, "Remember on my birthday? I told you I needed to tell you something. But things happened, and I didn't get to tell you right away."

"And?"

"Well, the thing is, it's about my father."

Ryoma didn't reply anymore as he waited for her story to end.

"He set me up to meet and then hopefully date and later on marry his business partner's son."

"So..?" The boy looked puzzled, wondering why he was somehow involved.

Upon his reply, Kate felt a prick in her heart. She knew that Ryoma wasn't really one to figure things out on the romantic view, but it still hurt. She had a weak smile, as she tried to regain composure.

"I told my father I didn't want to. That I'm dating someone else." she sighed, "I told him that I am dating you."

"Hah?!" In disbelief, Ryoma had his mouth agape. He couldn't quite believe that he got tangled in such matters. He knew about Kate's continuous jokes of claiming that he was her boyfriend. And he'll admit that the running gag helped him to rid off some unknown girls that push themselves to him. But right now, this situation seemed to be getting too far.

"I'm sorry, okay?" Kate bit her lip. She knew that he wouldn't approve of it. "I actually thought that Dad would leave me alone if I tell him that I'm dating someone."

"But he suddenly decided to ask for proof. That he would directly call you to ask if what I claimed was true..." she continued, tears started to gather in her eyes.

"What do you want me to do?" Ryoma interjected, quite done with the problem that he wasn't supposed to have.

"I-It would be nice if you don't tell him the truth." Kate's voice cracked as she tried to suppress her cry. She didn't want to break down here. She felt that if she did, then she really had no pride left. It took her so much to ask Kevin to come with her to see Ryoma in Japan, and tell him about the situation that he didn't ask to be involved. The moment that she had to bare her family problems to Ryoma whom she liked so much was too much for her, and yet, Kate endured.

"Yada." without any remorse, Ryoma announced.

The tears that Kate has put much effort to be restrained finally let itself go. She faced down, embarrassed enough to even look at him. She was about to say goodbye and go home, when Ryoma's phone suddenly blared a ring tone.

"Ryoma Echizen..." He got the call. The voice sounded like a middle-aged man.

"Who is this?" The boy sounded like he couldn't care less. And he did, though for some reason instead of hanging up he let him speak. He can see Kate's face ashen.

"Is this Ryoma Echizen?"

"How did you get my number?" Ryoma replied impatiently.

"This is Kate's father." the man's voice was gruff, "Is Kate with you?"

The Echizen looked at Kate who now crouched on the ground. Face buried in her arms, not quite confident that she would get away this time.

As the only child of the Thompson family, owner of conglomerates that dealt daily with the ever-changing economy, other empires, and occasional politics, Kate Thompson was expected to act for the purpose of the business. As soon as she reached the age 15, marriage interviews and proposals have started to flock her. In order to at least evade topics and chances of those, she used to lie about having a boyfriend. Later on, as she would use to call herself Ryoma's girlfriend with other girls, it was convenient for her to claim that she's in fact Ryoma's significant other to her father. Generally, no actual harm arose from that lie as her father didn't pry any further. But her situation right now, is taking itself to worst.

Being friends with Echizen Ryoma for three years now, she knew that he dislikes lying. And that he dislikes unnecessary, unsolicited prying over his personal life. Ironically, despite being blunt, he usually isn't very good at dealing with feelings. But despite that, she grew fond of him. His undeniable charisma attracted her. And over time, her admiration over how easy he seemed to handle his extraordinary life, grew to something more. She liked him a lot. And saying the words that they're boyfriend and girlfriend slowly had weight on her part.

"Kate is here." Ryoma replied over the phone, paying attention to the girl in front of him, "Is she crying?"

"Would you turn on the loudspeaker? I would like Kate to know that as promised, I would confirm something with you."

Truthfully, wisps of aggravation slowly made its way to him. The way Kate's father talked over the phone was unpleasant for him. First, he ignored his questions. Now, he dared to order him. To add up, Kate didn't seem so take the situation as lightly as he preferred. Though she tried her utter best to stifle her sobs, Ryoma could hear her. "Just what was with her family?" he wondered. Kate even followed him to Japan and is now crying over some things that she shouldn't cry about. While it was true that he hates lying, seeing a friend cry, didn't suit well with him either.

So he turned on the loudspeaker, all while approaching the still crouched girl. For a while, The caller was silent. Taking his time on estimating whether it was time to speak yet.

"Is it true that you are in a romantic relationship with my daugh--"

He can see Kate's hunched body tense.

"No." his words were honest and firm, "But does it matter? Isn't managing business enough that you had to meddle with your daughter's life?"

"I'm hanging up." Ryoma declared, wearing a deadpanned expression.

"W-Wai--"

The phone went silent. The reason being the call pressed to its end. Ryoma sighed, grateful that he didn't have to talk to Kate's father any longer. His eyes finally fell to the girl who didn't have her face buried in her arms anymore. Instead, Kate looked up to him. Eyes puffy, she mumbled.

"I'm sorry that you had to involve yourself in my family problem."

"It's okay." he casually responded, "It's nothing."

"But it's not nothing." with a small giggle, Kate stood up. She smiled at him, earning the boy a rather surprised look at the girl who was clearly shedding tears a moment ago.

"Thank you." she said with finality, not willing to take no for an answer. The boy nodded curtly, humoring her.

"Anyway, I'll be upstairs to change my clothes." he stated, "Oyaji's probably at the temple now, so feel free to wait for Kevin inside."

"Sure."

Ryoma went inside their house. She didn't really want to go inside, wanting the comfort of silence and the morning air to relax herself. So she stood outside.

"In the end, he didn't lie." Kate thought that it was funny, how she expected that. But now that it ended, she felt better. Though it was just a temporary fix, Ryoma had somehow spoke up for her. He told her father off in his own-- one feat that she's yet to achieve, even if given her headstrong qualities.

It was a joke, how she can't even seem to handle her own. Like it was all a huge facade that she got her life together completely. In truth, same as most children, she's afraid of her mother and father's reprimanding comments. She's thankful for the comfortable life, but she feels terribly pressured. The latter emotion, she rarely expresses.

In honesty, though she expected that Ryoma would turn down her request, there's this sliver of hope that she kept. Just what if... what if he agreed to tell her father that they're in a relationship? Knowing his personality, it was possible that if she confessed her real feelings to him right there and then, he would accept it. That the almost impossible would happen, and she'll find Echizen Ryoma in love with her, the way she was for him.

"It was a small chance, a mere 5% perhaps..." she laughed weakly to herself. "Was 5% enough?"

She's giving up.

The cold, moist feel in her arm was enough for her to realize she already had company. Her hand jerked at the sudden contact. A chilled can of grape Ponta was the source, and the suspect, the ever-Ponta loving Ryoma wearing his signature white cap, in a red and white collared shirt and brown knee-length shorts. He held out a can to her.

"Kevin surely took his time." he said as a matter-of-factly, drinking his own can of the grape soda.

Kate took the beverage gratefully, holding it with both hands. Her mind wandering again to thoughts of taking chances. Those what-ifs that bothered her. If anything, what she learned today, courtesy of the amber-eyed boy, was just go with it. But she's afraid. And now, she'll never know if she really stood a chance with him.

It bothered her in ways that she can't explain.

"5% meant that there is a chance even if little, right?" and that isn't even fixed. It can even mean that the chances were high all along. Life is hilarious, like that.

"Ryoma..." She'd like to curse herself since the missing bravery she needed earlier, just surged up now, "Can you remove your cap for a bit?"

"Huh?" he flashed her an absurd look.

"Please?" she tried to sound sweet, and it took her a lot to do so. Just thinking about her plan made her stomach quench in nervousness. "I'm about to test something... Don't get angry please."

He doesn't look like he will budge. Kate took a deep breath, weighing her rather rash decision. But if she fails, then she fails. And she'll give up ultimately without what-ifs.

Kate Thompson knew that this was probably a day that she would regret fully. But regrets are for tomorrow to think about. She didn't really need him to take off his hat anyway. He's as good as almost a head taller than her.

"Now, don't get my cap--hmphhh."

With her desperate resolve, she tiptoed to reach his lips with hers. Kate's heart pounded loudly against her chest. Her eyes were closed as she waited for him to hold her and return her affections. She waited for a couple of seconds before she opened her eyes again. And all she can see is Ryoma's wide eyes, filled with shock. Not a single hint of love in his eyes. Reality is cruel.

A clank from the gate took Ryoma back to his senses, as he pushed her away. Just enough force for the girl to not to fall flat the ground. He took a step back, baffled at the girl's actions. Surprise and confusion painted his features.

Nobody said a word. Silence filled the air for minutes. As the both of them took their time to collect themselves.

Kate had a sad smile, when she looked up again to look at him. Witnessing his actions, she's quite sure that her small percentage was off by 5%. It was 0% all along. He just doesn't see her that way.

"Did you two make up already?" with a small red pouch on his hands, Kevin spoke.

No one noticed his arrival. The only indication that he just arrived was the fact that he's on his way to close the gates again as he just got in.

"Ah. Ryoma, Ryuzaki asked me to give you this," he threw the pouch to Ryoma who still looked disoriented.

"I wasn't sure why she didn't give you that personally though." Kevin mentioned, "I saw her running away from your gate before she passed by me and asked the favor."

Ryoma with his thoughts running wildly, clumsily opened the pouch. It was his silver watch. The one he wore yesterday that he may have forgotten from the Ryuzaki house.

"Ryuzaki also seemed to look distressed."

It seemed like every day, these days, he kept on getting in trouble.

A/N:Thanks for reading!