I made some changes, including the characters, since it is alternate setting, they might be a little out of the character? I guess? Since they were supposed to be 17 years old already in this timeline, and I believe that they matured quiet enough. Right?
Again, this is AU. And I do not own Prince of tennis, just my plot.
Chapter 1: The beginning of the end
"Fate decides who comes into life, your heart decides who stays"
Standing under the Sakura tree, Miyu Kurosawa was looking at her boyfriend for almost three years now, Echizen Ryoma. The usual hang out place they usually going to and visits every free time. The same tree that witnesses every memory they have. It's the same place where they relationship started, for all whom known, under this tree, Ryoma officially sealed their relationship as couple. They started as friends, knowing the personality that the young prince has, it was quite surprising that Miyu was the only girl he has been interact at. That was the start of constant teasing and barging of their senpais, on why they still not dating and such, it seems finally he ends their ceaseless meddling to their youngest kouhai love interest when Ryoma took the initiative and asked the girl to go out. Of course, the whole Seigaku regular tennis team rejoice when the news flashed on them. The whole campus becomes ecstatic about the news, many of the fan girls of Ryoma envied her. And so he was, just how popular they young prince was, it same goes to Miyu. Boys didn't hide their frustration knowing that the ideal girl was already taken.
Miyu Kurosawa was known best by her natural talent in ballet dancing, she was sure to have a bright career in ballet and soon one of the top prima donnas she was an epitome of beauty, her elegance and confidence concedes it all. her Natural long black jet hair that she kept losing without tying it, was perfectly complimented on her face. Not to mention how popular she was to the guys in their school. While, on the other hand, Echizen Ryoma, the prince to be called, the tennis prince prodigy, his skills and inborn talent in playing tennis are justified by the numerous and countless times of winnings he has, his undeniably love and passion for playing tennis keeps getting him hype from achieving more, to be much, better to the sports. He is slowly making his name out of the shadow of his father, the samurai, Echizen Nanjirou.
They were considered as extreme couple by their school since, two of talented students were become a couple.
A wind blew from them as they kept staring from each other, Ryoma who was the first one to broke the stare, he seated right to the big roots of the tree. Miyu stayed silent for a while before she finally speaks her mind.
It was their graduation in Middle Highschool.
And it's all started since that day...
"Ryoma-san! You will be late on the first day of your school if you still sleeping like that"
Ryoma open his eyes in a deep slumber upon hearing a knock on his door
"I made breakfast" Nanako, his cousin made a slight peeking on his door. "You have to hurry coz it's almost time "she reminded.
It was his first day of school, today he was officially a high school student, lazily waking on his bed, Ryoma stretch his body, yawning so loudly. He admits, he was never been a morning person. Most of his time consume only for sleeping when he was not playing tennis at all. His golden cat-eye eyes roamed on his alarm clock, seeing how late he might be for the first day, he hurriedly reaches the door of his bathroom, moving fast as his signature moves.
"Ryoma-san you should quit your late morning habit" Nanako scolded her.
Ryoma turned into deaf eared not wanting to pay attention for whatever his older cousin fussing, his attention was all in the Japanese food he saw on the table, most of it, was his favorite, it was so rare for them to eat these kinds of dishes most especially since his own parents loves eating western food, strange as it seems, he shrugs it off. He was about to munch the food in his front when he saw the atypical stare that his mother giving him.
"Ryoma" Rinko, his mother called, there is something the way she looks at him, something that the young tennis prince can't point it out.
"What is it kaa san?" He inquired, he started digging in, trying to avert his attention to his food.
"How's everything between you and Miyu-chan?" His mother asks without any further hesitation.
"I already told you we already broke up a month ago" Ryoma answered, he didn't seem flinched nor bothered, he just answered plain and simple with his monotonous tone.
"That's it? Any chance of reconciliations?" She inquired, more demand.
Ryoma exhaustedly look at his own mother, not wanting to answer anything yet knowing his mother, there is no way he could not answer her querying's or else... "I told you we both mutually agreed on it" he tiredly said.
"Keh... If I know maybe you took initiative to the girl, that's why she broke up with you" His father, Nanjirou intervened, sitting right next to his wife, Rinko, as he started eating his breakfast.
Ryoma glared at his father, hissing "I'm not like you stupid oyaji!" He retorted. Of course, he's no saint at all, he will never be denied nor admit it. Most especially to his father. For three years of relationship, they share a couple of heated kisses and make out sessions whenever they alone, that sometimes lead them almost doing that part. His rational judgement kicks out on him whenever they are on that situation, his animalistic reasoning stood up, kicking all the logical thoughts he has but miraculously, seems heavens still helping him from awakening for his worldly desires, he still manages to stops himself from doing and continuing so. his not proud of that either, sometimes he felt like violating his own girlfriend, err... Ex-girlfriend now either. He loves Miyu, he values her, he respects her too much.
"Do... You still communicating with her?"
"Kaa san, what is this all about?" He spat, intrigued on why on earth her own mother curious about his dating stuff.
"Coz you seem serious to her, unless you both fight? Did you fight why both of you broke up?"
"I'll be late" the tennis prodigy grunted, he stood up on his seat ready to leave.
"You are late anyway so why bother to answer me?!" It was more a demand from Ryoma's ears anyway.
'so, this is why he hates talking to his mother who is an attorney anyway.'
"Seriously kaa san? As if you care if we both broke up or not," he retorted "the last time I check you not even like her" he deadpanned said.
"Ryoma, it is not that I don't like her, dear, is this the reason of break up?" His mother's voice laced with concern.
Of course, Ryoma was not that stupid to not even noticed. Ever since he introduced Miyu to his parents, the strange air between his parents is evident, no matter how they tried to covered it by giving his girlfriend a warm welcome, there is always something off to them. He can clearly feel it, they were his parents by the way, their seems hiding something to him.
"It's not like we fight or anything" he paused, of course, ever since they started dating, they never got into arguments or such, they just perfectly understand each other at all. Like it was a constant thing to do, they never meddle in each other business, they respect each other privacy. "I told you already mom, we mutually agreed on it, she have plans for herself that's why we broke up," he continued. "She wanted to reach her dreams so who I am to interfere? I supported her anyway" he shrugs. "Kaa san I really need to go; can we continue this later?" He said finally dismissing the conversation. Before his mother could possibly objected, he dashes his way on the door bidding his goodbye to them.
And that how his whole day begin, since morning class, the main topic of the crowd was his break up with Miyu, as if there is no other essential topic to converse rather the reason why he and her broke up. Speculations keeps spreading like a fire, all thanks for his loudmouthed classmate Osakada Tomoka and her disciple Horio Satoshi, since when his love life becomes a national concern? Ryoma grunted, he really hates to be a center of attraction, most of all if it's not because of tennis.
The news spread so fast that even to the tennis regular's ears didn't escape, and even the young prince seems expecting it to happened.
"Nah Echizen, what really happened?" Momoshiro asked, they were all sat down to the court.
"I told you we broke up" Ryoma answered, his eyes close, his racket leaning on his shoulder.
"Just like that? Nya! But why? Why? Ochibi! Tell us more" Eiji asks his body was jumping on his sitting position.
Ryoma grunted, it's not like he doesn't want to tell it to them, it just like, he hates conversing to long conversation at all. And this one, he was so sure that took so much of conversation.
"She needs time, she said it will be better off we should break, you know how much she loves her passion right? So, who am I to intervene?" He spats.
"Did you even ask the reason? That's a shallow reason Echizen, maybe there is something else?" Fuji asks.
"And what it would be?" Ryoma rasp "you all know we never into quarrel!"
"That's the point! You never into fight! That maybe you have missing something that triggered the break-up!" Fuji snaps out.
Ryoma is losing it, he nearly loses his cool, why on Earth his Fuji-senpai seems fired up about this? Okay, he gets it, he was Miyu's childhood friend, but why he seems much, more affected in their break-up? Can't they just give him a damn break?!
"You should be asking her? What's the real problem! That's supposed you do coz you are his boyfriend! Why break up? You can still do your passion without breaking up!" This time, the tennis prodigy looks at his senpai, Fuji who seems very serious this time, his cerulean eyes were open staring sharply at him.
Somehow, he felt irritated as if he was accusing of something. "That's her choice! I don't want the break up either!" Ryoma fired up "I even..." He paused; memories of that time keep gushing on his mind.
"Then why we don't get married to solve the case?"
"Ryoma! We still young for that"
"Never mind..." Ryoma looked away, "you know her very well, Fuji senpai, once she made up her mind no one can change it. Either you, nor me" Of all people, Ryoma knew his ex-girlfriend very well, her passion for ballet is same as his, their burning passion and love for tennis and ballet is so much. That might be the reason why they both click, they pretty much the same, if she wants to conquer her dreams who he was to take it away from her? He would never do that. If break up would be her stepping stone to achieve whatever she aiming for, so be it.
He understands that, he will never be on her way. He will be supported her.
"Naa... Echizen! Cheer up! You know, you still both young, and Miyu is right, you should both focus on your dreams" Oishi said motherly.
"Wanna come later? Burger joint?" This time Eiji smiled.
"What are you still doing here?" Tezuka, their captain asks, making all of them flinched. "20 laps around the field!" He added
"H-haii!" The remaining regulars said in unison, each of them hurriedly runs outside the court, Ryoma quickly followed his senpais, only interrupted when Tezuka calls his name
"Echizen, your manager called this afternoon, you have a exhibition matches waiting for you in Hawaii, 3 weeks from now, we already discussed it with Yamato sensei and everything is settled for a month of stay there. For more information your parents would discuss furthermore"
"Huh? That fast? Classes just start right?" Ryoma skeptically asks.
" Don't worry about it, got it covered" his coach, Yamato winks on him.
"Sugoii... OCHIBI! You have a month of wonderful vacation in Hawaii! Nya!" Eiji clung on him.
"Hanase Eiji senpai" Ryoma grunted.
"Naa... Echizen, bring us souvenirs huh!" Momoshiro said grinning from ear to ear.
"He's going to compete there baka!" Kaido senpai retorted to Momoshiro. They were too busy pestering their kouhai when a pair of glasses glitters on their back, exaggeratedly, it felt like they heard the sound of glass glitters, they all turn their heads only to see their captain, wearing his stoic deathly aura, arms folded in his chest.
"30 laps around the court!" Tezuka said making all of them runs fast as they could...
"Miyu... Your next"
Miyu nodded her head smiling as she went in the center of their ballet studio, she stood there gracefully as she did her first position, the tune of melodic music occupies the room, with one swiftly grace move, Miyu started her dance. Slowly, Miyu raised her leg perfectly in the air, spinning around gracefully as she put her leg down, bending her body in elegant manner, it is one swift stunt, she can clearly saw how her other ballet members awe in her moves. She secretly smiled, seeing how her instructor seems amazed on her stunts, she felt more eagerly to show better. She was born to be a ballet dancer. Miyu always thought that. Her love for ballet is innate, ever since a little child she knows exactly where she heading too. She will be definitely prima ballerina in the future. She can clearly see herself one day in one of the most prestigious ballet theatres. Miyu knows it will happen one day, her scorching passion and love for her art will definitely blooms in no time.
"Perfect Miyu! I really can see your potential. I was never been wrong on choosing you" her instructor smiles on her.
"Thank you" Miyu smiles, she bowed her head before walking to the corner, she knows she was not wrong for choosing this school exclusive for ballet students. Though it took a lot of time for her to think, before finally giving in to her parents' whims.
"Miyu-chan! Sugoi!" Akira one of the ballet member mates said to her, smiling so proudly to her. "Have you seen how proud our sensei was? I bet you get a slot ticket in America" she giggled.
"I hope so" Miyu smiled, she started walking until she reaches her locker, slowly opening it, Miyu stops upon seeing what she left on her locker.
"That's look cute" Akane her one considered friend peek on her phone. It was a swan keychain she put on her phone. She smiled upon thinking of the certain person who gave that.
"Here, you're a swan princess, right?"
"Does your boyfriend give it you?" Her friend inquired.
"Ex" she corrected; she looks gloomy for a moment before finally smiling at her.
"Looks like we have a lot of things to talk about that ex of yours!" Akira giggled; she emphasizes the last words. Making them all giggled.
"Let's go!" This time Hikaru excitedly said.
Miyu and her friends decided to stroll around the Shibuya, though it's far away from their dorm, they continue chatting as they exchanging anything to talk too. But most of the time they ask her about her and her ex-boyfriend.
It was now or never.
Miyu never have a second thoughts thinking over her life.
"You know this is once in a lifetime chance dear" her mom said with her. "And if you refuse this offer, we will never have any other chances again" her mom pleadingly look at her.
"I trust you with this dear, I know you will do the right thing, you are always been a good and obedient daughter" this time it's her father who speaks.
Of course, she was the perfect daughter of her parents, from good grades, ranking academics, manners, she was raised to be a prim and proper. She never disobeys her parents, she always followed whatever they say to her, and now thinking about it, it was her dream they were talking about. It's her dream, it was her parents dream to her. Miyu cleared her throat for one last time she looks at her parents with a smile. "Yes mom. I agree"
That's when Miyu agreed, that is when she made a decision for herself too.
"Ryoma, you know that I am not studying at Seigaku high school, right?"
"I'm aware of that"
"I'm considering the offer" Miyu paused waiting for any reaction to her boyfriend but it didn't happen.
"Then so be it. " Ryoma answered noncholantly. "You can do your thing there, while I continue mine"
"You don't understand, do you think how far is it? How busy I might be?" Miyu asks there is a trance of worries in her voice
"So?"
"What so? Are you not worried? Are you not mad at least? Most of my days will spend nothing but ballet! We will never see each other, and if we do, we have to-"
"So, what is this all about Miyu?" Ryoma interrupted her words.
"I was thinking of ..." Miyu paused, she knows how exactly so hard to utter the next words, it's not like she wanted it too, but the situation is asking it for her. For her own good, for his own good, for the sake of her parents. There are so much to think about. "...breaking up" she said looking straight in his golden eyes.
There is a long paused between them, she looks at him waiting again for reaction but failed, his face remains unreadable.
"We should break up, you know, you soon will be busy in your tennis career same as mine, we will hardly get time together, we will soon feel guilty for not giving each time together. We will distract all this time, and you know how distractions might affect to our careers. It was for our own good too. We will become more focus more"
"Then why don't we get married to solve the cased?" He answered. As if he was offering her ap piece of cake.
Shocked was written all over her lovely face, she starred at him for a while "you know we both young for this!" She spat, though a tiny hope grown inside her heart when he said that. " We still young for rushing things! There will be a lot of things might happen and will happen; we both have dreams too. I hope you understand"
Ryoma starred at her for a while "fine. Let's break up"
"So, that's explain why you both broke up?" Akane stirred her mango fruity shake.
"Uhn. I just want to focus myself first with my ballet" she admitted. Though a very big part of Miyu felt something incomplete. She felt a hollow space in her heart.
"Echizen Ryoma right? I heard about him; he is strikingly handsome right? But snobbish!" Akira giggled.
"You're right!" Miyu smiled, her eyes twinkled just by hearing his name. She can still remember the first time she met him.
"Can you move? You blocking the way!"
That's how they first encounter happened. Miyu can't helped but to giggle on that thought. It was their first week in middle school, Miyu can't help but went all the way to the tennis court. It's not like, she like the sports anyway, but she went there for the certain reason. And the certain reason happens to be her childhood friend Fuji Syusuke, who's into the sport. Her planned to surprised her childhood friend vanished when a sudden midget guy spat those rude words. Miyu was stunned, it was the first time, alright, the very first time someone treated her that way. It is not like she was an attention-seeker at all, she was used that people around her always pays attention to her. She's a beauty of course! A total head-turner! But that midget guy was different, he treated her like some kind of non-existed person whenever they are in the same group. perhaps it was called fate, that they encounter always happened. She always found herself stuck right in the tennis court watching their game, none of these could apprehend whatever they were doing, but she found herself enjoying every single game of that certain snobbish midget.
"You're Fuji-senpai's childhood friend, right?"
That was the very first he acknowledges her presence! That finally, after months he finally accepted her presence.
"It's Kurosawa Miyu! You don't call a person by giving them weird names!" She angrily spats, her ankle is badly hurting, pissed that she didn't execute her magnificent stunt. She was in verge of crying. Of all people! Why it's him to found her hiding in this park?
"Yeah right, Fuji-senpai's childhood friend" He nonchalantly said "does it hurt?" He kneeled, leveling their position.
"Of course, it's not!"
"Mada mada dane" he smirked. "Let's go I'll help you go in the infirmary."
And that's how it's all started, the constant teasing of senpais to them. It is not she don't like it, of course! She likes the way their senpais teasing them. It somehow felt that they were connected in some ways. They become closer that it seems, since she was the very first girl he hangs out with, and his constant way of calling her on her pet-name somehow, they found amusing. Fuji-senpai's childhood friend. It took a month for him to call her at least in her last name. a year for him to call her by her given name, despite the fact they were already dating that time. And a couple of months after a year of dating before he finally claimed her lips.
'She misses him... So bad, if only... If only'
"Miyu..."
Miyu finally cut from her reverie, she looks at her friend, wondering.
"You seem spacing out" Akane informed.
"Oh. I'm sorry, what are you saying again?" She smiled
"Nothing. You're regretting it aren't you?" Akane said she looks worried on her friend.
Miyu looks at her frappe, she wouldn't deny the fact, every day, since the day they broke up, never a single day she didn't regrets it. She loves the boy so much, but what she can do? She loves her passion too same as her parents. She stared at her glass for God knows how long before finally utter consoling words to them, and for herself. The same words she keeps telling herself to remind her not to back out on her own words and goes back running to him.
"If we really destined to each other, no matter whom we met, the distance, time passed between us, we are still end up together to the end" She said, "And besides... Ryoma doesn't a type of man who entertain girls" she laughed.
"Your right!" Akane agreed.
"But you said it before, right? He is too popular with girls, what if... By any chance, what if someone come and steal him away from you?" Hikaru asks, "are you not bothered? You gave someone else a licensed to be with him, you lost your right the moment you ask for a breakup"
"What are you babbling about Hika-chan?, Stop messing with Miyu's mind" Akane snaps
"It's fine... Akane-chan, Hikaru-chan is right though... If that happens..." She trailed off, was she ready for that? Just thinking someone else holding Ryoma how she used to be, enough for her to feel anxious, just thinking he might fall in love with another girl, constrict her heart. It was so painful just imagining it. Get a grip on yourself Miyu, there is no way Ryoma would be taken away from you easily."...I will be happy for him" she smiled. Masking her real emotions this time.
"But if I were you Miyu-chan, even though you both broke up, get yourself a better place on him to keep him closer to you, after all you love him a lot, right? You know, you have to guard a better place for you not to be replace" Hikaru said.
"In other words, don't let the break up too long" Akane winks.
"And we're here! Y'know! We got you!" Akira smiled.
"What are we doing here anyway?" Ryoma grunted the moment they stepped feet in Shibuya. "I'm going home!" He said, turning his body back to the train station.
"Ochibi! Don't be a kill joy nya!" Eiji muttered, encircling his arms to him.
"We all here to accompany Fuji senpai!" Momoshiro grins.
"Che." Ryoma grunted more.
"Saa... Arigatou for going along with me today, now let's do the shopping spree" The tennis tensai smiled.
Ryoma tug along with his senpais, though it is better to be said that he was forcefully drag by them, for the whole shopping spree or whatever they called about it, Ryoma felt nothing but boredom. He was not used to it; he was never been fan of shopping anyway. They went in different shops, looking for whatever they found interesting to look at, but most of the time, they go inside the camera shops, since the main reason why they here are to accompany Fuji-senpai in buying a new camera. Ryoma yawned for umpteenth time, he's getting bored and bored each passing time, and he was starving too. Once he gets home, he plans to soak himself to his tub to relax, or maybe asks for his cousin to cook origini rice since he suddenly craves for it, that's right. Origini, his liking to that food is much, that even constantly eating it, he craves for more, as if he was looking for exact taste that is lacking and missing for every origini he ate in the past, 'does origini have a distinct taste?' he thought. He continued thinking whatever his plans to do after going home when suddenly, he bumps into someone. He turned his head, ready to mutter an apology when his eyes wide open, shocked from the certain person he saw.
"RYOMA/MIYU"
Miyu is on ecstatic! She can't believe that they guy was right in front of her. Of course, she stops the urge of hugging him the moment they saw each other. Now that the guy was in front of her, she realized how much she misses the guy terribly! She now realized how she really regretting of breaking up with him. She stared at him from some quite time before everything finally sinks in to her. After a short brief of introduction, they all decided to eat in a Japanese restaurant in much delight of the tennis prince. They all settled in a long rectangular table enough to accommodate them all. Her friends seem to get familiarly close at her senpais for a short time, her senpais are all easy to befriended with due to their light and friendly manner. they all converse in conversation, they all exchange topics to one another, even her friends asked some information to them, they topic went to her after, Syusuke, open up its first by asking basic information of how is she in her new school and stuff. Miyu can't help but to look at Ryoma from time to time she speaks, she saw how the guy seems listening to them, he nodding his head for some time and stared at her when she says something that caught his attention. Then resume from eating when the topic was no longer interesting for him at all. Their conversation went to one another to another.
According for what Miyu heard, Ryoma was about to leave the country in three weeks. Miyu starred at him once more, so he's finally reaching for his dream. Miyu was aware of his plans Afterall, she can clearly remember the excitement in his face when he told his plans to her. Upon entering high school, which is happening now, Ryoma plans to finally step in and take seriously play in winning Tournaments abroad, though he was serious in his tournaments he competed in, in fact, he won the consecutive titles in US open for two years since middle school, and at his tender age of 14 he was the youngest who won noth US open and Australian open at the same year way back their middle school. he aims to compete and win the four grand slam titles and be the first young tennis player who won the major titles. His dream of competing to major tournaments are right next to him, Miyu known this time would come, he was talented Afterall, she can see how the young tennis prince loves his sport. And a bitterness feeling starting to kick in on her, her feared of him being taking away from her slowly sink in to her, what if... What if her friends are right after all?
It's already 7 when they decided to went home, their senpais and even her friends give them a privacy, knowing the look of their senpais given to her, she understood that might be already knew they are broke up and with the expression they giving in seems like they were positively enough that they should fix whatever they have. She can clearly saw how her friends silently rooting for her with a convincing nod they all settled to parted ways.
They went in the nearest vending machine to buy some refreshment that they passed through, Ryoma offered her favorite lemonade that she gladly accepts. Upon waiting for the train to come, she can't help but to steal glances again to him, she watches him drinking his favorite drink while one hand on his pocket, the brim of his hat was enough to cover his eyesight, she starred at him from God knows how long, wondering of many why's. Her reverie been cut when she realized that the guy was looking at him.
"Let's go" Ryoma uttered.
They were both silent when they entered the train, Miyu was silently staring at the guy in front of her, she was seating from her sit while the young tennis prince was standing in front of her. It was a peak hour, luckily, they got at least one seat available for her to sit. Al throughout the trip their remain silent, Miyu was used to silence, they were used to it, but somehow the silence they have makes her nervous at all, she can clearly hear the frantically beats of her own heart, all she did was looked at his calloused hand that is place on his side. Miyu fight all the urges not to hold his hand like she used to do, she wanted to hold that hand, the hand she was always holding when they still together. Although Miyu was the first one who always initiates holding him or doing sweet things on him in the past, she doesn't mind, she likes the fact of being sweet to him. He is not a type person anyways. But that was before, now she lost all her rights to hold him like before. She comp templating for everything, berating herself for the decisions she made, what she decide was the right thing, but why she felt like this? A soft, gentle flickered on her forehead making her pulled back on reality.
"Miyu, are you okay?"
Miyu tilted her head, she saw Ryoma staring at her. His golden eyes reflected with concern. From somehow Miyu felt in ease. She smiled reassuring.
"I'm okay"
Miyu stop her trance the moment they reach the front of her dormitory.
"Thank you for walking me here, though it's far from your way home" Miyu said.
"Betsuni" Ryoma answered nonchalantly, both of his hand on his pocket, he stared at her dorm for a couple of seconds before looking at her. "You should go inside now"
"Good luck on your matches Ryoma" Miyu smiled at him.
"Hn. Do your best too" Ryoma smirked on her. "Ja. Take care Miyu, go inside now" he ordered.
Miyu nodded, she went inside the gate still looking at him. Ryoma started his pace the moment he saw that the girl was safe inside. Miyu watches him leave. As she watches his parting image her felt unease inside her heart, her heart felt creased inside her chest.
"What if someone steal him away from you?"
"You gave someone else a licensed to be with him, you lose the right the moment you ask for breakup"
What if they true anyway? What she would do? Miyu blinks, she intake a right amount of air she needed to calm her senses with one more intake of breath, she calls him.
"Ryoma..." Luckily, the tennis prince heard her call.
"Nani?" The young prodigy looks at her wondering.
"We are still... Friends, right?" For now... Miyu wanted to add the last part, she trusted him, she knows that there is no way that Ryoma will swoon over to some girl that fast. She knows the guy very much. And before someone could even try to take her spot to the young prince, she will make sure that she already retrieves him. Just wait a little.
"Yes. We're still friends" Ryoma answered.
Miyu smiled. "Take care Ryoma"
Ryoma yawned for umpteenth time when he finally reached their home, tired and sleepy from a long travel he went through, all he wanted to do is to dip himself to the bathtub and sleep. His original plan of eating origini subsided. 'Perhaps tomorrow then' throwing his shoes on the main door, he rested himself for his indoor slippers. Wondering of their sudden unforeseen encounter of Miyu. 'She looks fine... Maybe she was right, we better off as friends' thinking about it, Miyu was right. Though he was bit upset for break up but what she said was true, they both still young, a lot of things might happen to them along the way and rushing things would not be a help. He shrugs, there is no way he needs to stress himself from things already happened. Besides, they both cool anyway. They are friends. So, he was nothing to worry about.
"Tadaima" he announces, though he knows that his parents might be sleeping right now, he went straight to the staircase, only to find both of his parents seating in their living room both eyes on him, he wasn't expecting them to be here, he looks at their clock near the drawer only to see that it was past 9 in the evening. Well, he doesn't have any curfew though, but seeing how serious his parents were, just looking at him like he was somewhat committed a crime was enough to him to go straight in his room.
"I already ate kaa san, I'm sleeping" he announces, his feet were about to take a step on the stair when his mother called him, seriously. 'What is all about this time?' he inwardly grunted.
"Ryoma, can we talk?" His mom serious voice was demanding.
"Kaa san, can't it wait until tomorrow?" He asks, he was really tired, and another conversation would drain his energy to fullest.
"It can't wait Ryoma, please... It's really important" his mother uttered. If his mom sounded like this, there is no other way he could disagree.
Ryoma grunted, he put his tennis bag on the side, sitting in front of his parents. He looks at his father, who miraculously silent, weird it though since all he knows is to pestered him to death, sitting comfortably in their front, he waited for whatever important matter they need to discuss about.
"Are things between you and Miyu-chan is finally over? No more second chances?" His mom asked again.
Ryoma groaned, being frequently asks by this kind of question annoys him. "Kaa san, again? Why you keep asking me this question!"
"You don't answer my question with another question Ryoma, just answer me" Rinko said dismissing him.
"Fine!" Ryoma huffed. " We saw each other today, we kind' a talk and we're friends" He honestly said.
"And?" Rinko asks, squeezing him for some information more.
"And? Nothing! That's it we're friends!" Ryoma spats. "Kaa san seriously? You creeping me out" he sounded frustrated.
"Just friends? Do you plan to court her again? In the future?" His mother asks again, ignoring his last said. "Or perhaps you have plans on marrying her in the future? Are you serious to her anyway?"
"Kaa san! What's going on? What is this all about?!" He almost shouted.
"Just answer me! You seem serious to her since she's the first girl that close enough to you except from-" she paused as she realized she shouldn't drop the topic to him
"From whom?" He puzzledly asks.
"Never mind, just answer me anyway! Does it cross your mind? You two getting married? In the future?"
His mom getting weirder and weirder, why does his mom is so obsessed to it anyway?
"Ryoma!"
"Kaa san do you realized I'm still young to talk about marriage?" He wanted to rolled his eyes badly, but being taught to give some manners to his elders specially it his own parents he suppressed it from doing so.
"Yes. You're still young, but old enough to make decisions all by yourself! What's so hard to answer it?" Rinko asks back.
"Coz you're pressuring me now? Can't I just think about it 5 or 10 years from now? Why I need to answer it right away?" He spats. Now, thinking about it, why is so hard to answer his own mom anyway? When he easily asks his proposal from Miyu one month ago? Was he being serious for his proposal to her? Or it just an impulse of sudden moment? Is he ready to have a future with her? Well, they never talked about it either aside from their future careers, but he loves her right? So technically they we're going there eventually. But the point is, why his own mother was so pushy about this topic?
Rinko sighed, she stared at her son affectionally, she calms a bit. " I'm sorry, you know, we wanted what's best for you. Sorry for being so nosy about this."
"Kaa san, what's this all about? You being weird"
"Ryoma, you need to know something" she sighed. "It's about you and your fiancée"
Ryoma flinched, was he hear things, right? Fiancée? "What are you talking about? Me? I am engaged?" He skeptically asks. "Since when? Why I didn't know about this? Are you for real?"
"Listen Ryoma, it all started since you were 7 years old, you know, your grandfather, my father has his best friend, they were both really closed to each other, they treated each other like brothers. And the idea of becoming a family one day is their dream. To cut the story short, they come to the idea of being you both engaged since both of you and Sakuno-chan were too closed to each other. Of course, at first, we didn't agree, even Sakuno's parents. For us, it's too selfish and unjustified. You were both just kids, no matter how close you are to each other it is still wasn't right to do it so. Eventually they dropped it." Rinko paused.
Ryoma blinks, as if his new found information was too much for him to handle. "Sakuno? Close? Why I don't remember her at all?" He unintentionally uttered his thoughts.
Rinko sighed. "You know what happen to you when your brother Ryoga leave right?"
Ryoma looks away, well that's another issue, right? According to his parents he kind of forgot most of his childhood memories when one time he asked them why he can't remember a thing with his older brother. So that it means he forgot about her too because of that incident?
"Going back to the story, both you and Sakuno-chan were close, technically you grew up together since it only one month apart of your birthdays. You stick to her like a glue" his mother continued.
Nanjiro his father snickered, as if he remembers something in the past that was really funny. " Sheishounen, I remembered how you throw tennis balls to every boy who comes near to Sakuno-chan!" He grins. "You keep babbling 'she's mine" his father mimic his child-like voice. "You keep her to you, anytime, anywhere, it is so hard for us to separate you both since you are so stubbornly do not want so" Nanjiro said, as his memories on his childhood comes back to him like a river runs flow " Oh! That reminds me, you seriously wanted to quit tennis because you don't want to be separated to her, you even had a gut to demand to tag her along with us when we about to leave the country and settle in US"
'Were they for real? Did it really happen? How on earth he can't remember a thing.'
"Your baffling!" Ryoma retorted. 'There is no way I quit playing tennis for a girl, that I even not remember at all'
"That's true, "Rinko confirmed "You were so stubborn since kid Ryoma, you throw a perfect decoy for your grandfather to initiate their original plans at all." She paused her eyes darted to him seriously " since they saw how attached you are to her, they come to insist that the both of you be engage, and we started to think the idea is quite okay since you insisted it too. They made a written agreement about it that you are agreed to be engage until one of you come from legal age enough to marry"
"That's right! That's right! His father agreed. " If you have seen your face that day" he snickered " keh! You really my son after all!" He mused.
"Ryoma, you realized where this conversation heading to right?" Rinko asks him.
Ryoma stared at his mom, of course he is not an idiot, " you seriously asking me kaa san to pursue whatever the agreement it is? Isn't bit too heavy mom? I mean...It is marriage you asking for me! We are about to be together for the rest of our lives! What if both of us doesn't like it! It's been years"
"I know son, and I'm sorry, to be honest, we put it aside too. Since both of your grandfathers passed away already a long time ago, so we decided to step it aside, since both of you never talk nor see each other after so many years. you forgot her too. And you met Miyu."
"Exactly! What's the point of marrying her if I don't even remember her at all?!"
"The only plan we made was to let the both of you meet each other again. We just hoping that if you saw her again, might some of your lost memories' comeback again. Sakuno-chan was bound to study here in Tokyo when both of you reach in Middle school, same as you Ryoma, we thought, since both of you were childhood friends its fair for you to meet again. But things gone out of the plan, when we are about to come back here from America, her parents died due to accident and the initial plan of letting you both met again didn't happened" Rinko voice laced with so much sorrow. "And lot of things happened right after that, you got yourself a girlfriend too. So, we thought to really shelve that marriage thing. But you know, you both broke up, and we seriously thinking that-" Rinko reluctantly said, she sighed "Ryoma, you know how our family values, cherish and acknowledge every promise we made, as much as possible we keep our promises always. But I know this is not something that we shove down to your throat, your right, marriage is not a simple thing, it is your both future we talking about, but what I am asking for you is, can you at least give it a try? I'm not asking for too much. Just meet them, meet Sakuno-chan and the rest will be to us"
Ryoma stared at his mother, for some reason he sure she was hiding something from him, she was never been distressed like this before, not even when she faced tough trials in the jurisdictional courts, she was always keeps her cool demeanor. She was calm and collected but somehow, right now he saw how her mother looks agitated and stressed over something.
"You still hiding something to me, right?" He asks suspiciously.
Rinko flinched, she smiled, knowing how sharp her son was, she can't never hide it well "I don't want to tell you the details not until it is in proper time Ryoma, I don't want you to decide just because you felt obligated to do it so, all I want is for you to decide in this whole thing from your own free will, not because anyone asked you for this but you want it for yourself. All what I am asking, is to finally meet them, then you can decide after"
"Fine. Just tell me when and where" Ryoma said, he stood up from his sit.
Ryoma toss and turns on his bed, right after their long tiring conversation with his parents he can't help himself to sleep even a warm bath didn't help him at all, he reached from his cat, Karupin who seems in deep slumber, slowly he touched his furred body, his cat moved a little.
"Sakuno huh" he mumbled "do you know her, Karupin?" He asks his sleeping cat. Somehow, he found her name easy to say, as if he was familiar on her name.
Not wanted to be bothered by his thoughts, he reaches something on his head board, his hand found a familiar green nylon ball he always kept on him. He stared at the ball for a while, there is a caricature of chibi face of him drawn at the center. Slowly he keeps tossing it to the air and catch, though he doesn't sure why he keep that ball like his life depends on it, or whom gave it to him but one thing for sure. He treasures the ball a lot. It serves as his lucky charm, he always brings it every match he has and whenever he found himself bothered, he always found himself looking at the certain ball and tossing it in the air just what he was doing right now. Surprisingly, it makes him calm in an instant. As far as Ryoma could remember, the ball was in his possession ever since they migrated in US.
Until now, Ryoma can clearly remember how mad, mad, mad he was when someone took away this precious ball to him for the first time. Never in his entire life, that he, Echizen Ryoma would use violence to someone. Though he has this arrogant nature to him, at his very young age that time, he was completely aware that using violence was beneath him. He was always keeps his cool and collected thought, that despite of young age they found him mature enough than the other boys in his school. But that day, he was gone too mad, that all he could ever thought was to punch and beat his own classmate from taking away his precious ball. Of course, Echizen Rinko was not happy about it, he received a ton of scolding remarks from her when they went home, she even punished him of not playing tennis for a month, which is surprisingly okay with him. It was fine since he retrieved his ball. It was fine since he taught his old classmate to never ever touch what's his.
Completely drowned from his thoughts Ryoma found himself sleepy. Yawning, he decided to put back the ball on his place. As he stared on his ceiling, his eyelids slowly become heavier and heavier each second's past. And next time he knew, he was slowly drowning in his slumber deeply.
'Where the heck I am?'
Ryoma groaned as he found himself in a place that was completely unfamiliar to him. He looks around, wondering. He realized that he was not alone, from a distance a boy who looks like 6 to 7 years old standing, his wearing a cap on his head revealing his green locks, he felt a familiar feeling inside him just staring the back of the kid.
"Oi... Chotto..." Ryoma mumbled as he felt an urge to follow the young boy who started running away. Instinct telling him he found himself running, chasing the boy.
The young boy stops from running, Ryoma saw a huge house in his front. It was an Old Japanese styled house. From a distance, an unfamiliar man came out of the door, from his look, he seems in his 30's or so Ryoma thought he was. He stared from him for some while, the man with a messy brown hair, eagle like eyed stared to him. Ryoma flinched. He was so sure that the man was looking onto him.
"Ryoma" the man with a brown hair called him. He was seriously looking at him, his eagle-eyed eyes turn sharply.
Ryoma was shocked, now he was really sure that the guy was looking at him, he even called his name. Who is this person anyway?
"What are you doing here Ryoma?!" His eagle- eyes turns soft from a moment. His eyes diverted to the young boy in his front.
"I'm here to talked!" The young boy preceded, before even Ryoma could answer the man. "Man to man!" The young boy demanded, as if he was asking for some tennis match.
Wait... Does this man call him? Or this young boy? But he was pretty sure the man was pertaining to him, he was even looking at him; no scratch that, he was glaring at him in particular before he looks at this boy with a smile in his face and wait a second, the young boy answered, that is mean this is...
Ryoma step his feet forward to answer his doubts, his eyes widened as he saw the face of the young boy.
It was really him... When he was young.
"Hand over me your daughter!" The young version of him demanded, he raised his one hand as if he was asking something to give to him. " Oyaji said, I should marry her to make her mine! I want to marry her!" He said seriously, he looks straight on his brown eyes.
The man seems shocked, but later he laughed.
"Your cheeky brat, aren't you little Ryoma"
"Che. I'm serious!" He frowned, his golden orbs shining. "I will work hard to play tennis! I will be the best player to defeat you and oyaji! I will be the number one player in the whole world!"
The man smiled, seems convinced. "Can you make my Sakuno happy?"
Little Ryoma frowned seems opposing to something. "She's not yours! SHE'S MINE!" He shouted angrily.
The man laughed ruffling his head. "Okay. Okay. But can you seriously make her happy?"
Little Ryoma smirked "yes! I can make her happy, I promised"
"Then I'm counting to you Ryoma, keep your promised" the guy smiled.
There is a fiery determination in little Ryoma's eyes. His golden orbs shining so brightly with ascertain undying no doubt.
"Hn!"