This chapter is the briefly introduction of main conflict of this story. Not considered as chapter 22 but just an extra chapter. Yep, we are nearly digging for the conflicts of the story. Yep. It's really near. I hate painful stuffs. But it has to be written that way, so please bear with me. only 5 more or less chapters before time skip.

Chapter 22 is still on process. I don't know when is the next update but hopefully it will be sooner.

Chapter21.5: Brotherly Love

"Only brother can love like a father, annoy like a sister, care like a mother and support like a friend"

"Congratulations!"

A loud cheering envelops the whole Echizen household when the young couple enters, they doors.

Confetti scattered all around, cheering horns made none other than his older brother, Echizen Ryoga and his friend, Aiko whom beaming so widely to them. Not to mention their older cousin Nanako who holding a little drum, drumming like a madman and their father who grinning like an idiot. The tennis prince sighed.

"I never been so proud of you, my son! You really did a great job!" Nanjirou comically cried he even taps the young tennis prince shoulder, seems very delighted on the great news.

"Chibusuke, you are not in hurry huh, twins? I'm so proud as a brother" Ryoga grins.

"How did you know?" Ryoma asks irritated as he busy removing all the confetti in his wife hair. "Che. It's seeming the news came home first before us" he mumbled.

"Nami-chan called, she's so excited to share the news to us." Rinko smiled. "Sakuno-chan, follow all the advices given by you, okay? I'm so happy for you both. I never imagine a twins in our family" she smiled.

"Uhm." Sakuno nodded with a smile.

Nanjiro who still crying comically hugs Sakuno. "Thank you so much Sakuno-chan! I'm so happy!"

"Oyaji! Don't hug my wife like that!" Ryoma defensively pulled Sakuno away from his father.

"Congrats! Sakuno-chan! Ryoma-san!" Aiko grins.

"Thank you Aiko-san" Sakuno smiled.

"What are you doing here anyway aniki?" Ryoma asks. This time, he was busy removing all the confetti in his own hair.

"Of course! To celebrate! I flew as soon as possible when I heard this great news." He beams. "So, Sakuno-chan is it a niece or a nephew?" He beams. "I hope for pair of nieces!"

"Silly. You wouldn't know it by now. You have to wait for a couple of months before they knew" Aiko slaps the back of Ryoga's head.

"Ouch! That's not necessarily y'know!" Ryoga complaint. "But how I really wished it was a girl." He smiled.

"That's right! That's right!" Nanjirou nodded. "A kawaii little girl! Jii chan will be surely happy too much!"

"Heh, of course one of my kids is a girl. I'm positive of that!" Ryoma smirked.

"You will never be so sure." Nanako intervened. "It would be great if it is a set of boys. Since they were the first grandchildren"

"Hmm. That's right! But I hope they were not like these idiots! Now, that's reminds me, I dreamt about Shiira-chan giving me a set of chrysanthemums. Hana-chan told me it was a conception dreams about having a baby boy" Rinko spoke.

"Oh! You dream about a dragon too right, Sakuno-chan? A dragon symbolizes a baby boy. My colleague tells me that. So, it that means it's a set of baby boys?" Nanako beams.

"Sou na!" The three set of golden eyes flickered. Nanjirou together with his sons, Ryoga and Ryoma looks like dejected fellows.

"It was only a dream, right? There is no scientific meaning of it" Ryoga quickly vanished the thought

"Na! Na! Rinko, Nanako-chan! Don't be like that! They are two! At least give us a baby girl!" Nanjirou whines.

"That's right! One supposed to be a girl!" Ryoga refuted. "Kaasan this uncle will surely spoil her to the core!"

"And why me? I am just stating my dream. And if someone could feel about the baby's gender it was Sakuno-chan. It's a mother's instinct." Rinko said.

All eyes look on Sakuno's direction. The father and son's trio were surely looking forward for her.

"Neh, my favorite sis, how do you feel about my nieces? It's a girl, isn't it?" A huge smile appeared in Ryoga's face.

Sakuno blushed seeing how they all anticipating her words. She smiled at them "I don't know, but I really have a strong feeling like they were boys"

"Sakuno! Don't be like that! I'm still a father y'know." Ryoma whines like a kid. "I still contributed a lot on our baby!" He added, brows furrowing.

Sakuno chortled. She beams at them, for some reason she really has a great feeling about their baby. She gently put her hands on her still flat tummy.

"Demo- don't you think it's a good idea? I mean, you can have a daughter after, at least she has a lot of protectors towards future suitors and pests" Aiko shrugs. "You see, if she was beautiful like her mother, definitely lots of suitor be on her way. It's quite a headache, isn't it?"

A loud cracking sound heard from the three men, they all look so shocked and stoned on the corner, as if Aiko said something forbidden on their ears; the girls look at the father and son trio who face each other at the same time. Seems having a serious discussion at the moment.

"Neh, oyaji, you said that Kei-san's father had a security agency, right?" Ryoma asks his father. "I should protect Rei at all cost. No guys should ever lay their finger on my princess"

"That's right. That's right. No other guys should go near on my granddaughter." Nanjirou seconded. "Wait, just a second. Who's Rei?" He asks skeptically.

"Of course. My daughter. Rei and Ryo. Sakuno and I think about giving them nicknames"

"What?! You already gave my grandchildren a name?! How could you?! I have a ton on names on my lists!" Nanjirou blurts out.

"And why are you naming my kids? That's our kids, it supposed to be us to give them names!" Ryoma retorted.

"Oi... We are getting far on our main concern here" Ryoga intervene. "Stick on our topic!"

The girls look at them, they all sighed, shaking their heads.

"These three idiots" Rinko shakes her head. "C'mon! Sakuno-chan, Aiko-chan let's all eat and leave these three idiots here" she said as she holds both of the young ladies' hands.

"Right! I prepared lot of foods today!" Nanako beams pulling Aiko's one hand too.

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Ryoga stared at the cans of beer line in his front, while his one hand keeps tossing the orange fruit on the air. Although his eyes were focus on the certain drink, his mind was running miles deep.

"They are getting started. So, better be prepared. You do know who's they aiming right now."

A memory from the last night call makes Ryoga wide awake. They are getting started, he knows that. They aiming for the perfect bait and he will make sure to protect that. They will never be satisfied not until they ruined them completely. For how those bastards' hatred turns into a deep-rooted revenge just for a tennis match, he can't fully grasp the idea. Tennis should be a fun sport to play. However, those bastards never ending seeking for revenge whom they don't know for what real reason. Ryoga couldn't let that happened. Clearly, his younger brother was all they ever wanted and Ryoga couldn't forget that chilly voice that night ten years ago;

"Blame your father for being born as one of his sons"

"Neh, I like the look on your younger brother's eyes."

A sighed escapes from his lips. Once in his life he failed to protect his only brother. Until now, the memory of ten years ago keeps hunting him. Though years had passed and he was no longer the same kid, there are many nights Ryoga can't find himself asleep. That dreadful nights turn into nightmares not just only to him but to his younger brother; resulting for his brother to forgot everything. The young him who couldn't do anything for them both. The young him who couldn't help his younger brother screamed helplessly that night. He has no idea what Ryoma's got into on that dark room, all he had, was the painful memory of how his brother screamed, how he begged them to stop for whatever they were doing. He couldn't forget how his brother looks like after that, there is no vitality in his golden eyes, as if he lost all his will to survive, his face was lifeless, as if he took something so precious on him. Whatever they did, for sure it was a painful and traumatizing memory for him, enough for his own mind to erase those memories as his own defense mechanism. Ryoga couldn't do anything that time; The young him who just let those bastards hurt him physically. It was a painful memory for him. The scars they left on his body was nothing compared to the scar engraved to his soul. He will never forgive them. He will never forgive those single soul; from the betrayal his auntie that lead to his broken childhood up to those bastards who hurt and still planning to hurt them.

"Hey, why are you still awake?"

Ryoga pulls out on his reverie hearing his younger brother's voice. Holding an empty jar of water in hand, Echizen Ryoma looks at his older brother skeptically.

"Yo, chibisuke!" Ryoga chortled. He raised his can of beer in the air. "Wanna drink?"

"Don't you think it's too early to get drank? I just came down to get some water and cook pancakes"

"Pancakes? At this hour?" Ryoga asks confuse and amazed at the same time.

"Sakuno always wake up at this hour to asks for pancakes. I just cook it now before she awakes so, she could go back to sleep again." Ryoma answered nonchalantly as he yawned.

"So, my sister craves for pancakes huh" he mumbled. He tossed the can of beer on him, which the latter got in one hand. Ryoma opens the can of beer and they both drink in silence for a while. Ryoga watch his younger brother as he prepares, and mix the ingredients like a pro. He watches him heating the pan and started cooking. "When did you learn to cook?" He asks chuckling. It was kind of amusing to see his younger brother cook despite knowing how awful he was when in terms of cooking.

"I asks kaa san, I can't bear to watch Sakuno crying in silence wanting to eat pancakes she wants" He answered while sipping for his beer.

"So, how is the feeling? I mean having a wife and babies from months now?" Ryoga asks intrigue. He sips his beer while looking at his brother.

"Heh, why so curious aniki? You plan to propose to Aiko-san?" Ryoma teases his older brother.

"Me?!" Ryoga points himself. "Don't kid around, I won't marry that violent woman!" He snaps as if the idea was really absurd. "Nah! Forget it" he scratches his head. "Why did I ask you anyway"

"Aiko-san is a nice girl, she is the only girl I know who can tolerate your attitude, so what's stopping you?" He smirked. "I can see that you like her more than just a friend. And besides you won't bring her here if you don't"

"From the love of God!" Ryoga rolled eyes. "I'm having a horror goosebumps here!" He acted like shivering. "Not because you got the love your life it's works for everyone!" Ryoga huffed. "Listen here chibusuke, you see, she won't see me as a potential lover so why bother?!"

"So, that's the reason why. Since, she saw you only as a friend, that's why you chickening out?!" A playful taunting remarks escape from the youngest brother. "I thought you are good on girls?"

"Girls! Not on woman!" He hissed "Aiko is not just a girl, she's a woman in caliber. You, see? How she treated me like some kind of little boy?" he grunted.

"Coz you were pretty handful?" Ryoma smirked.

"But hey! Why the topic diverted on me?!" Ryoga huffed; his brows furrowed in confusion seeing how the tennis prince put the slice chicken on the microwave.

"Heh, how curious. Well, whatever, Sakuno was rooting on you two though" he commented. "To answer your question, it was an indescribable feeling aniki. I don't know how to explain it. The moment I saw by my own eyes the babies we were going to have from the woman I love most, I know for myself that I am going to love them more than anything in this world. It's sounds cringe, but I am willing to give everything for them. It's not like my love were divided by them; it is more like that my love for them multiplied. And funny to think that I really don't know that it is possible." He uttered, a warm smile escape on his lips naturally as his golden eyes' twinkles with so much uncontained happiness. Nevertheless, he really seems happy and contented.

Ryoga smiles, he was so proud for his younger brother, seeing how happy he was, Ryoga swore to himself that he will protect his brother no matter what however, hos smiles turn into frowned; his eyes widen seeing what the tennis prince were doing. "Hey! Are you drank already? What the hell you were putting in the pancake?!" He burst out; his mouth gape opens wide.

"Ketchup and mayonnaise?" Ryoma blinks innocently. "It's Sakuno's usual pancake" he uttered.

"Usual?! The hell?! Seriously? Ketchup and Mayonnaise? For real?" His voice was full of exaggeration.

"Yeah." Ryoma shrugs. He continues putting a merrily amount of Ketchup and Mayonnaise in the pancake, making Ryoga winced. Once done, he put the chicken in the top and sandwich it with another pancake before putting a lot of maple and strawberry syrup. He added some slices of strawberry and bananas on the top and for finishing touched he decorated it with another chocolate syrup on top of fruits.

"Jesus! I think I need to vomit!" Ryoga covers his own mouth. "Does she really eat that?" Ryoga winced once again, he felt like really throwing up. "It tastes like shit, isn't it?"

"You don't have any idea aniki" Ryoma chortled. Well, it tastes awful but for his wife it's taste heavenly. He put some warm milk on the glass before putting everything he prepares in the tray. The tennis prince glanced briefly on the clock hanging on their wall. "Ja. I am going now, Sakuno might get awake any minutes by now. Just go to sleep and stop drinking aniki" he said before going upstairs.

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A dark room welcomes the tennis prince when he finally opens their room, illuminated by the dim light, Ryoma was expecting to see his wife, sleeping soundly in their bed, however Echizen Sakuno was wide awake, eyes full of tears, she runs fast on him the moment he close the door.

"Oi... Sakuno, be careful!" Ryoma hugs her using his one arm, securing her while his other hand keeping away the tray of food on her.

"Where have you been?" Sakuno sobs on his chest. Her tears wetted her face. From how it looks like she was crying for so long now.

"I just cook for your food in advance" Ryoma gently soothes her.

"I thought you left me" Sakuno sounds accusing.

"And why will I do that?!" Ryoma tilted his head confused, he saw how she sniff as she was staring intently at him, hoping for more. "Of course, I won't leave you. You and our kids" he said sincerely.

"I wake up without you on my side! I want to see you first thing when I wake up!" Sakuno frowned. The tennis prince couldn't help but to chuckled. Ever since his wife got pregnant, she become demanding to him, in every single thing. in which he didn't mind at all, in fact he finds it amusing at the same time.

"Gomen, this will never happen" he said giving him a peck kiss on her lips. "C'mon! I cooked your pancakes" he said smirking.

"Honto? Did you put lots of ketchup and Mayonnaise?" She asks her eyes sparkles.

"Uhn." He mumbled, wiping her cheeks. She had no idea how Ryoga almost throws up earlier.

"Feed me!" She smiled sweetly to him

"Gladly" he smiled as he guided her to their bed.

"Oi! Sakuno slow down!" Ryoma whom hurriedly putting his shoes warns his wife.

"Mou! Make it quick Ryoma-kun! We are late!" She said frowning.

Ryoma sighed. "We are already late anyway, so why bother?"

"Mou! Yamato sensei will scold you again! He will make you run laps once again."

"It's fine. Did you bring some of your supplements?" He said looking on her pack things, seeing that her vitamins were all in her bag he closes her bag and continue chasing his wife. "Oi! Sakuno I said don't run!"

"Are they always like that? " Ryoga asks followed by his loud yawning.

"You don't have any idea Ryoga" Nanako smiled. She places a plate on his front.

"They are so cute" Aiko commented giddily. She seats right next to Ryoga.

"Haa! Ryoma was always like that to Sakuno ever since they were little kids" Rinko said. "It became worst when they got married and when he found out she was pregnant" she added.

"Heh" Ryoga smirked

"Ryoga I am not please on your decision" Rinko firmly said at the moment of silence in their table. Of course they let the young couple gone before they open up the topic they needed to discuss.

"Kaasan, don't worry he's in our side" Ryoga chuckled.

"How sure you were, son? It's hard to believe in just words. My team were doing their best to collect firm evidence! Don't put yourself into a danger!" Rinko hissed

"I'm agree with your mom, Ryoga. Haaaa! This is getting out of hand, if only I can turn back time" Nanjirou serious voice echoed. "That time, I only wanted to play tennis. Tennis is supposed to be a fun sport." He said full of remorse.

"Don't say that uncle. It was their fault from the start." Nanako said.

"Orochi and Akuto Smith, the father and son duo who evil to the core" Aiko mumbled. "Orochi Smith died right after the imprisonment of Akuto Smith ten years ago. Their gang and illegal recruitment in tennis society been impaired because of that."

"Haa!" Nanjirou sighed.

"But five years ago, they made a welcome warning that they still there and ready to get their revenge. Kaa san you do know what they did five years ago." Ryoga mumbled.

Rinko clenched her fists.

The death of Raiki and Shiira Ryuuzaki were not an accident.

Evidence of possible foul play had seen on their car that day. However, Ryuuzaki Sumire didn't wanted to dug in for more, afraid from her only granddaughter safety.

"I promised obaa san to give justice for their death. I know they are the people behind their death!" Tears verge on her eyes.

"Don't you think it's a best time for Ryoma-san to know everything? I mean, they were serious to kill anyone for their "pathetic revenge" gosh! That Smith Akuto was seriously a psycho!" Aiko said.

"No! We can't! I know my son well, Aiko-chan! He will surely not seat idly about this. And besides, Sakuno-chan is pregnant! I am not sure what will happened if she knew the truth about her parents' death." Rinko's voice lace with so much concern.

"That's why we need him kaasan! That friend of mine is serious to help us. He was gathering all the evidences we need to put back that bastard to the jail for good" Ryoga spats the words full of condemn.

"I agree with Ryoga auntie, all we need is to trust that person and make sure that we are one step ahead to them."

"Besides we have the same goals. Kaasan this will work"

"What are you doing?" Adam, the younger brother of Arata Arumi asks with disgust on his face. He looks at his brother with contempt. Though their eyes were the same, nothing features were be seen similar to them.

"Oyaji, asks me to fix these reports. I am arranging all the document he needed" Arumi said, simply segregating some files, it was fortunate that his half-brother was born idiot, that he didn't realize what he was doing.

"Oyaji?" A taunt escape on his lips. "Dad is not your father, so, stops dreaming" he said.

A shadow smirked escape unwillingly on his lips. Right, ever since he never really become a father to him, however he didn't care an ounce about that.

"Gomen, I will take that in mind" Arumi bowed politely to his brother. Before exiting on the door.

Arumi quickly took and the scan the folder he took inside of the office. His brows furrowed in each of the content inside.

"Are you sure for what you are doing Arumi" one of the trusted men of Arata Arumi quickly followed him. Aoi make a quick glance outside of Arumi's office.

"I do, proceed according to the plan, I already informed them about my stupid father's actions. make sure to give oyaji the reports he needed for him not to suspects in everything. "

"Haaaaa! I really don't understand your obsession towards Ryuuzaki- Sakuno"

"I am not obsessed! I am her older brother!" Arumi retorted. A smile escape on his lips remembering something on the past

"This is my daughter, Sa-chan! Ryuuzaki Sakuno, she's so pretty, right?" Ryuuzaki Shiira pointed a 5-year-old photo of a girl whom smiling so brightly to Arata Arumi whom only 8 years old.

"One day, I bring her here. So, I hope you and my daughter will be a good friend" she smiled. "You know... She's good in piano just like you" she softly whispered.

Ryuuzaki Shiira is a frequent visitor in the orphanage where the young Arumi grew up. She was a really nice person, she always brings him clothes, foods and taught him to play piano.

"Can I really be her friend?" The young Arumi asks.

"Of course, you can! Demo, don't ever ask my daughter to be your girlfriend, okay?" Shiira wags her pointer finger to him.

"Girlfriend? What's that?" He innocently asks

"Girlfriend is someone you love more than a friend, uhmm... She can be someone you wanted to spend your lifetime with. Just like uncle Raiiki" she explained

"Why I wouldn't?" He dejectedly asks. "Because I don't have a parent?" His voice lace with sadness.

"Silly. Of course not. my daughter has a boyfriend already, I might bring him here too. Demo, his really a possessive little fellow. He easily got jealous whenever someone other than him come near to Sa-chan" she explains "and besides you have a parent's right, I told you already that we can be your parents! "She smiled so sweetly to him "Uhmm ... How about be my daughter's older brother?" She delightedly asks. " You see... Siblings relationships outlasts any forms of other relationship. How is that? My daughter would be delighted to have you as her older brother" she smiled.

"Uhm!" He agreed quickly.

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Days had past and the day he finally waiting came.

Ryuuzaki Sakuno standing in his front smiling so brightly like a morning sun.

"Sa-chan, this is Arumi, you can call him oniichan okay?" Shiira smiled.

"Honto? I have my oniichan?" Her eyes sparkle. She looks so beautiful in her dress. Her pigtailed hair was bouncing while she was jumping. "C'mon! Niichan! Let's play!" She delightedly pulled his hand.

"Suggoiiii niichan! You're so good at piano! "

The young Arumi blushed. "I will teach you if you like"

"Honto?!" Her eyes sparkle. "Y'know, I want to be like kaasan when I grow up!" She beams.

Since that day, Sakuno often visits him.

"Niichan! Come here! Come here!" Sakuno pulled her hand, Arumi smiled.

"Let's play niichan!"

And since then, Arumi gloomy days becomes bright.

"What do you think of coming to our house Arumi-kun?' Shiira asks. "Y'know, I talk to our friend who is a lawyer, it seems it really possible for you to become our legally son. Do you like that?"

"Your son? As in I can be Sa-chan's real brother?" Arumi's eyes sparkles.

"Uhm."

But that day didn't happen. On the same day he received the great news of having a real family, his biological father came, shattering all his hopes and dreams.

"Haaa .. I really don't understand why you doing these all, once your father knew this, he will surely kill you Arumi." Aoi said massaging his temple "for that girl, you willing to risk everything"

Arumi pulled out on his thoughts upon hearing his friend voice, just like him, they both grew up in the same orphanage and unfortunately became the member of this gang.

"I don't care whom I need to betray just to make sure that Ryuuzaki Sakuno is safe." He smirked. "Ja. I still need to go in school"

"Uhm. Ano Fuji-senpai" Sakuno calls him with a hesitation on her voice. She looks down as long as their gaze met. "I am just wondering, if you already done with forms? Yamato sensei asks me to collect your forms from upcoming tennis camp" she said still looking at the ground.

"Here" Fuji handed the forms to her. Quickly accepting everything, Sakuno gets the papers in hurry. She bowed immediately, ready to leave.

"Ryuuzaki-chan" The tennis tensai called her. She paused; she looks at him hesitantly.

"Uhm. What is it senpai?" She asks.

"Gomen"

Sakuno eyes widen in fraction. She didn't expect it from him.

"Gomen for the words I said, I shouldn't have said that regardless of how mad I am" he added sincerely. "I should have been mindful of my words, you are a girl and disrespected you, I have a sister too, I understand Echizen's getting mad coz I cross the line by words I said."

"It's okay senpai. I know that you didn't mean it senpai. And... Ryoma-kun wasn't mad at you senpai. It's just for the action you did not to you personally. And he understands senpai, I understand, why are so mad. We hurt the person whom you love most" she smiled apologetically. "I'm so sorry for hurting the girl whom means the world to you" she sincerely said.

This time it was Fuji whom eyes widen in shocked.

"You see... You don't have to be a tensai not to figure it out" she smiled. "And I do know how it feels senpai. I've been there, right?" She warmly smiles "you don't have to worry, I didn't tell it to anyone and that includes Ryoma-kun, it's not my story to tell" she smiled.

Fuji smile genuinely. "I really get it why Echizen loves you so much"

Sakuno blushed.

"I'm glad and happy for the both of you. But I'm sorry if I couldn't fully be happy and support you all the way, knowing that Miyu is badly hurting because of the two of you" he added. "I don't have a heart to tell her that you were more than just a couple. She didn't know that you were both married already. It's not my position to tell. However, you can rest assured that I won't tell anyone about your affairs. Just how I value my own brother, I treated all of the tennis team as my brother too and that's include Echizen. He is my youngest brother. However, just like you said, Miyu means a world to me. I hope you understand"

"I know and I do understand. I am happy that you're not mad on us anymore that's more than fine to me senpai. For me, you were all like an older brother I never had. I respect each of one of you and I fully admired you all. I was so happy because I became part of this team. " she said teary. Her hormones started to kicked in again.

"Hey, don't cry! I don't want to have another row with your husband" he gently taps her shoulder chuckling. "So, how should I address you? I couldn't call you Ryuuzaki-chan since we both know that you are not Ryuuzaki anymore. I hope it's okay to call you Sakuno-chan?"

"Uhm!" Sakuno nodded her head happily. "Oh! Senpai, I really have to go! Yamato-sensei been waiting for all of this. Thank you so much!" She bowed happily to him.

Fuji's eyes remain on her. His thoughts haywire on the sudden memory from yesterday;

"Hikaru-chan? What are you doing here?" Fuji asks, seeing Miyu's one of her friends, waiting in front of their gate in their house confused him.

"Fuji-senpai, may I have a word with you? It's about Miyu" Hikaru spoke with little urgency.

"What about her?"

"Please... Fuji senpai, stop Miyu for whatever she is planning! She's faking it! She knows exactly everything! She knows they are married even from the start. I'm afraid she might do something not good just to get Echizen-kun back!"

"What?"

"Believe me, Fuji senpai! She is so desperate to have him back! She will do anything just to have him again. Even hurting Ryuuzaki-chan! I heard her plan! Please... You are the only one who can stop her!"

"Miyu... Can you really do that?" Fuji sighed.

"Ryoma-san! Fuji-san is looking for you!" From the door, Nanako shouted.

Ryoma and Sakuno looks on each other; wondering why their senpai suddenly visits the tennis prince. Clueless, they both stood up from the patio and went in the door.

The moment they reach the door, they saw the tennis tensai looking intently at them, his usual creepy smile show.

"Neh, Echizen you want to play a match with me?"

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"Why suddenly want to play a match with me?" The tennis prince ask as they climbing in the stone ladder towards the temple, where the court was located.

"To pounder, to clear my head, to think and to figure it out what should I do" he answered.

"Heh." The tennis prince chuckled.

"Should we make our match interesting?" The tensai suggested.

"Heh, interesting it is. Fine do whatever you like" the tennis prince smirked.

"How about we throw random question while we are rallying?" Fuji asks.

"Deal." The tennis prince agreed they both position on their respective courts. First to make service was Fuji. He dribbled the ball before uttering his first question.

"For my first question..." He said as he tosses the ball in the air " are you still mad at me?" He asks, the moment he hits the ball in the air.

Ryoma chortled as he realized that his senpai would never really go easy on him. He did one of his famous counter attack the hakugei. Making the ball came back on him.

"Heh" The tennis prince smirked. "Mad is such a heavy word senpai" he said. "I was never been mad at you, just for what you said."

"Interesting. She said the same thing earlier" he smiled creepily before hitting another serve.

Ryoma whom brows furrowed, hits the ball, it was a simple serve anyway. "Who? Sakuno? You talk to her?"

"Who knows" Fuji mimic his usual response.

"Heh, just make sure you didn't make her cry senpai. I will seriously punch you now" he chortled as they continue rallying the ball.

"Interesting. You seem to lose your coolness when it comes to her" a chuckled escape on Fuji's lips.

"Heh, someone talks big, when he is the same as me!" Ryoma tease. "I don't know why I didn't notice it senpai. Or maybe because I do understand now"

"What do you mean?" Fuji asks.

"That you love Miyu" Ryoma said seriously. "I'd only realized it when you got mad like that. Well, I still hate your choice of words senpai"

"I settled to be his older brother, Echizen" Fuji bitterly smiled. "Much, more when I saw the smile on her face when you both started dating." He uttered. "I never saw her so happy like that. She really loves you a lot and I believe until now"

"Believed me or not, I really did love Miyu and I still care for her as a friend" the tennis prince uttered.

"I knew you loved her, but not as deep as Ryuuzaki's" Fuji commented. " I saw you two dated in the past. I saw how you genuinely care for Miyu and treat her. Yes, you treat her right. You did your best as her boyfriend. You became her support and loyal to her However, you never been faithful Echizen" Fuji eyes turns into daggers. "Even way before, the way you look at her, the way you treated her was like you see and treat a friend, a sister and not as a lover" he continued.

"While Miyu gave and willing to give everything for you, all you did was gave her your Mediocre love. Yes, you did love her but not sincerely as Ryuuzaki's. That's make me upset Echizen. " Fuji spoke. "As if, you only unconsciously settle for who's available at the moment until your heart finally reaches Ryuuzaki's. Unfortunately, Miyu was that person. That's makes me even mad Echizen." Fuji uttered. "But I won't hold that against to you. It's not your fault if you can't love Miyu as much as you love Ryuuzaki, it's not your fault if you can't choose her. You just follow your heart where right it belongs."

"Gomen, Fuji senpai and don't ever think that it was Sakuno why me and Miyu didn't work out. No. Even I met Sakuno under different circumstances not like this. I know for sure that me and Miyu would still end this way." Ryoma uttered. They both stops from rallying. He stared at his senpai. "To be honest, I don't know anything about love not until Sakuno came." He mumbled. "If you gonna asks me why I love her so much, I don't know too. It just... I love her deeply to the core." He stated.

"I know" Fuji looks at him seriously. "That's why I still thank you though. You save Miyu for thoroughly heartbreak. That's why from now on, I'll do the saving for her sake Echizen" Fuji finally made his decision. "Echizen, I am truly happy for the both of you. Take good care of Ryuuzaki-chan, I'll do the same with Miyu.

We both know that Miyu was far from being perfect. She was broken from insides since she was little, and no one could understand her better than I am."

"Fuji senpai..."

"She needs assurance and understanding. Miyu thought she could only feel happiness when she's with you. That's why, I do everything I can. Let's do our best for the women we love" Fuji uttered seriously.

Ryoma smirked. "Mada mada dane, Fuji senpai" he uttered as they resume from playing.