Chapter 2

Sakuno woke up early on Monday morning, excited to start a new week of school. She quickly got ready, putting on her uniform and grabbing her backpack before heading out the door. As she walked towards the school gate, she saw her best friend Tomoka waiting for her.

"Sakuno, good morning!" Tomoka exclaimed, a wide smile on her face.

"Good morning, Tomo-chan." Sakuno replied, returning the smile. The two friends walked to school together, chatting about their plans for the day.

When they arrived at the classroom, they saw that many of their classmates had already gathered there, laughing and talking. The trio, especially Horio had his laughter echoing through the air.

Just as the bell rang, signaling the start of the school day, their homeroom teacher, Ms. Sakaki, entered the classroom. She announced that she wants to introduce a new student in the class.

The class sat murmuring to one another, their curiosity was piqued. The students exchanged whispers and sideways glances, wondering who the newcomer would be.

"Okay class, please be silent." Ms, Sakaki looked at the class door when the students being silent. "You can come in now."

When the door slid open, a tall figure stepped inside. The trios and Tomoka jaws dropped in shock. Standing in front of them was none other than Ryoma, the tennis prodigy.

"Echizen!" Horio shouted and almost cried, made the other classmates look at him. Ryoma smirked at him when he remembered who he is.

"I think most of you know who he is. He attended Seigaku middle school before and I'm sure most of you have been his classmates before, and Echizen-kun, congrats for winning the Australian Open last week." Said the teacher.

Ryoma replied to her with simple thanks.

Sakuno's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't believe her eyes. She felt a rush of emotions as memories of her childhood crush on him came flooding back. She had thought she had gotten over him, but seeing him again brought back all those feelings she thought she had buried.

"You can sit besides Ryuzaki, there's only one empty seat there."

Sakuno sat nervously in her usual spot at the back of the classroom, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't believe what the teacher had just said. Ryoma was being told to sit beside her.

Ryoma looked at Sakuno. 'Ah..so that's Ryuzaki.' He thought. He thought she looked different from before but when he took a good look, she still same as ever.

As Ryoma made his way over to the empty seat beside her, Sakuno's mind raced with all sorts of thoughts. Why would he have to sit beside her? Why in the world only she had no desk partner? She just remembered the person who used to be her deskmate took a long vacation for personal reasons.

Ryoma settled into the seat beside Sakuno, his intense gaze making her all the more flustered. She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks.

"Nice to see you again, Ryuzaki." He smiled, still remembering that this girl used to fluster a lot around him.

"Y-yes, nice to see you again too." Said Sakuno nervously.

Sakuno sat nervously in her seat, fidgeting with her pencil as she glanced over Ryoma. She had been asked by the teacher to share her textbooks with him until he could get his own, which would be during recess.

As the lesson began, Sakuno tried her best to focus on the material being taught. She could feel Ryoma's eyes on her as he leaned in to look at the textbook they were sharing. She couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious.

She looked at Ryoma and she caught him looking at her. She blushed. Well, who wouldn't blush to get to look at such a handsome guy, and plus her crush. "W-what's wrong?" She whispers to know why Ryoma looked at her.

Ryoma looked disturbed and he pointed to the textbook. Sakuno could tell that Ryoma was struggling to keep up with the lesson, so she quietly explained the concepts to him, making sure he understood each one before moving on.

After the final bell rang, signaling the end of the first lesson, many of their classmates gathered around Ryoma and the trio, eager to welcome Ryoma back to their school. The trio, especially, were overjoyed to see their old friend again, hugging him tightly as they caught up on old times. Ryoma just let them be, he kinda missed that warm feelings of friendship he used to have.

Sakuno just watched them interact. She wanted to join in on the fun, but she just doesn't know what to say.

Tomoka nudged Sakuno and grinned mischievously besides Sakuno. Sakuno turned to her friend, raising an eyebrow in question.

"What is it, Tomo-chan?" Sakuno asked, curiosity evident in her tone.

Tomoka leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I want to know your feelings when Ryoma sat beside you earlier. You were blushing and flustered, it was adorable! And the way he became your deskmate was like fate." She whispered to Sakuno's ear so that Ryoma and other classmates didn't hear.

Sakuno's cheeks flushed bright red at the mention of Ryoma. She shook her head, trying to hide her embarrassment. "I-I don't know what you're talking about." She stammered.

Before Tomoka could press further, the teacher for the next lesson walked in, effectively ending their conversation. The students at their desks hurriedly went back to their own places, getting ready for the class to begin.

As the bell rang signaling the end of the lesson and the recess time, Sakuno gathered her things. Tomoka, ever observant, went to Sakuno's desk and nudged her again, a knowing smile on her face.

"Stop it, Tomo-chan." She said.

Tomoka looked at Ryoma and said, "Ryoma-sama, do you remember me? Or do you only remember Sakuno?"

Sakuno was shocked at Tomoka's last comment.

"Ah, you're the friend of Ryuzaki." Ryoma said while scanning her face. He remembers her face, but somehow can't remember her name.

"See, you only remember Sakuno's name and always forget mine. It's O-sa-ka-da- To-mo-ka-." Tomoka said.

"Ah, gomen." He replied short because didn't know what to talk about with her. Tomoka was already used to that prince's struggles in remembering names, so she just let go of it.

Sakuno stood in amazement as she listened to Ryoma's deep, velvety voice. It had been six long years since they had last seen each other, and she found herself blushing at the sound of it.

Looked at Sakuno's stunned and blurred face, Tomoka asked him again. "Do you want to eat lunch with us?" Sakuno is still silent.

"I'm sorry, but I have to go to the teacher's office to pick up my textbooks." Ryoma said calmly as he stood up from his seat, leaving Tomoka and Sakuno behind. Tomoka and Sakuno just looked at each other.

Horio, Kachiro, and Katsuo decided to follow Ryoma. They walked alongside him as they made their way to the teacher's office, chatting and laughing along the way. Ryoma remained quiet, lost in his thoughts.

As they reached the teacher's office, Ryoma entered the room to collect his textbooks. The three friends waited outside. When he finally emerged, Horio put his arm on his shoulder and they went to the cafeteria together.

"So Echizen, what brings you back?" Horio asked while eating the food from the cafeteria.

"Nothing important. I just have something to do here." Ryoma said.

"Will you be here until graduation?" Kachiro asked.

"Yeah."

"Really? That's great." Said Kachiro happily.

"Are you going to join the tennis club here? There's not many people joining since Momo-senpai and the others graduate." Said Katsuo sadly.

"Probably, if it's worth it." Ryoma said.

"Please reconsider it, Ryoma-kun. We could really use your skills to help recruit new members. It would be a shame to see the club shut down because we don't have enough players." Kachiro continued.

"I'll go see the tennis court later after school is over." Said Ryoma.

"Nice, let's go together." Said Katsuo happily.

They continued eating and went back to class when the bell rang.

Ryoma sat back down at his desk, feeling a strange mix of emotions as he noticed Sakuno sitting next to him. It had been a while since they had spoken, and the awkward tension between them was palpable.

Sakuno tried to break the ice by striking up a conversation with Ryoma.

"A-ano Ryoma-kun, may I know why you suddenly come back to Japan? I thought you would stay in the US for good." Asked Sakuno.

"Well… it's just that my mom wants me to graduate school in Japan, so…" Said Ryoma, still awkward.

"I see, so you will be with us until you graduate?" Asked Sakuno excited.

Ryoma clears his throat. "Yeah, I guess so."

"That's great." Sakuno said happily.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Ryoma finally asked Sakuno if she still played tennis. She smiled softly and said she still play it often and her love for the sport still lingered. Ryoma just smiled hearing her answers. Sakuno took out a textbook for the next lesson and started focusing on her notes.

He looked at Sakuno, she's a bit different from before. She wears a thin make up - probably just compact powder and lip gloss, he doesn't really know about it, but her skin looks fairer. He notices the changes of her hairstyle too. He didn't know, but he thought that she looks.. pretty. Ryoma was shocked and looked away. He adjusted his shirt collar nervously. 'Did I just think Ryuzaki is pretty?' Yeah she was always pretty, he can't deny it. He still remembers how Sakuno always has someone who admires her everywhere she goes like Prince Ludovic.

Ryoma stops his thoughts when the teacher for the next lesson comes in. He didn't really want to give attention to his thoughts.

At last, the last lesson finished. Ryoma kept all his belongings and wanted to get ready to see the tennis court. Sakuno also did the same. Sakuno looked at Ryoma confusedly when she felt that Ryoma avoided her gaze. 'I wonder what's wrong with him. Probably because he needs to be quick.' She thought. She saw Ryoma leaving the classroom, followed by the trios.

As Ryoma walked, he somehow wondering why he started to feel nervous around Sakuno. Probably just because they didn't meet for so long. 'Yeah, that's probably it.'