The sun was dipping low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the tennis court where Ryoma Echizen focused intently on the ball bouncing back and forth between him and Katsuo. Yet, despite his best efforts, his thoughts kept drifting elsewhere. This had been happening ever since their last week school trip.

Sakuno, her name recently felt like a sweet melody, one he couldn't forget. The way her fair skin glowed under the sun, her pretty eyes sparkling with sincerity, and the way she smiled—those pink lips curving upwards—made his heart race in a way he couldn't ignore. Every time he caught a glimpse of her at school or during lunch, his cheeks flushed involuntarily. 'Is it always like this?' he wondered, feeling both confused and excited.

After a week of avoiding her at home, using excuses to steer clear of their usual interactions, he was now facing a dilemma that made his hands shake slightly as he returned the serves on the court. What were these feelings? He was too proud to admit it, but dating wasn't something he had ever considered seriously until now.

As they continued their rallying, Kachiro, their captain, led a group of first-year students through standard serving drills while Horio had taken it upon himself to motivate the others by making them run laps around the court. The smell of freshly cut grass and the sound of sneakers squeaking against the court created a perfect backdrop for their fun.

Kachiro wiping sweat from his brow as he relaxed on a nearby bench with Horio, who was gulping his water bottle like it was a life-saving elixir.

"I'm so tired." Horio stretched his arms.

"Yeah. Look at those two, they're still at it." Kachiro replied, gesturing towards Ryoma and Katsuo, their focus unwavering as they volleyed the ball back and forth.

Just then, Heisuke strolled toward them, his casual demeanor contrasting sharply with the frenetic energy of the court.

"Oh, Ookami!" Horio exclaimed. "Don't have club activities today?"

"Nah," Heisuke replied, his eyes lingering on the players. "The teacher had to leave early. We finished up." He watched Ryoma and Katsuo closely, contemplating their smooth movements. 'So this is how they play tennis,' he thought, intrigued.

"Hey, Ookami, you're here!" Katsuo called, grinning broadly.

"By the way, what club are you in?" Kachiro asked, curiosity piquing the group.

"I'm in the music club," Heisuke replied nonchalantly, watching as their expressions shifted from curiosity to shock.

"You can play music?!" Horio exclaimed, eyes wide like saucers.

"Yeah," Heisuke said, shrugging a little sheepishly. "I learned it from my part-time job. Just guitar, though. One of my classmates encouraged me to join."

"That's awesome!" Katsuo cheered. "Glad to hear you've made some friends!" Heisuke just grinned.

Ryoma remained quiet, sipping on his Ponta, his gaze distant.

"By the way, Ookami," Kachiro said, breaking the silence. "Do you want to try playing tennis?"

"Uh, sure, I guess. I never played it," Heisuke replied hesitantly, looking at the racket with uncertainty.

"It looks easy; you just hit the ball, right?" Heisuke reasoned, confidence returning momentarily.

"Trust me, it's not that easy," Horio chimed in, chuckling.

Kachiro handed Heisuke a racket. "Alright, let's start simple. You ready?"

"Yeah!" Heisuke nodded, clenching the racket. He watched as Kachiro tossed the ball into the air, delivering a basic serve. Heisuke focused, determined to hit it. With a swing of the racket, he missed completely.

Horio burst into laughter, "Ookami, you really suck!"

Heisuke flushed red, partially from embarrassment and partially from the comedic atmosphere surrounding him. "Shut up! This is my first time!" he protested, glancing apologetically at Kachiro, who merely smiled encouragingly.

"Let's give it another shot," Kachiro urged, tossing another ball into the air. Heisuke took a deep breath, determined to connect this time. But once again, he whiffed.

After several more attempts, each ending in failure, Heisuke finally slumped onto the bench. "I think I'm just not cut out for this," he sighed dramatically.

Katsuo grinned, "Don't sweat it; we were all terrible when we started."

"Hey, Ookami," Kachiro said, shifting gears, "Can you teach me to play guitar?"

"Sure, but it won't be easy," Heisuke replied, intrigued.

"Why the sudden interest in guitar?" Horio prompted, eyebrows raised.

Kachiro blushed. "Well, my girlfriend's birthday is coming soon," he confessed shyly. "I want to surprise her with the 'Happy Birthday' song."

"Wow, you're surprisingly romantic!" Katsuo teased, his grin widening.

Kachiro mumbled something, rubbing the back of his head, flustered.

Horio, smirking, turned to Ryoma. "Echizen, any progress with Ryuzaki after the school trip?" Suddenly, Ryoma's heart raced, and his face turned crimson. The boys erupted into laughter, and he desperately tried to ignore them, though his mind raced with uncertainty.

"Are you blushing?!" Horio laughed, and Ryoma could do nothing but glance away, trying futilely to fight the embarrassment.

Just as the teasing continued, Mr. Jun, their coach, approached with a knowing smile. "Is there a love problem here?" a voice interrupted. Coach Jun approached, arms crossed, eyebrow raised.

"Coach, you must have experience with girls. Echizen here might need some advice on his feelings." Horio pleaded.

"Well, it's simple I think," Coach Jun began, deep in thought. "First, you'll think about her constantly. Second, you feel a strong connection—the desire to support her. Third, when you're around her, you get butterflies in your stomach. Fourth, you strive to be the best version of yourself when she's around. And fifth, eye contact; you might find yourself staring and thinking about your future together."

Katsuo cringed. "That sounds cheesy!"

Horio nudged Kachiro. "Did you feel all that with your girlfriend?"

Blushing deeper, Kachiro nodded earnestly. Ryoma's heart sank as he listened. 'Could this really be love?' he thought silently, the weight of those five points crashing down upon him like a sudden summer storm.

"Coach Jun, you sound like you've been fall in love before, but why haven't you gotten married yet?" Horio pressed.

Coach Jun sniffed, feigning a dramatic cry. "Because I'm still waiting for my crush."

The boys exchanged incredulous looks as Katsuo quipped, "If you already at this age, perhaps she's already married."

"No, she's your homeroom teacher—Ms. Sasaki!"

"Wait, what?! Sasaki-sensei?" they exclaimed in unison.

"Keep that a secret!" Coach Jun winked as he walked away, leaving the boys stunned. He stopped suddenly, then turning to Ryoma. "Echizen, remember, Ryuzaki is the timid and shy type; you'll probably have to make the first move."

As Coach Jun walked off, Ryoma felt his throat tighten, the reality of his feelings growing heavier.

"See? Even coach knew." Said Horio. "So what are your plan now?"

Silence fell after Coach Jun's departure, and Ryoma pushed his hair back, staring at the sky. "I don't really know," he finally murmured, his heart heavy with uncertainty. This is too way harder than playing tennis in match.

After practice wrapped up, Ryoma found himself outside the school gates, where he spotted Sakuno. She waved, smiling bright enough to outshine the autumn sun. Tomoka waved and leave her when she saw Ryoma.

"You finished club activities too?" she asked, her voice gentle.

"Yeah," he replied, feeling his heart race at the sight of her. As they walked home together, Sakuno animatedly chatted about dinner plans, her enthusiasm infectious.

Glancing at her, Ryoma recalled Mr. Jun's words. Each point resonated in his mind, growing clearer with every passing step beside her.

'You'll think of her constantly. You feel a strong connection… butterflies… striving to be the best… eye contact…'

'This is all your fault, Coach,' he thought, feeling a mixture of dread and anticipation.

With every step, Ryoma pondered his feelings. Then, he stopped walking, the gentle rustle breaking the stillness that hung between him and Sakuno. For a moment, the world around them faded, and it was just the two of them ensconced in their own shared bubble of unspoken thoughts.

Sakuno halted beside him, her brow furrowing with concern. "What's wrong, Ryoma-kun?" Her voice was soft but earnest, tinged with the worry.

Ryoma turned to meet her gaze, his golden eyes reflecting a mixture of determination and vulnerability that only she could see. "Ryuzaki," he began hesitantly, "can I ask you something?"

"Of course," she replied, encouragingly, though her heart fluttered within her chest. She could sense the weight behind his words, and her curiosity piqued.

Taking a deep breath, Ryoma forced himself to unleash the question that had been swirling in his mind for days. "If I'm going back to the US after graduation, what would your feelings be?"

The air thickened with silence, each second stretching into eternity as Sakuno processed his words. She looked away, staring at the ground for a moment, battling with the storm of emotions rising within her. Finally, she gathered her courage and spoke, "Well, of course I will feel a bit sad. But…" She paused, collecting her thoughts before continuing, "You need to chase your dream, and I'll always want to support you in chasing your dream. So…it's okay, Ryoma-kun. I want to see you become the number 1." She smiled sweetly.

A smirk danced across Ryoma's lips, surprising even himself. There was an inexplicable charm in her sincerity, in the way she cared so deeply for his ambitions. He hadn't expected such an understanding response; it made his heart swell in ways he didn't think were possible.

"Ryuzaki... I..." Ryoma opened his mouth to speak, to articulate the emotions tangled within him, but before he could finish, his phone rang, jarring him from the moment.

"Ryoma-kun, your phone is ringing," Sakuno said, her tone light.

"What terrible timing," he thought bitterly but answered nonetheless, seeing Momoshiro's name flash across the screen. "What do you want?" Ryoma said, his voice flat.

"Hey, man! I was thinking if we could hang out!" Momoshiro's cheerful voice echoed through the phone.

"Maybe next time," Ryoma replied, the wistfulness of the moment with Sakuno tugging at his heart. "I'm a bit busy right now."

After hanging up, Ryoma's gaze drifted back to Sakuno, who was standing quietly, her hands clasped in front of her, a slight smile still lighting her face. Something held him back, maybe it was just not the right time.

"Let's go back home," he said softly, and she nodded eagerly, her smile brightening as they resumed their walk.