Ryoma fumbled with his keys, his heart fluttering with the familiar anticipation that came with returning home. As he swung open the door, he called out, "I'm back."

Sakuno, perched on the edge of the plush sofa, glanced up from the wrinkled cloth she had been folding. A radiant smile broke across her face, illuminating the modest living room. "Welcome back, Ryoma-kun." She chimed, her voice light and cheerful. Placing the freshly folded clothes aside, she stood and made her way to him. "Did you have a good day today?"

Ryoma returned her smile, feeling the lingering warmth of her presence. "Yeah, it was alright," he replied casually. A brief pause lingered in the air, the comfortable silence speaking volumes of unspoken words between them. "Are you hungry?" he added, revealing a plastic bag he had tucked under his arm. "I bought this. Let's eat."

"What is it?" Sakuno asked, her curiosity piqued as she tilted her head slightly.

"Smoked chicken. And there's rice too," he said, the corners of his mouth settling into a pleased grin at the thought of their simple meal together.

Sakuno leaned closer, inhaling the rich, savory scent wafting from the bag. "It smells good." She declared, eyes sparkling with delight. "I'll go get plates and bowls."

She hurried away to the kitchen, but Ryoma's gaze lingered on her. As she rummaged through the cabinets, he caught sight of a bandage wrapped around her finger. His brow furrowed in concern. "Hey, what happened to your hand?" he called out gently.

"Oh, this?" she replied, holding up her finger as if it were of little consequence. "I accidentally slipped a plate earlier…"

"Does it hurt?" he asked, stepping closer, worry lacing his tone.

Sakuno smiled brightly, shaking her head. "No, it's just a small cut." The lightness of her spirit was contagious, easing his worries.

He sighed, relieved yet still feeling a pang of protectiveness.

"Maybe we should give some of this to our neighbor," Sakuno suggested, eager for a reason to bond over dinner.

"Neighbor?" Ryoma asked with curiosity, still oblivious to the people who lived nearby.

"Yes." Sakuno perked up. "There's a nice lady who lives in front of us. She gave me pasta and meatballs earlier."

Ryoma's lips curled into a teasing grin. "You already made friends here?" His heart warmed at the thought of Sakuno connecting so easily with others as she spread her kindness.

"Our neighbours are friendly and kind too." Sakuno said, her smile widening as she carefully extracted some of the smoked chicken from the bag and arranged it neatly on a plate.

Sakuno picked up the plate, ready to take the offering next door. "Let me go bring this to her. I'll be right back," she exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious as she dashed out of their apartment.

As the door clicked shut behind her, Ryoma felt a flush of warmth spread through him. He leaned against the countertop, a smile playing on his lips as he thought about her vibrant spirit.

The next day, Sakuno stood in front of her mirror, taking a moment to appreciate the reflection staring back at her. Her long hair was tucked neatly into a waterfall braid, and the crisp, ironed blouse she wore complemented her light skirt perfectly. It was an important day, it marked the beginning of her teaching career at a junior high school in the United States. A flutter of excitement mixed with nervousness danced in her stomach as she took a deep breath.

Once satisfied with her appearance, Sakuno stepped out of her room, her heart racing slightly. Standing at the entrance was Ryoma, his usual calm demeanor punctuated by the weight of his tennis bag slung casually over one shoulder. He looked up as she approached, shooting her a small, reassuring smile.

"Ready?" he asked, and his voice felt like a gentle nudge to her confidence.

"Yes." Sakuno replied, a spark of determination lighting her eyes.

As they walked side by side down the tree-lined street, the morning sun filtered through the leaves, casting playful shadows on the sidewalk. Sakuno stole glances at Ryoma, who seemed lost in thought, his expression contemplative. She broke the comfortable silence between them.

"Is the tennis center in the same direction as the school?" she asked, curiosity bubbling within her.

Ryoma nodded, his eyes briefly meeting hers, causing Sakuno to blush faintly. "Yeah."

A sense of relief washed over her. "That's great." she exclaimed, picturing how nice it would be to see him after school over.

When they arrived at the tennis center, Sakuno's mouth dropped open at the sight before her. The building loomed majestically, its modern design both intimidating and inspiring. "Wow," she breathed, feeling the thrill of anticipation.

Ryoma pointed towards the school with a slight raise of his brow. "The school is that way. Don't get lost." The playful smirk accompanying his words made her laugh softly, and she felt the weight of her nerves dissipate slightly.

Pulling her tote bag toward her, Sakuno fumbled around until she found what she had prepared. "Here," she said, handing him a carefully wrapped bento box.

Ryoma's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "What is this?" he asked, taking the bento box from her hand.

Sakuno felt the heat rise to her cheeks. "It's a bento. Eat it during lunch," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ryoma inspected the treat and smiled—a rare sight that lit up his usually stoic features. "Thanks," he said earnestly, and the sincerity in his tone sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

"Well, I should go now. See you later, Ryoma-kun," she said, a wave of determination propelling her forward.

As Sakuno turned away, the door of the tennis center swung open, revealing the American tennis team. Kevin, Billy, Arnold, Bobby, Tom, Terry, and Michael were all gathered, peeking out and watching the exchange. Billy broke the silence first, his voice dripping with misplaced confidence. "So that's his wife," he remarked, trying to suppress gossip with a casual air.

Terry said playfully. "She's cute," he quipped, his eyes sparkling with amazement.

Arnold squinted thoughtfully. "She looks familiar. I think I've seen her somewhere before." Their eyes followed Ryoma, who was waving goodbye to Sakuno, smiling in a manner they rarely witnessed.

Billy's eyes widened with disbelief. "He's smiling! That's really rare to see," he exclaimed, feigning shock.

Kevin crossed his arms, visibly annoyed by the couple interaction although he seemed curious as well.

"What are you guys doing here?" Ryoma said as he noticed them behind the door.

Billy chuckled awkwardly, "W-well, we're just looking around. We'll go practice now. Your wife is so cute by the way." They all quickly dispersed, leaving Ryoma standing there, a subtle mix of annoyance and mild confuse coloring his features.

During the lunchtime, Ryoma had just unwrapped his bento, revealing an array of colorful food neatly arranged. At the center, the rice was adorned with delicate seaweed shaped like a heart.

Ryoma chuckled softly; it was just like Sakuno to add such a personal touch. But as he glanced up, his heart sank slightly. Billy, Arnold, Bobby, Tom, Terry, and Michael were peering over at him, their expressions a mix of admiration and mischief.

"What are you guys doing?" Ryoma shot them an annoyed look, but it faltered under their collective gaze.

Billy broke into a broad grin. "What a sweet wife you have, Ryoma. Look at that lunchbox! It even has hearts in it." His voice was teasing, yet there was a hint of genuine admiration beneath it. The others nodded in agreement, their playful banter lighting up the otherwise serious atmosphere.

Kevin, standing a few feet away, crossed his arms and scowled. He felt a familiar pang of annoyance twist in his gut.

After lunch, they gathered for training. Ryoma found himself rallying with Michael, and as the match progressed, it became evident why he was the star player. His strikes were powerful, precise, and steeped in years of practice. Each swing of his racket seemed effortless, and the court reverberated with the intensity of his determination.

"Too bad," Terry remarked, tossing a towel over his shoulder as he leaned against the wall. "If Ryoma joined the French Open right now, I'd say he'd win it hands down."

Kevin couldn't stand it any longer. Hearing about the French Open, he felt annoyed as he remembered about how Ryoma skipped it. With a sharp inhalation, he stormed out, leaving his teammates buzzing with excitement behind him.

Billy, noticing Kevin's abrupt departure, frowned. He jogged after him, concern etching lines on his forehead. "Hey, Kevin! Are you okay?"

When they reached the hallway, Billy pressed on, sensing the tension crackling around them. "Did something happen between you and Ryoma?"

Kevin stopped, his back turned to Billy, shoulders tense. "I don't get it," he finally replied, his voice low and strained.

"What don't you get?" Billy's curiosity was piqued, but he treaded carefully, knowing these were sensitive waters.

Kevin just being silent, furrowing his eyebrows.

As the last bell rang at Coakley Junior High, its echo faded into the warm afternoon, bringing with it a sense of release. Sakuno tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and grabbed her bag, her mind already drifting to the message she had just received.

'Sorry I will be late, maybe I can't have dinner with you.'

It was from Ryoma, and a bittersweet smile graced her lips. But as Sakuno looked at the clock on the wall, inspiration struck her like the very ball Ryoma often hit with his racket.

"Of course." she exclaimed quietly, her heart racing with the thrill of a spontaneous idea. She dashed out of the school, her shoes pounding against the pavement as she made her way to the mall nearby.

Inside the bustling shopping center, the vibrant colors of the stores surrounded her, but her focus was set. She navigated through shops swiftly, picking up fresh ingredients for making some sandwiches. Fresh bread, crisp lettuce, ripe tomatoes, eggs and the finest deli meats filled her basket, each item carefully chosen with love.

After gathering her supplies, Sakuno returned home with her bounty. In the kitchen, she fell into a rhythm, slicing and stacking, her heart light as she crafted an array of sandwiches. Once finished, she carefully packed everything into a basket, hoping it would lighten Ryoma's training day.

With the sun dipping below the horizon, Sakuno arrived at the tennis center, a familiar place that buzzed with energy. She peeked through the glass doors, watching players move gracefully across the courts. Inhaling deeply, she pushed the door open and stepped inside, the soft murmur of voices and the thud of tennis balls soothing her nerves.

"Maybe I'll just leave this at the front desk," she thought, glancing around for someone to help her. Just then, a voice broke through her reverie.

"Hello, miss? Are you looking for someone here?"

Sakuno flinched slightly, turning to find a sharply dressed man standing before her. He wore a suit that contrasted with the casual environment—a figure of authority amidst the chaos.

"Oh, hello." she said, bowing her head politely. "I'm Sakuno Echizen."

His eyes widened in recognition. "Echizen? Are you perhaps Ryoma's wife?"

Heat rushed to Sakuno's cheeks. "Y-Yes, I am…"

Just then, two heads popped into view from the hallway as they heard the word 'Ryoma's wife,' Kevin and Billy, peeked curiously around the corner, curiosity etched on their faces.

Steve chuckled softly, extending his hand. "I'm Steve Meyer, his manager. It's nice to finally meet you."

Sakuno smiled shyly, feeling a warmth with the new environment as she shook his hand. "Yes. It's nice to meet you too."

"I can bring you to Ryoma, he is still training right now." Steve offered, smiling softly.

"Um, I don't want to disturb his training. I just came to drop off some sandwiches I made. Please share them with the others… it just some simple meals." Sakuno said, handing the basket to him.

Steve's expression softened as he looked at the basket she held. "That's very kind of you, thank you. I know they will appreciate this here."

Sakuno's heart swelled with warmth from the compliments. "Well then, I should get going." She stepped back, starting to turn towards the exit, leaving Steve alone.

When she exited the door, Kevin called out.

"Hey!"

She paused, turning her head to see Kevin striding toward her, a determined look in his eyes. Behind him, Billy followed with a mix of confusion and curiosity.

"Um, me?" Sakuno asked tentatively.

Kevin took a breath, his gaze steady. "Yes, you."

Sakuno's heart raced as Kevin approached her with a serious expression on his face. She could feel the tension in the air as he stopped in front of her, with Billy standing close by, his brows furrowed in concern.