Steve stepped into the tennis complex, a basket in his hands, filled to the brim with delicious sandwiches.

"Hey, there are some sandwiches here if you guys want to eat," Steve called out, placing the basket on the bench like a treasure chest awaiting discovery. The scent wafting from within made everyone pause. "Ryoma's wife brought them."

Ryoma, concentrating intensely during his shot training, paused mid-swing as his ears perked at the mention of his wife. He turned, his brow furrowing slightly, and walked toward Steve. "Where is she now?" His voice carried an undertone of concern, mingling with the warmth that came with love.

"She already left. She said she didn't want to bother you," Steve replied, an easy smile gracing his face, though he could sense the anxiety flickering behind Ryoma's usually stoic demeanor.

At that moment, Terry ambled over, his eyes darting toward the basket. "Good timing, I'm feeling hungry right now." He leaned in, lifting the lid and gazing inside. "Wow, it looks good!"

In stark contrast, Kevin and Billy entered the tennis complex, their expressions grim and weighed down with unspoken tension. Steve noticed the silent standoff between them but chose not to prod for the time being.

Terry took a sandwich and bit into it, his eyes widening with delight. "Ryoma. Your wife is really good at cooking." He declared, his mouth full, eliciting soft chuckles from the others.

As the rest of the team filtered in, subdividing themselves between the food and casual chitchat, Tom spotted Kevin lingering behind, his expression darker than the evening sky. "Kevin, don't you want one?" he asked, gesturing toward the basket.

"No need," Kevin replied curtly, his voice too sharp, sending a ripple of confusion amongst the group. Tom exchanged glances with Billy, whose concern was evident, but the silence hung thick.

Arnold, while munching on a sandwich, suddenly spoke up, breaking the tension. "Ah, I remember Ryoma's wife now." Everyone turned to listen intently. "I saw her in a sports magazine before. Isn't she the champion of Japan's tennis women division? The one Ryoma coached?"

A wave of surprise washed through the group. Kevin's shock was palpable; his brows knitted together as he processed this revelation. The atmosphere shifted again, curiosity circling around Ryoma, who had been quiet, his gaze fixed on the sandwich in his hand.

"You sure married an amazing woman, Ryoma." Terry chimed in, feeling amazed. Ryoma's eyes softened, in his heart he felt surge of pride for Sakuno, who have talent in many things. He somehow felt grateful to have her by his side.

Ryoma stepped out of the shower, steam billowing in the small locker room like an invisible curtain. After wearing his outfit, he grabbed his phone, the cool glass soothing against his warm palm as he typed a message to Sakuno. His fingers danced across the screen as he wrote: 'Thanks for the sandwiches.' Within seconds, a reply pinged back: 'I'm glad you enjoyed them,' with a smiley sticker. A smile crept onto Ryoma's face; her simple joy always had a way of brightening his day.

As he was tucking his phone into his tennis bag, a heated conversation spilled through the thin walls of the locker room, shattering his moment of peace. Ryoma's brows furrowed; it was Billy and Kevin. Their voices escalated, reaching a pitch that demanded attention.

"I'm just saying, Ryoma's wife isn't as bad as you think," Billy asserted. "What you said to her already crossed the line, Kevin. You should apologize."

The tension was thick enough to cut. Curiosity piqued, Ryoma pushed open the locker room door, stepping into the charged atmosphere. Billy's eyes widened at the sight of him; Kevin's expression hardened.

"Ryoma," Billy gasped, glancing between the two men as if caught in a tug-of-war.

"What did you say to her?" Ryoma's voice was steady but edged with concern.

A strained silence followed before Kevin replied, "I just said what I had to say."

Ryoma's patience began to wear thin. They could see the frustration beginning to build in Ryoma's eyes, "I asked you, what did you say to her?"

Kevin looked away, the weight of his actions settling heavily on his shoulders. "I don't mean it like that. I just said she shouldn't let you skip the big tournament."

Ryoma's heart clenched. "How can you say she let me skip the tournament when she didn't even know about it?"

A thick silence enveloped the room, the kind that seemed to echo off the lockers. Kevin avoided Ryoma's gaze, a mixture of regret and defiance painting his features.

"I told you, she's got nothing to do with this," Ryoma added, frustration creeping into his chest. He turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, leaving behind the stunned expressions of his teammates.

Ryoma turned the key in his apartment door. He had just finished another grueling day on the tennis courts, where sweat and adrenaline mingled in the air, leaving him both invigorated and drained. He stepped inside, greeted by the familiar scent of home.

Ryoma's eyes landed on her instantly. Sakuno sat cross-legged on the living room floor, engrossed in her laptop, the warm glow reflecting off her features. She was beautiful in her concentration, her long hair cascading around her shoulders, a few errant strands sticking to her cheek. When she noticed him, her face broke into a radiant smile that made his heart skip.

"Ryoma-kun, you're back. Welcome home." Her voice was a soothing melody amidst the ambient sounds of the city outside.

He dropped his tennis bag at the entrance, the weight of the day momentarily forgotten as he settled down beside her. "You must be tired," Sakuno said, her eyes studying him with concern. "I'll bring you some water."

"Just sit down," he replied softly. There was something about the way she looked at him today that stirred a vulnerability deep within him. "Why wouldn't you say anything to me?"

Her surprise was palpable. "Ryoma-kun…"

Without thinking, he pulled her into a gentle embrace, feeling the warmth of her body against his. "Tell me if you're sad, or if you feel frustrated or mad at me," he murmured, burying his face in her hair.

"I'm not mad or sad right now…" her voice was muffled against his shoulder, but he could sense the hesitation in her tone.

"Really?" he pulled back slightly to look into her eyes.

Sakuno managed a small smile, but it didn't reach her eyes completely. "Is it about Kevin-san?"

At the mention of Kevin, Ryoma fell silent. Sakuno shifted nervously but then hugged him tighter. "It's okay. I don't think he meant it in a rude way. He's probably just worried about you. I'm glad many people here cares about you."

Sakuno added, "and about the tournament.. I know that you're not the type to do something without thinking, so I'm sure you must have a good reason to not join the tournament. Ryoma-kun, no matter what, I'll always be by your side."

Her understanding warmed him, easing the knot in his chest. "Thanks," he breathed, feeling lighter in her presence.

"Did you run here? Your hair is damp," she noted, a hint of blush creeping onto her cheeks.

"Yeah, I'm tired. I need to recharge," he admitted, teasing a smile from her with his playful tone.

"Eh?" she blushed deeper, taking in the implications of his words.

"Just give me one kiss," Ryoma challenged, his heart quickening at the thought.

Sakuno giggled, leaning forward and pressing a soft kiss against his lips. "Is it enough?"

"Not enough." He slid his hand inside the hem of her shirt, feeling the warmth of her skin.

Sakuno gasped lightly, flinching away. "Ryoma-kun, I have to finish tomorrow's lesson plans for school."

"Just a bit," he teased, the playfulness bubbling between them as he began to tickle her. Laughter erupted, filling the room with an electric warmth, their connection deepening with each shared moment.

Suddenly, a high-pitched meow broke through their laughter. Ryoma stopped tickling as Sakuno's brow furrowed in confusion. "What sound is that?"

Ryoma chuckled, finally regaining his composure. "Oh, I brought Karupin here." He stood up and walked over to the entrance, where he'd set down a cat carrier.

Moments later, he opened the bag, and out bounded Karupin, the beloved himalayan cat that immediately rushed toward Sakuno, nuzzling her leg affectionately.

"Karupin, I missed you." She exclaimed, excitement bubbling forth again as she scooped up the playful cat. He responded by licking her nose, causing Sakuno to burst into giggles.

Ryoma leaned against the doorframe, a grin spreading across his face as he watched her delight. The stormy thoughts about the tournament faded into the background, overshadowed by the joy radiating from Sakuno. For a moment, all that mattered was this—this warmth, this laughter, this pure connection they shared.

"Looks like he missed you too," Ryoma remarked, crossing his arms, feeling light in his heart.

The sun hung low in the morning sky, casting a warm golden hue over the tennis center. It was the kind of day that invited new beginnings. The previous day's events had set a whirlwind into motion, one that she was both eager and anxious to explore.

As Sakuno and Ryoma approached, they saw Kevin leaning against the wall of the entrance.

"Mrs. Echizen," Kevin said, his voice steady but soft. "I just wanted to apologize… to you about yesterday, I shouldn't have said it like that."

Sakuno's heart skipped a beat at the earnest tone of his words. She rubbed her arm nervously and said, "Oh no, it's really okay, Kevin-san. I know you just worried about Ryoma-kun." There was kindness in her eyes, a warmth she couldn't quite suppress.

Kevin looked intently at her. "Thank you for saying that," he replied, his voice barely a whisper. For a moment, all three stood in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

Sakuno broke the spell. "Well, I should get going now, or I'll be late," she said, waving her hands as if to brush away the heaviness that lingered. She gave a soft smile, one that was meant to reassure them both, and began to walk away.

As she turned, she felt Ryoma's gaze behind her and glanced back to see him waving, his lips curving into a genuine smile that had the power to light up the dimmest of days. The sight brought a softness to her heart; it was moments like these that made everything worth it.

Kevin watched Ryoma, stunned by the sudden brightness in his demeanor. "What?" Ryoma asked, catching Kevin's gaze.

"You know," Kevin said, a gentle smile spreading across his face, "your smile has gotten brighter."

With an eyebrow raised, Ryoma countered, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You just look happy," Kevin paused, choosing his words cautiously, "and, I realized something important. Let me tell you, I really enjoy playing tennis now, not because my dad pushes me, but because I want to. It's been like that since the match we had."

The confession hung heavy in the air. Ryoma, momentarily taken aback, allowed a smile to stretch across his face. "Well, good to know that," he said, his voice steady, masking the surprise beneath.

"Want to rally?" Kevin asked, the challenge in his tone sparking a competitive fire in Ryoma's eyes.

"Sure," Ryoma replied, the excitement evident in his stance. As they moved towards the court, the world around them faded away, leaving only the sound of their sneakers scraping against the pavement and the distant laughter of other players.