Ok, I finally decided to update. Cheers

Note: I don't own Prince of Tennis

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Ryoma walked back to his classroom while sipping on a packet of milk.

"Senpai." A group of freshman greeted him.

"I should get used to being called senpai." He muttered to himself and shrugged.

Ryoma passed by a group of freshmen girls, and heard them giggling away.

"I told you this guy is cute. He's a great tennis player." Ryoma heard one of them said.

Ryoma stopped when he saw Sakuno at the vending machine.

"Finally, I found you." Ryoma said to himself and walked towards her.

Sakuno was busy digging for coins in her purse and did not noticed Ryoma next to her.

Ryoma fished out a few coins from his pants pocket and slot the coins in.

"Grape or Strawberry Ponta?" Ryoma asked her.

Sakuno turned and was surprised to find Ryoma beside her.

"Uhhh, ano…" Sakuno stammered.

Ryoma pressed for Strawberry Ponta and bent down to take it out. He passed it to her.

"Here, you prefer strawberry right?" Ryoma opened the drink and passed the can to her.

He actually knows which flavor I like? Has he been noticing me? Sakuno wondered.

"Thanks... Ah, I almost forgot. Here." Sakuno offered some coins to pay him back.

"Nah, it's on me." Ryoma said.

He watched as Sakuno took a small sip from the drink.

Sakuno turned and look at him. "You want some?" She asked shyly.

"Heh. You know that you shouldn't drink too much Ponta, you know. It is too sweet, not good for digestion, bad for health, you are too stiff, shoulders opened too wide and your hair is too long…" Ryoma said.

Sakuno frowned, annoyed at Ryoma words. She gets annoyed whenever people point out her weaknesses in tennis.

"What does stiff and long hair have got to do with Ponta?" She asked.

Shit, did I just utter some rubbish? Ryoma wondered to himself.

Ryoma decided to play cool and look at her. He knew that she couldn't resist his golden eyes. Well, most girls couldn't anyway.

"Ne, I got a pair of tickets to the…" The school bell cut Ryoma short.

Sakuno looked at her watch. "Bye, got to go." She waved and ran off to the opposite direction.

Ryoma felt like knocking his head on the wall. He just blew his chance to ask her to go out with him.

"Better luck next time, eh?" Momoshiro said as he passed by Ryoma.

"Hey, you were eavesdropping." Ryoma pointed a finger at him.

Momoshiro nodded. "Yes, I was. If you are not going to ask her, then give me the tickets. I could bring Ann along."

"No way. I'll ask her later ok. So, hands off my tickets." Ryoma said and walked off.

"Hey Echizen. I'll give you a clue on how to ask a girl out. Don't utter rubbish to her next time, ok?" Momoshiro shouted out from behind.

Of course I know that. But I am so not used to ask people out; it is harder that I thought. Ryoma thought.

---

After school, Sakuno went to the library to study. She was confused with what happened earlier. Her sixth sense is telling her that Ryoma was actually trying to ask her out. She shook off her thoughts of Ryoma.

Ryoma was away in America for almost 6 months. Sakuno knew that she still have feelings for him, because she still gets nervous and shy around him. She noticed that Ryoma changed a little over the few months; he became taller and more charming. She heard a lot of freshmen girls talking and gossiping about Ryoma, which means that he must be one of the hottest guys in school.

With all the girls trying to get Ryoma kun's attention, I got zero chance to be with him. Sakuno sighed.

"You think Echizen san have a girlfriend?" A freshman asked her friend, as they walked by Sakuno's table.

"Who knows? He is too cute, how can he not have one? But, I don't mind to be his lover." Her friend giggled cheekily.

"Oh, get over it. Let's go and watch him practice." Both freshmen made a quick exit.

Sakuno leaned against her chair. Maybe I should drop by the tennis court too?

She got up and went to the tennis courts. Sakuno stopped at her tracks.

There were an unbelievable lots of fan girls cheering at the tennis players from the bleaches.

I think I better go away. Sakuno thought.

She turned around and was faced with Ryoma.

"Ne, Ryuzaki…" Ryoma said.

"Ano… Ryoma kun. Lot's of fans, I see. Ha ha." Sakuno replied lamely.

"Ne Ryuzaki, I am going to ask you just this once." Ryoma said and blocked her when she was trying to pass him.

Ryoma took a deep breath, smiled and asked, "Will you go to the Panda Theme part with me this Sunday?"

Sakuno felt weak in the knees. The whole court suddenly seems silent. She can sense all Ryoma's fans staring daggers from behind her.

"You better don't embarrass me. Say yes." Ryoma whispered softly without moving his lips and forced himself to continue smiling.

"Ano…" Sakuno said and looked around. Her senses were right; practically everyone at the court was staring at her.

Sakuno closed her eyes. "Uhhh… yes." She said softly.

A loud cheering and whistling from the tennis players followed her answer. Sakuno also heard the girls from the bleaches groaning and whispering to one another.

"I think I just invited myself a lot of enemies." Sakuno told Ryoma.

"Ignore them." Ryoma shrugged, passed a ticket to her and made his way to the tennis court.

"Oh yeah, before I forgot. See you outside Tokyo train station at 12pm on Sunday. And don't be late." Ryoma turned and reminded her.

---

"Ne Echizen. Ever wonder what would happen if she rejects you on the spot?" Momoshiro asked as he took off his shirt.

They were in the boys changing room.

"I don't think that will happen." Ryoma replied without much interest, as he untied his shoelace.

"The confidence eh? But I thought I heard you whispering something like, you better say yes or I kill you?" Momoshiro chuckled.

"That's not true. I didn't say anything else to her." Ryoma lied.

Momoshiro sat next to him. "So, is it that she likes you, or you likes her?"

"Neither." Ryoma replied.

"Don't lie to me, Echizen. I think you are hoping to go to the theme park with her right? Come on, just between you and me. Do you like her or not?" Momoshiro asked and put an arm around Ryoma.

"I am telling you, I got no interest in her. Now go away."

"Enjoy your date with her ok. Oh, and don't forget to kiss her on top of the Ferris wheel. That's what couples do." Momoshiro laughed.

---

Sakuno walked down the hallway. A few freshmen glared at her.

"She's so ugly. I am sure Echizen san asked her out of sympathy." Sakuno heard a freshmen saying.

Sakuno quickened up her pace.

"Hey long haired witch." Three girls blocked her path. They folded their arms and glared at her.

"Don't think too highly of yourself, just because Echizen san asked you out." The center girl said. Sakuno assumed that must be the leader for this yankee gang.

"He must have made a fool out of you. He wouldn't even mean it when he asked you out." The other girls jeered at Sakuno.

Sakuno frowned. I shouldn't let these freshmen bully me like this. Be strong Sakuno...

"For your info, he really meant it when he asked me out. He already passed the ticket to me." Sakuno replied.

"Oh really? You are so pathetic; he must feel sorry for you. That's why he gave you the ticket." The leader laughed loudly.

"You are just jealous." Sakuno replied. She was scared that they may hurt her, but she had to stand up for her rights.

"Where's the proof? Show us the ticket."

Without any second thoughts, Sakuno took the ticket out of her wallet and showed them.

The leader grinned and walked around Sakuno.

"Guess what?" She snatched the ticket off Sakuno's hand and tore it into tiny pieces.

"Awww… now, you don't have a date anymore." She dropped the pieces on Sakuno.

Sakuno tried hard to fight back the tears that treatened to fall down. She looked down at the torn paper.

"Let's go girls. Make way." The leader purposely used her shoulders and banged onto Sakuno as she walked passed her.

A few freshmen clapped their hands and cheered for the three girls.

Sakuno knelt down, and picked up the pieces of paper.

I never knew a date with Ryoma kun, would cause me so much trouble. Sakuno thought sadly.

(To be continued…)