Sorry for the long wait everyone! This is the last chapter of this story!

Disclaimer: Do not own Prince of Tennis, but own Kumiko XD

Prince of Tennis/Tenipuri story

"We're here, onee-chan~"

Kumiko took her eyes away from the stove and smiled when a group of kids came over to her, chattering happily with big smiles on their faces.

"Welcome~ now, are you ready for our lesson today? We're going to make a good cake today~"

"Yeah!"

"Now, you kids better clean up and get ready. I'll be over in a minute."

"Okay!" Kumiko saw them running toward the washroom and opened the stove when she heard the bell ringing.

"Haru-chan, can you put the icing on? The lesson is starting soon."

"Okay!"

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"Then you placed it on the stove, and you'll wait for half an hour." Kumiko said as she closed the stove while the children looked at the stove with curious eyes. Kumiko then saw a young boy looking at a row of pictures in the kitchen and approached him.

"Something catch your interest?" The boy looked up and nodded to her.

"Which one?" He pointed to a picture of her middle school graduation, her former team mates were all there and his brother with his team mates.

"Who are they?"

"They're my seniors, my brother also my former team mates."

"Are they the onii-chan that we used to see coming here?"

"Yes, they are."

"And is he the one in the picture with you? Holding a trophy together?" The boy said when he pointed to Akaya.

"… Yes."

"Where is he now?"

"He's overseas, playing tennis."

"Does he still call you?"

"Yes, is something wrong?"

"Who is he?"

"Let's just say, he's someone really important to me."

"…"

"Is something wrong?"

"Do you like me or him more?" Kumiko was taken aback by the question and smiled a small smile while ruffling the boy's hair.

"Now, what's wrong? You can tell me." The boy's eyes started to turn red while tears started to form in his eyes.

"I was told that you like him, when you graduated you'll go away with him overseas. I don't want you to go…"

"Do you really believe that?"

"Yes, I was told that you like him very much… so…" Kumiko was surprised when she saw the other kids gathered around them with red teary eyes.

"Aww, I wouldn't leave. This café is everything to me… I won't leave you without telling, I promise…"

"Really?"

"Yes." Kumiko said as she embraced everyone.

"Now, let's drink some tea while waiting for your cake, shall we?" Then hand-in-hand, they all walked out from the kitchen.

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"Kumiko-chan?"

"Yes, Haru-chan?"

"Did something happen? I saw the kids crying…"

"They were worried that I would suddenly disappear and leave them… those kids, really, why would I leave so suddenly?" Kumiko said as she sighs.

"Yagyuu-san came earlier when you were away, he came to get Yue-chan."

"I see. Then, should we close the shop for the day?"

"But I don't think it's time to yet…"

"With only us, don't you think it'll be a bit useless?"

"… We don't have that much worker yet, do we…?"

"We can't hire people yet, we don't have enough money, after all, the former worker all went away when Brandon aniki passed away…"

"I see…"

"And we have no customers, shall we close the shop?"

"Okay, do you have classes today, Kumiko-chan?"

"Yes, I'll have one in the evening, that's why I was thinking we should close the shop early." Kumiko said as she flipped the door sign to 'close'. Kumiko took off her apron and hung it up at the kitchen while Haru took the rest of the plates into the sink.

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"Why hello, Kumiko, closed the shop early?" The shop lady said.

"I did, there was no customer, so…"

"I see, I see. I really liked your cake, it was really nice. My granddaughter was impressed that something as good as that was made by someone as young as you. She's practically few years younger than you." The shop lady said as Kumiko laughed.

"It's not that hard, you just need to put some efforts."

"And how was the young boy? The one you seemed to be so happy with?" Kumiko's face turned red as she took out a napkin to hide her face.

"He's overseas right now, still on a tournament."

"Really? He certainly has some guts to do that, to leave a cute young girl like you alone." Kumiko quickly waved her hand away in rejection.

"No, no! It's not like that!"

"Well, I bid you two good luck then. Shouldn't you be off? Your class has almost started." Kumiko takes one look at the clock and quickly bowed and quickly ran out.

"Silly girl."

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"Kumiko-san, do you have time today?"

"Kumiko-san, how about we…?" Kumiko looked up from her desk to see people crowding around her, mostly boys.

"I'm really sorry, but I had to watch over the shop after this." Kumiko said as she stood up, gathered her books and was about to opened the door before a boy stood in front of her, cheeks red.

"Kumiko-san, I really liked you, will you go out with me?" The boy said with sincere eyes. Kumiko's heart hurts when she had to say this, she never said this to anyone, it was always them asking to go somewhere with her, not going out with them. Kumiko took a deep breath inside and shook her head, her eyes soften when she saw the boy in front of her, younger, had a surprised look on his face.

"I'm sorry, but… I already have someone…" Kumiko said as she patted the boy's head and quickly walked away, not wanting to see the expressions on everyone's face in class.

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"Kumi-chan, is it true?!" Haru said suddenly when Kumiko was stirring the dough in the kitchen.

"What is it, Haru-chan?"

"That you got a confession today at class? Someone told me about it!"

"Someone? May I know who exactly?" Kumiko said as she washed her hands after putting the dough in the oven.

"Well… Momo-senpai told me…?" Kumiko sighed and shook her head.

"I'm in my 20s and they still wouldn't let me on my own. Am I that weak?"

"Senpai is worried about you, Kumi-chan, that's all…"

"I'll be fine, don't worry about me."

"So… what did you tell him?"

"I'm sorry… that I already have someone, after all, I left. I'm sure everyone in the class would be shocked, I've never talked about him after all."

"Kirihara-san is still overseas…"

"So are nii-chan and Echizen-kun. It's going to be hectic again this season…"

"Hey, Kumi-chan… ever think about leaving Kirihara-san…?" Kumiko eyes widened.

"What are you talking about, Haru-chan…?"

"Well… Kirihara-san is always overseas… he always the one making you wait for him… I don't think I can see you feel lonely… whenever I saw couples passing by, I always thought of you… what if Kirihara-san found somebody else…? I don't think I can forgive him enough for making you wait for so long… even Tezuka-san came back once in a while with Echizen-san, but Kirihara-san always stays back…" Kumiko sighed and brushed her hand on Haruko's face.

"Haru-chan, I had made him wait for me all these years, it's only fair that I'll wait for him now… you're still young, you didn't know some of our past, we've been friends for a long time, but you just can't know all about someone in just these short years. People need a long time to adjust, to break their shell, to change… and to be reborn with new goals. Not all people are vulnerable, you can say I'm a bit vulnerable, yes. But I'm not that weak, if I broke down, I still have you, Yue-chan and the others. And I'm sure Kirihara-kun couldn't face your brother if he broke up with me… you know how scary your brother can be."

"…"

"Now, dry up those tears, I'm not taking responsibility if your brother asks me about this, okay? You're not a little girl anymore, right?"

"Y-Yeah…" Haru said as she quickly dried up her tears. Kumiko briefly hugged Haru before she patted her head.

"You still have lots of years to learn, you don't have to rush, it'll come to you. Like it did to me."

"Okay…"

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"Jerk! Go to her!"

"If you didn't come by by the time I get there… you know what will happen to you…"

"She's waiting for you for a long time already! Even longer and heavier than the pain you bear ever since in middle school! You can always see her back then! By now you're overseas and she can't always see you except on tv!"

"Mada mada dane…"

"Go. To. Her."

"Will everyone just shut up already?! Why do all of you have to come with me?!" a messy haired boy yelled to the crowd behind him.

"Today is her birthday, we are her family, so we should congratulate her on turning 23. Time fly away so fast… she's 23 already…" Yukimura said.

"It felt like yesterday when she ran to me bringing my camera, asking me to teach her…" Fuji said.

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When Kumiko heard the door opening, she was about to say welcome before she heard crackers popped and confetti flying everywhere. Is this why there was no customer today…?

"HAPPY 23th BIRTHDAY KUMIKO!" Kumiko blinked when she saw former Seigaku, Rikkai and Hyoutei team walking in with presents in hand.

"W-Wha…?"

"Have you forgotten to look at the calendar? It's your birthday today." Fuji said as he gave the shocked Kumiko a hug.

"I-I guess I forgot…"

"That's for getting yourself busy with books." Kumiko heard the familiar deep voice and tears quickly build up in her eyes. When she saw her brother emerging from the crowds he quickly jumped on him.

"Onii-chan!" Kumiko laughed as a tear slid down her face.

"Now, now Tezuka, I told you already you need to visit often." Fuji teased. While Kumiko was happily laughed in her brother's arms, she saw a familiar messy hair and quickly detached herself from her brothers arms and ran outside.

"Well, looks like she finally saw him." Yanagi said when he saw Kumiko tackled the young man.

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"K-Kumiko!" Akaya said startled when she just suddenly tackled him.

"You're here…" Kumiko said as her body started to shook. Akaya felt guilty and hugged her tight.

"Sorry about that…"

"You need to practice your English more."

"Hey!"

"Your English might have gotten better, but you need to work more on it." Kumiko said as she laughed while drying her tears away.

"I know, I know. I don't need you to remind me."

"Akaya."

"H-Huh?"

"Can I call you that from now on?" Kumiko said as she smiled shyly. Akaya swore he felt his heart burst of happiness when she asked that.

"Sure…" Suddenly Akaya felt something soft on his lips and his eyes widened.

'D-Did she just…?'

"I like that present better." Kumiko said as her face went red. Kumiko then felt something cold on his cheek and looked up to see the snow falling.

"The first snow…" Akaya breathed. Kumiko tugged on Akaya's sleeve and he looked at her eyes. The lively eyes that he fell in love with, the eyes that are filled with unconditional love and admiration… and kindness to him.

"Welcome home…"

"… I'm home…"

THE END

Read and Review please!

Well... this is it, the last chapter of the story. I'm kinda happy with the ending, it's been my dream to felt something this happy for an ending XD

I'm currently not watching any anime and busying myself with Super Junior...

I was wondering if I should make a fanfic about Super Junior?

My favorite pairing: Kangteuk... I've been wanting to make it X3

And maybe make my Kumiko in it.

Kumiko's background being close to DBSK since her cafe is quite popular in the town, DBSK once visited when they were out looking for some good place to relax

And~~~ they befriended each other! (I had quite high dream XD)

Oh well, give me your thoughts on it, thank you very much~~