SUMMARY: It took him two years to realize what his old man was telling him about girls. Two years to realize what his sempai-tachi's teasing meant. Two years to realize that life isn't always about tennis. Two years to realize that he like a certain brunette girl with two long braided hairs. And it took him another year to finally admit it to himself that he really like and possibly love the said girl. But now that he's ready to make a move she is leaving him. Is he too late? Does three years a long time for someone to stop loving him? And why is she leaving him now that he loves her?

CHAPTER ONE

It's been almost three years since Ryoma Echizen went back to Japan after participating in the U.S. Open during his first year in Seigaku. He came back just in time for the Nationals and after winning the championship and being the pillar of support of the Seigaku Boys Tennis Team/Club he went to America and after a year he came back to Japan to continue his studies and now he is the captain of the Seigaku Legendary Boys Tennis Team/Club after his sempai-tachi graduated.

Ryoma is now leading the team and after making it to the Nationals three times in a row he had now become more powerful and considered as one of the best tennis player in Middle School all around Japan. He together with his team is now playing in National's Championship match.

"Game set match Echizen Ryoma 6 games to 4, Seigaku wins the National's Championship." Announced the umpire/referee as the crowd went wild and cheer for the team. Ryoma went to the net to shake hand then went to his team which include also their coach and his so-called cheerleaders.

"Kyaa! Ryoma-sama!" His fangirls squeals as he went out of the court. Thankfully his teammates and coach surrounded him first before his annoying fangirls could reach him. With just one look from his coach the annoying fangirls scampered away. Only a few girls are allowed in the team, to be precise only two girls are allowed in the team and those are the loud-mouthed girl Tomoka Osakada and the soft-spoken and the coach's granddaughter-- Ryuzaki Sakuno.

"Congratulations for winning Ryoma-sama!" Tomoka said loudly making Ryoma cringed because of her voice. Then all of his team mates and coach congratulated him and talked animatedly about the match, while Ryoma is trying to locate a certain 'someone' with brunette hair and hazel eyes. Yup that's right; he's looking for non other than Ryuzaki Sakuno.

For the past years he had realise his feelings for her, though how and when he didn't know. He had just woken up one morning seeing Sakuno in a new light. Though he admits that for the past three years Sakuno had grew more beautiful with the right curves in the right places, her auburn hair that now was free from any restraint, her beautiful eyes that always seem to sparks every time, her porcelain like doll face and her sweet and kind attitude, who wouldn't fall in love with her? She was like an angel to everyone. But he didn't fall in love with her because of her looks and all, and that he was sure of. Maybe because she is the only girl who treated him just like an ordinary person, just Echizen Ryoma, and not Echizen Ryoma—the prince of tennis. He can always be himself whenever she was around that must be the reason why he had fallen for her. But ofcourse being the stoic Ryoma that he is, there is no way he is going to admit that to anyone, but seeing that almost half the population of boys in school was attracted to her and are trying to make a move there is no way that he is just going to stand aside and watch as someone else take her away from him. But before he makes a move he needs first to find her.

After excusing himself from the team, saying that he needed to buy a ponta, here he is wandering around looking for his princess, knowing that she watched his game because he saw her and even hear her cheer for him. As he is nearing a sakura tree he heard a voice that seems oh so familiar to him. As quietly as possible he went to the tree to take a look. He was surprised to see Sakuno with a frown and about to cry while talking to her phone.

'Why is she about to cry?' Ryoma thought but was interrupted when he heard her speaks.

"But Kaa-san I cant do that."

"…"

"But—"

"…"

"Kaa-san wait." Sakuno sigh exasperatedly as she rewind what just happened.

FLASHBACK:

"Game set match Echizen Ryoma 6 games to 4, Seigaku wins the National's" Championship." Announced the umpire/referee as Sakuno and Tomoka jumped and cheered for Ryoma and the team.

Rrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiinnnngggg

Rrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiinnnngggg

Sakuno jolted as she heard her phone ringing she didn't manage to excuse herself to Tomoka because she was too absorbed by the win of the team. She went to the Sakura tree where she can't hear the loud cheer from the tennis court before answering her phone.

"Hello" Sakuno said.

"Hello sweetheart how are you doing there?"

"Okaa-san!" Sakuno exclaimed happily for it has been a long time since her parents called. "ah gomen for shouting. I'm doing fine here how about you and otou-san?" Sakuno asked.

"We're doing great here Sakuno." Her mom answered cheerfully.

"That's nice to know, I miss you a lot kaa-san and otou-san too of course."

"We miss you too honey, we're very sorry if we haven't called you recently, it's just that we're very busy and everything these past few weeks." His mom said apologetically.

"Don't worry about it kaa-san, I understand and besides, obaa-chan is always taking very good care of me." Sakuno said cheerfully.

"About that, sigh Sakuno— her mom suddenly turned serious. "Your father and I thought that we haven't been taking care of you like parents should to their child, because of work. So we decided to take you here in England." Her mom said.

"What? But Kaa-san I'm not good in English." Sakuno said

"We already hired a tutor for you in English here in England." Her mom answered.

"When will I leave Japan?" Sakuno questioned, fighting back her tears.

"In a one week time; we had already taken care of all of your papers and passport so you don't have to worry about it and I'll come there personally to fetch you."

"What?" Sakuno said shocked. She was thinking that she'll at least finish this year's term or at least finish this semester before going to England. "B-but kaa-san how can I transfer school there, isn't it a bit out of the season, I mean it's the middle of the school year."

"You won't attend school here honey, you'll be home school." Her mother explained.

"But what about obaa-chan and my friends I don't want to leave them." Sakuno whisphered the last part and at the back of her thought an image of Ryoma flashed through her mind.

"We'll discuss about it to your obaa-chan, and about your friends you'll just have to say goodbye to them and forget about them." Her mom said

"But kaa-san I can't do that."

"I know it's hard to say goodbye to them but you just simply had to. Though if you're still not want to forget them that's alright with me you can just contact them here in England." Her mom said.

"But—"

"No more buts Sakuno, we're just making this easier for all of us. Please try to understand that, I have to go now, I'll see you in a one week time." Her mom said and hung up.

"Kaa-san wait—"

END OF FLASHBACK

"This isn't fair." Sakuno murmured as she slumped to the grass, finally letting herself to cry, her hands covering her face.

"Here." A husky voice said from above her.

Sakuno looked up and was met by a can of ponta, as she looked up more he saw non other than Ryoma Echizen holding up the can in her face. He was looking the other side and his other hand was pulling down the brim of his cap. And wait—is he blushing or was it just because of the heat. 'It's probably the heat' Sakuno thought.

"I said take it." Ryoma said as Sakuno was brought back to the real world and took the can from Ryoma.

Ryoma stared at Sakuno who is busy with her thoughts as she played with the ponta he gave her. He didn't know what happened on to why she suddenly started crying but he knows for sure that he didn't like seeing her cry. He wanted to comfort her, though he didn't know how; he was never really good with girls especially crying ones. Then a memory flashed through his mind, he remembered giving Sakuno a ponta when he upset her though he didn't really knew how he upset her. He got the ponta he bought earlier on. 'Good thing I didn't drink it yet.' Ryoma thought and went near Sakuno to give it.

Sakuno was grateful to Ryoma, she knows that Ryoma was just trying to comfort her. 'Just like last time' she thought. 'I wonder if I will ever have the courage to confess to him before I left.' She thought. 'But I'd rather stay with him as friend than be without him if ever he rejects me, though what's the difference I'm going to be away from him anyway I guess I should start to move on now because no matter what I can't never be with him.' At this thought she felt her chest constrict as if her heart was tearing apart. 'I can't forget Ryoma-kun, I love him so much but I can't ever be more than friend to him.' Sakuno thought as she felt tears coming from her eyes. Then an image of her obaa-chan, Tomoka and her sempai's flash through her as a soft breeze past by making the petals and the scent of the sakura trees to be scattered around the two of them. 'I don't want to leave Japan, and obaa-chan, Tomo-chan, sempai-tachi and Ryoma-kun.' Sakuno thought as she started to cry again.

Ryoma panic as he saw Sakuno cry again. 'Shit what the hell am I supposed to do?' Ryoma thought. 'She looks really cute though.' Ryoma added to his thought as she stared at the crying Sakuno with sakura petals surrounding her, but quickly smacked his head mentally for thinking such things in an inappropriate time. 'Stupid hormones, this isn't the time to think such things, I have to make her stop crying.' Ryoma thought as he once again panic. 'How am I supposed to make her stop?' He once again looks at Sakuno. 'ah to hell with it!' Ryoma thought and engulf Sakuno in a hug.

a/n: so what do you think? good? bad? please don't hesitate to tell me what you really thinks. it will help me to improve my writings.

and sorry for the wrong grammars and spelling... don't forget to leave a review 'kay? ;) TNX!