Hey guys, sorry for the long wait. (: I had way too many things to do! Anyways, I lied. Yes this chapter will not include much of tryouts. (:

I DO NOT OWN PRINCE OF TENNIS! THIS IS MY PLOT AND I'M WRITING THIS BECAUSE I LOVE THE ANIME AND THAT I LOVE THIS COUPLE! RYOSAKU FOREVER AND EVER!

Prodigy

Chapter 4: Volleyball

As Sakuno, Sakura, Reika, and Asuka sat on the grass near the track, the chatted about their lives from when they were apart to now. It's been a year and everyone is just all confused and impatient about their lives.

"So Sakuno, what are you going to do about Ryoma-san?" Sakura asked. Sakura knew about Sakuno and Ryoma, but she also knew about Ryoma and Yuuki. Well, everyone knew about them.

"I don't know and I don't care. He can do whatever he wants. I'm over it." Sakuno said. The girls smiled. They knew Sakuno was never the one to cling in a relationship.

"Good. Yuuki just isn't every good for him. There are so many more girls out there he could choose from, but no he picked Yuuki!" Reika yelled throwing he hands up. The girls laughed. Just then a couple of girls came running up to them. They were all wearing their Seigaku volleyball uniforms and spandex.

"Is Sakuno Ryuzaki here?" They quickly asked. Sakuno raised her hand.

"Ano.. I'm Sakuno." The two girls quickly adverted her eyes to her.

"Oh thank goodness we found you! I'm Yuuka and this is Ami." Sakuno waved, "Anyways! We heard you were back and you excel in volleyball!" Sakuno nodded her head, "Great! We're short on a player for the game tonight! She's out sick. We thought maybe you would want to join just for this game?"

"Volleyball? But I'm kind of rusty. I haven't played in forever." Yuuka shook her head in disagreement.

"It's alright! You'll do just fine!" Sakuno thought about it.

"Sure. What position does she play?"

"She's our Libero." Sakuno's mouth fell open.

"Libero? That's a huge spot!" Ami nodded.

"Yes and we think you'd be great for it! Libero can play anywhere in Seigaku, front, back, middle, wherever you want. You can spike, do anything!" Sakuno nodded.

"Alright. Got an extra pair of spandex and a uniform?" The two girls nodded.

"Wait, what about tryouts?" Asuka asked.

"No worries. Sakuno's already got the spot anyways." Reika said. They nodded.

"Alright, Sakura, you go tell coach that I'm leaving. Then meet us in the gym." Sakuno nodded and ran off. The five girls ran towards the exit flying past the regulars in lightning speed.

"Whoa, where are they going?" Momoshiro asked.

"I don't know. Let's go find out." Fuji said. They regulars followed the five girls to the gym.

"What are they doing in the gym?" Ryoma asked looking around for Sakuno.

"Look, there's a volleyball game tonight." Tezuka said. Everyone looked.

"Oh yeah!" Eiji yelled. Just then Sakura ran in.

"Sakura!" Oishi called.

"Yes?" Sakura said politely.

"What's going on?" Inui asked.

"A volleyball game?" the regulars hit their foreheads with their palms.

"No we mean with Sakuno." Kawamaru asked.

"Oh, Yuuka and Ami came up to us and asked if Sakuno could play for their Libero tonight since she's sick." Sakura said.

"Sakuno plays volleyball?" Sakura nodded.

"Yeah, she was never on the team here though. I heard she played back in America." The regulars nodded. Ryoma looked deep in thought, "Well got to run! Bye!"

Sakura ran off towards the locker room. She skittered in with a screeching sound.

"All ready?" Sakura asked. They nodded. Sakuno pulled her uniform down a bit and walked into the gym. She had a pair of black spandex, her uniform, a blue, red, and white one with number 23 on the back. She had white knee pads and white shoes.

"Alright. Let's play." Sakuno said as she lined up in the end court.

"Sakuno-chan really doesn't look like a volleyball player." Eiji said.

"Never judge a book on the cover." Oishi commented.

Sakuno walked over to the bleachers and sat down. The coach said she didn't want Sakuno in for the first part of the game. The game started and Seigaku was falling behind 14-7.

"Sakuno!" The coach called. Sakuno nodded and sat up. She walked over to a random girl that she thought was doing bad or was tired. They switched and Sakuno stood in the back row.

"Finally! Sakuno-chan's time to play!" Momoshiro yelled.

The opponents served the ball right to Sakuno. She bent her knees down and bumped the ball to Yuuka. Yuuka set the ball up and Sakuno ran up to the ball, jumped, and spiked the ball down. The crowd cheered and called.

"Wow. Sakuno's good." Ryoma said. The regulars nodded.

It was Sakuno's time to serve. She rocked back and forth before throwing the ball up and overhand served it. The ball flew over the net and hit the floor in an instant. Ace!

"Ace!"

Sakuno served again and again until the game was over. 25-14 was the score for the first game. One down, two to go.

"Ever since Sakuno joined the game, the opponents haven't yet score on point." Inui said adjusting his glasses while jotting down data.

"That's just how good our Sakuno-chan is!" Eji cheered.

"Hey Sakuno? Who are those hot guys over there that keeps cheering for you?" Yuuka asked.

"Oh they're the Seigaku Tennis Regulars." Sakuno said taking a drink of her water.

"Oh right, didn't you used to date the freshmen regular?" Sakuno nodded sadly.

"Yeah, he's a sophomore now." Yuuka nodded and continued listening to the coach. Sakuno on the other hand, kept looking over at Ryoma.

The game started and all Sakuno thought about was the memories they shared. From the time he took her out, to the times he said goodbye. She let one tear out before spiking the ball down. The spike had all her anger vented to it, the ball made a huge sound before rolling away.

Sakuno huffed before wiping her tears away. No one noticed as she did so. She got back into position and started playing again. The game ended for game two, 25-8. As merci rules, the game stopped. Sakuno quickly changed back into her track clothes and gave the uniform back. The coach offered her a spot on the team, but she quickly rejected saying that she couldn't take the spot of the Libero.

Sakuno ran down to the parking lot along with her three friends. They met Ryuzaki-sensei there as she was opening her car door.

"Baa-chan, can you take my bag? I'm going to go for a run." Her grandmother nodded. She bid her friends goodbye and ran off. She didn't have a target, she just ran where her legs took her..

And her legs took her to the lake.

The lake, she remembered. It was the place they had their first date. She remembered it like it was just yesterday. Another thing that made this lake memorable was that memory.

"Ryoma-kun! This lake is so beautiful!" Sakuno yelled looking at the sparkling lake ahead of her.

"Yeah, and so are you." He said before wrapping his arms around her waist.

"When did you get so cheesy?" Sakuno said giggling.

"Since I started dating you." She giggled. He turned her around and made her look into his eyes, "Listen Sakuno. I will never let anything come in between us. Never ever ever. I promise."

She smiled at him before he placed his lips on hers. She smiled knowing that he will keep this promise and never let anything come in between them.

"Liar, you are such a liar." Sakuno whispered before letting her tears drop into the lake, "The day I stop loving you will be the day I find that teardrop. What a pathetic quote."

She smiled and looked up into the setting sky. She grinned and said to the sky.

"I will get over him. I won't linger in the past. I won't let this get to me. Remember, he's happy with her."

She walked away as the water waved.

As she walked, she could literally hear her heart break into a million pieces. Even though she didn't want to admit it, she was still utterly in love with the Sophmore Tennis Regular, Ryoma Echizen.

So? How was that for a break?

Review!

~Tu Amor