1 Return of the prince

©All the characters belong to the manga author, only the plot is mine. If you saw the same story from another site(seen on my profile) then its mine as well. Enjoy~

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Four years had already passed when the Seigaku won as the champion in the National Tournament, it is also the time when Ryoma left to America. At those times, many things happened. After Ryoma left and never came back, Sakuno never watched the practice of her sempais anymore and only attended her tennis practice seldomly. Tomo and Horio ended up together, while Katsuo and Kato practiced tennis everyday and can already beat some of their sempais with the exception of the regulars. So yes, a lot did happen as time pass by. Unexpectedly, rumors starts to spread into Seigakuen that Sakuno and Fuji became closer and the reason was that they started dating just a week after Ryoma's departure. Everyone didn't know what was the reason how that happened but they kept their mouth shut.

As for Ryoma, US Open ended and he ranked 's quite a big achievement already for a boy in such a young age, add also the fact that he gave honor to his country by representing it. The regulars got so busy in life that they only find quite a few time only to meet and celebrate together, but even so they still update in news about how their ochibi was doing at the opposite part of the world.

IN AMERICA…after ranking as 11th in the US open, Ryoma Echizen had been so busy in life as well. He always had interviews, pictorials, letters to read from his fans and even rematch battles with his opponents. It is an everyday routine for this tennis prodigy, that he can't find time to contact his sempais anymore.

*beep!* *beep!* it was 6:30 in the morning when the alarm in the clock ringed, a small groan was heard under the soft blue blanket. *beep!* *beep!* this time he let his right arm move to reach and press the alarm button and the beeping stop. Finally he can continue his sleep without any disturbance. After 1 minute his phone ringed, Ryoma being Ryoma ignored it first. But after a few ringing, he gave up and answered his phone. "Hello, what is it Eiji sempai?" he asked in a bored tone.

"Ochibi! Hi! We missed you! Nyaa~ how are you doing?" came the happy reply of his sempai on the other line.

"I'm fine sempai, but please don't call me at this time. It's still early here. Let's just talk again sometime, bye" Ryoma said and hunged up the phone with a smirk.

"Wait! Ochibi-," cried the red haired sempai but was cut off when the call ended.

"How is he, Eiji sempai?" asked Momoshiro.

The red haired sempai only sigh, "he hung up. But I'll try calling him again."

"Wait! Sempai, let's call him later. Maybe his still sleeping since it's afternoon here…remember that when it's afternoon here, it's still early morning there."

"Guess you're right," Eiji replied and Momo walk off, and when he was gone Eiji dialed Ryoma's cellphone number again with a grinning face.

*Ring!* *Ring!* came the sound and Ryoma reached it. "Hello, Eiji sempai. I told you not to call me at this time I'm still sleeping" Ryoma answered a bit annoyed.

"Sorry Ochibi, but I just wanted to let you know that the Regulars are having a reunion next week. We will stay in a beautiful place that was reserved for us only, and we will stay there for a week. We hope you could come and join us…so what do you say?" asked Eiji sempai with a smile.

The tennis prodigy ponders it for a while then smirked, "Sure. I'll be glad so."

"So you'll come? Yeah! Thanks Ochibi! You can go back sleeping again, nyaa~ bye" eiji said with a happy tone and Ryoma answered, "Bye" then ended the call.

After that, Ryoma decided to rest but thanks to the calls of his sempai that he didn't seem to feel sleepy anymore. He tried covering his head with a blanket but it didn't work. He tried other solutions, but all failed. Ryoma sigh, he give up, not that he wants to, but he felt tired already. Suddenly Karupin jumped onto him out of nowhere and surprised the tennis prince, Ryoma smiled as his companion was now here. He played with Karupin for a few minutes then started packing his things for the reunion, he then called Mr. Yamada and informed him that he will be on vacation for a week. The manager panicked upon hearing it but later agreed as part of their deal, he will let Ryoma leave America for a week but the tennis prince have to follow his manager and do what Mr. Yamada planned in his schedule. So that week, the tennis prince was busy doing the interviews and others. Saturday came and it is time for him to leave, dressed in a simple blue polo shirt and gray cargo pants paired with white tennis shoes, Ryoma walk inside the plane at a cold night.

BACK TO JAPAN…"Ne, when will Ochibi come? The reunion will be tomorrow. Nyaa~" the red haired sempai said as he looked at Momoshiro with pouting lips.

Momo smiled, "Don't worry, Eiji sempai. I'm sure Echizen will be here for sure, besides since when did he ever skips get-together with us?"

Eiji smiled, "You're right! Ochibi always comes when we're all together."

It was noontime when the regulars practiced in the Seigakuen tennis court, even though all of them aren't going there anymore, they decided to meet and visit their old school. Coach Ryusaki was walking around, then as she passed by the tennis court. She was surprised to find that all the regulars with the exception of Ryoma playing tennis, she smiled and went inside the court.

"Well look what we have here…even though you're not students from here anymore, it seems you're still the regulars of this school," Coach Ryuzaki said and everyone stopped to look at her.

Even four years had passed, she still had that same face they last saw with that long auburn hair always tied in a ponytail.

"Well, ehehe…it won't hurt to play here today, right Coach?" Momoshiro said smiling slightly to their Coach as he scratched the back of his neck.

The auburn haired Coach simply smiled at them, "Sure! You can practice as long as you want but be sure to clean the place when you leave." The regulars nodded and then resumed playing.

Coach Ryuzaki smiled slightly, "these kids are still the same." She then turn and walk off. Suddenly her phone rang, she picked it up to see who it was, it was Ryoma's father. "Now, now, what could be this stupid man wants?" she murmured and answered the phone. "Hello. Nanjiroh, what is it? It's been 4 years since our last meeting, you didn't even contacted me afterwards."

Nanjiroh on the other line just grinned, "Oh sorry about that, old hag. I just called to tell you that Ryoma is on his way there. Could you fetch him in the airport?"

the auburn haired Coach after hearing the news was surprised, but later then smiled. "Sure, is that all? And by the way…STOP CALLING ME OLD HAG!"

"Yeah, sure" and the call ended. Coach Ryuzaki sigh, she then went back to the tennis court.

"Alright! Gather around, everyone," she commanded and the regulars-correction ex regulars followed.

"Today Ryoma's father called…,"she started with a serious tone.

"Eh? Could it be that something happened to our Ochibi?" Eiji asked as he looked at the others. Everyone began talking except Fuji and Tezuka.

"It's not like that, actually he called to bring good new…" she continued and everyone listened intently.

"Nanjiroh, just informed me that Ryoma's coming back today from America, he is on his way here now and we will meet him at the airport. Im sure you've missed him a lot so you can come with me to fetch him."

With that everyone rejoiced. "Really? That's great! Echizen can be with us tomorrow!" Momo exclaimed. 'Geez, these kids really didn't change a bit. You're lucky to have them as you friend Ryoma' she thought as she smiled at them.

"Alright! That's enough. We should go now to the airport," Coach Ryuzaki said and went off as the rest followed.

As they all left, they didn't notice a pair of eyes watching them behind the bushes, the person smiled and run off. She quickly dialed a number from her cell, finally after a few ring the phone was answered. "Hello? Tomo-chan…what is it?", asked the person from the other line.

"Ah! Sakuno! Guess what," exclaimed her friend Tomoka, while the timid girl from the other line moved her phone a bit away from her ear.

Finally when her friend stop shouting, she answered, "What is it, Tomo-chan?" Tomoka chuckled, "I've heard from your grandma that Ryoma –sama is coming back!..."

Upon hearing this, the auburn girl's eyes widened. Could it be? Her long time crush is coming back! She didn't know what to do, she felt her heart beat raced faster upon hearing the news. A small tear escaped from her eye then it was followed by another until tears flowed from her cheeks, she's really happy to know Ryoma's coming back. After 4 years, he's finally back. Happiness was overflowing to Sakuno now, but then she remembered something and her smile was quickly replaced by a frown, she began listening again to her friend.

"…He's on his way here already! And the regulars went to the airport to see him Sakuno! Looks like Ryoma-sama will go to the reunion tomorrow, I'm really excited to see him."

"Im glad to hear that, Tomo-chan! Let's wait for them…Let's meet at the school gate. Bye," Sakuno said and finally ended the call. She looked at the sky outside her window and smiled, "Ryoma, you came back!"

BACK TO THE AIRPORT…the regulars upon arriving at the airport hurriedly went to the gate where Ryoma was supposed to arrive, Coach Ryuzaki followed. Momo watched the schedule of the plane where Ryoma was and saw that it finally arrive. Upon arriving to Japan, Ryoma woke up from his sleep and went out the plane. The moment he arrive on the arrival section, happy voices greeted him. He lift his gaze a bit just to see who greeted him, he smiled afterwards. He began walking away from them as if he didn't see them but the red haired sempai of his grabbed and hugged him, "You're so mean, nyaa~ how could you pretend you didn't see us. Welcome back Ochibi!"

the tennis prodigy lowered his cap a bit then spoke, "Thank you…sempai."

"Well, are we just gonna stand here or what? Let's go already Echizen!" Momo said as he dragged the tennis prodigy by his hand.

As they ride a mini van, Everyone started questioning Ryoma of how was life in America. He coolly told them small details about his daily routine and Eiji hugged him in a protective way after hearing it.

"They're so mean! Ochibi shouldn't be treated like that nyaa~", the red haired sempai said with a pouting face. Meanwhile Fuji tried calling Sakuno but she wasn't answering her phone,

Momo noticed it and asked, "Who are you calling, Fuji-sempai? Is it your girlfriend…hehe" Upon hearing Momo, everyone looked at Fuji who was seated behind Ryoma.

The tennis genius simply smiled and ended the call, "It's nothing really…by the way Echizen, you've grown quite a bit." After that statement, everyone stared at the tennis prodigy. They noticed that he really have matured physically but with the same face of their ochibi before. For a 16 year old, he sure is still the same.

Ryoma felt uncomfortable for the stares his sempais were giving, so he lowered his cap, "Please stop staring at me…sempais." Everyone smiled even Tezuka and hugged the tennis prodigy which excludes Tezuka and Kaidoh.

"How cute Echizen!" the tennis prodigy simply put on a deadpan expression but sigh afterwards. Oishi then asked looking at their coach, "By the way, sensei. Where are we going?"

the auburn haired coach only smirked, "You'll soon find out." An hour passed and the minivan stopped, an hour of sitting was really tiring.

The regulars were exhausted when they arrive on their destination, they all stopped and stared at the building standing in front of them. The place was surrounded by trees and nothing more. Coach Ryuzaki spoke, "Well enjoy eating today, afterwards will go again."

The regulars smiled widely as some of them have their saliva dripping out of their mouth, as soon as they finished imagining the delicious foods they wanted to eat, they run on the restaurant while Tezuka and Coach Ryuzaki followed. The moment they entered, they immediately ordered foods. They eat until their stomach is full, it taked them another hour and a half to finish eating. Coach Ryuzaki then stood up, "it seems you're all full already…let's go to the last destination." The regulars only stared at her and followed.

BACK TO SEIGAKUEN…it was a hot afternoon that day, Sakuno was leaning on the school gate. Dressed in a white t-shirt with a cute logo imprinted in it, fuchsia mini skirt and paired with white flat shoes. The auburn haired girl waited for her friend to arrive, she glanced at her clock. It's already 1 in the afternoon and Tomo hasn't arrive yet, she was feeling nervous. What if the Regulars would suddenly arrive and would caught her standing in front of the gate? What if Ryoma would see her, and if he would, what will she say? She sigh, "Tomo-chan, where are you?" she asked in her usual timid voice.

After 30 minutes, "Sakuno!" came a familiar voice, upon knowing who it belong, Sakuno looked at the direction where the voice was coming. She smiled at her friend as Tomoka was approaching her, the auburn girl's face was glimmering with happiness as the sun glowed on her.

"Sakuno! I'm so sorry for making you wait, did you wait too long?" Tomoka asked, dressed in a pink strapped spaghetti with a white knee length jeans and paired with white sandal.

Sakuno shook her head, "Not really, Tomo-chan. I've just arrive a minute before you."

Tomoka suddenly hugged the auburn haired girl and the latter got surprised, "That's great! Sakuno. I promise I won't be late again. let's go to the tennis court, maybe they will go there when they arrive here." Sakuno nodded with a smile and followed her friend.

BACK TO THE REGULARS…"Ne, Ryuzaki sensei. Where are we going?" Momoshiro asked and their coach didn't answer. "Fine, we'll just wait and find it out ourselves…" Momo added and glanced at the window of the car. Outside, the sky was clear and he could see few clouds slowly moving. Almost all people were holding their umbrella as they protect their selves from the hot rays of the sun. Finally the car went on a stop, upon noticing that, everyone got out of the car.

Coach Ryuzaki went in front of a wooden gate, "Everyone. Welcome to my house, you'll all be staying here for tonight. I already called one of your relatives and inform them, they already brought the bags you'll be bringing tomorrow and added clothes you'll be changing for this night. Let's all go inside and rest."

The regulars(with exception of Tezuka, and Fuji) had their mouths dropped upon hearing their coach's words, but they didn't protest and just followed. Upon entering, the regulars were assigned to two rooms. The ones who will be staying at their Coach's room were Tezuka, Fuji, Oishi, Tanaka and Inui. While the ones who will be staying at the guest room were Ryoma, Momoshiro, Eiji and Kaidoh.

"So all of you go already to your rooms, I will be staying at Sakuno. As for the people staying at my room, be careful and don't touch my things or you'll be punished…understood?" the auburn haired coach asked and everyone nodded. The regulars arranged their rooms and rested, while Coach Ryuzaki went outside.

BACK TO SEIGAKUEN…the sun was already setting, yet the regulars didn't show up. Sakuno became worried. Her friend Tomo glanced on her watch, "Ne Sakuno, it's already 6. I have to go home and prepare dinner for my brothers…shall we go now?" the auburn haired girl only lowered her head and nodded.

Tomoka smiled, "Let's go then." As they both walk to Tomoka's house, Tomoka noticed the quietness of her friend. Although she was always like this, Tomoka couldn't help but feel that something was wrong with Sakuno, so she talked.

"Ne, Sakuno. Now that Ryoma-sama is back, what shall we prepare to him? Oh wait! I know! How about a welcome banner? And wait! Let's give him a gift…so what do you think?" Tomoka asked and faced Sakuno but her friend was still looking downward but nodded on what she suggested.

Tomoka sigh, "Sakuno…I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have told you about Ryoma-sama's arrival. You were ok when he left and now…you're back to your old self when Ryoma was here. Quiet, and doesn't say her problems to me…so please forgive me for making you wait for someone who couldn't show up."

The auburn haired girl upon hearing that, slowly lifted her gaze and stared at her friend, she then smiled saying, "I'm sorry too, Tomo-chan. For always making you worried about me and for not telling you my problems. But just so you know, it's not your fault that we didn't see Ryoma-kun and me being quiet today. I just have a lot of things going on my mind."

Tomoka suddenly hugged Sakuno, "Oh Sakuno! Is your freaky boyfriend making you sad? Tell me who he is and I'll punch him in the face for you."

Upon hearing that Sakuno sweatdropped, "It's fine,Tomo-chan. It isn't his fault. Well looks like we are now at your house. Bye, Tomo-chan! And thanks for being with me today."

Tomoka nodded, "Bye to you too, Sakuno! Take care and cheer up will you?"

When Tomoka already bid goodbye to Sakuno and went inside their house, Sakuno was left alone. She looked at the sky, "Ryoma-kun…where are you?" upon saying it, she didn't notice that she was already crying. She just noticed it when a drop of tear fell to her foot, she wiped her tears and began walking home. She didn't know that a big surprise awaits her. As she arrive at her house, she opened the gate and went inside. As she opened the door, looking down, she bumped into someone. She lift her head to see who she bumped to, "I'm so sorry, good e-" she was cut off when she saw it was Fuji holding a camera. As her sempai saw her, he immediately click the camera and captured the surprised girl, afterwards Fuji simply smiled at her. The auburn haired girl as surprised on what just happened and as well as why is Fuji in her house, immediately blushed.

"Fuji sempai…wha-what are you doing here?" good evening to you!" she said as she bowed her head in front of the tennis genius.

Fuji still smiled, "Good evening to you too, Sakuno-chan. But I'm not the only one who came." Sakuno was confused, as Fuji's words registered on her mind, she looked around and saw Momo holding a pizza while Kaidoh tries to get it, Eiji eating pizza, Inui recording something on his data book and Tezuka reading a book. The auburn haired girl's eyes widened, the regulars are all in her house! That means Ryoma must be here too. Although some where not at the living room, Sakuno knew they were all present.

She smiled and bowed to them, "Good evening to all of you, sempais."

The regulars smiled and replied, "Good evening too, Sakuno.