Hey people~ To think that you would click to this page makes me happy. This short prologue is just what I had done, like, idk when. The ideas were swimming in my head for days, so I had to do this before my mind gets flooded and eventually go insane. Hope you'll enjoy it. Douzo yoroshiku!

Prologue

The times we had

The memories we shared

I still held them dear

I wish you remember…

Tennis, one of the widely known and played sports, was what brought them together. Tennis was what made their parents acquaintances. They had been together since they were in diapers. Practically nothing could separate them. But things – good or bad – always end. Fate played such a cruel joke on them. It was still inevitable that things ended up that way. If only they saw it coming…

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Here it goes!"

Sounds of dribble were heard. After a few bounces, a small hand caught it with ease and tossed it upwards. Raising the racket, the ball met it and the small figure swung it hard. The ball glided towards the other side of the court and landed with a loud thud.

Already anticipated it, shuffle of legs could be heard as the small figure with a cap on rushed to return it. Next moment, the ball was sent flying back at a high speed to the server. The small figure ran towards the ball, but she missed it by a small distance. She groaned as she watched the ball flew past her.

"No fair Ryoma!" The little girl snuffed and crossed her arms in front of her.

"Mada mada dane, Rei," the said boy remarked in his usual haughty tone.

Reiya frowned at him. She was tired and let it slipped. With a sigh, she made her way to the bench where their belongings were. She sat down and began to chug down her water. Ryoma proceeded to her without any word. She scooted a little in order to make enough space for him.

Ryoma settled down beside her, their shoulders nearly touching, but none breathed a word about it. Their heavy breathings soon slackened as they sat there in silence. Both seemed to be deep in their thoughts as they sat there, enjoying the cool, evening breeze.

"Ne, Ryoma," Reiya inquired, breaking the comfortable silence.

"Hn?" Ryoma responded as he turned his head to face her.

"Why can't I beat you? I am always losing to you no matter how hard I try. I wonder what's wrong with me…"

Taking in her expression, he knew what was coming. Her wet, glistening eyes and the way her small hands clenched tightly on her laps told him everything. What should he do? He was never good at dealing with situations like this, especially when he is dealing with a crying Reiya.

Without any further thoughts, he pulled her into a hug. Reiya was taken aback by it. For the past 4 years (and a few months), they had never gotten so close to each other. Sure, they had hugged when they were much younger, but Reiya could tell that this hug was something different.

"I know how hard you had tried. Besides, I started playing before you. We still have a long way to go. You understand?" Reiya slowly wrapped her small arms around him and responded to his hug. "Un, I know…," she mumbled.

They stayed that way for a moment. When he felt her feeling better, he reluctantly pulled away, his arms still loosely hung around her. She looked up, only to be met with his trademark smug smirk. Confused, she blinked at him, waiting for him to say something.

"Besides…" he ventured, his smirk never once left his lips, "It's a good thing that you lose to me and only me."

"Wha? Why is it a good thing? I will beat you someday, Ryoma. Just you wait!" She snuck her tongue out at him playfully.

"Oh, really? I shall see you try, Rei." He smiled at her change in her tone. At least he pulled through.

"I will be the best and you will be begging me for mercy in the court!"

Ryoma shook his head as he tsked at her comeback. "That, Rei, will never happen. You will be the best, but no matter how hard you try, you will always be under me."

Slightly angered at his remark, she huffed. "And why should I be under you! Don't look down on me just because I am a female." She pouted, making him chuckle.

"Because…" He paused and released her. Taking off his hat, he placed it on her small head and bent down to her face. Reiya could practically feel the heat on her cheeks at their proximity. "I want you to," he continued before leaning in, closing the gap between them. As soon as their lips met, Ryoma parted.

Reiya stared at him, her mind still registering the things that had happened. Everything seemed to go at a pace where she couldn't catch. She blinked a few times before she flushed. Her small hands immediately flew to her cheeks, as she looked down, not daring to look directly at Ryoma's eyes. Ryoma couldn't help but smirk again at her antics. What would he do if she wasn't there with him forever?

"Don't worry. When we grow up, I will marry you. By then you will be the wife of the best tennis player in the world. This sounds better, no?" he stated casually, still smirking.

"Ah… I… I guess so." Her reply came out weaker than he thought. Nonetheless, he was still overjoyed at her response. She actually agreed to his proposal!

Grinning to himself, he stood up and took their belongings. "Come on! Let's get back before the sun goes down." He reached out his hand to her. Already recovered from her previous demeanour, she smiled at him and gladly took his hand.

"Un!"

Walking hand in hand, they walked out of the park and made their way home. It was a short distance away from their home to the park, so they usually dropped by and practice with each other. Silence penetrated the air around them as they walked. None of them spoke a word.

A sudden cry of help from behind them gained their attention as they turned back. They saw a lady whom seemed to be pregnant, crying for help and a pram moving to the street. The baby, who was unaware of the ruckus, slept soundly in the pram. Just then, an incoming van was advancing to it.

Without a second thought, Reiya unlatched her hand with Ryoma's and darted towards it.

"Rei! Wait!" Ryoma yelled as he, too, ran after her.

Reiya got there just in the nick of time to push the pram away. However, it was too late for her to avoid the van. It screeched to a stop, but it still collided into her. Everything seemed to happen in a slow pace. Reiya pushing the pram, the pram slowly rolled away and out of the street, the van halted but knocked her down, sending her flying a distance before lying onto the ground. The hat was flown away from the sudden impact.

"Rei!" Ryoma yelled once again. Dropping their belongings, he ran to her, where her body laid limply in her own pool of blood. He knelt down and hugged her close, not caring that the blood was staining his clothes. Fresh tears began to make their way down his cheeks as he cried out her name repeatedly.

Number of onlookers gradually increased as passers-by stopped in their tracks to look at the commotion. Soon the ambulance came and they were sent to the nearby hospital.

There they waited, outside the emergency room. Reiya's parents, Ryoma's parents, as well as Ryoma himself were there waiting for the doctor to step out. Reiya's mother were bawling her eyes out as her husband had his arm around her, soothing her down, though he himself looked as if tears would trickle down anytime soon. Ryoma's parents were still in pure shock as they sat there, their faces full of concern and anxiety.

Ryoma, still in his blood soaked clothing, seemed to be fully worn-out, but there wasn't any trace of it. He was pacing around near the door, hoping that it would open soon before he went into another round of weeping.

It seemed like time had stopped. It was a long wait. After what seemed like years, the light indicating the progress of operation went off with a soft 'ding' and out came the doctor, looking as though he had just survived a battle.

Everyone rushed over, eyes filled with hope. The doctor took a glance at everyone before heaving a long sigh. What the doctor will be telling them was going to devastate them.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Reiya… Reiya…" Someone spoke softly.

'Who's calling me?' Reiya thought. Her eyes were still closed, but she was on the verge of being conscious.

"Reiya, can you hear me?" This time, the voice sounded soft yet firm. Reiya began to flutter her eyes open, her mind slowly registering as her eyes tried to adjust to the light intensity.

"Reiya! Mom! Dad! She's awake!" A boyish voice exclaimed, causing everyone in the room to jolt awake.

"Reiya! My dear! How are you feeling?" A motherly figure rushed over to her side and grasped her hand.

"M…Mom…" Reiya managed to croak out with her dry throat. Her head was in turmoil. It felt like her head was going to split soon. She winced. What happened? Oh right, she got into an accident. But how did she get into one? She could only remember the sound of the tyres when the vehicle came to a stop, the feeling of pain surging through her body as she got sent away once she collided with it.

Reiya let her eyes wander. She could see her father, her mother, and three unfamiliar beings. She blinked.

She saw her mother crying, most probably out of relief. A boy who looks about the same age as her leant over from the other side of the bed. She took in his features and wondered, 'Who is this?'

"Rei! I'm glad you're OK!" the boy finally said something. Reiya shifted her head and faced him. She blinked a few times before responding.

"Who... are you?"

Hai~ Thanks for reading up till here! Please tell me what you feel/think after reading so I could improve. And don't worry, I know I had made mistakes, so feel free to point them out and I'll correct them right away~

Hnn... I shall get the first chapter out soon. Hopefully. :O