Author's note: Thank you for the reviews everyone. I read all of it last night and I was so happy that it boost me up to make this chapter. Also, thank you for all those who add my story on their favorite list and for those who submitted names, I need them so badly, It was very much appreciated. So sorry for the late update.

Enjoy reading everyone!

Chapter 8

Encounters and Confrontation

"Hey Kaji, what's up with you? It's not like I'm going to rape her or something, I just want to have some friendly chat with her, ne cutie?" a determined Wakato begged his team captain as Kajimoto turned his back on him, carrying little Sakuno protectively in his arms. The girl was frightened by the sudden outburst of Wakato and Kajimoto can't help but to worry about her.

"She's not the girl you'll flirt up with Wakato." Kajimoto said as he narrowed his eyes unto his teammate. Wakato felt a tinge down to his spine, he had never seen his team mate glare that deeply and he was sure of it but because he was such a stubborn guy, he continued his pursuing business.

"No." was Kajimoto's brief answer.

Sakuno can feel the hardness in his voice and she was now starting to feel a bit scared of him too but she would rather stay with Kajimoto than Wakoto who keeps on winking at her. Sakuno does not know if she was uncomfortable or annoyed with it.

"But Kaji! Just a friendly chat! That's all I want, really!" Wakoto said a bit louder, "And rephrase that sentence of yours, I am not going to flirt up with her, only perverts do that! And ahm… well… I am not that kind of guy!" he continued, trying to convince himself that he was really not.

Sakuno found this amusing and gave out a small chuckle. Both Kajimoto and Wakato noticed this, the Jyosei team captain blushed while his vice captain blinked and after a minute of processing what he had just seen, he smiled evilly and said, "See Kaji?! She found me entertaining, that means she's not scared of me, ahh… I think you're the only one who thinks she's terrified of me, hmmm… or maybe you're just jealous?! Aja! That's it! You're jealous Kaji!".

"And why would I be jealous?" Kajimoto replied with his left brow raised.

Wakato put his hand on his chin and said bluntly, "Well, er… I think because you have a crush on her! Ne, ne Kaji, you have crush on her right? Ooh… you're blushing! See? Wait till I tell the whole team."

Kajimoto had enough of it but he can't deny the fact that he is blushing, he doesn't even knew why, "I'm just embarrassed." he said to himself.

"Leave her alone or I'll tell coach you arrive 5 minutes before your match."

Wakato gulped, if ever their coach finds that out, he was sure that he'll get lock-up training for 6 months! That means no going out, cell phones are not allowed; focus on tennis and no dates!

"Gyaah! Never! It won't happen!" Wakato shouted.

"Then leave Ryuzaki-chan alone"

Wakato pouted and said, "Kaji is so mean, well, I guess that's just how he acts when he's in love!" and with that Wakato winked at Sakuno for the umpteenth time and set off towards the stadium.

Kajimoto flushed again. "You'll be dead later Wakato."

"Anou…" Sakuno started.

Kajimoto almost forgot he was still carrying Sakuno and when he turned his head on her direction, he come face to face with her that their lips slightly brushed each other. The young man set apart immediately knowing that it is the righteous thing to do at the moment. He then apologized to Sakuno who, as dense as ever, did not even realize what had just happen.

Kajimoto was surprised that Sakuno was still in her usual state, usually, if a girl her age had such a physical contact with a young man, she would make some reaction, but here Sakuno was, staring candidly at him with those chocolate-brown eyes that made Kajimoto's body to heat up.

"Anou… Kajimoto-oniisan, you can put me down now. Wakato-san is nowhere to see." Sakuno said.

Kajimoto seemed to regain his consciousness and put Sakuno down.

"Arigatou Kajimoto-oniisan." Sakuno bowed to the older guy.

"It's nothing." Kajimoto said, "Er.. do you want to grab some snack? I'm kinda hungry. "

"Don't you want to watch Wakato-san's game oniisan?" asked Sakuno peculiarly.

Kajimoto's face turned red again. "How foolish of me to forgot Wakato's game!" he burbled to his self.

"Ah… yeah. Well, what I mean is, let's grab something to eat first before going back to the stadium. There's a few minutes left before the matches began anyway. So would you like to come?" he inquired shyly, hoping that the young girl would agree.

To his relief, Sakuno beamed and nodded. He led her to a burger stall and they bought two chickenburgers, he also bought Sakuno some crepes that she had fun eating.

Kajimoto was very curious on how comfortable he is with this little girl, but he shrugged it off for his mind was set again to the almost beginning 2nd batch of matches, and on his own match in the 3rd batch. He then asked if Sakuno had finished her food. The girl said yes and so Kajimoto held her hand gently and lead the way to the stadium, he even asked her if she wants to sit in the players' bench so as to have a better look on the matches and so that he can see her a bit closer but Sakuno politely refused the offer.

"I'm fine in my seat Kajimoto-oniisan, I can see the game properly from there."

If Sakuno was just an observant person like Inui, she would never missed Kajimoto's disappointed reaction. But because she's an innocent as ever, she fail to notice that she again, attracted a future lover of hers without even breaking a single sweat.

And before Kajimoto and Sakuno part ways, the young man murmed this softly in Sakuno's ears, "You know, some things seems to be close yet, they are bound to be beyond our reach."

With a gentle smile to Sakuno, he prodded her head and set off in the palyers' ground leaving the girl behind.

-Prince of Tennis-

Screams and yells greeted Sakuno as she returned in her seat beside Atobe's maids. Hitomi greeted her happily and told Sakuno that her senpai Inui along with the one named Renji Yanagi won their match. Sakuno was glad for her senpai but she suddenly remembers that her Kawamura-senpai was Inui's opponent.

"Oh well… A game is like that. It's either you win or lost but I think Kawamura-senpai don't feel like he lost." Sakuno said to herself as she looked at her burning senpai who was still smiling and eagerly watching the matches that has just began.

As she was watching her Oishi-senpai serve the ball in Court 3, she abruptly felt that someone was watching her, Sakuno then wandered her eyes and saw her Kunimitsu-oniisan looking at her, without thinking, she smiled at him and the older teen nodded back.

"I wonder why Kunimitsu-oniisan was looking at me?" she said softly. "I'll ask him later."

-Prince of Tennis-

"That was a superb cool shot there commenced by Niou-san of Rikkai Dai! No doubt he belonged in such prestigious school! "The commentator shouted as the trickster launched the tennis ball high in the air where it creates a super high lob shot.

Fans and supporters of Niou screamed and cheered for their idol.

"But Yagyuu-san is not slacking off! Woah! That was a very fast return! "The commentator stated lively as Yagyuu unleashed his golf swing. "The matches here sure are fiery! Now let's take a look at Court 2 with Shishido-sana and Mizuki-san!"

"Shishido-sama ganbatte!" shouted a group of girls who were drooling over Shishido as he used his Counter Punch play style against Mizuki.

Sakuno was quite unsure but it seemed to her that her Ryou-kun looked annoyed about his screaming fans. She then forged a hypothesis that tennis players can be snobbish sometimes to their fan girls and boys. She can't help to think about her Kunimitsu-oniisan as one of the examples. Sakuno giggled at the thought of her oniisan signing autographs for the fans when a thought suddenly struck her.

"Oh! I wonder why Kunimitsu-oniisan was staring at me lately?" she said looking at her senpai, who was still unexpectedly gazing at her!

"Eh? Why is oniisan still staring at me?" she asked herself as she ingeniously do some uncomfortable gestures that gave Tezuka a hint that she was feeling a bit uncomfortable about the situation, with this, Tezuka gestured for Sakuno to come to the player's exit grounds through eye contact, Sakuno may be bad at directions but she can easily interpret what thoughts those eyes want to express.

As she saw her oniisan walked towards the exit, she excused herself again to Atobe's maid saying that she needed to go to the comfort room; she knew that Hitomi was not that convinced with her reason but going to the players' grounds is more important, who knows what her Kunimitsu-onnisan will do when she did not show up.

-Prince of Tennis-

With a miraculous luck, Sakuno found her way to the grounds without getting lost; she spotted her senpai with his back on the wall and arms crossed. Tezuka noticed her easily and walked towards her.

"20 minutes." He began.

Sakuno wore a questioning look signifying that she did not understand what he said.

"20 minutes." Tezuka repeated, "You got off the stadium for 20 minutes, where did you go?"

"Etou… Ah! Where did I go? Ahm… I went back to the building to buy some drinks oniisan but I did not find the vending machine easily and when I found it, the choice buttons are so high that I could not reach it."

"Of course" Tezuka said, "And then?"

"And then… anou… Kajimoto-oniisan help me out." Sakuno said lowly while playing with her hands.

"Kajimoto? From Jyosei?"

"Hai"

"I see."

"Sorry for making you worry oniisan, I didn't mean too." Sakuno said as she bowed in front of the older teen.

Tezuka sighed. "This is not the first time you made me worry over you so I guess I'll give you some punishment then."

"Eh?" Sakuno thought to herself, "He's not thinking of making me run a hundred laps right?!"

"You're going to accompany me in the Aquarium after the exhibition matches." Tezuka said, "I will be the one to talk to Fuji about this matter."

"Waah? Aquarium? Oh… All right then." Sakuno said.

"Also…"

"Also?"

"Be sure to have lunch with us, I believe Atobe's people are assisting you." Tezuka said firmly.

"Ah… Hai! I'm going to make sure I eat lunch with you." The girl replied.

Tezuka sighed. "Alright, you can go back to your seat or… do you want to seat with us?"

"Ah… I'm fine with my seat oniisan, really."

-Prince Of Tennis-

The second batch was already finished when Sakuno got back to her seat, Niou and Yagyuu's match was a tie, Shishido won against Mizuki, and Oishi and Saeki won against the lady lovers: Sengoku and Wakato. Kajimoto was eyeing his team mate deeply, Wakato saw this but he ignored it and started whistling and cheering for the third batch along with Sengoku and Niou.

"You three are very noisy." Marui snapped.

Niou eyed Marui evilly and said childishly, "Why, why, our cake lover Bun-chan is a bit laid back today, Is it because cute Ryuzaki-chan is watching and might see your dark side?"

Marui blushed but before he could say a word, Sengoku and Wakato interrupted.

"NANI?! You mean Marui has a crush on Sakuno –chan too! Mou… Why do I have lots of rivals?" Sengoku groaned.

"Oh.. Oh… so Marui like Ryuzaki-chan too, well… I'm telling you not to go near Kajimoto or else you'll be in a battleground." Wakoto teased.

"You should not talk about others' kohai like that!" Kikumaru barged in.

It's all thanks to Kikumaru's sudden outburst that Wakato was saved from being send to hell, Kikumaru's voice was loud that Kajimoto did not catch what he has just said but unfortunately for Kikumaru, Niou, Sengoku and Wakoto's urge for teasing was turned to him.

"AHA! Kikumaru is jealous! Young love! Young love" the trio said together.

"I'm not Jealous!" Kikumaru shouted while blushing. "And that's my line to Ochibi!"

The other players were laughing on their actions, the others just gave a smile or chuckle, in Tezuka and Sanada's case, they just glared at their team mates for causing such noise but because its their time to play, they kept their cool down and concentrate on their soon-to-start match. Afterall, Yukimura and Fuji are not the type of players to go easy with.

END OF CHAPTER

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