A/N: Sakuno's Haircut will be posted up again this summer

Disclaimer: I do not own The Prince of Tennis

Flashback of Rejection

It had been three whole years since that awful day occurred. Petite Sakuno Ryuzaki had skipped to the Seigaku tennis courts to watch practice. She held a neatly tied blue handkerchief in her small hands that contained some cookies she had baked for her longtime crush, Ryoma Echizen.

The cocky brat had seen her and muttered, "Che". Ryoma had despised her and thought of her as a weak, silly fan girl. Her shoulders had been too wide for tennis, her hips too unsteady, and her hair too long. Those ridiculously long braids had acted like the Tezuka Zone, but they attracted bad luck instead of tennis balls.

"Practice is over. First years, pick up balls. Everyone else is dismissed," Tezuka had said, as his cold brown eyes swept the tennis team. A reverberating, "Hai!" had been heard.

Ryoma, even though he was a first year, had been a regular. He had become popular in the school only after making the top eight Seigaku tennis players. But sweet Sakuno had felt gentle love for him before he even entered Seigaku. She had consulted her best friend Tomoka about this and decided it was time to confess.

The arrogant jerk of a freshman had watched with boredom when Sakuno had shyly walked towards him. He had been most surprised at the words that came out of her mouth.

She had said, "Ryoma-kun, I l-like you" with determined eyes that were uncharacteristic to the normal personality of Sakuno. Sakuno had only been determined because she had been so sure of herself and her love for the prince of tennis.

However, Ryoma had stated, "Ryuzaki, I don't have time for confessions. Especially confessions from clumsy girls who cannot play tennis," An expert expression decipherer would have been able to see that Ryoma had inwardly gasped at the way it came out. He had cursed himself and tried looking apologetic; instead, a snobbish smirk spread across his features.

Sakuno was prepared for rejection, but she had started to shake at the harshness of his snub. Her handkerchief full of freshly baked cookies had dropped and her eyes gleamed with forming tears until 3...2...1...

But it hadn't happened. She had not cried. The rejection had fueled her anger for his arrogance. So instead, the sweet girl unexpectedly had glared at Ryoma. She had snatched her cookies from the pavement near the tennis courts and shakily said, "Alright then, Echizen-san, I guess we'll have nothing to with each other. Since you stated that you did not like me in that incredibly gentle way, I won't bother you anymore."

Sakuno walked off with a mix of anger, disappointment, and grace. She had stridden through the park and streets until she reached her home. Losing all her self-control, she had run up the stairs and leaped onto her bed, crying her heart out. After her eyes were exhausted, she had stared at the blue sky which was slowly turning dark and hugged her pillow.

She had contemplated her situation. She could:

A. Become friends again with Ryoma and never talk about what happened.

B. Transfer schools.

C. Ignore Ryoma and get on with her life.

She had ruled out choice A, because it was too heart-breaking. Choice B was inviting, but she wanted to prove she was strong. So even though it had hurt her, she picked C. Choice C had given her hope and if she was strong enough, she could stop loving the jerk.

'Echizen-san... I'm done with you. I do not hate you. I do not like you. I'm completely done with you'

With those words, she had drifted off to sleep.