It All Started With a Bet

What the skin feels is what the emotion denies

Hye! I am back. Thank you very much for staying until this chapter. I won't say anything anymore.Just one thing, you don't know how much your words mean to me. Thank you once again. :) *bows head*

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Prince of Tennis and never ever will.

Chapter 22: What the skin feels is what the emotion denies.

Chapter Summary: She kept thinking things over and over and finally, she finally knew the answer.

Tezuka, Oishi and Sumire were inside the club room when she entered. She bowed to them before she walked closer to her grandmother's table.

"How are you, Ryuzaki-san?" Oishi asked her.

Sakuno looked at the Vice Captain and smiled at him, "I am fine, senpai. What about you? How's the team?"

"We are still warming up actually," Oishi showed her some book, "We are preparing for the line up."

"Sou ka, Good luck to that."

"What are you doing here, Sakuno?" Sumire said catching everyone's attention.

"Anou..." She started not really knowing how to say her words, "It's about the painting..."

Sumire stared at her and then to the both tennis players, "Tezuka, you can go now. Tell the others about the line up and do a massive training to the regulars."

"Hai." Tezuka nodded as a sign of approval and then looked at Oishi. Sakuno sweat dropped a little. No one knew how massive the training it would be but she knew when she saw one.

They would be experiencing hard work on that day as well.

Tezuka nodded at her as well when she returned the gesture. When they were the only two left in the room, Sakuno sat on a chair in front of Sumire and looked at her.

"What about your painting?" Her grandmother asked her.

"I passed it yesterday, Obaa-chan," She answered as she blushed a little, "Sorry, I wasn't able to tell you last night. You were pretty tired and I didn't want to disturb you."

"No need to worry about that," She answered and then smiled at her, "Glad you passed it within the deadline."

"I am too," She agreed and then looked down, "I am also worried though... What if... I fail?"

"Sakuno, that's okay," Sumire said catching her attention, "I know you did your best. I am glad that you went all the way. I am saying this now but I am so proud of you."

The braided-pigtailed girl beamed when she received praise from her grandmother. She knew that she could take whatever result her painting would be.

At least she tried her best to finish her painting.

xxx

She thought of practicing her tennis for a while since she was done with her painting. A training with Fuji would suit her best but she remembered what happened to them the last time. Fuji confessed his love for her and he was just waiting for her answer. The tensai gave her some time to think about her own feelings although, she couldn't guarantee until when. She knew that she couldn't make him wait for long, let alone forever.

What were her feelings for the tensai? She liked Fuji. He was sweet, kind, worried about the others. He was the type of guy who wouldn't lay a single hand to hurt the person he loved. If someone dared to hurt that person, no one knew what he would do.

Thinking about the tensai made her more nervous and panicky all over. She didn't expect that after breaking up with Ryoma, she would feel the same uneasiness towards the tensai.