It All Started With a Bet

Behind Those Hazel Eyes

Hye! I am back! I hope you like this… I hope? domo…

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Prince of Tennis.

Chapter 4: Behind Those Hazel Eyes

Chapter Summary: After two months of ignorance, they started to have a conversation. She didn't want it at all.

She remained speechless as she looked at him. He was standing at the entrance of the court, holding her tennis ball that she missed hitting. That wasn't her concern anymore.

What was Echizen Ryoma doing in that court?

The court which was supposed to be her hiding place? Her secret meeting place with Kanata? Good thing that Kanata wasn't there in the first place. The last person that she was wanted to know the place was unfortunately standing not far from her. She mentally panicked but she didn't show it to him and she hoped that she succeeded of not showing it. She immediately turned around and grabbed her bag. She bowed at him first not trying to be rude before she walked past him.

"You'll forgetting this." He said lifting the tennis ball in his hand.

Sakuno stopped for a while as she turned her head a little to her side, "K-keep it." She didn't really face him for she didn't know how to. All she could think was to get away from the area.

"Ne."

And it felt like he wouldn't let her. She didn't look but she stopped, waiting for him to continue.

"Do you practice here often?"

She held her breath. That wasn't the question that she was expecting from him. There was no way that he would see her practice in this court.

…Where Kanata was playing.

…Where he was teaching her how to play tennis.

…Where she considered the place as her sanctuary.

"No," She said as firmly as she could, "I just dropped by today."

"Hmm."

When she thought that he was not going to speak she continued walking.

"Let's play."

Those words made her stop for the second time. She didn't want to do it but she still did. She slowly turned around and looked at him. Ryoma was tossing the ball in his hand while staring at her.

"Let me see you play your tennis."

She stared at him shock on her face. Ryoma wanted to see her play. Why? She wanted to ask him that but she couldn't. He seemed so distant… at least for her.

"I don't think—"

"Let's just play," He said cutting her off, "Let's see how you improved."

She blinked her eyes twice thinking what the prodigy said. Did she improve? She didn't know. Kanata would always say that she was. But Ryoma was right. She wanted to see it for herself too.

…At least in the eyes of a real player.

Later on:

Inside the court, the sound of the ball was being hit to and fro by two players. The placewas long abandoned and isolated so if they would make a sound, even their faint giggle could be heard within the range.

But no one seemed to go there except for him.

She was playing with him for a while and miraculously, she was keeping up. They had been rallying for several minutes of their third game and either of them wouldn't want to give up a point. Not really admitting it, she was beginning to enjoy playing tennis with him.