Shira pondered for a moment. "I suppose I can accept the challenge. A Rakuzan player never backs down," She said. Shira grabbed a nearby racquet and got in starting position.

The game began instantly with Ryoma using his twist serve.

Shira easily returned the shot.

Sakina watched as Ryoma began using more skilled techniques and her eyes widened in shock.
"Wow!" She exclaimed.

Neither player was giving up. Sakina could hardly contain her excitement. Suddenly, a stray ball came directly at Shira who quickly hit the stray and Ryoma's shot.

"Wow you're good! I wanna play!" Someone called out.

"We're in the middle of a match, Kintaro," Ryoma stated.

"Aww! Don't be a hog, Koshimae!" The boy, Kintaro said.

Shira frowned and gathered her things.

"Oi! Where are you going?" Ryoma asked.

Shira looked at Ryoma, "You can play with your friend. Babies must stick together, after all."

Shira walked away. Ryoma then glared at Kintaro and pointed his racquet at him. "Lets play," he mumbled.

Kintaro's face lit up and he jumped into the air. "Yay! Lets start, Koshimae!"

Sakina stared at the boy named Kintaro. "He's strong too," She murmured.

Suddenly, her phone began ringing. Sakina answered it. "Hello? Oh Hi Marui! Really?! Okay, I'll be there!" Sakina hung up the phone and took one last look at Ryoma and Kintaro before running off.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sakina arrived outside Rikkai and spotted Marui waiting for her. She waved and ran over to him. "I'm so glad I get to meet your tennis team!" Sakina exclaimed, an excited look on her face.

Marui nodded, "Glad you're happy. Follow me, I'll show you the team,"

Sakina followed after Marui and looked around. Many players were practicing and Sakina watched them with glittering eyes.

Sakina stopped and stared at Rikkai's Regulars.

"That's the Captain Yukimura and Vice Captain Sanada," Marui said, pointing.

"They're really strong," Sakina mumbled, staring hard at them.

"Come on," Marui said as he headed towards them.

Sakina followed after.

"This is Sakina. The one I said wanted to meet you guys," Marui stated.

The Captain Yukimura smiled at Sakina. "Hi, Its nice to meet you Sakina," He said.

The Vice Captain Sanada stared down at Sakina with a frown.

Sakina looked between the two.
"Hello. Its a pleasure to meet you two. I just recently began playing tennis," She said.

"Would it be too much to ask for a demonstration match? I wanted to watch you guys play," Sakina said.

"No problem. Sanada, would you mind playing a match with Marui?" Yukimura asked, glancing at the vice captain.

Sanada nodded and began walking over to an empty court followed by Marui.

"Lets sit over there," Yukimura said, walking over to a bench and sitting down. Sakina followed and sat down beside him. She stared at the match and observed.

A few minutes into the match Sakina glanced up at Yukimura. She could see a blueish aura around him. Sakina then glanced at Sanada and saw a grayish aura.

They're so strong, Sakina thought.

A sudden chill ran through Sakina's body. She then glanced up at Yukimura once again.

Yukimura...reminds me of someone...but Who was it? Sakina wondered.

Sakina hadn't noticed she had been staring at Yukimura until he looked at her and asked, "Is something the matter?"

Sakina blushed and shook her head, "N-no! Nothing,"

Sakina looked back at the match and continued watching. No matter how hard she tried, however, She couldn't shake the strange feeling. She struggled to remember who Yukimura reminded her of, with no success.

The tennis match ended with Sanada winning. As Sanada approached, Sakina stood up. "Thank you for allowing me to Witness a match!" She then bowed before running off.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sakina stopped running and slowed to a walk. "I can't remember," She mumbled, walking right into a boy.
"G-gomen!" She exclaimed, backing away and rubbing her nose.

"Watch where you're going!" the boy responded.

Sakina looked up at the boy and gasped. "Hanamiya Makoto!"

Hanamiya leaned closer to Sakina. "Pipsqueak? What are you doing around here?"

Sakina blushed and pouted. "Don't call me that! How many times have I told you?!"

Hanamiya shrugged and began walking past.

"Hey! Wait!" Sakina called out, running after him. "I haven't seen you in years Mako-chan! Want to hang out?"

Hanamiya scowled and turned towards Sakina, "Don't ever call me that again," He hissed, glancing around quickly.

Sakina smiled, "I think it's cute," She responded.

Hanamiya sighed. "Whatever, Pipsqueak. I've gotta go,"

"Let me come too!"

Hanamiya didn't respond, instead he walked on.

Sakina ran and fell in step with him. The two walked in silence before Hanamiya stopped and sighed heavily. "Go away," He said, glaring down at Sakina.

"I can't. I haven't seen you in such a long time. I want to hang out with you. You should be more considerate." Sakina stated.

Hanamiya rolled his eyes and walked over to a bench and sat down.

Sakina sat beside him and glanced around at her surroundings. The two were at an empty basketball court.

"Were you gonna play a game, Mako-chan?" Sakina asked.

"Shut up," Hanamiya said, spotting a group of boy's approaching. Hanamiya stood up as the boy's came closer.

Hanamiya talked with the boy's for a bit before walking back towards Sakina. "Go home, Pipsqueak." He said.

Sakina smiled at Hanamiya. "No," She responded.

Hanamiya stared at her and sighed, "fine," He responded turning and heading back to the other boy's. They talked for a bit before the boy's left.

Hanamiya kicked a rock on the ground before sitting beside Sakina. "You really are a pain in the ass." He said.

Sakina poked Hanamiya's cheek before giggling. "Mako-chan, Don't be mean,"

"What happened? After you moved, I mean," Hanamiya asked glancing at Sakina.

Sakina shrugged, "Well, after my mom passed away, my Dad married a woman named Dauna. She suggested we move so she could be closer to her family. That was four years ago. Since then, I talked my Dad into letting me live in an apartment. I'm also learning how to play tennis,"

"You live alone?" Hanamiya asked.

Sakina pouted and lightly pushed Hanamiya. "Yeah, so! Don't be a pervert, I'm not letting you spend the night at my house," She said.

Hanamiya snickered, "oh, really? Its not like I'd do anything to you. You're a short, annoying, dumb Pipsqueak. Who would ever get the hots for you?"

Sakina gasped and pouted before pushing Hanamiya off the bench. He fell down and looked up at Sakina.

"You're gonna regret that," He said, getting up.

Sakina gulped before standing up from the bench and backing away slowly. "Um...Mako-chan..."

Hanamiya was slowly walking towards Sakina.

Sakina turned and began running. She glanced behind herself and caught sight of Hanamiya pursuing her.

Sakina felt herself be grabbed and whirled around. She kicked the air as Hanamiya held her up by the waist.

"Let me go, Mako-chan!" She called out, giggling.

Sakina felt herself falling backwards and let out a scream as she was pulled into the grass.

Hanamiya still had his arms around her. "You're such an airhead."

Sakina twisted around in Hanamiya's arms and poked his cheek again. "Baka. I'm not an airhead. You're the airhead."

Hanamiya flicked Sakina's forehead.

"Oww! That hurt!" Sakina responded, rubbing her forehead.

"Wow Saki. Another one? Is this guy your boyfriend?" A familiar voice called out.

"Sakura!" Sakina exclaimed, glancing at her.

Sakura watched the two with a curious expression on her face.

Hanamiya got up from the ground and began walking away, "See you later Pipsqueak," He said.

Sakina stood up and stamped her foot. "Hey! Well, goodbye to you too Mako-chan!"

"Mako-chan?" Sakura repeated.

"Yeah, that's what I call him. His name is Hanamiya Makoto," Sakina said.

"That was Hanamiya? Wasn't he one of those uncrowned kings?" Sakura asked.

Sakina nodded.

"So, give me the details," Sakura said, "How do you guys know each other?"

"Well, Mako-chan and I used to be next door neighbors back when I was six. We became friends even though he's two years older. At first he was my bully but I won his friendship even though he doesn't like to admit it." Sakina explained.

Sakura nodded "Uh huh. He sounds like the classic bad boy type. So, did you ever think of dating him? I mean, childhood friends and all,"

Sakina blushed and shook her head. "No! Mako-chan has a girlfriend, at least, He did back then. I haven't seen him since I was eleven. I moved away."

Sakura pondered for a moment, "What was his girlfriend like?" she asked.

"Well, She was Pretty. She had short, Wavy, navy blue hair and blue eyes. She was also really kind. But she was sick and always in the hospital. I don't know what happened to her." Sakina Said.

"Well, in any case, I think we should go, it's getting late." Sakura suggested.

Sakina nodded.

Sakina and Sakura began heading towards Sakina's house.