A/n: I hope you like my fanfiction! Thank you so much! :)

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Learning that they were both in danger because of Black Organization, Shinichi and Ryoma stared at their windows that stormy night. It was really nostalgic for Shinichi that he was back in his real age and is staying inside his room at Kudo Residence. He is now protecting a younger boy with the same situation as he has. His life is in danger because of the same group who caused him too much trouble that made him distant from his only Juliet, Mouri Ran.

"Why are you here, Haibara?" he asked as he was having the usual event when his body is shrinking back as Conan.

Haibara Ai suddenly appeared at his back as Shinichi was seating at the right side of his bed, struggling like he is having a heart attack and told him, "You'll need another dose of the antidotes tomorrow. I know you're not finished in your mission yet."

Shinichi took the box on his bed and told her, "Why? I disobeyed your words."

Haibara Ai only smiled and told him, "Your will to save a person became heavier after you learned that Echizen Ryoma is in the same situation as we are. I know you. You won't stop until you find this person who wants him dead."

"Will I be able to do it?" he asked.

"Of course, Meitantei... you can! I trust you'll be able to finish the road you started!"

Shinichi embraced Haibara Ai as Conan and after that, he lost consciousness.
...

Echizen Ryoma just felt the same as Kudo Shinichi that night. He knows that he cares and loves Ryuzaki Sakuno but if he shows his affection now, he'll bring her into too much trouble now.

He struggled to sleep but now that he remembers everything even the gruesome memory of a murder scene, he can't close his eyes.

He sat back again on his bed when his cousin, Nanako went to check up on him. She opened the door to just look for him but she was deeply worried when she saw him troubled.

"Ryoma, was there something troubling you?" she asked.

Ryoma did not reply.

"Ryoma?" she asked again.

Echizen only looked at her coldly and went back to sleep. Nanako wondered why he looked at her sadly until he actually had a chance the next day after he cooked for him.

"Seems like you finally did not scream last night. Good for you. Now, Rinko-obasan finally smiled."

He finished his meal, went to the door and told her, "Don't rejoice yet." His last words threw Rinko into making her worry more. Nanjiroh only looked confused but asked his son, "Don't speak something that would make your elders worry for you! What do you mean by that?"

Echizen Ryoma did not reply to that question but told them, "I'm leaving for now."

He walked away farther from their house to go to his school. When he stepped up inside the bus, Kudo Shinichi is already there inside and he seemed to be waiting for him.

Back at Echizen Residence...

"Nanjiroh! Nanjiroh! Don't you think the nightmares he was having were his old memories when someone attacked him and Sakuno?" Rinko was shouting now because of worry.

Nanjiroh only replied, "How would I know? Why don't you ask your son?"

"HE WON'T TELL US OJISAN!!! He may act normal but if he's alone, he is troubled!" Nanako cried.

Nanjiroh laughed and told them, "He'll be fine! Don't worry about him! What if his problem is only a girl who dumped him? You're thinking too much Rinko-chan!"

"I wish you're right about that, Nanjiroh...," Rinko said.

"When he gets back home, I'll give him my magazines!" then he laughed.

He may laugh but he is also worried. He doesn't just want the them to worry too much for Ryoma.

"Don't make Ryoma like you, ojisan!" Nanako added, smirking.
...

Echizen Ryoma quickly changed into his Seigaku Tennis Club clothes for the morning practice. Despite the team knowing that Ryoma's in trouble, they know that they musn't get distracted. For that day, Inui created another Inui juice.

"Today, all of the regulars has to run with three people serving balls for them. Of course, those people who would fail returning the ball will drink my Inui juice through the three people inside the court for fifteen minutes. Echizen will run first and Momo will follow after Echizen answers the first ball," Inui said.

Of course, everyone looked at the green liquid and went grim looking at it.

Echizen was the first to run and return all the balls, Momo next, Kaido, Eiji, Kawamura, Oishi, last is Tezuka.

All of them were good but as the fifteen minutes were nearing, Momo lost a ball.

Finally, the training ended with only Momo drinking the Inui juice. Horio was really terrified when his senpai ran for the water stands.

Ryuzaki-sensei looked up at Shinichi from outside the Tennis Court and asked him, "Do you like Tennis, too?"

"Iie... I rather play soccer but because my client is a Tennis freak and told me to protect a Super Rookie of Tennis, I'm starting to get interested," he answered.

Sakuno, Tomoka, the reporters of Monthly Pro Tennis were watching Echizen's match against Fuji when Detective Takagi and Detective Sato appeared. Shinichi waved for them. Both quickly went beside them and informed the Seigaku team's coach about the investigation. They went away from the courts for a while and reported to her the current information they gathered.

"Seems like Atobe's attacker and Sakura's attacker is the same. Most of all, they both told us that this person wanted to know where the Echizen family lives. They attack and kill their companions if they don't answer or say no to him," Detective Sato said.

"Did Atobe Keigo saw something significant from this particular person?" Kudo asked.

Detective Takagi thought about it and answered, "He said that he remembered a huge burn mark from the man's neck."

"Shinichi, are you sure the culprit's a student?"

"Hai! I'm sure. The attacks happened at the time interval where students usually leave their houses, most of all, Katsuko Sakura was attacked inside Seigaku. The guards left in front and back of Seigaku did not inform me that someone left the grounds when two guards rushed inside to rescue Katsuko. So, the only thing the culprit could do is to mix in with the students and disguise himself as a normal student of Seigaku as what a janitor named Fujiwara Meiju told me. He told me that he had seen someone changing his clothes inside the men's restroom."

Coach Ryuzaki went unhappy after hearing all that but he had one question, "Echizen, my grand daughter and their senpai were attacked before. Was that connected at what was happening now?"

"Sadly, yes, ma'am," Detective Sato said.

"We'll do our best to find him before something bad happens to Echizen," Detective Takagi said.

Without them knowing, the culprit was listening to them through wiretapping. He grinned evilly and told himself inside an empty room, "Fujiwara Meiju saw me, huh? He'll regret he saw me!" In that way, he invited him to go with him when the classes were all dismissed.

Motto Furuki, a young, black haired basketball coach next to Coach Ryuzaki told them, "Meiju isn't just a janitor. He's also a student of Highschool Basketball team of Seigaku. I asked him once to find Irene Lee who told us that he'll just go to the bathroom, and well, we can't prove that the serial killer is Irene Lee. There were just too many students those times I asked to find him."

"How many? Can you also pass to us their faces and names? We would want to know all of them! One of them should be the real culprit!" Shinichi said.

"Oh, yeah... Irene Lee, Meiju and the others were outside when Katsuko Sakura was attacked. I will give everything to you tomorrow." 

"Are you all sure that the attacks are connected to Echizen Ryoma's old case before?" Coach Ryuzaki asked.

"Hai! We are sure. The witnesses speak the same. We left Kudo Shinichi to protect the boy. He's a prodigy in terms of finding culprits," Detective Sato said.

With that, Ryuzaki felt weak but faced Kudo. "Protect him with your life!"

"Hai!" he said.

That same night, the culprit did punish Fujiwara Meiju inside the school, choked him and struck him using a Katana, then, hung him at the tree near the Men's tennis courts. He used Meiju's blood to leave a message.on the wall of the Tennis Club Locker Room.

APPEAR BEFORE ME AT THE ABANDONED STREET TENNIS COURT OR I WILL KEEP SEARCHING WHERE YOU LIVE AND KILL EVERYONE YOU CARE!!! ECHIZEN RYOMA!!! I'LL BE WAITING TO YOU FOR 24 HOURS!

That next morning was welcomed by the freshman trio shouting and screaming because of fear after seeing the dead body. Tezuka, Kikumaru, Momoshiro, Oishi, Fuji and Kawamura went to where they are. Of course, all of them were also surprised. Oishi and Fuji quickly informed the teachers.Kawamura and Kikumaru Eiji called for the police.

Tezuka quickly asked the three, "Where's Echizen?"

"E-Echizen?" Horio asked.

The tennis team were all panicking now. After Coach Ryuzaki and the other teachers were informed, the classes were all suspended, leaving Kudo Shinichi free time to know what was truly happening but as everyone were confused why the classes were suspended, Shinichi stumbled upon a third year student who slipped up. He noticed that his hands and neck were covered with bandages .

He helped him up and asked him, "How did you get injured?"

"Uh? Well, I'm in a boxing club actually. My name's Akita Oshiro," he said and quickly left.
...

"ANSWER CAPTAIN TEZUKA!!!" screamed Momo.

"Momo-senpai, Tezuka-senpai, I do think I just saw Echizen. He stopped here for a while after leaving the club locker room, then ran again," Kachiro said.

Shinichi had just appeared at their back, seeing the dead body and hearing their conversation, he quickly went at the locker room. Tezuka, Oishi and Momo quickly noticed Shinichi's worried expression.

They followed him inside the club locker room and it was a huge shock to all of them to see the bloody letter for Echizen Ryoma on the wall.

Momo was at the act of rushing but Tezuka, Oishi and Shinichi told him to stop and leave it to them.
"Momo, Echizen would feel worse if you are hurt. For him, it's better to risk his life than other people's lives," Oishi told him.

"Still, he should know how to protect himself," Tezuka Kunimitsu said.

"He's doing something reckless!" Kudo screamed and ran to find him.

Kaido only looked confused after seeing everyone in his team in commotion and seeing Tezuka follow Shinichi to search for Echizen.

Oishi told Momo before he followed them to search for Echizen, "Tell the police about that bloody message. Leave the search for us."

Shinichi and the others searched badly. The heavens grew brighter and the weather became colder. They prayed that Echizen is still alive.

Shinichi and Tezuka searched at the nearby streets,

Oishi went straight at the path where the street tennis court is. ...

Echizen was already at the act of stepping up to go at the abandoned court when an unknown girl appeared at his back, holding a pink umbrella. She's beautiful, has long black hair and warm eyes.

"If you go up, are you ready to die?" she asked.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"Someone close to Shinichi...," she smiled.

Echizen replied, "The killings should stop. I have to go, right?"

"Chigau, Echizen! If you die, you'll make things worse!" she said.

The police cars were heard coming near that place already and so, the unknown culprit left for his life.

Echizen started to go down the stairs when he suddenly felt weak and collapse after running hard. Luckily, the girl caught him but was surprised after seeing blood gush from the boy's right arm. Oishi found them already with Echizen being carried by a girl he doesn't know who safely put him inside the police car of Detective Sato.

Shinichi, Tezuka and Oishi soon went closer to them.

Shinichi stared at the girl who saved Echizen's life. She and Shinichi locked eyes together.

"Ran! Mouri Ran!" he cried.

Mouri Ran went outside of the car and hugged him. "How did you know my client?"

"Haibara told me."

"Get inside the car, kids!" Detective Sato said. Detective Takagi also offered his car.

The other policemen were already going up with their guns at the ready.

"Let the other police handle the rest. Our job is to bring Echizen in the hospital. He seemed hurt," she said.

Tezuka and Shinichi rode in different cars with Shinichi seating beside Echizen and Tezuka seating with Ran and Oishi.
...

Shinichi looked sadly at Echizen and when he saw Echizen's wound, it seemed like his attacker used the confusion to attack Echizen and finish him off at the street Tennis Court.

With very few clues surfaced and Echizen was lured to get him killed, he can now narrow the suspects in his mind. There are two people in his mind after reading the Basketball Coach's report. The serial killer disguising themselves as students can be Irene Lee or Akita Oshiro.

Akita Oshiro seemed very suspicious for him after seeing all the bandages he saw. Most of all, he was confused why when he helped him, he didn't flinch despite him, touching his right arm that should have been painful for him.

Irene Lee is at the exact time when Katsuko Sakura was attacked.

He did not speak his theory yet until they arrived at the hospital. The cause of Echizen Ryoma's collapse is because of the wound he received.

"We found out that the vertical wound he received is contaminated with a chemical but the chemical won't make someone die, it will only temporarily make someone sleep. The cut was most likely done by a tranquilizer's needle. After that, he successfully entered the chemical through his body."

Oishi, Tezuka and the others finally breathed normally after that.

"He can go back home after he wakes up," the doctor said.

"Arigato Gozaimasu!" Tezuka said.

Then, Detective Sato disappointedly told them after receiving Inspector Megure's call, "The assassin escaped."

"Most likely, Detective Sato-san. He might have escaped when he heard the police's sirens," Shinichi said.

"Can there be anything we can do to help Echizen?" Oishi asked.

"The whole team must not lose an eye at him. Protect him at all costs. Starting tomorrow, the police force is in Red Alert," she assured them.

"Who's gonna tell his parents that he's in trouble?" Oishi asked.

"We musn't tell. He won't like making them worry," Shinichi blurted.

"But Shinichi...," Ran asked him.

"No one? How will we tell his parents' about his situation if they notice that there's something odd going around him?" Oishi asked again.

Tezuka agreed at Shinichi. "He's right, Oishi. He won't like making his parents worry."

I scold that brat after he wakes up! Tezuka and Shinichi were thinking the exact same thing.

"Shinichi, I do think I've got to help Inspector Megure, Detective Chiba and the forensics in their investigation back at Seishun Gakuen. Stay here. Let's go Takagi!" Detective Sato said.

"Sato-san, can I stay here? I do think Shinichi's a bigger help than me," he suggested.

After that, Detective Sato agreed. "You kids should go back home, now! Leave Echizen Ryoma to Detective Takagi and Mouri Ran's care!"

"But...," Oishi said but after looking at Tezuka, he backed down and followed.

It was already noon at the time Kudo and Sato arrived at the crime scene. The three murder crime scenes and victims had a pictures Shinichi looked up.

He found it odd that all of the victims were struck by a blade at the chest and all have choke marks.

He walked farther away from where the body is found when he saw drops of dried blood. He approached one of the forensics team to accompany him. "Hey, can you also examine those traces of blood?" he asked Limmel, a new, young man among the forensics team. He examined all of the drops of blood they would see as they were walking.

The trace of blood looked like the culprit dragged his victim after Limmel told him that it belonged to one person, the victim.

He followed the trace of blood and found himself inside the Men's Tennis Court and there were few strikes.

There were blade marks at the center court that is obvious at the top of the net. The marks are in different widths, lengths and deepness. He looked down and saw a dried, small pool of blood at the right side of the net. He also asked him to reexamine the blood. Just like what he expected, it belonged to Meiju. "Seems like the center court is the real crime scene and starting point," he told Limmel."Seems like Meiju tried to fight the culprit but still died like the butler. The butler's case was easy to crack because of a witness telling us everything he knows and seen. He just didn't see the culprit's face because he was wearing a mask. This time, he silenced a man but why?" he asked.

Then, he suddenly remembered their conversation with Coach Ryuzaki. Meiju's name was raised there.

"He could have eavesdropped on us but how?" that time then, he returned to where the body was found. The police and forensics were still checking up at what might happen there.

Detective Sato had found a tip of a blade and a dagger in which she quickly told the forensics to examine.

The blades were quickly examined  at the nearest Police Station.

After a few hours, the forensics team finally gave them an answer about what the informations they found at the  blades. Shinichi and all of the police officers there were surprised to know that the other blade is a Kissaki, the tip part of a katana.

Atobe Keigo was with them. Eventhough his parents tried to stop him going at Seigaku to crack the case on who could be his butler's killer, he still bravely went there, telling them, "A king musn't run in circumstances as this."

"Can all the killings be done by a katana?" Detective Chiba asked everyone.

"It can't be. I saw with my own two eyes that the mysterious killer is holding a knife! It wasn't a normal knife. It's a dagger, Uhn!" Atobe told them.

"Atobe's a reliable witness. What he could have told us is true but why a Katana now?" Detective Sato asked.

"Well, the the Katana is new, sir. There were no traces of other blood except Meiju's. We also found out that there were traces of Meiju's fingerprints. The handle of the dagger only have Meiju's fingerprints. The dagger and the kissaki was found out to have close contact telling us that they might have fought for their own lives," Derek said. He has the same age as Takagi's.

"Meiju tried to fight him off... Oh poor boy...," Sato said.

Then, Detective Sato received a call from Detective Takagi when the sun was already setting.

"Sato-san, Echizen has already woken up. Can you tell Kudo?" Sato quickly told him that.

"Leave the crime scene to us. Your job is to look after him," Inspector Megure said.

"When did I become a bodyguard?" he asked.

"Just go!" she screamed.
...

Echizen Ryoma woke up at his hospital bed after a few hours. He still felt a little dizzy, then, Mouri Ran held his hand. He felt a warm feeling after that.

"Where am I? What's your name?" he asked.

"Well, I haven't had a formal introduction, then. My name"s Mouri Ran but you could call me Ran-neesan if you want. Also, You're in a hospital. We rushed you here after you collapsed."

"I collapsed?" he asked.

"Yes. Shinichi and your senpais were really worried for you," she said.

"Did they tell my family?" he asked.

"Shinichi forbid to tell your parents about what happened to you. Was his decision wrong? Should I tell?" she asked anxiously but she still have a smile at her lips.

"No, oneesan... Shinichi-senpai's decision's right. I don't want my family to worry about me."

After a few minutes, Shinichi went inside his room when Ran is arranging the flowers for him and telling him, "You can go back to school tomorrow. The doctors only told us that you are staying here so that they could examine the wounds you have are nothing serious. The doctors were really serious about your case. You don't just have a wound at your right arm. They found out that you also have wounds at your hands, ankles and most of all, you have a bullet wound at the back of left shoulder. What exactly happened to you? Are you running away from your attacker?" she asked.

He didn't reply at her question, rather, he said, "Did the doctors tell that to my team mates?" he asked.

"No. They did not tell everything to them when Detective Takagi told them that what really happened to you cannot be revealed to civilians because of your dangerous position. I heard everything when they talked to him."

Ryoma went silent.

"Well, if you're not ready yet, I won't force you."

"So that's what happened to you! Your attacker followed you, isn't it?" Shinichi screamed, startling Ran and Ryoma. Echizen did not reply at him due to shock."Tell me what happened to you! Our job as detectives is not just to crack cases but to protect lives! Tell me!" he screamed as he was closing the door.

Ran, in her anger, slapped Shinichi. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I have to know!" he said.

"He's not ready, yet!"

Then, the young couple had a small argument until Ryoma told Ran, "Onee... I just want to tell Shinichi-senpai about what happened to me."

Ran looked at him and exited the room, worried.

"Now, tell me," Shinichi said after she went out of his suite room.

He struggled to speak first, clutched his blanket and said, "I think you're right senpai. I was already outside Seigaku when I felt that I was shot and have been wounded. I made it near the Street Tennis Court even I kept falling down. I made it without my blood pouring at the ground as I was struggling to stop it and after that, Ran-neesan stopped me. You're right. Someone from inside Seigaku wanted to kill me."

"So, do you understand now that you musn't move on your own? If you're afraid to die, why did you leave all of a sudden? Is this the real Echizen Ryoma I know of? The so called, 'Prince'? Why risk your life? I already told you that our enemy's dangerous! I already told you that I will protect you and I swear to find your assassin! We have the same enemies! We have to unite!" he asked.

"I want everything to stop!" he answered him back but he was totally jolted up awake when Shinichi slapped him hard.

"Your death will make everything worse! I'm offering myself to you, why won't you accept?"

"Shinichi-senpai... Arigatou Gozaimasu! Gomen nasai!!!!" he cried. Kudo Shinichi finally smiled and both of them stared at the setting sun.

"I lied to your parents that your team is having a group practice today to protect your secrets," he said.

"Tezuka-senpai's angry with me, right?" he asked.

"Well, he's worried. If there's one person you need to tell your secret, he's the right man."
...

He was dismissed at the hospital the next day. Of course, he still participated at the morning practicd and that same day, everyone was happy to see him well and accompanied by Kudo and Ran.

"Kudo-senpai, thank you for helping us find Echizen," Oishi told him.

"No, it's fine! It's my job after all!" he shrugged with a very big smile at his lips.

Then, suddenly, the freshman trio approached him, "Oishi-senpai! Tezuka-senpai and Echizen's having a match!"

They quickly went to the tennis court that do not have a yellow lane. The back court is still in process of investigation and there are still forensics team going there when Shinichi informed them that it was the starting point where Meiju was killed.

"Echizen, yudan sezu ni ikou!* Let's play this duel fairly and without regrets!"

After that, both men went to their positions.

Echizen served with a twist serve but Tezuka answered it without sweating.

Echizen knew that their captain quickly used Tezuka Zone. Echizen did all his best to break it but he can't do it like before he went to America. The Tezuka Zone he's facing now is much better. He was truly devastated when Tezuka won the first game without him even leaving one ball at the his side.

"What's happening to Echizen? All of his finishing moves are being sealed with Tezuka using Tezuka Zone and Zero Shiki Drop Shot!" Momo said.

3-0

Echizen's finishing moves were weaker now than before and he cannot even get one game even at his last service game. He knows he has to do something to win even his left arm is aching already.

Tezuka served quickly but of course, it was a no touch ace, surprising Echizen.

Tezuka served again by lobbing the ball.

Everyone thought that it was a chance ball for Echizen to use the Cyclone Smash, well, actually, he was at his position to use it when suddenly, Mouri Ran shouted, "No! Don't!" but it seemed Echizen did not hear her.

No one have heard her except Sakuno and Tomoka who's confused.

"Who is she?" Tomoka asked irritatedly. Then, Tomoka still kept cheering for Echizen.

"I think she's Shinichi-senpai's friend," she said.

After that, Sakuno's eyes watched Echizen and Tezuka, worriedly.

Echizen, as he is trapped at Tezuka Zone and the continous zero-shiki drop shots, Echizen unlocks the Muga No Kyouchi. He used the Tsubame Gaeshi of Fuji when Tezuka smashed the ball but he is still trapped by Tezuka Zone.

He used another Cyclone Smash when it gave him way to win obe game.

Tezuka was unable to return it again but at the third time, he finally made it out.

"Out! 15-40," said the umpire.

"He used Tezuka Phantom to make the Cyclone Smash out!" Eiji said.

"I really cannot believe Echizen's still using the Cyclone Smash even the doctor forbid him to do, so," Ran said.

A rally soon followed after that. Echizen caught up by using the Cool Drive and won his 4th service game and Tezuka's service game but at the seventh game, Echizen's left shoulder is getting worse.

Because of pain, he decided to use his weaker right arm to play against Captain Tezuka Kunimitsu.
"Why'd he shift at his right arm?" Eiji asked Kawamura.

"I have no answer for that," he said.

Fuji opened his eyes and answered Eiji's question, "He has been using all of his finishing moves and Muga No Kyouchi at this match. Most of all, he is unable to open the other doors of Muga no Kyouchi. He already used the One-footed Split Step to make his movements faster. Echizen's Muga no Kyouchi is useless to Tezuka. Now that he shifted at his right hand, it only means that his technique is at its limit and ended," he said.

Momo's crying out now, "I can't watch anymore! Captain Tezuka's leading 4-2!"

Inui added up, "The percentage that Tezuka will win is 82. 45%"

Sakuno looked closely at Echizen. In every return of the ball, Echizen seemed to try to bare with the pain and keep his momentum.

The seventh game is the most heated game. Ryoma is able to rally with Captain Tezuka flawlessly but he can only use two of his techniques, Drive B and Twist Smash.

His right forehand and backhand are not like his left forehand and backhand but its able to keep up with Tezuka's national level skills. Echizen never gave up and still played and worked hard. He still pushed himself to win even he cannot open the three doors of Muga No Kyouchi. The balls kept coming at him. It becomes heavier and harder to return but even he can't use his left arm, he can use his right arm to defeat Tezuka. He was able to come back with a score of 40-40 now.

Tezuka Kunimitsu sharpened his returns and shots. Echizen's losing his stamina now due to the pain at his left arm, distracting him. Everyone looked at Echizen. He seemed not himself and something is distracting him but he kept moving and doing his best till the end.

"Game and Match! 6-4! Tezuka Kunimitsu wins!"

Everyone clapped after that amazing match.The reporters of Monthly Pro Tennis were also amazed,  Echizen fell on his knees, put his racket down and held his aching shoulder. He lowered his cap when Tezuka went closer to the net. "Just what I predicted. Your left arm is injured, isn't it? Kudo Shinichi-senpai told me everything. It was also his decision to not tell us what he learned. Your position may be difficult but thinking recklessly to save people isn't the right decision! You also need to think about yourself, too!" 

Saori Shiba became confused why Tezuka spoke seriously at Echizen after he took pictures to the both of them. Then, she reviewed the pictures. She noticed that Echizen's face were really in pain but he kept fighting to win. She showed it Mamoru Inoue quicky and that's when he asked Coach Ryuzaki, "Ryuzaki-sensei, there are rumors going on all over the schools about Echizen Ryoma. Was it true that the serial murder cases are connected to him?"

"Inoue, if I tell you... do you promise not to write it in your article?" Coach Ryuzaki asked.

"Hai! Yakusoku."

"It is true...,' she said. Shiba and Inoue were surprised.

Tezuka had already left Echizen alone inside the court and everyone already went back to their usual practice when Sakuno dashed beside Echizen who's still on his knees and asked him, "Are you alright? Do you need help?"

Echizen smiled back at her and sat down, "If you won't move there and hold my right hand you can leave."

Sakuno blushed. She held Echizen's right hand to help him stand but actually, it was just his tactic to make Sakuno fall on him. Echizen purposefully made himself fall again so that he can hug her and fall on their knees again. Sakuno's cheeks were redder now and Tomoka's getting more and more jealous at her.

Momo and Eiji were now laughing outside the court saying to themselves, "Ochibi's making his move already!"

But then, when Tezuka returned to check Echizen, he went irritated  and told him, "10 laps around the court! Now!."

"He's making the ants crawl... so annoying... ssss..." Kaidoh said.

Then. Momo answered him back, "With that kind of your face, do you think girls will like you?" And of course, Momo and Kaido had their usual arguments...

Echizen pouted and Sakuno's head were very red now. She quickly went beside Tomoka and almost moved like she wanted help from her bestfriend. Ryoma's face turned confused but smiled and told himself, "I'll soon get back to you when everything's over."

"It seems Echizen purposefully slipped up," Tomoka said as they were walking to get into class.

Sakuno can't still forget it and asked her, "That can't be true and besides, why would Echizen do that to me?"

Tomoka's grin went larger and seemed provoking, "What if he's already showing signs that he cares at you more than as friends?"

"Sore wa bakana! How can he fall in love with me? He's dedicated to Tennis!" Sakuno exclaimed but Tomoka's still laughing and the Freshman trio looking somewhat confused at Echizen.

"Is he going crazy?" Horio-kun asked but Kachiro and Katsuko quickly defended Echizen.

Echizen Ryoma looked at the blue sky and knows that he still have long ways to go. "Well... seems like I still I have long ways to go!"

.....

Alright!!! Finally I'm finished!!! I'm so elated!!!! Arigatou Gozaimasu, Dokusha!!!

*Yudan sezu ni ikou"- Don't let your guard down

Dokusha- reader

Yakusoku- I promise

Bakana- That's impossible