[A/N] To all dearest readers of this story, please take time to re-read 'It's About Time' from the beginning as I've made changes in its construction. I hope that these changes improved the story as what I hoped. Though the plot stayed the same, I edited some details and events to better portray the characters.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. (Minus the plot of this story and the OCs).
For your reference for this story, Ryoma transferred to the US in his 2nd year in middle school thru high school. Sakuno is a sophomore college student and it's been practically seven, close to eight years since they met.
Chapter 1
Reunion
The body clock is one way of nature helping you out in your daily activities. But for Ryuzaki Sakuno, it's not helping her this time. To wake up at 6AM on a weekend is a major no-no. It's not like she's being lazy or anything . . . or well, she actually intends to, but seriously, can't she get more sleep? When she stirred, a slight ray of sunlight brought discomfort to her eyes making her brows crease, she grumbled. In solution, she brought up her blankets to cover her eyes. But when more sleep is indeed promising, chances are not giving it to her . . . especially because the scratching on her door doesn't help at all.
"Kima," she tried remaining calm despite her frustration. She stuck her head from the covers to see what the dog is up to, through unequal squinted eyes, hoping for more rest. Kima stood down for a while, staring back at his owner curiously. And went back to scratching her door, as if reaching for something.
In defeat, Sakuno got out of the bed putting her hair up in a lousy ponytail, and quickly reached into her knapsack hanging on the back of her door. "You must be hungry," she sighed as she pulled a brown paper bag.
"You know good food," she said smiling while affectionately petting her dog. She went straight to the kitchen to serve the canine's breakfast—extra chashu meat from last night's drinking session with a friend from the 'Astronomy Club', namely, Tomoka Osakada. ('Astronomy Club', a ridiculous name Tomoka thought, as in, those who's into 'Star-gazing', like watching celebrities, university hotties included, and obviously Sakuno was just dragged into—but it's supposedly a secret organization).
Her best friend in middle school, Tomoka Osakada, is practically still the same by character, and improved by womanhood physically, striking as many would define. Until long ago, she got rid of her pigtails and wear her red-hair down most often than not. What also remain unchanged, like good old days, is their friendship, running eight years now. "You know," she even said at one time, "studies so say that a friendship kept intact for at least seven years, will probably last a lifetime . . . must I be cursed?" Though of course, she was kidding. It's inevitable since time made them practically like real sisters.
Over the years, together, they've also naturally learnt the ways of the adults, still learning, one step at a time. Alcohol is one—though Sakuno's still not good with it, or will she ever? She doesn't really drink much because she knows she can't handle more than two bottles at maximum. Moreover, she knew she had to look after her bestfriend's drinking because she easily gets dizzy, just like last night.
Then so, after giving her loyal companion its early morning treat, Sakuno went back to her room to check her phone. "No new messages," she silently mused. At first, she was most likely expecting a text message from Tomoka, whether she arrived home unscathed last night, after insisting that she will just walk off her hangover. "She's just probably still dozing off right now," smiling at the thought. Then someone else came into mind after, "NO!" She screamed in embarrassment to herself. "You're crazy, Sakuno! Get a hold of yourself! He doesn't probably even know your number." She scolded herself aloud, slapping herself even.
She sat by the edge of her bed and eventually started a recall of the events the morning before, and most likely the reason why they ended up drinking anyway.
o o o
*flashback*
Vacantly walking to the exit of the building, early morning of Friday, someone called to Sakuno. As there may be no other, she saw Ryutaro Miyamura, schoolmate and a fellow in the university's 'Chef's Guild', which as anyone would have guessed is a cooking club. Apparently, he lives in the same building. They greeted each other cheerily and headed out together, as usual.
Ryutaro Miyamura, a fine youth about the same age as Sakuno, with dark brown locks and natural brown eyes, who, although raised as a Japanese, was born to a European father so his good looks is between Asian and Caucasian, taller than most Japanese and tanner, he definitely stands out. Independently, the lad lives in Tokyo, away from his parents who are both in Hokkaido, operating one of the biggest and most famous Onsen Resorts in the prefecture. Practically the reason for him taking interest in hotel management. He studies a business course, in light of taking over their family trade.
Just like their typical mornings, they walked in silence making a crossing through the park in front of their 30-storey condominium, headed towards the bus station where they usually wait for their ride to the university campus.
"Oh! I almost forgot!" Ryutaro remembered, "Here's the recipe book you lent me. My mom liked the dish you recommended for Christmas . . . It was quite a hard recipe though, but I'm glad they liked it, or at least pretended to. I'll make it for us again, sometime," Ryutaro said nonchalantly.
"No problem . . . My friend Nanako, made it for us last Christmas, and it was really good! I figured you'd do it well too . . . I'm excited for yours."
"Now that you mention it, I'll probably need more practice if the 'goddess' is to taste it," he laughed.
"Plus the goddess thing, practice is not for you to need, you liar! You're like the Cooking Master Boy." she laughed in return.
"Cooking Master Boy?" he chuckled at the name, "hey, that's a catchy one! Perhaps I can use that one of these days."
"You're welcome! But spare me credit at least for the nickname when you become famous, 'kay?"
"Of course, it will have much more bearing if the Goddess decreed me the title," he said raising his hands to the skies as if worshipping, "though I'm worried for my life . . . if the words spread among the boys," he faked a shiver, "it'll be trouble . . . Do you know how many guys dream to be on the first name basis with you? Let alone be nicknamed." He 'tsk'ed in effect.
"The club doesn't have much male members, I think you're safe," she giggled.
"Not until you joined. I remember not long ago, I used to be one of the girls. And even outside the club, you have a huge fan base. I thought you knew by now."
"Fan-base is too much." She answered silently.
"Do you prefer 'suitors' then?"
"Ryutaro." She answered pointblank.
"I never said anything," he said over his shoulders, matter-factly.
"But I know where this is headed. Don't take this the other way . . . but I just really don't like going to a date like you're insisting me to." She answered firmly.
"Alright. I know. And I was just giving you options. But it won't seem to work with you . . . I rest my case, I'm giving up on you." He said admitting defeat, though smiling.
"Hey," she called gently, "I know you mean well. I'm sorry . . . but, no, thank you."
"Well, what can I do? You know where to find me when you change your mind." He smiled lightly.
They finally reached the bus station in an awkward silence. As passengers of a bus alighted at the stop, they stood aside waiting patiently. Sakuno was prompting herself to the bench when someone suddenly called her name, "Sakuno!" ever so loudly, she gasped.
Before she knew it, her head was halfway meeting the pavement, if not for strong arms which immediately wrapped around her waist pulling her closer while her own automatically reached for the other's torso for support. When her consciousness cleared, she blinked, her cheek was against the broad chest of her knight in shining armor. Frozen still, her thoughts were in chaos.
"Are you alright?" she heard the voice asking from above her head.
The hair, the familiar scent, the voice, and the tennis racket hanging on his shoulders, she's definitely not being mistaken. There is but one man. Echizen Ryoma.
Looking up, she figured, was a bad idea, 'he's too gorgeous for his own good,' was definitely the only sensible thing she can think of that moment. She managed to nod.
If being close to him was bad enough for her, breaking contact also didn't do her good. Seeing him in his hot damn glory, his sweat-wet hair dishevelled when he removed his cap, his jogging clothes mapped with sweat patches, she knew she wouldn't be able to think straight today.
"I'm sorry for this," he said as he crouched down, reaching for a tennis ball which he accidentally held loose and caused Sakuno's imbalance. "That was close," he murmured.
"Are you alright?" Ryutaro suddenly chimed in.
"Oh!" Sakuno gasped, startled, as if her friend wasn't there in the first place, "I-I'm fine," she answered. "Th-Thanks, Ryoma-kun," she turned shyly.
"Thanks for catching her, bro" Ryutaro exclaimed sincerely. But instead of a 'you're welcome' or something, he was just glared at.
"Hn." The other lad answered.
'Hm. Amusing.'
"You're Ryoma-kun, right?" Sakuno suddenly asked out of nowhere, her brows creased.
"Is there any other?" was his answer.
"You are him," she said calmly, "b-but why are you here?" everything finally sinking in.
"Am I not allowed here?" he raised a brow. "Ja," he said bidding goodbye while handing the tennis ball to Sakuno, and walked away after glaring one last time to Ryutaro.
"Hm. Really amusing." Ryutaro muttered to no one in particular.
Just then, their bus arrived.
*end of flashback*
o o o
Upon recall of the incident, aka his goddamn gorgeous looks and the embrace they shared, although accidentally, she buried her reddening face in her hands and started rolling on her bed.
However, her excitement was cut short when her phone buzzed. She picked it up and read the text message from an unknown number. "You didn't change your phone number right?" it read.
She was starting to wonder who sent the message when another buzz came. "This is Ryoma by the way".
Her face immediately blushed red, reading the text over and over as if it's gonna change any moment.
Another buzz, "Text me when you're awake." Her thoughts swam losing any capability to think comprehensibly, then it buzzed again, "If this is really your number that is. It is right? Just text me when you read this."
Calming down was just as hard as thinking of a sensible reply. After five minutes of fancy dreaming, she started typing . . . but after another fifteen minutes, she still haven't decided of what to write back, "This is harder than all the exams I took combined", she even said at one point. She can't believe that not so long ago, she was just thinking to herself that he wouldn't even know her number . . . but apparently, he does.
Finally, she sent the message after too much thinking. Her reply read: "Hi. Good Morning. Yes, this is Ryuzaki Sakuno. What can I help you with? *smiling emoticon*" After hitting the 'send' button, and after having read the message many, many times before sending, she can't help but think that maybe her reply came out very casually . . . or something?
She's pretty much aware of their awkward friendship since many years ago . . . if that is even what friendship means by Ryoma's standards, "I don't even know what is 'casual' to him anyway, so I guess I'm fine."
Ryoma was quick to reply or was it just because Sakuno was preoccupied with debating with her inner self, "I'll tell you later. Let's meet at the café in the park across the building. 10am."
"Today must be a lucky day," She whispered to her phone.
And as if he heard her, her phone beeped again and it read, "Can you bring Kima along? Thanks."
"For a moment there, I thought he might have really heard me. That's dangerous."
Lying on her back, her mind began wandering until her eyes feel heavy . . .
o o o
To be continued . . .