Title: Beyond Sunset
Character/s | Pairing: Hyuuga Junpei x Aida Riko, and the rest of Seirin
Rating: K+
Disclaimer: All disclaimers apply.
Note: Written for Hyuuga's birthday! Yihee~ Also, I wrote this without knowing what happened in the Drama CD so. ;u; HAPPY BIRTHDAY HYUUGA JUNPEI~ Have fun reading, everyone!
With eyebrows knitted and lips stretched to a scowl, Aida Riko stared at the date marked by a bright red circle with uncertain brown eyes and a leaden heart.
Uhh... she groaned at the blaring May 16 on her calendar, and clicked her tongue. What should I do... I was too busy formulating the team's training plans and now I'm stuck with nothing for Hyuuga-kun's birthday tomorrow... and it's really late in the evening now, I haven't had any decent sleep for the last three nights...
Riko leaned against the back of her seat, her hands raking her scalp. "AAAH WHAT THE HECK—"
The door creaked as it slowly opened, revealing a frowning Aida Kagetora. "Riko-tan, you should go to sleep. Think about your skin—"
Riko suddenly bolted upright and clapped her hands once. "That's right! Skin, BODY WASH!"
Kagetora stared at his daughter through half-lidded eyes suspiciously. "Riko-taaan, you really need some sleep. Those boys need no body wash in their food—"
Yeah... I don't think Hyuuga-kun's not fond of Body Wash, plus it runs out... He likes something that lasts like his action figures, but he already has the complete collection...
She hung her head low, forehead planted on her desk.
Thinking that his joke offended his daughter, Kagetora went inside. "Hey, hey, papa's just joking. Whatever plan you come up with—" He placed his hand on Riko's shoulder, and that was when he caught a glimpse of the calendar.
Kagetora closed his eyes, and sighed. So, it was that Four-Eyes brat's birthday, huh? The one who's always in his gym, and always with Riko...
He ruffled his daughter's hair, and said, "...I'm sure it will be appreciated."
Riko's eyes widened, and when she was about to look at her father, Kagetora was already closing the door while looking at her. Riko thought that his way of leaving her room was creepy, but she has other things in her mind.
"Boys aren't that complex, anyway." With that, Kagetora closed the door and left.
Riko stared at the door. Her father was creepy, but he always said the right things.
She sighed in relief and decided to go to sleep. She might get her answers tomorrow when she woke up.
When she woke up, though, her mind was a blank slate.
No matter how right papa was I still don't know what to do! She scratched her disheveled hair and groaned in frustration. Turning off her alarm clock, she got out of the bed and stared at the rising sun.
But the day is only starting! I have plenty of time to find things out! She clenched her fist, a determined smile etched on her face.
6:45 AM, Friday
We'll see each other in today's class, though. There's no scheduled training, either. I wonder if I should already greet him even if I still have no present for him... Riko contemplated while biting on the bridge of her index finger. Maybe I should avoid him as much as I could - yes! That's what I should do, but I should also act normal like I forgot his birthday! This won't go easy, but I'm sure I'll make it—
"Hey! Good morning, Coa—"
She stiffened.
"Yo, Hyuuga! Happy birthday!"
Riko stopped on her tracks. It was Koganei, and most importantly, Hyuuga was just about to greet her! Their voices came a few feet from behind her, and she did not bother to even look back. She resumed on walking, her pace a bit faster than usual. Then she reminded herself to act normal. She took a mental note to thank Koganei later.
She went straight to the comfort room, and told herself to get into class exactly when the teacher arrived. She could always say she went to the student council room first, anyway, and she could be excused. That way, she wouldn't have to greet him since classes are continuous except for lunch break, and she would just drop by the student council room. Repeat process, and it no time it would be dismissals.
Okay! Aida Riko, now commencing Kuroko-mode!
During the first class, though, she could not even try to drop her presence—first, her hand would automatically raise during recitations, and even if she'd try not to, she could feel someone else's presence stabbing her back. She was pretty sure who it was, but she did not dare to look back.
Ugh, I should do something about the in-between time before the next teacher comes in. She gritted her teeth.
From his seat, Hyuuga placed his chin on his palm and looked at Riko, forehead creased. What's up with her? He sighed, then stared at the board with a blank expression on his face.
When the first class ended, Riko immediately fumbled for her PSP and her earphones in her bag. With one swishing motion, she plugged the earphones in her ears. She was sure Hyuuga saw it, and he'd immediately take it as a sign that she did not like to be bothered at the moment.
The classes went on fluidly without any casualties, but for Riko it felt like a century passed by before the school bell rang for lunch break.
When it did, Riko quickly placed her things in her bag. She could tell that Hyuuga was still looking at her, and she could not help but feel uncomfortable with the whole situation. It was the only year where she was not able to prepare for his birthday, and it wasn't something that she really wanted to dwell on. That was why she's trying to think of what to do, of what to give him, but she still found no answer.
She stood up and was about to leave the room, when—
"Hey, Coa—"
"Hyuuga-kun! Happy birthday!" One of their classmates approached him and blocked his view from Riko. Riko halted, and her head involuntarily turned to the direction of the growing noise. It was Masaki, a female classmate. Others also came to swarm in, but majority of them were females, shoving different sizes of boxes and paper bags wrapped in ribbons and frills.
Hyuuga scratched the back of his head, unexpectedly pleased about the situation. Since they won consecutive games, the number of people approaching and trying to befriend him have grown that sometimes he forgot their names (and sometimes even their faces). However, he could also feel the budding anxiety in his chest while he stared at Riko – who was equally looking at him - from a distance.
Riko smiled at him, then left the room.
Hyuuga's eyebrows knitted. He knew something was up, but first, he needed to get past these people first—but it wasn't something really easy.
At least I didn't have to do some effort of staying away. Riko sighed in relief while trudging the hallway, hands clasped at the small of her back. And he's got loads, should I still give him something...
She knew she needed to stay out of the gym, the student council room, or the rooftop. Those were the places where she usually went when she wanted to be alone, and it was always Hyuuga who found her. Anyway, what were the places where she did not usually go? Maybe she should—
"Coach!"
Riko turned around this time, knowing too well the source of the voice. "Tsuchida-kun! Good day. You too, Mitobe-kun and Koganei-kun."
Mitobe nodded at her, while Koganei grinned at her. "Hey, coach! We were calling you this morning but you didn't even notice us. Are you okay? You usually greet us back." His grin receded to a dejected pout.
Her shoulders jumped. "A-ah! Are you sure it was me? It might be someone else."
Mitobe shook his head and pointed at her.
"We're sure it was you." Tsuchida smiled at her. "Anyway, do you already have something for Hyuuga's birthday?"
Riko cringed as if a large arrow struck her, and she smiled sheepishly. "A-aaahahaha! I'm actually... working on that now."
"By the way, we're doing something really personal and we want everyone from the team to participate! And of course it includes you." Tsuchida handed her a blue, 5x5 paper. "It was random, and it's cheesy! You just have to write your greetings on that paper."
Mitobe did some hand signs that Koganei translated as, "We're on our way to the first years' floor to get the freshmen's papers. Do you want to come with us?"
Riko figured that Hyuuga wasn't really the kind to go at the first floor.
"Won't Hyuuga see us?" Tsuchida asked worriedly.
"Nope," Riko smiled at them. "He's currently being swarmed by his fangirls. Let's go to Kagami-kun and the others!" She beamed at them and ended up leading the way.
When they were on the first floor, they were greeted by Kagami, Furihata, Kawahara, and Fukuda.
"Here's our papers. We folded them to cranes as you instructed, Tsuchida-senpai," Furihata said as he gave four paper cranes to Tsuchida.
"Thank you! These will really help, I'm sure Hyuuga will be happy."
"Here's mine, too."
"A-AH!" They all jumped a bit when Kuroko suddenly showed.
"K-Kuroko-kun! Where did you come from?" Riko sighed, a hand on her chest. He never failed to surprise them, literally.
"I've been here since a while ago," He said monotonously while he handed his paper crane to Tsuchida.
"W-Whoa! Yours suck!" Kagami remarked when he saw that Kuroko's paper crane was a bit crumpled. It might be a result of too many tries.
"It's not a good thing to say to someone who did his best, Kagami-kun." Kuroko looked at him, eyebrows a bit scrunched. "At least mine's not a huge mess since I did not give up. You simply folded it , Kagami-kun."
"You little—!"
"By the way, we're off to buy our presents later after class. How about senpai-tachi?" Kawahara asked, while Fukuda nodded.
"We already got ours," Koganei flashed two thumbs up at them. "Maybe Coach can come with you?"
"If that's okay with everyone." She smiled at them shyly.
At least they've got something for Hyuuga, too. I'll do my best to find mine later.
Later...?
"Wait! When are you guys planning to give your gifts to him? We have no practice!"
"Don't worry! Hyuuga's the kind who shoots balls while we're in malls!"
They did not have to turn around to know who it was.
"Izuki-senpai... you extinguished the excitement," Kagami said, and the others except for Kuroko nodded in agreement.
"What? But that pun's good! Also, it's true, he'll be there to practice." Izuki placed his hands on his waist. "If there's someone you need to ask about Hyuuga , anyway, it's gotta be Aida!"
Riko blushed furiously, and before she could say anything, the bell rang.
Damn it, Izuki-kun! She gritted her teeth, while she and the others went to their floor.
The classes resumed as soon as the teacher came in. Riko arrived in class a few minutes earlier, though, but Hyuuga did not try to approach her like he used to. Maybe he got satisfied with the gifts that he had? She shrugged, and wondered if she should still go with the freshmen.
Her phone beeped. She took it out, and was quite scared that it might be Hyuuga who sent her a message – he'd see her checking her phone from her seat, and he might know what's happening just by that – but she was relieved when it was from Kiyoshi.
I might not be able to go to school after all. The therapy's taking too long.
- Kiyoshi Teppei, 12:03PM, May 16
Riko looked at her phone anxiously. She was not shocked at all that he wouldn't be able to go to school since he really needed the therapy, but she felt a bit sad for Hyuuga that their friend wouldn't arrive on his birthday.
It's okay, I'm sure Hyuuga-kun will understand.
- Aida Riko, 12:03PM, May 16
What are you guys gonna do this year for his birthday, by the way?
- Kiyoshi Teppei, 12:03PM, May 16
Tsuchida-kun and the others are making something personalized. They gave us 5x5 blue papers so we can write our messages on it, ha-ha. If you can catch up, just write on anything and fold it on a paper crane. You can always give yours when we visit.
- Aida Riko, 12:04PM, May 16
Eh? But that's quite a shame I won't be there. Anyway, got something for him?
- Kiyoshi Teppei, 12:04PM, May 16
Riko's sweat dropped. Teppei's too straightforward it kind of hurts. She hung her head low in frustration.
I still don't have a gift for him, but we're gonna go at the mall later with Kagami-kun and the others.
- Aida Riko, 12:04PM, May 16
But didn't you say you have no practice later? Will you give it when he's already home?
- Kiyoshi Teppei, 12:04PM, May 16
Izuki-kun said Hyuuga-kun's staying to practice on his own. Hyuuga-kun's such a basketball jerk.
- Aida Riko, 12:04PM, May 16
Yeah, ha-ha, but that's what makes Hyuuga 'Hyuuga'. I bought mine a few days ago, though. The gift, I mean.
- Kiyoshi Teppei, 12:04PM, May 16
So, Teppei has his gift now, too. Riko stared at her phone's screen and reread Kiyoshi's message for a few times. If it's someone who knows Hyuuga really that much, then it'd be her, Izuki, and Kiyoshi. Asking Izuki might result to a shopping full of puns, and she might not figure out things that much, but if it's Kiyoshi...
Teppei, I think I'll drop by at the hospital later. Prepare your message, okay? The teacher just came in. Talk to you later.
- Aida Riko, 12:06PM, May 16
Okay, see you, and take care on your way here.
- Kiyoshi Teppei, 12:06PM, May 16
Riko hoped something substantial would come from visiting Kiyoshi as it always did, but she had a hollow feeling that it wouldn't go as easy as usual. She knew she was getting farther at her goal, but she wouldn't stop from pursuing it.
She held the pink whistle that hung from her neck, and her resolve strengthened.
