Disclaimer: I DO NOT own POT
Chapter 2: Incident
"Geez, Tomoka is late", Sakuno said as she glanced at her watch for the nth time. It was already half past ten; Tomoka is already 30 minutes late.
She still waited of course. She decided to sit on the bench that was across from where she's standing. When she's already seated, she placed the paper bag she brought beside her then she tried to rest her neck on the back rest only to bump her head on the person who's sitting on the other side.
"Ah! I'm so sorry!" she said as she looked over her shoulders.
"It's nothing", answered the boy not even bothering to look at the offender.
Sakuno was so embarrassed so she decided to transfer on another bench far from where the boy still sat. She then noticed that the peace offering gift for Tomoka (although they are already okay) is no longer with her. "Mou, I think I left it at that bench."
She gathered enough courage to return to where she first sat only to find an empty seat. Even the boy who was on the other side was gone. "Mou, how unlucky!" she said as she fell on her knees.
"Ne, ne, Sakuno, what are you doing there on the ground?" asked a familiar cheerful voice—it was Tomoka of course.
"Tomoka! You're late!" Sakuno said as she helped herself stand up.
"Gomen, gomen! My mother went somewhere for a while so I was left in charge of my brothers but her "a while" took some time. So can we go to the mall now?"
"Hai, demo, Tomoka, I was suppose to give you a gift, but something happened so I lost it",
"Eh? Really? We should look for it then"
"Iie, we might not find it anymore. Let's go to the mall already, I'll look for a replacement."
"Then I'll buy you something, too!"
The two girls sure enjoyed their day. Sakuno and Tomoka bought identical bracelets where "BFFs" is engraved. It was silver with a charm which is blue for Sakuno and pink for Tomoka. They promised to wear it all the time.
They reached Sakuno's home before 5PM, Tomoka insisted to send her home to make up for her lateness earlier. When they are almost at the door, Sakuno noticed the paper bag that she thought she lost, now beside the eave. Someone might've placed it there, but who did?
"Tomoka! It's my present for you! How did it get here?"
"Maybe someone found it and decided to give it back to you, but since no one's home, they left it here."
"But your name was written here, why would they send it to me? Besides, even if they return it, there is no address."
"It means the person who placed it here knows you and probably saw you carrying this bag so he or she returned it."
"That's the most probable thing; only, I didn't meet anyone I know at the station."
"Then maybe he or she saw you from afar?"
"Maybe. Well, just take this, it's for you anyway."
"Thanks! But it's kinda unfair, I mean, you gave me two gifts."
"Those are cookies; you can share them with your brothers."
"Oh, okay. I'll go now. See you at school."
"Hai. Take care." Sakuno said as she waved her friend good bye.
Today is Monday. She turned in her interview and it's unknown when the teacher will return it with marks. 'It will be a tough, but I believe in my self so I should not worry much about it', she thought.
"Sakuno! Gomen, I can't accompany you for lunch, I was called by the principal."
"Why?" she asked, worried.
"Don't look like that, I did not do anything, it's about my brother's application", she explained.
"Oh, alright."
Sakuno chose to eat lunch at the roof top. She had two bentos with her, one for her, the other for Tomoka, but Tomoka will be eating at the principal's office—the principal is well-known for her hospitality, they'll probably talk while they eat their lunch. Lucky Tomoka. Sakuno wished that she'll be called someday at the principal's office at lunch time.
She sat there in silence. 'It's sad to eat alone', she thought as she stared at her bento which she prepared early this morning. "Ittadakimasu" she said weakly. She made some rice cakes and placed prawns around them. She keeps on eyeing Tomoka's bento. What would she do with it? "I can't finish both."
"Can I help you then?" asked a voice from above.
Sakuno froze in place. 'How come the voice came from above when I'm already at the roof top?'
Then she heard a thudding sound. She turned to her right where she thought it came from to see a boy who looked like he just jumped off a building—well it's no building, it's just the roof of the small room where she believes to be a storage room. She recognizes who he is the moment he stood up to walk towards her. "Ryoma Echizen?" she said.
The boy continued to walk towards where she is. "So is that a yes?" he asked as he sat across from her.
"Sure. Help your self", Sakuno said as she handed him the chopsticks.
"Thank you. Ittadakimasu."
The two ate quietly. Ryoma finished first. "So, did you have the chance to give your friend the cookies?"
Sakuno, who was focusing on her food stopped picking the prawn and looked at the boy across her. "How did…? You're the one who returned it?"
"Yes."
"But how did you know where to return it?"
"Of course I know where my coach lives."
"No, no. I mean, how did you know that it's mine?"
"Don't you remember? You bump your head to mine."
Sakuno turned red. "Ah! So you're that boy. Anou, I'm sorry, I did not mean to, I thought there's nobody there", she explained while looking down.
"I already told you that it's nothing."
"Ah, right."
"Well, thanks for the meal. Ja", he said as he turned to the door.
"Hai."
Sakuno returned to class when she finished eating. Tomoka is already there and she's boasting how delicious the food that the principal served. Everyone was circling her so Sakuno decided not to add up. She walked straight to her chair and placed the empty bentos inside the extra bag that she brought with her.
'That Ryoma Echizen is really weird', Sakuno thought to her self as she waited for the bell to ring. When it finally does, the teacher entered along with the principal.
"Woah, Tomoka was right, the principal really came!" said the boy who is seated just behind Sakuno.
"Good afternoon, students. I know you're probably asking why I'm here. I already told one of your classmate that I'll be dropping by to tell you some announcements", the fat lady paused as she opened up a folder that she brought along. "For this year's school festival, I ask all classes from the different year levels to participate by choosing a theme for their respective classrooms, a special dance number for the program, and two representatives for the parade. The classrooms will be opened to the public and of course, there'll be entrance fees and the money that you will generate will be divided to the different needs of the school, of course your class will get a share, too. There is also an award for the best room. The more interesting it looks, the more people will come, so good luck about that." She then closed the folder and looked at the students. "I hope everyone will participate." She headed to the door and she was accompanied by our teacher.
Everyone in the room is hyped up. They are excited, the school festival is only two weeks away and there is so much things to do. Since it was homeroom, the teacher allowed the class to have a meeting about this.
"Okay! So we need everyone to cooperate. There should be room decorators, cosplayers, the dancers, and the two representatives. We need to first decide what theme we want", said Ren who is the class representative.
"How about meiji era where we'll wear kimonos?", suggested a girl named Reiko.
"I think it's better if it is modern, how about robots!" contradicted Masato.
"It's better of we make a haunted house, who's with me?" exclaimed another, but apparently, no one is with him. Poor boy.
"Looks like choosing a theme will be hard; Sensei, any suggestions?" Ren decided to ask their teacher since just choosing a theme is taking them so long.
"Well, you can ask everyone what their interests are so that you can pick out the theme which you mutually like."
"Okay! Everyone! Please take out a piece of paper and please write your suggestions. Tomorrow, we will know which theme that everyone mutually likes."
Sakuno took out a piece of paper. She has no interest in it, but she's considerate enough to cooperate. She randomly wrote anything that comes into her mind like anime cosplay, band, and other things that she thinks would need characters, and can generate income as well.
She dropped it at the box that Ren is passing around. When everyone has casted their votes, they returned to order for their next class.
"Sakuno, what do you think will be this year's festival?" Tomoka asked as they walked out of the school grounds.
"Well, I've been here in the past festivals because of my grandmother; I would say it'll be fun."
"Right! We should make this festival as fun as it can be!" Tomoka said energetically.
"You're really excited about this, Tomoka."
"Of course!"
School's over and Sakuno and Tomoka are on their way out of the school grounds.
"Hey! Have you heard? That freshman tennis player was playing against an outsider!" said a boy to his companion.
"No way! Is that allowed?", reacted the companion.
"I don't know but I heard that outsider purposely aims at other players."
Tomoka and Sakuno heard it, of course Tomoka reacted. "First year? No doubt! It's Ryoma-sama! Sakuno!" Tomoka flashed an expectant and pleading look at her friend.
"Alright, I'll go with you." Sakuno resigned as she pat her friend's right shoulder.