The Biggest Ferris Wheel
Ryoma x Sakuno
Disclaimer: Gomen,I forgot this on the first part, but really, I DO NOT own Prince of Tennis. I am merely a fan.
a/n: This is not a oneshot. LOL… the fourth chappie to my third fanfic. Please enjoy!
Summary: A new transfer student, a girl who excels in Tennis, a Ryoma in love, and a heartbroken Sakuno.
THE PRESENT (Truth and Reasons)
Three days later…
"Oi! Ryoma!" It was Kachirou who called out to him from the other side of the net.
Kachirou is his vice-captain in the tennis club. The man had grown better in tennis. They were having practice matches that afternoon.
"Where the heck did your mind went wandering?" the guy called out again. "You're letting me take points easily, you know?"
"Hn." He just replied. He tried his best to get his concentration back on the match. The game ended with a score of 6-4, in favor of Ryoma.
"Hey," Kachirou said while they were leaving the court. Another pair of regulars occupied the court they were playing for another practice match. They, on the other hand, stood outside to watch. "You weren't in the mood to play just a while ago. Is something bothering you?"
"Betsuni." He denied. "Just tired."
But there really is something bothering him. Up until now.
"Is it your break-up with Sakuno-chan?" the guy asked without looking at him.
He looked at Kachirou.
"How did you know about that?"
"Words get around fast, Ryoma." The guy replied. "Besides, everyone at school already noticed it. You two no longer enter and leave the school together. She no longer gives you lunch. She's not here to cheer the tennis club on anymore. What else is there to it?"
"Hn."
"It's obvious that you're brooding over your break-up." Kachirou continued. "Why did she broke up with you anyway?"
"She?" Ryoma asked. Okay, now why the heck did Kachirou think that Sakuno was the one who initiated the break up?
"Why? Isn't she the one who broke up with you?"
"Where did you get that idea?"
"Because," Kachirou took a deep breath. "if you compare yourself to Sakuno, you're much more affected on what happened than she is. Look, you're always spacing out, everybody noticed it. She, on the other hand, looks just like always, except that she avoids any topic concerning you."
Ryoma sighed. Of course, who wouldn't space off like this if you just did something so outrageous and unacceptable. Okay, so he's regretting what he did. But, he can't turn back time and undo what he just did, right?
"I was the one who broke up with her." Ryoma confessed.
"Eh?!" Kachirou gasped. "Then, why do you look so gloomy these days?"
Ryoma kept silent.
"Okay, let me guess." Kachirou said. "Did she cheat on you? Hmmm. That is not possible, given Sakuno-chan's personality. Let's see, what else should be the reason?—"
"Stop guessing, Kachirou." He cut him off at mid-sentence, obviously not wanting to talk about it.
"H-Hai." Well, Kachirou knows it's better to shut his mouth now. He doesn't want to be on Ryoma's bad side. It's scary.
"Minna~ gather!" Ryoma called everyone as soon as their practice time is nearing. "Everyone did a great job today. Practice more. Freshmen, stay behind and clean the court. That's all. Dismissed."
"Hai!" Everyone replied.
"Kachirou," he called out to his vice-captain. "care to grab some burgers?"
He needed some break. Maybe Kachirou can help him. He wants to talk about this stuff that's been bothering him to someone he knows. Scratch Momo-senpai on the list. The guy's having enough trouble with Ann-chan, as of the moment.
"Sure."
They went to the burger joint where he and Momo-senpai usually frequent.
"You want to continue our conversation?" Kachirou asked as soon as they settled down the table. "Or do you want to ask my advice?"
Ryoma took a deep breath. "Both."
"Okay." Kachirou said picking up the burger, getting ready to hear a long story. "First, I want to know what happened. Don't leave anything out."
Ryoma explained everything. Everything means from the beginning to the end. From the moment he came back from America, until what he feels now.
"Wow, you're in a pinch. A really big one." Kachirou commented. "By the way, may I ask why you came to like Masaki-chan?"
Ryoma thought for a while.
"She's shy." Ryoma started off. Kachirou nodded. "I like the way she blushes. I like her clumsiness."
"Is that all?" Kachirou asked. "How about her being a good tennis player?"
"That's a plus factor." Ryoma replied. "But it's still fine with me if a girl doesn't know anything about tennis."
"So, basically, you're type of girl is the shy and clumsy type." Kachirou nodded. "Do you know that Sakuno-chan and Tomo-chan were my closest girl friends?"
"So?"
"Mada mada dane, Ryoma." Kachirou chuckled at the fact that he can use that catch phrase to Ryoma. "From my point of view, you've taken a liking towards Masaki-chan because she resembles the past Sakuno-chan."
Ryoma looked at him.
"As a person who is close to Sakuno-chan, I've noticed from the start how close Masaki-chan resembles Sakuno-chan." Kachirou started to explain. "The way she blushes and fidgets her skirt reminds me of how Sakuno-chan reacts on your presence. She's shy and her face reddens when she's teased, just like Sakuno-chan. She stumbles easily, it's a wonder how she can play tennis."
"Hn."
"Then, there's the fact that ever since you came back from America, you never had a chance to mingle with Sakuno-chan, just like the old days." Kachirou continued. "My point is, maybe you've always liked Sakuno-chan even before you went to America. It's just that you haven't noticed it yet. And when you came back, you subconsciously seek for that same Sakuno you left behind. Since the present Sakuno-chan has changed a little bit, you subconsciously directed your attention to someone who resembles her so much, Masaki-chan."
"I don't—"
"I'm not yet finished." Kachirou stopped him from saying anything. "When you were already going out with Sakuno-chan, subconsciously your feelings toward her awakened again, causing you to have doubts in your decision to break up with her and of getting together with Masaki-chan."
Ryoma fell silent for a while.
"What's with all these subconscious stuff?" Ryoma lousily smirked.
Kachirou grinned.
"Hey, honestly, were you more excited with getting together with Masaki-chan or were you more worried of breaking up with Sakuno-chan?" Kachirou prodded him more. "Are you thinking of getting together with Masaki-chan now that you broke up with your girlfriend or are you thinking of an idea to have Sakuno-chan forgive you?"
Ryoma looked out of the window. What Kachirou said makes sense. He was more worried of hurting Sakuno. He was more worried if Sakuno could ever forgive him for being a jerk.
"Hey!" Kachirou caught his attention again. "You're starting to space out again. What I said was all my point of view. The truth or falsity of it still remains in you."
"What should I do then?"
"Ask yourself who of the two is really in your heart." Kachirou suggested. "If it's Masaki-chan, then go out with her. Sakuno-chan said she's willing to move on, right?"
Ryoma nodded.
"If it's Sakuno, then ask for forgiveness and explain everything to her. She'll understand, for sure."
"You make it sound so simple."
"Words are a lot simpler than action."
That night, Ryoma played tennis with the temple wall until midnight, trying to find out what's inside his heart. Kachirou's words kept ringing in his head. Come to think of it, during his first year in Seigaku, it was only Sakuno's name that he could remember out of the many girls that knew him. Of course, Tomoka comes as a package.
This is his fourth sleepless night and he's growing so tired. He took out the notebook Inui-senpai gave him on his departure for the US Open to see if he might get a clue of himself. The notebook contains all information about him that Inui-senpai has gathered ever since he entered Seigaku.
Looking at the notebook, he remembered everything that happened at the airport. Everyone was there to see him off. He remembered the look on Sakuno's face when she thought she didn't make it on time. Of course, he was still there coz the flight got delayed for a bit. He remembered how she told him she trusts him to reach the top.
He lied down on his bed and opened the notebook. Two photographs fell from inside. One was the photo of all the regulars that they took two year ago when they watch the sunset. The second one was at Kawamura-senpai's sushi shop, where Sakuno was pushed unto him accidentally by the rowdy Eiji-senpai and Momo-senpai.
He closed his eyes. Somehow, he knows that somewhere in the back of his mind, his answer is already definite.
He sighed. Tomorrow will be a long day.
a/n: i would like to ask for forgiveness for all the grammar mistakes here and on the previous chappies. LOL. These are the best i could do, though. I'll try to improve more. LOL. Anyways, for those who got angry with Ryoma-kun here, please do understand him. hehehe. Love makes our world go round, it makes us stupid and sometimes it makes us a jerk. I can't promise to update soon coz I'm having problems in ending this one. Please understand. hehehe. Thanks to all those who reviewed my story. I appreciate them all. :)
Ja ne~
