Chapter four: The Incident

About 5 till their lunch break Ryoma showed up, with two very beat up and apologetic senpais in tow. He brought them over to Sakuno who was being comforted by Karupin.

"Now what do you have to say." Ryoma said, he had a hold of the taller senpais sleeves, applying pressure to their arms. The senpais dropped to their knees, and directed a very sincere apology to Sakuno. Sakuno was blushing and telling them it was alright, but in the same breath admonishing them about being cruel to animals. The regulars watched as the boys began to leave glaring at them the whole time. The entire team was mad that they'd dared to hurt Karupin and their little-sister-like Sakuno. After that day the boys didn't step out of line the rest of their Jr. High school life.

After the boys turned the corner Sakuno noticed that Ryoma was still standing in front of her. Looking to him she gave him a questioning smile. Ryoma got down on one knee and began stroking a now napping Karupin. She was still in Sakuno's lap. Sakuno watched the little interlude and again realized how much he cared for the cat. "Sorry Ryoma-kun, I tried to keep Karupin safe sooner, but I'm such a klutz and I couldn't move quickly enough." Sakuno said. Ryoma looked straight into her eyes.

"Thank you." Sakuno blushed and felt her heart try to burst with happiness.

"It was nothing. I'm always getting scratches. I was just happy Karupin was safe." Sakuno was also patting the cat. Ryoma watched her.

"Karupin really likes you doesn't she?" Ryoma asked, Sakuno laughed softly.

"I guess, she's such a sweet cat, I don't know how anyone couldn't love her." Sakuno continued to pat the cat, and looked up to Ryoma's eyes and smiled. Ryoma placed his hand atop hers on top of Karupin, their hands rising and falling as Karupin breathed. "Ryoma-kun?"

"If Karupin approves of you, then so do I." Sakuno blushed and looked at him shyly, Ryoma was looking at her smirking, smiling a little too. Ryoma lend forward and peck Sakuno on the cheek. He wasn't used to initiating physical contact so a blush formed on his cheeks which he quickly covered. The regulars and the other members of the tennis club had watched Ryoma and Sakuno but from their point of view it didn't look like anything but them two talking over Karupin and Ryoma's back blocked the view of their hands. Ryoma stood abruptly and pulled his cap down, walking back towards the courts. It was about time for the lunch break, which Ryoma spent half of running around the courts for missing practice to chase down Hajimoto and Keiji senpais. Tezuka agreed and understood why Ryoma did it, but it was still no excuse for running off during practice.

When Ryoma finished he went to his tennis bag and pulled out the bento Nanako had given him earlier, sitting down with his senpais and his friends he finished lunch with them. "So Ryoma what did you do to Hajimoto and Keiji senpais to make them come and actually apologize to Sakuno and Karupin?" Katchiro asked. The others had continued to eat but they were curious. Ryoma just looked over at Katchiro and didn't say anything but the look in his eyes said death was a comin'.

Continuing with the look Ryoma said, "All I said was that they should come and apologize and then they just ran, and they fell down some stairs. Then I dragged their sorry buns back here." Ryoma then went back to eating his bento. The rest of the group has a sweat drops forming, knowing Ryoma wasn't lying; but to think that they'd been so scared they'd actually fallen down stairs was just pathetic. Yet the look Ryoma had given just now, they could understand.

After lunch the tennis players had another hour of training and then they could go home for the weekend. Sakuno couldn't get her mind off of what Ryoma had done. Ryoma acted as though nothing big had happened, so Sakuno tried to imitate him, but her mind kept wondering back to the first warm look Ryoma had given to her. And it was all because of his cat. That was a slight disconcerting, to Sakuno that Ryoma had only really noticed her, and it wasn't even because of her own attributes, but the fact that she'd helped out Karupin. Sakuno shook her head. It wasn't like Ryoma was attracted to her any way she was just the backdrop to his surroundings, like the trees and benches she was sitting on. She wasn't on his radar for any more significant role, no matter how much she wished it to be otherwise.

Karupin had been exploring the outskirt of the tennis courts, and saw Sakuno sighing over on one of the benches. Lopping over to her, she began rubbing at Sakuno's lap trying to cheer her up. Sakuno looked down at her and smiled. Leaning over Sakuno tapped Karupin on the nose. "Hello there again, you seem pretty interested in me today." Karupin meowed. "Are you trying to make me feel better?" Karupin meowed again and played with the hem of Sakuno's skirt that was lying off of the edge of the bench and was swaying in the wind. Sakuno just smiled and watched Karupin entertain herself. Before long practice was over and the boys were still in the club locker rooms changing out of their practice gear and back into their uniforms.

As groups of people began to exit Sakuno stood up and carried Karupin towards the club. Finally the group of tennis regulars came out, nice and showered and ready to go to their favorite eating place, senpais paying of course. Sakuno was invited along with the ichen trio and Tomo. It was just down the street, and Tezuka even decided to go along too. When they arrived at the eating joint, they wondered what they should do with Karupin. Sakuno looked at the long line and decided quickly.

"Why don't Ryoma-kun and I take little Karupin –chan back to his house, and by then the line should be down, and if you get ready to order before we're back, just order for us. I'm sure Momo-can- senpai knows what Ryoma-kun likes and Tomo knows what I get. So we'll be back by then." Sakuno waited for the affirmation before she turned for Ryoma to show her the way towards his home. They headed off, and the others went to wait in line.

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