Chapter 4: Sakuno
I'm done, sorry for the bit delay. I was busy at work. I noticed that every chapter is getting longer and longer. Maybe I should expect the last chapter will be the longest. That's right, the next chapter will be the last so stay tuned.
Take note: I am writing my stories after work. My work starts at night so I go home every morning. What haggardness. But lots of ideas came to my mind while I was at work.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Prince of Tennis. I hope I have Ryoma but that's impossible. ;P
Chapter Summary: A sudden make over…err a temporary make over? Sakuno is a what? Ryoma panicked? Find that out as the climax is reaching its end.
Chapter 4: Sakuno
Days passed and everyone at Seigaku were very busy at such ordinary days but not for long because in two weeks time they would be having their white day festival. Students were very excited about the upcoming event. They were starting to make plans on what they would do on March 14. Dangling chimes and bells were to be heard. Toys and jewelries were visible. Even ramen with black beans on it were available too, well for the boys who didn't receive any chocolates from the girls. (Though, it was supposed to be applied on black day.) Chocolates were exception on the said date.
There were lots of busybody but Ryoma didn't care about it. He considered it as a normal day, nothing special. The important thing was he was on his favorite place well, aside from the tennis court that was. He would just sleep on the rooftop. He was about to sleep when Sakuno called him. He just twitched.
"R-ryoma-kun, a-are you sleeping? The innocent girl asked.
"Can't you tell? Why are you bothering me? Ryoma asked in a rude way.
"S-sorry. W-what are you doing here anyway? "She asked even the answer was quite obvious.
"I am trying to sleep. Leave me alone for a while. You do your thing." Ryoma ordered her as he turned his back against her.
"You c-can't just s-sleep here. W-why don't you help us f-for the festival?" She tried asking him.
"che" That's all he could answer her.
"Mou, Ryoma-kun. " She gave up. It is useless talking to him. She thought. " I-I'll see you then." She stood up and left the rooftop.
He didn't know what's gotten into him. He couldn't understand himself why he was acting so arrogant towards Sakuno. He was not really like that. Probably that he showed a little side of him that he didn't show to anyone. Even he couldn't believe himself that he could do that. He shook his head on the thought and tried sleeping instead.
Meanwhile at Sakuno's classroom:
The teacher gathered everyone for the plans about the upcoming festival.
"Anyone who has an idea on what we should do on the white day festival?" the teacher asked.
Everyone murmured, thinking on what to do. Then someone suggested:
"Sensei what about Serving a White Day Princess event," Everyone reacted on their opinions that made the crowd a lot of noises. "Quiet, Tell me why do you want to hold that event?"
"Since white day is especially for girls, we should prioritize about receiving gifts from the boys. Serving a Princess is not actually how it sounds. We should pick a girl in our class who will act as a princess. She will receive a lot of gifts from her admirers and also she will be the one to give advices to the boys who can't give their gifts in return." The student explained.
"hmmm, not bad."
"But there's a twist sensei," The student interrupted." The princess will do accepting and advising stuff but she will also give a kiss to all the boys who will ask an advice to her. Of course, they should be put to test if their feeling for our princess is true so that her effort won't be a waste."
"That's interesting. Yeah, sensei let's do that." Tomoka agreed followed by her fellow students. "So, who will be our princess?" The teacher asked. Horio raised his hand and said a name. Sakuno was actually thinking of other events that she wasn't aware that they already decided an event.
"Sakuno-chan."
She was still in a daze.
"Sakuno-chan"
What should we do for the festival? She thought.
"SAKUNO-CHAN!" Tomoka shouted.
"H-Hai." She faced her best friend and then to her classmates. She noticed that everyone was looking at her. The teacher then said:
"Okay, that's decided then, Ryuzaki-san will be our princess on this year's white day festival.
"W-WHAAAT!" She stood up shockingly. Everyone laughed at her. She didn't know what was happening but she knew that she would be the main character on the event. She felt embarrassed on the thought.
After School:
Ryoma was heading to the tennis court when he heard something from his schoolmates.
"Hey did you hear the news? The student asked his classmate.
"Yeah, I heard that class 1-1 will be having a white day princess event. That's very interesting." His classmate replied to him.
"I heard that Ryuzaki Sakuno-san will be the princess. She's cute. I think that this event will be enjoyable." The student chuckled.
Ryoma just shrugged on what he heard. "What's a white day princess event anyway?" he said to himself.
At the Tennis Court:
"hey."
Sakuno faced him. The prince had just finished practicing. They were at the bench resting.
"What's a white day princess event?" he asked.
Sakuno flinched a little when he questioned her. "W-well, that is what we're going to do on the festival. A-a princess will receive gifts from her admirers and give advices to them." She explained bashfully.
"And you're the princess?" he asked with curiosity in his eyes.
"H-hai."
He stared at her from head to toe. She became anxious on what he was doing.
"S-stop staring at me like that." She said.
Ryoma stood up heading for his bag. "You don't look like one." He said frankly.
"E, what's that supposed to mean? R-yoma-kun." She followed the prodigy who didn't say anything.
xxx
"What are we doing here, Momo-sempai?" Ryoma asked Momoshiro. They were in a jewelry shop. Momoshiro called him at the later time. He begged him to go with him in that store.
"I am buying gifts for the white day. And I can't do this the any other day. We have practice that I can't find time to buy at all." Momoshiro said.
"Not you too, sempai. What's so special about this white day and stuff?" he asked annoyingly.
"Don't tell me you don't know? We give gifts to the person who gave chocolates to us last Valentines Day, to return the feelings of course. It's how we appreciate their feelings towards us."
Ryoma just shrugged. "You should give it to your special someone." Momoshiro continued as if he's giving a hint to him.
"Since we're here why don't you look for a gift so that you can give one to Ryuzaki-chan,"
"S-stop saying such ridiculous things." He said to him as he turned sideways holding his cap down.
Momoshiro just shrugged. After a few minutes, he noticed that his kouhai caught an attention at something. It seemed that he stared at the thing for a couple of seconds and then he picked it up. Examining the item, Momoshiro recognized that look on his kouhai. He pretended that he didn't see it and continued looking for the jewel that he would be giving to An, of course.
"Sly and cunning as always, nee, Echizen." Momoshiro whispered to himself.
xxx
Everyone at Seigaku was free from classes and started preparing for the festival. Everyone's so excited about it. They were preparing their own events competing to one another. Days flies by that fast until the day finally comes.
March 14, White Day:
He was bored already although the day had just started. Ryoma was staring at the small box in his right hand. What am I thinking buying this stuff? This is so ridiculous .He thought. He tightened his grip on the box and then inserted the item inside his pocket. He was heading to his classroom when he heard Sakuno's loudmouthed best friend spoke.
"Come on Sakuno-chan we don't have all day. Come out there this instant." Tomoka ordered her best friend while pulling her hand from the dressing room.
"W-wait, Tomo-chan. I-I'm not ready." But Tomoka pulled her out of the dressing room, forcefully that made her classmates awed in such amusement.
Out of curiosity, Ryoma took a little peek only to be surprised on what he saw. His eyes got widened the timing when Tomoka pulled Sakuno out of the room. Dressed in white that just suited the color of her skin, pairing long length of silk gloves and average high heeled sandals, Sakuno was glowing with jewelries that she wore. She was also wearing a small tiara with diamonds in it. She really looked like a princess in her appearance right now.
But that was not what Ryoma was shocked about.
Her hair.
Her hair was not braided in two separated pigtails. It was loosen at the back of her head. The wavy looks of it made her cuter than before. Although the length is enormously long. He shook his head at the thought and decided to leave.
"Uhmm, TT-tomoka-chan, it's so embarrassing." Sakuno was blushing a lot when she said that.
"Hey, don't be. You really are beautiful Sakuno-chan. If Ryoma-sama sees you, I think his jaw will collapse." Tomoka giggled on the thought.
"Y-you know that's impossible. Q-quit it already." Sakuno said.
"Hai,hai I didn't say anything. Our event will start later. Why don't you go out for a while?"
"W-with this outfit? I-I can't do that. I- I stay here instead."
Tomoka objected on the thought. She pushed Sakuno out of the room. "No, can do. Sakuno-chan. This will be our opportunity if our princess will do rounds, we will probably have the chance to win this event."
"Yeah Ryuzaki-san, help us win. We will help you too, so don't worry." Horio said who was helping to fix her throne for the event later.
Sakuno didn't have a choice but to go. Carrying some flyers with her, she went outside.
XXX
"I thought that you are going back to your room Ochibi." Eiji asked his kouhai as he saw him entering the court.
"I changed my mind." Ryoma bluntly said still thinking about Sakuno's sudden transformation.
Momoshiro suddenly approached Ryoma and asked something to him: "Did you give it to her?"
"What?" He retorted. Momoshiro leaned closer to his ear.
"Don't deny it. I knew you bought that item at the shop that night. So did you give it to her?" He whispered.
Ryoma instantly distanced himself from Momoshiro. "W-what are you talking about, S-sempai?" Ryoma was obviously blushing.
"oh, so Ochibi has something to give to his girlfriend. How romantic." Eiji said facing Momoshiro.
Momo nodded. "Although it seems that he hasn't give it to her yet."
"Maybe you should ask the princess of white day about this." Eiji teased.
"Shut up. Leave me alone." Ryoma retorted as he was about to leave the both of them.
"Hey, isn't that Ryuzaki-chan?" Eiji said. Ryoma flinched as he heard her name. Sakuno was outside the court giving flyers to her schoolmates. His gaze turned in an accusing look when he saw those guys trying to flirt with her. The two saw his expression. They couldn't help but to smile.
"She looks different. A real princess, I say." Momoshiro commented.
"Yeah and even cuter." Eiji agreed. "Hey, Ochibi. What are you still doing here? Go to her now."
"W-what, h-hey. Stop it sempai-tachi." They sent him away and gave him a good luck sign. Ryoma sighed helplessly.
XXX
She sighed big after giving flyers to the person who just arrived. She didn't notice that there was a person walking in front of her until he saw a pair of shoes below her. She looked up to the person and talked:
"H-hi, p-please come to the servi-" She was shocked when she recognized the person in front of her. "R-r-ryoma-k-kun." she ended up stuttering his name... again.
He was just staring at her and suddenly said something:
"Who are you?"
"eh?" Sakuno was shocked at his words. "R-ryoma-kun? y-you don't recognize me?"
He didn't say anything but he continued staring at her. His glare was something that she couldn't fight so she turned away. She didn't see that Ryoma was just trying to hold his laugh. She only faced him when she heard an offensive chuckle, 'pffft' sounds from him.
"M-mou, Ryoma-kun. S-stop teasing me. I am embarrassed as I am already now." She blushed a lot.
"Uhn, you look good. You do look like one now." Ryoma said to her. "Good luck" he placed his hand on her head, avoiding the tiara.
"T-thanks. I-I need that." Ryoma walked away after hearing her words but turned around again. "Ah, I just remembered something."
"W-what is it?" Sakuno wondered.
"….its enormously long. Cut it already." Ryoma said as he turned around again.
"S-stop it. L-leave my hair alone." Sakuno pouted.
Like I can do that. Ryoma thought as he sticking his tongue out.
XXX
They just finished practicing so they see all the events in the school. Indeed the festival was amazing. The regulars were staring to enjoy themselves. Ryoma didn't participate on their event so he did the roaming around with his sempais. He would definitely be scolded by his sensei after this for not participating. He was not worried though.
He caught Ryuzaki's loudmouthed best friend. She was talking to Satoshi in the corner. He saw that the guy was giving a gift to the girl. He smirked when the girl punched him on the head saying 'what took you so long, you big idiot' before accepting the gift. The girl can blush like that huh. He thought.
"Hey, Echizen. You should visit Ryuzaki-chan now." Momoshiro said to his kouhai.
"Che, why would I do that?" He replied rudely.
"Stupid, you have to give that gift to her, right? I think this is the right time." Momoshiro added.
"Yeah, we will visit later." Oishi said.
"What if I ask an advice to her and then I will receive a kiss from her. I hope Ochibi wouldn't mind that." Eiji proclaimed.
Ryoma twitched on the thought. "What kiss?"
"You don't know? She will receive a kiss to those who asks an advice to her. That is actually the reason why their event is popular." Eiji explained.
That snapped Ryoma. Without a second thought, he turned his pace and started running towards Ryuzaki's classroom. They saw the furious look on their kouhai's eyes. The regulars just looked at each other and wore a smile on their face.
"Ryoma does like to get into trouble, isn't he? How can he be so dense like that?" Momoshiro just shook his head. "Let's follow them."
"Wait." Someone said behind them.
"Inui-sempai, Fuji-sempai." Momoshiro called his sempais. "W-what do you have in mind?
"I know exactly where they go after. Let's head over there now." Fuji said showing his digital camera.
Everyone agreed.
xxx
She just received 15 gifts and made 4 advices. The event was quite hard that the boys were having a hard time to reach her. They should pass the test first before speaking to her. The test had different types, like catching two gold fish in three attempts, popping 3 balloons in five attempts, lottery and etc.
Lottery was for the boys who wanted her advice. It was pretty hard that only five could make it. After giving her advice to the fifth boy, she bashfully leaned closer showing her cheek to the boy and was about to kiss her when the main door created a loud bang. Everyone looked at that direction and made the crowd gasp to see who did that, especially Sakuno.
"R-r-ryoma-kun." Sakuno covering her mouth to her shock.
She flinched when he suddenly made a stern look at her. He walked inside and he didn't care what the people say to him. They were amused at his grand entrance and a bit confused though. He walked towards Sakuno and grabbed her hand and dragged her along. She was shocked at his actions. When they exited the door they collided with Tomoka and Horio who just returned. They passed them puzzled.
Horio said. "What's that? A runaway bride?"
"No, you idiot. It's just the prince who took his princess away with him." Tomoka commented.
"W-wait what will happen to our event? We need Ryuzaki-san here." Horio panicked.
"Then do something, you brainless idiot!" Tomoka retorted.
xxx
"R-ryoma-kun. W-what are you doing? Let me go." Sakuno said to him.
He didn't say anything. He continued to drag her along like they almost ran. They went to the rooftop and that was the time he let go of her hand.
"W-what's with you? I-I don't understand you Ryoma-kun." Sakuno asked him holding her hand which Ryoma gripped so tightly. She was facing his back. He didn't bother turning to face her when she asked him. He did the same when he replied but not to answer her question.
"You don't understand me?" Ryoma started. "How can you be so dense?"
"W-what are you-"
He stopped her from talking when he continued.
"I don't want you to flirt with other boys."
"I don't-"
"I don't want you to receive gifts from the other boys as well."
"I-it's not-"
"How many boys did you kiss already?"
"R-yoma-kun but that's-"
"How many, Ryuzaki?"
"It's just on the cheek-"
"Just tell me, STUPID!" Ryoma snapped.
"I-it should be the fifth one, so f-four." Sakuno confessed.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Ryoma accused her still not facing her. "Why didn't you tell that you have that kind of stuff in your event?" He calmed down a bit.
"I-I am sorry. R-ryoma-kun. I-I wasn't aware at first. I was not listening when they decided the event. S-so I don't know anything 'till I wore the dress today." Sakuno sincerely said to him. "I am really sorry." She could feel her tears was about to appear.
Ryoma gripped his both hands hard when he spoke to her. "I don't want you to kiss."
Sakuno raised her head. "eh"
"I don't want you to kiss other boys…." Ryoma then turned and walked towards her, reaching really close to her. "…other than me."
Sakuno's eyes got widened. She couldn't react when he wrapped his right hand to her waist while his left hand was in her nape to lock her up. She tried to struggle, pushing him away. "R-ryoma-kun."
"It's useless, give up already." Ryoma ordered her but not in a rude way more on like in a comforting way. She stared at him only to realize how close they were at the very moment. She blushed a lot. Just like he said she gave up. It seems that Ryoma understand that. He closed his eyes as he leaned closer to Sakuno. She then slowly closed her eyes to receive his kiss. Only to open their eyes again when they heard someone approaching the rooftop, calling Sakuno's name. They eventually released each other as the person was finally at the rooftop.
"Ryuzaki-san, why are you here? Let's go back now. You just can't abandoned the event like this—ah w-why are you so red? A-are you sick?" Horio asked who appeared from the other side of the door. He turned to Ryoma as well. "Ahhh, E-Echizen! Y-you are red too? What were you two doing just a while ago?"
Ryoma was already in a bad mood as it was now because of the interruption. "I'm gonna kill this guy for ruining our mood." He gritted his teeth while his was clenching his fist ready to punch someone.
"U-umm H-horio-kun. I-Im sorry but I-I'm not doing the event anymore."
"W-what? W-why?" Horio asked.
"Do you need to ask why, twerp?" Ryoma appeared suddenly at the back of Sakuno. Showing signs of bad luck if he forced to let Sakuno go back to their classroom. "Go, before I kill you here."
Horio startled as he apologized, "I'm sorry; O-okay. I'll ask someone to replace you." He then fled.
Sakuno bowed down from the door where Horio disappeared to, "I-I'm sorry and Thank you."
Ryoma just sighed and placed his both hands in his pocket. He felt something in his right hand and he remembered something. He yanked the item and called her.
"Hey"
She turned to him and to her surprise he threw a small box to her. She was curious and confused.
"I think you know what that means." Ryoma said to her. She stared at the box while he stared at her.
"Happy White Day..." Ryoma said as he turned sideways to her pinning his hat down. He wore a smirk after. "...Sakuno."
She raised her head to him. She saw his corner of his eyes staring at her. Her ears weren't deceiving her. She knew what she heard. She wore her best smile and said. "H-happy White Day Too, Ryoma-kun."
She opened the box. She was overwhelmed to see what's inside. It was two ponytails that designed as cute tennis balls. She also saw a necklace with two pendants. The pendants were moss rosebuds. She knew the meaning of the flower and she bet that Ryoma did too. That must be the reason why he bought this necklace. She thought. She held the pendants. The rosebud itself symbolizes beauty and youth, a heart innocent of love. The color of the rosebud which was moss, she blushed when she remembered the meaning.
"You know now, my feelings." Ryoma faced her.
It's the confessions of love.
Sakuno blushed a lot. "H-hai, t-thank you very much. R-ryoma-kun." this is definitely the best white day event ever. She thought.
"You should go change now." He said. "I missed your pigtails."
"W-what why? I thought that you don't like them."
"I prefer that look of yours. You look ugly with your braided hair well a little cute I say." He said teasing her again.
"M-mou, Y-you are starting it again." She blushed with anger this time. "O-okay, I'll go change now. Jeez." She said as she started going downstairs leaving Ryoma behind.
He left a smirk on his face and said:
"I want to be the only one to know the real opposite of your appearance." He whispered.
xxx
"Shocks, that Satoshi ruined everything." Fuji said as he finished taking pictures of Ryoma and Sakuno when Sakuno left the rooftop.
They were actually at the tallest part of the rooftop. Well, the place where Ryoma used to sleep that was.
They saw the whole thing.
"Yeah, but were done now. I think we should go back now before Ochibi finds us here." Eiji commented.
"You are right let's go. To the back alley." Inui said. They were about to leave their spot when they heard Ryoma's phone ringing.
"Hai, sensei…yes,..yes…" They continued listening to their kouhai's conversation on the phone, curiously.
"eh, WHAT!" Ryoma snapped. Eyes widened.
A one, single call changed the lives of the young couple. Find out in the next chapter.
Done! What do you think of this chapter? Am I improving? BTW, I just invented the princess event thing. I hope it's not corny. Even Valentines and White days were over, I hope I could catch up. I don't know if Ryoma-kun here is okay. He is so transparent getting jealous all over. But I love it tee hee hee. Thank you very much.
Please review. I really need your opinions. Domo! ^_^
Last Chapter: Reward
