Disclaimer: I do not own the Prince of Tennis.
No one can blame her. She was just a little wallflower. And wallflowers, they just can't help but look on, observe, and watch those who naturally glittered in the crowd.
It was their school dance. And she had thought of attending, more like she was forced to attend by a sniffling Tomoka. The boisterous girl had told her to go for her sake because she caught the flu and won't be able to make it herself. She tasked Sakuno to take memory-pictures since she wasn't a photographer, and also, to keep an eye on her - their - beloved Ryoma-kun.
Surprisingly enough, Ryoma was there. His teammates were surrounding him. Everyone of their seniors had brought dates along with them. So, having found a grumbling Ryoma, disdainfully looking around the vibrantly colored room, they made it a goal to pair him up with some lucky young lady. Ryoma had caught her eyes watching a couple of times before, to which she would return with a quaint nod and smile. He'd nod, cheeks red as Momo continued to nudge him to some girl who'd later squeal after realizing it was the Ryoma Echizen who just got shoved towards the said bystander.
After a while, from where she sat, she was suddenly tapped lightly on the shoulder. She nearly jumped in surprise. Tearing her gaze from the crowd, Ryoma had disappeared into the massive sea of bodies, probably and finally mingling with the opposite sex, she looked up. Her cheeks were tinged lightly with a pink hue.
"Sakuno Ryuzaki, right?"
Sakuno's eyes widened, too stunned to reply. Apparently, that shock translated to the expression of her face, rendering the guy before her to chuckle lightly. Then, holding out a hand, he introduced himself.
"Sawashiro Tomoya, 2-D." He gingerly said, shaking Sakuno's small hand when she accepted his. Taking a chair closer to her, he sat on it, then, looked back at her with a smile before looking into the crowd. And for a while, he did not say anything. This confused Sakuno.
"I'm sorry." She said lightly, almost stuttering. "But why are you here?"
"I can't?" His reply was instant, although he did not face her when he replied. "I was watching you. And with the smile on your face, could only wonder what was so amusing from this vantage point." He continued. Then, burying his head in his crossed arms, he said. "You had a pretty smile on. So," Then turned to her. "I couldn't help but wonder what made you so happy."
At this, Sakuno couldn't help but blush, flattered. She was about to speak up, to tell him something - anything - but she only choked. She never was a talker. So, she opted to keep quiet. And when she caught back her nerves, bade Tomoya with the smile he had talked highly of. Noticeably, his cheeks lightly flushed. Nothing had been said for some time afterwards.
"Is he bothering you?" A voice suddenly uttered, almost angrily. In an instant, Sakuno got up to her feet, distancing herself from Tomoya. She had not realized she was leaning in – they both had. She honestly did not notice that their faces were closer than a foot away. She—
Then she looked up.
She almost died.
"Ryo—Ryoma-kun!" She choked in a cry. "What happened to your face?" She wailed in alarm. Ryoma, taken back, took a step away, hiding his swollen cheek from her with a hand.
"Nothing." He barked with a scowl. "Besides, what the hell were you doing?"
"We were just about to go dance." Tomoya interrupted, taking a stand beside Sakuno. He had taken her hand and pulled her to the dance floor not a moment later. And Ryoma could only watch Sakuno apologize to him in confusion as she vanished into the crowd.
