Chapter 7
My Prince of the Afternoon
"Get well soon." Oishi friendly stated. "Come back and play with us at the nationals."
Tezuka looked straight unto his eyes. "Hai." He stiffly uttered.
"Buchou! Take care okay!" Momoshiro and Kikumaru yelled as they watch the back of Tezuka enter the boundaries of the airport. He was already taking his leave as the Seigaku's captain and is already going to Germany for his arm to be fully healed.
"Misaki-san!"
Misaki turned around after hearing Horio's squeaky voice call her.
He came from their locker bungalow. Apparently he just arrived. "Wow, you are early today. Rie, Liara, Tomoka, and Sakuno aren't even here yet."
"Yeah, well I guess my body and mind got enough relaxation last weekend that it involuntarily got up on the bed as early as 4 o'clock." She happily said to him. 'Actually, my mind got too preoccupied of what I saw on the balcony that night. Half of my mind kept on pushing that what I saw that time was real but half of it also says that it's just a horrible dream. In any case, I went here as early as possible to find out.' She thought.
"Oi! Baka."
Misaki froze. That's the same voice she heard that night.
"I am not an idiot!" She irritably said back, facing the person who owned that voice. He was on his regular jersey, and his cap is covering one-fourth of his face.
He pulled down his cap. "You are an idiot."
Misaki glowered childishly. "It's not nice you know!" With that he smirked then walked towards the tennis courts.
Misaki ran after him pulling the cap on the process. The boy irritatingly turned around and faced her. "O-Oi! Give that back!" He roughly commanded at once.
Misaki was stunned. 'He really looks like him…then what I saw that night…it's all true.'
"Oi baka!" With that call, Misaki abruptly –and strongly- placed the cap back to Ryoma's head to the point that his cap covered the whole of his face, taking a step back at the process.
Ryoma fixed his cap at once. "WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?" He angrily shouted after.
Misaki paused for a moment then, once again, covered the face of Ryoma with his cap, irritating him more.
He irately fixed it once again. "WHAT DO YOU WANT?"
'Yeah, that's right. He may look like Tsubasa but so what? It's not like he is Tsubasa.' She thought then smiled up to her ears. "Nothing!" She blissfully said in cat-face which made Ryoma more irritated than before.
"You…" Ryoma glares upon Misaki, then his look softened as he pull down his cap and turn his back to her. "Look like a cat." He casually said.
"Ah—huh?" Misaki's mouth gaped in wonder for a second then collapsed. "OI RYOMA! WHO ARE YOU CALLING A CAT? SAY THAT AGAIN OR YOU'LL-"
"You even sound like one." He monotonously stated as he started to leave the mad Misaki behind.
"S-sound like one?" Misaki ponders for a moment to recall if she really sound like one. "OI RYOMA! I DON'T SOUND LIKE A CAT! AND I CERTAINLY DON'T LOOK LIKE ONE! IT'S YOU! YOU—" Misaki was cut as Ryoma paused to lean back on his shoulder giving her a glimpse of his eyes. "What?" He firmly asked.
"Y-y—you…" She stammers. She can't ridicule the cat-like eyes he possesses…it's like ridiculing Tsubasa's eyes. "ARRRGGGHH!" She shouted stomping her feet at the process.
Ryoma sneered. "Neko." He teased once again.
"Shut it! I am not a cat!" Misaki commanded pointing her fingers unto him.
He paused his pace to lean back then continued to walk towards the court. "Neko." He teased once again before he entered the gates of the tennis arena.
"ARRRGH! RYOMA I SAID STOP IT!" Misaki loudly shouted that made all the people in the court stare back at her.
She froze. "Ah—uh…umm… KONNICHIWA!" She greeted with a smile. It's a good thing that senpai Oishi drew everyone's attention to his announcement or else she'll really die in embarrassment.
'ARGH! Why does he always triumph on making my day so bad?' She thought then exhaled. 'Well at least now, it's all been cleared unto me.' She gazed upon Ryoma. 'He really does look like him.'
"MISAKI!" Misaki turned around and found Katsuo smiling back at her. "KATSUO-KUN!" At that loud proclamation, everyone on the regular jersey looked upon the two of them.
"T-Thank you for being my partner last Friday night." Katsuo mumbled in embarrassment.
Misaki smiled up to her ears. "Hee! It's nothing Katsuo!" She happily stated holding both of his hands. "You are fun to be with!"
"Really?"
"Yeah! Are you going to play today?" Misaki asked still in her smile.
Katsuo stared upon Misaki's eyes for a second. "No. I'm just going to catch some tennis balls today."
"Uh- really that's too bad." Soon a tennis ball lightly hit the fence of the court before Misaki and Katsuo.
"Uh—oi Echizen! I'm not yet ready! Why did you serve?" Momoshiro, seeing the ball pass before his eyes, turned his attention from Misaki and Katsuo, to Ryoma.
"You let your guard down, Momo-chan-senpai." Ryoma stated in his same bored voice, pulling his cap down.
"Uh—could it be? Momo-chan-senpai! Are you and Ryoma having a match?" Misaki excitedly questions from the fence.
"Yep! We shouldn't skip practicing even if Capt. Tezuka left already." Momoshiro said smiling up to his ears.
'Yeah that's right. Capt. Tezuka went to Germany yesterday to get his shoulder fully healed.' Misaki reflected for a moment. "Mhmm! Go Momo-chan-senpai, defeat Ryoma-kun okay?" Misaki cheerfully cheered.
"Understood!" Momoshiro confidently stated back. "Yosh Echizen! You heard her."
Ryoma, who actually looked bored, started to gain some energy then pointed his racket upon Momoshiro. "Mada mada dane." He confidently uttered.
"And so if you used 'everyone' rather than…"
"Oh men…" Misaki quietly whimpers unto her seat.
"What's the matter?" Rie whispered.
Misaki melted. "Eh…No matter what I do, I still get so confuse to that subject verb agreement. English is too much for me…" She whines upon her ears.
KRRRINGG!
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Misaki yelled after their teacher was off from their class.
"C'mon Misaki, how long are you going to stay there?" Liara impatiently stated after standing a few minutes on their door.
"Wait, I'm fixing my things wait-okay let's go!" Misaki rapidly said passing through their door and leading the way towards their picnic area while singing a happy song.
"Oh—there you are Sakura!" Misaki turned around and found her Science teacher call for her. "Please, can I ask you a favor? Can you please deliver this to the Chemistry laboratory?" Her teacher rapidly asked handing her a bunch of paper.
"Uh, hai." Misaki automatically mumbled without thinking.
"Arigatou, Sakura-san." Her teacher thanked before continuing her fast walk.
Misaki stared at the papers for a moment, then faced Rie and Liara with a straight face. Liara raised one of her eyebrows to which Misaki replied with a pleading smile. "Gomen, Rie, Liara…just go ahead. I'll follow after this."
"Make sure you do okay? Tomoka, Sakuno, and the others are going to be there. I invited them." Rie informed.
"Hai." Misaki said then ran to the opposite way –towards the Chemistry laboratory.
"Huh? Inui-senpai!" Misaki gladly greeted at the sight of the man in squared glasses, sitting in front of some glasswares and chemicals.
"Ohayoo, Sakura-san." Inui greeted back, though his eyes were still on the chemicals his experimenting.
"Inui-senpai, its alright if you call me Misaki-san. I would even love it more when people call me Misaki" She informed.
"Yeah, I've figured that out long ago but it's for formality sake." Inui said after scanning his notebook.
"I don't need formality Inui-senpai." She said smiled. She looked upon the laboratory assistant. "Here." She blissfully said handing the bunch of papers her.
"I figured that out too." Inui answered once again, "And how I can never win to your demands since you possess ingenious skills." Inui uttered as the Chemistry assistant gets busy with the papers Misaki gave.
"Arigatou Misaki-san. Now can I just leave for a moment to deliver this to Mr. Soma?" The laboratory assistant asked the two of them.
Misaki nodded at once.
"No problem in here." Inui answered to which the laboratory assistant left.
With nothing left to do, Misaki wonders off to the experimenting student present in the room. "Uhmm…Inui-senpai, may I ask what you are doing?" She questions as she examines the test tubes.
"It's an experiment for the next Inui juice." Inui stated. Misaki noticed his eyeglasses shimmer that time.
"Oh…the powerful juice." Misaki murmured as she watches Inui combine two chemicals unto a glass. It exploded for a second then boiled. "Wanna taste?" He asked in cunning smile.
Misaki looked upon the boiling juice on the glass. "I wouldn't die, would I?"
Inui just smiled. Misaki sighed. "Well then, I was actually curious of this taste so…" She took the glass then drank the juice all the way down.
"How was it?" Inui asked after examining the empty glass.
"It tasted like…drinking water. Yup. Like a simple drinking water." After that statement, Inui can't help but have second thoughts. Did he really succeeded in making that juice, or was her stamina really that strong to take it.
'And I thought it tastes as horrible as my cooking' She thought. 'I guess they are wrong.' After thinking confidently for a moment she felt her stomach rumble up-side-down. "Uh-oh!" She uttered then ran towards the exit of the laboratory only to bump at Ryoma's body.
"Uh—" Ryoma mumbled.
"STEP ASIDE!" Misaki struggled in pain which made her shout aggressively.
Ryoma grumped. "Yada."
"I SAID STEP-mfgfhps" Misaki didn't have the strength to carry it. She held unto Ryoma's shoulder for support then vomited on his uniform.
"UH—OI! SAAAAKURAA!" Ryoma yelled pushing Misaki away from her. "SAKURAAAAA!"
"Hmm…I guess I just succeeded my 9th Inui juice." Inui proudly stated after witnessing the event.
"Uh? Inui juice?" Ryoma, hearing that statement, hurriedly searched for the man in glasses then glared at him. "Inui-senpai! Why did you let her drink that juice?" He angrily stated.
"Ryoma…" Misaki softly mumbled, she already finished vomiting but she became feeble at doing so. "Gomen…" After uttering those words, she collapsed and fell towards the arms of Ryoma.
"Uh-oi! OI! Sakura! SAAAKURAAA!" Ryoma kept on calling her but she already fell unto a deep sleep.
"Hmm…funny, how Ryoma addresses Misaki at this moment." He evilly whispers as he scribbles something in his data.
"Uh-a-re?" Misaki got surprise as she finds herself on the clinic bed. She looked around the clinic then found Tomoka, Liara, Rie, and Sakuno sitting before her.
"Misaki! What's the matter? Is there anything wrong?" Sakuno worriedly asked.
"Uhm…ano…" Tension arises from all the people around her as they wait for her answer.
"Why am I at the clinic?" With that reply, everyone sighed from their tension.
"She's okay." Rie casually informed.
"Why? What happened?" Misaki asked once again, still clueless of the situation.
"Misaki! You vomited at Ryoma-sama's uniform didn't you know that?" Tomoka heatedly informed.
Misaki pondered for a moment and soon the thought flashed back into her head. "Ah! Gomenasai! Gomenasai! Ryoma-kun gomenasai-ayee my head!" Misaki cries as she felt a bolt of pain on her head after talking too loud and abruptly rising from her bed.
"Stop it! He's not here. He attended their afternoon practice. Oh you are lucky Ryoma-kun has a regular jersey to wear of. It buys him more time to wait for the uniform his cousin's going to deliver." Liara reprimanded assisting her to lie down.
Rie sighed. "You really are troublesome, aren't you? What came into your mind anyway? Why did you drink that Inui juice at the first place?"
"Gomen…it's just that I'm curious about the taste." Misaki softly stated.
"Curious? Now where did it take you?" Liara scolded back.
"Curiosity kills the cat." Rie confidently stated which made Misaki remember the word that Ryoma teased to her earlier. "Neko."
"Gomen…" Misaki lowly stated once again.
"Are you okay now Misaki-san?" Sakuno asked to which Misaki energetically replied. "Hai!"
"Okay? You've still got headache. Lie down" Rie commanded.
"Demo…the classes…"
"We'll just let you copy our notes after, okay? For the meantime, have your lunch. You haven't eaten yet." Rie added.
"Hai…" Then Misaki slowly sat unto her bed to get her lunch bag and start eating at the bed tray.
Soon the door at the clinic opened revealing Horio, Katsuo, Kachiro, Fuji, Eiji, Momoshiro, and the least person Misaki wanted to see.
"Ryoma-kun!" Sakuno shouted and all heads followed at once. All except for Misaki who wanted to hide herself beneath the blanket for a second. 'Why now of all times?'
"Ah! Sakura-eeh-Misaki-san! You have finally awakened! Nya!" Eiji's happy voice echoed unto the clinic as he pull the blanket away from the hiding Misaki. "So? How's the taste of the new Inui juice?" He fronted his cat-like face unto her.
"Ah…eh…ano…" Misaki stutters in embarrassment. She struggled to focus her gaze only to Eiji. She doesn't want to feel the presence of Ryoma even a small inch of his aura.
"What?" Eiji's eyes battled while waiting for her answer.
"T-Tastes like water, Eiji-senpai" Misaki answered, trying to sound normal.
"Nya! Really?" Eiji boldly asked in disbelief. Misaki stiffly nodded her head. After that, Eiji shivers.
"How are you Misaki?" Fuji asked in his pleasant smile which eased Misaki a little.
Misaki smiled back at him. "All fully recovered!" Her energetic voice echoes and her happy aura circles around the room.
With that silenced entered the room.
"Yosh! Well, now you have nothing to worry about Loverboy." Momoshiro boldly teased as he dips his knuckles on Ryoma's head, making Ryoma feel irritated at once.
"Ah -Loverboy?" Ryoma whispered in puzzle as he struggles to get out from the crushing hug of Momoshiro which later on, was supported by Eiji, causing a lot of noise in the clinic.
"Thank you for visiting, Fuji-senpai" Misaki thanked as she open her lunch to eat.
"Oh, no worries. We were just about to head home to class when we thought of visiting you." He answered in his melodious voice.
"Uh- yeah that's right! Misaki…" Katsuo's call drew everyone's attention to him.
"What is it Katsuo?" Misaki asked then Katsuo went beside her and handed a letter.
"What is-"
"It came from a guy of black hair and brown eyes, about 5 feet tall." Katsuo informed. "He said not to give it to you, not until its Monday noon." He added.
'Could this be…his?' Misaki utters to her mind as she looks upon the letter.
"Neh Katsuo? Is that guy, with a girl in long, shiny, black hair and thin almond, chocolate-colored eyes?"
Katsuo paused to think. "Yeah… from how I remember it…he is with a girl, I'm pretty sure, younger than us."
Misaki examined the letter then contemplated for some minutes.
"Nani nani? Saku—eh-Misaki open it now!" Eiji demanded in both curiosity and excitement as he also examine the letter Misaki was holding.
Misaki grumpily looked around. Just like what she thought, everyone was intrigued about the letter she had received…but there's no way they are going to find out its content. After all, this is her personal life.
She opened the envelope then looked around once again.
"Well?" Liara asked impatiently, her left eyebrow was up.
With that Misaki sighed then placed the letter unto her lunchbag. "Thank you Katsuo. I guess I'll just read it later. I think I'm fully healed so I better go to class now" She happily excused, standing right up from her seat which made everyone else left hanging and disappointed.
Rie sighed. "Are you sure you are alright now." She asked and Misaki abruptly nodded like a dog. "C'mon Rie, before the school bell rings!" Misaki insisted jumping out of the bed.
"Well, I guess we better go too Eiji." Fuji suggested and Eiji replied wth an enthusiastic yet disappointed nod.
"Ok then. Ja-ne minna-san!" Eiji gave a big wave of goodbye before they vanished in front of the clinic.
"Well, I better be off now Ja-ne!" Momoshiro waved then hurriedly ran to their building.
Soon the eight first years were left walking side by side unto their building.
"So now, how did Ryoma had his uniform clean?" Liara asked to the trio.
"Apparently, he has an extra uniform stored in his locker so he has no problems at all." Kachiro happily stated.
Misaki stopped then faced Ryoma. She reached her hand to him. "Give it to me."
Ryoma stopped. "What?" He plainly asked.
"Your uniform—the one I had vomited to. Give it to me, I'll wash it myself" She strongly asserted.
Ryoma looked at her for a second then continued his walk, ignoring her.
"O-OI! Ryoma-kun!" Misaki insisted.
"Urusai. Its enough you vomited on it." Ryoma monotonously said as he continues his pace.
"DEMO~" Misaki whines. Soon she felt warm hands hold his shoulders.
"It's okay Misaki. Maybe, he really just doesn't want you to do it." Rie consoled then followed the other's pace leaving her behind.
Misaki, understanding the situation, calmed down then slipped her hand inside her lunch bag.
"Misaki, what's wrong? Why aren't you moving?" Tomoka asked walking pass to her.
"I think I forgot something on the clinic. You better go ahead." Misaki shouted then the rest continued to head north while Misaki runs the opposite way.
"If he said to not give it until its Monday noon, then it must've been something." Misaki mumbled as she hid from a corner then brought out the letter she's been holding for a long time.
"Daichi…just what are you and Akemi up to?"
"Finally!" Rie shouted the moment she caught a glimpse of Misaki. "What is it that you left behind? Why did it take you so long?"
"Left-behind…huh…" Misaki softly mumbles as her eyes starts to shimmer and form little tears.
"Oi Misaki, are you sure you are okay now? You look a bit unwell." Liara inserted.
Misaki, awakening from her senses, abruptly stretched her hands in the manner of yawning. "Oh its nothing. I'm just feeling a bit sleepy that's all-oh look at the time, I think our teacher would be up here anytime soon, I better go to my seat bye!" She rapidly excused herself then went to her sit which is at the far end of the classroom.
"What the-? Is it me or Misaki's really becoming aware of the time?" Liara asked in puzzle.
"Talk about being cautious of our teacher's arrival, Misaki's acting way too different all of a sudden." Rie added.
"Do you think it's because of the Inui juice?" Liara asked facing Rie.
"Maybe."
Gomen Misaki…but we don't have any choice…
"What choice do I have?" Misaki mumbled.
"HUH?"
The loud puzzled voice of Liara startled Misaki from her deep thinking.
"AAAH! Liara? Since when-"
"Since a minute ago? We've been calling your name a thousand times already. Our English group is going to have a meeting for tomorrow's presentation so Rie and I advices you to go to the tennis courts ahead of us. We'll just follow after our meeting." Her loud voice circles unto the classroom.
"Ah…" Misaki stared at her for a moment. "Okay."
Soon Rie approached her. "Are you sure about that?"
Misaki looked back at her with puzzled expression. "What am I sure about?"
"That you are okay…"
Misaki faked a smile. "Of course, you silly! I'm just a bit tired that's all." She stood up from her sit. "Very well then, see you all at the tennis courts!" She waved then dashed off.
"Monday yet she's tired?" Liara asked once again.
Rie sighed. "Who would believe her?"
"Gomen Rie, Liara. I know how you'll all be worried o
nce I tell you…so I can't." Misaki mumbled resting on the wall just around the corner. Soon a slightly opened door caught her eye. Inside it was a black, shiny grand piano. It was pulling her closer. It was the beautiful piano Fuji Syusuke once played at their Grand Ball.
She touched its keys and it gave a very beautiful sound. Its pitch and quality is perfect. She sat unto its seat, placed her hands before its keys, and without further ado, she started to play.
"Do you know how to play the piano?"
It was the arrival of their upright piano, and its causing a big commotion in their neighborhood. Soon Akemi, Daichi, Rikku, Jirou, Chouko, Etsuko… all of her friends started to knock upon their door to see it.
"Do you know how to play the piano?" Little Akemi asked, excited to know the answer.
Misaki shook her head as a no. "Not as good as Masaru. I only know two things."
"What is it?" Akemi interestingly asked.
With that, Misaki started to play Twinkle-twinkle Little Star.
"What's the other one?" Masaru asked then Misaki started to play Happy Birthday.
"Oh I also know that!" Daichi proudly boasted as he started to push the white keys. After finishing he stared upon Misaki. "You should start learning piano pieces like what your sisters do."
Misaki smiled. "Yap! I would like to do that."
Etsuko grinned. "If you have finished one wonderful piece, make us hear it first before anyone else okay!"
After 3 years.
"I finished it!" Misaki loudly proclaimed.
"Misaki you have become a genius already! You just learned a difficult piece in three days! It's like you are ahead of my level of playing already. How many piano pieces have you learned starting from 3 years ago?" Masaru, the musical genius, asked inquisitively.
"I'm not sure…thirteen? Oh but no Masaru. You are still the genius here. The number of piano pieces you have learned is immeasurable!" Misaki complimented.
Akemi soon laid two pieces of music sheet on the piano's music rack. "Can I request for this?" She politely asked.
Misaki read the title. "Gosenfu no Arisu ~ Futari no Inori?"
"It's just easy." Misaki leaned back to Akemi. Akemi gave a full pledge smile. "PLEASE!"
"What kind of piece is that?" Daichi irritably asked.
"It's beautiful!" Akemi stated snootily.
"I also love that piece!" Rikku supported Akemi.
"Is it really that beautiful?" Daichi said once again.
"Haha…not really. It's just a simple, wonderful music. It's not complex and hard." Etsuko informed. "Misaki can finish it in a day.
Misaki examined the piece. "Well, I'm not sure…"
"We really like it so please learn that piece! Please! Please! Please!" Akemi pleaded with her full pledge smile.
Misaki looked around her. Everyone seems to have their interest on the piece. She sighed. "Okay then."
"Akemi…Daichi…" Misaki's eyes soon gave tears of sadness as she play the last part of the piece Akemi once begged for her to study.
'Why…?' With that, Misaki stopped the second to the last notes then lay down on keys, her hands embracing her head, producing one much disharmonized tune, unable to play the last note and to finish playing the piece.
"Maa... what do we have here?"
Misaki abruptly got up to that sound of melodious voice. She turned around. "Fu-Fuji senpai?"
Fuji gave her his ever great special smile. "I didn't know you play the piano."
"W—well, not that…much. Not the way you play it though."
Fuji took a step inside the music room then placed himself beside Misaki. "It sounds nice. But it seems to be lacking something."
"Huh?" Misaki's head tilted in puzzle.
Fuji strokes his hand upon the ivory keys of the piano. "Connection."
Misaki's eyebrows almost met in total innocence. "Connection?"
He looked upon Misaki and fully smiled. "If you play the keys too hard they would be angry…and will stay down and not come back up once again."
Fuji, then, grabbed Misaki's hands and made it feel the piano keys even more. "You are too focused on something, that you can't even see you are already hurting it. Try talking to 'it'."
It took a few seconds, but it finally came to Misaki's head. She gazed upon the beautiful grand piano…'it'
'Could I be…hurting 'it'?' She thought.
"Neh-Fuji-senpai."
"Hm?"
"Can you…please, teach me…the proper way to do it?" Misaki's eyes were fully focused on Fuji. It made Fuji feel a little bit shocked. "I wanted…to build it…the connection that you are saying."
Fuji knew what she was talking about at once. After a few seconds of silence, he finally gave a sweet sigh. "Then, can I?"
Misaki moved aside as Fuji occupied the piano seat. "This might sound a little awkward because it is just one piano, but I'm planning to find a partner for this somehow." He informed. "I hope you could learn how to play this so we could play the piano together." He said smiling to her. He gazed upon the piano, took a deep breath, and then started to play. A very jolly, up-beat music echoed not just in the music room but throughout the building. Misaki can't help but wonder…when have she heard this music before?
"There's no other…piano piece like this…"
"Misaki…"
"Hm?" Misaki looked to her right. They were all staring upon the stage where two pianos were sounding wonderfully.
"I would love to see you play that piece." Akemi whispers with a beam. "It was just another favor from me…and I guess from Daichi-nii-chan too. Remember how we, Daichi-nii-chan and I, pretend to play that piano piece while you pretend to be our conductor back when we were tiny kids?"
Misaki smiled at reminiscence. "Akemi, it's for two pianos and it's very long. Besides, I am not to that level of playing that piano piece yet. It is way too difficult for me." She said chuckling at the end of her sentence.
Akemi shook her head from left to right. "Na-uh! You could already play that type of piece. And as for a partner…Masaru's been looking for someone for a long time…right Masaru?" She said leaning over where Masaru is.
Masaru smiled. "Sure! I've already mastered the two piano parts for the 1st movement: Allegro con Spirito. If you want, I can give you a copy for piano 1. It is much easier to learn than piano 2."
Misaki gave a faint smile. "No really…umm, I am not capable of-"
"-Misaki, are you going to try learning Mozart's K448?" Daichi suddenly asked out of the blue.
"Ah-no-eh-um…"
"Oh she'll surely do Ni-chan!" Akemi prances in glee.
"That'd be great! Inform us once you have finished even just the 1st movement." Daichi calmly praised.
"I'd be giving you the copy once we get home. Remind me okay!" Masaru said then headed to watch.
"AH…no…eto…um…" Misaki sighed. "Hai…" she faintly agreed.
'But I never got to learn that, didn't I?' Misaki thought. She wanted to cry but the jolly and calm emotions of the music stops her from doing so. 'And now that they're gone…moved far away…' she thought. 'They still thought of me while I…'
Fuji, abruptly realizing the sudden change of mood, slows down his playing up until he came to a stop.
"Anything wrong?" He asked in his pleasant smile.
Misaki's eyes widened as she snap from her deep thought. She tried to smile but she was loosing it. In a minute or two, she can't probably hold back the tears she's been keeping for a long time. "G-gomen…" She blurted as small drops of tears starts to fall from her eyes.
"Misaki, what's the matter?"
With that Misaki abruptly turned her back to Fuji then hurriedly wiped off her tears. "Ah….gomen-gomen Fuji-senpai, don't worry about me…I'm just…moved that's all Ja-ne!" She managed to say in a normal tone-or so she thought- before she ran out of the music room, away from all the people she knew. She ran and ran, to where her feet take her as she tries to stop the tears that heavily fall unto her eyes.
"It was always like that! Why are you so unfair? Akemi, Daichi, why did you not tell me that it was the truth? That you were really leaving? Why do you have to be concerned about me being sad because of that? Why don't you want to see me cry? I hate it! I hate all of it! Please! Let this just be a horrible nightmare. Please make it stop. Please wake me up! Please come back. Akemi, Daichi, please…do not leave us! Please…stay…"
Soon her feet came unto a halt and to her surprise; she was at the park just outside the corner of Seigaku. The park was quiet, serene, as no children were occupying the swings, play houses, monkey bars, and slides. She nears herself unto the swing, stared at it, then sat down as another memory flashes upon her head.
"Misaki-chan!"
The young Misaki looked back and found all of her childhood friends around her as she sits upon the swing. "It will be okay." Akemi consoled.
"Your dog is already happy in heaven." Etsuko added with a smile.
"Yup. She'll be sad once she knows that you are sad." Rikku continued.
"C'mon, let's just play. Who wants hide and seek?" Daichi engaged to which everyone raised their hands up except for Misaki. Tomiko, seeing this, controlled Misaki's hand and raised it up. "C'mon! Play to take the sadness away." She said with a smile.
"C'mon! C'mon!" The naughty voice of Akemi ringed at Misaki's ears as she starts to push her away from the swing. Soon, Daichi helped, and made Masaru, Etsuko, Tomiko, and Jirou follow suit. Their strength swept Misaki off her seat.
Misaki wiped off her tears then finally smiled. "Alright, alright…you all win."
All those memories made her cry out even more. She quietly cried, controlling her tears to the best that she would. She doesn't want anyone to see her cry.
The park was empty. It was isolated from the wandering children and loving mothers. It was only left for her.
Soon the autumn breeze blew to her softly. She tried to smell its scent, but what she's been feeling all along doesn't want to let her go. The sun is almost at dusk. The sky has been starting to form orange and purple colors.
She was sitting upon the left side of the swing, her hands clasped hardly upon the chains of the swing. She didn't want to let go…for she'll crack if she did.
She traced upon the rays of the sun and found her shadow stretching long before her. Soon she stopped to breathe. All along there was someone at the back of the swing…someone watching her in solitude.
She leaned back and almost died at surprise…it was the least person she would ever expect to meet.
Ryoma was lying peacefully on the bench of the rooftop when he heard a very distinct tune coming just below their building. 'Who could be playing it?'
The music did not just bothered his ears, but it also bothered his feelings as well. It sounds so sad…so…
"Disturbing." Ryoma uttered as he rises up from the bench. He opened the door of the rooftop then went downstairs. Whoever that is playing it, it surely had him feel something.
As he was walking down the first flight of stairs, a sudden familiar figure caught his sight as it passed by unto the hallway.
"Fuji-senpai…" He mumbled as he continues his pace towards where Fuji was standing then followed his eyes upon the half-open door.
"Neko…" He thought as he caught a glimpse of the person in control of the piano's sad melody.
"It caught you too didn't it?" Fuji whispers to Ryoma while his eyes fully looking at the person on the piano.
Ryoma kept silent.
"It is that sad…" Fuji continued. His eyes examined Ryoma for a second. Ryoma's eyes were glistening with strange emotions as he looks upon the person on the piano. Fuji knew what it was instantly.
"Saa…Echizen…"
Ryoma placed his eyes upon him and for once Fuji felt softness within his eyes. He kept on a smile. "You can fix it…the melody."
Ryoma, then, suddenly shifted his look into a sharp one. He turned around. "I can't." He strongly rejected as he turns around and paced his walk, away from where the music room is.
"Echizen…" Fuji called his name. Ryoma halted for a second. "It is that annoying" He softly whispered then walked away. He might've said it softly and almost vague, but Fuji completely understood what he said.
'I can't fix it huh,' He thought. 'That is why it is that annoying.' He continued. Soon a corner on the hallway caught his eye and as he turns left, he realized…
'Where am I going?' He sighed. He's being absentminded. He leaned upon the wall then supported his head with his left hand for a second to give himself a rest. He closed his eyes for a second. 'Sakura's music…it wasn't finished, isn't it?' He noticed in contemplation. Soon another defined music coming from the music room interrupted his thinking. He looked up, "Mozart's Sonata D for two pianos…" he said then softly smiled. "It suits her…Fuji-senapai."
He was listening creatively on the music when the music suddenly stopped. Paleness covered his face. There's something wrong. He started to walk fast towards the music room.
He was fast approaching the hallway where the music room is, and was about to turn to a corner when he suddenly bumped unto the girl he was trying to see.
"Oi-neko—" He stopped as he finds tiny drops of tears within her eyes. She didn't even have the time to look back and say sorry. She was continuously running and was struggling to cover her teary eyes. She was actually good at it…but Ryoma saw it.
"Neko…" Ryoma thought in wonder. He has never seen her like this. He has never seen her cry. His blood was rushing. He knew he had to do it. But when he was about to take the first step, his foot got caught of something…it was an unfolded paper with words written inside. He grabbed it and after taking a glimpse, he started to rush after her.
"Sakura…"
Misaki turned around to wipe of her tears then faced him back with a smile. "Ryoma-kun!" She energetically called in the same mocking tune as before. This made Ryoma even more annoyed. He aggressively walked, placing himself in front of the swing, and in front of Misaki. He reached a letter to her.
"Uh-" Misaki trembles as she grabs the letter. She madly looked upon Ryoma. "How much-"
"—I didn't read anything but I've seen enough." He strongly asserted. Misaki madly moved her eyes away from him in hatred.
"You can't do anything about it you know that? Whatever you do, they are not coming back."
Tears are starting to fall rapidly from Misaki's eyes. She abruptly wipes them off and keeps on a smile. "I know" she recited in a happy tune. She wasn't moving her gaze-she was concentrating upon the grass below the swing to at least minimize the flow of her tears. She never wears off that smile.
Ryoma's look was becoming more and more anxious. "Your tears won't make them come back. Even if you drown yourself in sorrow…they won't come back."
"I know, I know okay!" Misaki starts to give in a little shout as she kept on wiping all the tears that flows from her eyes. She tries to smile even though her heart was already breaking. "I don't want to cry. Akemi…Daichi…they only want me to smile that is why they didn't tell me they are leaving. When Akemi tried to tell me, she knew what my reaction would be that's why she immediately refuses to do so. She only wants to see me smile-my smile-that's all she's been saving. Even Daichi…before they left, what they are being worried about is protecting my smile…my happiness…they don't want to see me sad…that is why….that is why…"
"Baka." Ryoma strongly poked Misaki's head then knelt down to the swing to see her face to face. "Cry." He commanded as his eyes connects hers. Misaki's tears starts to fall on even faster. "I-I can't they-"
With that Ryoma pushed on Misaki's head upon his chest. "Now no one can see you cry." And with that Misaki finally gave in to her tears.
"I knew that one day this thing would come but still…why am I not prepared?"
My two best of friends left me in an instant and I never felt so down. Before, when I've got these types of problems, I always wished for someone like Tsubasa Konomi, a prince who would hold out my hand. When I was at the park…I knew I was alone…but he suddenly came...he became the prince who became my strength the moment I felt that sooner or later I'll surrender.
"Neh, Ryoma-kun…"
"Hm?"
"Arigatou." Misaki thanked now in her real smile, as she sits beside Ryoma on the grass. They are now on the riverbank –the shortcut where Ryoma usually passes by before going home. "I felt okay now."
Ryoma stood up from lying on the grass. "You just made me miss my tennis practice. Don't you know that?"
"Eh?" Misaki's face inclines in confusion. "Really?"
"Hai." Ryoma boringly replied. "You have to pay for that."
"EH?" Misaki's jaw drops in surprise.
Ryoma looked back at her. "It means you owe me one…baka."
Misaki's face suddenly cranked up. "WHO ARE YOU CALLING BAKA?"
"You cry like a kitten, don't you know that?" Ryoma teased once again.
"I—I…WHAT?" Misaki angrily shouted.
Ryoma smirked. "Neko."
Misaki's face turns red in madness. "O—oi Ryoma who are you calling neko? Stop it! I am not a cat!"
Ryoma then replaced his bored face with a smiling one. He reached for Misaki's hair then rubbed it. "Neko" He said in the process.
Misaki, who got surprise by that sudden action, bursts out in madness. "NEKO-JYANAI!"
"Neko…"
"Iieee"
"Hai…kimi wa neko."
"IIIEEEE!
"Hai….Sakua neko"
"Ryoma-kun!"
"neko"
"yamero!"
"neko"
….
"I am pretty sure I'm good at teasing people…and I'm pretty sure I know how to win the banter-even if they are already all against me, I always find a way to get out of it and pass it on to other people…but why is it that when it is he who's teasing me…I begin to lose?"
******E***N***D******
Wah! Guyz finally after so many years! I'm done with chapter 7!
I know my grammars are not perfect…but please do leave a comment! :P
You could also email me about the things you wanted to see from Misaki and Ryoma…I just love them
RYOSAKI forever!
Oh yeah, I do not own Prince of Tennis…just incase you are still not informed.
Chapter 8 is in process…but I'm afraid it might take awhile before I finish it since busy things had been circling around me every now and then.
Luv you guyz!
