Oh hey I'm back with an update! Didn't take that long this time eh? Hehe! Before the story, I have "lots" of things to say, after about being gone for a year(?), I think... You can skip this if you want! ^_^
1. I wanna thank all those who read and reviewed! I was shocked to open my mail and be welcomed by a flood of reviews from my readers. For that, my endless thanks! :))
2. I know this is a bit late.. But the setting here is during Haruko, Rukawa, and Sakuragi's 2nd year, which means Akagi Takenori and the others have already graduated and Miyagi took over the position of team captain.. :)
3. As mentioned a lot of times in my author's updates on my profile page, my USB which had gotten destroyed contained the drafts of all my stories, and till now I haven't recovered them yet. Which is why I left all my stories in hiatus. I don't want to rewrite another version of the chapters which I already made because for one, I put my whole heart and soul *cough* *cough* when I write, and to write them again for the second time, I don't have any heart and soul for me to input anymore. *_*
4. I decided that until I don't get my USB back, I won't update my stories, as stated above, I want to post the original chapters I already made. But just a few weeks ago, or months probably, I started to miss writing for anime. I continued writing new fanfics for Kpop, ones which were not included in my runaway USB, that's why I was free to do those Kpop fanfics. But as said, I missed writing for anime, and so after I remembered that I haven't written much of AAO's chapter 7 onwards (only drafts which are hardly a story), and I still have the paper and pen draft of AAO on my possession, I decided to type and edit it on my lappy. And that's when I came up with another chapter of AAO. And I will continue writing for AAO, not UL because I have it almost finished in my destroyed USB, and I don't wish to rewrite and throw away my previous works on my chapters.
5. Just before I posted the previous chap (chapter 7), I reread the whole story so far, from chap 1-6. I noticed that it was not written that nicely, and I may have made the characters OOC, especially Rukawa. Maybe I can say, in my more than 3 years of writing, I had matured enough and learned a lot in my experiences here in the real world, that's why I will, from now on, portray some of these learnings in making the story and the characters more realistic. Adding to that, I had forgotten the flow of the story. The story was done in my mind just after I had started thinking about it, but it wasn't written yet. And now, I forgot some of the scenes I intended to put in the story. And my way of writing may be kind of different now because of writing in different genre and facets (anime, Kpop, own fictions), so if there are lots of inconsistencies in my writing, please excuse me.. :)
6. If the story is too detailed for you, again, excuse me for that ^^ I intended for it to be that way since in the original flow, the story is going too fast.. I was hoping for things to be developed before they reach their climax. And I will be needing as much as 23 chaps for this fic to be finished.. Because 23 chapters fit the quote I made (it's the chapter titles)...
7. Just to be clear with the names, when I say Rukawa, I mean Rukawa Kaede, okay? I'll still call him Rukawa since it's the name I'm accustomed to using. Although Haruko is also a Rukawa, I will still call her Haruko. The parents, if mentioned, will be addressed as Mr. and Mrs. Rukawa, then maybe I'll call Rukawa-kun as Kaede :) But if it's only the siblings, Rukawa would pertain to Kaede, except otherwise stated.. :)
8. I will continue writing for AAO, but updates might not be on a regular weekly basis, etc. I write when the idea and drive are both there, so if I don't update in a longer time, please excuse that again.. ^^ But I will try my best!
9. Lastly, thanks for continuing to support my story! I hope you all stay till it's finished. And while waiting, you might as well check out my other fanfics, hehe! *sneaky*
A/N: AAAANNNDDD after my monologue, I'm not yet done! Lol. This is about the story.. Anyway, Sakuragi and Haruko moment up ahead. But there's still RuHaru, of course :) Just thought of giving a chance to Sakuragi, at least to express his feelings for our dear Haruko. After all, Tensai Hanamichi-kun deserves to have it.. :) Now read on!
Against All Odds
Chapter 8: The Moment We Meet Again
It was lunch time and students were out of their classroom eating and taking a break from all the energy-draining activities in their classes. Sakuragi and his gundan were on the rooftop of their building. Chuichirou, Yuuji, and Nozomi were eating on the floor while talking about some event that happened to them last night, while Sakuragi and Yohei were leaning on the railings.
"Geez, that old okonomiyaki store's owner really pisses me off."
"Sou sou. Just because we were involved in a fight in front of his store the other night, he wouldn't let us enter his restaurant anymore. That's really unfair!"
"Maybe we should have given him a punch or two in the face neh?"
Yohei tried to reason out with his friends. "Hora, hora. Calm down, you guys. Maybe the owner only wants to protect the image of his store. We shouldn't have gotten into that fist fight anyway."
"Still..." Chuichirou snapped his fingers when he remembered something. "I almost forgot. I heard that there is a newly opened takoyaki store just a few blocks from school. Should we go there later?"
The others agreed. "That's a good idea. It's been a long time since I last ate takoyaki. Must have at least 3 servings," Nozomi said.
"Yosh! Let's go there after school!" Yuuji said. "Ah, time passes so sloooowly..."
The three continued talking about takoyaki and food while Yohei watched them, smiling. He turned to Sakuragi and noticed that his friend was unusually quiet that day, almost never speaking. He had his eyes fixed on the whole of Kanagawa below them. Yohei smiled. Having been best friends with Sakuragi since they were in elementary, it was pretty easy to see through the redhead. He knows Sakuragi's mind was preoccupied.
"Did something happen?"
Sakuragi turned to his left and saw Yohei smiling but with a hint of concern in his eyes. He knows he can't lie to Yohei. Furthermore, the truth that bothers him is something so big he doesn't even know what lie would cover it up. He faced forward and continued staring into space, and in a low voice, spoke out his mind. "Something... came up. It's something I didn't expect to happen. I guess I was too shocked."
Yohei carefully considered Sakuragi's words. "It's a bad thing." It wasn't a question.
"I don't know." And truthfully, he doesn't know. "All I know is, a part of it is something I wanted, needed, to happen. But somehow, now that it did happen, I don't feel any happiness..." Because I know what I thought I'm supposed to feel is exactly the opposite of what she feels...
Yohei watched the guy carefully. He knows, and everyone knows, Sakuragi to be tough. But one thing that differentiates Yohei from the rest of the world about Sakuragi is, he knows Sakuragi can be weak when it comes to his emotions. Especially for someone he cares for the most.
"Maybe it's something you don't really need."
"Huh?" Sakuragi looked over at Yohei.
"Or maybe, that something is just not really for you..."
Sakuragi felt a prick on his heart. He shifted his gaze. Is Haruko-san not really meant for me?
Yohei watched Sakuragi's face. He knew his friend was contemplating on his feelings. "Because if it's meant to happen that way, then there would be no problem, right? But if it falls in some place and things just don't go right, maybe... It just doesn't belong there... So, just let it go, Hanamichi."
Sakuragi felt a vague feeling in his heart. From the moment he saw Haruko's face, he knew that his heart already belonged to her. But does she belong there? Or in someone else's? Is that why it hurts so much, not just for Haruko, but also for him..?
He shook his head slightly to clear his thoughts. Sighing dejectedly, he closed his eyes and let the soft wind touch his skin and blow away all his concerns, even for a while. All those thinking were making his head ache.
Rukawa shifted in his position on the floor. He was lying on the rooftop on one of the school's buildings since lunch time came. He likes the rooftop because it's a quiet place and he can have his precious sleep without anyone disturbing him. He never eats during lunchtimes anyway. All he comes for there is sleep. And just like any other normal day, there he was, lying comfortably on the floor. Half of his upper body was leaning on the wall and his one arm was draped over his eyes so he won't be blinded by the bright sky above him.
It was just an everyday routine for him. Except for that day, he wasn't sleeping.
Not that he's not sleepy. In fact, he's very sleepy since he wasn't able to sleep much the past night. The milk Haruko made for him indeed helped to induce his sleepiness, but everything that had transpired between them last night absolutely countered the effect brought by the milk.
He abruptly sat up, too abruptly to be exact. If someone was there and had seen him, he/she would have been surprised as seeing a very much dead man come to life and rapidly sit up. He scratched the back of his head in annoyance.
What a pain...
He looked to his side, onto the towel-wrapped bento box sitting on the floor. He heaved a deep sigh. It's one of the reasons, actually the main reason, why he cannot sleep even if he badly wanted to. Aside from the events from last night that kept recurring to his mind, the bento box which she had prepared for him this morning kept him from settling to rest.
He got his bag from the chair beside him and swung it over his shoulder. He walked out to the garage and readied his bicycle while waiting for Haruko. Once she was out, she handed something to him. It was wrapped in a towel.
"Ru - O-Oniichan, I made this a while ago. I thought you might want to eat something later at lunch. I know you always skip it and just use the time for sleeping," she said shyly.
He looked alternately at her and the bento box she was holding. He really didn't want to eat lunch when he can just sleep, and more so, he didn't really like it when others pry about his business. But trying his best to be polite, and as a payment for bothering to prepare milk for him the past night (although she was the one who prepared both the milk and bento), he decided to take it. Haruko, whose cheeks were getting redder by the minute, smiled gratefully (although he should be the one to be grateful). She looked almost relieved.
"You shouldn't have bothered," he said while looking at the bento.
From the corner of his eyes, he saw her shoulders slightly slumped. Or was it just his imagination?
He opened his bag and put the bento box inside. "I'll eat it. Thanks for bothering," he said before riding his bicycle.
Haruko looked at him, surprised. Then a smile formed on her lips. "Douitashimashite," she replied, more cheerfully this time, as she followed suit.
He stared at the bento box in his hands. He didn't quite expect that she would make lunch for him. No one ever bothered to. When he was young, it would be the maids who'd prepare his lunch box, but it was never someone in his family. The family he grew up in is never one where members have close relationships with one another. In fact, it's the opposite. It's like the relationship with one another is purely business-like. There is no warmth, no personal touch. At a young age, he was already trained to be independent. He wasn't even matured yet when he was already taught indirectly that no one will do things for him so he has to rely on and only on himself.
But then she came. And she actually cared.
The image of his sister came to his mind. In the picture, she was smiling cheerfully. She looked really happy. And she seemed someone warm to be with...
He shook his head. His train of thoughts is really getting worse. Maybe I should go to the doctor. Or better yet, I should just sleep it off. But considering the current state of mind he was in, he doubts if he can catch sleep soon.
His attention was brought back to the bento. Curious as to what she had made, he lifted the lid and looked inside. Sushi, okonomiyaki, and rice. She knows how to make these? It looked delicious, so he decided to try one. He took a sushi with the chopsticks and put it in his mouth. She knows her way in the kitchen. He tried another, and another, until he finished all the contents in the bento.
He arranged the bento box and, after neatly wrapping it back, placed it on the floor beside him. He went back to lying on the floor. Strange, but after he ate the lunch Haruko prepared for him, he didn't feel unsettled as before. Deciding to take a nap before the afternoon classes start, he closed his eyes. But the moment he did, sleep finally enveloped him...
It was past 6 o'clock in the evening. Only a few players were left on the gym getting ready to leave while some had already gone home. Among the few who were left were the two team manageresses, Rukawa, and Miyagi. Miyagi and Ayako were sitting on one of the benches discussing about the players' statistics. Haruko was walking around the gym checking if all the doors were locked while waiting for Rukawa who was in the shower room.
She knelt down in front of the last door and clicked the lock. "That's the last." She stood up and straightened her skirt. She was about to join her two senpai's when a figure standing by the door caught her eyes. She walked towards the entrance and saw a certain redhead leaning on the gym's open door, looking quite serious while looking at nothing in particular.
"Sakuragi-kun..."
*************************RuHaru*************************
It was already dark and the only source of light was the moon that shone brightly above the sky. Outside, two people were standing side by side on one side of the gym, a few feet away from each other. The girl was looking down at her feet while fidgeting with her hands at her back. The taller guy had his eyes on the trees in front of them, yet again staring at nothing in particular.
Haruko decided to speak. "Um, what do you want to talk to me about?" She asked.
Sakuragi didn't answer at once. Haruko looked at him closely. Sakuragi was really strange today. During practice, she noticed he wasn't so loud and lively like before. She knew they all noticed, but was glad that they tried to keep their knowledge of it as discreet as possible. Although he tried to make some "noises," it was obvious it was being forced out. He was also being uncharacteristically obedient today, doing without complaint all the things Ayako and Miyagi had asked him to do. And he didn't as much pull a fight with Rukawa. But out of all the weird things about Sakuragi today, it was the serious look on his face that really troubled her. If it was Sakuragi, no matter how tough things get, he would always manage to laugh, even crack a joke. But not now, because he really looked, kind of scary.. It's not his face that's scary, but the feeling that he was arising in her. She felt scared for him.
The silence was becoming uncomfortable. When Sakuragi didn't seem like responding anytime soon, she decided to break the heavy silence. "Is there something bothering you? You seem really strange today."
Sakuragi, again, didn't respond. But after a while, he stood up straight and faced Haruko. "I'm fine, Haruko-san," he said, trying to convince her by smiling. But he failed miserably. After all, he's not worried about his own self, he's worried about her.
Haruko smiled at her friend. She straightened up and faced Sakuragi. "I know it, Sakuragi-kun. You have a problem. That's why you took me here, right?"
Sakuragi knows what to answer, it's the reason he wanted to talk to her, right? But he doesn't know how to say it to her. He was struggling with himself. Or more like, he's trying to gather up more courage to talk to Haruko. He had thought about this earlier, after his talk with Yohei. Yohei was right. Maybe, Haruko just doesn't belong to him. Of course, he had always known it, though he had refused to acknowledge the truth, pushing it to the corners of his mind. He had always known that Haruko loves someone else, but Rukawa didn't seem like he'll acknowledge the affection of the former captain's sister. So as long as Haruko was free, it won't hurt if he tries to make himself seem victorious, right? Even if inside, he'd already lost. He thought there would be no harm in trying to create a perfect world for him. A world where there is only him and Haruko. No, he didn't go as far as trying to make himself believe that Haruko loves him, that's so far-fetched, instead, it's a world wherein, even though Haruko doesn't love him, at least, he's free to love her.
But I guess, it's time's up...
He had already made his decision. He had decided to let her go.
Breathing heavily, he told her, "Haruko-san... The fact is, it's you I'm worried about."
"Eh?" Haruko was surprised. "Doushite?"
"Anou, about that thing with Rukawa..."
Haruko's heart skipped a beat. She had thought of making him open up to her, but she didn't expect she'll be the one cornered. So it's about me and my being a Rukawa...
Sakuragi instantly felt bad about opening the topic to her. Even if she considers him as a friend, he shouldn't be so nosy, going over some private issues in her life. "G-Gomen, Haruko-san! I didn't mean to bring it up! A-Anou, I was just - !"
Haruko looked up at him and smiled cheerfully. "Daijoubu yo, Sakuragi-kun!"
Sakuragi was dumbfounded. "Haruko-san..."
"I'm really grateful to have a friend like you, Sakuragi-kun. Thank you for being concerned about me. It's because you care for me, right?"
Sakuragi blushed. "H-Hai..."
Haruko's smile got more cheerful. "I knew it. Demo, you have nothing to worry about. I'm alright now."
"Demo Haruko-san, you l-like Rukawa, right?"
Haruko slightly blushed. He knew! Oh well, I guess it can't be helped... "I like Rukawa-kun a lot. Although I didn't tell anyone about it, you figured it out."
Sakuragi made a face. "You were pretty obvious."
Haruko sweatdropped. "I-Is that so? Ha. Ha. Ha." Then she turned serious, but still kept her smile on her face. "I like Rukawa-kun... But only as a brother now."
Sakuragi's eyes turned wide as saucers.
"I already gave up on my feelings for oniichan. Aside from it not being reciprocated, it's not proper, right?"
"I-I see..."
Haruko leaned back on the wall. "It was hard when I first learned the truth of my real identity. But it's been more than a week. I can't stay sulking all the time, can I? I don't want to be a burden to my family. And since this is my fate from the start, I guess, this is really where I should be. I have to be strong, for my family and for myself as well..."
"Haruko-san..." Sakuragi looked at the girl in front of him. The girl who, when he first met, had already captured his heart with her pretty face and bright personality. And now, while looking at her, he decided, nothing really changed much, after everything she went through. To others, maybe she's just a simple girl coupled with a dramatic life story. But to him, and probably to everyone who loves her, she is a one-of-a-kind girl. That's why I love you... He smiled.
"Wakatta yo. I won't worry now, Haruko-san."
Haruko beamed at him. "Hai! And besides, I have you. What's there to worry about?"
Sakuragi let go of the fear he's been holding in. "Nyahahahaha! Of course, nothing! This tensai Hanamichi-kun won't let anything bad happen to Haruko-san! I will protect Haruko-san, at all cost! Nyahahahaha!"
Haruko laughed along with Sakuragi. Their serious talk ended in smiles and laughter, and in the process, a new relationship was made. It was the same friendship, but they knew, their bond had been tighter than ever. It was like a string they're holding on both ends, with a knot on the center. The harder they hold on to the string, the tighter the knot becomes. It was their special friendship with each other. None of them would ever let go of that bond.
Sakuragi may not tell Haruko about his feelings, but somehow, he knows that she knows about it. It was, after all, an open secret. But it was more than just the words that speak of Sakuragi's feelings for the girl. It was his actions. But then again, he had already made up his mind to let go of his dream of him and Haruko. Of course, he would not stop loving her. But his role in her life is to be her friend. He tried to sense if he felt any regret. He felt sad knowing he couldn't be with Haruko, but as he thought, he doesn't feel any regret. Maybe that's what Yohei meant with what he said earlier, about something being where it's supposed to be. He's still not a hundred percent sure, but maybe, this is where he belongs. In Haruko's heart, as her friend. Iie, Haruko-san's special friend. He smiled. Well, it's not a bad place to be..
Haruko felt very grateful for Sakuragi. Naturally, she knew of his feelings for her, but it was an unspoken agreement between them that they just remain friends. She may not return his feelings, but she was really thankful that Sakuragi found a way into her life. In him, she found a great person and a great friend. She loved him in her own little way, and she knows and was sure, she always will.
