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Chapter 8: Triangle
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Thud
Ryoma suddenly sat up from his sleeping position. He still felt a bit groggy for having to have been snapped from dream world so suddenly. After gaining composure, he scanned the room only to find Sakuno frantically picking up several clothes splattered on the floor, and tossing them back in an opened suitcase.
"Why are you still here?" he mumbled as he stifled a yawn.
Sakuno's head shot up and her eyes widened when she saw a bare-chested Ryoma with tousled hair, fresh from sleep, looking back at her blankly. She blushed.
"A-Ano… it's a Saturday, Ryoma-kun… I don't have classes on weekends," she said softly as she smiled, and then continued her task on the floor.
Ryoma shifted his gaze from the auburn-head's face and moved downwards. "Why are you dressed up?"
Sakuno's head shot up once more, her chocolate orbs meeting with Ryoma's golden ones. "Why it's already 9 am, Ryoma-kun." She smiled.
Ryoma glanced quickly at the suite's alarm clock. It was indeed 9 am sharp.
He immediately stood up and headed for the bathroom without saying a word. Sakuno just blinked at the closed door several times, and then continued on with fixing her messed up suitcase with a smile.
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"Sakuno! What are you doing here? It's your day off today, right?" Sakuno's middle-aged co-worker exclaimed from the counter while waving happily.
The auburn-head smiled shyly and waved back. "I'm here as a customer today," she replied with light humor, and then ushered Ryoma to come with her to a table.
Ryoma followed Sakuno without uttering a word, a bit bothered with how the people they passed by eyed him with curiosity. Well, who wouldn't be looking at him with his over-towering height plus chosen get-up today?
"Stupid manager. Incapable of giving me a ride." Ryoma muttered annoyed while taking a seat on the king-sized bed, putting on his socks.
The bed suddenly shifted, and the boy noticed that his female company had taken a seat just inches away from him. Ryoma looked at Sakuno, only to see her smiling shyly at him. This was the Sakuno he had missed for so long; the one who would smile at him, despite the most random of moments. Like for instance, him putting on his socks.
He quirked an eyebrow on the still smiling Sakuno. "A-Ano… Ryoma-kun. I'm still wondering about the deal," the girl started as she scratched her cheek sheepishly. The tennis champion continued to stare blankly at the girl, waiting for her to continue. "I-I think t-that it's a bit unfair for y-you not to get your side of it w-with the c-contras-sting schedules-"
"Being your friend again is enough payment," Ryoma said nonchalantly, as he diverted his attention to his socks again.
Sakuno couldn't help but blush a whole lot at this. She involuntarily began fidgeting with the hem of her blouse and tried the best she could to avoid Ryoma's gaze. Just when her discomfort heightened with the awkward silence – thus causing her to fidget even more, her hands were suddenly clasped by bigger ones.
"Stop being uncomfortable around me…"
Sakuno raised her head to meet Ryoma's gaze. He was staring back at her with those striking golden orbs with a matching a cocky smile. The auburn-head blushed.
"Hai," she replied, and smiled back at him.
There was silence as Ryoma gently released his hold on Sakuno and continued putting on his socks. Then a random concern struck Sakuno. "R-Ryoma-kun… would you like me to dress you up?"
The tennis champions' head immediately shot up. "What?" he said, managing to keep the shock from his voice. As soon as he heard Sakuno's question, certain thoughts started seeping in his mind. He obviously misunderstood what the girl said.
"Ano… w-well you know, since we'll be having much of a problem traveling around without you being discovered, I figured that we should give you a… b-better disguise…"
"(1) Qu'est-ce que je vous sers?"
"(2) Je voudrais une pancake au fraise et un chocolat chaud," a soft voice said while carefully placing the menu on top of the table.
After jotting down the orders, "(3) Et vous, monsieur?" the waitress asked, eyeing Ryoma queerly, for the boy was still currently lost in his trance.
Sakuno nervously glanced at the unmoving Ryoma. "Ryoma-kun…" she whispered, calling the boy's attention. When the tennis champion remained still, and before the waitress became suspicious, Sakuno gently nudged Ryoma with her foot, hoping that this would at least snap the boy from his reverie.
But Ryoma mistook her actions for something else. He started responding to Sakuno's silent gesture by gently rubbing his foot to the auburn-head's ankle.
He was doing footsie with Sakuno.
Sakuno's blush intensified and looked at Ryoma with wide eyes. The boy on the other hand, still seemed a bit dazed off, and remained unmoved as if nothing was actually happening under the table.
"(4) Excusez-moi, monsieur," the waitress said, and started waving her hand in front of Ryoma.
It was only then the tennis champion stopped his gesture on Sakuno, turned to the 'starting-to-be-annoyed' waitress and mumbled, "(5) Une omelette et un café-creme."
Sakuno's co-worker nodded her head while jotting down the orders. She cleared her throat for a recap. "(6) Une pancake au fraise et un chocolat fraud pour Sakuno, et une omelette et un café-crème pour…" the waitress gave Sakuno a questioning look.
"My father."
Ryoma had to resist the urge to appear affected with that statement. Earlier that morning, they had agreed on changing his disguise to compensate for the changes in the deal and the worsening of the scenario. Since Ryoma had been more exposed recently, there was a bigger possibility that people would recognize him more with the pattern of his disguise.
And so, with a little make-up from Sakuno, several hopelessly out of style clothes, a pair of big-rimmed slightly tinted glasses and a cowboy's hat, Ryoma was turned into a fifty-year-old looking man that could be compared to a walking pile of oversized clothing.
"Ah! (7) Votre pere!" the waitress exclaimed gleefully. "(8) Enchante!"
Ryoma gave a nod of the head and a forced smile. "Enchante," came Ryoma's soft reply.
"(9) Ce sera tout?" the waitress asked expectantly, after scanning her notepad.
"That's all..." Sakuno responded with a smile.
And with that, the woman left.
Sakuno began playing with her hands once more while looking around the shop. It was only quarter to ten yet there were already lots of people. The auburn-head tried her best to look everywhere and occupy herself so that she wouldn't have to face Ryoma. Despite every assurance that happened between them, she still felt a certain discomfort with the boy.
Just as Fuji had said, a kiss wasn't enough to regain everything back in a snap. Actually, the girl only dawned on the fact that the kiss made things even more complicated.
Sakuno sighed.
"I told you to stop being uncomfortable around me…"
The auburn stiffened at the voice and looked back sheepishly at the tennis champion, who was currently scrutinizing her intensely. She then realized that avoiding Ryoma would only make avoiding him even harder since the boy was adamant to keep her comfortable around him.
"Ano… w-we are friends Ryoma-kun, right?" Sakuno asked, a bit unsure of whether starting such conversation.
Ryoma quirked an eyebrow to whatever the question was leading to. "You already know the answer to that," came his reply.
Sakuno blushed at Ryoma's statement and looked away, fixing her gaze on something random again. There was another silence and with every passing moment, the auburn-head grew more and more distressed with her discomfort.
"I don't get why you're so uncomfortable."
Sakuno looked at the tennis champion from the corner of her eye. He was gazing at her so intently that the girl couldn't help but blush even more. She played with her hands on her lap and composed herself. She couldn't take this confusion any longer. She needed answers now.
… And so she faced Ryoma, "Ano… w-why did you kiss me?"
The tennis champion was taken aback with the sudden question. He wasn't quite expecting Sakuno to bring up that topic. Why did I kiss her? thought Ryoma, as he tried wracking his brain for a possible answer to that question.
"I-I'm sad that I'm not your friend anymore, Ryoma-kun…"
That was what Sakuno had said before he had the sudden impulse of proving her wrong… but since when were kisses suitable to proving that one was a friend?
"Because you're my friend," Ryoma mumbled stupidly, a bit embarrassed for having to act so irrationally.
If Sakuno found out that he was going to woo her, he was sure that she was going to avoid him all the more. Why? Because she still had a dream to pursue.
The auburn-head looked befuddled with his response. Huh? So people who are just friends kiss nowadays?
Suddenly interrupting the two from their awkward conversation, the ringing of a phone emerged. Both young adults grabbed their phones to check, only to find that both of them had calls.
After several minutes of the two having their own separate conversations, Ryoma had ended his first – thus, giving him the opportunity to watch Sakuno. The girl was smiling a lot, probably glad at whatever the caller was telling her. Then for a moment, a pretty blush crept on the girl's face.
Who in the world was Sakuno's caller, anyways?
Before Ryoma could interrogate Sakuno as soon as she flipped her phone close, the waitress who had taken their orders just a while ago returned with their food. And with a pleasant, (10) 'Bon appetit', the two were left alone once more.
Sakuno immediately dug her fork on the pancake and placed it inside her mouth. She seemed so busy with eating at the moment and so Ryoma let the girl be first, and the talking would be done later. He then grabbed his own fork too, and feasted on his own delicious breakfast.
"We need to go somewhere, Ryuzaki," Ryoma said suddenly, breaking the silence.
He carefully placed his fork diagonally on the plate, and then looked up to meet Sakuno's gaze. He found it quite unexpected to see surprise and guilt written on the girl's face plain as day. He wondered why. Ryoma's lips were formed into a thin line as he waited for Sakuno to explain herself, knowing that the girl would start talking soon.
"G-Gomen Ryoma-kun!" Sakuno bowed her head. "I-I was thinking that you could join me in going somewhere," she said as she looked up once more to see Ryoma looking at her curiously.
… And then the tennis champion 'hmph-ed'. "Stupid manager, asking me to get the car myself. Why can't they deliver it to me…" he mumbled to himself as he folded his arms across his chest. "Where are you going?" he asked Sakuno with a quirked eyebrow.
"A-Ano…" Sakuno started fidgeting again. "I-I was actually hoping that we could go with Fuji-senpai in an assignment of his," she replied. "But since you're going somewhere else which seems important, I guess I'll be the only one who'll be accompanying him today." And here, she smiled.
Ryoma had to resist saying that he'd come with her. Heck, he wanted to come because Fuji was going to be with Sakuno! He couldn't afford having the auburn-head develop an even deeper relationship with the tennis tensai. But alas, he couldn't. Because he was stuck having to get his car. It was either he'd choose having to come in Fuji's little 'day's out' to be with Sakuno, or get the car.
He had craved for a car ever since his stay in Paris had gotten out of hand.
Stupid manager… damn Fuji-senpai… Ryoma growled, annoyed. Why had Kami-sama gone against him today? Such bad timing… he sighed inaudibly in defeat.
"Would you pick him up or something?" Ryoma asked crudely, a bit annoyed that Fuji would be stealing a day with Sakuno from him. Before Sakuno could even respond, the tennis champion just had to add, "…or you can just leave him to rot with that assignment of his and come with me."
Sakuno instantaneously blushed with what Ryoma said and the implications behind those words. "A-Ano… I'm really sorry, Ryoma-kun, but I promised him, because I really thought that we would be doing nothing today," she said softly. "…and he'll be coming here to pick me up."
As soon as Sakuno said that, the door of the bake shop opened, letting in a familiar brunet. Sounds of recognition were heard from the counter and several employees. The auburn-head couldn't help but blush with how familiar her co-workers were acting with Fuji, and how her senpai seemed to be chuckling with whatever they were saying.
Ryoma narrowed his eyes at the sight of Fuji approaching them, and Sakuno's evident blush while she continued staring at their senpai.
After several moments, Fuji reached them with a huge grin. He took the seat beside Sakuno and greeted them right after. "Ryuzaki-san." He turned to the auburn-head and smiled pleasantly.
Sakuno nodded her head in response and smiled back…with the blush still on her face.
Ryoma couldn't help but ball his hands in annoyance. Just when he could vent out his frustration with a crude remark, Fuji turned his attention to him.
"Why Echizen… I never knew you'd go so far as pretending to be Ryuzaki-san's father." The brunet chuckled lightly while Sakuno just smiled at their senpai's humor. "I heard from one of the waitresses."
The tennis champion glared at Fuji. "I'm going," he said, and he pushed his chair backwards as to allow himself to stand up. He dug for several bills from his pants pocket and slammed them on the table. After which, he quickly glanced at the concerned-looking Sakuno, who managed to say 'goodbye' before he was completely out of ear-shot, and exited the bakeshop.
Fuji turned to Sakuno with a smile. "So, are you ready?"
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"M-May you repeat what you just said, Fuji-senpai?" Sakuno glanced nervously at her smiling senpai, and then at a certain machinery just in front of them.
"I said, we'll be going around the city with this," Fuji said calmly as he mentally chuckled at the girl's frantic expression. He would never grow tired of teasing the auburn. "Don't worry, I know how to ride this."
Sakuno gulped involuntarily and looked at Fuji, as if pleading him to resort in another way of transporting themselves around the city. "B-But Fuji-senpai, I-I'm quite uncomfortable with riding this- this- this thing…" Sakuno said shakily, still looking expectantly at her male company.
"It's called a 'motorcycle' Ryuzaki-san," he joked lightly, which caused Sakuno to gaze at him even more hopefully. "Ne, ne. Why are you scared? You're with me, aren't you?"
Sakuno nodded at this. "It's just that-"
The auburn-head was cut from what she was about to say when Fuji suddenly grabbed her hand and led her to the thing she dreaded to ride. Momentarily forgetting about her fear, her sense of thinking was clogged by the warmth of Fuji's touch. She blushed intensely throughout their walk towards the motorcycle.
Still a bit lost in her trance, Sakuno failed to notice Fuji's hands on each side of her waist which hoisted her up on the motorcycle with ease. She snapped back to reality when she felt the sudden weight on her head; it was a helmet.
"F-Fuji-senpai…!" Sakuno frantically cried as the boy took the seat in front of her and started the engine.
She could hear the older boy chuckle, obviously enjoying her present state. Mou… always teasing me. Before she could voice out her thoughts and start complaining again, her wrists were gently, but firmly grasped by two warm hands. Sakuno blushed at the contact once more, and only realized several moments after that her arms were encircling Fuji's waist.
… Now that made her look like a tomato head. Luckily, she was wearing a helmet, and no one would be able to see her in such a state of embarrassment.
Interrupting her from her worrisome thoughts, Fuji looked behind his shoulder to look at Sakuno. Brown met blue. He once again, brought his smooth hands on top of Sakuno's arms and adjusted it, tightening the grip around him. Sakuno blushed even more from this gesture.
"This is if you don't want to fall, Ryuzaki-san," Fuji said softly while smiling kindly at her. Sakuno nodded in understanding and hugged Fuji even more.
And with this, Fuji sped past the streets of Paris with Sakuno clinging to him tightly.
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.Click.
"Did you see it, Ryuzaki-san?"
"N-Not really, senpai," Sakuno chided truthfully as she walked side by side Fuji in the pavement.
There was a huge crowd with them at that time, also excited viewers of the parade dedicated for the festival. Right at the moment, Sakuno had just missed the line-up of grand floats and the colorful dancers.
As soon as she replied to her senpai's question, her hands were once again trapped by Fuji's big and warm ones, which were currently serving as their link in the enormous mass of people. Fearing that she might get separated from her senpai, she interlocked her fingers with his and grasped desperately.
The brunet glanced at her for her surprising gesture, but quickly returned to looking where he was going, determined to get them out of the crowd. "Hold on," Fuji managed to mutter.
Honestly, Sakuno hadn't seen much of the festival since she there had been countless people who dominated her view of the wide streets. Fuji, on the other hand, was fortunate enough to acquire plentiful of the festival.
Sakuno sighed as she realized that the two of them were probably done with Fuji's assignment. Inwardly, she really wanted to see the festival since everyone in the vicinity seemed to be enjoying whatever it was in the streets a great deal.
After several more minutes of walking, they reached the motorcycle, where she immediately tucked herself behind Fuji with her arms already encircling his waist. The tennis tensai was amused with his kouhai's antics that he couldn't help himself but smile… and enjoy the feeling of Sakuno hugging him.
As they once again sped through the streets of the city, Fuji couldn't resist the urge of teasing Sakuno by increasing his speed – thus, causing Sakuno to hug him even tighter, and bury her head on his back. The auburn's presence was so comfortable to be with.
They reached their next destination not long after which befuddled a certain auburn-head for their choice of location.
"A-Ano… Fuji-senpai. Is this part of your assignment, too?" Sakuno asked curiously while peering at the looming height of the famous spot in the city.
The Eiffel Tower.
Fuji shook his head. And for the third time that day, the boy had gently grabbed Sakuno's hand and tugged on it so that she'll follow him.
Actually, the boy need not have to hold her hands for her to follow him, but it seemed that the brunet was worried over the fact that she might get lost. And so, she let the holding hands be. Sakuno didn't deny, holding Fuji's hand wasn't a bad feeling at all.
The two of them reached the top of the tower quickly, thanks to their short ride in the elevator. As soon as the doors of the machine opened, the cool breeze instantaneously greeted both Fuji and Sakuno. As the two stepped forward, the most breathtaking sight they have ever encountered in their life welcomed them.
"I-It's so beautiful…" Sakuno mumbled as she took another step closer to the railings of the tower.
The view consisted of the miniscule versions of everything they saw before climbing the tower. What made everything entirely beautiful was the fact that you could see different places all at the same time, like for instance, the famous arc on the east, the wide vast of gardens on the north, and several other places.
Sakuno was suddenly interrupted from her moments of solitude and awe when she felt Fuji's breath near her ear. "Look downwards, the parade will be taking its route here soon…" he said, while preparing his camera.
Sakuno blushed. She examined her senpai a few inches away from her, who was currently busy with his camera. They went all the way to the tower just so Sakuno could watch the parade she had missed. F-Fuji-senpai… Sakuno thought as she found what the older boy did for her very sweet.
She plastered on her best smiles for Fuji as soon as he was done with his camera and bowed gratefully. "Arigatou Fuji-senpai," Sakuno thanked sincerely which caused the boy to pat her head fondly.
"No problem." Fuji brightly smiled back at his kouhai.
And with that, Sakuno got to watch the amazing parade through Fuji's camera, which zoomed in the scene at such a wonderful angle. The auburn left the tower with such an amazing feeling, and she couldn't help but smile at what Fuji did for the rest of the day.
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"Did you enjoy the festival, Ryuzaki-san?"
Sakuno's head snapped up and met Fuji's thoughtful gaze. The two were currently in a souvenir shop located just a short distance away from the Eiffel tower. She nodded her head vigorously and grinned back at the smiling boy.
"It was a wonderful experience seeing it from the tower, senpai," she admitted while having a tinge of pink on her cheeks.
"Ah," came Fuji's short reply, and he nodded his head in understanding.
The brunet traveled to another part of the shop, leaving Sakuno out of sight for the moment. Fuji couldn't help but feel smug and happy at the same time. It was such an enlightening feeling for him whenever he sees Sakuno smile. The girl's smile could take away all his worries in the world, and ease all his pain altogether.
It was also a treat for him to grab a picture of Sakuno from the tower, eyeing everything with evident awe.
Fuji smiled to himself, when something had caught his eye.
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"Eh? Where did Fuji-senpai go?" Sakuno scanned the room. Shrugging, she indulged herself in looking at the colorful figurines of the beautiful spots of the city once more. The Eiffel Tower miniature was what she was so fond of it, that she had the sudden want to buy it.
Why not? she thought to herself as she dug for her wallet inside her jean's pocket.
Thanks to her exemplary performance in the bakeshop the day before, the head baker was generous enough to give her an advance plus a bonus. Sakuno couldn't help but feel excited in buying the tiny figurine.
Just as soon as she carefully got the smaller version of the tower, the auburn-head found herself transfixed with the other merchandise she seemed to have missed upon entering the humble shop. There was an enormous, cute, white teddy bear which was almost pleading to be bought. Then another was a beautiful red bow, sitting on one of the store's accessory shelf just waiting for it to be bought.
Sakuno looked from the Eiffel tower she was holding, to the several others still out of her grasp. She sighed in resignation. "Just let me enjoy life longer, Kami-sama," she muttered as she approached the awaiting teddy bear and bow she had decided to spend on.
She carefully pulled the white teddy bear from its stand, and picked the velvety red bow from its shelf. Sakuno approached the counter with all her chosen merchandise and carefully placed them on top. She grinned sheepishly at the old man who seemed to be a bit surprised with the items she bought.
While waiting for the cashier to finish, Sakuno took her time to gaze at the insides of the shop. She noted the different sections, the huge number of shelves, several customers, and then she saw something which caused her to ask the old man about it.
"Would you like to inquire on our painting lessons, (11) Mademoiselle?"
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"Where were you, Ryuzaki-san?" Fuji asked with taints of worry in his voice.
"I just signed up for painting lessons, Fuji-senpai," Sakuno said softly. And then she bowed, "Sorry for making you worry," she said sincerely.
Fuji smiled as he placed his hand on each of Sakuno's shoulders to push her up from her position. His face was only a few inches away from the the girl's. Brown met blue once more. "It's alright," he assured with a heartwarming smile, which caused Sakuno to blush much.
Fuji stepped away from Sakuno a bit, noticing her sudden uneasiness. "Let me help you in bringing those, Ryuzaki-san," the older boy offered after a moment of awkward silence.
Sakuno was about to protest and say that she could do it when Fuji had already grabbed everything from her. "N-Nani, Fuji-senpai?! Y-You could have at least left something for me to hold," Sakuno exclaimed, while pretending to glare at the now chuckling Fuji.
Fuji seemed always so happy when with her. Sakuno noticed that fact. But then again, Fuji-senpai smiles a lot. Just when she could say something about Fuji teasing her again, the boy got something from his pocket, grabbed her hand and placed something on it.
"You can carry that," the boy said with a smile.
Curious, Sakuno immediately opened the box only to find herself gaping at a gorgeous necklace with an Eiffel tower pendant. There were tiny different colored stones embroidering the tower, causing it to shine more brilliantly.
"Do you like it?" came Fuji's soft voice.
Sakuno glanced at her senpai who was gazing back at her with his peaceful blue orbs and captivating smile. Couldn't contain her excitement over the gift, Sakuno immediately flung her hands around the boy's waist and started saying repeatedly, "Arigatou! Arigatou! Arigatou!"
Fuji smiled fondly at Sakuno and started stroking her hair. It was always a pleasure to see Sakuno smile. After a few more 'hugging moments' Fuji broke the silence,
"Are you hungry, Ryuzaki-san?"
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"Mou… my tummy is so full…" Sakuno said, while rubbing her stomach with gentle strokes.
Fuji smiled broadly and nodded his head in agreement. "Me too," he said.
Sakuno glanced outside of the glass window, taking in the magnificent view of the Eiffel tower at night. "Paris is really a wonderful place, ne, Fuji-senpai?" Sakuno stated softly as she gave her senpai a side-long glance.
The brunet opened his eyes, exposing his brilliant blue orbs once more. "It is," he simply replied while continuing to gaze at the smiling Sakuno.
A comfortable silence enveloped the two.
"You should do that more often, Ryuzaki-san," Fuji said all of a sudden.
Sakuno diverted her attention from the tower to her senpai. "H-Huh?"
"You should smile and see the world on the bright side."
The auburn-head blushed at Fuji's words and returned her gaze on the tower as to avoid letting Fuji see her red face. After being in a momentary trance, "But there are only limited things that truly make me happy nowadays, senpai…"
Fuji eyed Sakuno attentively. After several more moments of silence, it dawned upon Fuji that he wouldn't be getting an explanation to that statement. If that was the case, then it was fine for him…just as long as Sakuno would smile.
Suddenly, Sakuno remembered something – thus breaking the dramatic atmosphere. "Did you already ask Kurumi-san out, senpai?"
Fuji chuckled at his kouhai's randomness. "Will that make you smile more, Ryuzaki-san?" he asked softly.
Sakuno looked puzzled for a moment, wondering what the implications behind that question were. She nodded her head mutely, still a bit unsure whether her answer would do good or not.
Fuji sighed inaudibly, and then plastered on a smile. "Then I will."
Sakuno's heart fluttered as soon as realization dawned upon her. Fuji was only saying a 'yes' because he wanted to see her smile. But would he smile genuinely when with Kurumi. She was a selfish for only thinking of what Kurumi wanted, but totally disregarded what Fuji's reaction would be. "A-Ano… you don't have to if you don't want to, senpai."
Fuji grinned. "Ne, ne. Kurumi-san could be interesting at times," he said with light humor, causing Sakuno to smile thankfully at the boy for changing the atmosphere.
"Arigatou… Kurumi will be ecstatic," Sakuno bowed gratefully.
After several more minutes, the two then left the restaurant, and they headed back to the motorcycle.
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"Ano… may we sit around first, senpai?" Sakuno said softly, while tugging Fuji towards a lone bench just near where they parked the motorcycle.
Fuji nodded his approval and allowed Sakuno to gently pull him to where they were going to sit. The boy carefully placed the girl's souvenirs leaning against the bench, and then took his seat beside Sakuno right after.
Just as he glanced at Sakuno's direction, she was once again, gazing at the Eiffel tower. He smiled as he realized that his kouhai seemed to have grown an obsession with the tall structure. He then decided to stare at the tower himself.
Several more moments of silence passed when a small impact gently crashed on his shoulder. Fuji looked at where it came from, only to find Sakuno's head on his shoulder. He smiled and took that as the opportunity to study his precious kouhai.
How much the girl had grown from the small pigtailed girl she looked after during his high school days. It was such a pride of the Seigaku regulars to see Sakuno take everything strongly and eventually evolve into the young lady she was now.
Since he had long been tired of seeing Sakuno so sad back in Japan before, wherein she would always look dazed-off in school, or whenever she would immediately cry because of such small things was torture to all those who cared for her so much. Now, a simple upward curving of Sakuno was a precious moment for him, and could even make him smile from ear to ear.
Fuji continued to watch Sakuno in her sleep as her slow, and steady breathing affected him to be in the same peaceful state. He couldn't resist the urge to tuck the stray bangs of the girl behind her ear to get a better view of her angelic face.
Remembering the joy he felt when Sakuno was so excited with his gift, he felt the same joy as he saw the necklace dangling around the girl's neck, its gems sparkling brilliantly.
As more thoughts on the girl seeped in his head relentlessly, it came to the point where he remembered the image of Sakuno kissing Ryoma.
Up to that moment, the third feeling he felt when he witnessed the kiss was still unknown to him. He really wanted to figure out the new feeling he had experienced in the hotel, but had no idea how.
It was obvious from Ryoma's actions that what he intended for Sakuno wasn't just a mere sign of wanting to be friends. Since when were kisses (specifically making out) a sign of friendship? He immediately caught Ryoma's game as soon as his gaze fell upon the kiss that day.
He wanted to share a deeper relationship with Sakuno.
Fuji wasn't entirely sure with how he felt about this, since he was once again, considering Sakuno's feeling towards the matter. Did he want Ryoma as much as he wanted her? He was sure that the girl had already accepted Ryoma as a close friend again, but was she ready to bring their friendship to the next level?
Even if the same unknown feeling was stirring inside him when he thought of Sakuno being Ryoma's girl, he was willing to disregard that 'feeling', if that would make his kouhai smile.
Interrupting Fuji from his thoughts, the loud sounds of the stopping of a car emerged out of the blue. From Sakuno's face, Fuji directed his gaze towards where the sound came from.
Right in front of him, was a sleek black convertible with a familiar person by the steering wheel. The newcomer sat himself on the door, and then coolly maneuvered himself around as to let his feet touch the ground. He reached the bench not long after.
"Fuji-senpai," he acknowledged the older boy's presence with a nod, and then turned towards the sleeping figure of Sakuno where his expression softened. "Ryuzaki…"
The brunet gently removed Sakuno's head from his shoulder so that Ryoma wouldn't have a hard time in scooping her up from the bench. As the tennis champion carried the girl, Fuji grabbed the girl's shopping bags and placed them on the passenger's seat of the car.
"Do you need help in bringing her home?" Fuji said impassively while looking at the sleeping Sakuno.
"No thanks," came Ryoma's curt reply.
… And with that, the black convertible left.
Fuji sighed. It seemed that fate had bestowed Ryoma good luck for having to have Sakuno by his side more often. Then a random thought entered the brunet's mind which caused him to feel a lot better.
"At least a motorcycle looks way cooler than a convertible."
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From the rear view mirror, Ryoma looked at Sakuno in her sleep, still feeling a bit down for having to have wasted a day of 'woo-ing' for a shiny, black convertible (which in the first place could have been delivered to him). Stupid manager.
As Ryoma glanced at Sakuno once more after a momentary look at where he was driving, he noticed a faint glimmer on the girl's neck. It was a necklace.
As far as he could remember, Sakuno didn't wear one of those when he left her in Fuji's care that morning.
… Then that only meant one thing. From the invitation of accompaniment, the necklace, and the way he looked at her, he could conclude that:
Fuji had already entered the picture.
TBC
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Author's Notes: Bwahahahahaha! There you have it folks! With lotsa fluff from RyoSaku and FujiSaku! WEE! Another chapter done! If you've noticed, Sakuno grew an obsession with Eiffel tower, right? And Ryoma finally has a car! And- And- And- Fuji is slowly falling for Sakuno, even if he doesn't realize it still! Hehe! Am feeling giddy at the moment, pardon my hyper-ness! Please do tell me what you think of it! Review! Review!
French Corner
(1)
Qu'est-ce
que je vous sers?
– What
can I do for/serve you?
(2)
Je
voudrais une pancake au fraise et un chocolat chaud – I would like
a strawberry pancake and a hot chocolate
(3)
Et
vous, monsieur
– And
you mister
(4)
Excusez-moi,
monsieur
– Excuse
me mister
(5)
Une
omelette et un café-crème
– One
omelette and coffee with crème.
(6)
Une
pancake au fraise et un chocolat fraud pour Sakuno, et une omelette
et un café-crème pour… - One strawberry pancake and a hot
chocolate for Sakuno, and one omelette and coffee with crème
for…
(7)
Votre
pere – Your father
(8)
Enchante
– Delighted to meet you
(9)
Ce
sera tout – Is that all
(10)
Bon
Appetit – Enjoy your meal
(11)
Mademoiselle
- Miss
P.S.: As promised! I present you guys with more in the 'French Corner'! Hope you guys are learning lots! XD
P.P.S.: RyoSaku fans, especially those who bombarded me in friendster (ahem) You know who you lot are (winks). Please do comment on the FujiSaku moments. Hehe. I will appreciate how you view the pairing in this story. (:)) Oh and! I hope I satisfied you guys even with the subtle RyoSaku moments… okie? Review!
To 'Reviewer':
(ahem) Thanks a lot for pointing that out! (chuckles) I only realized how silly I kept saying 'The auburn' throughout the story! Your analogy on using 'yellow' made me chuckle. Thanks a lot for that! Though I'm a bit sad that because of my mistake on the 'auburn', it detached you from the story already… I hope you regain interest in this fic again. I noted down your criticism and changed all the 'auburn' to 'auburn-heads. :P Thanks for reading and reviewing! I appreciate you a lot for pointing that out!!!
Deadline: One week from now… or less.
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-x-OrangeAce-x-
Posted:
05.09.08
Edited: 05.21.08
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THANKS TO MY WONDERFUL BETA -SAN!!
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