Ohayou Minna! this is the tenth chapter!
I thought I was gonna finish this like next week, but then I was in the rhythm.
oh, and I wanna thank miya-chan for introducing me to I.U. forums.
anyway pls. enjoy
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Ryoma opened his eyes at the sound of his alarm clock. He really didn't want to get up, he knows, definitely knows this day is going to be HELL for him, but some things just leave him no choice. There would be a social gathering later on, the worst of its kind, REUNION. It was the worst thing that could ever come across a stoic, unsociable, tennis freak. Especially the one named Echizen Ryoma, who had lost a special someone, without letting that someone know how special she is. That was three years ago, and now he's nineteen, and has already won all major tennis tournament in the world. And with no one left for him to defeat, for the meantime that is, he is now in his bedroom, in his stupid father's house, in a country named Japan. And upon knowing this, his Sempai-tachi, from when he had attended Seigaku years ago, had organized a Reunion. The word itself causes his body to go numb. He just loathed it. But no matter what he says, knowing those guys, he had no choice but to agree and be at the said occasion, and here he is in his bed about to get ready for the said happy occasion. He got up, dressed, and went downstairs to eat breakfast.
"Ohayou Ryoma-san" his cousin, Nanako greeted him
"Ohayou" he replied nonchalantly
"You're going to the reunion later on, right? When will you be home?"
"Hn, don't know, why?"
"I'll be home late, I have to talk to a client, and they came all the way from France just to have a party here, I can't cook dinner so you take care of yourself ok? "
"I'm not a kid anymore, you know" he said "I'll be going now" he then stood up and went for the door
--
Obaasan is late! Honestly, she was the one that asked me out. Mou…
"Can you tell me how to get to Kaginogizaka Tennis Gardens?" a guy asked me
Then I pointed at him, "ah! You're the guy from the—"
-- KRIING--
"AAAHHH! FROM THE!" Rica sat up in her bed upon hearing the sound of his alarm clock. "A dream?"
She looked out the window and remembered that she was in Japan. She went down happily to ask for breakfast.
"Good Morning Ma'am, You seem happy today, Monsieur is already at the table"
"Thank you" and she headed towards the dining. As she entered
"Ohayou" she greeted
"Well, someone's practicing their Japanese" the guy already seated on the table greeted back. He had jet black hair and black eyes and was sipping coffee.
Rica giggled, sat opposite her boyfriend and started eating. Yes he's her boyfriend, how they got together? She doesn't know. Play along, is all she can do. She couldn't break up with him; she'll have no place to go. He was the only family she knew, now her so-called father's dead.
"Monsieur, a letter has arrived" one of the servants came in and gave him the letter, he looked at it then at Rica, and they had eyed each other warily. When he opened his mouth to speak, Rica stood up "I'm done" she stated happily and then went out of the room.
"Rica, I'll be talking to our party organizer later on, want to come with me?" he then shouted after her
"No, thank you" she said, went to her room, closed and locked the door.
--
He looked at the store in front of him, "Kawamura Sushi" the sign above it says. It wasn't that flashy at all, not what you would expect from a store that's popular and known as the best in Japan. This place was its oldest branch, yet the best, it wasn't renovated for reasons he doesn't know, and it's where the owner, the no.1 chef in Japan, lives. He observed the front there was a sign that says closed, that sign has always been there whenever he would come here for a celebration.
He could still remember the first time he had been to this place, the first time he stood in this very spot, hearing the loud noise from inside, made by his sempai-tachi. He dare not look at his side though, afraid to realize that he's alone, unlike that time.
I see you beside me
It's only a dream
A vision of what used to be
The laughter, the sorrow
Pictures and time
Fade into memories
How could I ever let you go?
Is it too late to let you know?
I tried to run from your side
But each place I hide
It only reminds me of you
When I turn out all the lights
Even the night
It only reminds me of you
I needed my freedom
That's what I thought
But I was a fool to believe
My heart lied
While you cried rivers of tears
But I was too blind to see
I tried to run from your side
But each place I hide
It only reminds me of you
When I turn out all the lights
Even the night
It only reminds me of you
This occasion was, in a way, very much like that one. Back then, he attempted to escape but was dragged in by Momo-sempai. He also sat in this same place, just like that day, only without her. She didn't stand with him and Ryuzaki-sensei outside, and wasn't seated beside him as well. This is the reason why he hated this kind of gathering, it was his worst nightmare. To remember everything that happened before, to see it all over again in his head, only to wake up and realize that's not how things are, not anymore, and there's nothing he could do but regret.
So come back to me
I'm down on my knees
Girl, can't you see?
"O'chibi?" Ryoma found himself woken up from his trance by a very concerned Eiji, the face with the pout; yes he's still like that despite his age of 21.
"Why don't you look like you're enjoying yourself?" he asked loudly, deliberately, Ryoma bet, so that everyone in the room can hear it. And they did, much to his dismay.
"Eh!? Why is that Echizen?!" Momo asked with a mouthful of sushi
"Fshuu…Don't talk when your mouth is full! Teme!" Said the ever hot headed Kaidoh.
And they continued their fighting, exactly how they fought in junior high. The others just gave a hopeless look. They never grew up, did they?
"Everyone, Oishi and I would like to discuss something" Tezuka then broke the fight, and the room was quiet. Wanting to know what was so important. (a/n no they're not getting married!)
"Since we only get to see each other for a time, and all of us will be free for the next two months, we thought you guys would like to go on an outing" Oishi said
The others yelled in happiness, and they excitedly talked about the details, except for the youngest of the bunch. He looked as if he was seeing hell uncover in front of his eyes. Upon seeing his expression Oishi told him "Since you looked unsatisfied in our little get together, it's Eiji's idea" I'm sorry Echizen, but you can't keep on living like that, you have to move on. And as your sempais, we'd like to help you.
"I have checked everyone's schedule, and we will all be able to go without hesitation, and" he continued seeing Ryoma's mouth opened to say something, but he ignored it anyway "Those that will not oblige, will be forced to drink my newest creation"
--
Rica Filarete was in her temporary room, she was bothered, because of that letter and thought of having a walk, and as she was strolling along the streets of Japan with her bodyguards tailing her. She noticed a restaurant with lots of people in line, she would like to try it out, but there were just too many people. Then she looked at the restaurant's name "Kawamura Sushi".
"Kawamura Sushi? Sounds familiar" she then kept on wondering, staying there at the same spot for about an eternity, when one of her bodyguards went to her and said
"Mademoiselle, Kawamura Sushi, is the considered the best sushi store in Japan, established by the best sushi chef named—"she stopped since Rica stopped her
"Kawamura Takashi?"
"Yes, ma'am, how did you know?"
"I don't know" she said wondering to herself, then after a while she said
"If it's the best, then there must be other branches nearby right? I was wondering if, if…" she said very nicely and politely as though she wasn't talking to her servant
"Get in the car ma'am; we shall go to the nearest Kawamura Sushi other than this"
Rica's face brightened "Arigatou"
"Ma'am we are to go to the oldest branch, where Kawamura Sushi started out"
"We are here" The driver suddenly said as the car stopped.
Rica went out and was surprised that it didn't look presentable at all; it was like some sort of vintage! There was a lot of noise that can be heard from inside. And somehow it felt familiar to her. Then as she neared the entrance, a spotted a sign saying it was closed, but it seemed all normal to her and she was just about to open the door and go in to join the celebration when a hand landed itself on her shoulder.
"Ma'am, I'm afraid it's closed let's find another one"
Rica was startled back to reality, hesitantly she followed, feeling very much dismayed.
Just when she was about to enter the car, a robber passed by in roller skates with a bag in hand and a woman coming after him, she immediately ordered her bodyguards to go help and so they did, forgetting about her, all of them ran after the robber.
Rica stared at them, then at the store's door and then she remembered a boy asking her "Can you tell me how to get to Kaginogizaka Tennis Gardens?"
"Kaginogizaka Tennis Gardens?" then she suddenly had the urge to go there; she didn't even wait for her bodyguards to come back. She wanted to go there alone, somehow she something was there or rather someone she needed.
--
Ryoma was on his way home, the first part of the Reunion has ended. Yes, you read it right, the first part out of three.
Ryoma was riding a train to get home, and sitting there somehow made him remember
"Ne, you're too noisy"
What a day this is? The reunion has ended, but a scene still keeps replaying in his mind, is this what they call reminiscing?! It's more like he's being haunted by the mere memory of him saving this girl. Why did he even save that girl? And while he was busy with regretting what he did seven years ago, he didn't notice a pair of eyes observing him intently, she seemed to had just gotten on the train in its previous stop, and Ryoma had somehow caught her eye. But by the time Ryoma noticed her, she seemed to have made up her mind to shout out his name, upon realizing this Ryoma immediately made a gesture to the girl not to do what she was planning, but the girl gave no heed. Ryoma lowered the brim of his cap in preparation for the swarm of fan girls that will be going after him in any minute now.
"Excuse me; do you know in which station I have to get off to get to Kaginogizaka Tennis Gardens?"
Talk about haunted. Of all the people present in the station that time, why did he have to ask that girl that question? And that was years ago. Upon hearing the question and being repeated in his head for like a million times, he tilted his head up, just to see another girl talking with the girl that had attempted to call out his name. The other girl had chocolate brown orbs and auburn hair, which was kept in a high ponytail.
(Auburn hair and chocolate brown orbs?)
Then it hit him. Did that girl just save him from a fan girl?! And for a second he thought she was Sakuno, but he's stupid enough to believe that she being here is impossible, and thought that it must be that Luckiest Girl in the World person he met.
But before he could even think about it deeply, the train goes to a stop and the two girls that caused him a mental mayhem had gone, and realizing that it's also his stop, he alights from the train as well.
Just when he thought he would have an auburn-haired-girl-that-looks-like-Sakuno-free-time. One comes in his way, and asks the very question that makes Ryoma fall off guard, and I don't have to tell, that she did this without even knowing it.
"Can you tell me how to get to Kaginogizaka Tennis Gardens?"
And for the third time this day, a statement repeats itself in his empty head. Surely it's empty, because if it wasn't empty, there should be no echo.
Ryoma pondered on what punishment she would give this girl for causing him tremendous misery, actually she's just a stranger, but there's something about her that makes him feel like giving her a present. A present spelled R-E-V-E-N-G-E. Revenge, he wanted revenge for no particular reason, but it wouldn't be called revenge now would it? But somehow he had the feeling that revenge was just the right word for what he was just about to do.
"Thank you" the girl bowed and walked toward the direction where his finger was pointing, to the South Gate. A victorious grin made its way into the boy's handsome face. A grin that had never made for a span of three years. He doesn't care if it wasn't Sakuno; revenge is still what it's called. Though he was pretty sure that wasn't her, for he didn't feel guilty in any way. And if it was the Luckiest Girl in the World? Like he cared.
(And just a while ago you were regretting everything you ever did)
You think I'll regret this one as well?
(Maybe, later on)
Then I'll enjoy this moment where I feel victorious. This doesn't happen often you know
(It actually never happens, not since that day at least)
What's wrong with you?! Will you forget about that day even just once? Forget it! Things just don't happen again! Move on will ya!?
(Look who's talking, Move on? Do you even know what it means?! Forgetting and denying the truth isn't moving on!
Denying the truth? The truth is she's dead and I'm not going to see her again!
(The truth is that she's just missing! And you've just given up hope, you act strong but you're totally weak!)
Then suddenly he stopped in his tracks, both in his thoughts and in his walk, and found himself standing in front of a restaurant. And then he remembered, he had no dinner waiting at home, so he decided to eat there, with nothing in his mind but
(The truth is that she's just missing! And you've just given up hope, you act strong but you're totally weak!)
--
Mou… what am I doing here again? You're such an idiot Rica, It's already dark and you're lost, who knows where in Japan you are now? Kaginogi-whatever Tennis Gardens is nowhere to be found. I should go back to the house, but how? But then when I get there I have to deal with that letter! I don't wanna go back yet! Someone please, take me home, wherever that is and whoever you may be.
Then much to her dismay it started to rain, and before she knew it she was alone on the streets, no one to turn to and no where to go. She was already sitting on the hard and wet floor when a voice suddenly spoke "mada mada dane"
--
Ryoma had finished eating, and somehow eating made him feel better. Good thing it made him feel better, for on his way home a heavy pour of rain had fell upon the night. And he had no choice but to go to the nearest place he could go to, The Ryuzaki's old mansion, and on his way there he spotted something or rather someone familiar. A girl with auburn hair, brown orbs, looking all miserable, drenched in rain, and lost. He couldn't think of anything else to do and just muttered "mada mada dane".
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see you next chapter!