"Reminiscence"
By: Miyo-chan02
Disclaimer: I don't own POT.
Chapter X: Weird
"Yes she's here. Yes. Don't worry. She's crying… Yes. She hasn't told me. I just hope she'll do. I'll tell her that. Yes. It's nothing. Goodbye." Tomoka placed the phone down ending the conversation she had with Sumire.
On that night, the sobbing girl stayed at her friend's house.
Tomoka proceeded upstairs to her room and found Sakuno sitting quietly. She went closer and gave her a wet towel. "That can ease the swelling." She said as Sakuno placed this on her aching eyelids. "Arigatou…" was her weak reply.
"What really happened?" Tomoka had no idea how many times she had asked that. After seeing her at dismissal time, she quickly asked that question, but up until now, the girl gave her no response.
"I…" The previous happenings flashed back on her. From the insults, to the crude words, everything, and of course, her decision. "I-I have no chance on Echizen-kun…" she chewed on her bottom lip as the soft lie escaped her mouth.
She had no other choice. She didn't want Tomoka to know about those three girls. She knew that there would be a ruckus if ever the happening entered Tomoka's ears. She didn't want any more commotion. All she wanted was to be satisfied in life. If letting things like this, would give her peace, then that's what she would like to call life.
And yet, life like that would be hollow.
Tomoka sighed. "You don't have to lie you know." She started, with disappointment on her tone. "If you really don't want to tell me, just say it okay? You can always talk to me, Sakuno." Tomoka smiled at her to assure her that everything would be okay.
"Arigatou…" Sakuno replied faintly. Gomenasai
o o o
The lights of the room were off making it dim. And yet her hazel eyes remained unsealed. She scanned the ceiling, even though not much light entered her eyes. She felt her eyes water. She was tired of crying, but she couldn't stop. Her tears would just continue to stream down.
If only she wasn't weak. If only she wasn't flimsy. If only… "Gomenasai…"
Despite the absence of light, Tomoka heard her sobs the whole night.
o o o
She hit the ball to the wall just like any other practice she had. "Focus…" she kept on reminding herself. Tennis… it was one of those things that she learnt to appreciate.
Once again, she swung her racket, as her hair followed her smooth movements.
"Your hair's too long." She heard and immediately found out who owned that voice. She failed to hit or even catch the ball as she felt herself trembled a bit. "And you easily lose concentration." He added.
She ignored the stiffness of her body and took a deep breathe. She faced him. She gave him an empty smile. "Arigatou Echizen-kun… I'll remember that. Anyway, I'll be going now." She ran hugging all of her tennis equipment.
Ryoma eyed her. There was that weird feeling again. It was back. Behind that smile, something was different. "Hn." He rested his arms at the back of his head and started walking to the courts. "… weird."
o o o
Sakuno panted and tried to catch every breathe she could. She felt her chest pound on her as her cheeks painted itself red. "It's nothing." She tried to convince herself. She knew that her feelings were returning, yet she continued to ignore them.
Nothing.
"Haha pathetic as always huh?" came another voice she knew. She glanced at her side as dark piercing eyes welcomed her innocent gaze. "How have you been Sakuno-dear?" the tall girl said with that antagonizing voice she had. She placed a finger under Sakuno's chin.
Sakuno felt shivers. She looked down. "P-please… I-I'll go now." Even with her pleading voice, she didn't let her go. "Is that the way to treat your upper class man? Heh. What if I don't?" she asked with a smug smile.
Sakuno cleared that throat. There was that odd feeling again. Something just didn't seem right, "Wh-what do you want sempai?"
Soon the other set of girls followed. "Hey there Haruko. Done yet?" asked the other raven-head. "Not yet." was the latter's reply.
"As I was saying… well I'm here to properly introduce myself. We just wanted our dear kouhai to remember us thoroughly. So that whatever happens, you wouldn't ever forget us, unless your amnesia thing attacks again haha. As you heard, the first name's Haruko. It's Yoshikawa Haruko. Nice to meet you." She said with a smirk as she flipped her pony tail.
"Even though I see this as something pointless, since Haruko said it, then I'll say my name. It's Kishimoto Tsukasa. Better remember that." Said the girl with blonde hair.
"I too see this pointless, Haruko. She's just a weakling. She has no right to know even my last name. But then if you say so, then it's Shizuka. Hanabiki Shizuka." The amethyst-eyed girl said.
Sakuno didn't know why these girls were doing this to her. Ever since yesterday, all they did was to give her insults. Yet even with all these, they did have a point on whatever they said. She envied them for they could carry their selves.
"There. We've done it. You better behave now Sakuno-dear. We're watching." With that the trio left.
o o o
Tomoka walked alone during dismissal since Sakuno had tennis practice and she insisted. Her shoulders were slumped down. Depression and disappointment was clearly reflected on her face. "Sakuno…" until now, she was worried.
She was freed from her trance upon hearing knocks. She faced her right side and saw a familiar burger joint. And one of her upper class men was knocking on the glass from there. "Momo-chan-sempai?"
o o o
Tomoka occupied her seat, with her palms supporting her chin. "I s thts wh yr ll trd lking." (I see that's why you're all tired looking.) Momoshiro said while munching on his burger.
"Sempai, Sakuno's really weird. Why would she suddenly change her mind on Ryoma-sama? Don't tell me Ryoma-sama did something to make her say that."
Momoshiro choked on his food. "H-here!" Tomoka handed him a cup of soda.
Finally, when he was calm, he spoke. "Echizen did something?"
"N-no sempai. I'm not saying that. It's just too weird that's all."
Momoshiro stood from his seat and quickly rode his bicycle. "Sempai! You just ate! You can't use that on a vigorous speed!"
"I don't care! I need to talk to Echizen!" Momoshiro quickly made his way to the Echizen residence.
"But—" Tomoka was too late. "Oh no…Ryoma-sama's in trouble!"
o o o
A knock was heard on the Echizen household. "Shounen, go get it." Was Nanjiroh's lazy call.
"Hn." Ryoma decided to ignore his father. He was busy playing with Karupin. The old man is capable of standing up anyway. He could greet whoever was there at their door step is. It's not something too much for his old age after all.
"Fe. What an insolent son. Are you really my own huh?" After that short mumbling, Nanjiroh proceeded to their front to welcome whoever was there.
"Yes. This isn't Nanjiroh's house." He welcomed not even looking who it was.
"Excuse me for my impoliteness. But I need to go see Echizen Ryoma." Momoshiro said welcoming himself into the household. He had a furious look on his face. "Oi Echizen!" he said approaching the sitting lad.
Ryoma looked up. "Sempai? What are you doing here?"
Momoshiro got him by his collar. "Oi, what are you doing?"
"Tell me, what did you do to Ryuzaki? Huh?"
"What are you talking about?"
"How come she gave up on you again?"
Ryoma's eyes widened. "She did?"
Momoshiro noticed his expression and let go of his collar. "Are you saying you know nothing about this?" he asked with his temper down.
Ryoma fixed his collar. He didn't respond but Momoshiro understood. "Me and my temper..." Momoshiro scratched his head. "But then… if you did nothing, why was Ryuzaki like that?"
Ryoma remained silent, for he didn't know too.
4/27/13 - EDIT: lines and scenes added
Author's notes: okaii people, I finally reached my 10th chapter! Hoo hoo! And it's all because of you. Finally, I gave name to those girls. Oh and you might ask why I placed them. Well, we are aware that when Sakuno's in trouble, Ryoma's always there to save her ne? So I made an experiment, what if Ryoma knows nothing? I'm such a sadist! Haha. Maybe because of Fuji-sempai's influence XD
Junkness: these girls have their sources.
Reviewers of previous chapter: I got 186 reviews for 9 chapters arigatou!
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