This chapter has a slight revelation on Hiraki's past but not as a major relevation so this is still safe...

Please don't send me PMs or the sort (especially reviews) that this is "Mary-sue" because I know that I'm still a noob in making fanfictions & I'll have to ask those whom I trust the most (AKA some of my friends in in real-life) if the plot is too cliche, the OC's a mary-sue or the likes.

I do not OWN TeniPuri because Konomi-sensei owns it. (I forgot to add those in the last 2 Or 3 chapters) I only own the 3 OCs here & this fanfic.

Chapter 9: One's falter

Kenya grabbed a cracker & asked, "You want to talk with me?" Ryushin nodded. Mikuni looked at the two males & stood up. "I know that I'm not included so I'll just play with the kids outside" she said sarcastically & went outside.

Silence filled the living room. "So, what is it that you want to talk about?" Kenya asked, breaking the silence. Ryushin sipped his tea & placed it on top of the coffee table. "Did she tell you about her living alone?" he asked straightforwardly, looking at the boy's blue eyes. "Yeah, she told me that she was abandoned by her parents & she lived alone since she was in the 4th grade of Elementary" Kenya said as he crossed his arms.

"Actually, that part of her was only a wall of defense" Ryushin picked his tea from the table & sipped again. Kenya was surprised on what he heard. "She only shows that part of her so no one will pity her" he added, standing up from his seat & goes to the bookshelf behind the sofa. "At least she is much better today than the time she ran away from home" Ryushin said as he gets the photo album from the bookshelf, opening to the page of Hiraki's pictures. "She ran away from home?" Kenya asked, being concerned. "She ran away because nobody wants to take care of her among her relatives she lived with & she greatly blames her own mother for it" Ryushin replied dryly, smiling thinly to Kenya.

"Then you were the one who took care of her?"

"Yes, it was I who opened the door for her" Ryushin closed the photo album, going behind the sofa & leaned. "Though this is enough for you to know only this much about her" he added. "She asked you not to tell much about her, right?" Kenya guessed impatiently. "If you want to know more about her, you should ask her yourself" Ryushin answered, going to the kitchen.

"Miku-neechan, let's play again the next time you visit!" one of the children chirped brightly, following Hiraki. "Okay Yoru-kun, it's a promise!" Hiraki smiled towards the young boy following her. Kenya looked at her for a while & Hiraki noticed that he was looking at him.

The girl went towards him, snapping her fingers in front of him & asked, "Why are you spacing out by looking at me?" Kenya returned from reality from Hiraki's question. "It's nothing" he replied, standing up from the sofa & grabbed his bag. "I'm going home ahead" he said. "Take care" Hiraki said as Kenya closed the door. "Nee Miku-neechan, is he your friend?" one of the young orphans asked. "Yes, he's a good friend of mine" she smiled warmly.

While Kenya was walking home, he thought of everything what Ryushin told him. 'She was holding a lot of pain inside without anyone supporting her falters...' he thought. "Niichan, where are you going?" the voice of his younger brother called him. Kenya looked behind him. "Home, I didn't notice that I'm already in front of my own home" Kenya said sarcastically as he went towards his younger brother. "Ken-chan is spacing out? That's not like you" a female voice coming from the front door was heard. Kenya looked at the door & saw a Hyoutei Gakuen student standing.

She was wearing the standard girl's uniform except her skirt is a 3/4 length skirt. Her dirty-blonde hair was past shoulder length & is layered. Kenya's eyes widened. "Saiyu-chan?" he asked. The girl smiled widely. "It's been a while, Ken-chan" she said, going towards Kenya to give him & his younger brother a friendly hug. The three childhood friends hugged each other. Saiyumi decided to break their hug. "Why are you here anyway? I thought you're staying at Yuushi's house?" Kenya asked. "I've come to visit you, what else?" she giggled. "Let's go inside, Yuushi also came to visit you too" she added.

(A/N: I'm not going to exploit this too since this scene will be part of "Ivories & Strings". Go-me-ne ;D)

The next day during their break, Kenya was at the rooftop ditching his duty in the broadcasting committee. The door behind him opened & it was Hiraki. "This is where you've been. Everyone in the committee is looking for you" she said going towards Kenya. He didn't answer Hiraki. "Something's bothering you right?" she asked seriously. Kenya just sighed.

"Why are you taking the entire burden yourself?" he asked her, placing his hands on his pocket. "What are you talking about?" she smiled thinly, avoiding Kenya's question.

"I know that you're bearing all the pain by yourself!" he said indignantly. She frowned & said, "Shin-niichan told you something, am I wrong?" Kenya looked at her. "You already told me that I'll be keeping your secrets safe so-"

"Don't act like you know everything about me!" she yelled. Kenya avoided her gaze, knowing that he might be hated or guilty about he was going to ask. "Even if I said that you should keep my secret, I never said that you can just interfere in somebody else's lives" she added as she struggles not to cry. Kenya clenched his fist inside his pocket. "I should at least help you carry your own burden since I'm your friend!" he snapped from his patience. "Friend? Don't give me that crap!" she retorted exasperately & then avoided Kenya's gaze. "Please don't interfere-"

"Even if I'm not your friend at least let me help" he said, trying to persuade her. "I'll do whatever it takes just to help you" he added. She bit her lips & let out a sigh. "I was wrong to trust you in something important to me" she said coldly, leaving Kenya on the rooftop. "You're the idiot between the two of us..." he muttered.

Later at tennis practice, Osamu called all the regulars to announce something important. "As you all know, the Kansai Regional tournament is this coming July" he said loudly. "Starting tomorrow, practice will become stricter than today" he added, looking at the regulars. "I will be announcing the line-up 3 days before the 1st Round of the tournament, is that clear?" he asked & all of the regulars replied.

People, I am a sucker for writing sappy-drama like story so shoot me (brick'd) Anyway, keep on reading to know what will happen next