Chapter XI – Contact
I'm back~! :)))
Sorry for the long wait. My laziness took over my body again. -.-
Anyway, let's start!
Tennis Courts
"Regulars, gather up!" yelled Tezuka as he scanned his teammates.
All the regulars began to gather where Tezuka was while jumping, hugging, and yelling at each other. Others just remained silent.
"Is everyone here?" asked Ryuuzaki-sensei as she began to enter the courts.
"Not yet sensei, Echizen's not here." stated Oishi a frown present on his face as he got an idea why.
Ryuuzaki-sensei looked at her team for a moment. 'It seems something happened without my knowledge.' she thought as her teams' faces were showing uttermost pressure from something. She sighed.
"Did something happened?" she asked since she can't keep up by how they were acting.
The rest of the regulars flinched, they knew that they should have told their coach in the first place but they were too nervous to tell since it involves her precious granddaughter.
"Uhmm. R-Ryuuzaki-sensei… nyaa.. its's because…" Eiji tried to say but couldn't shake the feeling of their coach going hysterical.
The others didn't continue what the acrobatic teammate said. They too, didn't want to see their coach going hysterical since she is old.
Ryuuzaki-sensei waited for them to speak up. Even though she already has an idea about it since Nanjirou already called her the moment it all occurred but she still liked to hear how the young men will explain it to her.
After a few minutes, none of them got the courage to tell the problem to their coach. Ever since they've remembered what their kohai's mother told them they've been in so much pressure that their minds can't function properly.
Their coach sighed again which made their gloomy faces look up to her.
"It's about Ryoma and Sakuno again, right?" stated Ryuuzaki-sensei casually, this made the regulars look at her in disbelieve. Their faces saying, how did you know.
Ryuuzaki-sensei almost chuckled at she observed her teams reaction. 'Do they really think I'm that stupid enough not to know? Now I know how Ryoma felt towards his sempais. Sheesh… They're really Mada Mada Dane.' thought Ryuuzaki-sensei, as a smirk began to form on her face.
"Why are you guys looking at me like that? Anyway, back at the topic. It seems that Rinko wanted you guys to solve the problem, right? In less than 2 weeks that is… But it seems you guys only have 1 week left. Hahaha. What will you do now?" asked Ryuuzak-sensei teasingly at the now more pressured, cold-sweating, surprised yet composed on the outside regulars.
After Ryuuzaki-sensei's statement the regulars still can't grasp the power of replying to her words.
"Did you guys thought of any idea yet?" asked Ryuuzaki-sensei seriously. But no reply came to her. She sweat dropped.
"Who knew that it only took one person to shake you guys up… And a woman at that, more or less it's your kohai's mother." Ryuuzaki-sensei said teasingly once again, taking the chance of turning them angry on her for saying such pride-crushing comments.
This made the regulars feel something inside of them break into pieces. They were to preoccupied in their own little problem that they've forgot what they're really capable.
"And I thought Ryoma was right when they called you guys his cunning sempai-tachi. Guess I was wrong." she said disappointingly, and from the looks of it, it seems that she only needs one blow to encourage Ryoma's sempai-tachi.
"Your determination, great thinking, mind games, play, fighting spirit and title has now been considered…MADA MADA DANE" she said with great determination while crossing her arms over her chest and acting like she looks disappointed at them.
After what their coach said, flashbacks from when they were still middle school flooded their minds. The time when they almost lost to Rikkadai two times, the moment that they've pity their youngest member when he was playing the child of God. All the hardships they've been through, all the harsh training Inui conducted for them. The taste of the horrid juice even though they still have them on their training menu today.
All the great feeling of winning their matches that they see as a practice match. It's like ever since Ryoma joined their team, their fighting spirit has been lit up even more and it helps that their pride didn't want them to lose to their Ochibi even though they've already lost to him.
After the short flashback on their minds, they've got the idea that they're coach intended this from the start and so their fighting spirit has once again ignited together.
Tezuka's glasses flashed as he was now more determined for their plan to commence.
Tezuka flicked his fingers. "Inui, call them now." he said sternly.
"Momo, Eiji, Oishi and Kaidoh, make sure that Echizen and Sakun-chan doesn't know anything about this." continued Tezuka.
"Fuji. Kawamura you'll go with me to start plan B after we go to the River." he said with so much power that they've all decided to finish this quickly.
After their captain's commands, they've all done their task. Momo, Eiji, Oishi and Kaidoh decided their plans. It was easy as all as they don't say a word. But since they know that Ryoma is sharp, they have to be extra careful.
Ryuuzaki-sensei observed as how her team immediately recovered from the pressure the Echizen's was putting on them. Well, they can't blame them. She was also putting her granddaughter's sake on their hands. 'Good Luck.' she thought before leaving the courts since she was reminded that she suppose to attend some meeting.
Tree
"This is stupid." mumbled a lad who was taking a nap under the shady tree. It was pretty comfortable there.
Ryoma sighed. He was not himself this past week. He didn't like to return to his expressionless self but ever since Sakuno yelled to him, his chest felt something different. To him, it tightened a little, like something or someone was grabbing it. And suddenly he felt it again while remembering the feeling.
"I don't want this." he said while massaging the part of his chest that was flinching a bit. He once again remembered Sakuno's words.
"NO! Now let me go! I don't ever want to be with you!"
"Can you just let go of me?"
"I'm sick and tired of you."
"I'm only there because oba-chan is there!"
"B-Because I was making someone else jealous. Don't be so assuming."
While he was remembering Sakuno's words to him, he sat up unconsciously, his hands still gripping some part of his chest as he felt that it was tightening even more.
"Make it stop." he whispered to no one as he gripped himself tighter.
"Sakuno's only mine… Mine… Mine." he said to himself as he felt his eyes start to water.
"No! I don't want this!" he brought his hand up to put it to his eyes.
"She's nobody to you. You lived lone enough not knowing her. You don't need her." he told himself trying to convince his tightening heart.
"She's just a fan girl. Their annoying." he whispered as he tried to erase all the times when Sakuno cheered for him silently. He tried to erase all the feelings he has when he felt her cheering for him. Even though he can't hear her, he can feel her feeling for him that created more tears on his eyes.
"She's bothersome. I even have to save her countless times." he said as memories flooded his mind. The moment when they first met, the way she worried about him when a racket collided with his forehead. It was precious.
But no matter how he tried to convince himself, he can't stop his eyes from creating even more tears. It was the very first time he felt hi his chest flinch like this. He can't even breathe normally, he felt like something was sucking the air out of him.
"I thought you like me…" he said as he can't stop his tears from falling. It was too much for him since this the first time he was experiencing this.
"What about our promise? You liar." said Ryoma while resting his back on the tree trunk. His tears not yet stopping, he can't believe he was fooled like that. He was even proud of himself that he had such a girl in his possession. But it all disappeared on one single day. All the time that he shared with his girl has now been slowly erased on his mind.
"If you don't want me, then I don't want you." he said as he brushed all the tears from his eyes and cheek. He slowly stood up and left. His face showing determination but his eyes were as lifeless as ever. It was like he was forcing himself to move on to a love that was never once there. 'I'm really stupid.' he thought.
"Ryoma-kun, I'm sorry." whispered Sakuno after she heard Ryoma stood up and walk away.
She was disgusted with herself as to what happened to them. She was fooling herself and the one she truly loved. Her tears were already falling the moment she heard Ryoma mumble things.
"This is for the best." she said to herself and tried to stop her tears from falling but it was futile. She loves the boy too mush that it hurts to see him in that situation.
She remembered the time when Ryoma whispered sweet things to her. Her heart can't take it anymore. It was bearing too much love for the boy that it was slowly killing her. Her tears can't be stopped.
"Ryoma-kun… I love you." she said as her tears started to fall even more, her heart suffering from all the things that it was experiencing now. "I love you…" she said again, this time pouring all the emotions she has kept all inside her.
"But you can't love me back." she said as her heart clenched even more, her tears still strolling down her creamy cheeks. "For that reason we can't be together." she between her sobs.
"Even if you tell me sweet things… I know your only lying… I can't take it anymore…" she said as her sobs became louder. Her mind flashing her the time they were together that she cried even more.
"I know that you can never love someone like me… Goodbye…" whispered Sakuno before wiping her tears and leaving the tree they've shed their feelings into.
"Oi Echizen! Where've you been?" asked Momo who curiously looked over to his kohai.
"Nowhere." replied Ryoma bitterly.
'He's really back to the old one back at middle school.' thought Momo as a sweat dropped formed on his head.
"Really now? You weren't with Sakuno-chan?" said Momo teasingly as he patted his kohai's head.
"What made you say that?" said ryoma angrily. "I'll never be with that girl again." he said bitterly at his sempai while walking away with his hands on his pockets.
'Talk about grumpy.' thought Momo while following Ryoma.
"What's your problem? Got dump?" asked Momo teasingly as he finally caught up to Ryoma.
Ryoma didn't reply to him at all. Not even a simple glare to him. 'This is really a problem.' thought Momo. 'If this is the regular Echizen, he would have glared or retorted at me.' Momo was about to tease Ryoma some more when he heard Eiji and Oishi's voice.
"Oi! Momo! Echizen!" yelled the mother of Seigaku tennis club.
Momo and Ryoma immediately halted on their tracks as they heard the voice of their vice-captain.
"Hey~! Ochibi, nyaaa. Are you back to normal now?" exclaimed Eiji he threw himself to his kohai, Ryoma just togged his sempai's antics which led the acrobatic player to land on the dirt.
"Ochibi~! You could have saved me~!" whined Eiji as he immediately recovered from his fall.
"Oh." replied Ryoma as he began to walk away from his silly sempai-tachi.
The sempai-tachi sweat dropped once again as they've once again seen the old Ryoma. They can't believe that one simple day would trigger the old Ryoma to come back after all the work they've put into for Ryoma to finally realize his feelings for the braided girl. They just cried anime-style.
"Mou~. I don't want the old Ochibi, nyaa." complained Eiji as he followed his kohai to the tennis courts.
"I'm with you." agreed Oishi as crossed his arms together.
"Ah. It feels different. Like all our hard work was just a dream. It's just unfair… So unfair." said Momo while making a sad face.
"And we only have a few days before Rinko-sans deadline." said Oishi as he suddenly paled. The same happened with the two as they remembered how their kohai's mother spoke to them.
"We need to finish this fast. Really fast." said Momo as he made a dash towards the nearing courts where their captain was located.
The two remaining sempais observed how their kohai made a run and left them like they were just extras.
"H-Hey Momo~! That's unfair, nyaa~!" complained Eiji as he run after his kohai.
"Wait for me guys~!" yelled the vice-captain who was left there by his teammates and also ran after them.
Tennis Courts
"Oishi, what's the matter?" asked Tezuka as he observed the team with Oishi beside him.
Oishi didn't like to answer since he's out of breath because of what happened earlier. This made the captain confused even more.
"Oishi." said Tezuka sternly still not looking at him.
This time Oishi finally calmed his breathing. "Ah? Oh, don't worry about me. The real problem we got to solve now is about Echizen and Sakuno-chan." he said seriously.
Tezuka was curious as to why Oishi was suddenly eager about solving their problem. He knows that Oishi's worries are superior to any of them but this time he was serious, he wasn't panicking like he used to be.
"It's just that, if we don't hurry. It'll become harder since Echizen made himself return to the old one. And it took us what? Years, to turn him to the none-expressionless boy." said Oishi while sighing deeply.
In Tesuka's mind, what Oishi said was rational and can affect their plan. And so he decided to commence their plan earlier than expected.
"Regulars! Gather up!" yelled Tezuka which made the others' practices be halted and gather to where Oishi and him is.
"What is it sempai? We're lucky Echizen isn't here." Momo said while scanning for Ryoma who was currently spotted by the vending machine.
"Ah, it will be troublesome if Echizen suspects us." said Kaidoh.
"Oh? The snake-man speaks." teased Momo while grinning like some idiot.
"What did you say, dunk-freak?!" retorted Kaidoh as he was about to grab hold of his rivals shirt when somebody tapped his shoulders.
"Kaidoh, Momo. This isn't the time to be playing around." said Fuji sternly while smiling at them sadistically. The two sophomores shuddered. "HAI!" they said as the others sweat dropped. Their tensai was drop dead serious.
"Our meeting with the others will be moved." Tezuka started.
"Huh? Why?" asked Taka-san.
"We'll meet them after club activities." continued Inui since he has been informed by Tezuka earlier and he was in-charge of contacting them.
"But why so suddenly? I thought we'll do it the day after, nyaa." said Eiji while doing some stretches.
The captain and the vice-captain just looked at each other, the rest became curious. Momo was about to ask when Oishi started to speak.
After Oishi stated the same reason he told Tezuka, the others started to spoke their opinions about it. When they all came to a conclusion they decided to talk about how they were going to tell them.
All minds were filled with complications. Until they heard somebody call them.
"Sempai-tachi." said Ryoma not so loudly better yet, in a very bored tone.
"Huh?" They all said in unison. They were a bit surprised that their kohai was there.
"E-e-e-e-echizen?!" exclaimed Kaidoh as he hugged the nearest person, unfortunately it was Kaidoh. But Kaidoh didn't even said a word, he was too preoccupied with the chances that their kohai heard what they were talking about.
The first one to break the awkward silence was none other than, Taka-san, who out-of-instinct grab hold of his racket.
"ECHIZEN~! HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN THERE, HUH?!" yelled the intense sempai while brining his face closer to Ryoma, who immediately back away by 3 meters.
"Just now. Is something wrong? Ryuuzaki-sensei told me to tell you guys that if you don't start practicing now, she'll tell somebody to shorten your time limit. Whatever that may be." said Ryoma before walking away from his sempai-tachi.
When Ryoma was out of their sights, they paled. Vision of them suffering as they were tasked to dig a hole, to do laundry and the worst… seeing their coach in a swim suit.
"Minna! Let's go practice!" yelled Tezuka as promised himself, never to have that kind of thoughts again. 'NEVER!' he thought.
What he didn't know is that the others had the same thought as he had.
Classroom
"Sakuno, are you alright?" asked Tomoka worriedly. She wasn't used to see her best friend so down cast. It was even weirder that when she offered them to go cheer for their sempais so that she'll be able to cheer up, Sakuno refused immediately. No excuses, no real reasons, nothing.
"Hai." Sakuno said while looking towards her best friend and smiling with all she got. But it wasn't enough for Tomoka not to notice her weird behavior.
"Sakuno~. You know, you can't fool me! Your smile isn't even convincing enough!" yelled Tomoka frustratingly. 'Why won't you tell me?!' she thought.
"Eh? I have no intention on fooling you Tomo-chan." said Sakuno while smiling.
"Oh yeah? You don't have any problems?" asked Tomoka while challenging her.
"Ah. Not a one." said Sakuno in monotone.
"Not even about Ryoma-sama?" said Tomoka as she observed what her best friend's reaction would be.
"Tomo-chan, how can I have problems with Ryoma-kun? That's just absurd." said Sakuno while laughing.
Tomoka was not convinced at all. Her temper was almost at its limit if they weren't in the classroom. She would have yelled at her with all she got that would leave her best friend deaf.
"Sakuno, you're smiling bitterly. And I know that you smile like that when it involves Ryoma-sama. I don't know what happened between you two, but if you guys don't work this out, I'm yelling at both of you." said Tomoka before tapping her best friends head and leaving their classroom.
After what her Tomoka said, Sakuno tried her best not to let her tears fell. It was too much, her avoiding Ryoma at all cost, trying her best to smile even if her chest is flinching every time she forces herself and her pretending that everything will be fine even if she's hurting inside.
"Its fine." she whispered while smiling bitterly towards the sky.
After club activities
"Inui, are they already going there?" asked Tezuka while arranging his things.
"Ah." replied Inui as he slung his bag over his shoulder. It seems that the others are ready to go too.
"All right, let's go!" said Tezuka.
"AH!" the others replied in unison.
They were about to leave when they were interrupted by a voice behind them.
"Where are going, sempai-tachi?" asked Ryoma curiously, him still looking emotionless as ever.
The sempais flinched when they heard their kohai speak. They didn't even notice that he was there.
"Nyaaa… Uhmm… Nothing Ochibi~! Ahaha. Hahaha." said Eiji while laughing awkwardly.
"Your lying." said Ryoma. He was pretty curious about where his sempais were going. 'It wouldn't hurt to ask.' was the thought that came to Ryoma's mind.
The upperclassmen didn't know what to say. Even if the old Ryoma was back, his still as sharp as ever.
"Ho-How can you say that Echizen... We're telling the truth." said Momo while scratching his head not planning on making eye contact with their kohai. 'He'll notice if I do that.' thought Momo.
"First, Tezuka-bonchou said if they're already going there. Second, it looks like you guys are planning something… In other words, you guys are planning something behind my back and wishing that I won't know about it since it involves me and that I'm sharp. Did miss something?" said Ryoma in a matter-of-fact tone. He doesn't care about their plan but its entertaining seeing his sempais act like that.
The sempais were astounded how Ryoma almost got it all right. But since their reputation and innocent minds were on the line, they weren't going to back down.
"What are blabbing about Echizen?" asked Fuji while grinning at him. This made Ryoma look at him.
"You're talkative now? Ii data." said Inui as he followed Fuji's lead. The others seem to notice also, they smirked.
"Now, now, Ochibi. That's just silly." said Eiji teasingly.
"What we do doesn't concern you." said Kaidoh as he began to leave the clubroom.
"Anyway, bye, Echizen." said Taka-san as he followed Kaidoh. The others began to leave also.
"Whatever." said Ryoma while walking ahead of them.
When the sempais thought that Echizen was far away from them, they stopped on their track.
"That was close." said Fuji while opening his eyes. The others looked at the tensai with agreeable nods.
"Ah, the only thing he missed out was Sakuno-chan." said Oishi as he began to walk again, making the others do so.
"He's sharper than before. With just me speaking, he already thought of our plan." said Tezuka. The others just sighed; they sure have a troublesome kohai. And on top of that it makes their jobs as harder twice as hard. Not that they can't handle it.
"Anyway, let's forget about that now and just go with the plan." said Taka-san. This made the others agree with no complaints.
By the river
"Is everybody here?" asked Tezuka as he scanned the crowd.
"Nope, we're all here." replied Tachibana as he looked over his team.
"Ah, ore-sama and his subjects are also here." said Atobe as his teammates started to yell at him.
"What? Ore-sama's only telling the truth." he said proudly.
"Anyway Tezuka, why did you all us out here?" asked Yukimura while his teammates just smirked.
"I don't care anyway, all us out here makes me feel, ecstasy." said Shiraishi.
"Tezuka-san misses us~!" yelled Sengoku as the others sweat dropped. 'That can never happen.' was the thoughts that lingered on their minds.
"Well it is a little weird though, we suddenly got a call from Inui-kun." commented Mizuki while twirling his hair on his finger.
"Inui, why did you call him? He's not that important." stated Fuji casually. Mizuki fliched, Inui sweat dropped. While the others just smirked with one thought on their minds, 'Fuji really hated him.'
"Fuji, really hates you, Mizuki-san." said Hiroshi from Josei Shounan.
"Can we just start? We're tired you know." complained Kite from Higa Middle School or should I say High School.
"Ah. We just came too. We received the call just now." said Billy from the American team.
"Inui~! You called them too, nyaa~?!" exclaimed Eiji. He can't believe that they had to do this all for their favorite kohais.
"Well… Tezuka, said just call them. I didn't know who exactly so I called all of them." said Inui. The others dropped dead. They can't believe that they were only there because the mind of the Seigaku was not sure who to call.
"Though I think the U-17 camp's still on the way here." said Inui casually.
"WHAT?! EVEN THEM?!" they asked in unison, except the strict ones of course.
"Do I have to explain myself again?" said Inui as he looked at them like some innocent being.
"Oi~! Did you guys already start~?" yelled Ryoga as he came with the U-17 camp top players.
When Ryoga and the others came, the sweat dropped. 'Inui really did invite them.' they thought. Even some of the Seigaku players were surprised.
"Yo, long time no see. Haha. Sorry for my mom." said Ryoga while scratching his head and sticking his tongue after talking.
Ryoma's real sempai-tachi sweat dropped even more. 'Does he really have to mention that?' they thought. The others was confused.
"Tezuka, you got a lot of explaining to do." said Sanada as he adjusted his cap.
"Ah, Tezuka-san should start now." said Gin from Shitenhoji.
"WAIT~!" yelled someone.
All upperclassmen looked over to the freshmen who were huddled from behind them.
"Where's Echizen-kun/Koshimae/Ryoma~?" asked the three very excited, full of hope freshmen; Kintarou, Aoi, Taichi and Kevin. Who knew they were already close and from the looks of it, they look like a group.
"That's exactly why you're here boys~!" yelled a guy with a great tan.
"Could that be?" asked Niou who suddenly became serious. His team was shocked, not only because of their teammate but also, the man who yelled just now.
"Ah! Nanjirou-san." said Oishi as Nanjirou only smirked while walking towards them.
"YOU'RE THE SAMURAI NANJIROU! ECHIZEN NANJIROU~!" yelled the freshmen group as they ran towads Ryoma's father. What can you say? They're all pretty informed.
"Ahahaha. No need for that, boys." said Nanjirou while scratching his head.
That made them shut up. The upperclassmen just sweat dropped at their kohai.
"Enough of the introductions… The reason we called you here is that Echizen-." Tezuka was interrupted when Eiji spoke first.
"Ochibi's having LOVE PROBLEMS!" yelled Eiji.
Every single tennis player present there were in agape, even the strict and serious ones. The only ones who weren't surprised were the Seigaku regulars, Ryoga and Nanjirou.
"WWWWHHHHHHAAAATTTTT?!" they yelled in unison. Ryoma's sempai-tachi had a lot of explaining to do.
"ECHIZENNNNN~! I"LL KILL FOR THIS?!" yelled Momo as anime tears fell from his eyes. The others just sweat dropped while some agrees with him.
'This is going to be a hell of a week.' thought the Seigaku regulars before starting to explain things from the very start.
How was it? Bad?
I'm sorry. My head was full of ideas that I just don't know what to write first. X'C
Thanks for the reviews~! Can't wait for the next ones. =D
Next Chapter: Upcoming Love