Chapter 10

The next morning, Ryota fetched Ayako from her house. When they arrived in school and entered the corridor, the Sakuragi Gundan popped out of nowhere and blew party horns, threw confetti and cheered for the couple.

"Congratulations!" Mito shook Ryota's hand vigorously.

"You have stopped your record! You only had 10 consecutive dumps from girls!"

"After a long time of misery, I'm so happy for you!"

"Nice ring Ryota, nice ring Ayako! Is it possible that these are… wedding rings?" Mito said holding up their hands.

"No, of course not!" Ayako said, pulling her arm back.

"These are friendship rings." Ryota said.

"Attention everyone! Ryota and Ayako got married!!!"

"No we did not!" Ryota defensively said.

"Okay then, let me rephrase that… Ryota and Ayako are hooked up!!!"

"Good, now the whole school knows…" Ayako sarcastically remarked.

Ryota and Ayako continued walking and ignored the Sakuragi Gundan, hoping they'll soon stop--but to no avail.

Students peeped out from their classrooms to see what was happening…Naturally, the SG (Sakuragi Gundan) was very noisy, "celebrating".

"They look like flower girls in a wedding ceremony." Ryota mumbled.

"Onegai, yamerou…" Ayako pleaded, but the SG was too busy spreading the word.

"Onegai…" They still didn't listen. Bad choice.

THWACK!

Ayako's paper fan slapped the SG. They became suddenly quiet.

Ayako exhaled a breath of relief.

"Arigato." She told them as she and Ryota entered their classroom.

She sat down on the chair as her friends teased her.

"Ayako…you never told us you liked Ryota too!"

"Aaw…you two look perfect!"

"You know what? I think that guy who sang for you on the radio…it was Ryota!!!"

"No way!"

Ryota hid his face behind his History book.

"Yes it was him…" She smiled. "Isn't he the sweetest? Not many guys have the guts to serenade girls over the radio."

"Yeah…You're lucky Ayako!"

"I'm so jealous of you!"

"He won't let you cry…That's for sure…"

"He'll probably make me cry." She announced, and everyone suddenly became quiet.

Ryota froze. "What is she saying? Doesn't she love me?"

"He'll probably make me cry…of happiness."

~*~*After School*~*~

Ryota was walking towards the school field. He promised Ayako that he would meet her there. He glanced at his watch. 3:57. He was 3 minutes early. He can wait for her. Even forever.

He concentrated at the grass beneath his feet while he walked. All of a sudden, there was a sudden pull of his arm, and a fist coming towards his face.

It was a burly third-year. The one who had a crush on Ayako. Ryota's rival.

"I can't believe Ayako chose you instead of me!" And he threw another punch, but missed.

"Look, I don't want to fight!" Ryota avoided the punches.

"It's a shame! My pride has been bruised! I won't forgive you for this!" He continued to throw punches, missing every single one.

"Onegai, leave Ayako's decision as it is! It's not my fault if she chose me!"

"You boastful kid!"

"Onegai, yamerou…"

Ayako was walking toward the field, and she heard voices. Fighting. She ran and saw Ryota. And the third year.

Ryota spotted Ayako and stopped avoiding the punches. "Aya-chan…"

Ryota fell down. The third year's fist hit Ryota's nose, and blood started to flow out of it.

"Ryota!" She ran to him and wiped his nose with her handkerchief .

She stood up and faced the guy. "What is your problem?!"

"I can't believe you chose him instead of me! Move aside, I want to finish him!"

"Finish him? Is that what this is about?!" She blocked his way.

"Move, or else--"

"Or else what?"

"I'm going to have to take care of you."

"It's a good thing I didn't choose you. You have no respect for my decisions. You don't really love me."

"That's enough!" The guy tried to slap her. But he failed. She caught his hand and buried her fist in his stomach.

The guy moaned with pain as Ayako helped Ryota get up. They walked towards a bench and sat down.

"Aya-chan…" She wiped the blood of his nose.

"Ryota-kun…Gomen…"

"It's not your fault… I can't blame it if guys go crazy over you…"

"We have to go to the clinic…"

"No, it's okay. As long as you're here I'll be fine."

"…"

"As long as we're together…we'll be fine…"

"Yes. As long as we're together…Aishiteru…"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Author's notes:

This is the second to the last chapter… That means the next chap will be the last… =(

Gomen for updating so long, we are very busy in school…I'm banned on the computer…And I lost my writer's touch for a while… Good thing I got it back!

Arigato for reading! Please review! ^_^

p.s. I made a Ryo/Aya website! It's not yet done, I'm updating it bit by bit, so don't complain to me about broken links… If you want to check it out, it's at http://destined.to/ryoaya or http://www.liquid2k.com/ryota4ayako … Ja!