Opening Credits:

Dreaming on the Radio

Oroshita te no SHIRT to Futsuriai na Surikireta SNEAKER de

Machi wo arukeba atenai kitai Fumishimeteita Teenage Blues

Ano koro wa are de jibun nari ni Ganbattetan'dakedo

Ano hi guuzen Kikoeta koe ni Kokoro ubawarete shimattan'da

I'm Dreaming on the radio Itsumo Soko ni Ashita wo miteta

Dreaming on the radio Konya Kimi no Koe ga kikitain'da

Kimi ni koi shitan'da DJ Kokoro Round & Round ni natte

Nani ka atarashii koto ga dekiru'tte Mahou wo kaketekurerun'da

Kimi ni koi shitan'da DJ Toki ni Up Side Down ni natte

Konna harisakesou na omoigoto Kimi ni todoke

Kyou no REQUEST

Episode twelve: Sakuno and Hiro

Ryuzaki Sakuno blinked.

"Eh?"

"Oh come on Sakuno-chan!" Hiro started. "It had been a while! Six years, Sa-chan! SIX YEARS!"

Sakuno looked on the ground sadly. "I-I can't… R-Ryoma-kun might get mad…"

Hiro sighed.

He went to Todai a few days after he attempted on visiting her in Echizen's mansion, but he was unsuccessful for he came uninvited and too late at night. And so he waited for her in front of the University's gates and after finally seeing her, proposed an outing for the coming weekend.

"It's not going to be a date! We'll just go as friends! As junior high friends! Come on, please!" he bowed pleadingly in front of her.

Sakuno blushed and looked at him with sympathy. "I-I'll ask for Ryoma-kun's permission first…"

Hiro stood up straight and kept on looking at her with pleading eyes. "But why would you need his permission? It's not like we're going on a date or something!"

"I-I… h-he… anou…" Sakuno shifted her gaze on the ground. Her driver was already waiting for her a few meters away, and she felt a bit guilty for making him wait. Ryoma-kun might be already inside the car and watching them. It couldn't feel more awkward than it is. "R-Ryoma-kun i-is uncomfortable w-with you…" she explained.

"So I've been told," Hiro said.

"Go," another voice said and his figure passed by them like they were strangers.

Sakuno and Hiro turned to look at the person and found Ryoma already getting inside the car.

"E-Eh? R-Ryoma-kun…"

Hiro grinned. "See? He understands! I'll see you at Sunday in front of the amusement park!" he said and excitingly ran off.

Sakuno watched him disappear and she immediately turned to Ryoma who was sitting casually on the car. The driver widely opened the door for her so she can get inside.

She sat next to him and said, "Thank you…"

"Hn."

The driver turned the engine on and began driving away.

Sakuno giggled softly. "I didn't know you were listening to us. I thought you were already inside the car."

"Next time," he started.

Sakuno kept her eyes locked on his.

"You don't have to get my permission. I'm not your father."

Sakuno nodded slightly and turned her head away. She felt that something was weird. More precisely, Ryoma was acting weird. He was… mature… today for some reason.

She smiled. She could get used to that.

_-_-_-_PoT_-_-_-_

*Warning: Too much swearing for the next few parts :) You've been warned.*

"You hear me?" Ryoma said with his eyes glaring at nothing with fury.

Isumi nodded. "I heard you."

"That fucking asshole needed a fucking lesson. We'll fucking follow him if it's the fucking last thing we'll do."

Isumi nodded again with determination. Echizen told her that Fuck Ass Hiroyuki had the courage to ask her beloved Sakuno-sama on a date. And now, they were both fuckingly determined on destroying him (eavesdropping) on their date for good.

"I'll drive," Ryoma said. There was no fucking way in bitch hell would he let a Fuck Ass Hiroyuki have a single fuck shit moment with his Sakuno. HIS SAKUNO.

Sakuno is his and no one else's. Call him immature but that's just who he is.

Selfish and immature.

And Isumi was already used to that.

_-_-_-_PoT_-_-_-_

Ritsuko sighed deeply. She massaged her temples as she placed a hand on her hips. "So, you're telling me… that you're going to eavesdrop on Ryuzaki-sama and Ishikawa-san's outing."

Isumi nodded as she packs her things inside her bag. "But we mustn't let anyone know about it, so Echizen-sama's going to drive the car."

"Hm… I see. First, you were both mortal enemies, and now you're teaming up—wait." Ritsu stopped. "E-E-Echizen-sama's g-g-g-g-going to d-d-d-drive…?"

Now, Ritsuko's unusual stuttering made her curious. "Yeah, why?"

Ritsuko's trembling was now non-stop. She took one step forward with her whole body shaking. "E-E-E-Echizen-sama and d-d-d-driving m-m-m-must never b-b-be p-put in o-o-one s-s-s-sentence!"

"Eh?"

Ritsuko forced a (trembling) laugh. "J-J-J-Just t-take c-c-care, o-okay?"

Isumi nodded in bewilderment.

_-_-_-_PoT_-_-_-_

When Sakuno arrived in the amusement park, Hiroyuki was already there, grinning and waving at her. The car stopped in front of him and the driver helped her get out of the car. The ever-so-loyal driver of the Echizens bowed politely to Hiroyuki and drove off, saying that Ojou-sama should call if she was ready to go home.

After that, Hiroyuki guided Sakuno inside.

Exactly 3.2 seconds later, another expensive-looking car stopped as its tire let out a painful screech in front of the park. Rather, the way it stopped looked as if it was driving 140 km/h and halted to an immediate stop, despite a narrow and populated road.

Inside the car were two persons. One was looking intently at the entrance of the amusement park, and one had eyes twirling and face already drained of its color.

"They already got inside," Ryoma said dangerously. He hit the gas pedal and went off in a dangerous speed, stopping at a random slot in the parking lot.

After the tennis prince parked the car, he got out and ran off to the entrance.

On the other hand, Isumi was still pale and almost unconscious inside her master's car. She didn't actually expect that Ritsuko meant that Echizen was a… a… a lunatic driver. She didn't know that there was a specific reason why he had a driver and that the word driving and Ryoma Echizen in the same sentence meant horrible, mortifying and agonizing death. He drove inside their village in 120! 120! Very narrow road! She was surprised he was never caught for speeding, which he obviously does! And Ritsuko also told her that Echizen never knew he was that bad at driving, that he was confused when Sakuno stopped him from driving any longer.

It was an untimely experience for her. Untimely in a way that she was still too young to die.

She wobblingly went out of the car, still paled face and almost popping eyes. She looked at the car and noticed that the side mirrors were closed.

Her already pale face paled even more.

_-_-_-_PoT_-_-_-_

"This brings back memories, right?" Sakuno smiled at her companion.

Hiro smiled in return. "Yup. Those were the days. I feel like we're back to being 14 or something." He grinned boyishly.

The two stopped in front of a ride. They rode it and after the ride, both went out looking excitingly.

"That was fun!" she stretched her arms upward. "Now, that was just the start! Come on!" she dragged Hiroyuki to another random ride.

"Tch," an annoyed voice was heard from behind the ever-present-for-eavesdropping bushes.

Isumi was still pale and dizzy from having to deal with Echizen's driving. He could be a roller coaster operator with that talent. "Sakuno-sama looks happy," she said as she swayed back and forth.

Ryoma glared at her.

The two of them were wearing mafia suits. Black blazer with black necktie and black pants. And of course, stylish black shades.

Behind them were ammos and shotguns. Just in case.

The day went on and Ryoma noticed that Sakuno was indeed livelier than she should be. And there were no physical contacts between her and Fuck Ass Hiro. Not even an intimate stare.

If one was to guess, they looked like they were only siblings.

Ryoma and Isumi were now hiding behind the still-ever-present-for-eavesdroppers trees. Isumi was sitting on the grass and looked as if she's bored to death or something. There was nothing for her to be jealous about. Hiro wasn't acting as if he's going to take Sakuno-sama away or something. That so-called date looked more of a recreational activity for siblings than a couple's date. She already gave up on eavesdropping and rested her head on the end point of their shotgun while sitting lazily.

In contradiction, Ryoma was still intense on watching them. The ex-lovers were now sitting outside a coffee shop there and were talking animatedly. In Ryoma's opinion, which was exactly the opposite of Isumi's opinion, the two looked like a couple. Call that being overly jealous or something but Ryoma was still insistent on his belief.

Because in his point of view, Sakuno looked extraordinarily happy. She was never like that when they are on a date. If it was him, she'd be shy and lady-like. Unlike how she spent the day with her ex-boyfriend: childish and happy.

Amber eyes filled with grief.

Sakuno felt like she was young again. It had been a while since the last time she was this happy-go-lucky. She could even say that she forgot being this childish and in high spirits. Thanks to Hiroyuki, she felt it all over again. She was contented.

"The sun's setting," Hiro suddenly said.

Sakuno stared at the skies. She had lost track of time. She figured she really was having fun the whole day. "Right."

"The usual?" Hiro suggested. Sakuno smiled.

"Sure, the usual."

The usual might be their last after all.

Ryoma saw that Hiro and Sakuno got up and walked to another direction. He immediately collected his war equipments and followed them, forgetting about his sleeping partner-in-crime, Isumi, who still had a shotgun pointed at her chin.

"I kinda missed the usual!" Hiro said as they both stopped in front of the Ferris wheel.

Sakuno nodded. Back when they were still dating, they'll usually end the day riding the Ferris wheel to watch the sunset. Whether they were hanging out in the amusement park or not, they'll definitely end their day with that. It was their routine every after date. And later, they called it the usual.

They got in their ride and the wheel turned.

Isumi woke up and found her master nowhere to be found. She panicked and ran around to search for him. And when she found him, he was already getting inside a cab in the Ferris wheel. And after that, the wheel turned.

"E-Echizen-sama?" she mumbled incoherently. And when she looked up, she saw Sakuno-sama and Fuck Ass Hiro in another cab. "S-So that's why Echizen went inside…"

Luckily for the ex-lovers, their cab stopped in the peak of the ride. They watched the whole city painted in analogous warm colors as the sun hides to give way to the moon. The halt of the ride would only be for three minutes, so they have to make the moment last.

Meanwhile, Ryoma's cab went only halfway to the peak before the ride stopped. He watched his girlfriend and her ex's figures attentively.

"Hiro-kun… thanks for this day," she said warmly as she stared at the whole city.

"No prob."

"Because of you, I get to recollect the past," she looked sadly at their seat, "and learn from my mistakes."

Hiro shifted his gaze away from her. He knew what she meant. That mistake was their broken promise.

Her eyes went watery. "I'm sorry…"

"Ah…"

"I'm so sorry…"

"Un…"

"I'm really sorry, Hiro-kun…"

"Un…"

"I'm so sorry…"

"Un…"

Her apology went on until after they got off the ride.

_-_-_-_PoT_-_-_-_

When night came, it was time for Hiro and Sakuno to go home. Hiro waited with Sakuno at the entrance of the park until her driver arrives. After she was gone, he stood there in place, and crossed his arms.

A few seconds later, Ryoma and Isumi went out of the park. And Hiro was more than contented to greet them.

Ryoma glared at him while Isumi hissed.

"I suppose you eavesdropped on me and Sakuno, despite the fact that you allowed her to go." Hiro mocked.

Ryoma kept silent. He walked away from him, with Isumi on his track.

"That's called distrust. Trusting your partner is one of the most important parts during a relationship." Hiro added.

"Echizen-sama trusts Sakuno-sama," Isumi interrupted. "It's you," she pointed accusingly at Hiro, "which he doesn't trust!"

And with that, Isumi and Ryoma were gone.

Hiro eyed them irritatingly.

_-_-_-_PoT_-_-_-_

"Tadaima," Ryoma called lazily.

"Ryoma-kun!" Sakuno smiled and gently walked towards him, "Okaeri!"

She noticed that Isumi was behind him. "Okaeri, Isumi-chan."

Isumi raised her head up. She forced a smile, "T-T-Tadaima, S-Saku~no-sama…"

Sakuno raised one brow. "You look like you're not feeling well. What happened?" she asked with concern.

"N-Nothing," Isumi forced a laugh and wobblingly went to her room.

"What wrong with Isumi-chan?" Sakuno turned to Ryoma.

"Dunno," Ryoma innocently replied.

Ritsuko, on the other hand, knew why her maid friend was like that. "Poor Isumi… getting to experience Echizen-sama's terrible driving and all…"

_-_-_-_PoT_-_-_-_

It was already past midnight, but neither Ryoma nor Sakuno felt sleepy at all. They just lied down their bed, not moving an inch. They've been like that for the past hour. Each was thinking that the other was already fast asleep and should not make movements that might wake up the other.

Sakuno sighed deeply.

Ryoma heard it.

He turned to his side and stared at her.

"So you're still awake," he said in a low tone.

Sakuno almost jumped in surprise. She thought that Ryoma was already asleep. "H-Hai! I-I thought y-you were already s-sleeping…"

"Nope."

Ryoma sat up and stared down. The whole day, he felt that Sakuno was someone unreachable to him. He felt that she was starting to go away. Worse, he felt that he's going to be alone again.

The way that Ishikawa and Sakuno spent the day together, he felt utterly uneasy. He knew he was jealous, yet he will never admit it to anyone, not even to himself. But there was something inside him that said he should not get worried and that Sakuno would never leave him. He wanted to believe that voice… but his insecurities and mistakes he did was pulling him down. Insecurities in a way that he knew that there was something deep between her and Hiroyuki. That something, or whatever it is, is always with them, despite being separated for six years. And whatever that something is, he'll never be able to get through. Something he'll never understand. Something only Hiroyuki and Sakuno understands.

He didn't want that to happen.

He always wanted to break that small wall in her heart that she keeps within her. That wall that only Hiroyuki was allowed to get inside.

"Ne, Sakuno…" he called softly.

Sakuno also sat up and had her full attention on him. "Nani, Ryoma-kun?"

"Marry me," he bluntly said.

Okay, he admits… he was getting desperate. If he won't make a move now, he was afraid, though he didn't show it, Ishikawa might completely take her away from him.

Call him desperate or whatever, but he'll never let that happen.

Sakuno looked at him as if he grew two heads. "Demo… y-you already proposed to me b-before…"

Ryoma sighed. "Marry me now."

Sakuno avoided his gaze. "I-I already said yes before. It's only you who kept on postponing the date…" she said in a low accusing tone. She did not like how Ryoma acted just now. As if he's forcing her on doing something.

Ryoma stiffened. "That's why I—"

"If Hiro-kun was in your position, he would've been my husband years ago," she let out unintentionally. After she realized what she said, she immediately clutched her mouth. "A-Anou… g-gomen… I-I d-didn't m-mean to…" her voice faded away as she stared at Ryoma's eyes.

Ryoma's eyes burned with anger.

"Ryuzaki," he hissed dangerously which made Sakuno flinched, "you're comparing me to him."

Sakuno immediately tried to control the situation. "I-I wasn't! I-I m-mean… I-I was j-just s-stating what w-would've happen i-if…"

"I. Am. Not. Him, Ryuzaki," he stated angrily.

Sakuno gulped. Her eyes were filled with fright. She had never seen those amber orbs of his stare down at her with such hatred, jealousy and betrayal.

"G-Go… mena… sai…"

Ending Credits:

Flying Cherry

Kaze wa mada tsumetai kedo Ki no hayai tsubomi ga hitotsu

Sore ni kizuita tonari no kigi ga Makeru mono ka to momoiro ni somaru

Kotoshi ga hayazaki na no wa kimi no sei da yo Kouende ichiban chiisana sakura no ki yo

Haya sugiru ka na? Sou omotta keredo Kigatsukeba sakura no naka

Ichiban saki no ano ko wa doko ka na? Tonari no ookina ki ni kiite miyou

Ame ga futte mo sou kaze ga fuite mo Chiisana hana wa mada

Kawarazu matteiru boku o matteiru

_-_-_-_PoT_-_-_-_

A/N: I wouldn't say that I was contented with this chapter, because I'm not. Still, I hope it was still fulfilling. So, please leave a review ^^