[A/N] Is it just me or the story really did kind of moved on too fast? Even though I strictly followed the timeline I drew. Anyways…

Disclaimer: I own nothing. (Minus the plot of this story and the OCs).

o o o

Chapter 14

Inevitable

"Hm." Ryutaro nodded contentedly when Ryoma reached the end of his story, a recount of what happened last night.

Ryoma wasn't a man of words and stories but he felt empty-handed suddenly inviting himself in Ryutaro's place, so he somehow filled him in with at least that. Feeling awkward being alone with Sakuno, he decided that he wants to give her space for her recovery. But having nowhere interesting to go (he's too lazy to even get far), he went to Ryutaro.

"I was right to have trusted you with my wisdom," he said proudly, "you did not take advantage of my sister despite knowing her feelings for you," nodding at every phrase.

Though he told him the story, he left out most of the details especially how the conversation went and what happened after.

Apparently, when she calmed down, he sat themselves on the sofa, though Sakuno would still sob and whine every once in a while and sometimes would even hit him, not enough to hurt him badly anyways, and didn't let go of her hands. When all her energy drained, she fell asleep in his arms. Until he also eventually did.

When he awoke at the slightly risen sun, he put her down on her bed and covered her warmly.

"But it makes me curious," the host interrupting his thoughts, "you've been 'close' for eight years," drawing air apostrophes to emphasize the word, "and yet nothing, as in NOTHING, ever happened. . . Unless . . ." Ryutaro looked at his friend wide-eyed, moving away, "are you . . . perhaps . . . not into . . . ouch!" he did not dare continue when the prince kicked his shin from under the table.

"Well, of course, you're not gay," he said massaging where he kicked, "but that doesn't erase Yuta from the picture."

Ryoma looked contemplative as indeed, Ryutaro spoke the truth. The other guy was sincere with Sakuno and he has been straightforward about it, and he feels threatened that she doesn't mind. Much so because she has told him of her intentions of putting away her feelings for him.

He knew he needed to act fast, though no effective idea comes to him, "was I mistaken for not taking my chance last night?" he hopelessly thought at one point, for as much as he was concerned, the only advantage he plays is that she has liked him for a long time, which desolately might not be any valid soon. Somehow he realizes that he needed to do a background check on Yuta, although it is very much uncharacteristic of him as he was never a man to pry on others business.

"But even in any tennis match, we are expected to study the opponent" he convinced himself, which he also contradicted shortly after when he remembered Misaki's words—"This is not a competition, Ryoma. Do you think perhaps that Sakuno is only a safe choice? A trophy, to remind of a victory? . . . Go to her with sincere intentions, that's the best you can do."

As if Ryutaro has read his thoughts, he said out of nowhere, "As far as I'm concerned, he's a good guy, the best of the candidates for my blessing for Sakuno's hand."

Discovering Ryoma's glare, he stand corrected, "well after you, of course," smiling awkwardly.

"But seriously dude, he's a tough rival. Must I tell you that he's been making passes on Sakuno since college started?"

He looked at him, "you have both the lower hand and upper hand in this whole situation, but you never know, sometimes sincerity beats all."

"In case you're not aware, Sakuno is very simple."

"So?"

"Sometimes even magicians have to say the magic words 'abracadabra', to be convincing."

o o o

In Ryoma's absence, Sakuno was forced to remember the events last night, most of which were merely her whining, though she does remember seeing Ryoma's sad face, or was it disgusted?

Either way, she might as well die than let Ryoma see her again, as many other embarrassing times before. How many more times must she embarrass herself in front of him? Even if she told him that she wanted to get rid of her feelings for him, that doesn't really mean her embarrassment will be lessened, right? Or does it have anything to do with the matter? Oh well, perhaps she just needed to remind herself that, because almost every day, or everyday actually, her heart seems to forget.

But anyway, seriously, how in the world can she face him after last night? There's also this morning's incident, she recalled. At some point, she even blamed her nakedness to Ryoma, but upon remembrance, what actually happened was, when she felt she has been moved to her bed, she removed her clothes because she felt hot.

Why is she always uncool around him?

When she was so lost in thought, she ruffled her long hair in frustration and grunted.

Randomly remembering that wherever Ryoma must have gone to, he didn't say exactly, but apparently he forgot his phone. She heard it ringing from the guest room and glanced on the caller ID which doesn't really say much but an unsaved number. When the first call was missed, she thought that it must have been just a stray call. But it rang again, the same number calling, she reluctantly went to pick it up, thinking it must be an important call.

"Hello?" she politely answered, "I'm sorry for picking it up. Ryoma left his phone with me, but I can relay your message to him,"

"Sakuno-chan?" a woman's voice answered from the other end.

"Misaki-chan?"

"Sakuno-chan! Hello, hello! I haven't heard from you in a while,"

She giggled because it hasn't been one week yet when they last saw each other, "I'm sorry, been pretty busy with school lately."

"School? Or boys?" Misaki teased, quite aware of Yuta's appearance through Tezuka's bestfriend, Fuji. Sakuno's face flushed and worked up to manage answering, "M-Mou Misaki-chan! School, indeed."

"Really now?" mischievously smiling through the phone, "anyways, where is your boyfriend?"

"B-boyfriend? Do you mean, Ryoma? Wait, he's not—"

"Yeah, yeah. Your boyfriend, Ryoma, where is he?"

Reluctant to answer she muttered quietly, "well, I don't really know, he took off without telling me, but he left his phone, so I'll just relay your message for him."

"Did he really just went out and left you alone? Not taking you on a date?" Sakuno must have imagined it when she heard veins popping, "I'll give him a good scolding,"

A little uncomfortable, she went asking, "Why did you call anyway, Misaki-chan?"

"Oh, yeah. I just came to tell him that his training will start after his injury has completely healed. But we have to see to it that they are in perfect condition, otherwise he might be compromising his health for his career,"

"Is there a chance that he cannot play tennis anymore?" she found herself asking.

"Well, there's always a chance, but with Ryoma, I think that's still far ahead. And he's one of the few gifted of being able to play tennis with either hands, he'll be fine." Misaki said reassuringly, but since the other girl is not speaking, she consoled further, "and I'm confident you're taking care of him well, right?"

"Am I?" she thought to herself after they hung up.

She clutched on Ryoma's phone and unintentionally glimpsed of his screen wallpaper, an image of the iconic tennis ball doodle she did from a long time ago. "Nostalgic," she smiled slightly.

As the day progressed, Ryoma was still not coming home, leaving her feeling increasingly worried by the hours. When the sun has set, she checked his car if it was in the parking slot, or else, he'll really give him a good beating. The phone call clearly made her paranoid, what if he has worsened his injury? What would she do if he ended up unable to continue playing tennis? What if he caught an accident?

Checking the parking lot and seeing his red Subaru is where it must be, she felt slightly relieved, though not much because he's not that disabled to not be able to ride a bus somewhere. "Seriously, where are you?" she thought uneasily.

By 9PM, she paced her apartment in round motions, biting nails in deep thinking. "Was this how he felt when I would not go home after school?" she somehow felt guilty. She tried calling some of their seniors in Seigaku, just in case he went to meet with them, but to no avail.

"No, I haven't seen or heard from him today, though we are scheduled to meet somewhere this week," Momo saida.

"Ryoma? No, not even his shadow today." Kawamura answered, for she knows that Ryoma was a regular to their sushi shop in Tokyo since he came home.

She avoided calling Tezuka and Fuji to not raise unnecessary conflicts, especially that Fuji might unconsciously involve Yuta.

So here she was, staring at the clock almost every minute, and occasionally glancing on the door hoping for Ryoma to walk in soon.

"He's a guy, and legal age, he'll be fine," said Tomoka when she told her. Though it must be true, she can't retire herself from distressing over his absence, because though she said earlier that she rather die than have him see her, she realized, in fact, that she cannot afford to not see him afterall.

When the clock read 1:55 AM, the door bell sounded. She immediately attended the door. Ryoma's arm is slung over Ryutaro's shoulders in support of the apparent drunken man. "Hey," Ryutaro greeted.

"What happened?" she asked when she saw the casualty, helping Ryutaro in.

"He's restless."

"About what?"

Ryutaro shrugged. "I didn't know you'd still be up," he said as he helped the drunken prince settle on the sofa.

"I was waiting for him," she answered regarding the dark-haired guy with her eyes. "Why haven't I considered that he went with you?" she wondered aloud.

"I didn't expect it too." He smiled while looking at his now good friend, "I should've just kept him with me, but I figured you must be worried. . . Shall I take him home with me after all?" suddenly anxious.

"N-No. I'll be fine," realizing Ryutaro's concern, "besides he's clearly just sleeping it off."

"Looks like it, he's a lot quieter when drunk," he chuckled, "keep your phone close to you, and call me when he did something stupid, I'll knock him out again," he simply said.

When her friend is out the door, she sighed, both in relief and frustration.

She looked at Ryoma from where she stood, slouched on the sofa, his head leaning on the backrest and legs widely apart, grumbling once in a while. She moved closer to him, still watching him and his face shift from peaceful to troubled. Seeing that he's not in any position to tease her for staring, she did, sitting on the arm rest of the sofa so her view of his face is not distorted, though, as she figured, all his profiles are mesmerizing no matter how you look at it.

Unconsciously, her hand moved on its own. Though reluctant, she gently touched the tip of his nose. She smiled when he crinkled them, at her touch. Then her finger traced its way on to his brows, then his forehead. Her palms joined when she caressed his cheek ever so lightly so as not to wake him up. Her warmth must be welcomed because she felt him nuzzling it slightly, she was alarmed but smiled at his reaction. When she realized where her fingers would next trace to, she paused.

She touched his pink lips and felt its contours. The next thing she knew was that her lips replaced her fingers. She kissed him.

Moving away, she froze, "what did I just do?" she asked no one in particular.

Clearly lost in thoughts, she did something she shouldn't have though she's always wanted to do it. Straightening herself, she mindlessly felt her lips, still warm from the momentary contact with his.

"Why is it hard to move on with you?" still touching her lips, she asked the sleeping Ryoma.

o o o

To be continued . . .