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Love Between Friends

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Chapter Fourteen:

Tears

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A/N: Konnichiwa, mina-san! Here's the 14th chapter. It would be about their visit to an amusement park so please visit this site and explore it… it might help: .jp/e/. I'll make it clear that I haven't been to Japan so I hope you don't get too disappointed.

"So then, where do we go first?" Eiji said enthusiastically.

"Saa…" Fuji murmured while looking around. They were standing before the Tokyo Dome City Attractions which is located in the center of Tokyo. Fuji turned to the rest of them at the same time they heard people screaming. "There are about 20 fun and thrilling attractions. Where do we go first, birthday celebrant?"

"Hmn…" Ayumi looked at the attractions and then smiled at a thought that came to her mind. "If it was up to me then…," They were looking at her when she pointed to the exit.

"Kaho-chan… could it be that you want us out of the way so that you could be alone with-" Momoshiro grinned.

"Fine, fine. I choose the 'Linear Gale'," Ayumi said when she realized where Momo's statement was going. She waited for Eiji and Momo to stop laughing. She noticed Ryoma tug his cap.

"By the way, Kaho-chan, you're paying, nya!" Eiji said as he cheerfully hopped to the booth for the 'linear gale', Momoshiro following closely behind.

"Mou…," Ayumi said before bringing out her purse and going after her senpais.

"I wonder if it's okay." Sakuno muttered, looking at Ayumi.

"She doesn't seem to mind," Fuji smiled at Sakuno before turning to Ryoma. "What do you think?"

"Her parents own a successful company. Money isn't a problem for her," Ryoma mumbled before moving forward.

---

"Linear gale is the world's first hanging-type linear roller coaster," Fuji said before taking his seat besides Sakuno, they were riding the first car. Behind them was Momoshiro who pulled Ayumi besides him with an evil grin. Behind them were a very irritated Ryoma and a hyperactive Eiji.

"It's starting, it's starting, nya," Eiji said, leaning forward against the over-the-shoulder restraint that goes down to his chest, stomach and cross his lap.

Ryoma glared at his senpai, who was acting so childishly. Soon, he began emitting a dark aura.

Eiji slowly turned his head to Ryoma. "O-o'chibi…," he murmured, raising his hands roller coaster train started to move. Soon, it accelerated, going fast. "WEE!!" Eiji screamed forgetting Ryoma's death glares. Sakuno started screaming with the some of the other riders.

'Eh? She's not screaming,' Ryoma thought as he stared at the head rest in front of him- Ayumi's. Just then, Ryoma felt something on his cheek. He raised his right index finger and touched his cheek. It was a clear substance. 'Tears?' He imagined Ayumi's crying and her tears being carried by the wind caused by the movement of the roller coaster train.

---

"That was fun, nya!" Eiji said, bouncing up and down, full of excitement.

"What did you think, Sakuno-chan?" Fuji asked the petite lady beside him.

"I-it was great," Sakuno said, smiling sheepishly. 'Never again...'

"Let's go to that one next," Momoshiro said pointing to a tall structure dropping screaming people.

"Okay then. Next ride, the 'Tower Hacker'," Eiji announced.

"A-anou… Senpai, I'll pass," Ayumi said, sitting down on a bench.

"Eh? Nande? (Why?)" Momoshiro asked.

Ayumi searched her head for an excuse and then smiled. "I'm not feeling so well after that ride," she reasoned.

"Nya, o'chibi should stay, too. Just in case something happens to Kaho-chan," Eiji grinned. Fuji smiled sadistically.

"Ah," was all Ryoma said before stepping back, shortening the distance between him and Ayumi.

---

"A-anou…" Sakuno stuttered. "I-it's too h-high…" she looked down. They were 80 meters above the ground, seated side-by-side. Sakuno occupied the seat besides Fuji and Eiji besides Momo. Sakuno closed her eyes before, "AH!!!" they started to fall.

"That wasn't so bad, now was it?" Fuji asked Sakuno after they have safely touched the ground.

"H-hai," Sakuno murmured, small drops of tears at the corners of her eyes.

"Eh? Where are o'chibi and Kaho-chan?" Eiji looked around.

"Could it be that they went on a date?" Momoshiro suggested.

"That would be unlikely," Fuji said. "But that situation wouldn't be so bad…"

"They left a note," Sakuno said, picking up a piece of paper from the bench where Ayumi sat.

We are going to Twins for lunch. We'll be waiting for you guys. Sorry, we went ahead.

-Ayumi

"Are you sure it was alright to come here without them?" Ayumi asked the green haired boy seated opposite her. They were seated in a six-person table. "They might not see the note."

Ryoma shrugged. He rested his chin on his right hand and looked through the glass wall to his right. He stared at the scenery outside. They stayed silent for a few minutes, not bothering to start a conversation.

"Ryoma, tell me, what happens if I can't play tennis anymore?" Ayumi asked, breaking the silence they have both been accustomed to.

Ryoma raised his head from his cupped right-hand. He stared at Ayumi, his eyes wide in shock. "I don't know. It's your life," he used his uncaring voice. 'Where did that come from?' he thought, resting his chin back into his right hand.

"Of course," Ayumi muttered. 'Of course, tennis is perhaps the only thing that binds the two of us. What was I thinking?' she thought as she turned her head to the entrance, searching for the familiar faces of the other four.

Silence. I don't know why, but it seems as though silence is a necessity when dealing with this young tennis prodigy.

"You were crying…" Ryoma suddenly said. "… when we were riding the roller coaster." Ryoma looked at Ayumi, watching her as she slowly turned her head to his direction.

"How did you know?" Ayumi whispered.

"A tear dropped on my cheeks," Ryoma whispered back.

"Oh," Ayumi looked down on the table. "Do you remember what happened today four years back in time?" she asked, not looking at Ryoma's golden cat-like eyes.

Ryoma's brows furrowed. 'Four years ago...' Ryoma searched his head for the event that happened then. He looked down at the table, deep in thought. Then, his head shot up. He looked at Ayumi. 'That was the day I left America.'

Silence. Most people would probably go insane if they were faced with so many situations where silence is the only thing that occupied a conversation.

"It's going to happen again, right?" Ryoma asked. "But this time, you're going to be the one leaving… I can feel it, somehow."

Silence.

"Why?" Ryoma whispered.

Silence.

"Why!?" he raised his voice.

Silence, still.

"WHY!?" Ryoma demanded yet again.

Tears started to form at the corners of Ayumi's eyes, tears that threaten to flow down her cheeks.

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A/N: How was it? I know, I know. They were all OOC, even my OC. So, I apologize for that. I seriously need to watch POT again. Anywayz, please do leave a review. Anonymous or signed reviews are welcome. You can write as many flames as you want. Don't worry, I wouldn't dare to delete them. Please support me 'till the end.