"…" Talking
'…' Thinking
Joy
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Ryoma led Sakuno to the "Joy Karaoke" which was located near the place where they were. "We're here." Ryoma told Sakuno when they stopped in front of the karaoke.
"Sorry for dragging you into this…I should have refused…" Ryoma apologized to Sakuno.
"It's ok…I'm sure I will have fun with you…." Sakuno said.
'Why did Rika propose this idea, if yesterday she still liked Ryoma?' Sakuno asked herself confused.
Ryoma and Sakuno entered the karaoke and headed towards the balcony.
"Irashiyaimase!" the guy at the balcony said when Sakuno and Ryoma entered the karaoke.
"Could we have a room?" Ryoma asked the guy who was at the balcony. The guy turned to look at his computer screen before answering, "Sure, room 013 is available. Here are your cups."
The guy gave Sakuno and Ryoma the room's card key and two cups.
"Thank you." Ryoma said after taking the card and the cups, and then heading to their room. Ryoma stepped into the small dark room and held the door so Sakuno could enter.
"Thank you." Sakuno said while entering the door that Ryoma was holding for her. While Ryoma placed the cups on the table in the middle of the room. Sakuno took a seat on the puffy chair, Ryoma took both of the cups in hand and then asked Sakuno, "What do you want to drink?"
"Umm, maybe some ichigo miruku (milk with strawberry), onegaishimasu."
"Hn." Said Ryoma and then headed to the drinking machine right across room 013. Sakuno patiently waited for Ryoma with her hands clutched together on her lap.
"Here you go." Ryoma said when placing Sakuno's cup on the table in front of her.
"Arigatou." Sakuno thanked Ryoma before taking a small sip of her drink.
"So…which song do you want to sing first?" Sakuno asked Ryoma while looking at the menu placed neatly on the table.
"Um, you decide." Ryoma replied while pushing the menu towards Sakuno.
"Ok, then. Thank you…"
Sakuno reached for the menu and went through it, looking for a good song.
"Maybe this one?" Sakuno asked Ryoma while pointing to one of the songs. Ryoma inclined towards the menu and looked at the song that Sakuno was showing him.
'Flavor of Life?' Ryoma thought.
"Sure, Sakuno." Ryoma replied while handing Sakuno one of the mikes.
"Ano…aren't you singing with me?" Sakuno asked confused.
"Um, do you want me to?" Ryoma asked Sakuno.
"Yes?" Sakuno asked a little unsure, whenever she was with Ryoma, she wouldn't know what to say.
"Then ask me." Ryoma told Sakuno.
'What is he trying to do?' Sakuno asked herself confused.
"Fine…Ryoma, will you sing with me?" Sakuno asked while blushing bright red.
"Ok." Ryoma replied satisfied, he took the remote control from the table and inserted the 4 digit number of the song that Sakuno had chosen. Before starting Ryoma asked Sakuno, Are you ready to start?"
"Hn." Sakuno replied and nodding once. Ryoma clicked the start button and the song by Utada Hikaru started playing. Sakuno and Ryoma started singing the song in unison, even though both of them being really quiet, they sang the song from the bottom of their heart. When the song was over, they stopped and looked at each other.
"You can go really high…" Ryoma told Sakuno.
"Thanks, you can go really low…" Sakuno told Ryoma. They both smiled.
"Now it's your turn to choose a song." Sakuno told Ryoma handing him the menu.
"Umm, I don't really know any songs…" Ryoma told Sakuno.
"But you have an iPod, right?" Sakuno asked Ryoma.
"Yes…but…please choose the song…?" Ryoma asked.
"Ok, then." Sakuno decided and took the menu from the table. Sakuno scanned through the menu until she found a familiar song.
"Any suggestions?" Sakuno asked Ryoma.
"Um, EXILE? I heard they are famous…but I don't have any songs by them…" Ryoma answered.
"Hn, ok let me look." Sakuno looked through the menu and then asked Ryoma, "Why this group?"
"Um, because one of their singles is the top single in Japan…?" Ryoma replied.
"Oh…I didn't know that…" Sakuno said a little embarrassed.
"I found this song…but it's by EXILE…" Sakuno told Ryoma.
"That's fine…who sings it?" Ryoma asked Sakuno.
"Arashi." Sakuno replied.
"Arashi? Do you like them?" Ryoma asked.
"Yup, specially Matsumoto Jun and Sakurai Sho." Sakuno replied while typing the song's digits.
"Really…I think they are all the same…" Ryoma commented.
'She likes those boys? What do they have that I don't have? I'm just a little shorter…WAIT! What am I thinking?' Ryoma was talking to himself, while trying to figure out what was the weird feeling that he was having.
"Ryoma? Are you alright?" Sakuno asked Ryoma who was quiet for a while.
"I'm alright, thanks." Ryoma replied after shaking the thought away.
"So…can I start?" Sakuno asked with the control remote in hand.
"Sure." Ryoma replied.
When the song was finished they were thirsty, they had once again put all their energy into singing the song. Ryoma grabbed Sakuno's glass which was on the table and asked her, "What would you like to drink?"
"Um…I think I want to Calpis, please." Sakuno replied.
Ryoma exited the room and headed to the drinking machine across from their room. He saw a group of boys by the drinking machine, they were in the one of the rooms down the hallway. Ryoma waited for one of them to finish pouring soda in the glass, so he could fill Sakuno's glass.
"Who's that?" one of the boy whispered to the group.
"I think I have seen him somewhere…" another commented.
"Should we go back?" another one asked.
"Ok" they finally decided.
Then Ryoma filled his empty cup with ponta and headed back to their room.
"Arigatou, Ryoma." Sakuno thanked Ryoma who had placed her glass of Calpis on the table.
"It's alright." He replied.
"What song should we sing next?" Sakuno asked Ryoma.
"Um…I don't know, maybe Kiseki?" Ryoma suggested.
"Oh, that's a good song…" Sakuno agreed while taking the menu and then started looking for the song, "Kiseki".
"Found it, it's number 1194." Sakuno told Ryoma and he then typed the digits on the remote control. Kiseki's lyrics were beautiful and they gained life when both of them sang it together. When the song was over they looked into each other's eyes and smiled.
"Ryoma, would you like another glass of ponta?" Sakuno asked Ryoma.
"Ok, thanks." Ryoma replied. Sakuno left the room and heard a cell phone ring and then heard Ryoma answering the phone, "Oyaji?"
The drinking machine had boys around it, they were tall and probably already high scholars. Sakuno made her way to the drinking machine and pressed the ponta button.
"Hey!" one of the boys called from behind Sakuno. Sakuno took the two glasses which were already filled and started heading back to the room. While passing by the group of boys, one of them grabbed her arm, because it was sudden and the boy pulled her arm so strongly, she spilled ponta all over the place and she even got herself wet.
"Hey! Watch what you are doing!" the boy who had grabbed her arm complained.
"Sumimasen." Sakuno apologized.
"Come on, Katsu, just let her go." Another boy from the group told Katsu, the boy who had grabbed Sakuno's arm.
"Shin, stop being a party pooper, don't you think she's cute?" Katsu asked Shin, who had tried to stop Katsu from acting stupid.
"Hanaseyo!" a firm and angry voice commended from behind the group. All the boys and Sakuno turned and saw a short boy wearing a white Fila cap standing behind them.
"What did you say?" Katsu asked not letting Sakuno's arm go.
"Let her go." Ryoma repeated.
"Why!? It's not like she's yours!" Katsu complained.
"That's where you are mistaken." Ryoma said with a small smile.
"What are you going to do, if I don't?" Katsu asked smiling.
"I'm gonna hurt you." Ryoma replied while taking a step forward.
"Try." Katsu said while also taking a step forward.
"Katsu, stay back!" Shin commanded.
"Shut up!" Katsu yelled angrily and then turned to look at Ryoma, and then realized something.
"Hey…you are Echizen Ryoma, aren't you?" Katsu asked.
"And if I am?" Ryoma asked back.
"I wanna play against you." Katsu told Ryoma smiling.
"It's up to you…" Ryoma replied.
"Let me get my stuff first, and then we'll meet at the tennis courts of the Higashi Park." Katsu said.
"Hn." Ryoma shrugged and then said, "Come on, Sakuno."
Katsu let Sakuno's arm go. Sakuno followed Ryoma exiting the building.
"Why are you going to play against him?" Sakuno asked.
"Because he hurt you." Ryoma simply replied.
"Ryoma, please just let it go." Sakuno asked worriedly.
"Are you doubting about my tennis skills?" Ryoma asked Sakuno.
"No, of course not… I'm just worried, he's older, you know?" Sakuno asked.
"Don't worry, I'm going to win this match and then we'll go out to eat lunch somewhere special, ok?" Ryoma asked with a kind smile.
"Please don't put yourself into any trouble because of me, ok? I mean like never…" Sakuno asked Ryoma.
"Hai hai, now we better get going or we're going to be late."
"Hn." Sakuno said and then followed Ryoma to the Higashi Park. They walked to the Higashi Park in silence, until someone called them.
"Hey! Over here!" Katsu yelled from the tennis courts. They walked towards where Katsu and the boys from earlier were standing.
"So, shall we start?" Katsu asked Ryoma.
"Sure." Ryoma replied while following Katsu into the tennis courts.
'If Ryoma gets hurt, I will never forgive myself…' Sakuno thought to herself while following Ryoma into the tennis court.
Katsu went to the left side of the court while Ryoma stayed on the right side.
"W or M?" Katsu asked Ryoma with his tennis racket in his hands.
"W." Ryoma replied.
Katsu spinned the racket on the ground and when it fell on the ground, Katsu picked it up and asked Ryoma, "And W it is, surveying or receiving?"
"Surveying." Ryoma replied, and headed to the surveying line, but before he could start surveying, Sakuno called, "Ryoma!"
Even though Sakuno's call wasn't that loud, Ryoma heard her and headed to where she was standing.
"Yes?" he answered.
"If you somehow gets hurt, I will never forgive myself." Sakuno told Ryoma.
After saying those words, both of them didn't say anything. Sakuno rose her head to look at Ryoma and saw that Ryoma was looking at her.
"I will never forgive myself if I lose against this jerk." Ryoma told Sakuno and then gave her a kind smile. Ryoma's god-like smile melted Sakuno's fear and made her speechless. She couldn't say anything, but she blushed bright red hearing those words come out from Ryoma. She nodded once and Ryoma started heading to the surveying line. One of the guys who were with Katsu threw two balls to Ryoma, so they could start the match.
"Get ready…" Ryoma whispered before doing his split survey. Ryoma threw the boy up high and on its way down, he hit with all his strength. The tennis ball was invisible for everyone, until it hit the ground and went in full speed towards the fence and got stuck there. Katsu looked back and his eyes popped out, he tried to hide it, but even his friends were tensed after seeing the strength of the short boy across the tennis court. Ryoma had already moved to the right side of the court and was ready to survey another ball. Katsu stopped looking back and tried to face forward, where Ryoma was standing, ready. Katsu moved to the opposite side from where Ryoma was standing and got ready by taking some steps back.
'Ryoma…' Sakuno thought happily for Ryoma since he had scored the first point, but at the same time worried because she could see that Katsu was irritated. Ryoma once again threw the tennis ball up high and hit it with all his strength. The ball went flying towards Katsu, and once again wasn't touched by Katsu's racquet. The boy who tried to calm down Katsu and save Sakuno earlier on the same day was now standing next to Sakuno.
"He's good, huh?" the boy said.
"Hai." Sakuno replied and then also said, "Thank you for trying to help me earlier."
The boy looked at Sakuno, who had both eyes fixed on Ryoma and said, "It's fine."
"Ano…can I ask for your name?" Sakuno asked.
"Yamada Kenzo." the boy answered and then asked, "You are Sakuno, am I right?"
"Hai, I'm Ryuzaki Sakuno, nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, too." Kenzo replied.
--silence—while they were watching Katsu and Ryoma play until Kenzo said, "Um, sorry about Katsu, he can be really ignorant sometimes, but when you are friends with him, he will some of the times show his other side…"
Sakuno looked at Kenzo and thought, 'Ryoma can be like that too, he acts different when I'm alone with him…'
"Sakuno!" someone called. Ryoma looked at Ryoma who was coming towards her and Kenzo.
"Were you watching?""Roma asked.
"Yes, did you win?" Sakuno asked a little embarrassed, she had watched him play…but not the whole time…
"Sorry, I guess I distracted her…" Kenzo said.
Ryoma raised his hat a little to look at Kenzo. Kenzo looked back with no expression across his face. After a few seconds Ryoma turned to look at Sakuno and then replied, "Didn't I tell you I would win?"
Sakuno blushed, Ryoma has said he would win that game for her sake, but in the end, she wasn't even watching the game. Then, they heard Katsu yelling angrily, his other friends were trying to calm him down but he wouldn't listen to them. When Katsu saw that Ryoma, Sakuno and Kenzo were staring at him, he started approaching the three of them.
"I think it's time for you two to leave." Kenzo said without taking his eyes off the irritated Katsu who was coming towards them.
"Hai, ikuyo, Ryoma?" Sakuno asked turning to look at Ryoma, who hadn't taken his eyes off Katsu.
"What does he want?" Ryoma asked Kenzo.
"Fight, he wants to fight until he finally gets victory." Kenzo replied still not looking at them.
Katsu was finally right in front of them, they could hear his heavy breathing. Drops of sweat rolling down his ugly and red face.
"I won't play another match against you, if that's why you came here." Ryoma said.
Katsu looked at Ryoma angrily.
"Katsu, let's leave." Kenzo said.
"I didn't finish with this little punk yet." Katsu said not looking at Kenzo.
"But he has finished with you, Katsu!" Kenzo said getting pissed.
Katsu for the first time looked at Kenzo. He closed his hand and got ready to punch Kenzo in the face.
"No!" Sakuno screamed.
Katsu threw his arm towards Kenzo. Kenzo still looking at Katsu caught Katsu's hand before it touched his face. Katsu eyes were huge but at the same time angry. Kenzo still had Katsu's hand until Katsu released it, took a last look at Ryoma and walked away.
"Itsureishimasu." Kenzo said while he followed Katsu.
Before he disappeared, he yelled to Sakuno, "I hope we can meet some other day!" and then finally disappeared into the distance. Ryoma looked at Sakuno, but she was looking at the direction where Kenzo had disappeared.
"Today was a long day, want to go home?" Ryoma asked Sakuno.
"Sure." Sakuno replied.
Ohisashiburi, everybody! Sorry for taking such a long time for updating this chapter!! But I hope you liked and please review, it doesn't have to be long!~