Rolling Memory
Hamu-Leonia04
Prince of Tennis (テニスの王子様Tenisu no Ōjisama) belongs to Takeshi Konomi
Author just owns the OC and this Fanfiction
Chapter 16 : Don't give up
"Karupin is missing," Ryoma says with worried faces.
"Eh? Karupin is missing!?" Chiharu says in surprise. Actually, she more surprised to see Ryoma can make that kind of face but she decides not to comment about it.
"Yeah. My classmate says they see the cat at the rooftop this afternoon but it already ran away. Echizen decides to look for it," Momoshiro continues.
"That's strange. I met Karupin this morning," Chiharu says and tilts her head.
"You were!? Why you not saying anything!?" Ryoma suddenly shouts and grabs Chiharu's shoulder.
"So-sorry. Today, I don't have time to tell you... Act-actually I forgot," Chiharu muttered, taken back by Ryoma shouting.
"Kora! Don't suddenly shout at her!" Momoshiro scolds Ryoma and pulls him back.
"Where you saw him?" not listening to Momoshiro's question, Ryoma asks Chiharu again.
"I... met Karupin at our usual T-junction when I went to school this morning. I thought, after I left him, he will go back to your house by himself," Chiharu explains.
"But he in school. I'll look for him," Ryoma says and walk but stop by Momoshiro.
"As I said, my classmate saw it in the afternoon. Maybe she really already went back home?" Momoshiro says to try to calm Ryoma down.
"But, he is around somewhere," Ryoma argues back.
"Here," Momoshiro held out his bike key. "You can borrow my bicycle. Go look on the streets from here to your house. Don't worry! Cat is better at finding their way around than people."
"But, he's never been so far away from home before," Ryoma says and lowering his head.
"That's why you should go and find him. Maybe he already went home, right?" Momoshiro says which makes Ryoma silent.
"Ryoma... I will help to search Karupin around the school," Chiharu says which made Ryoma look her.
"Shigeko..."
"Resolving things quickly will help you to not worry so much. Just go, Echizen," Momoshiro adds.
Ryoma smirk and grab the bike's key. "Momo-senpai, I will definitely return the favor."
"It's all good, it's all good," Momoshiro replies with a smile.
"You too, Shigeko," Ryoma says before runs out from the room.
"Then, Momoshiro-senpai. Excuse me, I will look around now," Chiharu says.
"Okay, I will make excuse for both of you to captain and Ryuzaki-sensei," Momoshiro says with peace sign.
"Arigatou gozaimasu!" Chiharu says with bow and ran out from the room.
Momoshiro walks out from the room also then goes to Tezuka who standing next to Ryuzaki and Oishi. He tells that Ryoma has family matter and Chiharu have something to do in the class.
"Echizen and Shigeko?" Tezuka asks.
"Yeah, that's what both of them said to me earlier," Momoshiro answers.
"They could have told us. We are going to finish early today," Ryuzaki says make Momoshiro surprised. "Tomorrow's the prefectural tournament after all."
On the other hand, Chiharu already running searching Karupin from the different corridors. However, she can't find him. She lets out a sigh and looks back at the court from the window.
"The practices already started..." she muttered.
Suddenly, she saw a little fluffy thing at the rooftop of the tennis club room. She narrowing her eyes to see clearer. Karupin is laying on the rooftop before jump down and go inside the room.
"THERE HE IS!" Chiharu shouts in relief before ran back to the tennis club.
"Tch, tch, tch... Here, here... Here, here..." A voice comes out from the clubroom. Chiharu standing outside the room can only hold her laugh.
Inside the room, is Kaidoh who is playing with Karupin using Ryoma cat toy. Ryoma left his bag in the club after all. Chiharu can even see a happy aura around Kaidoh. She decides not to come inside the room, knowing that Kaidoh will become angry if she suddenly goes inside the room now. She lets out a giggle before walks to the court.
"Oh, Chiharu. You finally here," Ryuzaki says.
"Sorry, I'm late," Chiharu says with bowing.
"No, it's okay. We're going to finish earlier after all," Ryuzaki answers with a smile.
"Ah, it's that so?" Chiharu says then walks to Momoshiro.
"Did you have found him?" Momoshiro whispered.
"Hai," Chiharu answer with a bright smile.
"That's great. Ryoma left his phone, so maybe we can bring the cat after this," Momoshiro says and Chiharu answers with a nod. "Anyway, did something good happen to you?
"Yeah, well..." Chiharu says and at the same time Kaidoh walking in front of her. "It's secret."
"Ehhh?"
The practices already finish. All the member decides to clean the court to prepare to go home.
"Chiharu!" Ryuzaki calls Chiharu.
"Yes?" Chiharu answer and walk to her.
"Go with Tezuka and Oishi, they have to inform Ryoma about today and tomorrow," she says after giving a paper to Tezuka.
"Ah... Hai," Chiharu says and looks at Tezuka. "Then I'll waiting outside the club room," Chiharu says with a smile.
"... Yeah," Tezuka answer.
Chiharu smiles and walks back leaving three of them.
"What's wrong, Tezuka?" Oishi asks.
"No, it's nothing," Tezuka says as he staring at Chiharu back.
Chiharu opens the door of the tennis club room and lets out a smile to see that Karupin is sleeping so peaceful. She strokes it and decides to put him inside her jersey. Just as that, suddenly the other member went in.
"Waaa!? What is that, Shigeko!?" Horio shouts and points to Karupin.
"It's raccoon!?" Katsuo says.
"What's are you doing?" ask Momoshiro from the outside the room.
"Momo-chan-senpai! There is raccoon inside the room!" Kachiro says.
"Racoon?" Momoshiro asks and peeks inside the room.
Chiharu lets out a chuckle before walks to them.
"It's not a raccoon, it's a cat. This Ryoma's cat," Chiharu explains.
Then, after the commotion, now Chiharu is walking to Ryoma home with Momoshiro, Tezuka, Oishi, and Kikumaru who they meet in front of the tennis store.
"So, this is Echizen house," Oishi says when they reach the place.
Just as Momoshiro going to ring the bell, the door opens showing Ryoma. However, Ryoma who seeing his senior in front of him decides to close the door again but stop by Momoshiro.
"Why you close it suddenly!?" Momoshiro scolds before let out a sigh. "Look"
Ryoma wide his eyes when Momoshiro moves away, showing Chiharu who standing behind him with Karupin inside her jersey. Karupin let out a meow when he sees his owner. Ryoma surprises face change to relieve one. However, he decides to cover it by lowering his head.
"Thanks," Ryoma says as Chiharu gives back Karupin to him.
"No, problem. See you next time, Karupin," Chiharu says and gives the last stroke to Karupin.
"Here, this is from Ryuzaki-sensei," Tezuka says and gives a paper to Ryoma.
"I'll leave your bag here," Oishi says and place Ryoma bag in front of the door.
"See you tomorrow!" Kikumaru waving his hand.
Chiharu waves her hand to Ryoma too before walks but stops when Ryoma holds her hand.
"Um... What?" Chiharu asks to confuse.
"About earlier... Sorry, I shouted at you," Ryoma says.
Chiharu wide her eyes. She lets out a smile. "Nah, it's okay. I'm sorry not to inform Karupin earlier."
After that, Chiharu walks back with Tezuka, Oishi, and Kikumaru. Ryoma decides to have a match with Momoshiro at the temple. After they react to the T-junction, Chiharu decides to take her to leave.
"I'm going to this way. See you tomorrow, senpai," Chiharu says with bowing.
"Yeah, see you tomorrow," Oishi says with a smile.
"Bye, bye, Chiharu-chan!" Kikumaru hugs her before walk away.
When Oishi and Kikumaru walk ahead, Tezuka just stays and looks at Chiharu. Notices it, Chiharu tilts her head.
"Is there something on my face?" Chiharu asks.
"No, it's nothing," Tezuka says and adjusts his glasses.
"Hm?" Chiharu asks in confuses.
"Tezuka! What are you doing?" Oishi calls his captain who already far from him.
Both Tezuka and Chiharu look at Oishi. Chiharu then looks back at Tezuka in confusion.
"Then, see you tomorrow," Tezuka says and turns his body.
"Un, see you tomorrow, Tezuka-buchou," Chiharu says with a smile and turns around too.
Just after Chiharu takes three steps, Tezuka calls her.
"Shigeko."
"Yes?"
Chiharu turns around to see Tezuka look her with a serious face.
"Don't give up."
"Eh?" Chiharu looks surprised to hear that.
Tezuka then starts to walks leaving Chiharu. Chiharu just stays there, waiting the captain gone from the view of T-junction. Chiharu looks at her hand then a sad smile appears on her face.
"Yeah..."
-:-:- Rolling Memory -:-:-
TBC
