4. The Price of Ignorance

"Sakuno! Fight-o! Fight-o!" Osakada Tomoka's voice filled the area and Sakuno blushed, unsure whether she should be embarrassed at her friend's usual over-the-top display or the fact that she's in the court- actually playing the match.

The score was 4-5 and Sakuno is at the disadvantage. She took a deep breath to focus herself, bouncing a tennis ball on the ground while she prepared for her serve. Her ankle injury is a thing in the past now as she bends her knees with ease. Years of tennis tutelage from the tennis prince allowed her to swiftly jump on time with a graceful form, hitting the ball she tossed seconds ago. It shot fast and deep on the baseline, not allowing her opponent to react.

"30-40!"

"You can do this, Sakuno." She repeatedly chanted in her mind as the game continued. She is sweating profusely, yet, the feeling of tiredness didn't seem to catch up with her. Before long, she was engaged in long rallies. Remembering more of his advice as her match commences, Sakuno tried her best to put the sad thoughts at the back of her mind while she played. She swung her racquet with all her might, hitting hard to return shots. At some point, it seemed that though her senses were heightened, all that mattered was the ball that she had to return at all cost. Everything around her blurred when her opponent hit a powerful smash. It was the deciding shot of the opposite court, and Sakuno focused on the whirring ball. She wasn't sure whether she could take it. Still, she braced herself, pouring her all to get that last point that would lead to her team's victory.

From her vision, the ball dropped to her opposite court in slow motion. She loosened the grip on her racquet unconsciously, processing it all. The resounding cheers of Tomoka from the sidelines filled her ears as she tried to absorb what was happening- her first win in high school. She looked around, meeting the faces of her teammates' smiling. As her eyes wandered over to the stands to see her best friend cheering and jumping despite it only being the Prefectural Tournament, she can't help but chuckle. Though upon a glimpse of a familiar white cap among the audience made her body froze for a second. Sakuno's chest tightened, her heart beating so fast that it hurt. She had to low-key avert her gaze when she met his laid-back amber eyes. Feigning her best smile, she tried to will away her emotions when she saw him.

When she returned to the waiting area after handshaking her opponent, Sakuno was greeted by congratulations from everyone in the club.

"You did a great job, Ryuzaki." the girls' tennis club captain pats her shoulders, "You should have more confidence in your play. You've done well, considering you're a last minute player."

"T-Thank you, Captain."

The upperclassman pertained to the incident when their original Singles 3 player couldn't make it to the match. Due to the player's sudden sickness, the coach had to pick among those shortlisted- club members who almost made it to the regulars. Since the girls' tennis club didn't have any sophomores and seniors left that wasn't in the regulars, they had to choose among the remaining first years. To which, Ryuzaki Sakuno was chosen- placing third on her block from that month's school ranking competition. Initially, Sakuno was terrified. Without any extra preparations, her easily rattled personality was way pressured than she normally would. It was a good thing that Tomoka was there. The boys' tennis club's tournament is within the same venue so Tomoka was with her when she was assigned to play. Her exuberant friend promised her that she would cheer so hard that Sakuno will forget everything she was ever nervous about. Along with her teammates who motivated her, she got the strength that she needed.

Sakuno rested on one of the benches outside the fences. It still overlooked the matches, albeit its distance among the stands of the audience. She felt secluded, which is what she wanted, considering she really wanted to hide away. After receiving Tomoka's text of congratulations and notice that she would have to go the boys' matches now because of the fan club, somehow, Sakuno felt guilty that she was thankful. She wasn't in the mood for high-spirited exchanges now. The traitorous thoughts that she kept on pushing at the back of her mind threatened to surface.

And it has been more than a full month now. She should've been okay by this time, right?

But every time she looks at him, her heart sinks. It was worse on the first week that she heard him utter from his lips the confirmation that he's actually dating another girl. She could still remember that afternoon. How at first her heart burst of giddiness, having him carry her on the way home. The pounding within her chest that wouldn't subside. His body felt warm, and her face burned as if it would combust. How it seemed to her that maybe... just maybe she was important to him the same way that he was important to her. And that somehow, her three year crush actually had a chance if the prince of tennis would take a moment and think about it.

Sakuno sighed, instinctively checking her now completely healed ankle. It did ache so much that day, but it was nothing compared to the hurt she felt over her unrequited love. It was hilarious how she convinced herself for so many times that she wouldn't hurt when one day Ryoma would finally find someone he liked. It all backfired on her that afternoon and she couldn't control the tears that escaped her eyes. It was even more awful that she didn't want him to see her in that sorry state, so she said that she was okay despite. She thought that her ankle injury was the perfect guise- it led him to believe that she was crying of physical hurt. And that's what she preferred more; she didn't want him to know her internal turmoil of a broken heart.

Since closing her house's door at him that afternoon, she tried her utter best to avoid him. They were classmates and so she had to pretend that everything was fine. When they get in the same group work or get partnered, she wouldn't actively try to converse with him. She wanted to minimize interacting with him that she canceled tennis practices with him. No more bentos or sweets that she would make especially just for him. They regressed from actually being friends to being acquaintances again.

Seeing Ryoma and his girlfriend together made her feel bitter and she didn't like it the least. Sakuno thought that they didn't deserve to be hated. And so, she tried to distract herself by being busy. Besides, Tomoka was the most stressed among the fan club, claiming that the fan club was just going through a storm. She would often scold her friend for not liking Mori too much, and Tomoka would defend that Ryoma and Mori's relationship just doesn't make sense. Not like they had a say about it, since it was Ryoma who made the announcement.

Singles 2 finally started and Sakuno was cut out of her wandering thoughts. She looked over the courts, watching their team's Mori Akane play.

"She's so good." She mused, noting how even as a freshman, Mori is already talented to qualify as a regular, "No wonder Ryoma-kun likes her... She's a genius in her own right."

"Good game, Ryuzaki."

She stiffened, hearing a familiar voice she's getting used to avoid. It instantly knocked her out of her daydreaming. Looking up, she saw him, his charismatic smirk directed at her. It has been a long time since she stared at his face for a while, and at the view of his good-looking features she calmed her racing pulse. Why is he here? Sakuno turns her stare away, a small evident blush graced her cheeks as she stammered.

"T-Thanks..."

"You actually play good when you don't pay too much attention to your surroundings." Ryoma casually sits beside her, Ponta on one hand, leaning a bit to his back using his other hand as support. He faces forward, appearing to watch the ongoing match. His compliment reached her ears and she suddenly felt conscious. He rarely compliments her play since she was always a clumsy mess around him. It was the first time that he actually arrived to see her match, having the boys' and girls' matches always happen at the same time.

"Though of course you could still cut your hair since it's still too long." he teased.

"Mou. You're picking on my hair again." Sakuno pouts, throwing him a dissatisfied glare before changing the subject, "Don't you have a match to play, Ryoma-kun? Why are you here?" She reached for one of her braids and fiddled with it. Upon realizing what she said, she instantly regretted her question, "I-I'm sorry... You're here because of Mori-san's match, right?"

"I'm not playing in the morning matches." he deadpanned, "I have nothing better to do."

"I see." she mutters, feeling tense and unsure if she should just leave or stay. There was a tense air to them and she didn't exactly felt comfortable over their silence- a huge change since they used to be pretty much comfortable even without saying anything. Eventually, it was him who cracked the atmosphere.

"Ne, Okaa-san wants to know if you're selling those sweets that you used to deliver home," Ryoma says out of nowhere, giving her a sideways glance.

Sakuno's ears perked up, hearing something about his mother, "Eh? I'm not really selling those."

"Heh... Okaa-san really likes the stuff you make," his cat-eyes filled with mirth. There's a hint of mischief in his voice, "She was quite bummed when I told her that you don't want me to teach you tennis anymore."

"W-Well, I could just send her some sweets the next time I make them," Sakuno gives him an awkward smile, hoping that her suggestion would suffice. She understood that his family would've found it weird that she doesn't send them treats. They would eventually find out that she stopped taking tennis lessons from him. Still, with Ryoma's last sentence, she'd like to clarify that it wasn't like that at all.

"Besides... I-It's not like I don't want you to teach me tennis anymore, Ryoma-kun..." Sakuno mutters, looking at the ground, embarrassed.

"What is it then?" he asks bluntly, eyebrow quirked up in inquiry.

She faces him and her words wavered in her throat, unsure of what to say. What should she tell him? That she couldn't take how her lungs constrict around him? That at the view of him and Mori, she feels drowned and her chest hurts? That she was brokenhearted and would like to save herself from any more discomfort, therefore, giving him an indirect love confession? As much as possible, she'd like her feelings to remain unknown. Sakuno would feel even more miserable if he gets to know the truth now.

"Umm..." she lies, "I.. I don't know if Mori-san would be okay with your spending time with me. I mean, you should spend your free time with Mori-san," Sakuno continues, hoping that she's believable, "Don't you think so..?"

Ryoma gave her a questioning look. She reluctantly returned his stare, uncertain to the lost expression that he had. Sakuno didn't dare speak anymore, afraid that her lips would betray her and utter things that she didn't want to tell. And perhaps he understood, even though he shrugged as he faced forward. The sounds of distant claps and cheering prompted Sakuno to look at the courts too. Mori Akane won her match, and their team finally achieved their first victory of the day.

"I'll be going now." Ryoma states, standing up from his seat. Sakuno hesitantly rose too, wondering if he wouldn't join in congratulating his girlfriend. Sipping on his drink, he turns his back at her.

"It was nice talking with you again, Ryuzaki..." he said it with his nonchalant voice, yet, for reasons she couldn't understand, his words sounded strange to her ears.

Sakuno couldn't exactly describe it. The words sad and lonely didn't completely define it. It seemed hopeful and pensive. She was confused too, her uncertainty adding yet another layer to a side of him that she didn't understand. With her curious large hazel eyes, Sakuno watched the prince of tennis as he walked away, seemingly without a care.

It was just after lunch when Ryoma decided that he needed to go to the vending machines for a can of Ponta. The sun was high and he's itching to play already, having missed the chance on the morning matches. He adjusted his hat, eyes lazily poring over the right buttons to push while he slid coins over the vendo's slot. The machine made a whirring sound before the resounding clank was heard- indicating the drink's drop.

"Ryoma!"

He looks over to the girl who called him. Mori Akane had a huge grin on while she waved, jogging to approach him. She tucked a stray lock of her blue hair behind her ears, cheerfully asking him.

"Did you watch my match?" she clasped her hands together in anticipation, "A senpai told me that you were on the stands."

"Hn." he nods, his default indifference on. He eyed her, curious as to why she sought him out, "Why?"

"What did you think of my play?" she muses, her olive eyes looking expectant. Ryoma put a finger on his chin, as if in deep thinking. To be quite honest, he didn't watch her whole match. It was so short and he was talking to Ryuzaki at the time. He tried to recall the few moments he saw before he commented.

"It was good." he starts, "But you were quite impulsive. You're lucky enough that your opponent wasn't the type to exploit that."

"So it still wasn't good..?" Mori visibly pouted. He thought that it was all there is to it before she added, "I bet you don't berate Ryuzaki-san like this, at all."

"What are you saying?" She sounded ridiculous to his ears.

"Well, didn't you used to teach her?" she casually replies, though there's a knowing glint in her eyes," Is she better at me in tennis?"

Ryoma's eyes narrowed, wondering how somehow, Ryuzaki was dragged in a subject unrelated to her. He was quite annoyed, but he humored the girl in front of him.

"Nope. Ryuzaki's way worse, and I always let her know." He shrugs, "She's a hard worker though, so if she improved this much over three years, who knows how much she'll evolve?"

"I see." Mori curtly nods, looking at him. She paused a bit, in hesitation, but she still continued.

"Ne, Ryoma... Do you like me?"

"I wouldn't try to date you if I hate you, Mori." Ryoma simply replies. He was feeling skeptical, unsure where this conversation with her was going. But he kept his cool.

"Then, why don't you call me by my first name? It's been more than a month since we started to date."

He blinked, running out of reason that he could say. While it was true that they were dating, their relationship didn't really progress much. They were both busy with their clubs, and the only time they are together without effort is walking home. It was Mori who would suggest where they date whenever he gets free time. While Mori calls him by his first name, he felt uncomfortable calling her by her name. He figured that it was too fast for him to really feel comfortable.

Ryoma was too busy with his own thoughts to realize what she was doing all of a sudden. She stood before him, looking determined. Her cheeks flushed while she slightly pouted her lips. She tiptoed in an attempt to kiss him. His eyes went wide as his brain rang alarm bells. He stepped back in surprise, though even with his reflexes it would've been impossible to evade. At the last moment, he actually pondered why he was adamant about avoiding it.

It was just a kiss and it was supposed to be normal between dating couples. It was the least he could do to return her effort, right?

Still, with reflex, just before their lips met, his hand moved.

At the last minute, he refused to be kissed. His hand covered her mouth and they stared at each other in shock. It was Mori Akane who stepped back, appearing fidgety in shame. It took a while before she finally recollected herself.

"You know, I wasn't sure why you even agreed to date me." she awkwardly states, fingering a lock of her hair while looking down, "It feels unfair... I don't think you really gave me a chance," she chuckles, though he could sense her bitterness.

He chose not to speak, letting her say what she wanted. He at least owed her that. Thinking about it now, he felt fragments of guilt. It was mostly her who kept the relationship going. He actually did not do any effort despite being the one who agreed on trying to date. They've never even kissed before, and maybe Mori felt that he wasn't ecstatic about the idea so she didn't bother pestering him about it. On their dates, he didn't really feel anything. Ryoma wondered whether he was really suitable for romance. Maybe his senpai-tachi was right and he's asexual. But in the past month that he dated Mori, not once did he really feel love within himself.

"Shouldn't we break up?" Mori brought it up, "I-It wasn't like I really loved you anyway."

He only watched her vent her feelings out. Ryoma found it useless at this point, to even say anything.

"I guess what I felt for you was a simple infatuation. I prided on my tennis skills... and I guess, it was natural that I wanted to date the best player. I really entertained the idea of us dating..."

Mori continues, "I know it was impulsive, and you're right about me. I tried to make it work and I think it's enough..."

"I can never compete with Ryuzaki, right?" she murmurs.

"Ryuzaki?" At that point, he couldn't help but ask. "Why is she being dragged again?"

"I know that you were with Ryuzaki this morning." Mori accuses, "It's funny because I actually thought that you weren't really dating before."

He looks at her for a moment, disappointment in his features. So clearly, his stupid plan failed. No matter what he does, Ryuzaki gets associated with him. It was hilarious, his feeling that Ryuzaki basically avoided him like the plague in the past month. He thought that it was beneficial. It was okay, and it was all for nothing. His conversation with her earlier was the first time that he really got to talk to her again, and it's already blown out of proportions by people. It seemed like whatever he did wouldn't really work. So is it still his fault?

"Let's break up, then." Ryoma says with finality, "It's not within myself, whatever you think of me and Ryuzaki."

She stiffened at his words and he could see her eyes rimmed with tears. Mori nods at him, "You're right. I guess it wouldn't really work out."

In a flash, he felt the stinging impact of Mori's palm against his cheek. Ryoma flinched, though he didn't make any effort to look even sorry. He had his usual uncaring mask on. He figured that he deserved it, so he didn't say anything.

"I-I'm sorry for slapping you..." Mori apologizes,"It was a spur of the moment... And truthfully, you kind of deserved it."

And then, just like that, she left. Ryoma ignored the prickly feeling of his cheek as he watched her go away. When Mori was finally out of view, he sighed. It really wasn't worth it. He could've saved himself from these emotional troubles if it wasn't for his ignorance.

He looked around, wishing that no one saw their rather public display of a breakup. He didn't see anyone, and it was so quiet that the only sounds he could hear are the distant noises of cheers and bouncing tennis balls. It was then that he realized why he was at the vending machines. Resisting the urge to hit himself in the head, he leaned to get his almost forgotten Ponta on the chute.

A/N: Despite only having two scene breaks, this is the longest chapter so far. I can't believe it, lol. I'm sorry for the drama scenes. The road to Ryoma's realization could be quite long and taxing. Bear with this un-romantic Ryoma for a while. Haha. This chapter concludes the first point of the story. I think the next chapters would be lighter than this one? Also, I don't know whether Mori appears again, but then, it's me and I'm not really sure with my writing, myself. HAHAHAHA.

Anyway, I've been slowly writing the past days because a typhoon hit my area. We're not among the most devastated, but many of the trees outside our house fell down; electricity went out and I can't write anything. My updates are actually catching up to what I wrote so far, so I'd probably have a buffer sooner in a week or two. Still, I would be posting the next chapter after a few days from now.

What did you think of this chapter? Tell me your thoughts? Hehe.

btw, to guest reviewer do from the last chapter: thank you so much! I'm happy that you're liking the OCs too~