Chapter 7
Echizen tried to work fast so that they could leave soon because she was unwell, but then again he didn't want their time to end. Finally he finished, and he emptied out buckets of water and hung up the rags in the store rooms.
He returned to the classroom, which was now gloweing a deep orange from the afternoon sun, soon to be sinking behind the mountains. He retrieved his Seigaku jacket and draped it over her shoulders. Then he sat down quietly in a seat next to hers and gazed at her sleeping face. He rested his faced in the palm of his hand which was propped up on the table and continued to look.
He started from the top of her head. Her hair which was long, smooth and a deep brown was coming apart from her plaits and trailed down her back. Her lashes which were long fluttered and rested on her cheeks gently. Her soft pink lips, that he wanted to touch was slightly open.
It wasn't just her beauty that had unconsciously drawn him to her, it was something else, something he couldn't quite get a hold on. He wanted something, he wanted someone, he wanted to do something, but what?
I want to hold on to this feeling. This person. Everything.
"Echizen-kun?" Sakuno's soft voice jerked him from his thoughts.
"How long have I been sleeping?" she asked sitting up rubbing her eyes, and the jacket he placed on her slid down to her waist, exactly to the place he wanted to have his arms right now.
"Uh..um a while." He stammered from being caught staring. "Let's go." He stood up and went to retrieve his bag. She followed him quietly out the door, the building and finally the school grounds.
"Ano, Echizen-kun. Your jacket." She gave it to her.
"You wear it, it's cold today. Go on." He coaxed her when she looked at him with questioning eyes. She gave him a small smile of thanks and quietly slipped it on.
"Ca-can I walk you home?" he asked in a gruff voice, but almost in a shy manner.
Sakuno nodded, and they fell into a slow pace.
Just before he dropped her off at her house she turned to him.
"Arigato Echizen-kun."
"Ii yo bestuni." He replied. "Ja." He may have sounded normal with short answers, but inside he was almost trembling.
How could it be that I can run 20 laps without feeling tired and sweating, and here I am with sweat forming in my palms and feeling drained just by walking her home?
'Matte. Echizen-kun, do you know a Ryoma-kun?" she asked him.
He jerked back to stare at her.
"Nande?"
"I kinda of remembered something in the classroom with you before, and I remembered someone I used to call out to. Ryoma-kun. Ryoma-kun, was all I said. I don't know who he is, or why I feel this significance for him." She used her foot to trace an imaginary pattern on the footpath.
"Do you really want to know who he is?" Echizen asked, not really sure why he was asking such a question.
"Yes. Yes I do." She answered earnestly.
"What if I don't know?" he asked softly. If she remembered how badly he used to treat her, what would she think?
"It's ok if you don't know." She smiled beautifully and gently. "I'll just keep thinking about it, or ask as many people as I can. Before today, I don't think I've felt this loneliness that I'm feeling now. I didn't know who Ryoma-kun was after my accident, but now that I might regain my memory of him back, I really want to. It's like a big hole in my heart if I don't find out." She said shyly.
He walked towards her slowly, like a dream. As he drew closer, her heart pounded again, but she still couldn't understand why. This time he pulled her to him.
For a split moment, time seemed to have slowed down. Suddenly the micro seconds before she was in his arms seemed an eternity away. And finally when she was in her arms, and nestled safely, warmth flooded through her small body.
Whose feelings are these? Is it mine? Or does it belong to the girl that I used to be?
"Forgive me." He said
"For what?"
"Please forgive me," he repeated.
"E-echizen-kun. Doushita no?" she voiced with concern.
"I'm sorry." He whispered. She wasn't sure what he was asking for. She wasn't even sure if he was talking to her at the moment, so she moved her arm around to the small of her back and took hold of his hand which rested that. At the touch of her hand, he loosened his grip as if she had just chastised him.
She held his hand between hers while his other arm was around her still, and finally she was able to have eye contact with him.
"It's because I'm Ryoma. Echizen Ryoma." He said before he turned and bolted off.
"E-chize--..Ryo---" now she suddenly didn't know what to call him, but he had already run off. She was left feeling confused, and the feeling of warm liquid on her cheeks. Her tears.