Arigatou, Sakuno

After taking his shower and dinner, Ryoma went back to his room and takes out all the things he bought from the needle work shop. He bought a needle, some white, blue and red threads and a "Needle Work for Beginner" guide book. He reads through the book when he heard a soft purring sound, it was Karupin.

Ryoma: Doushita, Karupin?

Karupin took out a hair pin with a pink flower at the end of it. The pin belongs to Sakuno, she gave it to Karupin which he likes it a lot. Ryoma took it as he smiles sadly at his cat.

Ryoma: You must be missing her, right?

Karupin: Meow...

Ryoma puts down the book and carries in his arms; he strokes its fur gently.

Ryoma: I miss her too. But she will come back someday and you will get to see her again, Karupin.

Karupin: Meow! Meow!!

Ryoma looks at the calendar hanging on the hall, today is Thursday. Christmas Eve is on Saturday and Christmas Day is on Sunday.

Ryoma: I must get it done on by tomorrow night.

Chapter 5: Letter from Tezuka and the Bad News

Nanako: Ryoma-san! Ryoma-san! It's 7.25am already; don't you have morning training at 7.30am?! Ryoma-san!

Ryoma blinks his eyes as he sits up on the floor, he was busying learning the needle work last night that he had fallen asleep on the floor. He stands up and looks at the clock: 7.26am!!

Ryoma: EEEEEEHHHHH??????!!!!!!!!!!

He quickly changes into his school uniform and put all the things needed for the present into his tennis bag. He rushes down and grab a piece of toast and a bottle of milk and runs off.

Nanako: Ah! Ryoma-san, your bentou...!! He's gone...

While at Seigaku, the tennis club had started their morning section. All the regulars starts to worry as Ryoma was not here yet.

Eiji: Ochibi is late! Did anything happen to him?!

Oishi: Calm down, Eiji! Echizen will be alright, maybe...

Kaidou: SShhh...Ano baka. Making all of us worrying for him.

Momoshiro: Ohh, I didn't know that you actually worried for someone.

Kaidou: Shut up!!

Momoshiro: What?! You wanna fight?!

Kaidou: Oh yah?!

Kawamura: Both of you stop it!!

Inui (writing on his data book): It seems like Ryuusaki-san's accident brings chaos to all of us. What great power...

Fuji: Haha, all of you are worrying too much. Echizen wasn't that kind of person

Eiji: But who knows?! He always gives us surprises when he's having his matches!

Fuji: Hm...Ara, Echizen?

Everyone: Eh?!

Ryoma was running towards them. He stops and pants hard as he tries to cool himself down.

Ryoma: G..Gome, I...I overslept.

Everyone: Phew!!

Ryoma: Hm? Doushita?

Momoshiro: All of us thought that something happens to you again.

Eiji: MOU!! Ochibi, you are always giving us great shock!!

Oishi: But it's good to see you alright.

Ryoma (lower his head while his hat was covering his eyes): Gome...letting all of you worrying of me...

Kawamura: Daijoubu, it's our job as seniors. We must guide our juniors along the way.

Fuji: Taka-san's right. We will be there supporting you whenever you have troubles. Nah, minna?

Everyone: OH!!

Ryoma: Arigatou, senpai.

During lunch, Oishi and the other regulars went to find Ryoma to ask him to eat lunch together. When they reached his class, they could not find him.

Oishi: Eh? Where's Echizen?

Horio: Ah?! Oishi-senpai, are you all looking for Echizen? He's on the rooftop.

Oishi: Arigatou.

While at the rooftop, Ryoma was continuing his needle work. He did not wish to let anyone see what he was doing. As he was concentrating on the work, his stomach growls.

Ryoma: I was so hurried this morning that I forget to bring my bentou. Man, I'm hungry!!

It was then he heard the door behind him open, follow by the voices of the other regulars. Ryoma quickly stuffed all the materials back into his bag and act normal as the regulars came and sit around him.

Eiji: Ochibi, what are you doing down here?

Ryoma: Enjoying fresh air...

Momoshiro: Hontou ni?

Ryoma: Hontou!

Eiji: Hontou ni, hontou ni?

Ryoma: Hontou ni, hontou ni des!!

Eiji/Momoshiro: Hontou ni, hontou ni, hontou ni, hontou ni, hontou ni, hontou ni deska?

Ryoma: MOU!!! MOMO-CHAN SENPAI!! KIKUMARU-SENPAI!!

Eiji: Haha!! Relax!! We are just joking!!

Ryoma: Why are all you up here?

Fuji: Oishi suggested having lunch together and we heard from Horio that you are up here, so we came.

Oishi: I don't see your bentou, have you already eaten?

Ryoma: Y..Yah...I did.

Oishi: Oh, I see...let's eat, minna.

Everyone took out there bentou, seeing all the foods, Ryoma couldn't take it as his stomach growls again. His face turns red as the others look at him.

Inui: Are you sure that you have eaten your lunch?

Ryoma: Actually...I had forgotten to bring my bentou to school as I was rushing for the club.

Kawamura: You should have said that earlier. Here, you can have some of mine.

Fuji: Mine too.

Eiji: Mine as well.

Kaidou: I have a lot, take it.

Ryoma now realized that there was actually a lot of people care for him. He almost feels like crying but he bears with it.

Eiji: Ochibi is going to cry again!

Ryoma: I'm not! It's just that I...I was really glad for all the things all of you done for me...especially after what happened to Sakuno...I don't know how to thank all of you...

Fuji: If you want to thank us, just be happy with Ryuusaki-chan after she awake.

Momoshiro: All of us just want to see you happy.

Oishi: Oh, by the way! I receive this letter from Tezuka. I decided to read it with you guys.

Eiji: Hurry up and open it.

Fuji: Read it out, Oishi.

Minna,

Long time no see. I'm living well in Germany. My shoulder were recovering fast, don't you guys worry about me. I heard from Oishi that the club was doing well, and something bad happened to Ryuusaki-sensei's granddaughter. I will be coming back to Japan on Christmas Eve because I planned to celebrate Christmas Day with all of you. That all I got to say, minna, yudan suru na!

PS: Echizen, cheer up. Ryuusaki-san will be alright.

Tezuka Kunimitsu

Ryoma: Bucou...

Eiji: Christmas Eve? That means he's coming back tomorrow?!

Oishi: Ah? There's something in the envelope. A photo? AH?!

Momoshiro: What? Let me see it too! Who is this girl besides Bucou?!

Everyone came closer and look at it. The photo shows Tezuka and a girl almost the same age as him, she has long hair, the same hair colour as Tezuka's. She has a pair of green eyes and the both of them were holding tennis rackets in their hands. Behind them was a tennis court, Tezuka has his hand at her shoulder and he was actually smiling!

Fuji: Looks like Tezuka finally has a girlfriend. She looks just like him.

Eiji: Kawaii! So this is how Tezuka looks when he smiles.

Ryoma: Ah? There's some writing behind the photo.

Momoshiro turns the photo over and reads out the writing.

I will be bringing the girl on the photo along with me. Her name is Aya, she's my...I'll tell you when we meet again.

Kawamura: Tezuka is embarrassed.

Eiji: I can't wait for tomorrow.

It was then the school bell rings, all of them takes their things and went back to their classes. After school, Ryoma went to visit Sakuno again.

Ryoma: Sakuno, I have great news for you. Tomorrow, Tezuka-bucou will come back to visit us. He also got himself a girlfriend, I think that you will be shock too if you heard about this. How I wish that you will wake up soon...then you will get to celebrate Christmas Day with us. Oishi-senpai and the others planned to celebrate at Kawamura-senpai's sushi shop, they ask me over too, but I rejected it. I want to be with you on that special day, I don't you to be alone.

Ryoma touch her face as he looks sadly at her.

Ryoma: Sakuno, please wake up...please...

At 6pm, Ryoma went back home and continue making his present. While he was making it, Nanjiroh came into his room. Ryoma glares at him.

Ryoma: Nanska?

Nanjiroh: Nan demo, it's just that I wonder why this few days, that that cute girlfriend of yours did not came to our house like usual.

Ryoma: She's in the hospital. She saved me from a car accident and she's having a coma. The doctor can't confirm whether she will awake.

Ryoma looks down, trying not to show his father his face. Nanjiroh looks at the present Ryoma was making.

Nanjiroh: Is that for her?

Ryoma: Ah...I planned to finish it by tonight.

Nanjiroh: Looks like my son has finally grown up.

Ryoma: Eh?

Nanjiroh: Nan demo nai, wish you good luck, son.

Ryoma: Oyaji...

When Nanjiroh left the room, Ryoma smiles as he continues his work.

Next morning, Ryoma yawns as he stretches his arms and legs. He managed to complete making his present throughout the night. Ryoma looks at the clock: 8am in the morning. Ryoma went down the stairs to the kitchen and fond Nanako preparing breakfast.

Nanako: Ara? Ryoma-san, you woke up quite early today. You have a nice sleep?

Ryoma: Not really...Yawn...

RING!!! RRRIINNGG!!!

Nanako: Ah, Ryoma-san, can you answer the phone for me?

Ryoma: Hm...

Ryoma walks to the phone and answer it.

Ryoma: Moshi mos? This is the Echizen's Resident...

Sumire: Ryoma! Sakuno, she...she!!

Ryoma: What happened to her?!

Sumire: Her heartbeats suddenly stopped!!

Ryoma: EH?!

What will happen to Sakuno? Tezuka will appear in the next chapter. Stay tuned!!