Disclaimer: No, I don't own PoT, sob

Chapter 20

He still hadn't sorted out his feelings by the next day, or the next, or the next's next.

One week after school started, the freshmen were having lessons proper. Ryoma thought that homework and assignments would keep the miscellaneous male students busy and away from Sakuno. No such luck.

One month after school started, the hordes of male students around Sakuno still did not decrease. To his consternation, more and more boys were interested in Sakuno, from the freshmen to the seniors. And she just maintained her sweet smile while gently refusing dates and various presents.

And all the while, Ryoma sulked. Day and night, he sulked.

Every day at school, he sat behind her and watched her smile at all those faces he didn't bother to get to know, or smile at him whenever she happened to turn around. He had lots of time to study her during lessons, but that didn't really help him sort out his thoughts, more of made him more confused actually.

Every day at school, he had to tolerate Horio's noises during lunch because of her. Sakuno ate with the loud cheerleader, and that loud cheerleader was Horio's girlfriend. Ryoma thought of not eating with the three of them but was worried Sakuno would be bothered by seniors during the lunch hour. And also Sakuno made delicious bentos, and always brought extra to share among the group. He preferred to think she did that for him because it made him felt strangely warm and soft inside.

And worst, Sakuno didn't come to tennis practice everyday. Most days she went straight home after school. Those few occasions that she did turn up to watch him practice, Fuji would monopolize her, all the time aiming his all-knowing, devious smile in Ryoma's direction.

But there was one good thing about his Fuji-senpai. He had made such a show of having Ryoma see Sakuno home after practice that first time, that Ryoma was fully expected to repeating the chore whenever Sakuno was there. Ryoma couldn't find it in him to complain about that.

On those few times they would be alone, and Ryoma would keep quiet unless Sakuno asked him questions, then he would answer in short sentences or avoid answering if he didn't like the question. Most of the time, he didn't know what to say to her.

He would be annoyed at himself, then annoyed at the other boys vying for her attention, and annoyed at her for not telling them to go away. He would be annoyed at the world, and then he would sulk.

Enough was enough. For his own sanity, he made up his mind to talk to her next time they were alone. She really should tell all those people to stay away from her.

Sakuno didn't know what was wrong with Ryoma. She could feel the heat of his emotions everyday in class, at lunch, and those times after tennis practice on the way to her house. The warm red aura tinged with black could be stress or frustration, or it could imply mental, physical or emotional exhaustion. She couldn't figure out which, and he wasn't helping by avoiding her questions.

She wondered if she had offended him somehow. Maybe he didn't like her cooking. But then again, he never complained when she and Tomoka asked him along for lunch. That's right, she had finally met up with Tomoka, who cried and hugged her, making quite a scene right in the corridor. She kept saying how happy she was to have Sakuno back. Trying to ignore the prick on her conscience, Sakuno gave all her excuses and was quietly pleased that Tomoka readily accepted her words.

The two girls then made a longstanding lunch date and Tomoka decided to invite both Horio and Ryoma to join them. Sakuno was so glad that Ryoma agreed when they asked him. Since then, the two girls make enough food for four people everyday. They share all the food, but essentially Tomoka packed for her boyfriend, Horio, while Sakuno prepared Ryoma's share. Maybe Ryoma could tell she didn't actually make the bentos with her physical hands …

Maybe it was because she didn't go to tennis practice everyday. It wasn't because she was no longer interested in watching him play, but she had her own training to do. These days, Sakuno spent most afternoons at home working on her spells before her grandmother came back.

She did try to watch the tennis team practice at least once a week, and she always enjoyed talking to Fuji-senpai who kept her company whenever he wasn't playing. Sakuno still felt grateful to Fuji, although he did keep taunting Ryoma all the time. She wished he didn't do that. Afterwards, when Ryoma walked her home, he was always in a bad mood and wouldn't say much to her.

Enough was enough. It was time Sakuno put her foot down firmly. Tomorrow she would go watch tennis practice and firmly request Fuji to stop baiting Ryoma. Then she would ask Ryoma to walk her home. If she couldn't find out what was wrong with him on the way back, she would have to invite him in and make him stay put until she did.

A/N: Big Ryosaku fight coming up ... soon as my fingers can move again