Disclaimer: I do not own The Prince of Tennis.
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Sakuno's Job and Miyu's Evil Idea
With Niou carrying Sakuno's bag, they all walked back to Yukimura's house, a happy, noisy group.
Well, only half the group was noisy with the others quietly listening to them.
Akaya, Miyu and Bunta were still teasing each other and talking to Sakuno at the same time.
Jackal was just happy that he could take a break from all that noise.
Sanada was used to his team-mates being childish and tuned them out, focusing on Sakuno's happy face.
He was satisfied to see that she did not seem to suffer any unpleasant feelings from her trip back to Tokyo but he was still determined to talk to her privately about it later.
He never felt that he was an overly caring person but he guessed that it did not hurt to be caring once in a while.
Heck, he did not mind to be watching over her all the time anyway, but a man had to watch his pride and he did not like being too open for everyone to notice.
What was important was that he knew that she would understand that she could depend on him.
Yukimura was also tuning the others out, thinking of sweet little Sakuno.
He was extremely pleased to have this chance to be close to her and he looked forward to eating breakfast and dinner with her.
He only regretted that he would not be at home most days because of the tennis practices. He wondered if there was any way to get around that.
He did not want to do anything too obvious because that might frighten the shy girl.
He knew that he was easy to approach partly because of his appearance and partly because his manner was so gentle.
However, beneath his gentle demeanor was a very possessive and strong personality.
He protected what was his fiercely and was not really as gentle as his manner suggested.
He could start a conversation about the boys' lunches during the holidays and if he knew Sakuno as he did, she would probably offer to make lunches for them because honestly, given their amount of exercise each day, their lunches were not really enough.
The school cafeteria was closed this holiday because they were renovating the kitchens.
All the clubs were told to bring their own lunches if they would be coming back to school for practice or activities of any kind.
Miyu and he had been living off mostly instant food from convenience stores and his lunches had been onigiri and sandwiches.
The others were not much better off because at their age, their mothers usually let them be and they took care of their lunches.
Therefore, sometimes they would appear with leftovers and sometimes it would be sandwiches or even instant cup noodles.
At lunchtime each day, they would all eat and complain about the stupid heartless school administrative people.
At the end of practices, they would all rush off to get food at the nearest fast food store.
He would get some takeaway for Miyu and himself to eat later for dinner and that would be their daily intake of meals.
Sakuno would probably be horrified at their unwholesome eating habits.
He would cook if he could but the problem was he had never been anything more than a nuisance in the kitchen.
The best he and Miyu could do would be to boil water for instant noodles and use the fridge.
When his team-mates had found out that he was hopeless in the kitchen, they had laughed like the maniacal hyenas that they were.
He sighed at that unwelcome memory and Yagyuu, who was walking next to him, asked him what the matter was.
Yukimura shook his head and Yagyuu did not press.
He was thinking about the novels he had read during the holidays which were not a lot because he did not have the leisure.
There were a few detective novels that were very interesting and not too scary. The one he had been reading was a world-wide hit called The Da Vinci Code.
He was reading the Japanese translated version and he wondered if Sakuno had heard about it.
From his conversations with her, he realized that though she was a quiet girl, she was by no means a bookish one and reading was not a hobby for her.
Despite that, she was always interested in the things he had to say and would think and ask questions about things that she did not understand.
Some of her observations were interesting and not things that he would normally think about.
He guessed it might be because of their different genders because girls tend to think differently from boys.
He also thought that it was because it was gentle and sensitive Sakuno that made her see things differently from the way that he saw them.
While he might think about the plot and the logic involved in solving the crime in the novel, she might be thinking about what induced the person to commit the crime in the first place.
He added to himself that she would most likely feel sorry for the 'poor' criminal as well.
That was actually what he liked most about her. She really felt for the fictional characters that he talked about.
Although she said that it was because of his amazing story-telling skills but he doubted it.
If he had such amazing story-telling skills, he would have found other people to listen to him talk about his beloved novels ages ago, namely his team-mates but they always found excuses to go somewhere when he started to say, "Recently, I read this book…"
He looked towards Sakuno who was giggling at something that Miyu had said and felt that it was so fortunate for him to have found someone like her.
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It was not long before they reached the Yukimura residence and they all trooped in.
Sakuno was to have the guest room because Yukimura and Miyu thought that it would be more comfortable for her to have some space of her own while she was with them.
If it was only a night or two, then she could have shared Miyu's room but since she was staying the rest of the holidays, she ought to have some privacy of her own.
Sakuno thanked Niou who had carried her bag up to the room and she went downstairs with him and Miyu, who had shown them the room.
The others were downstairs discussing what to do for dinner that night. They thought that they might go out and eat at a restaurant.
Sakuno said that she could cook but they would not let her, saying that she would be tired after the long journey.
In the end, they went to the fast food shop they always go to after practice.
There they could get enormous amounts of food for a cheap price and being students, they felt that this atmosphere was more relaxing than a restaurant.
Everyone had a very good time and as usual, Yukimura and Miyu bought some extra burgers and other snacks to take home.
Sakuno wondered why they would do that, not knowing that these two really could not cook. She had, of course, heard about it but had thought that it was a joke.
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Later that night, when everyone else had gone home and it was just Yukimura, Miyu and Sakuno in the kitchen, they talked about recent practices and matches that the regulars had been having.
Sakuno was very sympathetic when she heard about their appalling luncheons and decided that she would make bento for them whenever possible.
It got to a point when Miyu was telling a silly story about something Bunta had done during one of the practices when Sakuno was yawned.
She had been traveling and excited and now all that was catching up with her.
Miyu stopped and said, "Sakuno, you should tell me if you're tired. I can always finish that story another time; it's not like I would forget it in a hurry." That last sentence was punctuated with a wicked grin.
Sakuno said, "Gomen, I'm alright; I enjoy talking to you and Yukimura-senpai."
Yukimura smiled, "Sakuno, I agree with Miyu, you have had a long day and it would be better for you to go to bed now. We love talking to you too but you cannot talk if you are tired. Besides, we should go to bed too, so you will not be the only one."
Sakuno nodded obediently and got up. Miyu went with her and they said good night to Yukimura before making their way upstairs.
Yukimura sat at the kitchen table, sipping his glass of milk and reflecting that it had been a pleasant day in all. Soon, he too went to bed.
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The next morning, Sakuno woke up very early.
She got up and after washing herself and getting dressed in a simple summer dress, she went downstairs into the kitchen.
Nobody was up yet and she decided to make breakfast for the two siblings who were still sleeping.
She hummed to herself as she moved about in the kitchen with the ease of someone who knew what she was doing.
Apart from wanting to make herself useful, she also wanted Miyu and Yukimura to eat healthily because the other boys had told her stories about their unwholesome eating habits while their parents and grandmother were away.
She did not quite know what to make of their 'famed' cooking skills but she thought that since she was staying with them, she might as well make sure that they would be eating proper meals while she was there.
Besides, cooking for them made her feel as if she was a part of their family and she liked that.
Miyu had been like a sister to her and Yukimura had also been very kind.
She looked for extra ingredients in the kitchen because she also wanted to make bento for Yukimura to take to practice for lunch. She only found lots of instant food and rice.
Therefore, she put in extra rice into the rice cooker to cook so that she could make lots of onigiri. There was probably enough for all eight regulars to fill their stomachs so that they would be full until their next meal.
She decided to ask Miyu to take her shopping for food that day so that she could make dinner for that night and bento for the next day.
She enjoyed domestic duties because they were very relaxing and they made her feel useful when she was clumsy with so many other jobs.
Soon, breakfast was ready and just as she was thinking about whether she should pop up to wake Yukimura and Miyu, they came down, having been awakened by the lovely smell of cooked breakfast.
Sakuno turned to them and said, "Ohaiyou, Yukimura-senpai! Ohaiyou, Miyu-chan!"
They returned her greetings and both of them stared at the breakfast laid out on the kitchen table.
Their eyes shone and Miyu said, "Wow! Sakuno, did you make all these? They look really good! They smell good too!"
She was very impressed because she could never have done it even with the best cooking instructor teaching her.
Yukimura was of likewise mind but he merely smiled and went over to give Sakuno a grateful hug. Sakuno blushed lightly because Yukimura had hugged her more tightly than usual.
For once, Miyu ignored what her brother was doing because she was already at the table, drooling over the food and waiting for them to join her. She was taught that one never started a meal until everyone was at the table.
Yukimura sat down and Sakuno ladled out the soup and rice into separate bowls and also sat down.
They started to eat; or rather, Sakuno and Yukimura ate while Miyu ate a speed much like Bunta's, as if the food was going to disappear any minute.
Sakuno giggled at Miyu and said, "Mou, Miyu-chan, be careful, you might choke!"
Miyu stopped long enough to mumble something unintelligible and continued her breakfast.
When they had finished breakfast, Yukimura and Miyu washed up. They had insisted that since Sakuno would be cooking while she was there, they would take care of the cleaning and washing and Sakuno did not argue with them.
She started making the onigiri and Yukimura guessed, "Sakuno, are those for the regulars?"
Sakuno answered, "Hai, Yukimura-senpai, I hope you don't mind that I used the rice to make these. I should have asked before but it slipped my mind until I started the rice cooker."
She was feeling that she had been rather rude now because she never should have just used other people's things like that.
Yukimura said, "Don't be silly, we never cook and it will be good if you can use the rice. Everyone will be so happy to see these today. Arigatou, Sakuno!"
Sakuno smiled gently, relieved that he was not angry.
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Miyu was wondering what Sakuno was going to make for lunch and dinner. She had been around Bunta too much and his habits were catching.
Miyu did not really mind since it was Sakuno's cooking that she was wondering about. Her cooking was actually just simple fare but she knew that the food had been carefully and lovingly prepared for them and that made all the difference.
It was not because she did not have a happy family because she did. However, she had always wanted to be someone special to only one person.
She thought that everyone would want that, to be the special person for someone.
Right now, Sakuno was her special person, like a sister that had been lost to her since birth and recently found.
She did not want a boyfriend at this point of her life, unlike most of her peers. She preferred this friendly distance she had with everyone but still, she wished for someone special she could care for and watch out for.
Sakuno was her answer because she was a friend and they did not have the urgent need to be together that most couples their age felt.
She did not want to feel tied to anyone and most couples that she had observed had felt that need to be together all the time, or at least the girl would feel that way and she did not want to become like that.
She was like a bird, jealous of her freedom and yet she wanted a nest for her to come home to and Sakuno was her nest.
Sakuno did not give her any peer pressure. They did not have to copy each other and they did not have to talk about what nail polish to use or what kind of clothes were in fashion.
They were comfortable together and she loved that. No wonder they say opposites attract!
Miyu giggled to herself as she thought of that allegory. She knew perfectly well that she was not a lesbian or if she was, she was not in love with Sakuno; otherwise she would not be trying to pair her with a boy.
Still, she would be lonely if Sakuno did become someone's girlfriend because then, she would no longer belong just to her.
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Very soon, Sakuno was finished with the onigiri and she packed them neatly into bento boxes that Miyu got out and washed for her.
Yukimura then set off for school with them and his tennis bag.
Sakuno would have thought them to be very heavy altogether but apparently, Yukimura thought nothing of their weight. She was impressed because Yukimura looked so frail.
When Yukimura was gone, Miyu asked Sakuno, "What do you want to do today, Sakuno?"
Sakuno answered immediately, "Miyu-chan, we have to go shopping for food because if I am going to be cooking everyday and making bento for everyone, then I need much more than you have in the kitchen. Is that alright?"
Sakuno felt as if she was being a bit of a busybody but she wanted everyone to eat well.
Miyu did not feel anything of that sort because she was so grateful to be eating hot food that would be freshly cooked.
She grinned and dug out a little trolley her grandmother sometimes used when no one was free to carry her shopping.
Although, it would look a bit odd for two young, pretty teenage-girls to be shopping using a trolley, she did not care because she did not want to be the one carrying all the food and she did not want Sakuno to do it either.
She would have preferred to get the regulars to come and help but she did not want to wait until they were free. She would rather look silly than go hungry.
They got their purses and set off, Miyu thinking that she was going to get the other regulars to pool money together for the food Sakuno was going to get for them because it was not fair on Miyu's and Sakuno's purses that they were going to do all the paying.
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Yukimura had arrived at school and he saw that Sanada and Yagyuu were already there. They were warming up, stretching their muscles and waiting for the others.
That day was a practice day for the whole tennis club and not just the regulars so they would have their hands full.
They regulars took turns to help and coach the other third and second years and the second years took turns to coach the first years when they were not picking up balls.
It was a traditional Japanese sports club system with the younger ones serving the older ones and the older ones teaching the younger ones.
Of course there are always exceptions, like Akaya's case because he was so good that none of the other non-regular third years could beat him.
However, he still had to help coach the younger ones. The younger ones did not really like him teaching them because he was rather impatient sometimes and he was very aggressive when he actually played.
That day, it was Yagyuu's turn to help with the coaching and he was always a dependable coach, being the steady person he was.
Yukimura greeted them and he went to the changing room to put away the bento and change.
He wondered if he should tell them about the bento at the beginning of practice. It might distract them too much but maybe not.
He thought that he would probably tell them anyway because they probably deserved a surprise after so many days of hard practice.
As he was changing, Niou, Bunta and Jackal arrived.
They nodded to each other without saying anything. They were not the best morning people in the world.
About fifteen minutes later, everyone had arrived.
The regulars always arrived earlier than the rest of the club. It was a rule that Sanada enforced because it gave a good front to the rest of the club, showing that they were serious about their positions on the team.
Yukimura waited until they were standing in front of him and he smiled gently.
The others saw his smile and got suspicious. They did not think that there was any reason for him to be smiling so early in the morning.
Niou, being suspicious by nature and Akaya, being just rebellious, both thought that he was going to come up with some nasty idea. Usually, they might have had guessed it correctly but this time, they were wrong.
Yukimura announced, "This morning, Sakuno has made onigiri for us all!"
The others were silent and then Bunta and Akaya yelled excitedly and gave each other high-fives. They were all happy to have some kind of homemade food for lunch, even though it was only onigiri.
Most of them had only brought sandwiches and they were pretty much sick of eating so much bread. They were Japanese boys, not Westerners and they much preferred rice to bread.
After that announcement, they were all in an extremely good mood and the day went very well.
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Sakuno and Miyu stepped inside the house, pulling the full and heavy trolley after them. It was filled with ingredients that would be eaten by hungry and eager mouths in the next few days.
Miyu thought that next time when they went shopping for food, even with the trolley she was going to make sure at least one of the regulars would be there to help them.
She had no idea that shopping for food to stock the kitchen would take so much energy. They had bought so much stuff!
She was now sincerely glad that she could not cook because even the buying-ingredients part was daunting.
She did not know it was only because they were buying enough food for ten healthy teenagers, eight of them active tennis players that there was so much food. Normally, it would not be so much for a family of four or five.
On the other hand, Sakuno was very happy because she felt that she was doing something for her friends. She was a girl not used to only taking from people but she was brought up to give as well.
Her friends at Rikkai all seemed to be so competent and clever that there was very little she could do for them.
She had despaired of ever giving anything back until she found that they liked her cooking and then, her days had brightened considerably.
She hummed to herself when she worked in the kitchen, putting the food away in the cupboards and the fridge.
In the beginning, she had asked Miyu where things would go but Miyu, being Miyu, naturally would not be able to answer her.
Therefore, Sakuno gave up and put things away according to her habits when she was living with her grandmother. As she put things away, she was also thinking of that night's menu.
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While she hummed away in the kitchen, Miyu was at the kitchen table, out of her way.
Miyu rested her head on the table, tired from pulling the trolley.
She had refused to let Sakuno put it, saying that she was the stronger of the two and besides, Sakuno would be the one cooking, so it was only fair that she did her share of chores.
Still, it did not mean that the trolley was light but she did not blame Sakuno for her tiredness.
No indeed, she did not blame Sakuno, she was blaming the stupid regulars for going to the stupid school for their stupid practice while they were doing the hard and heavy work just so they could eat.
She thought if there was a way to pay them back. Suddenly, it hit her!
It was summer and none of them was Sakuno's boyfriend yet! If Miyu and Sakuno want to go to the beach, they could do nothing about it.
That was it, she would choose a day when they had to practice and tell her brother that they would be going to the beach for the day with … someone else?
Miyu grinned evilly as she thought of their reactions when they learnt that their precious little Sakuno would be going to the beach with some other guy.
It would do them a world of good. Sakuno was not exclusively theirs and they had better treat her better or she would end up with some other guy. She had no idea yet who the other guy would be but the point would be the same.
She had another evil idea. She would go shopping with Sakuno for a bikini!
Sakuno would be wearing a bikini and the regulars would be practicing at school.
Miyu would, of course, tell them about it before so they would be thinking about it and not actually seeing it. That would get them good!
She burst out laughing and startled Sakuno.
Sakuno asked her what the matter was. Miyu only shook her head and said that she was just happy that Sakuno was staying with them.
Sakuno was slightly skeptical because Miyu's laugh had sounded rather evil.
In fact, it reminded her of Tomoka's wicked laugh when she was thinking of something nasty. Because of that, Sakuno decided that she would be better off not knowing what it was and she went back her job.
At the same time, the regulars at school all started to sneeze, one after the other and wondered if they were coming down with some collective flu, resulting in extra laps because Sanada thought if they were sneezing in summer, then it meant that they were still too weak.