Disclaimer: I don't own The Prince of Tennis.
Chapter Thirty-One: At the Beach (Part One)
On Tuesday, Sakuno got up very early to prepare lots of food to take to the beach. She was so happy when she found out that everyone would be joining her, Miyu and Yukimura to the beach.
The night before, she had already prepared some cold delicacies and salad. She hummed happily as she bustled about in the kitchen.
Very soon, Yukimura and Miyu appeared, both looking rather sleepy.
Miyu had been very excited the night before and she could not sleep until very late. Yukimura was simply not a morning person.
They sat down at the kitchen and both looked a bit blank. They stared with half-closed eyes at the busy Sakuno. She was making tea for the two of them, an essential drink to wake them up.
When they were sufficiently awake, they gathered around Sakuno to see what she was preparing.
After Yukimura saw the amount of food Sakuno was making, he went to call Sanada to come over before going to the station.
He told Sanada that he would need some help to carry the food. Sanada agreed to come over and would bring another person to help.
By the other person, he was thinking of the Junior Ace, the emphasis on the word 'Junior'.
Poor Akaya was still the errand boy, messenger and person-to-be-ordered-around for the regulars. Next year, he would be free from all that when the third-years graduated but for now, he was still under their thumb and rule.
This time, however, he did not mind being ordered to help carry the food. That was because he childishly wanted to see Sakuno before the rest of the regulars.
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When Sanada and Akaya turned up at the Yukimura house, it was already late morning. They were going to meet at the station at around half-ten and take the train to the beach.
Akaya greeted Sakuno happily, not that he really showed it. He said with his usual smirk, "Hi, Saku-no-bunny."
Miyu knocked him on the head when she heard him. He glared at her but she had already skipped behind Sakuno and was making faces at him.
Unlike Bunta who would have gotten annoyed and probably stamped his feet, Akaya ignored her when he realized that he could not get at her and went on talking to Sakuno.
He asked what she had been up to lately and she answered him, "Miyu-chan has been helping me with my tennis when we don't have practice. I'm still very bad but Miyu-chan said that I'm improving."
Akaya looked annoyed, "If you want tennis coaching, you could've asked me, Saku-no-bunny! I play better than Miyu, don't I?"
Miyu looked outraged at his words and she was about to speak when Sakuno spoke up, "Thanks, Akaya-senpai. I know that I could've asked you but I didn't want you to be too tired. You have been so busy that I could not bear to ask you to give up more of your time. Besides, you don't have to worry because Miyu-chan is a very good coach."
Miyu's pride was much calmed by what Sakuno said and she made the victory sign at Akaya from behind Sakuno.
After Sanada finished talking with Yukimura in the living room, he went into the kitchen to see if there was anything he could do to help.
He saw Miyu and Akaya bickering with each other and basically being nuisances.
He kicked them out of the kitchen and went to help Sakuno pack the food into bento boxes. Sakuno was very grateful for his help because although she enjoyed doing all that, there was a lot of food and she wanted to finish packing everything as soon as possible so they could head off.
She looked up at the stern Sanada and said with a smile, "Thank you so much, Sanada-senpai. You seem to do everything so well!"
Sanada answered her stoically, "I try my best, that's all. How have you been, Sakuno?"
Sakuno said, "I'm very happy here. Miyu-chan and Yukimura-senpai are both very kind. Miyu-chan is even helping me with my tennis."
Sanada looked at her and said, "I was somewhat worried when you came back from Tokyo. I was worried that you'd be unhappy in Tokyo."
Sakuno was surprised, "I-I'm fine, Sanada-senpai. Actually, when I went back to stay with my grandmother, I was worried too.
I didn't know if I could talk to Tomo-chan and I was nervous that I would bump into Ryoma-kun and that I wouldn't know what to say. I'm actually a bit relieved that I can come back early and stay with Miyu-chan.
You know, senpai, I talked with my grandmother and she understood why I wanted to stay at Rikkai. I also made up with Tomo-chan. We are friends again!"
She beamed at Sanada and he smiled a rare smile, "Then I'm glad for you, Sakuno."
He was relieved that she really was happy and was not just putting a face on for everyone. He was also pleased that she trusted him enough to open up.
At that moment, Yukimura came inside to see how they were doing with the packing.
He also came in to escape Miyu and Akaya who were still bickering in the living room.
Sakuno answered that they were done with the food and she only had to go upstairs to get her bag and change.
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Yukimura, Sanada and Akaya hoisted their bags onto their shoulders and took up the food and off they went.
They arrived at the station and saw Yanagi, Yagyuu, Niou and Jackal waiting.
Bunta was not there yet and they set down their load to wait for him.
Soon he came, huffing and puffing, saying, "I… (huff) slept… (puff) in…(huff)"
Jackal rolled his eyes at his words and Sanada said sternly, "You are too easy on yourself, Bunta!"
Bunta pouted but smiled again when Sakuno patted him on the back sympathetically.
The regulars divided the load between them and they trooped to the platform to wait for the train.
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They arrived relatively early at the beach and found a grand spot to spread their towels and put down their stuff. Jackal and Yanagi went off to rent two beach umbrellas.
The rest of them put the food down on the towels and got out sunscreen and sunglasses and other things they deemed useful.
Miyu went up to Sakuno and said that she would take her to the ladies' changing rooms to change into their swimsuits.
The girls went off with much laughter and the boys stole looks at their backs out of the corners of their eyes.
Niou and Bunta saw Jackal and Yanagi walking towards them carrying the beach umbrellas and they went to help them.
The four of them stuck the umbrellas into the sand around the towels to provide shade for anyone who wanted it.
The boys did not want to go and change into the public changing rooms so they had already put on their swimming trunks under the clothes earlier. They stripped down quickly into their swimming trunks before the girls came back.
Yagyuu had changed his normal glasses into a pair of stylish sunglasses and had already taken a novel out to read while they waited.
It was not noon yet but already the sun was shining bright and high. It was going to be a very hot and sunny day.
Yukimura also put on a pair of sunglasses and he leaned back on the towels to bask in the sun.
He knew he should have put on sunscreen but he wanted to ask Sakuno to help him. Beautiful as he was, he was still very much male.
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As Akaya wondered aloud what was keeping the girls, they came back and everyone stared, even Yagyuu put down his novel and Yukimura took off his sunglasses.
Miyu was actually a beautiful girl with a tall, slim and model-like figure. She was wearing the bikini she had bought and it showed off her pale skin.
She did not tan easily, like her brother and her skin flushed with health. However, the boys were not staring at her; they were too used to her to really regard her as a girl.
Besides, it was not as if they had not seen her in a swimsuit before. No, they were not staring at her but at the smaller girl beside her.
Sakuno was looking at Miyu as they chatted and did not notice the attention she was attracting.
Her hair was flowing out behind her as she walked, still in the braids she usually wore. Her skin was also very pale against her dark hair but her cheeks were a rosy pink.
She was wearing the bikini she had chosen with Miyu's help and this time, the boys saw clearly that Sakuno was definitely female.
She had a slim but curvy figure that was usually hidden behind the clothes she wore. It was not because she chose clothes that were too big but because she was simply the type that looked slimmer when she had clothes on.
The top piece of the bikini pushed her firm, round breasts up and displayed a nice cleavage.
Due to her tennis practices and simple girly vanity, Sakuno kept her tummy flat and the bikini looked wonderful on her.
She had no idea how enticing she looked and Miyu kept her attention from actually noticing that she had a cleavage because she did not know how Sakuno would react to it.
Most of the clothes Sakuno owned might be stylish but they were not the type to show any cleavage and Miyu thought she would be embarrassed if she knew.
Whilst talking with Sakuno, she was also noticing the boys' reactions and almost laughed out loud.
Her brother had sat up and he was looking intently at her sweet friend. The look in his eyes was definitely not one of a gentleman's.
Akaya had lost his normal smirk and his eyes had widened into round saucers.
Jackal was rubbing his eyes as if he doubted the sight in front of him. He had never really thought of Sakuno as a girl, more as a friend that was something like a sister and one did not connect the word 'sister' with the words 'nice body' with an exclamation mark at the end.
Bunta already knew that Sakuno was curvier than she seemed and was not as shocked as the others but even he stared and he remembered the feel of her front against his back. To his credit, he did not have a nose-bleed this time but he still could not stop his blush from spreading over his cheeks.
Yanagi was already scribbling in his forever present notebook. This was something that he had no idea of and he was thrilled to be able to record it.
By 'something', he was thinking not of the regulars' reactions but of the possible measurements of the girls' bodies.
He did not know what it might be useful for but one never knew and it was always wise to be prepared. He did think about whether it would be unethical to sell the information to people who might be interested but since he did not have the exact measurements yet, that point was moot.
Yagyuu was of two minds about this situation. This situation actually meant his need for glasses.
He was glad that he was wearing glasses because no one could tell that he was staring at Sakuno's lovely breasts, flat stomach and smooth, white legs.
He was not happy because he was wearing sunglasses and they did not give as clear a picture as his normal glasses.
Niou was beside Yagyuu and like him, he was staring at Sakuno's body.
Unlike him, he did not care if anyone noticed because he simply did not have room in his mind for other thoughts.
He wanted so much to rush up and cover her up from head to toe because she looked so innocently sexy in that bikini. While he loved looking at her like that, he was possessive enough that he did not want anyone else to see her like that.
However, since he was not her special someone, not yet anyway, he could only keep his thoughts inside.
No one knew but Yukimura was feeling exactly the same as Niou. He loved the sight of Sakuno in a bikini but he hated that fact that he had to share that precious sight.
He controlled his expression as the girls came back to their spot and Sakuno was looking at them shyly. He said, "You look lovely, Sakuno. You look lovely too, Miyu."
His expression was friendly but inside he was thinking that if he saw anyone trying to hit on the two girls, he would have an outlet for his frustration.
Sakuno beamed at his praise and Miyu said, "See, Sakuno, I told you that you look good in that!"
She was very pleased with herself. Sakuno nodded shyly and she looked around for the sunscreen.
As she puttered around the bags, the other boys came up to her. Bunta said, "Sakuno-chan, pink suits you! Do you want a piece of gum?"
Before she could answer him, Akaya had pushed his senpai aside and said, "Saku-no-bunny, I always knew you would look nice in a bikini. You should wear it more often."
He actually accompanied this statement with a grave nod. Jackal thumped him on the head, "Don't be silly, now, you've made her embarrassed. Sakuno, don't mind him, he was just joking but honestly, you look really nice."
Akaya was about to say that he was being serious when Yagyuu clamped his hand over Akaya's big mouth and said, "Ryuzaki-san, you look beautiful today but make sure you put on sunscreen because it would be such a pity to spoil that lovely skin."
Sakuno said, "Thank you, Yagyuu-senpai. Ah… maybe you should let go of Akaya-senpai. I-I think he's turning a bit green."
Yagyuu looked down at Akaya and said calmly, "Indeed, he is turning green, thank you for telling me, Ryuzaki-san." He then released the suffocating Akaya and took him aside for a good talking-to.
Niou handed the sunscreen to Sakuno and said, "Sakuno, Yagyuu's right. You should put on sunscreen. Here, let me help you with the back."
Sakuno blushed bright red and stammered, "Ah… ah… I-I-I'll be fine, Niou-senpai!"
At that moment, Sanada appeared and pulled Niou away by his neck, "Don't be impertinent." Sakuno looked relieved when Sanada appeared.
Sanada had been struck speechless at first when he saw Sakuno.
To him, she was someone to protect, a little sister and suddenly, she seemed not so little after all.
He had not known what to think but when he saw her stammering, he instinctively stepped forward and pulled Niou away to keep him from embarrassing her further.
He said, "Sakuno, get Miyu to help you with the sunscreen. Niou was only joking; don't take him or Akaya seriously."
Sakuno answered, "H-hai, Sanada-senpai. Ano… senpai, do you… do you think that I look okay?" Sanada looked surprised that she would ask him but he answered, "You look very nice, Sakuno."
Sakuno smiled at him and went off to find Miyu. She did not know why but she wanted his approval on her appearance.
It did not feel the same as her nervousness about her appearance when she went out with Ryoma-kun so she knew that she did not have a crush on Sanada.
She wondered what it could be but being a simple girl, she quickly put it at the back of her mind and asked Miyu to help her with the sunscreen.
Miyu said yes, of course and while she was rubbing the sunscreen onto Sakuno's back, she kept exclaiming loudly that Sakuno had such soft and smooth skin.
She noticed that the boys were looking at them out of the corner of their eyes and grinned, knowing they heard what she had said.
She quickly finished and then she asked Sakuno to do the same for her.
While Sakuno was rubbing the sunscreen onto her back, Miyu grinned and asked the regulars in her wicked way, "Why aren't you guys putting sunscreen on? It's going to be really sunny today, isn't it, Sakuno? You should put it on while we are doing it because Sakuno and I want to hit the water as soon as possible!"
Sakuno looked up from her job in surprise, "Senpai-tachi, haven't you put on sunscreen yet? Miyu-chan's right, it's going to be very sunny today. You really should put on sunscreen as soon as possible!"
Since she was still helping Miyu with the sunscreen, the boys had no choice but to apply the sunscreen themselves.
They glared at Miyu while they did so. She knew perfectly well what a number of them were thinking.
Yanagi, Sanada and Yagyuu had put on sunscreen even before Miyu said anything but Bunta, Akaya, Jackal, Yukimura and Niou were hoping to ask Sakuno to help them.
Outstanding as these boys were, they were still hot-blooded young men at the age most interested in the opposite sex so it was no surprise that they were extremely annoyed at Miyu's interference.
It was not to say Sanada, Yagyuu and Yanagi were abnormal.
Yanagi was just more interested in other things.
Yagyuu, though he would rather Sakuno rub the sunscreen onto his back, was too much of a gentleman to ask her to do something that might make her blush.
Sanada was simply a firm believer in self-sufficiency.
They watched in mild amusement at the glum faces of Bunta, Akaya and Jackal as they were forced to help each other with the sunscreen.
Niou and Yukimura carefully kept their faces blank as they did theirs.
Soon, everyone had their skin well protected and was ready to hit the water!