The scent of something sweet permeated her nostrils. "Hmm,.it sure smells good," Sakuno mused as she watched the oven after a few minutes. She glanced at Ryoma who fell asleep immediately after helping her bake strawberry shortcake. She went to the side of the table and leaned down to touch his hair. His face was flat against the table and a thin fluid dripped from the corner of his mouth. Sakuno giggled as she brushed a few strands.
'Poor Ryoma – kun, he was really exhausted.'
Of course he was. Not only did he beat eggs, Sakuno ordered him to place the batter in the oven. Accidentally, Ryoma burned his hand when he put the batter inside. It wasn't that bad though, especially when she began to tease him that his hand was a little 'crispy'.
For Ryoma, baking had been a difficult task than tennis. His favorite, beating the eggs, was far more advanced to his bidding than hitting a ball furiously against the wall. Sakuno knew the limits of his patience especially when there are some cases that his tennis prowess does not do much on some things that are not related to his sport.
She smiled wholeheartedly. At least there is something she is far more superior to Ryoma. In Seishun Gakuen, the name Echizen Ryoma was widely known as the "prodigy" next to Fuji – senpai and the "fearsome bucho" taken after Tezuka – bucho. These two senpais molded Ryoma into what has become of him now. He had grown fast, and had taken responsibility of becoming the captain at his second year beating Momo – chan senpai and Mamushi.
She continued to watch him as he slept and let her mind wander to driftless thoughts of their relationship. It was an odd pairing – just like Kachiro had said. Horio and their other friends including Tomoka had never thought that the famed "Prince of Tennis" would ask her, Ryuzaki Sakuno, out on a date. She didn't either, it all started in a tennis game, then going out to practice together until Ryoma paid for her lunch for free.
Sakuno understood that Ryoma 'sucked' a little bit when showing his affections. She began to reminisce one particular moment during their first date…(if she could call it that way)
It was a fine Saturday morning and Sakuno asked Ryoma if he could accompany her to the racket stringer's shop. Ryoma, of course was being his usual stodgy self and decided to question her favor.
"Your racket's still fine. You're just hitting the ball in the wrong spot," he replied nonchalantly.
She, of course won't back down. "Ryoma – kun, I really need to take this to Haritatsu – jisan. The gut snapped and I can't use it unless it's fixed." She stared at him with puppy dog eyes. "You're not going to let me go to an old man's shop in the back of the city now, would you?"
He ran his hands through his hair nervously. 'Oh man, whenever she does that I'm – so – weak – help – me look, I simply couldn't refuse her…'
"Ne, Ryoma – kun, what'll it be?" she asked hopefully.
He absolutely had no other choice. "Fine. I'll go with you. But we're not going to stay long. I had practice in the afternoon."
To his surprise, she gave him a kiss on his cheek. "Yay! Thank you so much, Ryoma – kun."
He smirked as he touched the spot where she'd just kissed him. Well, it's not what he expected, but it'll do.
For now.
The sound of the clock chime brought Sakuno to her senses as she was abruptly pulled from her thoughts. She glanced at the antique grandfather clock in the living room and winced.
It read 6:30.
She began to set her task of wrapping the cake in its most presenting manner and set it aside in the kitchen table. Turning to Ryoma, she went to him and tapped his shoulder. He still continued to sleep.
He was testing her patience. "Ne, Ryoma – kun, time to get up. We need to go." She shook him hard by the shoulder after attempting many times to wake him by tapping.
"Wha? Wha? What?" Ryoma raised his head abruptly. He looked at Sakuno's brown eyes and groaned. Sakuno looked at him inquiringly as she asked, "Are you awake now? We got to go."
Ryoma sat up straight and began to stretch. He rubbed his eyes. "The cake?"
"Already done." She presented him with an elaborate plastic – wrapped package. She glanced at him worriedly. "It's almost nighttime. We'd better hurry."
Ryoma stood up from the chair and ran his fingers into his hair in attempt to straighten it. But no matter how many times he tried to fix his hair, it will still return back to its ruffled state.
For Sakuno, it looked cute on Ryoma when his hair is all rumpled up. Though she would never admit it to Ryoma, at least it's not like he'll ever find out about it anyway.
"Oi, are we about to go or not?" Ryoma asked impatiently as he picked up his bag from the couch and head to the door. Sakuno followed him and stared at him indifferently.
"What?" he asked. It was unnerving whenever someone would stare at him. It's as if they were sizing him up, he had no idea if they want to gobble him up or eat him alive. He'd guess it was both.
She blinked. "What do you mean what?"
Ryoma sighed. "You're staring at me! Quit it."
"Oh. Right." Sakuno walked a few inches from him and giggled. Turning to him, she pointed a finger just to the side of her chin. "By the way Ryoma – kun, you've got drool dripping down your chin."
She should've brought a camera when Ryoma looked down in horror when he finally noticed that he didn't wipe the saliva from his chin. He hastily wiped it off with the back of his hand then glared at her.
She laughed.
The way to the Echizen home was long and windy. Sakuno felt her knees getting weak as she followed him down the road, Nanjirou's cake in her hands. Ryoma kept on walking with his eyes focused on the road as if nothing happened.
"Ne, Ryoma – kun, are we there yet?" she asked.
He didn't even looked at her way. "Mada mada dane."
Sakuno kept walking. A few minutes later, she couldn't take it anymore. 'Oh damn, I'm beginning to feel my feet burning,' she thought wryly as she made a stop. She sat back on her heels as she rubbed her sore legs that were tired from walking. Ryoma sensed her sudden halt as he turned to look at her. "What's wrong with you?"
"I'm tired."
"Che, that's why I refused to take you to oyaji. Look at yourself now," he muttered dryly, adjusting his cap. Sakuno glared at him.
"You're so mean! After all the hard work I've gone through in order for me to look pleasing in your eyes!" she pouted, sticking out her tongue at him. Ryoma struggled at his composure to avoid chuckling as he faced her again. "Oi, stop doing that. It's not fair if it's always your way all the time."
"Oh? Then what is your own way then?"
He smirked. "I'm not going to take you to meet oyaji."
She stomped her foot. "That's horrible!"
"What's with the sudden change of attitude? Che, I don't understand you girls," Ryoma complained as he rubbed the back of his neck. He's still undergoing the assessment phase of understanding the female behavior and by the looks of it, he 's still mada mada dane.
He stared at Sakuno from head to toe. He still couldn't admit to himself or to her that she changed completely, from an annoying, clingy weak girl into a hard – headed, confident and competitive tennis athlete that everyone now admired. It was ironic though, that before he would use to teach her the basics of tennis. Now, she turned into a formidable opponent who catches up to him whenever they play – practice or not.
Ryoma sighed inwardly. Damn, if it weren't for his undivided affection to her, he could've left her here in the middle of the road and go home to play with his cat Karupin.
"Ne, Ryoma – kun…" Her voice jolted him back to reality.
"Nani?"
Sakuno gestured to her tired legs. "Will you help me?"
He stared at her. Now she's doing the 'damsel – in – distress' tactic. Even though Sakuno was a great tennis athlete, she was still a clumsy and whining girl when it comes to him. Ryoma couldn't understand if this was the way a girl would sweet talk to their boyfriend or simply wants to be given attention. Ah, who cares about that? The sooner they're off the road, the better.
He walked in front of Sakuno and turned so his back was facing her. Sakuno looked at him with a confused look. He sighed as he glanced at her through his shoulder. "Hop on."
"Nani?"
Damn it, she's so naïve. "I said, hop on. I'll give you a piggy back ride to our house."
Sakuno giggled happily as she launched herself at him. He gave a loud "Oomph!" when she wrapped her arms a bit too tight around his neck. He knew she was finally relieved that she doesn't have to walk so he lifted her up and began to pace towards his house.
Momoshiro Takeshi was walking home from school when he heard familiar voices going on the same way as his. He decided to leave his bike at home in order to train his leg muscles in preparation for their own tournament to Kantou. Can't afford to have any more sprains since the last time, you know.
The voices grew louder and Momoshiro decided to wait until those voices are within an ear away from him. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed as he saw one, no two people walking. No, scratch that. Two people one person on top of the other. Usually, Momo would just ignore them but today, he want to gag.
It was his unsociable buddy and the old lady's granddaughter. And it seems like Echizen is carrying her in his back. He decided to call the couple's attention. "Oi, Echizen!"
Ryoma's head shot up as he saw Momochan – senpai waving. No, running and waving towards them. He glanced behind his back to see if there were any person that was Momo's perspective but unfortunately, there were none. Behind him, Sakuno ducked her head clutching the cake tightly as she could hear loud, purposeful strides towards them. She could feel Ryoma's muscles tense around her so she decided to play like dead and let Ryoma do the talking.
"Momo – senpai," Ryoma greeted curtly as the tall, powerhouse regular of Seigaku stopped in front of him.
Momo seemed pleased to his distaste. "You didn't come to the club and the whole team is WORRIED about you." He turned to look at Ryoma's charge with a playful grin. "What's wrong with Ryuzaki?"
Ryoma shrugged nonchalantly. "She twisted her ankle and ordered me to take her home."
"Home?" Momo willed himself not to laugh out loud. He couldn't stand the idea of a GIRL ordering Ryoma around. True, he heard rumors that the Prince of Tennis and captain of the club going out with his coach's granddaughter and one of his fans. But rumors are just rumors right?
"Yeah, home." Ryoma was getting anxious. "We're in a hurry."
"But Ryuzaki's house is in the end of this street. You're taking her in the opposite way," Momo replied, a bit confused.
Ryoma let out a bored sigh. "So? She said home. She didn't specify what location I'd take her." Striding past Momo, he added. "She's already getting heavy. I'll see you in practice tomorrow."
Momo shook his head in disbelief. Horio and the others are not going to believe it. Suddenly, a light went on in his head. Wait, Echizen and I lived on the same direction. And that same direction is where they're headed. Which means…
Oh heavens. The poor bucho has finally reached the peak of his testosterones. And the poor girl doesn't have the strength to fight due to her ankle.
"Echizen! You're enjoying your youth too much! Wait! Stop," Momo called out, but too late. The couple was a fair distance away from him. He grunted as he pulled his phone from his pocket. Time to call immediate assistance.
"Ne, Ryoma – kun, are we there yet?"
"Shut up."
Sakuno tightened her hold on his neck. "You're so mean!"
"Alright…aaghh…oi, yamero!" God, they have to reach his house sooner or later. He didn't act well in front of Momo – senpai and they must find a safe place to hide for a while before he finds them and spout something about youth. He rounded into a corner and was relieved as he saw the roof of his house. At last.
Unknown to them, Momochan – senpai was tailing them. And with him were his so called "reconnaissance team". Their mission? Stop Echizen Ryoma from turning into a sexual harasser and torture a vulnerable, innocent young woman.
He cringed as he thought of the pervert monk he had once met a long time ago. He seems to be tailing Ryoma when he once went out with Ryuzaki.
Damn, could it be he's teaching Ryoma those 'things'?
Uh oh. Trouble.
Author's note: Thanks for the reviews! Your suggestions and criticisms urged me to improve and write more! I worked on this for several weeks and I intend to make this long. Keep reading!