Don't Give Up On Love
dienny04
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured in this story. They are owned by their respective owners (whom I don't know the names) so please don't sue me.
Act 02
The next morning, Ren was sent to school by her father's car. Since she started attending junior high in Rikkaidai, she has gotten used of riding the Mikihara car in going to either school or public places.
Now that she's in her second year of junior high, Ren is still oblivious that her father is a yakuza group boss. What she knows is that her father is managing a "simple business" and that the tough guys coming to their residence "simply" works for him.
Yet, with the attitude she's been showing everybody, no one would ever conclude that she is the only daughter of the Mikihara clan boss.
"We're here, Oren-san," the driver informed, calling Ren with the prefix "O". This is used women but is quite traditional.
Ren giggled. "There is no need to be formal, Akagi-sama."
"It is asked of us to give respect to you, Oren-san," he courteously said.
"Okay then," Ren agreed.
As soon as the car pulled up in front of the school, Kirihara was on the way inside the campus too. He always sees this expensive car since he was a freshman in junior high yet he doesn't pay much attention to it.
Now that he's near the car, he can take a glimpse of who owns this.
Ren stepped out of the car and waved Akagi-sama goodbye.
When she turned, she noticed Kirihara looking at her, standing in front of the campus entrance.
"Hi, it's a surprise seeing you here," she said, a warm smile on her lips.
"It's a surprise seeing you come out of that car either," he replied, obviously impressed.
Ren's smile did not leave her lips. "Aren't you coming in?"
Kirihara walked next to her as they were entering the campus.
An awkward silence slipped between the two of them as they walked together. They were not as close as you think, just enough for people to think that they are not what they think they are.
"Um---" both of them spoke, trying to break the awkward silence.
"You first…Kirihara-kun, right?" she said, confirming his name.
"Yeah…well…you first," he said.
"Okay," she agreed, looking up at him. "Well, I was thinking. Will me and my friend be a distraction if we eat near the Tennis courts?"
"No, not really…why?" he asked, looking down at her in response.
"The time I took a glimpse of your afternoon practice, which is yesterday afternoon, I was kind of hooked with the game…you know, I'm kind of curious," she explained.
Kirihara smirked. "Oh yeah? Or is it because of me?"
Ren giggled. "You joke too well, Kirihara-kun. Well, you're a good player. I saw you yesterday and that was amazing. Well since my friend and I are looking for a good place to eat, maybe we can eat near the Tennis courts. That would be fun, right?"
He looked down at her, incredibly finding her weird. She's very naïve and soft-spoken, letting him wonder why he's spending some conversation with her.
"About yesterday…sorry again if I bumped you," he said. "Well, I didn't mean to,"
"I know you didn't," she said.
Then as they were nearing the school building, some guys called Kirihara a few distance away from them.
He turned, finding out who they were. When he spotted his senpais, Niou, Yagyuu, Marui and Jackal, from afar (and he even saw some smirks on their faces), he nearly jerked from where he is right now.
Ren looked at Kirihara. "Is there something wrong, Kirihara-kun?"
"Look, my senpais are waiting for me over there," he said, pointing at a bunch of guys across them.
"They are really good-looking," she said, giggling afterwards. "I think they're waiting, please go. See you this lunch period I guess."
As soon as she said that, she walked ahead.
Kirihara jogged towards his senpais.
"Wow, you got good taste, kiddo," Niou remarked, giving him a nudge.
Kirihara gave him an unfriendly look. "We just saw each other on the campus entrance."
"So that's why you're too close?" Marui mocked.
"What! What close? We're not close!" Kirihara roughly defended.
"Anyway, I've heard and seen her a year ago," Yagyuu said. "Isn't she the one who is always sent and fetched by an expensive car? And yeah, I think I see her in the student council room often. Maybe she's a class rep."
"Well, she said she's from Class 2-1," Kirihara said. "The section of smart students in the sophomore year."
"That figures," Jackal said. "Anyway, I see her around school too but very rare. She leaves the school as soon as the car arrives and usually, that car is earlier than expected."
Niou smirked. "Aww, Kirihara's got a rich girlfriend."
"Not so funny," Kirihara fumed. "I don't need a frigging girlfriend for Pete's sake!"
"We were joking, okay?" Marui reminded him.
Ring.
The lunch period started.
Ren fished her bag for her lunch while her friend approached her.
"Hi Ren," Shuko greeted. "Let's go."
"Alright," Ren agreed, already finding her lunch.
They walked together as they exited their classroom and stalled the school halls. Shuko looked over at Ren. "Ren, why did you decide to eat near the tennis courts?"
"I got really amused with tennis and I think the tennis club are practicing during this hour," she informed Shuko.
"So now, you want to be part of the tennis club?" she asked.
"If possible, why not?" Ren said, a positive look on her face.
"You only watched them yesterday and you already got hooked? And hey, there are no girl members there!" Shuko told her.
"I think tennis is really fun," she told her to which Shuko responded with a sarcastic rolling of eyes.
"Are you seeing any tennis player?" Shuko asked.
"No, of course not," Ren said. "I don't accept love letters from people, right? And that means I'm not ready for any commitment at all."
Shuko sighed. "Whatever you say."
Jackal and Marui are playing against Yagyuu and Niou. Yanagi and Sanada are taking their lunch while Yukimura decided to pass by the courts.
Ren and Shuko are already seated on a bench, about some meters away from the tennis grounds. They were having their lunch as they watched some game.
"You know, Ren, the tennis club does prove me that they are one of the most competitive club in Rikkai," Shuko told Ren, her jaws slightly dropping.
"I told you so," Ren said. "And that was just a practice, mind you."
"It really attracts attention, I couldn't even put the food inside my mouth," Shuko said.
Ren giggled. She's right. When you watch an intense sport, it's does attract attention and would somehow make you feel good.
While they were eating, Kirihara passed by, noticing that Ren did come.
"Mikihara-san?" he said as he approached Ren and Shuko.
Both the girls looked up.
"Ki-kirihara Akaya? Junior Ace?" Shuko said, recognizing Kirihara.
"Junior Ace?" Ren asked.
Shuko turned. "You don't know? Oh my god, he's like one of the best players in the tennis club!"
Kirihara smirked, looking at the ground to hide his amusement. The girl certainly is naïve.
"You did come," he said.
"You know him?" Shuko asked.
"I bumped into him yesterday and he returned my handkerchief too," Ren informed, turning to Kirihara afterwards. "My friend here got hooked with tennis too."
"Well, if I was there, may I get your attention?" Kirihara said, slightly flirting with Ren.
"I guess," Ren said, a smile on her face. Clearly, she's not aware that Kirihara is dropping some hints of flirting to her.
Kirihara laughed, running his hand through his curly locks. "You're funny."
Shuko shook her head and sighed. "She is."
Ren pouted childishly as the two agreed. "That's not fair."
Kirihara and Shuko laughed.
"You're so cute," he remarked and after that, he jogged to the tennis courts to join his senpais.
Ren blushed, and Shuko seemed to notice this.
"Wow, he called you cute!" Shuko said.
Author's Notes: How was it? It's really fluffy but you know I liked the way I wrote this. Please review.