Chapter Three:

A/N: Chapter Three is up! I have read your review, thank you so much! keikeiaznqueen and xxcris04xx were right; I really need proof reading on this. I'll try my best to correct my mistakes, okay? I'm going to change things around this chapter, like 'Fuji-sempai' and some things. Thanks again!

Enjoy!


That night ended so fast for Sakuno, and the next day started so soon. Sakuno was called by Fuji for an important matter, and went to his office. She knocked twice and entered.

"Ryuuzaki-san, have a seat" Fuji still wore his smile, despite the stress he's been trying to get over ever since that morning. Sakuno sat down on the usual seat she's sitting on every time she was called.

"How's your night, ah sorry I mean your midmorning Ryuuzaki-san?" because of this question, Sakuno got cheerless and lowered her head down.

"Ah sorry Ryuuzaki-san, I think you don't want to talk about it, nee?" Fuji gave a worried smiling face after wards.

"No it's okay Fuji-sempai" Sakuno smiled back, "I'm fine" Fuji got astonished by the way she looked, but the smile she was wearing was indeed a forced one.

"Well, Echizen is coming for the pictorial for the cover of this month's is—"

"Oh yes the pictorial, I'll go down as fast as I can. Thank you Fuji-sempai" Sakuno cut him off and left the office immediately.

Sakuno got to the studio and found Ryoma with his manager, and the rest of her crew waiting for her. She stopped her panting and stood up straight, "Sorry, Mr. Fuji called me for an important discussion. Shall we start?"

And so the crew started to set up the whole studio, Sakuno had told the manager and Ryoma about the plans for the pictorial. The manager was nodding endlessly as he was listening to the plan but Ryoma was gazing her. Sakuno had noticed this and got aggravated, she thanked that now she had forgotten what had happened last light which was so weird and confusing. After the discussion, she glanced at him and realized that what she did that midmorning was humiliating and stupid; she had acted so immature and got out of control with her feelings, she had miscalculated the whole thing, everything that happened that midmorning at the café.

She decided to rest her head and lay back on the chair she was sitting on. Trying to understand everything was a total headache, she wanted to end the whole day and rest it all by sleeping, but that wouldn't do. She gave out a big sigh and closed her eyes, what a terrible and troublesome day… she slowly opened her eyes and looked at the ceiling, when should I get my wanted rest anyway? I feel like I'm a robot with no right to take a break… this is exasperating… she closed her eyes again, It feels like my body wants to give up… I never got the chance to rest so much today because of the party and the running…

The image of Ryoma has struck in her mind which made her eyes wide out. She noticed a cup of hot coffee handed by someone, she knew. It was Ryoma Echizen, "Take it while it's hot, it'll give you much energy for today". Sakuno thought that Ryoma had bothered to buy a cup of coffee which he never does.

"You don't want it?" Ryoma asked impatiently.

"Ah! Arigatou…" Sakuno got red and took the coffee from him, she had noticed something… she was totally blushing. She had felt the same thing that she had felt a long time ago, the time when she first fell in love with Ryoma. He sat down beside her, which made her feel so tensed; she could feel the raging intensity through her veins.

Later on, the pictorial started and as usual it ended late. Ryoma and his manager left the studio and then the crew left after they cleaned up the whole place. Sakuno wanted to be left there inside so that she could at least give herself some rest before she leaves the place, but after a while she decided to rest at home since it's much comfortable there. She took her bag and headed for the exit at the back of the studio,

"Oro, It's raining" Sakuno said as she watched the rain fall from the sky. The sky was grey and there was no sign on when will the rain end, "Oh my, I forgot to bring an umbrella!" Sakuno said to herself, oh my… what should I do…?

Sakuno notice someone who was standing with a transparent umbrella, it was a guy with his white jacket and jeans. The guy looked up and to Sakuno's surprise it was Ryoma, Why… is he here? Ryoma started to walk towards her with his bitter face.

"What are you doing here?" Sakuno asked at once.

"Nothing, it was raining so I thought that you don't have an umbrella."

Sakuno eyes widened with surprise, Ryoma-kun would never do that… he doesn't care… truly…

"Take it" Ryoma gave the umbrella to her and left her there still bewildered. Ryoma-kun why are you doing this?

"Anou, Echizen-kun" Ryoma turned around after sakuno called her, "Thank you…" Ryoma turned back and started to leave.

Sakuno finally reached her house and went inside her room; she lay on her soft bed and stared at the ceiling. This day… is really weird… Ryoma-kun offered some things which he never did when we were freshmen in Seishun Gakuen, even when we were used to be together… Sakuno got surprised again after she had thought that. Why am I thinking these things? Why am I reminiscing? Why am I getting tense again? Why…?

The rain was still falling endlessly from the sky which turned into dirty white, everything is so blurry… I am confused and at the same time tired… I swore to myself… that I… won't fall to love schemes anymore… I won't be the Sakuno as I used to be… even if they don't like me…. I'm worst at tennis… I'm bad at English… and to my disgrace… I'm nothing to Ryoma-kun… he even deserted me for no good reason… he left without clearing things out… he left with just a single kiss… and a feeling of being loved… but that was long time ago, 10 years ago…

The rain slowly turned to drizzle, and the sky was white and clean. I loved him and that's all I knew… I loved him with no fright… nor doubt…


A/N: that was short… it took long for me to analyze things and I think this is worth reading… I do proof reading and all. And I hope you'll like it. I thought of putting the hot spring part, but I thought back that it will spoil the excitement.

Sorry to keep you wait. Tell me if there are errors in it, I really need it. And I think Sakuno got a little bit OOC here. My inspiration was Ritsuka from loveless; it reflects Sakuno who's so confused in this chapter. Thanks for reading!