Bildungsroman

Chapter 18

A-look at a-me, a-flush with inspiration! Don't know how long it'll last, but I'll take it. And to think I thought I could wrap this up in 20 chapters. Hahaha. Ha. Ha.

(I'm going to be writing this for the rest of my life aren't I)

Thank you very much for all the reviews! They made me so happy; I love all of you soooooooo much!

Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, with no copyright infringement intended. I don't own PoT, which belongs to Takeshi Konomi.

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You have seven unread messages.

Bzzzzz. Bzzzzzz. Bzzzzzz.

All the girls looked around at Sakura's tennis bag. "Maybe you should take that." Nomura suggested. "It might be your mother."

Sakura pulled out the phone, but after a cursory glance dropped it back in. "Nothing important." She replied breezily. "Not as important as the finals, anyway."

The slight flash of her eyes made Mikabi and Kazumi exchange a glance, but Nomura seemed to accept it, and moved on with the meeting.

"Genichirou seems… disturbed." Yanagi murmured to Yukimura. The captain looked away from Kirihara's massacre of another Regular-hopeful.

"He is, isn't he…" Yukimura agreed, surveying Sanada's play critically. No holes, but he wasn't putting his whole heart into his Invisible Swing, and there was a harshness to his eyes that went beyond his usual laser focus.

Yukimura knew his team. Therefore, when Niou popped up behind them, clearly eavesdropping, he didn't bat an eye.

"Perhaps it's something to do with his… lady friend." The trickster suggested, a shark-like grin blooming. "I did see him throw his phone into his locker earlier- maybe the lady isn't being very receptive to a gentleman's overtures?"

Niou was by no means stupid, but those words out of his mouth gave Yukimura a moment's pause.

"Want me to find out?" The offer was declined in the spirit of friendliness in which it had not been made. Niou was too valuable a player to lose, and even Sanada's record wouldn't stand a homicide charge.

But the idea of Kagawa-chan having upset Sanada in some way… it did have merit. There were very few things that could provoke any degree of deviation from Sanada's routine or habits, and the girl had proven to be one of them. Yukimura had seen him (only once, but that was enough) text in class, something that the old Sanada would have considered anathema. Yanagi had reported that he had checked out an English novel, and even a modern Japanese one, from the library- the boy who had often treated them to a spiel on tradition and values and knowing your roots! Yukimura had been amused, even a little pleased- Sanada, while a worthy individual, great leader, and a staunch friend, did kind of need a life- but allowing said life to interfere with tennis was Unacceptable.

Perhaps he should give dear Kagawa-chan a call. But then Sanada wouldn't be pleased, and really, Yukimura had no real wish to solve other people's problems for them. Ensure that the solution pleased him, maybe, but solve them wholesale? Perish the thought!

"There is a three per cent chance that he is merely suffering from insomnia, thirteen per cent that it is academic stress, and thirty per cent that he is worrying about the Nationals again." Yanagi paused. "Captain, the odds that it is a Kagawa-related matter are…significant."

A Kagawa-related matter. Yukimura could already tell that those four words were going to make their way into the team's lexicon. How troublesome…

Airi wasn't a Mama Bear. That was Momoko, thank you very much- all muss and fuss. But damn if Sakura wasn't worrying her.

She was a naturally bubbly girl, albeit with a streak of steel that made her the perfect friend for Airi. Honestly, Airi wouldn't have bothered making friends with Momoko and Kagome if Sakura hadn't pretty much adopted her and brought all four into orbit. I mean, they were nice, but Airi would've been just as alright with only Sakura as a friend.

But the point was, Sakura was naturally bubbly, so when she'd found Airi ten minutes before class and bawled into her shoulder, it made something hot and ugly claw at her friend's stomach. Sakura's tears felt like an avalanche of pebbles on her shoulder, making Airi wince and purse her lips and vow revenge on that goddamn Sanada fuck. She couldn't make sense of the girl's sobs beyond that name, but it was enough.

Every time Sakura's phone buzzed in class, and the girl's jaw clenched, Airi's hand balled into a fist. That son of a bitch was going to pay. And Airi was, coincidentally, the perfect person to do it because she knew exactly what he was thinking.

Sakura wouldn't like it, sure; but then she didn't have to know anything about it. If Airi got on a train to Kanagawa rather than her usual home train, who, pray, would be any the wiser?

Bzzzzzzzz. Bzzzzzzzz. Bzzzzzzzz. Bzzzzzzzz. Bzzzzzzzz.

"Someone sure is eager to reach you." Mikabi remarked, as the girls changed into their tennis uniforms. Sakura shrugged and turned her phone off. "Probably a sales call. I don't pick those up, I'm not stupid."

"You didn't even look at it." The other girl objected. Sakura made a tight double-knot with her shoelaces.

"No need." She replied. "Coming?"

"Yeah, yeah." Mikabi filed the conversation away for future examination, and followed her out of the locker.

They were the first to hit the laps; the seniors had some sort of meeting, probably college counseling or something. Mikabi would take charge of practice until Nomura or Kazumi arrived.

"20 laps, everyone!" She called to the scrambling freshmen. Sakura caught sight of Ryuuzaki's granddaughter, braids and knees and all, hurrying to keep up.

"You'll be good at this." She said, smiling. "They already listen to you."

Mikabi scowled heavily. "They'd listen to you better, and you know it." She snapped. Sakura was taken aback, but Mikabi wasn't done. "I know you won't be there next year, but I'm going to do everything to change your mind, Sakura-chan. I don't know if we'll make it Kantou without you."

"You're not giving yourself enough credit, Mikabi-chan." Sakura insisted. Her breaths were coming a little short; they were into their third lap. "Nomura-buchou wouldn't have picked you for captain if she didn't think you could do it."

"She'd have picked you if you were going to stay." The words seemed like they were wrenched out of Mikabi. "She still would, if you changed your mind."

Sakura swallowed. "She wouldn't. Can we not discuss this, Mikabi-chan? I'm really not the best person- you should talk to Nomura-buchou, get her perspective."

Mikabi's eyes burnt a little. "Fine. But I'm still going to try and change your mind."

Sakura said nothing. It was incredibly flattering- especially considering recent events- to know that someone wanted her around, wanted her around so badly. Her self-esteem wasn't low, by any means, but it had taken a bit of a blow, and Mikabi, little though she knew it, was building it back up.

She jostled Mikabi's elbow playfully as they ran, and grinned as the defiant fire faded out of the other girl's eyes, and she elbowed back.

Having made short work of St Rudolph, Fudomine, and Hyotei (which had been anything but short), the Kantou semi-finals had the girls up against Yamabuki. The boys weren't that lucky, having disposed of Yamabuki earlier, and coming up against Hyotei next.

If they won, both teams would be up against Rikkai in the finals. No one was kidding themselves about that.

We'll see you in the finals, and Sakura's chest tightened.

See you in the finals, Emperor- that's all you are.

"Oi, pace yourself." Mikabi admonished, elbowing Sakura again. The other girl blinked, having sped up without realizing.

"Yes, captain." She teased. A reluctant smile curved Mikabi's lips, but she only shouted, "Ten more laps to go! Come on, kids, push!"

Hurting her was like a slow-motion capture, and later, Sanada would recall every detail. Every harsh, cruel word.

His fingers typed slowly, as always. I'm sorry.

Hurting her was like a slow-motion capture, but the tea that splattered on his face had been like a thunderclap, and her eyes were a forest fire.

He pressed send. She wouldn't respond; four days had passed, and she hadn't. But he had to keep trying.

Sanada wiped his face and cursed out loud (there was no help for the tea on his colour), before dropping a hundred yen on the table. The windchime tinkled mockingly on his way out.

Three hours later, his phone was still silent. He pressed the call button and listened to the cheerful caller tune.

The forest fire was gone, doused, and her dark eyes were wet, and red.

The line went dead.

"Please just go, Sanada-san."

Shame was sharp and acidic, rising in his throat. Sanada barely noticed the ringing of the final bell as he packed his untouched lunch, and made his way back to class.

He had to fix this. Somehow.

Airi squared her shoulders. Rikkai Dai was a massive place, a lot bigger than Seigaku, but she wasn't exactly the kind of girl to be intimidated by something like that.

She smirked at the snide looks her uniform garnered. No, nor by that.

"Hey," She drawled. "Who's Sanada and where can I find him?"

Her eyebrows rose as the students exchanged a look that was almost… panicked.

"Sanada-senpai is… at the tennis court." They replied, looking her up and down. Airi rolled her eyes. "Well, obviously. Where are the tennis courts, genius? I obviously don't know my way around."

They drew themselves up, unimpressed by her tone. "Second left, third right, straight up ahead." One of the boys sneered. Airi sneered right back. "Finally. Thanks." She gave them a mocking bow before following their instructions. Sure enough, there were the tell-tale sounds of… cheering.

"Let's go let's go Rikkai Dai!"

"Typical…" She muttered, trying to see a way she could get into the courts. The cheerleaders damn near surrounded the place, but surely there was a way in…

"Look, Yagyuu, more Seigaku meat." A slick, rather oily voice nearly made her jump; she whirled around, coming face to face with two tall boys. One of them had glasses, and pretty opaque ones at that; the other, clearly the speaker, was grinning down at her, a predatory look in his eyes.

Airi firmly quashed a stir of interest. "Meat?" She raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You talk to all the girls like that, old man?"

He didn't seem to be offended; in fact, he flicked a wayward grey lock out of his eyes. "No, just the trespassers." He eyed her school uniform meaningfully. Airi scoffed.

"Charming." She folded her arms, looking from one to the other. "I'm here to talk to Sanada, and I'll be out of here."

They exchanged a look, but this one was a bit… wary. Or was it amused? Airi couldn't tell for sure. "May I ask what your business is with Sanada, Miss?" The bespectacled one enquired.

"I'm here to kick him in the balls."

The statement, bald as it was, didn't seem to faze either boy. They did look at each other, their expressions now full of a wry understanding.

"Well, how can we stand in the way of that?" The grey-haired one's grin grew positively shark-like. "We'll take you to him."

Airi pursed her lips doubtfully. "You know him?"

"Sure we do." He replied, brushing past her. "Keep up, old lady."

Airi rolled her eyes, and hurried to catch up.

When Grey pushed the doors to the court open… it wasn't like a hush fell over the place, but there were definitely more than a few eyes on them. Airi rolled her shoulders back, and stalked alongside him.

A tall, absolutely stunning boy turned at their approach. "Niou. Yagyuu." His voice was music, undercut with steel. Indigo eyes pinned Airi in place, examined her. "You brought a guest."

"More like she brought herself. We just… ensured she reached the right place." Grey- Niou , apparently- answered, stripping off his disgusting yellow jacket to reveal an equally disgusting yellow t-shirt underneath. "Old lady, this is our captain-"

"I know who he is." Airi interrupted. She raised her chin as she addressed the other boy. "Yukimura-san, it's a pleasure." She executed a flawless bow.

Her family was big on manners, even if Airi tended to be the crassest girl in any group. She'd been trained, and sometimes, it helped.

A beat of silence- surprise?- before he returned the greeting. "Likewise, Miss…?"

"Tamashiro Airi." She replied. "Forgive me, but my business is with Sanada-san. If you could point him out to me…?"

Yukimura's ever-present smile didn't fade; but it certainly sharpened. "With Sanada?" He repeated. "You'll excuse me if I ask what business a Seigaku student has with Sanada… unless, of course, as an envoy of sorts?"

Airi bristled. "You've met Sakura-chan, Yukimura-san. If you think she needs an envoy for anything-?"

"I'm not sure what to think anymore, Tamashiro-san." He broke in, smiling in a strangely forbidding way. "But I'm sorry to tell you that Sanada isn't here. Your business with him will have to wait."

She reared back, surprised. "He's not here?" She parroted. "Where- you don't know where he is, do you?"

This time, Yukimura let out a musical laugh- he sounded genuinely amused. "Tamashiro-san, I can hardly let you run my vice-captain to earth on your undoubtedly violent errand!" Airi scowled. "Sadly, he didn't say where he was going; but I suspect he'll be as… conspicuous wherever he is as you are here."

Airi blinked. And blinked again. "You think he's gone to Seigaku?"

"Yeah, yeah." Sakura shoved Momoshiro three great inches away from her. "I'll think about it. Bye. 'Night, Mikabi-chan!"

Mikabi dragged her grinning partner down the street, waving and calling a greeting as she left. "See you tomorrow!"

Sakura rolled her eyes as Momoshiro let out a yelp- Mikabi had evidently decided that gentleness wasn't the answer. "Honestly…" She muttered, starting her own trek to the bus stop.

She cast a nervous glance at the fused streetlamp up ahead, and the shadowed figure loitering under it. Gritting her teeth, she forged ahead, greater urgency in her steps.

As she passed, the figure turned, sinister intent in every line of his body, and Sakura didn't think; she just swung.

Her fist connected with a face; he yelped. "Bloody hell Kagawa!"

Sakura froze.

Because, doubled over before her, clutching his nose, fucking swearing, was Sanada Genichirou.

"Sa- Sanada-san!" She exclaimed, darting forward; he held up a hand, but she batted it out of the way impatiently and raised his face to peer at it. "Jesus, I hope it isn't broken… or bleeding, actually… God, you should know better than to wait in the dark and then stop a girl…"

"I do." Every word came out as a wince. "Normally, I call ahead, but that wasn't possible… in the circumstances."

Sakura let go of his face as though burned. "Right." She muttered, picking up her tennis bag where she'd dropped it on the pavement. "Right… Um, I… I should get home. I'm… sorry for punching you… in the face… yeah. Sorry."

"Kagawa, please." A large, warm hand closed over her shoulder. She gulped, but met his eyes squarely. His eyes weren't clearly visible, but his voice carried something of a plea. "Please, at least hear me out."

"Why should I?" Sakura demanded, her voice coming out scratchy. "You- you hurt me, Sanada-san. I get that I'm difficult to- I'm direct and blunt and all the rest of it, but I'm not… I'm not a sneak. I just- I just wanted to be your friend. I couldn't- I guess I should've gone about it better, but I don't know where I gave you the impression-"

"People don't want to be my friend, Kagawa!" He interrupted, looking almost… pained. "I am not an easy person to be friends with."

Sakura scoffed. "And yet, you took my calls." She pointed out. "You texted me. You made me laugh- you helped me. We could've been great friends, Sanada-san."

He nodded, falling into step beside her. "Would you allow me to try again?" And oh, there was actually something gentle there, in his voice, and in the way he looked at her. Sakura looked up at him doubtfully. "I don't know if that's such a great idea…" She hedged. "I mean…"

He snorted. "Because I am… me?"

Sakura ground to a halt and grabbed his wrist. "You listen to me, and you listen good," They were closer to a working streetlight now, and she could see the surprise on his face. "You're fine. I like Sanada Genichirou as he is, okay? But I don't want to be hurt again. That's all."

Sanada looked down, a small flush rising to his cheeks. Sakura caught sight of his darkening colour, and smirked. "You're cute when you blush." She told him, and laughed as said blush mounted. "Honestly, Sanada-san, you're alright. But if you want to be friends, you have to promise not to read into everything I say and do, okay? I'm not a complicated girl. I say what I mean."

"I promise." He replied at once. Then he took a deep breath. "I also promise that I will never speak so rudely to you again. You have my deepest apologies, Kagawa."

She smiled at him, and something in both their chests loosened. "Apology accepted." She said simply. "And… I'm sorry about the tea… and the punching... again." She blushed. "It's definitely not broken, right?"

He touched his fingertips to a still-tender nose. "No, but it was a good hit." His lips lifted at the corners. "You really are no delicate flower, are you?"

She glared, but it melted into a pealing laugh. "I did warn you." She giggled, brushing her hair behind her ears. "Well, here's my stop. The same bus goes to Kanagawa, by the way."

He nodded; she was suddenly struck by an inspiration.

"Hey, come to dinner at my place."

Kagawa Sakura, Sanada reflected, coughing violently, really had the strangest ideas at the strangest times. "I couldn't possibly impose-"

"But it wouldn't be! You've got a long journey back home, and you'll probably get in well after dinner time. We always cook enough to feed an army, anyway- you like soba right?- and my friends come over all the time anyway! It wouldn't be an imposition at all!"

She said all this very fast. Sanada was deeply, deeply skeptical, but he could hardly, after his past behaviour, refuse such an invitation from her.

"I… I suppose I should inform my parents, then."

She beamed. "I'll call ahead too."

"I'm home!" Sakura shouted, ushering Sanada in, toeing off her shoes, ripping off her hair-tie and shutting the door all at once. "Ma? Papa? Arashi-san?"

Sanada took a minute to look around as he arranged his shoes neatly. Kagawa's home was very like her- modern and brightly-lit. Then he snapped to attention as a short, bald man, spatula in hand, poked his head out of what was evidently the kitchen. "Hello, darling." His smiling eyes took in the boy standing uncomfortably by the door. "Who's your friend?"

"This is Sanada-kun. He's a friend of mine." Sakura replied, straightening some throw cushions on the sofas.

"Thank you for inviting me to your home, Kagawa-san." Sanada bowed deeply. Unbeknownst to him, Kagawa's father quirked an eyebrow at his daughter, who shrugged.

"Don't worry about it, son. Any friend of Sakura's is welcome here. I'm Kagawa Daisuke." He waved the spatula about, but apparently something in the kitchen caught his attention. "Excuse me!" He all but yelped.

"Papa's a bit absent-minded when he cooks." Sakura informed him, grinning. "But come on, sit down. I'll get you some water. Or d'you prefer tea?"

Their eyes met, and almost as one, they smirked. "Water is fine." Sanada replied, almost demurely.

Sakura snorted, pouring two glasses. She looked at him. "Ice?"

He shook his head, accepting the glass she then brought over. He watched with mild alarm as she sprawled across the adjacent couch, narrowly escaping a sloshed front.

"Manners, young lady." An older, female voice sounded from the staircase. Sanada almost dropped his glass as he scrambled upright to greet the kind-faced, extremely beautiful, visibly pregnant woman.

"Ma, you shouldn't be here on your own." Sakura hurried over and took her mother's arm. But she was gently pushed aside by another, smaller lady- the caretaker, clearly- who guided the Kagawa matriarch further into the drawing room.

"I don't believe we've met," She smiled at Sanada- he recognized that smile. "Kagawa Aiki- and you are?"

He bowed once more. "Sanada Genichirou, madam." He replied. "I am honoured to be invited to your home."

She looked amused. "Sakura, where did you find him? He's terribly well-mannered- it's a nice change, I must say."

Sakura rolled her eyes as they all sat down again. Arashi disappeared to help in the kitchen. "Ma loves all my friends, but only one really has nice manners." She explained. "But you really take the cake, Sanada-kun."

He shifted uncomfortably. "I apologise for not having brought a gift, Kagawa-san." He said to Aiki.

She waved a hand carelessly. "Aiki, please, Sanada-kun. And don't worry about it- from what I understand, my daughter sprung this on you out of the blue. Has she talked your ear off yet?"

"Ma!" Sakura turned beet-red. Sanada smirked at her. "No, Ka- Aiki-san; I haven't given her the chance."

Aiki beamed at him. "You'll have to teach me how you do that- sixteen years and I still don't have a clue!" Sakura scoffed, but said nothing. "How did you two meet anyway?"

The teens glanced at each other. "Through debate, actually." Sanada replied. Aiki looked surprised, but he clarified: "She visited Rikkai with her club. They left… quite an impression."

"I'll bet." Aiki's voice was very dry.

"Sanada-kun also plays on the Rikkai tennis team." Sakura remarked off-handedly. "He's the vice-captain."

"Oh, is he!" Her mother looked impressed. "You must be very good indeed, Sanada-kun. I've heard Sakura nattering on and on about how strong your school is."

Sanada glanced at Sakura, but she was busy examining a thread in the upholstery. "We are very committed, Aiki-san." He replied politely. Boasting about 'always win' didn't seem like a great idea right now. "We've played together a long time."

"That must be wonderful. Sakura herself started playing only a few… what was it, two years ago? Three?"

Sanada's brows furrowed. "You've only been playing two years?"

"Three." Sakura replied. "Started at the end of second year in Junior High."

Two and a half- three years…. Sanada could hardly believe it. Still, it wouldn't do to inflate her ego… but the fact remained that had she begun earlier, she might well have been on Ikeda's level by now.

It was an oddly humbling thought.

"Dinner's ready, everyone!" Sakura's father called. Arashi-san scurried into the room to help Aiki, and Sakura insisted on taking Sanada's glass. "I'll refill it."

When they were all seated, Kagawa's father looked at Sanada. "Genichirou-kun, would you like to say grace?" He asked politely.

The young man looked confused. "Say… grace?" he repeated.

"Oh! You're not Christian, are you?" Sakura exclaimed. At his negative, she looked sheepish. "Sorry, Sanada-kun, I forgot. We say grace before every meal."

"Well, you can join us, or you could say your own prayer if you like." Aiki offered.

Dinner was everything Kagawa had assured him- the soba noodles were indeed excellent- and it was strangely endearing to see both father and daughter fussing over Aiki-san, pressing her to eat more of this or that. Sakura, in particular, kept trying to pour her tea, until Nurse Arashi kindly rebuked her.

"That's right- you just focus on eating like a tennis player, young lady." Aiki waggled her finger at her pouting daughter. "Don't you have that vile juice to drink?"

Sakura made a face. "Inui-senpai gave me a new one today. Version 4.2." She pretended to gag. "It smells like feet."

"Sakura, we're eating." Her father groaned. Sanada too grimaced.

"Say, you ever sampled any of Inui-senpai's stuff?" She asked him. "He might've given some to Yanagi-san, maybe…?"

Sanada went faintly green. "He did. Renji never intended for us to taste it, but Akaya is too curious for his own good sometimes." The memories of that day were vivid, and still horrifying. "None of us had the courage to try after witnessing the results."

Sakura snickered. "Oh, you poor innocent souls…" She sighed dramatically. "And here, we drink it every day."

He cast her a look filled with foreboding. "By rights, none of you should be alive. It defies logic."

"It's what we do." She drawled haughtily, before breaking down into giggles.

Her father took the opportunity to leap into the conversation. "Do you have any plans for your future, Genichirou-kun?"

The boy chewed meticulously, swallowed, and then turned back to his host. "I plan to study business, sir," He replied. "My family has a firm, and I am expected to follow in their footsteps."

Daisuke looked pleased. "That's very good. A family business is always a good way to go." He shot Sakura a look of mock-sternness. "Not a way open to me, since my dear offspring wouldn't take charge of a firm even if I did start one."

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Start a law firm, Papa, and then we'll talk."

Sanada's lips quirked, and he caught the grin on Aiki's face.

That grin, too, he recognized.

After dinner, the two children were chivvied out of the kitchen; Aiki bade them goodnight, citing fatigue; Daisuke took charge of the kitchen.

Sakura stared at Sanada. Sanada stared back.

"Well," She began lamely. "You want to see the garden?"

He raised an eyebrow. "It's dark."

She shrugged. "Yeah, that was dumb. So… hey, are you any good at co-ordinate geometry?" Sanada blinked.

"…Yes?" She beamed at the reply, and dragged him over to the coffee table, where she piled some cushions on the floor.

"Good. You can help me then. There's this one problem…"

This one was a bit choppy, I admit. The Airi-in-Rikkai bit was meant to go somewhere, but I'll just have to push that to future chapters because this was starting to feel a bit stretched.

Let me know what you think!

Cheers,
Chilli.