Yo, minna-san! I'm really sorry for being too late with the new updates, since I've been really busy these past few months. Hehe! And I also wanted to thank you for the reviews and look! We already reached 179! It's not too far away from 200. Hehe, my dream is coming true! Well I should do even better than this or else, I'll… ahem. That's nothing. I'm just being hyper once more! Hehe. I'm also going to update much faster now, since vacation is already near. I should finish this fanfic before March, or else we'll reach one year! Hehe, I'll just do this without any hesitations. I'm just too slothful at some times. Hehe.
I'm currently watching the Arrancar Arc in Bleach, and it annoys me since they are featuring Inoue! I hate her. Just kidding! I just don't like her relationship with Ichigo since I'm an Ichigo x Rukia and Ishida x Orihime fan! Hehe.
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis. If I do, I will give it an extension name. Hmm, something like Prince of Tennis, and Romance? Hehe. I'm being too ambitious! Lol!
"Seems like everyone are busy…" Sakuno mumbled while holding a flower by its stem at her hands. She looked around and scrutinized the place to see if there is no one at the backyard except her. "I should grab the opportunity now." The auburn haired woman smiled and took a small colourful envelope from her side pocket. "I wish that Saviour-kun will answer my letter immediately. I wanted to know him more, thanks to the opportunity!" she excitedly said when she remembered the letter that the stranger left for her.
It seems like you are very happy today, ne? Did something new happened? Can you tell me what it is? Just write your reply in a new paper and then, pick up a flower and lace your letter on its stem. Leave it here and be sure that no one sees it. Remember that only the two of us knows this. Take care, sweet dreams and goodnight.
"Mouuuu! I really wanted to know him now!" Sakuno almost squealed as she starts to tie the envelope at the stem of the flower. "I also wanted to know how he knew me, and…"
Her previous statement made her pause. "How will he be able to know me even if I don't know him? And the fact that I don't even know him means that… he is a total stranger. But how could he?" Sakuno thought of with a deep sigh. "How could he make me feel so comfortable with his letters? He always knows when I am happy, and if he knew that I had a sad or bad day, his letters always make me feel secured… his words are, sublime!"
Unbeknownst to her is that her 'saviour-kun' is just listening at the other tree near her.
Her reactions are… odd… Ryoma sighed and tugged the brim of his cap while reminiscing her say that he is a 'total stranger'.
"But, I don't think that this is terrible. It even makes me happy!" Sakuno looked at the skies with such merriment in her eyes and smiled. "I think… I think I've already…"
What is she saying? Ryoma wondered when he heard her unfinished sentence.
Sakuno looked around her, closed her eyes and smiled when she knew that no one is around. "I think I've already fallen for you, saviour-kun! Not just a friend by these letters, but…"
Ryoma's eyes widened, his cheeks painted red and his heart pumping so mad as if he could faint anytime his body would want to. She… IS SHE SERIOUS!
Sakuno's short auburn hair fluttered when the wind passed through her. "…but as a special and extra-ordinary person. Whenever I remember the words in his letters, I could also feel another person's presence, someone like the person who was lost in my memories. What if, what if they are just the same person?"
Ryuzaki, if you just know… if I could just appear right now and tell you the truth. But, I am afraid that your old feelings won't be regained if I don't do this, and recognize me as 'another' person, not the person that you loved the most. I want to be that person, the person who could reciprocate those feelings to you. Ryoma assumed.
"Aah, I'll just trust my instincts and do whatever I can to regain these memories!" Sakuno cheered energetically. "It's the time to leave it here…" Sakuno giggled lightly and quickly left the letter at the foot of the plum tree. The prince of tennis watched her fading image with a glint of hope in his hazel cat-like eyes.
"I wish that she's really serious…" Ryoma said with a gentle but firm voice, bent down and took the flower. "I'll take this moment as a memorable souvenir." He smirked and took hold of the envelope.
Hmm, I wanted to open this now but I should keep this as a secret. It will be a hard time for us if someone blows away our cover. Ryoma enthusiastically thought of while trying to think of what the contents of the letter could be. I should go now-
"Oi, Koshimae!" Kintarou shouted from a not so faraway distance. Ryoma's sweat dropped. "Hey, what are you doing there, Koshimae?" Kintarou asked in a loud voice. Ryoma quickly hid the envelope and the flower in his side pocket and took a brief sigh. "As usual, I'm just wandering around." He said with his voice almost trembling because of Kintarou's sudden appearance.
"Just wandering around? Hmmm, it IS usual. However, seeing Sakuno-chan running away from here a while ago would be the unusual thing." Kintarou childishly spoke, his index finger pointing his chin.
Ryoma's spine shivered. H-he saw Ryuzaki running away from here. He thought of with beads of sweat passing through his features. Ryoma Echizen cleared his throat, stood up and fixed his self. "I'm going now."
"Koshimae!" Kintarou called on. Ryoma's sweat dropped again. He slowly tilted his head and faced Kintarou. "What do you need?" he asked. "I just wanted to ask you this…"
"What is it about?" he almost granted.
"It is about her." Kintarou said seriously. Ryoma faced him properly with his eyebrows narrowing. "Make it direct to the point."
"Has she remembered the true you?" Kintarou asked in a low voice. Ryoma was stunned while trying to register the answer in his mind. He hung his head low almost hopelessly. "She could remember the moment, but she can't see my image in her vision. Everything that she can do is to describe them in details."
"Ah, is that so?" Kintarou's eyebrows narrowed. "Whenever I wanted to make her smile, she would. But deep inside, she's still wounded." He mentioned while pushing a fake smile.
Silence passed for a few seconds.
"I know what you are saying. I already did a long time ago." Ryoma said with an assuring smile. "I'm the person who was lost in her memories, so I should be held responsible on how to make a comeback that she'll never forget, even if she gets amnesia a million times. I don't want this thing to happen again, so I'll do whatever I can just to make her remember anything."
"Then why don't you tell her now, so she won't get hurt anymore!" Kintarou asked while feeling a hint of anger.
"You'll never know why." Ryoma exclaimed. "W-Why wouldn't I understand?" Kintarou interrogated even more.
"You're not the one who is suffering. You never did, because you're not the one who was known to be so dense, and you're not also the one who was known to be so calm and quiet." The Fila capped man explained and started walking off. "I'll keep on going."
What does he mean by that? Kintarou wondered even more. First was Fuji-san, then it was Koshimae. What's going on? Moreover, I do not even know if I am going to be happy if Sakuno-chan remembers everything. I should be happy if she does, but I will be really sad because…
…I know that I'm not the person that she's going to love after all.
"Ne, is that Ryoma nii-chan?" Yume wondered when she saw Ryoma running through the hallway. Tomoka raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. But, why is he running?"
"Ah, Sakuno nee-chan!" Yume called out loudly when she saw Sakuno walking from the kitchen. "Konnichiwa, Yume-chan! Eto, did you see Echizen-kun?" the brunette asked, her dainty fingers running through her short hair. Tomoka sighed and said, "We saw him running through the hallway. Maybe he is going to take a short break inside his room."
"Short break?" Sakuno asked in a quizzical manner. "Yap. Maybe he was tired from the backyard cleaning while Momochan-sempai and Eiji-sempai are taking their morning laps."
Sakuno's eyes widened like dinner plates. "B-backyard cleaning!"
I was at the backyard a while ago! Does it mean that…?
"Nee-chan, what's the matter?" Yume asked when she noticed Sakuno's sudden expression. "N-Nothing!" she defended herself and wore a smile. "Hey Tomo-chan, when did they finished cleaning the backyard?" she asked. Tomoka looked at her wristwatch and said, "They have not stayed long there, so they must have finished the work quick."
Sakuno took a deep sigh. No one could have seen me…
"Why, did something happen?" Tomoka asked. Sakuno quickly shook her head and gave up a gentle smile.
"Maybe Sakuno nee-chan had a date a while ago at the backyard, and she doesn't want others to know." Yume freakishly uttered and bumped her elbow at Sakuno's arms with a wink on her right eye. "Y-Yume-chan!"
"Or did Sakuno nee-chan screamed out who her love was, and doesn't want others to hear and talk about it?" the little girl teased even more.
Sakuno's face glowed red. Screamed out who I love! B-But I didn't!
"No! It's different from what you think! I didn't confess that I love him! It's different!" Sakuno shook her head in denial, with the two other girls perplexed with her sudden breakdown.
"Him?" Tomoka and Yume blinked several times. "Yes! I didn't confess that I love him-"
Sakuno cut off what she was saying when she accidentally spilled out the words that she doesn't want to let others know.
"Let's go now and do the laundry, Tomo-chan! Let's go! Let's go!" Sakuno smiled sheepishly while giving her loads of laundry baskets. "S-Sakuno!" Tomoka protested. "Let's go! Let's go!"
Yume's sweat dropped with a wondering facial expression, her eyebrows forming a twitch. "Where in earth did she get those laundry baskets!" she almost puffed. "I should go now or else I'll get dumped with laundry baskets just like Noisy nee-chan. Got to go and look for Four Eyed nii-chan and the others!" the little girl stated vigorously.
Ryoma quickly opened his door's room, entered inside and locked it. "I'm safe here."
"Hi o'chibi!" "Echizen, you're too slow!"
Ryoma was sweat dropped. I was completely wrong. It's too dangerous here inside. He thought of. His hands quickly groped for the doorknob but to his surprise, when he faced the left side of the dark room, he saw a suspicious image.
The eyeglasses of the suspicious image gleamed. "Where are you going, E-chi-zen?"
Ryoma's spine shrilled and smiled sheepishly. "I-I'm going to-"
"You are not going anywhere, Echizen." A smiling guy came in front of him.
Ack, I'm trapped again!
"What do you want?" Ryoma grunted while facing Kikumaru, Momoshiro, Inui and Fuji. "O'chibi, you're too slow when it comes to these kinds of matter!" Kikumaru started after giving out a very large grin.
"W-What do you mean?" Ryoma raised an eyebrow with his hands delved inside his side pockets.
I can't read her letter because of these persons. Che.
"Hey Echizen, come here and look! After you do, you'll understand what Kikumaru-sempai is telling you!" Momoshiro called on with a large sarcastic smile on his face. Ryoma took out his hands and walked towards Eiji and Momoshiro, who are currently sprawling at the bed. There he saw a laptop above his pillow, with a prepared media file on it.
"What is this all about?" Ryoma asked. Fuji smiled at him and said, "Play the video."
Ryoma bent down and quickly played the video. His eyes widened when he saw the whole scene.
This is when she was at the backyard! How did they!
"Oi! What's the meaning of this!" Ryoma interrogated at a loud voice. Inui grinned and looked at Ryoma sadistically. "Most importantly, what are you doing there?" Inui asked and pointed Ryoma's location at the monitor.
Ryoma felt such a rapid heartbeat coming from his own chest. "T-This can't be…" he mumbled and scrutinized the video. This is real!
The young man blushed madly after watching the whole video.
"Now, would you tell us the reason why you are at that place, and most importantly, hiding from Ryuzaki-san?" Fuji asked seriously. Ryoma tugged the brim of his cap and kept on defending his self. "T-that was… nothing… I just happened that I came across that place and-"
Momoshiro's smile grew even wider. "If it just happened, why did you picked up the letter?" he asked. Ryoma's sweat dropped once more. "I told you, that was nothing!" He protested like a child.
"Nothing, eh?" Fuji and Inui smiled with the I'm-going-to-scrutinize-you-with-a-ruler look. "Eiji. Momo." Fuji called on his two former team-mates with a huge smile. The two of them stood up and cornered Ryoma. "O-Oi… What are you going to do-"
When Ryoma opened his eyes, he realized that Eiji has already locked Ryoma's shoulders by his arms to stop him from moving, with his Momoshiro-sempai in front of him, hands trembling in excitement. "Hey! Whatever you're planning to do, stop it now!" he demanded loudly with his feet stomping, trying to get free from Kikumaru's trap. "No, we won't." Momoshiro taunted with a huge evil grin plastered on his face.
"Momoshiro…" Fuji called on with his turquoise like eyes observing the sadistic scene in front of him. "Do it now." He commanded, and then pulled out a gentle smile.
Momoshiro, Eiji and Inui gave out large broad smiles to each other and nodded. "Here I come…" Momoshiro spoke, his tentacle-moving like fingers drawing near to his pockets. Ryoma's eyebrows twitched.
Oh no! The letter…
"Just stay calm… this will take only a few minutes but…-"
"YADAAAAAA-!"
The birds chirping at the branches of the trees flew out in unison, as if there's something chasing them.
"What is it, Sakuno?" Tomoka, who was currently hanging the blankets, asked the brunette.
At the other side was Sakuno, who was currently carrying the laundry basket. She was staring at the trees were the birds came from, and was still wondering what happened. "Sakuno?" Tomoka called once more.
"Ah!" Sakuno, who was in the midst of perplexity, snapped out when she realized that Tomoka has been calling her name a while ago. "Tomo-chan, gomen…" she apologized with a simple smile.
Tomoka's eyebrows narrowed. "What are you thinking of?" she asked. She eyed her perplexed friend with her lips curving into a huge grin. "Will you let Tomo-chan know it, Sakuno?"
Sakuno's perplexed look was replaced with a demanding expression. "How will I let you know if I'm not even thinking of something?"
Tomoka pulled out her index finger and moved it from left to right. "Tomo-chan is never wrong, Sakuno-chaaan…" she kept on taunting.
Sakuno's eyebrows twitched, her lips forming an unsure smile. "But I'm not really thinking of something…"
The other short-haired brunette relaxed herself, placed her hands on her waists and sighed. "Sakuno, that's not what I am saying. Not as in, literally thinking about something…"
Sakuno put down the laundry basket and then wiped her wet hands on her apron. She looked at Tomoka with her wondering chocolaty eyes and asked, "Literally thinking about something? What do you mean?"
Tomoka placed her hands on her waists and grunted. "Nee Sakuno," she almost whined. "You can also act numb and dense sometimes, ne?"
She lifted her hands and started fixing her bandana. "Me? Acting numb and dense?" she interrogated while tying the bandana.
"Mooouuu, how can I explain this…" Tomoka heaved a sigh. "I mean, you must have been thinking of someone! Aw Sakuno… that's why I'm telling that you can also act dense like him!"
Sakuno raised an eyebrow. "Someone? And, who is the person you are referring to?" she asked, suspecting that Tomoka is hiding something from her.
"Someone special!" Tomoka's hands moved lazily while explaining. "'Him'? Oh, you still don't know! How could you! I mean…"
"Echizen Ryoma?" Sakuno uttered, her index finger touching her soft pinkish lips. Tomoka nodded and smiled. "Yeah! Echizen Ryo-"
Tomoka's eyes widened like dinner plates. No! That's not it! I'm going to say it!
"N-NO! NOT HIM-"
"Tomo-chan, what are you talking about?" Sakuno smiled while rubbing her arm with her dry hand.
"Eh?" Tomoka blinked several times, her heart beating as if it joined a marathon race just a few seconds ago.
Sakuno pointed at the hallway and smiled, "I said I just saw Echizen-kun running at the hallway!" she said, almost childishly.
Tomoka placed her hand on her chest and sighed. Whew! Saved by the bell!
"By the way, why is he running?" Sakuno wondered with a quizzical look on her face, her index finger touching her lips once more. "Why?" she wondered even more, her head shifting to the other side.
"Maybe he's running after a chicken!" Yume popped out from nowhere, with her index finger on a for-your-information style.
Sakuno almost jumped in nervousness when Yume came out. "Y-Yume-chan!"
"No Yume-chan. Maybe a chicken is chasing him." A familiar voice lingered through their ears.
"Oh yeah. Maybe you're right, Sadist nii-chan." Yume held her chin like an investigator, pertaining to the sadist genius, Fuji Syuusuke.
Tomoka narrowed her eyebrows, her lips forming a slight smile. "But Fuji-sempai, it would be impossible that a chicken is chasing him."
"I don't really think so." A serious tone came from behind.
Sakuno and Tomoka's spine shivered. "T-Tezuka-bucho!" they reacted in unison with a sign of confusion residing in their eyes. Don't tell me that Tezuka-bucho has already, changed! Tomoka thought of while having an imagination of Tezuka, laughing with the words, 'Oh! A chicken is chasing Echizen! He totally chickened out! BWAHAHAHAHA!'
She was sweat-dropped. That 'imagination' of hers will never happen, especially his laughing moment. Oh, how we wish he would.
"Fshuuu…" a hissing sound came from behind. Yume jumped for joy and clung her shoulders at Kaidoh's neck. "Mamushi nii-chaaaaaan! You came!" Kaidoh closed his eyes and heaved a sigh. "Here we go again… The 'mamushi' thing…" he mumbled. Yume just gave out a huge smile.
A few seconds passed and they saw a medium sized moving object with folded reddish wings, its feathers scattering on the floor.
Their eyes grew wide when they saw the moving object.
"CHICKEN!" they reacted in unison, excluding Tezuka, who nodded twice.
"AAAAH! GET OFF MEEEE!" Ryoma reprimanded loudly.
Oh, what did our dearRyoma-kun did to the chicken?
"I-Itaii…" Ryoma retorted while enduring his forehead injury.
Sumire fixed her first aid kit with an obvious amused expression on her wrinkled face. "What? You're running through the hallway and then the chicken just ran and almost assaulted you?"
Ryoma nodded like a child.
The old woman laughed satisfyingly before her former student. "Ha-ha! Don't tell me that your charms can also affect a chicken, Ryoma!"
Everyone inside the room laughed, breaking the mid-silence inside the room. They laughed madly, unlike Tezuka who has been holding his smiles behind his hand.
Ryoma blushed in embarrassment and retorted once more. "Charms?" he spoke and broke the noise inside the room. "Why would a chicken attack a handsome guy LIKE ME if I have the charms!" he blurted out in irritation.
The silence was broken once more when they started to laugh again.
"Echizen! I never knew that you can also pull something like that!" Momoshiro spoke between his giggles. Ryoma raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you mean?"
Kikumaru held his stomach while laughing. He stopped and looked at everyone with an annoyed facial expression. "Why would a chicken attack a handsome guy like me if I have the charms!" Kikumaru said in a Ryoma-like voice and acted like him. Everyone laughed so hard once more.
Ryoma tugged the brim of his white Fila cap and spoke with an annoyed tone. "Why is it always me?"
Momoshiro bent towards Ryoma's ear and whispered, "By the way Echizen, where did you hide the letter, huh?" he asked.
Ryoma's frown was replaced with a huge evil grin. He stood up, faced Fuji, Inui, Momo and Eiji, and then gave out a taunting smile. "You'll never know where it is, sempai-tachi." He smirked, and then took his seat once more.
"Just be sure, Echizen!" The four of them taunted in unison, huge grins forming at their features.
-KNOCK KNOCK
Sumire looked at the door and spoke, "Come in."
The brown door opened, revealing an auburn-haired lady wearing a red bandana on her hair. "Lunch is ready." Sakuno gently spoke with a smile, causing the hazel eyed handsome man to blush. All thanks to his white Fila cap or else his reddened face will be too obvious to see.
Sumire nodded and gave out her usual smile. "Thanks." She stated while fixing the first aid kit.
"It's hot…" Ryoma mumbled, took out his white Fila cap and used it like a fan while running his fingers through his soft dark-green hair. He tried to focus his attention at the window, which is located beside the door. Sakuno spotted Ryoma looking at the window near her, and when she gazed at his face, she felt something different.
Something crossed through her mind like a bolt when she noticed the patch at the left side of his forehead near his left eye.
I think I saw something like that before. There's a court. No, I think I'm present in two events in two courts. Someone… someone is bleeding! Who is it? Who?
Sakuno looked at the ground and remembered her red bandana. She recalled something like she's standing at the court while offering a pink ribbon to someone who has a blue wristband. She could remember that she's feeling fairly scared while remembering a boy in front of her, whose left eye is somewhat, bleeding. Her trembling hand is tugging his wrist, asking him to get out of the court.
No! He is not a player anymore! He is already an injured player!
"Sakuno-chan?" a voice from behind bothered her recalling. Sakuno felt sudden warmth on her shoulder, which made her a little bit startled.
O-Obaa-chan!
Sakuno turned around, thinking that it was her grandmother who was tapping her left shoulder. Her anxious eyes were replaced with wondering ones when she didn't saw her grandmother, but her friend instead. "K-Kin-chan…"
"What's the matter, Sakuno-chan?" Kintarou asked, his tone resembling deep concern. Sakuno pushed a reassuring smile when she saw Kintarou's fretting face. "Nothing, Kin-chan. Let's go now." She said and put a hand over his shoulders. Kintarou finally smiled and cheered up. "Ah!"
"I'll keep on going." Sumire said and followed the two youngsters in front of her.
Fuji walked towards Ryoma, bent down to his ear and whispered, "You should learn how to conceal things like these, but when it becomes too heavy to bear, you can always shout them out."
Ryoma gave out an astonished look, faced Fuji and raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean-"
Fuji quickly cut off Ryoma's retort by putting his index finger to his own lips. "Ssshh…" he hushed. Ryoma backed off, his face still on a quizzical state. "You'll be able to know it someday."
He gazed the ground with his hands clenching on his sides.
"Hoi hoi! O'chibi is jealous, ne?" Kikumaru came by and placed his hand above Momoshiro's shoulder. Momoshiro gave out a wide grin and also placed his hand above Kikumaru's. "What's the matter, Sakuno-chan?" Kikumaru looked at Momoshiro with such anxious eyes. Momoshiro smiled and answered, "Nothing, Kin-chan. Let's go now." After that, the two young men burst into laughter.
Ryoma's eyebrows twitched. "Y-you two… just shut up…" he complained with his eyes closed, his fists clenched on his sides.
"Probability of Jealousy Products, 100 percent." Inui calculated with his eyeglasses gleaming, his hand scribbling letters with his pencil on his green notebook.
Ryoma piped up like a kid. "I-I'm not even jealous-"
Kaidoh smirked. "With that reaction, I could tell that you really are."
The dark-green haired lad raised an eyebrow. "I said I'm not-"
"I'm in love with you, DJ! My heart going upside down!" Kikumaru and Momoshiro started singing his song entitled 'Dreaming on the Radio', which is about a boy who fell in love to a DJ because of her voice. Because of this, Ryoma blushed even more.
"Hey, if I am not mistaken, Ryuzaki-san's previous job before becoming a pop star is being a DJ, right?" Oishi spoke and pulled out a huge grin. "Eh!" Ryoma reacted and looked at his sempai-tachi with an unbelieving look.
"Ooh Four-Eyed Nii-chan, did you saw Ryoma nii-chan's reaction? He was very SHOCKED! As in SHOCKED!" Yume entered the picture with an amused facial expression. Tezuka nodded and looked at Ryoma. "Echizen," he spoke. Everyone inside the room stared at Tezuka, and thought of something.
He actually, spoke and entered a conversation like this!
"Don't deny it anymore. We already caught you in the act. Getting off your white cap and pretending that it is too hot, even if it is not. The air conditioner is even at the normal mode, but you acted like it's very hot." Tezuka stated clearly, distinctly, and loudly. Everyone inside the room really stared at him.
This is the first time that I heard Tezuka talk so long like that! And what the-? He is talking about how Echizen pretended that he is not jealous! This is a love talk, you know!
There was tremendous silence, until…
"Ooh! Four Eyed Nii-chan, you also noticed? Unbelievable!" Yume blurted out in an innocent way. "You're becoming even more verbal!"
Tezuka stood up and, "Yume-chan, it's about time that children like you should go to the kitchen and take your lunch." He said while lending a hand to the little girl. Yume took his hand and smiled widely. "Yiii! Lunch Time! Lunch Time! Lunch Time!" she chanted as the two of them exited the room and walked towards the kitchen, leaving his former teammates on a stunned state.
"That's not so Tezuka…" the eight of them reacted in unison.
Lunch time is already finished. The persons assigned to do the dishes are Horio and Tomoka, who are also known to be the Noisy pair. Yume sprinted to the dirty kitchen with a huge smile plastered on her face.
"Noisy nee-chan…" Yume called on and tugged Tomoka's apron. "Noisy nee-chan?" Tomoka wondered and looked at the little girl with a quizzical look. Yume nodded and repeated, "Noisy nee-chan, I say."
Tomoka's nerves were like popping at her forehead. "I'll take that because you're a kid…"
Yume pointed Horio with her index finger and, "Hmm, so the guy beside you could be…" she started to think deeply. Horio faced the girl with a wondering expression while having these thoughts swimming in his mind.
I should be called Handsome onii-chan!
"Ah! I know!" Yume snapped out, her right hand over her left hand. "I'm still wondering on what to call you… If Connected Eyebrows nii-chan, it will be too long…"
"C-Connected Eyebrows!" Horio retorted and tried to look at his eyebrows. Tomoka was about to laugh, but she thought that it will be a very simple thing to become 'funny'.
"Unnecessary nii-chan? I think it will hurt…"
Tomoka is almost holding her breath when she saw Horio's face turning violet.
"AH! I know!" Yume snapped out once more. She pointed Horio sharply and smirked. "You!"
Horio blinked several times. "Me?"
"I will call you, COMMONER NII-CHAN!" Yume stated out very loudly, which made Tomoka to burst into laughter.
Horio felt like he was splashed with the waves of the Dead Sea with the spotlight above him. "WHYYYY!"
Yume and Tomoka were laughing girlishly when Sakuno entered the dirty kitchen. "Eh? Horio-kun?" Sakuno wondered when she saw Horio at that Cinderella-like position.
"Commoner nii-chan was dumped by Noisy nee-chan!" Yume enthusiastically stated. Tomoka looked at the girl unbelievably and exclaimed, "Yume-chan!"
Sakuno giggled lightly. "Yume-chan, so frantic." She stated, and then looked outside the window. She saw the plum tree at the backyard, and smiled. I wonder if Saviour-kun had already replied to my letter?
I'm sure. I'm already safe here inside.
Ryoma thought of while locking the door of the boy's bathroom. "Okay. Here we go." He muttered and slowly opened the envelope. He pulled out his dainty fingers and took out the folded paper from the inside. He carefully opened the letter, and when he completely unfolded the paper, he smelled such fragrance from it. Something similar to the cologne that she is always using everyday.
His heart raced when his eyes read the first sentence stated on the letter. He continued to read on and on. Her simple words are already enough to make this man's heartbeat to pump so mad and his cheeks to flush deep red.
Yes, you're right. I'm very happy yesterday, because I was with a new person. His name is Echizen Ryoma, and it seems like I've met him before I just can't remember when or where. At first, I thought that he is just a new person who crossed by my path, but I was wrong. Referring to the fact that it seems like I've met him before, it is noticeable that he knows something about me. The first time he comforted me was when he played tennis with me, and then we had a tiny chit-chat with each other. Maybe he already knew that I was undergoing a selective amnesia, so he tried to cheer me up. His tone resembles sincerity to me, and that voice could also comfort me whenever I am sad. Just remembering that moment, it makes me happy. But yesterday is REALLY different! I was playing with him at the garden when I felt something like; I am comfortable and confident with him even though I only met him a few days ago. I can't tell that this is something new because, I feel like I'm undergoing a repeating history.
Ryoma flipped the letter to read the continuation.
By the way, thank you for suggesting me to reply to your letters. I really wanted to do this from the start. I also wanted to thank you for the flowers that you gave to me. They really look so beautiful, and even though I know that they are already wilted and dry, I will still keep the first letter you sent me. I promise to always smile, so you will be able to see it everyday. Always, Sakuno-chan.
If he is allowed to faint, he really would! Those direct to the point words and verses, really made adrenalin to rush and infest his cheeks.
I think I've already fallen for you, saviour-kun!
"Maybe she's really serious with what she had said before." Ryoma supposed with his cheeks painted deep red. "I think I should reply to her now-"
-BRAAAAAAM!
Ryoma heard a loud crashing sound from the outside, something like someone bumped hardly at the bathroom's door. He fumbled the letter in his pockets and quickly opened the door. "Sempai-tachi!" he blinked several times when he saw Kikumaru and Momoshiro at the ground, with Inui and Fuji hiding at the side walls.
"Yo, Echizen…" Momoshiro and Kikumaru called on with such smiles plastered on their faces.
Ryoma gave out a mischievous smile. "All of you are getting persistent." He said with a huge smile, and left.
Kikumaru and Momoshiro sat up and wondered. "O'chibi is acting very weird…" he mumbled. Momoshiro nodded and said, "That smile is… creepy. He is up to something!" he stated loudly. Inui and Fuji walked towards Momoshiro and Eiji with such surprised facial expressions.
"He really is. Let's go and observe even more!" Eiji beamed. "But, what are we going to do? We shouldn't jump to conclusions." Momoshiro replied with a question.
Inui's eyeglasses gleamed once more. "I have a plan." He said, and whispered it to everyone.
Sakuno walked through the backyard, wondering if her saviour-kun had already replied to her message. She ran towards the plum tree, and scrutinized if there's a single flower.
"Mou… Not here yet…" she moaned when she knew that there's nothing there. "When will he give me his reply? It should be as fast as possible!" she placed her hands on her hips and formed a huge smile. She walked around the plum tree while thinking of her Saviour-kun. After a few walks around the said tree, she decided to sit down and rest her back at the tree's trunk.
Echizen-kun is really, familiar.
She suddenly thought of. Her chocolate-like eyes were filled with anxiousness while thinking of him. "It could be, impossible! Everyone… Everyone will tell me if it is him, right?" she verbalized, and then pushed an unwanted smile. "B-but what if, they just don't want me to know?"
The soft and calm breeze passed through her body. The ambience of the moment matches her reminiscing; her soft and cold palms were clutched together in front of her chest. Her lips are forming a feeble frown, while thinking of possible reasons about Ryoma Echizen's true identity.
Sakuno, it would be hard for us to utter a word about him. Not because of alibis but because of protection.
"What is she pertaining to?" Sakuno bit her thumb and started to think of answers. "W-what if…"
Sakuno stood up, crossed her hands at her back and leaned at the tree. She gazed upwards with her eyes almost closed because of the rays of sunlight striking her face and muttered. "What if, it is Echizen-kun?"
The soft breeze became a gush of wind after uttering his name.
She set her eyes on the ground with her racing heartbeat. Her lips were gaped from each other, as if the words wanted to escape from it. "R-Ryoma…"
She uttered. And she can't help herself on saying his name anymore.
"Ryoma-kun…" she whispered. Her hand reached for her red bandana to take it off, and when she already did, she stared at it blankly.
"No. He is not just a player, but an injured person…" she murmured, feeling how her heartbeat race so fast. "R-Ryoma-kun…"
"Ryuzaki?" a familiar masculine voice lingered in her ears.
It's him…
Sakuno slowly raised her head with her eyes searching for the owner of the familiar voice. Adrenalin started to infest her rosy cheeks, her heart keeping its fast rate. Her mind was like struck by a hard object when she saw the person who was calling her. R-Ryoma-kun…
Ryoma walked towards her with his hands delved inside his side pockets, his features forming a worrying expression. He raised an eyebrow at her and asked, "Why are you staring at me?"
Why are you staring at me?
Why?
Why?
Why?
"Ryuzaki!" Ryoma firmly called on while tapping her shoulder.
"Ah!" Sakuno gasped when she was snapped back to reality. She fixed her composition, stood up straight and looked at him. "E-Echizen-kun! W-What are you doing here-"
"What's happening to you? Staring at me like that…" Ryoma smirked as he took the place beside Sakuno and leaned at the rough surface of the tree. His elbow surfaces hers, his lips forming a mischievous smile.
Upon feeling his elbow touching hers, she can't hold it but feel her cheeks glow red. She faced the ground to avoid such eye contact and whispered, "I-I'm n-not s-staring at y-you…" she stuttered.
Ryoma raised an eyebrow when he heard her response. "You're stuttering?"
Sakuno gasped once more and looked at him sharply, her hands waving in a no-sign. "N-no I'm n-not! I remembered that I have s-something to do! Got to go!" she retorted. She quickly turned her back to him and started to walk away when suddenly…
"Don't go."
Those two words made her pause. Those words are very simple but extraordinary in meaning, especially when she already felt his warm hand gripping her own wrist. Her stunned state kept its phase which only changed when her eyes turned gloomy and her brows almost meet each other. She withdrew back as her thoughts streamed through her mind. She pulled out a smile with a rapid heartbeat while trying to relax her wrist and said, "But Echizen-kun, I still have something to do-"
"Tell me. You already remembered, right?" Ryoma asked seriously, the brim of his cap covering almost half of his face's features. She felt his grip even tighter when he spoke.
The soft breeze passed through them, as the leaves of the plum tree swayed, following the path that the wind is blowing.
"I still haven't-"
"Then why…" he asked once more, the tone of his voice not even changing a single tone. Sakuno looked at him with a confused guise and wondered why. "…then why did you called my name?"
The brunette gasped when she heard the young man speak before her. He was right. Why would she do that? He wouldn't give her that kind of question with a serious tone if it does not matter to him. But hearing her call his name seems to be really significant. Why?
Sakuno hung her head low and looked at the ground. "It's because… I…" she started, which made him to loosen his grip a little.
Ryoma raised his head as he waited for her response.
Sakuno bit her lower lip, as if she's biting her pride. It's not really good to tell information to another person if it is not yet confirmed. "I…"
I can't… I can't say it…
"Why?" Ryoma spoke and demanded for an answer.
"It's because I think you're-"
"ECHIZEN! Where are you? Echizen!" somebody called on from the kitchen's door, which happened to be near at the backyard.
Ryoma took off his grip and turned his back to her. "I'm sorry." He apologized with humility.
"I'm also sorry."
His eyes widened when he felt something wrapping his body. "I'm sorry, Echizen-kun… I know that you also wanted to help me to regain these memories, but I felt somewhat scared when I saw you a while ago. I'm so… sorry…"
Ryoma's widening eyes turned calmer. He took her hands and freed his body from her warm hug. He faced her, and saw tears residing at the corners of her eyes.
If you just know how much I wanted to pull you in an embrace.
He looked at her concernedly while wiping those residing tears away from her chocolate-like eyes. "Don't cry. Remember what I promised to you?"
Sakuno gave out a weak nod, as if she's a lost little kid.
Maybe he is just somewhere, but your memory can't get where he is. But I'm sure he also wants you to recover your memories about him. I promise to help you in bringing back those memories.
"Just have some trust, and we can go on." Ryoma said with a huge smile while patting her head. Sakuno smiled upon seeing him smile like that. "Thank you, Echizen-kun…"
Wait. Did I say that Ryoma wore a huge smile?
"By the way Echizen-kun…" her soft angelic voice called on. Ryoma faced her and raised an eyebrow. "Hn?"
"Since when did you learned to smile like that?" Sakuno asked, as if she was teasing. Ryoma delved his hands inside his side pockets and smirked.
"I learned it after meeting the person that I've been waiting for, the second time around."
Her eyes were filled with curiosity. "You've been waiting for, the second time around?"
"ECHIZEN!" Momoshiro called out in a loud voice. Ryoma glanced at her with his usual facial expression and gave out a nod. "I'm going now." He said and turned his back to her.
"Ja'ne, Echizen-kun!" she waved goodbye with a smile seen on her face.
Ryoma heaved a sigh when he heard her call him by his surname. "Ryuzaki…"
Sakuno observed his frame and wondered, "Hm?"
Ryoma closed his eyes with his lips forming a gentle smile. "You're always free to call the real me." He said and walked away.
She raised an eyebrow, her features forming a quizzical look. "R-real… me?"
Sakuno moaned and scratched her nape. "By the way, I'm here to see if Saviour-kun has already replied to my letter. I was waiting for him to show up, but instead of seeing him, I saw Echizen-kun instead. What's happening?"
She sat at the grass with a wondering expression on her face. "Mouu… I'm getting… crazy." She said with a huge smile with her hand scratching her head.
"Sakuno nee-chan!" Yume's little but loud voice called out. Sakuno quickly stood up and gasped with her hand covering her mouth. "I forgot! We are assigned to do some cleaning at the basement!"
"Sakuno! Where are you!" this time, it was Tomoka who was calling her name.
"Coming!"
Momoshiro, who was walking near the backyard, quickly grabbed Ryoma by the neck and scratched his dark-green hair. "Where have you been, you brat!" he interrogated by surprise.
"I-Itaii…" Ryoma protested, his right eye almost closing.
"Oi Momo, remember that he is injured by the chicken that attacked him!" Oishi demanded while trying to help Ryoma from Momoshiro's wrath.
"Yeah! Let him out or else the chicken who assaulted him might attack you! You know, girls hate it whenever they see their crush being hurt by another! Nya!" Eiji cheerfully stated while messing Momoshiro's hair.
Ryoma, who was already freed from Momoshiro, saw a red like figure near Momoshiro. "S-sempai…"
Kikumaru and the others looked at Ryoma and wondered. "What is it, Echizen?"
Ryoma pulled out his index finger and pointed the figure behind Momoshiro. "T-That thing."
They were all sweat dropped when they saw the object—or animal—behind Momoshiro. Kikumaru inched a few steps away from Momoshiro, took out his fingers and tapped his shoulder. "Look."
Momoshiro's eyes widened like wheels of a Four-wheeler truck when he saw the thing that Echizen is pointing. "I can sense a murderous intent."
All of them nodded.
Inui hid his notebook after scribbling the letters and looked at them. "There are over a hundred ways about curing the scratches of a chicken, but there is only one way to escape a chicken's wrath."
Tezuka's eyeglasses gleamed. "I can sense danger. All of you, run!"
And they did as Tezuka told them to do so. All of them ran for their lives or else, the murderous intent of the chicken to our princes will cause too much chaos. They ran and ran until they reached the bath house.
Inui's glasses were gleaming. Plan A, complete!
"Sakuno nee-chan, could you please put that box over here?" Yume asked while carrying a feather duster. Sakuno nodded and did as she was told so. She lifted the box and carried it at the corner of the basement. Yume smiled hugely and bowed respectively. "Thanks a lot, onee-chan!"
Sakuno smiled and tapped Yume's head. "You're welcome, Yume-chan!" she said and withdrew back her hand. She turned around and looked at her dainty fingers.
W-What's this? Sakuno wondered when she saw auburn strands of hair beneath her fingers. "Y-Yume-chan?" she spun around and called out. Yume faced her with a huge grin and asked, "What is it, Sakuno nee-chan?"
She looked at her so-called elder sister and wondered why she was raising her hand. Her gleeful face was replaced with a gloomy one, which was easily noticed by Sakuno. "W-what's this, Yume-chan?" she asked while showing the auburn strands of hair that was left at her hand.
Yume quickly replaced her gloomy reaction with a cheerful one. "Sakuno nee-chan, you ran your fingers through my hair, right?" she stated.
Sakuno raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah…"
But I didn't. I only placed my hand over her head… I don't want to jump into conclusions but…
"Oi Noisy nee-chan!" Yume called on with a loud voice. Tomoka faced her with an annoyed look. "N-noisy nee-chan!"
"A feather of the same kind makes a better feather duster!" Yume pulled out. Tomoka, who was not getting the joke right, cracked out. "W-What!"
Sakuno's attention shifted to the little conversation about the feather.
Inside Yume was a worrying identity, wondering if her Sakuno nee-chan had already figured it out.
It was already late at night when Kintarou thought of having a walk around the rest house. He first thought of the main entrance of the rest house, and quickly ran towards it. When he decided to take a few more steps, he realized that he is already facing the wall. He looked around him, and saw a plum tree a few more walks from his place. His eyes observed the place when he remembered that Sakuno is always visiting that place.
W-who's that! He wondered when he saw an image coming near at the tree.
His eyes widened and his eyebrows furrowed when he saw his rival. That's Koshimae! But what is he doing right there?
Kintarou's curiosity caused him to observe Ryoma's actions. Ryoma bent down and placed an object at the tree's foot. He looked around him, and then quickly went away.
"But, what is he doing?" Kintarou raised an eyebrow while regaining his composure. A few more minutes passed and he is still standing at his place. He saw another figure coming near the tree, which also bent down to pick up the object that Echizen dropped down.
"S-Sakuno-chan!" he almost blurted out. He watched even more carefully until Sakuno quickly ran and got back inside the rest house by using the back door of the kitchen.
"You've been watching too, Kin-chan?" a familiar voice lingered inside Kintarou's ear. He turned around and saw four persons behind him.
"Ah, so this is what he is planning. Playing secretly, that brat is a real brat!" Momoshiro spoke while wearing a big grin. Kikumaru placed his arm above Momoshiro's shoulder and spoke cheerfully, but in a low voice. "That's the way he is! Nya!" Inui, who was scribbling some notes, spoke, "That's so Echizen."
"Y-You guys…"
"Is it okay if we came into the picture?" Fuji spoke and gave out his weird smile.
Kintarou, who was still stunned, spoke in a stuttering state. "Y-yes…"
"Tomo-chan, I lost my clip! Mou, where did I put it? Kin-chan gave it to me last year as a birthday present, how come can I afford to lose it?" Sakuno, who was almost panicking, asked. Tomoka placed her hands at her hips and spoke, "Maybe you left it at the basement."
Sakuno's worrying face bloomed. "Thanks!"
-CRAAANK
"Lights on," Sakuno smiled and turned on the lights. She started to look around for her clip, and circulated the whole room. The only place left is the box that she carried a while ago. She quickly ran towards it, and at last, she saw the clip that Kintarou gave to her.
"At last," she smiled while putting the clip at the side of her hair. She looked back at the old box and saw that it has a hole on it. She raised an eyebrow as a sign of curiosity. She lifted the cover of the box, and saw lots of stuffs in it.
She gasped.
"T-This is…"
…To be continued…
A/N: Woooo! Congratulations to me! An update! An update at last! After two months… Nyaa! I'm baack with a very long chapter. I hope you like it, because I really owe you something. And that's my late updating. Sorry for keeping you waiting and thank you for reading!
At singer in the wind, yah, I left a comment at your shoutbox. Thanks for recognizing that it was me! To raru-chan, did this chapter made your smile even grow wider? Nya? Nya? Hahaha! I will not leave a review huh! Lol XD –high five- To anjyaera-san, I think I'll make them appear at my next chapter. To cutepuff, thanks. To animeandmangaaddict, thanks for all of the reviews! Nya! Nya! At drearymoments, I think I should really update soon. At kawaiihannah-chan, you're welcome. And I'm also thanking you for the review. It kept me up! At fujiko-chan, here's your next chapter.
By the way, I proofread chapters 1 and 2. You can reread it always, as well as the other chapters. I'm also thinking of making a revised edition of A Dream, A Friend, A Reality after this fanfic.
Ja'ne!
rookie-chan