The Last Rose

Chapter 2

Written by: me
Tenis no Oujisama written by: the great Konomi-sensei

AN: My chapters are a little short when put in this format, but in word they run about 4 to 5 pages. I don't like to put too much content into one chapter, I feel that my thoughts get a little cluttered if I do that. Other than that, I hope you enjoy the second chapter. BTW, I do use Japanese in my story (you can read my AN from the first chapter). domo arigato gozaimasu. yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Italics denotes thought.

"Ne, ne…Syusuke! Is that who I think it is?" Eiji asked as he dug his elbow into Syusuke's ribs.

Syusuke turned and looked in the direction Eiji was pointing. A figure in a red hood and dress with two tell-tale braids was walking in their direction. Syusuke smiled and nodded to Eiji who grinned back. The two of them made their way through the throng of bodies that lined the hallway. They were completely focused on Little Red Riding Hood.

Sakuno and Snow White were right in the middle of the hallway, handing out their fliers and talking to those who passed by. "This was a good idea, ne, Sakuno-chan?" Snow White turned and asked Sakuno. Sakuno just nodded. There seemed to be more people on the third floor than the other two floors. Up here she was handing out fliers at a more rapid pace and making sure not to miss anyone.

"Sumimasen, Little Red Riding Hood. I would like a flier, nyah."

Sakuno spun around. There, she stood face to face with Kikumaru-senpai who was grinning from ear to ear. Her smile completely vanished.

"What a cute Red Riding Hood. Isn't she the cutest Little Red Riding Hood you've ever seen Eiji?" Syusuke smiled sweetly as he spoke.

Sakuno's face turned the same hue as the hood she sank back in. When Snow White suggested going to the upper levels, Sakuno agreed, completely forgetting about the other Starters. Especially Fuji-senpai and Kikumaru-senpai. Her hands retained their death grip on her basket as she looked down at her slippers.

"Aww, daijoubu, daijoubu Sakuno-chan. We didn't mean to frighten you." Eiji cooed as he saw the uncomfortable look on Sakuno's face.

Sakuno meekly looked at her two senpai-tachi and smiled. They didn't laugh at her like she thought they would. Her fingers slowly loosened their grip.

"But you still are very cute as Little Red Riding Hood!!" Syusuke added. "Is it for your class?"

Sakuno nodded and handed the two of them a flier.

"Hmm. A storybook café. Sounds interesting, ne, Eiji?"

"Hm hm!!" Eiji nodded frantically. "Especially if they're serving strawberry cake!"

Sakuno watched the two starters discuss visiting class 1-1 during a break. Her eyes moved from each of their faces, when, suddenly, her eyes were adverted to their hands and what they were carrying.

"Ano, Fuji-senpai? Kikumaru-senpai?"

The two looked up from their fliers.

"What are the flowers for?"

"Oh, that's right!! You're an ichinensei, nyah? Every year the tennis team sells roses."

"They're very pretty."

"Would you like to ha…"

"Well, we better be going Eiji. We still have some flowers to sell. It was a pleasure to see you look so cute, as always, Sakuno-chan." Syusuke interrupted Eiji. He grabbed him by the arm and dragged him away from Sakuno.

Sakuno just watched them walk away from her. Soon they were lost in the crowd. She turned and started handing out fliers again. She kind of wished that they hadn't left so soon. She wanted a rose.

"HORA!! What's the big idea? I was going to give Sakuno-chan a rose!!" Eiji whined. Syusuke finally let go of his arm, and he rubbed gently like a wounded animal.

"I know. That's why I stopped you."

"You didn't want to give Sakuno-chan a rose? That's not like you Syusuke. You're the first person to give a cute girl something." Eiji scratched his head as he tried to figure out what Syusuke could have possibly been thinking.

Syusuke opened his eyes and looked at Eiji. "I have a better idea," he smiled.

Sakuno looked around but could not find Snow White anywhere. Did she leave her up there all by herself? Maybe she ran out of fliers and went downstairs to get some more. Sakuno looked in her basket and realized that she was getting pretty low herself. I'm sure I'll run into her, Sakuno thought as she headed back downstairs.

She continued to hand out fliers as she walked to her classroom. She looked in her basket once more to check to see how many fliers she had left, when, suddenly, she slammed into someone. The collision knocked her back a little, but she somehow stopped herself from falling on the floor.

"You may want to watch where you're walking."

Sakuno froze. That was the second time today that she recognized a voice that seemed to make her heart stop. But this time, it was worse. It was exactly the person she did not want to see; and, now, he was standing right in front of her. He had to be the one she bumped into. She didn't want to look at him. She didn't want to hear him laugh at her and the way she was dressed. But, she heard nothing. Not even a chuckle.

"G…gomen nasai." She squeaked.

"Why are you dressed that way?"

Sakuno silently handed Ryoma her last flier. As he read it, she slowly lifted her gaze and stopped on the flowers in his hand. Ryoma also has roses.

"A storybook café? So you're dressed up as…"

"Little Red Riding Hood." Sakuno answered softly. She grimaced as she waited for the teasing to begin.

Silence. There was only silence. No laughter. No teasing remarks. Just an awkward silence. All of a sudden, the petticoat started to itch terribly. Sakuno began to fidget. The itching became almost unbearable, but she didn't want to scratch her legs in front of Ryoma.

"You look…"

Sakuno's heart thumped inside of her chest. Here it comes, she thought. He was going to say how silly and foolish she looked.

"You look uncomfortable." Ryoma said and walked past Sakuno.

"Uncomfortable?"

Sakuno sighed. Ryoma was right. She adjusted her petticoat and rubbed her legs. She did feel uncomfortable. Was that all he had to say? But she was relieved. At least he didn't laugh.

"Do you think he'll fall for this?" Eiji looked at Syusuke. He still had the same confused look on his face. He was just as confused as he was before.

"I give it a 98 chance of failure." Inui said, appearing behind Syusuke.

"We just have to be convincing."

"It is true that Ryoma is totally clueless when it comes to girls," Momo added. He remembered that day Ryoma spent with Sakuno. It wasn't a date, technically, he was just running an errand; but, he didn't even talk to Sakuno. And on top of that, he made her cry. That was completely unforgivable.

"That's why my plan will work." Syusuke smiled. "You just have to make sure you do your part."

Syusuke, Eiji, Inui, and Momo all nodded and went their separate ways to get in place to execute their plan: Operation Last Rose.

AN: I actually found this story in a bunch of old notebooks. I had started writing it, but then got sidetracked by other things in life. Anyway, it's been a while, but the dust is blown off and now I'm uploading it. Hope you are enjoying it so far. Next chapter coming soon (niku niku)