The Last Rose
Chapter 3
Written by: me
Tenis no Oujisama written by: Konomi-tensai
Italics denotes thoughts.
"Sugei, Ryoma-kun!!" Kachiro exclaimed.
"…."
"That's not fair!! Echizen gets to walk around and sell flowers to all the cute girls and I'm stuck here wearing a stupid lacy apron and serving juice!" Horio complained while sticking his lip out and crossing arms.
"Just use your two year tennis experience to become a regular."
"It looks like fun, Ryoma-kun." Katsuro chimed in.
"Hnn. Betsu ni. All the Regulars have to do this."
Ryoma shrugged his shoulders and waved his hand in the air as he walked away. All theRegulars have to do this, huh? He thought. This was his third batch of flowers. His clientele had mostly consisted of mothers and grandmothers; who did not bother him one bit. At least it wasn't a whole throng of those mindless, screaming girls that seemed to follow him everywhere.
"Hoi, Ochibiiiii!!!" Eiji ran up behind Ryoma and smacked him on the back.
"Itouzu!"
"So, how's it going with the roses? You're not slacking, nyah?"
"I'm just doing what I'm told." Ryoma wanted it to be known that he was totally bored with the tone of voice.
Eiji eyes lit up when he heard Ryoma speak. Maybe he will fall for it!! He looked over Ryoma's shoulder at the roses and began to count them, exaggerating every movement to make sure Ryoma could see what he was doing.
"Kikumaru-senpai? What are you doing?"
"Huhnyah?"
Eiji stopped counting, leaving his fingers over the flowers and looked at Ryoma. A mischievous looked slowly spread across his face. Ryoma took a step backward. When it came to Kikumaru-senpai, anything could happen.
"Just counting your flowers, Ochibi. You seem to be doing well, so ganbarou!!" Eiji's fist shot up in the air right where Ryoma was once standing. "Oh, and if you have one rose left, be sure to…"
Eiji suddenly stopped and looked as if he had just remembered something terribly important and without saying a word rushed off. Ryoma watched as Eiji disappeared into the crowded hallway.
Be sure to do what? Ryoma shook his head. "Kikumaru-senpai could at least finish his sentence."
While trying to make his way outside, he wound up selling a few more flowers and plopped down on one of the benches in the courtyard. For some reason the courtyard was empty, and Ryoma would not have had it any other way. He was tired. He had no idea that selling all these silly flowers would make him so tired. He wasn't physically tired. No, it was more like boredom. He did not want to bother selling the stupid roses anymore, even if it was just for the club.
Ryoma sauntered over to the vending machines that sat on the far side of the courtyard. He was going to take a Ponta break. He deserved a break. He plunked in the coins and pushed the button. Selling three dozen roses…chk. He grabbed the prized can and walked back over to the bench where he left his roses. This ponta was going to taste good.
"Taking an unscheduled break?"
Ryoma nearly choked as he whipped his head around to see Inui-senpai standing overhead behind him; the sun gleaming off his glasses.
"Well, considering the amount of roses you've sold and the small lunch break you took…" Inui started, paused as he made a few mental calculations, then continued. "I guess I would allow this break without punishment."
"Punishment?" Ryoma asked with a sinking feeling in his stomach.
"Hai. Anyone who tries to skip out early on their duties gets to drink a nice tall glass of PENAL TEA!!"
Ryoma swallowed hard as he stared at the evil grin plastered on Inui-senpai's face.
"You've done pretty well Echizen. At the last of this batch it would make four dozen roses you'll have sold. Hmmm….you only have seven roses left. I guess after those seven, you can call it a day."
Ryoma nodded. That was the best thing that he had heard all day, well, that and "lunchtime".
"Ano, Inui-senpai?"
"Hai."
"What happens if I have one rose left?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Kikumaru-senpai started to tell me that I should be sure to do something when I had one flower left, but he disappeared before he finished his sentence."
"Hmm…there is a 50 chance that you will have only one rose left. Anyway, if you do, you just simply…"
"Inui! Tezuka-san needs to talk to you!!"
The boys turned to see who was calling. Syusuke stood on the other side of the courtyard, waving his arm and calling to Inui.
"Excuse me." Inui said as he walked around the bench and headed toward Syusuke. He didn't even bother to look back at the ichinensei who watched him vanish with Fuji-senpai. Ryoma was getting a little annoyed.
"Why won't anyone finish their sentences?" he growled as he finished the rest of his ponta and went back to his duty as a regular.
Sakuno sat down at one of the chairs in the back of the classroom. It seemed as if she was on her feet all day long, even though she was given a lunch break. She spent it with Tomo-chan who wouldn't stop fawning over her Red Riding Hood costume. She spread out her skirt, smoothing it gently with her hands.
"Today wasn't too bad." Sakuno said quietly as she continued to stroke the soft velvet. She didn't know why she was so nervous at the beginning. She was just being silly thinking that everyone would laugh at her. It seemed no matter where she turned; people were stopping her and asking to take a picture either of her or with her. There were even a few times when the customers that came to the café asked to see her. But it seemed the highlight of her day was bumping into Ryoma-kun. He didn't laugh when he saw her like she had feared.
Ryoma just merely stated what he observed. She was uncomfortable. And it was true. At that moment Sakuno was definitely uncomfortable. Uncomfortable because her petticoat started to itch and uncomfortable because it started to itch while she was standing in front of Ryoma. But it was all over with, and after that she began to relax and enjoy herself.
"It would have been nice if Ryoma-kun had come to the café." Sakuno closed her eyes and tried to picture her serving a nice tall glass of cold ponta to Ryoma.
"Sakuno, ne, Sakuno?"
Sakuno was shaken out of her daydream as she felt Nami's hand on her shoulder.
"Sakuno, the mascots are going out one more time."
Sakuno nodded and rose to her feet. She grabbed her basket that was full of fliers and headed for the door where Rapunzel, Hansel, Gretel, Prince Charming and Snow White were all standing. One more round and it would be all over.
Ryoma continued to search the grounds for Kikumaru-senpai. For some reason, Kikumaru's unfinished thought was bothering him. He wanted to make sure he did everything correctly so he would not have to face the "punishment". He shuddered at the very thought. Before he knew it, he was standing in front of class1-1.
"IRRASSHAIII!" a tall, lanky boy dressed in a tuxedo greeted Ryoma.
"Ah."
"Welcome to our Storybook Café. Come in and enjoy a cup of tea being served by the three bears, or have a slice of cake served by a scary witch with a mysterious apple!!" the boy held out his hand and pushed back the curtain with his other, making enough room for Ryoma to walk through.
Ryoma poked his head in and looked around. Each section was set up as a different fairy tale. Little Red Riding Hood's tables looked as if they were sitting in the middle of a forest. Rapunzel's tables were decorated with towers and jeweled hair combs. Hansel and Gretel's tables were decorated like tiny gingerbread houses. Prince Charming's tables were decorated with paper swords and horses; while Snow White's tables were surrounded by dwarfs and animals. Ryoma was going to sit, but Inui-senpai's glasses flashed in his head and he quickly backed out; but not quick enough not to be seen. A shrill cry pierced through the air.
"EEEEEE!!!! RYOMA-SAMA!!!"
The blood drained from his face as he turned to see Tomoka charging towards him. It was too late to turn and run. Before he knew it, she had grabbed his arm and began to pull him back into the classroom.
"Ryoma-sama. Ryoma-sama. You came to our café!! Sit and I will fetch you something!!" Tomo whipped Ryoma down into a chair and ran off before he could even let out response.
He sat there patiently, looking around cautiously to make sure that Inui-senpai wouldn't be able to spot him. He kind of wanted to sit down in here anyway and besides, if he was caught he could make an excuse that Tomo and the rest of the screaming girl fan club wanted to buy some roses.
"Nee, nee, Ryoma-sama! Do you like tea? I brought you some of our special blend!! It'll give you energy to finish the day!!"
Ryoma looked at the tea that Tomo had placed before him. A special blend, huh? It had a slight reddish hue to it, and instinctively, Ryoma pushed it away from him. It looked too much like that vile liquid that gave him nightmares. Tomo saw the look on Ryoma's face and pushed the cup back toward him.
"That's Sakuno's special blend that she made just for today. It's a mixture of hibiscus flowers, rose petals, and flavored with mango and passion fruit. It's been the biggest hit of the café!! Sakuno would be very disappointed if you didn't try it, Ryoma-sama."
Ryoma looked at the cup once more. It didn't seem to menacing now. The aroma wafted up to his nostrils. It smelled ten times better than Inui-senpai's drink. What would it hurt if he just had one cup? He picked up the cup and placed it to his lips. Soon the cup was empty and Tomo had left to get him another.
For the second time, Ryoma sat patiently; but cautiously. Inui-senpai couldn't be found, but why did it seem as if someone was boring a hole in the back of his head. He slowly and nonchalantly turned his eyes to see if there was anyone in the classroom staring at him. With one sweep of the room, it seemed no one was looking at him. Yet, he still felt as if someone was staring at him.
Tomo came back to the table and cheerfully placed the cup in front of Ryoma. "Doozo, Ryoma-sama!!!!" She beamed with pride as if she had made the tea herself. How annoying, Ryoma thought as he picked up the cup and began to drink the warm, sweet tea. From behind him, at the door of the classroom, Momo smirked as he watched the ichinensei drink his second cup of tea.
AN: Gomen nasai!!! bowing deeply I had meant to upload this chapter weeks ago, but with the holidays and traveling and family and work, I completely forgot. So, here's the third chapter. I hope it's to everyone's liking. I really wrote this late late at night, so it might be a little loopy. Also, pray that I'll get bitten by the inspiration bug (and work won't keep me too busy) to continue with the next chapters that I want to type up! Arigato Gozaimasu, ne!! niku niku