Chapter 12: Once Upon a Broken Heart
Never believed fairy tales came true, but now I know that they really do
Now that I've found you, now that I'm here with you, just look at the sunshine
And you showed me a world I'd never seen, I woke up and fell into this dream
Happily ever after just took time, once upon this broken heart of mine
I have never ever been so bored in my life...Ryoma just sat in his English class, staring into space, and waiting for Sensei to dismiss the class so that he could go get ready for tennis practice. Luckily for him, the boys' tennis season had restarted, so he actually had something to get him through the day, despite some of the recent heartbreaking events in hislife.
What would I do without tennis...Suddenly, as he snapped back into reality to find that everyone in class was staring at him.
"Echizen Ryoma, what did I just ask the class?"
Ryoma froze. The class, knowing full well that he wasn't paying attention, stared at him intently, wondering what dry response he was going to give.
"RRRINNGG!" The bell rang, and he grabbed all of his books and literally sprinted out of the classroom, much to the teacher's frustration. Literally saved by the bell,he sighed with relief. Running to the guys' locker room, he changed into his tennis clothes in less than five minutes, feeling much better.
Ryoma strolled onto the courts with a spring in his step...only to turn around and walk right back out.
There she is again, clinging to buchou like he's her lifeline. Like honestly, Ryoma fumed, it's so obvious he doesn't like her, so why is she always with him?
As he took a step out of the court, he was called back by the last voice he wanted to hear that afternoon. "Echizen, get back here. Already skipping out of practice the first day?"
Ryoma stiffened and turned to face Tezuka. "Buchou." he nodded curtly and continued walking.
"You did not answer me, Echizen. Where were you going?"
"Oh, nothing. I just wanted to take a break from the rabu-rabu (lovey-dovey) atmosphere that a certain couple was creating. Nothing too big," Ryoma replied dryly.
"Couple?" Tezuka seemed genuinely confused, causing Ryoma to fire up in frustration.
"There is no way, buchou, that you do not know what I'm talking about," he hissed.
Sakuno intervened with a furious reprimand. "No one talks to Tezuka-senpai like that. Apologize right now!"
"You-" Ryoma opened his mouth to retort, but Fuji and Momoshiro took the chance to fling their arms onto Ryoma's back, leaning on him heavily.
"My, my," Fuji said with his usual smile. Was it just his imagination, Ryoma thought, or did the smiling tensai have a dangerous undertone in his voice again?
Momoshiro continued loudly. "Someone's being an annoying prince of denseness again!"
Fortunately or unfortunately, Ryoma was not dense enough to not know who they were referring to. "Senpai-tachi, you're wrong."
Fuji raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What makes you say that?"
Ryoma scoffed. "If you say I'm the prince of denseness, then buchou must be the king."
Tezuka was silent, but the girl by his side bristled with anger at Ryoma's rude comment. "Echizen-san! Apologize!" she demanded.
"He deserves the title. He obviously doesn't care for you as much as you do about him."
"And what do you care? It's none of your business!"
"Oh, please. You two are the worst couple ever. Really, Ryuzaki, you could do way better."
He really looked at Sakuno for the first time now, and was surprised to see her gaze locked on the ground. "Ryuzaki...?" he asked tentatively.
"You're right." she said bitterly.
"...wait. What?"
"I said, you're right." Sakuno flung her head back up so it was level with Ryoma's eyes, her flashing, and shot every next word at him like an archer with his arrows. "I can do better. I should do better. Because I never should have fallen in love with YOU in the first place!"
…
...
WHAT?
Pindrop silence.
Ryoma's face was pure white with shock. I thought she hated me!
Ryoma wasn't the only one. Tezuka stared at her like he did not believe she could ever get so angry or impulsive. For once, the stoic captain actually had a hint of astonishment on his face.
Fuji and Momoshiro were the only ones who did not turn a hair. Grinning widely, they stared at Ryoma, wondering how he was going to react.
Much to their surprise, however, Sakuno's face suddenly reddened to the color of a blood orange. Before anyone could call out her name, she turned and sprinted to the girls' locker room, covering her face with her hands. One could guess that she was either going to be hyperventilating with embarrassment or crying in agony. Or maybe both. Probably both.
Ryoma, not having any idea what to do in this situation, simply stood there, rooted to the ground in astonishment.
"You idiot! What are you doing, just standing there? Go after her!" Momoshiro yelled.
"But...I thought...Ryuzaki and Tezuka-buchou..." Ryoma stuttered.
"No, Echizen." Tezuka spoke. "Sakuno-san and I are most definitely not a couple. When she was little, Coach Ryuzaki used to have to travel all the time, when she was coaching a national-level team. During those times, I used to take care of her. She's like a little sister to me."
Ryoma's ears rang, his vision on the verge of stars.
Missing the date, acting irrationally, calling her and buchou names.
How could he have been such a moron? And so ridiculously oblivious?
It was his fault all this time. Not hers.
I am such an idiot!
He saw red when he saw Fuji and Tezuka and (especially) Horio dancing with Sakuno, and he did miss her when she wasn't talking to him or being her sweet, innocent self.
A crush? No way. This was way more than just a crush.
He was in love with Ryuzaki Sakuno.
What the hell?
"Ano..."
"Go after her!" Momoshiro yelled.
"What do I say..."
"Just GO!" Even the patient tensai could not bear to have this conversation go on a moment longer.
"Fuji-senpai-"
"Echizen, go now or else I'll make you run laps for the rest of your life." Tezuka thundered.
Fine, Ryoma thought as he began running. Easy for you to say.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to him. He grinned and turned around. "Actually, Tezuka-buchou, could you give me three hundred laps, please?"
"What?" Though Tezuka's voice was level, his eyes widened slightly and he stared at Ryoma incredulously.
"A certain senpai promised me he would run them for me for the next three weeks..." Ryoma gave the suddenly-not-so-smiling Fuji a mischievous grin, turned, and ran in the direction Sakuno went.
"Damn it, he remembered. Oh well."
"Echizen would never forget something like that!" Momoshiro laughed. "I wonder what will happen in there..."
"What do you mean, you wonder?" Fuji smiled at Momoshiro, winking.
"Oh, right." Momoshiro nodded, and he followed Fuji in retracing Ryoma's steps.
"Fuji." Tezuka's stern voice had Momoshiro frozen mid-step, but Fuji relaxedly turned and faced his classmate.
"Yeah, Tezuka?" the tensai's eyes twinkled.
"You have three hundred laps. Apparently."
Fuji could see that even Tezuka was slightly confused by the situation, and took advantage of that. "Tezuka, forget the laps for now. What about Sakuno-chan?"
There ensued the battle of the century: team captain vs. older brother figure. Everyone could practically see sparks flying between Tezuka's stern outside and his inner kindness. Finally, the team-captain-Tezuka surrendered. All right, all right. You win."Let's go."
"Yatta!" Kikumaru (who suddenly appeared out of nowhere) and Momoshiro cheered, and off they all went.
Ryoma managed to sprint all the way to the girls locker room, but came to an abrupt halt when he was standing right outside. What if there are other girls in there?
Of course there won't be other girls, you idiot, said another voice in his head, randomly. Ryuzaki would never willingly go into a crowded place if she's embarrassed.
OK, but, what do I say?
She's not going to reject you, you baka! Just tell her the truth!
Demo...Ryoma's face began to get hot, like someone set fire to it, and his palms began to sweat like there was no tomorrow.
Just get in, you idiot!
Fine, fine, retarded other voice in my brain. Ryoma began to slowly walk towards the girls' locker room, dreading what was going to happen inside. Mou, I've never been so nervous before...what's wrong with me?
Too many things to count.
Stupid voice, shut up and get out of my head!
Fine. Get in already!
Suddenly, in sync with the the voice's "Get in!" came a real kick that had Ryoma flying through the air straight through the locker room door. Iteee! He turned around and glared at Momoshiro and Kikumaru, who were on the ground, a literal example of "rolling on the floor laughing." You guys are so getting it later.
Somehow, Sakuno didn't hear his not-so-grand entrance. He heard her choke back a sob and started to feel a bit guilty. I was so mean to her...
Sakuno, leaning against one of the locker doors with her back to him, began to prattle to herself, "Oh, god, what have I done? Things are going to be so awkward now! Why did I have to say that...why..."
Ryoma stared. She thinks she's nervous?
While Sakuno continued to blabber to herself, Ryoma stood up, dusted himself off, restrained himself from shooting another death glare at the entire team outside, and cleared his throat. Sakuno froze.
"Wh-what are you doing here?"
"Ano..." Once again, Echizen Ryoma was speechless. "I came here to...get away from those guys..." he said, trying to stall for time.
She turned away to hide her reddening face. "Go away. You shouldn't be here!"
"Ryuzaki, wait."
She turned and looked at him out of the corner of her eyes. "Wh-what do you want?"
Ryoma drew a deep breath. "So, I'm guessing we're both a bit weirded out by what just happened..."
Obviously not the right thing to say. "And whose fault is that!" Sakuno turned and glared at him. "Why did it have to be you...I'd rather it be anyone else...why you? You keep leading me on and breaking my heart and I hate it! I wish I could just stop! Go away. I'm feeling bad enough without you being here and making it worse."
Ryoma sighed. God, can't I do anything right?"Ryuzaki, listen-"
"Look, stop it. Don't make me hope that you care when I know you don't."
Ryoma thought he heard a bang on the window-he did not want to know who or what had made that noise. But again, he felt like he had been slapped. Retarded other voice, you said I wouldn't be rejected!
You haven't even said anything yet, you moron!
I'm going to get shot down and I know it! Why do I even bother? He turned to go out the door.
You have nothing to lose. Just go for it! You may never have another chance.
Very true. Would he even be able to look her in the eye after this, let alone confess? Yadda.
It was now or never. He went with the former.
I guess. But...I don't want her to see my face...he thought, his face becoming even redder than hers. Pulling his cap down and backing up to the other side of the locker door on which Sakuno was leaning, he leaned against the other end. They were so close now that he could hear the tinkling of her earrings.
Sakuno had no idea what happened, but the next thing she knew, she was practically back-to-back with Ryoma. The slight pressure sent a jolt through her body. What's he doing?
He drew another deep breath. "Look, Ryuzaki. I'm sorry. Nothing I say ever comes out right. I only meant that...what you said...shocked me a little. You don't weird me out or anything."
Sakuno's heart began to beat faster. Where's he going with this?
"I thought for a bit and I kinda realized that it wasn't you who was doing anything wrong, it was me. I'm an idiot, I know. And you're right, you could do better. But about what you said about me...and you..." his voice dropped to a whisper and he began reddening even more, "I just wanted to tell you that...I...I do too."
Wait, what? Sakuno's heart soared. I thought...wait a minute...am I dreaming?
"What?"
"I was wondering if...you could give me another chance? I swear to never miss another appointment again..." At this point, Ryoma had never felt more nervous in his entire life. And Echizen Ryoma never gets nervous. Great, now I'm sounding all sappy like that vampire from Twilight that Nanako's been raving about all week. Man, what's she going to say now?
He braced himself for the rejection. After all, he had treated her so badly.
"Wait..." Sakuno asked hesitantly. "D-did you just say...what I thought you did?"
"What do you think I said?"
Now it was Sakuno's turn to flush. "Did you just say...that...you...like me too?"
Ryoma resisted rolling his eyes and shooting back something sarcastic. Instead, he tried to make his reply as sincere as possible without sounding too cheesy. "Hai."
Much to his surprise, Sakuno almost giggled. "Ryoma-kun, you don't sound like yourself at all."
Wow. I give you a speech like that and that's all you say? Good to know. Not. "Wow, thanks." He was about to make another dry remark when Sakuno took his hand and intertwined her fingers with his. In his astonished and happy relief, he could find no words to say. Not that he wanted to.
"You have no idea how long I've been waiting for you to say that. I never liked Tezuka-senpai, he's like a brother to me. It's always been you, this whole time. I don't think that will ever change."
See? I told you you wouldn't be rejected!
Get out of here, you stupid voice. Leave us alone.
"Um...thanks. You have no idea what a relief that is." He hoped she couldn't feel how fast his heart was racing, because it was faster than the speed of a tennis ball being hit with Kawamura's Hadoukyuu. She relaxed her grip in case he wanted to pull away, but he just held on tighter. Don't let go...
"So..." Ryoma began.
"So?" Sakuno prodded him, hopeful.
Ryoma reddened further; boy, was he glad that Sakuno couldn't see his face now. "Could we...well...start over, then?"
"What do you mean? There's nothing to start over."
WHAT? What's she saying? Ryoma began to have another panic attack.
"Ryoma-kun, stop-listen." Sakuno turned around and squeezed Ryoma's hand to make him stop freaking out. "Listen. I'm just saying no because...well, nothing really ever happened. And I'm serious. We've never dated for real or were ever like this," she gestured with her free hand at their positions and their intertwined fingers. "So, we're not starting over. Because nothing ever ended. Here and now-our story still has to happen. This is just the beginning."
Ryoma just nodded, pulling his cap down further. He whispered, "Sakuno..."
She blushed at his use of her first name. "Yeah?"
"Two things. First, drop the honorific and just call me Ryoma. You don't need to be so formal with me anymore."
"Hai...Ryoma." she smiled. "What's the other thing?"
"Uh...you do know all the senpais are right outside, right?"
"WHAT?" Sakuno pulled her hand out of his grasp. "Mou, I bet they heard everything!"
As if on cue, the rest of the tennis team, regulars or not, poured into the girls' locker room. Not too surprisingly, Kikumaru shouted over the rampage, "OCHIBI, YOU DID IT!"
Momoshiro yelled at the same time, "WOOHOO! YATTA NA ECHIZEN!"
Inui, after the two outbursts by Kikumaru and Momoshiro, whipped out his notebook with a grin and his trademark, "Good data..."
Ryoma rolled his eyes, but looked over, and seeing his new girlfriend's scarlet face, gave her a rare smile, took her hand again, and tightened his hold on it in reassurance. I'm here, don't worry. She smiled at the tiny gesture, but blushed even more. She saw Kawamura looking at them with a lopsided grin, and sent him the SOS pleading look. He got the message, and immediately began shoving everyone out of the locker room.
"Come on, guys, let's get out! We're in the girls'locker room!"
At first everyone was hesitant, but after hearing that, many of the boys turned red with embarrassment and dashed out, tripping over themselves in their haste.
The remaining boys (mainly regulars) who just stood there smiling were chased out by Inui, who threatened to give them massive doses of his Version 2.0 Mega Triple Special Deluxe Improved Inui Juice. Sakuno giggled at the dust cloud that followed the scurrying boys.
Fuji and Tezuka stood outside, looking in towards the newfound couple, both smiling. Fuji raised an eyebrow. "Tezuka," he said.
"Hn?" the captain gave an absentminded grunt.
"You're smiling."
Tezuka immediately pulled the corners of his lips back into their usual flat alignment and coughed. "I am merely expressing my happiness for Sakuno-san."
"And I suppose you will let Echizen off the hook for everything from now on if it concerns Sakuno-chan?"
Tezuka turned away from Fuji, looking back towards Sakuno and Ryoma. Now that the rest of the team had disappeared, they were now feeling more comfortable and were just talking while still holding hands, occasionally laughing. I haven't seen either of them so happy in such a long time, especially Echizen...he smiled again. Ryoma was actually smiling and chuckling at what Sakuno was saying, and Sakuno appeared to be the epitome of joy. Both looked...absolutely complete.
"Well, normally I would give Echizen laps," he mused, "considering how much practice he's missed and disturbed. But since someone else has to run them instead..."
He turned back to his partner, who...had escaped. Tezuka chuckled and let it go, walking outside, but stopped right outside the locker room; his interest was roused as he overheard the couple's conversation.
"So..." Ryoma glanced at his girlfriend. He noticed that her hair, instead of the usual pigtails, was pulled over her face into a sort of half-ponytail. He cautiously lifted his other hand and fingered the silky auburn curls. Sakuno's face turned a bit pink, but she shyly smiled nevertheless. "Ne, why'd you cut your hair?"
"Why? Does it look horrible?" Why would he ask me that?Now, it was her turn to have a panic attack (big surprise). Ryoma grinned and returned the favor from before, squeezing her hand to calm her down.
"No, no, it looks fine. Much better than before, actually. But why'd you choose to cut it now?"
She reddened a bit further before replying, "W-well, you said it was too long..."
"Wait..." Ryoma took a moment to process this. "You cut it...because I asked you to?"
Sakuno turned away to hide her smile (and her crimson face) and replied, "Mada mada da ne, Ryoma..."
Despite the fact that the temperature of the locker room suddenly seemed to increase by about a hundred degrees, Ryoma could not help feeling a small sense of pride along with an overflow of pure happiness, despite the fact that she had stolen his line. She cut her hair because I said it was too long...she did it because I asked her to...
Tezuka smiled broadly now that Fuji wasn't nearby. Clearly, helping Sakuno and Ryoma get together was one of the best things he could have done for both of them. Leaving the two alone, he chose to walk back to the courts instead. Giving one last glance towards his two favorite kouhai, he thought warmly, I wish you two the best of luck.
And so their story begins...
