Chapter Four:
(Ryoma's POV)
I gazed at the partner division for the first time.
"Hn." It says I was paired with a Ryuzaki Sakuno. I wasn't good at remembering names but for some reason, I didn't forget hers.
I couldn't help but remember our meeting yesterday.
FLASHBACK
The day started as usual. After tennis practice, I went to my locker and drank a can of Ponta I put in there a while ago. The hallway was filled with people.
Of course the high school socialites held of no interest for me. I just went here to play more tennis.
"Make way! Make way!" the chess club president, John, as they call him, shouted at the top of his lungs.
The usual routine of the social climbers according to the female part of the population started.
I stayed still. It would be a few minutes until this is over. They walked around in their designer clothes. I could just roll my eyes at how pathetic they sometimes look.
They were wearing stuff that are too short. Only Oyaji would pay attention to them. I realized they had a new member. She was the same as them. No wonder they kept her.
The blonde whispered to the newbie. After a while, her face got red and she went near me.
"H-hi! I-I'm Megan." She introduced herself.
I glared at her. "Too much make up."
She started crying then ran away. She was different. I once tried saying that to the blonde girl but all she said was 'it's not too much, Ryoma. There's just no natural girl in this world.' in her snottiest voice. Somehow, I feel something because of that. My feet took their own direction. They brought me to my thinking place, the rooftop.
I was not prepared for what I saw and heard.
"I want to go home!"
The voice sounded familiar. But the last time I heard it was from the newbie. The girl did have the same hair color. It was normal. Whenever a girl from their clique gets a new hairstyle, every girl in school follows.
"Un." I grunted.
She turned and focused her attention on me. Her face became red again and she looked confused. I could almost hear the click in her mind when she finally thought of something.
I gazed intently at her face. It was fair and her cheeks were red as roses. Cream and roses. Her hair was auburn and had different highlights. It was the sort of thing that still looked natural and it suits her. Somehow, I preferred her hair like that. It was fixed in twin braids. It was sort of typical but she looked beautiful. Wait. What was I saying? Stupid hormones.
But still, I looked into her eyes. It was chocolate brown- the kind of eyes that showed her innocence. Gazing at those eyes were a drowning feeling.
"Braids." I couldn't help but say.
I turned to leave her.
"E-Echizen-san!" she called after me.
"I'm Ryuzaki Sakuno." She introduced herself.
"Echizen Ryoma." I then left.
END OF FLASHBACK
"Looks like you're paired with little miss nicey." Hee Mi told me.
"Hm."
"Bad for you. I would want to have a bet with you but neither of us are in good consequences involving our partners. That Ryuzaki girl is not like us, Ryoma. Careful. And I'm going to be careful with that Brad, you know, that muscle guy?"
I nodded. Jung Hee Mi was pretty good in tennis and pairing her with that guy was such a waste for her talent.
"Ryoma, do you think Sakuno is good in tennis?"
"No. She signed up for the doubles tutorial, remember?"
"Yeah. She did. Heard though, her grandma's a tennis coach back in Japan."
I nodded again. The less I contribute to this conversation, the earlier it ends.
"HEY LOVEBIRDS! Can I borrow my partner?" the muscle guy shouted. He wasn't good at studies. He's just the football type- no other sport there.
"Looks like I'll deal with bird brain. Bye, Ryoma." She waved at me. I just stood there staring at the piece of paper at the board. It too, held no interest for me.
The soft voice announced her arrival. "Echizen—san."
"Drop the honorifics." I commanded.
"E-eh?" her face was all red again.
"Honorifics." I repeated.
"C-can I call y-you R-Ryoma-chan?" she stuttered a lot. Was it somehow hard to get all those words out?
"-kun."
"Ryoma-kun?"
"Hn."
I went towards the gate. Standing there the whole time under the sun made me thirsty.
"Echiz, I mean, Ryoma-kun, the tennis courts are this way." She pointed to her right.
Of course I knew that.
"Ponta."
She followed me, trailing behind. I got two Pontas. After going to the vending machine, I settled under a tree. I closed my eyes and felt the wind touch every part of me. It wasn't as hot as out there- under the blazing sun. The trees blocked the light casting a shade for me to rest on.
Ryuzaki sat beside me. She was quiet unlike those fan girls so I easily fell asleep.
The softness under my head surprised me enough to remind me that it wasn't there before. it was pretty nice, considering that I didn't bring a pillow. What was I sleeping on anyway? I opened my lids which was pretty hard because they wanted to stay that way. And Ryuzaki's face greeted me. Oh. I was sleeping on her lap.
"R-Ryoma-kun, you're already awake."
I lifted my head. Ugh. That was worse. I got a headache already. I stared at her. Her face was all red again. She must be sick. I need to get her to the infirmary.
"Are you okay?" I asked in my usual flat tone.
It's bad enough that I can't play tennis alone. I don't need a sick player. I pulled her closer and rested my forehead on hers. Her temperature was hotter than mine.
"I-I'm okay, Ryoma-kun." She said as her temperature rose a few more degrees.
I pulled away. I need something to put on her forehead. I don't have a pack of ice but I still have one more Ponta. I got it and put it on her forehead.
"Let's go to the infirmary."
"N-no. Um… thanks, Ryoma-kun."
We were silent for a while. My ears perked up when I heard the Coach's whistle.
I stood up.
"Wait, Ryoma-kun."
Again, she followed trailing behind me.
The coach lined us up in two's.
"Okay," the coach started, "for those who are already good in tennis, I'll need you to teach your partners. You have two weeks. After that, there will be practice matches. Then, the real ones. Those who are already good will only play doubles with your partners and no singles. Singles matches are only allowed for the beginners."
Ryuzaki's height was normal. She didn't look like the sturdy type, though. She might fall down or trip easily if we practice. I do hope she doesn't. but even if she does, something tells me that she won't give up. She is a klutz but maybe she got some hidden tennis skills too.
When I got home, I collapsed on my bed. I was feeling sore all over. It was like my first ever tennis practice with Oyaji. Ryuzaki had no tennis experience. I served a lot of balls and only five returned. She kept running around chasingafter them. Tomorrow would be the second day of practice. I do hope she gets better at this.
End of Chapter
Author's Notes:
Yay! I finally finished writing using Ryoma's POV.
Haha. It was my first time. I guess I do have some mistakes… but I hope you liked it! I really worked hard on this one. Writing using this POV is very hard. I hope I never have the need to do it again.
Please Review! Everyone, Ja! See you next chapter.
