Paralleled

by kawaii-witch181

Episode II: Resemblance

"What is this, Ryoma-kun?" The auburn-haired girl looked around. A bunch of strange walls, like data codes, are surrounding them.

"I don't have any idea," the tennis prince said flatly.

The walls seemed to stretch endlessly; and the both of them are floating, devoid of any gravity.

"The walls look like electricity-built, but at the same time, not quite." Ryuzaki commented, dismissing the thought of touching any of those walls.

"We might as well not touch them." Echizen said, doubting Ryuzaki's observation for a minute.

The walls glowed for a second.

Okaaaaay…maybe they really are electricity-built.

Their floating selves suddenly started to travel between those walls, straightly and proceeding. Without any warning, they turned to a corner. That repeated for several times, becoming faster, with the corners disappearing in a blink of an eye.

I'm feeling dizzy….

"Ryuzaki!"

Sakuno almost collided with the wall.

Ryoma-kun called….I….He's getting…all blurry….Why...?

Sakuno can't help but close her eyes. Everything doesn't make sense anymore.

With mixed worry and desperation, he quickly lunged forward and wrapped his arms all around her, providing a temporary safety.

I won't let anyone disappear again.

Ryoma closed his eyes and waited for an impact.

His skin felt a strong gust of wind.

And…suddenly…the world felt like going down…falling apart.

Ryoma-kun…

His hands tightened even more.

We'll get through this.

Suddenly, he felt a familiar sensation. A tiled floor. When he opened his eyes, his amber orbs quickly focused.

White ceiling….Ryuzaki!

Someone stirred atop of him. "Wha…What happened?" The said girl questioned, mostly to herself.

"I think we're back."

Upon looking up, she immediately turned crimson from embarrassment. "R-Ryoma-kun!" She squeaked, loosening her arms from Ryoma-kun's chest. "I-I'm sorry!" She quickly detached herself and bowed, still like a human-sized tomato.

Echizen rubbed the back of his head, sitting up.

R-Ryoma-kun must be mad at me. W-What should I do?!

"I'm so—"

Out of nowhere, a phone-like-device fell from above and landed at her lap. It's pastel pink in color and decorated with brown spots and linings.

"I have one, too." Ryoma showed her his device, very similar but differs in color.

"I'm glad you're finally here youngsters; and seeing you brought a friend along, I also granted her a device." The mysterious voice spoke.

Ah. So, she was accidentally brought along. Sakuno looked around but never found the source of that voice. Instead, she looked surprised. "Hey…isn't this the clubroom? Does that mean...we're back?"

"Mmm. Not yet. You still have to help us."

"Why would we help you? You kidnapped senpai-tachi."

Sakuno silently gasped. That's why Ryoma-kun said he needed to save the senpais. They were kidnapped.

"They are needed here, too. And it's not kidnapping. Find them first, and bring them back here." The voice faded.

"W-Wait!...Why are we in a same clubroom….?" Ryuzaki sighed. "Just what is this world?" But the voice already disappeared.

"Hm. This is definitely the clubroom," Echizen commented.

"Yeah.." Sakuno agreed, also looking around. "W-Wait! Where are you going, Ryoma-kun?"

"Find senpai-tachi, what else?" His piercing orbs stared at her. She looked away, a tint of pink creeping on her cheeks. Great, I'm thinking about what happened earlier.

"Aren't you coming?" Ryoma asked, twisting the doorknob, allowing more light in the room.

"Y-Yes," Scrambling to her clumsy feet, she followed.

I wonder why he hugged me earlier...?

Meanwhile…Somewhere…

Looking around, a certain tennis power player grasped his surroundings. He, along with the others, was suddenly swept on this world. He didn't actually expect this. They were having their daily dose of tennis practice, ready to go home, then this weird looking hybrid appeared and this voice spoke out of nowhere, and he began to be transparent, and continued to disappear like it's an everyday thing.

He wondered if he's still in Tokyo though….or perhaps…inside a video game. But really, being transparent and suddenly disappearing drove him to the edge.

The place he was in really looked like Tokyo, complete with the sceneries and buildings, as he had traveled up to this spot he is now standing at. Yep, really in Tokyo. In fact, he is now at his family's sushi shop, just a meter from it.

Considering the video game theory, it can be accepted too. Every building in this place always managed to disappear like a bright fluorescent light blinking on and off. At first glance, you would think these objects can pass as normal, but throw a second glace and you'll notice how strange it is: completely still by the minute, then blinking for seconds the next, and keep still again…repeating the order of this strange cycle.

Kawamura Takashi idly wondered. Will his father be here as well? After all, he knew that in the real world his father is waiting for him to teach him new skills. Opening the sliding wooden door, he waited for the familiar interior to unfold.

Really now? And here he thought this is his hometown.

He really never expected this. Kawamura was merely expecting his home to be just the same; but with the door now opened, he was proven wrong. What greeted his sight is a swirl of pure white. No furniture, no clothing, no plants. Nothing. Just pure white..and..it stretched like some kind of infinity, long and never-ending.

Okaaaay. Maybe wrong door.

If only the others are here, they would definitely laugh at him.

….

….

The others….I wonder if they are okay.

He thought worriedly. Are they also at this place? Or…in a much…much further dimension? He sighed. He must think to survive here first…or else…he'll never see them again.

Stay positive! Kawamura told himself.

Back to the First Years...

"Wow…this place really resembles Tokyo, Ryoma-kun." The auburn-haired girl commented, looking at the vast buildings around. "But isn't it strange? It is like we never left our world in the first place,"

The two of them looked around already…exploring corners here and there. Walking and walking. Lots of walking. They encountered many people, too. Their eyes only scanned them, though. Not even daring to talk. They wouldn't risk it. A simple conversation can spell out danger.

"How 'bout asking someone, Ryoma-kun?" She had asked.

"Ryuzaki—"

The said girl already dashed to a nearby random person. Ryoma sighed. If this is a trap, she'll surely get them killed.

"…S-Sorry. W-Wrong person."

Ryoma saw her bow. Raising a brow, he asked her: "So?"

"…Scary. They're s-scary, Ryoma-kun….their eyes…"

The tennis prince is confused. Ryuzaki is almost hyperventilating.

"What about their eyes?" He asked, sounding worried. His hands already took her shoulders in a firm grip plus his eyes stared directly at hers. If only she isn't all that frightened, she should have felt that burning on her cheeks.

"T…Their eyes…It's all hollow and e-empty…like…like…"

Sakuno started sobbing.

"Ryuzaki! Calm down!"

Her breathing increased by the minute, dangerously similar to an asthma attack. "It's terrifying, Ryoma-kun! It's almost…l-like a murderer's…devoid of any e-emotions… I...I c-can't..." He shook her shoulders.

"Calm down! RYUZAKI!"

She's still hyperventilating.

"RYUZAKI!"

She still can't hear him.

"Ryuzaki, look at me!"

She looked so frightened, much worse than a horror-struck-girl. Eyes flooded with tears, she managed to look at him straight in the eyes.

Her sobs still echoed. "R-Ry—"

"….You don't have to be afraid. I'm here, Ryuzaki." Echizen warmly soothed, choosing his words very carefully. He was a man of few words, so it's only expected that he cannot totally say the right comforting words. For this time though, he just trusted his instincts…and good thing, it came out fine.

She gasped, her sobs synchronizing with the sound.

"R-Ryoma-kun…" Her hands now covered her face, still sobbing. "It's…terrifying…"

"Shh…" He reached out and stroked her braid. His other hand only stroked her left shoulder soothingly. It seemed to do the trick. Her sobs finally reduced to silent sniffing.

"I-I'm s-s-sorry..." She sniffed.

The mass of people just passed them, not even sparing a single glance or sympathy. It's as if the two of them are not even there in the first place.

"Nothing will hurt you, Ryuzaki. As long as I'm here." The last statement came only as a whisper, and was involuntarily blurted out. It came a surprise to him. But..Ryuzaki seem not to hear that. So, he tugged at her elbow, pulled her wrist, and resumed their quest once again.

A/N: Well, hello there. *insert a smile* It has been a while, dear readers. So sorry for not updating. My excuses still apply. *nervous laugh* I hope you find chapter two to your liking. Ryuzaki-chan is so terrified...Why is it? *laughs* An Advance Happy Valentines, by the way. For chapter three, I am not sure when it will be posted (again). I greatly apologize for my looooooong updates. Apologizing aside, please do leave a review~ Ja ne~