CHAPTER SEVEN: UNOFFICAL GOOD-BYE

PAST CHAPTER (PARTS):

"Excuse me, Rika from class 2-5. Am I correct?" an innocent young lady was facing the most admirable student, Rika Sumieru, of Shitenhoji. "I'm Ayako Yamamoto, from 1-6." the first year stated.

"Well, first of all. I just want to say that…..Zaizen-kun is mine. You can't take him from me." she announced as her followers remarked.

Her classmates watched Rika handle the situation quite maturely while the first year and her "gang" came walking out of the class room. The students walked up to Rika, encouraging for her to do her best to get Zaizen's love but she just laughed.

"Even if I do my best to gain his love, I can't reassure myself that I'll be the one he truly loves" she stated like a person who's been I so many relationships. "Besides I don't want to force him to have to choose who he loves. If he's going to hurt someone it should be me." she merely rubbed her cheek while the female students admired her, "It's bad enough to watch a first year try so hard to get her 'dream' guy."

Rika didn't want to deal with this love triangle and decided to let the blocks fall into place before it reaches game over. As her heart aches with a sound of heart break once again, having to close her relationship with the other teammates. She's been through this once, she can go through it again, without fighting. She'll close up her warm heart if she has too, even if that means she'll have to have the team hate her.

'I don't want to see anyone else hurt because of me…Not again. I-I don't want to see it again…' she felt her eyes tear up, "I need to get go outside for a bit." 'I've told myself to be strong, I've dealt with this before. Yet the situation may end up the same, departing with the ones I love. This sucks, and I've finally was able to talk to them comfortably, and now I might have to break up the bond…'

The next day seemed to be the start of a new Rika, a more blunt and rude student, as she stepped out the door and ignored all the greetings from her fellow students. Her eyes were no longer filled with love but it was rather filled with the passion to hunt down pesky students. In her hands held the last bentos she'll give to them again, so to them she'll smile once more.

"Good morning Ri-chan~!" Kintaro smiled as he hugged Rika, she held onto him tightly. "R-Ri-chan it hurts, ugh! You're killing me~!"

"S-Sorry…" she smiled softly and hid her saddened face that filled up over cheery one, 'I feel like I'm saying goodbye to a dear younger brother of mine' "Good-bye.." she whispered softly and laughed, trying to at least, as she held the bentos and asked, "Can you give these to Zaizen and Kenya?"

"Sure, but why? Ri-chan, are you-" she placed a finger on his lips and smiled, and gave an "okay" sign before she left.

She felt like leaving today, the coach didn't know, and was going to do regular classes only. Without looking up she thought softly about the others and their reactions when she comes tomorrow. Unlucky for she bumped into Zaizen, whom didn't see her as well.

"Huh? Oh, Rika." he seemed surprised, at the same time down.

"Z-Zaizen…." she said his name softly as she smiled, trying to hide the tears. 'He's going to be hurt by me the most…Even though it might be weird to just push him away all of a sudden.' she thought quietly.

"Are you okay?" he worried as he unplugged his earphones and felt her arms wrap around his neck, "R-Rika?" he became agitated and unknowing what to do of the situation.

"I'm sorry…" she apologized before hand, knowing that he'll be the number one person she'll hurt. "I'm so sorry Zaizen-kun. So sorry…" 'It's for the best. Maybe I'll go back to Seishun Academy when I finish this year…At least I won't see anyone hurt by me.' she thought as she suffocated her tears back with her hand. "Please…forgive me."

'W-What's she doing? Why is she apologizing to me?' he thought as he slowly held her back. "R-Rika why are you apologizing? You didn't do anything wrong." he heard her sniffle and hold back her tears. "O-Oi, Why are you-"

She smiled through her tears as she pulled back and placed a finger on her lips, gesturing to stay quiet. "Thank you, Zaizen-kun." she whispered as she hurried away from the shocked male.

"Oi, Rika!" he cried out her name, worried about her. 'What's wrong…' he slowly thought as he sighed. 'Her fragrance…' he became lost in thought as Kenya came pushing him lightly.

"Yo Zaizen." Kenya saw Zaizen's unusual expression and questioned him. "Y-You smell like a girl…To be more exact, you smell like Ri-chan!" he stated as he wrapped his arm around him, just when he was going to ask what happened.

"Huh? Oh Senpai good morning." he regained his composure and walked away from him. "We're going to be late. I suggest that we run to the courts."

"I'll race you!" Kenya laughed, knowing he'll win.

Zaizen didn't answer and sighed as he thought about what happened. They managed to make it in time, about five minutes to be exact, and headed to the locker room to change. As he slipped off his jacket something clanged onto the floor, Rika's bracelet, and picked it up. Kenya noticed that bracelet but didn't ask why he had it, Zaizen seemed to be lost in thought today more then ever.

'Did she drop it by accident?' he thought as he slipped into his jersey and read a note in his locker, 'Zaizen-kun, I….UGH. I don't know what I'm going to do, so when the teacher asked why I'm not here today…Please just lie for me. Please! . *Bows* Well take care of my bracelet! You got it? It's important to me. If you don't I'll hunt you down. And if anything strange happens later on, don't ask me anything…in fact don't talk to me at all…Please? Thanks so much and Good-bye, Rika. P.S: You can keep the bento box. I have a lot at home.' he read as he laughed a bit, it was like Rika to say these things expect for the 'Good-bye' part.

"Senpai the coach is going to start hurry up." a first year on the tennis team stated as Zaizen nodded and clicked on the silver chain bracelet that had decorations attached to it.

"Yea I'm ready." he stated as he walked out the door and onto the court.

As the coach walked out he brought along side him, a first year, Ayako Yamamoto, who smiled sweetly at everyone. "This is Ayako Yamamoto a first year. Please treat her nicely or else!"

"Pleased to meet you all~!" she cheerfully smiled as she bowed down cutely. 'Zaizen-kun~ Kyaa~! I'm so glad I joined tennis!' she thought as she glanced at him, who was focused on the bracelet.

"Hmm? Ri-chan isn't here today?" the coach asked, disappointingly.

"Oh, Sensei, she said that she won't come today because had to get her grandfather's medicine." he lied, of course since he was asked too.

"Oh, I see. Her grandfather's health must be pretty bad then…thanks for telling me." he coach thanked as he left everyone to practice to themselves. 'What's he wearing? Isn't that-Oh, hehehe, so that's how it is~' he thought to himself and walked away. 'Well whatever, it's not everyday you see him wearing someone's bracelet.'

During that time, Ayako was utterly determined to get closer to Zaizen. She managed to have her do a match with him and talk with him. He wasn't a cruel punk if she didn't do anything retarded, of course he made rude remarks but she was assured that he'll fall in love with her.

"Zaizen-kun, what are you wearing?" she noticed it was something quiet unlike him to wear.

"Hm? Oh this, it-I bought it I find it rather interesting, it's colorful. I guess you can say, a good luck charm." he lied, smiling at that thought though. "Why do you ask?"

"Nothing, I was just curious." she smiled at him sweetly, 'If I recall he likes girls that are sweet.'

"Okay then." he smiled back, making her blush slightly.

As school began, Rika walked up to her classroom and ignored her teammates. Shiraishi and Chitose felt something wrong from her and didn't ask, knowing her she'll just brush it aside saying she's fine. Although they thought that they should at least do something about it, so they asked Kenya to take care of it.

"Yo, Ri-chan." Kenya was at her class room, "Can I talk to you after school today at the park?"

"Sorry, I'm busy." she didn't dare look at his usual grin, so instead she gave a cold glare.

"Hmm, okay then." he thought, now starting to worry as well. 'I wonder if she's alright. Even Zaizen's acting weird today.' he thought as he walked away. "Maybe he'll know what's up."

Kenya jumped onto his junior's back and snuggled up against him, "Hmm~ Ri-chan made you shiratama zenzai again? Lucky~! She knew what you'd want without asking."

"What is it senpai? Do you want a mochi or something?" he asked as he began to eat. "Itadakimasu."

"No, I was just curious about something. Like that bracelet you're wearing." he stated as Zaizen didn't loose composure.

"I bought it." he stated the same lie as before. "Why?"

"Why'd you buy it? I mean it's colorful and it matches what you wear but…" he commented and pulled up a chair in front of him. "So, well?"

"It's just a good luck charm." he stated, nibbling on the mochi with joy. 'It tastes good as always~' he thought while showing a face in bliss.

"Hmmm, so anyways. How come you smell like Rika?" Kintaro interrupted, he popped out of no where.

"Hm? Nothing, we just hugged." he was quiet the master at maintaining his composure around those two. "It's not like you guys don't hug her and then smell like her."

"True…." the stated in unison as they walked away and gave a far away look. 'He's so….calm today.' they thought while looking at each other, probably thinking the same of the same thing.

Rika didn't say good-bye to anyone today, she just marched straight home, ignoring everyone close to her. While Zaizen sighed and stared at 'his' new bracelet and slowly walked home. As he plugged in his earphones he noticed Rika, he hurried then paused.

'….in fact don't talk to me at all…Please?' he remembered and then began to question himself and herself. 'What the heck, who cares.' he walked next to her, not talking to her.

'Ugh! That idiot. I asked him to not talk to me. Darn it! I forgot to put 'Don't walk or even stay close to me.' This is so stupid….' she thought as she hurried up, followed by Zaizen.

"Zaizen-kun~!" Ayako cried out his name as he turned around and stopped walking -following- Rika, which she was actually glad about having her there. "You're not staying for practice today?"

"No, I have something to take care of at home. Sorry." he stated as he waved good-bye to the cute petite. 'Where'd she go?' he glanced ahead and wondered where'd Rika go.

Her legs felt heavy as she slouched down on the seat and sighed heavily before she raised her head. Her grandmother smiled and left her a Melon Ponta drink and smiled. Then she remembered that next week the spring training camp will officially start, so she sighed and waited for three more days of agony.

"Is something wrong Ri-chan?" her grandmother asked as she stared at Rika. "Did you get into another fight at school?"

"No." she smiled, "I'm going to bed early today. Good night Obaa-chan."

Her hands rubbed against her face as she tried to pull herself together, literally. Her cell phone rang with messages from Kenya and Shiraishi. Her eyes stared at the messages and sighed, unsure what to say to their replies.

SHIRAISHI'S MESSAGE :

"Ri-chan are you okay? You seemed down today at school, me and Chitose are worried. I know you're going to say you're alright, but I just want to make sure you are. We're here for you if you want to talk about something, don't forget okay?"

KENYA'S MESSAGE(S) :

"]Ri-chan~! How's it going? You gave me a cold glare, that was so mean…Are you alright? Yea I know, Shiraishi-bucho probably asked you already…You're like a little sister to me, so as your 'big brother' I'll be there for you if you want to talk about it. Okay? Hope you get this message~! :]"

"P.S: Zaizen's being weird today, and is he wearing your bracelet? It looks like your's."

She laughed and felt happy as she read her messages and shook her head as she changed, remembering the messages. She went towards her music player and plugged it in the stereo and sighed.

"I'm alright. Don't worry about me senpai, and Chitose-senpai. Just a little anit-social today." she replied to Shiraishi's messages. "Kenya-kun, I'm okay. I didn't mean to glare at you, it's just that, that's my usual look. And about the other message, Zaizen…IDK what's wrong with him. Anyways, he bought it." she lied mostly for the last part and sighed as she closed her phone.

"Okay then, just tell me if you need anything. Good night Ri-chan." Shiraishi replied back, in a few minutes, for the last time.

"Well, I guess you do have a scary face when you're not smiling but-are you sure he bought it?" he asked as he replied back to her message.

"Senpai…I need to go to sleep. And yes he DID buy it. Good night~!" she laughed softly before she walked towards the speakers.

"Fine Fine. Good night Ri-chan" she read the text message and closed her eyes thinking to herself.

The night was starless but the moon shined brightly as it peeked through her window and watched her sigh endlessly through the night. A sheet of darkness covered the light that'd lead her to the right way.

[A/N]: Since you don't know Rika's personality I shall explain. She's quite emotional, compassionate, mostly sarcastic at times, lies a lot (when she has too), caring and just another girl in love. Yes, because of her cool and mature facial expressions and structure, she's quite popular. Only due to admirers.

I didn't know what to do, I know it seemed OOC-ness with Zaizen. But, eh, he's quite compassionate towards the one he's you know~ *hint*hint* and caring. Although it may not look like it, he's quite shy and nice. :D

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