Chapter 6 – Staying for… How Long?
Ryoma was exhausted. Re-telling the same events over and over was a very tedious task, and Ryoma did not do well with tedious tasks. After explaining what happened to the senpai's and Ryuzaki-sensei, it took all his effort to keep talking to the police and not just walk out. After he and Sakuno had finished talking to them after almost half an hour they were finally allowed to get a break. They exited the office to find the senpai's waiting outside.
"You're still here?" Ryoma asked, in a royally foul mood and just walked off to go find a vending machine.
"Bastard" Kaidou muttered after hearing the cocky freshman's words.
"What's his problem?" Momo asked the group, referring to the retreating back of Ryoma.
"I guess he is just sick of constantly having to tell people what happened." Kawamura said, to which everyone else nodded in agreement.
"Hey, where's Sakuno-chan nya?"
Ryoma's footstep rang throughout the hall as he searched for a vending machine. The only thought going through his head being, "I really want a ponta". His search brought him outside, to the tennis courts, where he finally came across a vending machine. A cool drink was just what he needed to calm himself down. "Honestly, that was so tedious. How many times did I have to go through what happened?" As he bent down to grab grab his drink, Ryoma winced in pain. He was actually starting to think he might need that medicine. This was actually quite painful. It hurt each time he took a breath, or when he bend down.
"R-Ryoma-kun?" He turned around to see Sakuno standing behind him. Ryoma straightened up this time without wincing, Sakuno still looked worried however. "M-maybe you should have some medicine R-Ryoma-kun." She lowered her head shyly as she said that. She didn't want Ryoma mad at her, but if he was in pain it was better to just take the medicine.
"I'm fine" Ryoma replied, taking a sip of his ponta, but Sakuno wasn't convinced. She had seen him wincing as he bent to get his drink. She knew he was in pain.
"Ryoma-kun, just take the medicine. I know it's hurting you, I saw you wincing when you picked up your drink. No-one has to know you took the medicine." Sakuno stopped for a moment to take a breath before continuing. "What's the point of you being in pain. If the medicine will take some of it away, then just take it. You don't have to look tough all the time, I won't tell anyone." After her rant was finished Ryoma just stared at her for a moment wide eyed, before sighing and lowering his head. He knew better than to fight her when she got like this. This was just like the time when Horio had to stand in for him and had gotten into trouble for bragging. She insisted that he help him and without Horio even buying him one ponta. He was also thinking about taking the medicine anyway. So Ryoma reached into his pocket and pulled out two tablets. He put them in his mouth and washed them down with his ponta. Sakuno smiled relieved. She had been worried about how Ryoma would react, thankfully he complied and took the medicine.
Ryoma finished his drink and threw it into the trash can, causing Sakuno to stare at him amazed. The trash can was a good ten meters away, she would never be able to do that in a million years.
"Come on Ryuzaki, we should get back." Ryoma started to walk back towards the school. Sakuno shook her head and followed Ryoma.
"Ochibi! You're back! And Sakuno-chan!" Eiji greeted the two freshman when they arrived back outside Ryuzaki-sensei's office. The door then opened and out came Ryuzaki-sensei.
"Perfect timing you two. Come on in. All of you this time" Ryuzaki-sensei said looking at all the regulars who had waited outside this whole time, making sure their kouhai's were ok but also getting out of class. The whole group entered the office and took seats on scattered chairs around the room. Once they were all seated the police officer addressed them.
"It seems there is a gang around that is using tennis to target people. They are ruthless and if someone gets away from them they are know to go after them continuously until they finally get them. We have had numerous reports come in about this gang, but as of yet still haven't been able to catch them. We have gotten certain members but there are so many we doubt this will have much of an effect. It's very dangerous for you two to go anywhere alone or without protection." He said referring to Ryoma and Sakuno. "We have decided for your safety and comfort that it would be best for Ryuzaki-san to stay with the Echizen's until this has all been cleared up" Everyone in the room was shocked to hear this, but the officer wasn't finished yet. "We have thought this through thoroughly and instead of assigning members of the force to follow you wherever you go, we will rely on yours and your father's tennis skill." At this point he gestured to Ryoma, "Along with the skills of the rest of you" This time he gestured to the rest of the regulars "We have decided at least two of you will walk with them to and from school each day until the gang has been court."
Everyone was silent and shocked at this information. No-one moved or made a sound. Everyone in the room seemed to be frozen. Tezuka was the first to regain his cool, which he seemed to not even loose in the first place. "Do you have any idea as to how long it will take for you to take the gang into custody?" Everyone's heads turned to Tezuka as the police officer answered.
"We do not currently have a time period in which this task will be achieved, however the knowledge that they are going after Ryuzaki-san and Echizen-san is very helpful and will shorten the time it takes greatly. Thank you for contacting us, this lead is very helpful in out investigation, especially the knowledge of which tennis court they practice on. We expect it to take at least a month however, possibly longer" Everyone's eyes widened at this new.
The same thought was going through everyone's heads "A MONTH!"
As no-one seemed to have any more questions the police officer left, saying he would keep an eye on them.
"That was unexpected" Oishi said to break the silence. "I don't even think Inui could have predicted that" the atmosphere lightened at his statement.
"Actually Oishi I predicted something along those lines" This caused everyone to either laugh or smile.
Momo went over to Ryoma and placed his hand on his head, moving Ryoma's head around as he did so. "Looks like we have to look after you hey Echizen?" Momo said laughing.
"That hurts Momo-senpai" Ryoma muttered. Laughter filled the room after this and the atmosphere lightened considerably.
"Well you should all go to class. Sakuno, I'll bring some clothes over for you tonight. You go home with Ryoma. The rest of you can choose who goes with them." The group then left the office.
"Awww, now we have to go back to class." Momo said, Eiji nodding his head vigorously in agreement. "See you at practice" Momo said, waving to everyone as he and Kaidou went the other way to their classroom, weaving their way through the students crowding the hall.
"I guess lunch has started" Kawamura said, observing the crowds of people in the halls. Ryoma and Sakuno broke off from their senpai's to go back to their classroom. They walked in silence until they got to the classroom, where they were bombarded by their friends.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ECHIZEN/SAKUNO!?" Tomoka and Horio said in unison. Ryoma ignored them all and went over to his seat, leaving Sakuno to explain their absence.
"A-anou..." Sakuno was a bit overwhelmed and stumbled with what to say. She didn't really want to tell them what had happened, as Tomoka hadn't been to the morning practice and the three freshman hadn't noticed anything. "W-well w-when morning practice finished w-we u-ummm..." They stared at her expectantly. Poor Sakuno just didn't know how to say it with them all staring at her. It just made her nervous. Then, thankfully, their teacher came to her rescue.
"Everyone, in your seats!" This caused them to go back to their seats, Sakuno relieved, and the rest disappointed. Due to the fact that it was English class Horio, Tomoka, Kachiro and Katsuo soon forgot about Ryoma and Sakuno being missing all morning and their heads were filled with confusing english words and sentences. After their afternoon classes all the friends made their way to the tennis courts. Some to practice, others to watch.
As practice went on Tomoka cheered loudly while Sakuno stood at her side, watching the matches and silently cheering them on.
When practice finally finished Sakuno waited for Ryoma and the regulars with Tomoka. When the regulars and freshman came out they all walked together to the front gate.
"Hey Echizen, we decided me and Oishi are coming with you today." Momo said pulling Ryoma towards him, trying to get him into a choke hold. Meanwhile Tomoka went up to Sakuno.
"Ne Sakuno, do you want to come over to my house this afternoon?"
"G-gomen Tomo-chan, but I can't come over for a while." This confused Tomoka, usually Sakuno's grandma was pretty easy going and Sakuno never did anything to get grounded. So what was going on?
"Huh? Why?" Sakuno was a little hesitant to answer her, knowing her friend all to well and how she would react.
"W-well, y-you see..."
"Come on Sakuno, just tell me!" Sakuno shut her eyes and took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for her friends outburst.
"I-I'm staying at Ryoma-kun's house for a while" She rushed out and braced herself. Just as predicted, three seconds later...
"WHAT!" This got the attention of everyone, causing heads to turn towards the two girls. "What do you mean your staying at Ryoma-sama's house?!" This got the attention of the three freshman.
"HUH?" They all exclaimed in unison. The regulars soon deduced that Ryoma and Sakuno hadn't told them yet.
"What! You haven't told them yet?" Momo exclaimed, grinning. "Well, Echizen and Sakuno-chan have been targeted by a street gang who use tennis to hurt people, so for protection Sakuno-chan is going to stay with Echizen until this is all sorted out." Tomoka and the freshman seemed to have trouble taking this in, as they just stood there stunned.
"Come on, let's go" Ryoma said, taking advantage of their stunned state to leave before they started making a ruckus. Momo, Oishi and Sakuno followed him. Leaving Tomoka, Horio, Kachiro and Katsuo to the rest of the regulars.
The walk was interesting for Sakuno, as she listened to their conversation. Soon they turned the conversation to her however.
"Hey Sakuno-chan, What's it like living with baa-san?" Momo asked. Sakuno looked up at him.
"She isn't really like she is at school. She likes to bake and cook, but she doesn't like mess. It's quite easy to keep things clean though, since it's just the two of us." The last part of what she said got the attention of Ryoma, Momo and Oishi. Momo looked like he wanted to question her further, but they had just arrived at Ryoma's house.
"Cya Echizen, Sakuno-chan!" Momo called as he rode off on his bike, which he had been walking on the way there.
"Momo and I will be back in the morning. See you then." Oishi said before he too left. Ryoma and Sakuno walked up to the house in silence.
A.N. SORRY FOR THE WAIT! I just found this chapter hard to write... Well this is as far as I have planned for my story so from now on I'll just be winging it and writing what flows. If you have any suggestions for what I should include please tell me so I can add it. I've had one person suggest something so far and I would love more. Okay there was something else I was supposed to say aswell... ummm...Oh yeah! Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. I was soooo happy. Ummm... I know there was something else but I can't remember so it can't have been that important. Anyway, PLEASE REVIEW!
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Until next chapter,
Cya
