Chapter 15 – Married Couple-Like Shopping Trip!
When they arrived the senpai's and surprisingly, to Ryoma and Sakuno at least, their freshman friends Tomoka, Horio, Katsuo and Kachiro were there, looking a harried.
"Where have you two been? We've been looking for you everywhere!" Oishi exclaimed as they all gathered round the two 'missing' freshman. Sakuno looked up at her senpai and friends guiltily as she explained why they had left.
When Sakuno got to the part about finding her notebook in shreds, their eyes widened and mouths hung open.
"Who would do such a thing?" Oishi asked, his eyebrows creasing in worry. Silence reigned for a moment as everyone tried to come up with an answer.
Finally Tomoka spoke up, "What if the fan club found out Sakuno is staying with Ryoma-sama?" She spoke a little unsurely, hoping that she was wrong.
"They wouldn't go that far would they?" Eiji asked, his tone light and cheerful, a smile starting to spread across his face. However, his smile soon faded when he saw the look Tomoka was giving him.
"Kikumaru-senpai, I have spent a long time with Ryoma-sama's fan club. I am the president after all." She said, standing up straighter as she announced herself as the president. "However, they are fanatics and ruthless. If any girls get too close to Ryoma-sama they won't hesitate to put them in their place. They would have gone after Sakuno ages ago if I hadn't stopped them."
The group gave a collective shiver and turned a little pale due to their newfound fear of their fan girls.
"I guess it's true that birds of a feather flock together" Horio announced, gesturing to Tomoka "Otherwise how could all of the crazy girls in the school join the club that's lead by the craziest girl in school." After hearing Horio's comment Tomoka was not about to let that slide.
"You're just jealous because you don't have a fan club because you suck at tennis!" She yelled at him.
"Don't mock my two years tennis experience just because you're crazy!" Horio yelled back. Before long their insults had moved from sentences to just one word insults. Mostly consisting of mono-brow and loud-mouth.
While everyone else was caught up in the pair's argument, Fuji noticed just how calm Sakuno was after hearing how close she was to being targeted by crazy fan girls.
"Did you already know about this Sakuno-Chan?" He asked, referring to her almost being a target. Of course after his question, everyone's attention was on Sakuno. Surprised slightly by both the question and the sudden attention, Sakuno was startled into answering.
"Y-Yeah. Tomo-chan warned me when they first started to talk about me. She told me to be careful. They weren't really targeting me though. They just wanted to warn me, so Tomo-chan said she would to make sure they wouldn't bother me. They just wanted to warn me not to get a big head and think I'm special just because I'm the coach's granddaughter." Sakuno said, not wanting anyone to worry over something that wasn't really a big deal.
"But Sakuno, if they found out you were staying with Ryoma-sama that would probably push them over the edge. I may be the president but I can't control them all the time, and I have no excuse to tell them this time. Most things I can brush off and say it's because your grandma's the coach but that won't do with you staying at his house. I don't even think the truth would cut it." Tomoka said, her voice and her features were lined with worry.
After hearing her friend's argument, Sakuno was starting to worry as well. Noticing this, Momo tried his best to cheer the girl up. "There's no need to worry Sakuno-chan. Maybe it was a one-time thing, or someone accidentally did it during cleaning duty."
"Momo's right" Oishi said as all the other senpai nodded, "There's no need to worry right now Sakuno-chan." Sakuno smiled up at her senpai, touched by how caring they were.
Meanwhile Ryoma, who had been quiet this who time, had decided it was time to leave before Tomoka and Horio decided to have another shouting match. He had suffered enough through the first one. So he re-adjusted his bag and started to walk off. "Let's go" he called to Sakuno and whichever senpai they had decided would go with them this time.
Sakuno quickly picked up her bag, which she had dropped while she had been talking, and started walking behind Ryoma to make sure she wouldn't be left behind. Kawamura and Momo also picked up their bags and started to jog to catch up. When Ryoma noticed that Sakuno hadn't caught up yet, he turned his head to see why she was lagging behind. As soon as he looked at her his eyes were drawn to her ankle, where part of her bandage could still be seen above her sock. It was only then that he had noticed he had been walking too fast and he slowed down a little as Sakuno caught up. This hadn't gone unnoticed by Momo as he smirked to himself as they kept walking.
After walking for a little while, Ryoma turned off on a path that went a different way to his house.
"Where are you going Echizen?" Momo asked, pointing down the other path towards his house, "It's this way." Ryoma turned and looked at Momo blankly.
"We aren't going home yet Momo-senpai. We have to go to the shop to get Ryuzaki a new notebook." With that said Ryoma just kept walking, Sakuno's cheeks tinted pink and Kawamura looked surprised but went along with him anyway. Momo just followed on, smirking.
By the time they reached the shop, Momo had formulated another devious plan to try and get Ryoma to realise his feelings for Sakuno. When they were about to enter the shop Momo grabbed Kawamura's arm.
"Hey Echizen, me and Taka-senpai are going into the tennis shop across the street. They have a new shipment of really cool sneakers that I wanted to get. I might as well get them since we are here, so you and Sakuno can go get the notebook while we get the sneakers." As soon as Momo finished talking he had dragged Kawamura away from the stunned pair of freshman and across the street before anyone could argue.
Sakuno and Ryoma stared at their senpai as they crossed the street and entered the tennis shop. After Momo and Kawamura left the sight of the couple they turned and stared at each other for a moment, before quickly looking away, leaving Sakuno's cheeks tinted with pink.
"Let's go Ryuzaki." Ryoma said, and the two of them entered the supermarket together. As they were walking towards the stationary section Sakuno noticed that they were walking past a lot of foods that they were almost out of, like eggs and rice. Given the amount that Sakuno had noted when she was making Ryoma's bento that morning, there would only just be enough left for dinner. While Sakuno had been thinking they had already reached the stationary section.
"Ryuzaki?" Ryoma asked, as she was about to walk past the isle they needed.
"Huh?" When she noticed where they were she blushed a little. "O-Oh. Right." She said and quickly went to the shelf with the notebooks on it. Ryoma looked at her curiously, as he followed her to the shelf and stood behind her as she made her decision.
Sakuno stared at the books, and spent a minute or two comparing them, wondering which one would be the best for her purpose. When she had finally decided on her notebook she turned to Ryoma.
"A-Anou, Ryoma-kun?" Ryoma looked at her as she continued. "W-Well, do you think we could do some shopping while we are here? There is probably only enough rice for dinner tonight, there are only a few eggs left, and there are a few other things that are almost gone as well. I was thinking that, since we are already here it could save Rinko-san a trip and we could probably afford it if we put our money together." Sakuno said, fidgeting as Ryoma considered what she said.
After a moment of contemplation, Ryoma agreed to get some groceries while they were there. Sakuno smiled upon hearing Ryoma's agreement to her plan, and went straight towards the first isle they needed with Ryoma trailing behind.
Momo and Kawamura stood in the tennis shop looking through the window at the supermarket across the street. "Why are we over here Momo?" Kawamura asked, confusion lacing his voice. Momo just looked at Kawamura with a giant grin.
"Taka-san, they are going shopping together" Momo said, as if that would clear up Kawamura's confusion. Upon seeing that it hadn't, Momo tried again. "You know… Shopping… Like newlyweds do…" Momo continued, hoping that his senpai would catch on to what he was saying, but Kawamura's face still held confusion at his kouhai's antics.
"But they are just getting a notebook Momo" Momo's eyes widened as he looked at Kawamura. He hadn't thought of that. Momo had been thinking they would go into the shop and start shopping for groceries like newlyweds do, and hoped that Ryoma would start to think that he and Sakuno were a couple, however Kawamura had just pointed out the flaws in his reasoning.
"Okay Taka-san" Momo sighed, "Let's go and find them". Kawamura and the disheartened Momo crossed the street and entered the shop the two freshman had a few minutes ago.
Sakuno had only picked up a few items, when she had realised she hadn't exactly thought this through well. Since Ryoma and Sakuno hadn't planned on buying much they hadn't gotten anything to carry the groceries in, and now Sakuno was regretting it. She was having a hard time trying to pick up a bag of rice, when Ryoma tapped her shoulder. Sakuno turned around to find Ryoma holding out a basket. The young girl stared at Ryoma in surprise, she hadn't even heard Ryoma leave, but was knocked out of her thoughts by an annoyed sigh from Ryoma and quickly dropped the groceries into the basket.
"A-Arigatou Ryoma-kun" she said dropping her head a little to hide the oncoming blush and Ryoma just grunted in response.
As they walked around the shop, Ryoma continued to hold the basket, while Sakuno looked at all the items and decided which ones they should get. She had discovered quickly that Roma wasn't the best judge of food when he had tried to put almost rotten carrot in the basket. From then on, there was a silent agreement that Sakuno would pick the food and Ryoma would carry the basket.
While waiting for Sakuno to pick the items they would buy, Ryoma looked at his surroundings. He never really went shopping, unless his mum asked him to pick up some milk on the way home from tennis practice, but then he just pick it up from the small convenience store he passed on his way home. He had never really been in a supermarket before. Ryoma started to watch all the people walking around and notice two people in particular, a man holding a basket, and a woman crouched down looking at the shelves of food. Ryoma noted that they were in the same position as Sakuno and himself. Then Ryoma noticed the little shines coming off their fingers and saw that they were wedding rings. The couple were still very young, and were obviously newlyweds. When Ryoma saw they woman look up at her husband with a smile, Ryoma's head turned back down to Ryuzaki. She was reaching out towards an item she wanted, once she had picked it up, she saw Ryoma and smiled at him. The young boy looked away quickly, feeling a small blush working its way onto his cheeks. What am I thinking… As Ryoma thought this he spotted a tuft of spiky black hair. Ryoma narrowed his eyes in suspicion, but turned away as Sakuno called for him to follow on.
Momo sighed in relief as Ryoma turned and followed Sakuno away, before smirking like an idiot at Kawamura, whose eyes were widened slightly in shock. Not only were Ryoma and Sakuno shopping like newlyweds, but Ryoma had just blushed.
A.N. I'm really really sorry for the long wait. I actually finished the chapter a few weeks ago, but I just didn't have time to post it... That covers the last 3-4 weeks, the rest of the time was just my procrastination... Yeah the only reason this chapter was even written is because of a rainy day and procrastination from homework. The only way I ever get anything done is when I'm procrastinating from something else. Anyway, lets get out my authors note agenda... OK here it is.
First up, Thank you to everyone who reviewed followed and/or favourited! I love every single one of you! (I'm not just saying it, I truly do!) In regards to one review who keeps pointing out my spelling mistakes, I'll try my best to fix my spelling but some words that have been pointed out (e.g. apologise and realise) I'm not going to fix. In Australia that is how we spell those words, and I don't want to get into the habit or spelling them differently. I'm sorry if that annoys any of you, but that's just the way it is. Also talking about the reviews, I got one wanting to know what the bento looked like, and I tried my best to make it, and draw it, and ended up wasting a lot of food and paper (it's one of the things I have been doing instead of writing and doing school work :P) but unfortunately I am artistically challenged... so they all turned out horribly. I'm sorry! I tried my best! But if anyone does try to make it I would love to see it! You could PM me or leave a review *hint*hint* and I would definitely have a look!
Next, I'm not sure if any of you noticed the name of the last chapter, but it didn't really fit the chapter. That's been bugging me so I thought I would explain it in case its been bugging any of you. The part at the beginning of this chapter (about the fan club) was supposed to be in the last chapter, but it didn't end up that way... Oh well. Lets just pretend it did.
And Finally, I think Horio and Ryoma might be a bit OOC in this chapter... It's really hard keeping Ryoma in character! And I think what Horio said was just a bit too smart for him... (I am horrible) Tell me what you thing in a review *hint*hint*
Ok, I lied when I said finally, I just thought of something else I want to say (I wonder if anyone is actually still reading... My A.N.'s are massive!) I have finally come up with an ending for this story! Ok it's not an exact ending, but this story now has a direction, AND it does mean that there will be a sequel. I'm going to keep writing this sotry for a little while yet though, so if you have any suggestions for this story, anything at all I would love love love to hear them. I love reading your suggestions and I would love to get more! They are so inspiring and motivating!
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! It was a long time coming.
Thanks for reading, and until next chapter,
Cya!
