Hi. Long hiatus, I know. But, extra long chapter to make up for it?
Enjoy~
Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis.
xXx
Things had been so busy with both of their lives, Sayuri's next time tutoring Sanada was two weeks after Yukimura's surgery. The weather was chilly, as winter had arrived. Sayuri wrapped her blazer tighter around herself and regretted opting for thigh-high socks instead of woolly tights. Sanada approached her, Sayuri stood up from where she had been leaning against the wall.
"Long time no see, Sanachi~" Sayuri smiled warmly at him.
He stared at her, nodded once, and began walking. Sayuri skipped to catch up to him and walked by his side, shivering slightly. Sanada eyed her cautiously out of the corner of his eye.
"Hey."
Sayuri looked up, it was not often that Sanada initiated a conversation.
Sanada stopped and faced her. "Why didn't you tell me about this?" He gestured at her cheek.
Sayuri defensively put her hand over the covered, fading bruise. "I figured you had enough going on without worrying about me."
"I see..." Sanada's stare, when directed at Sayuri, was scary as hell. They stood there in a silence.
"Come on, after this I need to go hear all about Mimi's date with Marui." Sayuri began walking again.
Sanada shuddered at the thought of hyper Marui bouncing around telling everyone about his date. How annoying... He continued walking.
They reached Sanada's house and did the customary greeting of Sanada's mother. Sayuri was about to make her way to the yard, but was stopped by Sanada.
"Let's go to the living room instead."
"Eh?! But I love your backyard." Sanada stared at her. Sayuri sighed and wailed, "I'm sorry Backyard-chan! I'll see you another day~!"
Despite the traditional Japanese look of the outside, Sanada's living room was very Western. A warm fire crackled in the fireplace, the couches were very plush and were covered in knit blankets.
Sayuri dived into a big red armchair, covered herself in a maroon blanket and said, "Good night."
Sanada stared exasperatedly. "Oi..."
"Hai, hai, tutoring can wait, Sanachi. Nap first." Sayuri turned to face him.
"You should chill out too, you know." Sayuri shifted. "I know that you've been pushing yourself in training, because of the ochibi and Yukimura."
She got up and threw the blanket at Sanada. "Sleep."
He blinked at her, then slowly laid down. His face looked as if he was expecting an attack any minute. Sayuri chuckled, "I'm not going to molest you or anything, Sanachi."
He gave her a weird glare, and closed his eyes. Sayuri knelt down and sat on the floor next to the couch.
"Hm... So Sanachi's face looks scary, even when sleeping." She giggled. The fire crackled loudly, sending sparks into the air.
Sayuri turned to stare at the fire, watching the sparks float up and vanish. "They're like dreams." She said softly. "Flying higher and higher trying to come true before being snuffed out by the pressure of air." Memories ripped through Sayuri's head like a hurricane. Of all her broken dreams and promises. A tear slid down her cheek and dropped onto the carpet. Sayuri shook her head, making her brown hair fly around her head.
"Don't think about it too much, Sayuri..." She rested her head against the couch where Sanada slept and stared at his sleeping face.
"I've learned a lot about you, Sanachi." She whispered. "The only thing I've ever been good at was observing. I know how you prefer tea over coffee, and jasmine tea over any other. I know how you do kendo for at least two hours everyday, in addition to the three hours spent on tennis. I know how you really do study hard. I know how you like bulky sweaters in muted tones. I know how you really respect your grandfather and your father. I know how you like the Edo period. I know how you wake up at four in the morning to meditate. I know how you like calligraphy." Sanada shifted in his sleep. "But I want you to know, that if you're ever overworked. I will make you a cup of jasmine tea and force you to sleep and recover." She smiled warmly. "So, work hard, but not too hard."
Sayuri eventually dozed off, listening to the crackle and pop of the fire. Sanada continued snoring lightly.
xXx
Maki was out with her little sister, Rin. They were headed to the park.
"Onee-chan?"
"Yes, Rin?" Maki looked down at her sister.
"Why did you change?"
Maki blinked in surprise. "Change how?"
"Well... Remember how you used to play dress-up with me all the time? And your clothes used to be pink and white and lavender. What happened to that?"
Maki fingered a metallic stud on her black sweater. "Well..."
"It's something I had to do, Rin. To make me stronger."
Rin gazed up at her with wide eyes. "The kinds of clothes you wear can make you stronger?"
"They don't actually make you stronger, but you feel stronger. Like you can take on the world."
Rin giggled. "I'm glad Onee-chan feels strong."
Maki smiled. Am I strong..? I never considered myself to be. Not after... Not after him.
They reached the park, where Rin immediately raced towards the swings and demanded Maki push her.
Maki chuckled and obliged.
xXx
Sanada awoke due to the vibration of his phone against his leg. He took the phone out of his pocket and answered it. "Hello?"
"Sanada-fukubuchou?" Akaya's cheery voice rang through the speaker. "Hey, Yukimura-buchou! He answered!"
"What do you want, Seiichi?"
"Are you busy?"
"Yes, actually, I am."
Sanada's voice woke up Sayuri. "Hm? Sanachi? Good morning." She yawned.
"Is that Muramoto-chan I hear? What are you doing with her, Genichirou?"
"Nothing that you need to be concerned with." Sanada could feel the teasing he was going to receive after making that comment.
"I have to go, bye." Sanada hung up.
"Sanachi~" Sayuri rubbed her eyes. "Do you even want to learn anything today?"
Sanada shook his head.
"Heh, I thought so. I have to go hear a recap of Mimi's date with Marui."
He stood up to walk Sayuri to the door.
"Sanachi~" He turned. "Don't overwork yourself. But if you do, because I can see it happening, just call me okay?"
He stared at her. "You have a date to go listen to."
Sanada watched her leave, then went back inside. He rubbed his eyes. What that girl had said... He shook his head. The day had been good so far, Sanada didn't want it to get complicated.
xXx
"So... Tell me everything." Sayuri said, after dialing Mimi.
"Oh, right, the date."
Sayuri flopped onto her bed, expecting to hear a glorious account of a perfect date.
"It sucked."
"What?" Sayuri stood up indignantly. "I'll show that Marui-"
"No, it wasn't Marui-kun's fault. Don't blame him, Sayuri-chan."
"Explain."
"Okay, so I got there first, five minutes early. He got there at exactly one-o-clock. We waited in line for about twenty minutes, talking and such, but that part was okay. We rode some of the rides, like two rollercoasters. At around 4-o-clock, he got a phone call."
"A phone call?"
"Yeah, a phone call. He tried to be all cheerful when he came back, but I could tell something was wrong with him. So we continued riding rides and hanging out and eventually I just stopped."
"Stopped." Sayuri repeated.
"Yeah. At around 7, an hour before the fireworks show, I asked him what was wrong. He told me that his parents had gotten into an accident, and he did not want to worry me."
"Oh my god..." Sayuri sat down on her bed.
"I told him that he should go. He looked really disappointed in himself, said 'Thank you' and left."
"Mimi..."
"You know maybe we weren't meant to be." Sayuri sat there in silence, not finding anything appropriate to say.
"I gotta go, I'll see you." Mimi hung up the phone.
Sayuri's hand fell to her lap.
In her room, a couple streets away from Sayuri, Mimi locked herself in her closet and cried.
xXx
Maki wrapped herself in grey blankets and laid down on her bed.
If even Rin noticed me change... How different am I? She picked up a picture frame from when she was eight. A bright, smiling girl, black hair in two pigtails with lace ribbons tied around them. A floaty pink dress and white mary-janes. She looked so...
different.
Maki put the photo down. She needed to talk to someone that knew her then, and still knows her now.
She needed to talk to Akutsu.
xXx
Before they knew it, Christmas was right around the corner. Sayuri chatted with Sanada eagerly about it on their way to Sanada's house.
"I already got Maki, Mimi and my parents presents." Sayuri grinned. "I think they'll really like them! What about you, Sanachi?"
"I got my parents some things, but nobody from the tennis team yet."
"Ooh ooh! I'll get you a present if you get me one!" Sayuri smiled. "You know, as obligation. No strings attached!"
Sanada blinked, and nodded.
"Are you going to the Rikkaidai Christmas party on Christmas Eve?" Sayuri asked. Rikkaidai's Student Council organizes a huge Christmas Party every year. It's considered a very elite party, full of the many champions of Rikkaidai.
"Yeah, Yukimura's making all of us go." Sayuri giggled at that.
"Okay~ Now, I think, as your tutor, that you need a break. You have money, right?"
Sanada nodded suspiciously.
"Let's go shopping!" Sayuri squealed and tugged Sanada off towards the Shopping District.
Or attempted to, that guy was like a boulder. She ended up tripping and nearly losing her balance.
Sanada observed her for a moment, "Let's take a shortcut."
Sayuri's smile grew wider. She nodded enthusiastically.
Instead of taking the long route that Sayuri was going to lead them on, Sanada led her through an alley that cut their travel time in half.
"Oh, I didn't know that existed. How did you know about that passage, Sanachi?"
"Once, Akaya was running from Yanagi when Yanagi brought his friend's juice and went through that alley. We found him at a ramen stand in a mall."
"Oh. That's cool."
They made their way to the Shopping District. "Okay, so can you take me to a tennis shop?"
"Why?"
"Oh, I need to get presents for Eiji and Oishi. Since I haven't talked to them in awhile, I figured the best way to restart the friendship would be through a gift."
Sanada was silent for a moment before, "Okay, I have to go there too. Follow me."
Sayuri skipped happily behind the tall Sanada on the way to the sports shop. They reached the shop and entered. A bell chimed as the door swung shut.
"Ah, Sanada-kun." The man behind the register waved. "It's nice to see you again."
"Hello, Jihara-oji-san." Sanada bowed formally. Sayuri hurriedly followed suit.
"Welcome, welcome, I see you've brought a friend." The old man's eyes twinkled. "What is your name, child?"
"I'm Muramoto Sayuri-desu. It's nice to meet you."
"Muramoto-kun, it's nice to meet you. Please enjoy my shop."
Sayuri browsed around the shop, trying to find something that Eiji and Oishi might like. She ended up consulting Sanada who pointed out two different rolls of grip tape. He explained how Oishi had that one on his racket at the match two weeks ago, and Eiji had the other.
"Wow, Sanachi, I'm amazed you noticed and remembered that."
"Hn, well, perhaps your memory is just inferior to most."
"Hey!" Sanada's eye's twinkled slightly. Sayuri stuck out her tongue at him.
Once they had both paid for their things, they left. "I have another place to go to, come with me?"
Sanada still looked suspicious. Sayuri's eyes twinkled. He nodded.
"Okay~ Let's get moving."
The pair continued walking through the Shopping District. "Here."
Sayuri stopped at a store with an all-black exterior.
"What do you need to do here?" Sanada asked.
"Oh, this is one of Maki's favorite stores... I'm going to get her a gift card in addition to the cool-ass makeup I already got her."
"Ah, I'll wait outside." Sanada backed away cautiously from the entrance.
"That's probably a good idea." Sayuri smiled sheepishly. After she had finished and left the store, she came upon Sanada, who looked pissed. Or she thought he did, his facial expression didn't change much.
"What happened?" Sanada fixed a pointed glare at something. Sayuri turned, there were three girls. "You're pissed because some girls tried to hit on you? Grow up, Sanachi."
"But it's annoying." As close to a whine as you would ever get out of Sanada Genichirou.
"Well... You're tall, have muscles like a bodybuilder, and you're not exactly ugly either. It's clear to see why people like them would like you."
Sanada's head turned from glaring at the girls to observing Sayuri. "What did you say?"
"Aha, I'm not repeating that." Sayuri gave him a poker face. "Now that I'm reflecting on it, that was hella embarrassing. So please burn that memory from your mind."
Sanada felt an urge to laugh, but repressed it.
"Okay, I think I've done enough shopping for now. Take care, Sanachi. Don't get robbed on the day home."
"I'll walk you home." Sanada said.
"Oh, um, actually I do have to go somewhere else. I just don't think it's advisable for you to come with me, if you know what I mean." Sayuri scratched her head.
"Hn, bye then." Sanada turned and began walking.
"Bye, Sanachi~!" A brief wave from him, then he was gone.
"Okay, okay, time for Sanachi's gift. Let's go~" Sayuri made her way to a calligraphy shop, where she bought two blocks of black ink. She also made her way to a bookstore and bought Sanada a book of paintings from the Edo period, one that she hadn't seen in the bookshelf in the living room. It had been tough. Sanada had a lot of books on the Edo period.
Happy with her presents, Sayuri rushed home to wrap them.
xXx
Christmastime was always busy for the Tetsuo bakery. Mimi was on full time, baking cakes and such for special orders. She had been avoiding Marui since that failed date and that had caused her to be absent from the bakery and therefore behind on cake orders.
"Shoot, shoot, shoot!" She whirled around the kitchen like a whirlwind, making cake after cake. She barely stopped to eat and drink and her health deteriorated as a result.
She constantly said things like, "How can I eat, knowing that some people won't get their food because of me?"
Four days before Christmas Eve, she collapsed onto the tile floor.
Marui heard about her incident from Mimi's mother and rushed to see her in the hospital straightaway.
Mimi's room in the hospital was decorated with flowers and get-well cards from Sayuri, Maki and even Jackal.
Marui gazed at Mimi's pale, thin face, appearing perfectly at peace in sleep.
"Mimi-chan... I'm so sorry I wasn't there to stop you from doing this to yourself. I'm sorry that our date ended up horribly." Marui sighed. "I hope someday I can make up for it."
Marui left quietly.
Mimi was discharged the next day, and added another cake to her list.
One for Marui.
She wasn't on perfectly peachy terms with him yet, but a cake was a start.
xXx
Sometimes the Grotto got busy at Christmas. Other years, it empties out. This year was one of the busier ones. Even though Christmas was three days away, Maki and Alice had decorated the tree together and thrown Christmas-themed decorations everywhere.
"It looks good."
"Damn straight." Alice tossed her blonde hair. They both took a moment to admire their hard work.
"I have to go, someone's waiting for me."
"Boyfriend?" Alice raised her eyebrows suggestively.
Maki scoffed, "Nah, childhood fight partner."
"Eh, details." Maki gave Alice a hug, then set out.
She was meeting Akutsu today.
Maki quickly fixed her black tunic so that it looked right against her patterned purple leggings. She stopped by the bathroom to fix her black eyeliner and reapplied a clear lip gloss. Then, she made her way to where Akutsu was meeting her.
Their old dojo.
It brought back memories to Maki. Memories of fights and hard work, sweat and occasionally blood. This was where she had first learned to fight. She owed a lot to this place.
"Oi.. Pink Brat." A harsh voice broke her out of her reverie.
"Can you not call me that? I don't even do pink anymore." Maki crossed her arms.
"Yeah, I know." Akutsu smirked. "But it's been too long to stop now."
"Is that your attitude towards smoking, too?" Maki asked in a quieter voice. She and many others had tried to get Akutsu to stop smoking, but to no avail.
"Yep, pretty much." Akutsu sighed. "Why'd you call me out here?"
"I have to talk to you, but first let's have a fight." Maki said, "For old times' sake."
Akutsu sighed again, "Fine, let's go."
They entered the dojo together; Former pupils, long since graduated, returning.
As soon as they came in, they were flooded by kids. "Akutsu-nii! Maki-nee!"
Maki looked at Akutsu in surprise, "You've come back before, too?"
Akutsu looked away, "Yeah, what about it?"
"Maki-nee, Maki-nee! Fight me!" A younger boy shouted enthusiastically.
"Ah? You're a million years too early to fight me, young one." Maki made a dramatic pose.
"Akutsu-nii! Can you teach me that move that you did last time?" Akutsu looked down at the girl who spoke, who beamed up at him.
Akutsu rolled his eyes, "Fine, but after I have a match with this girl over here."
"Okay!"
"Hey everyone! Maki-nee and Akutsu-nii are fighting!"
"Ooh, really?" "I wanna see!" The students all chatted excitedly and gathered around the center mat.
Both teens began warming up, stretching and of course, trash-talking.
"Who do you guys think is gonna win?" Maki asked the crowd. She received mixed answers.
"The Pink Brat couldn't beat me even if my hands were tied behind my back." Akutsu scoffed.
"Actually, I could. We fought with both our hands tied behind our backs and I won, remember?" The children laughed. Akutsu scowled.
"Okay, you ready?" Maki called, tying her long hair up into a ponytail.
Akutsu cracked his knuckles, "Ready to defeat you."
Without warning, Maki came flying at Akutsu, with a bright smile on her face. He crouched down and prepared to receive her punch, a faint smile upon his lips.
xXx
Sayuri finished wrapping her presents, tying a bow on the last one. It was only four-o-clock, she decided to go out for some more shopping. There was no harm in getting herself a present, no? She put on a woolen cream coat and slipped brown boots on her feet.
The shopping district was extra busy, with all the last-minute shoppers. Sayuri stopped by one store and bought a cat keychain, as an afterthought for Eiji's gift. She walked down the entire street, occasionally stopping to try on clothes or look at accessories. As she passed the sports shop, she stopped. Sayuri decided to go in, maybe pick up something else for Oishi.
As she was about to pull open the door, the door swung out to hit her. "Itai," Sayuri rubbed her head.
"Ah, sorry." A deep voice said. Sayuri looked up.
The boy in front of her had hazel eyes and almost a matching color of honey-brown hair.
"Oh no, it's okay." Sayuri smiled.
The boy looked down at her, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just great."
"I'll be going then."
Sayuri moved out of the way. She noticed how he carried himself, as if he was a samurai noble. His posture was immaculate.
"Hey, wait." Sayuri ran to catch up with him, abandoning the sports store.
He turned to look at her.
"Can I get your name?"
The boy looked at her, in a manner that reminded her of Sanada. "Tezuka Kunimitsu."
"Tezuka..." Sayuri thought for a moment. I've heard that name before...
"Ah! You wouldn't happen to play tennis for Seigaku, would you?"
Tezuka looked surprised, "I do."
Sayuri smiled, "My name is Muramoto Sayuri. Congratulations on winning the Regional Tournament."
"Ah, thank you."
"In case you were wondering, I asked you your name because you remind me of my friend." Sayuri smiled. "You probably know him, Sanada Genichirou."
Tezuka nodded, "Yes, I do."
"At any rate, I'll see you around, Tezuka-san." Sayuri turned and looked back at him, "I have a feeling I'll be seeing you again."
As they parted ways, flakes of the first snow came floating down from the skies.
xXx
Elsewhere...
Sanada put his calligraphy brush down and placed his hand against his forehead. A migraine was coming on. Maybe the cause of it was his calligraphy ink was running out. Or perhaps he was simply tired. Either way, his head hurt like hell.
He put away his things and decided to go to bed early.
xXx
After Maki and Akutsu fight had ended, (the result had been a tie) they both got bottles of water and sat down on a bench.
"Akutsu..."
"What?"
"Have I really changed? Since I was younger, I mean."
"Hell yeah you have." Akutsu took a drink. "For one, you've stopped wearing pink. For two, you're not insulting me every chance you get."
"That's true," Maki giggled. "I guess I have changed, huh..."
Akutsu observed her for a moment and said, "Change isn't bad, Akira Maki."
xXx
On her way home, Sayuri decided to stop by the Tetsuo Bakery for a drink and maybe a pastry.
"Sayuri-chan~!" Mimi waved at her from behind the counter as she walked in.
Sayuri gave her a worried look, "You're still making cakes?"
"Ah, I finished most of them. The one that is baking is Marui's."
"Marui?" Sayuri looked surprised, then she smiled. "I'm glad."
"I don't feel completely comfortable talking to him yet," Mimi admitted as she took the cake out of the oven. "So I supposed that I should give him a cake."
Sayuri felt relieved. Mimi looked tons more cheerful than she had over the phone when Sayuri had last had a proper conversation with her.
"Would you like anything, Sayuri-chan?"
Sayuri pressed her face to the glass display, "Let's see... How about that piece of strawberry cake over there?"
"And hot chocolate?" Mimi asked.
"You know it," Sayuri dug out her wallet and handed the money over to Mimi.
Mimi rang her up at the cash register and handed her the cake on a small china plate.
"Come sit with me after you're done decorating." Sayuri smiled.
"Oh, I can go now, the cake needs to cool." Mimi took off her apron and sat across the table from Sayuri.
The girls chatted for awhile, before Sayuri decided to head home. Mimi waved her off, then went and put her apron back on.
She spent hours perfecting the decorations on Marui's cake. It was iced in white, with red on the sides and swirling across the top. Strawberries dotted the top as well. Mimi wiped the sweat off her brow as she finished, signing her name on the top in light pink. She placed the cake in a box and tied a ribbon around it. A card in a silver envelope was slid under the bow.
Mimi turned the lights off in the kitchen and headed off to bed.
xXx
Christmas Eve arrived, as well as the party. Sayuri had dropped off Eiji and Oishi's gifts that morning, before returning to get ready. Mimi and Maki made their way to Sayuri's house at 3 so that they could get ready together.
Sayuri had already showered and blow-dried her hair when the other two girls arrived. She sat in her room wearing a towel wrap around her body and was applying foundation on her face. Mimi and Maki entered the room dramatically.
"I'm entering the shower first!" Mimi sang, running straight to Sayuri's bathroom.
"Hey!" Maki shouted, then pouted. "I wanted to go first..."
"You can help me with my eyeliner and eyeshadow then, after I do powder." Sayuri said, grabbing a big fluffy brush.
"I'm jealous of you Sayuri, you don't need concealer."
"Are you kidding?! Of course I use concealer." Sayuri turned to look at Maki. "I mean, for the dark circles under my eyes."
"Oh... That makes me feel better."
Sayuri glared at her, then held out a black liquid eyeliner pen. "Here, please help me."
Maki tossed her hair, "The wonderful Maki-sama shall help you with your eyeliner." Sayuri giggled.
It had always been Maki doing the makeup, Sayuri doing the hair and Mimi providing the snacks.
Three hours later, they had transformed from normal school students to beautiful school students. Sayuri wore a pale cream dress, with crystals dotted all over the bodice. The skirt was silk, and just reached the tops of her knees. Her brown hair was curled and fell to her shoulder blades. Maki wore a midnight-blue minidress, her eyes accentuated by the smoky eye and dark eyeliner. Her hair had been straightened and nearly reached her waist. Mimi wore a pale pink dress that reached her knees and fanned out when she spun. Her blonde hair had been curled and pinned up by Sayuri. A couple of ringlets framed her face.
As they were about to leave, Sayuri's mom came out of the kitchen. "You guys look so pretty! Let me take a picture before we leave!"
Sayuri handed her mom the camera and the trio posed. They took a couple pictures before getting into the car and setting out.
Rikkaidai's huge gymnasium had been transformed into a winter paradise. Silvery lights hung from the rafters and Christmas decorations covered the walls. Christmas lights and strands of paper snowflakes were hung from the ceiling as well.
Sayuri gasped, "It's so pretty!" Mimi nodded, equally in awe.
Maki just snorted. "It's okay."
"Aw, don't be a grinch, Maki." Mimi said, tugging Maki along with her.
Sayuri scanned the room, before finding the person she was looking for.
"Ah, Sanachi~!" Sayuri ran over to where she saw Sanada standing with some of his teammates.
Being Sayuri, she tripped and more like crashed into Sanada. Sanada didn't fall over, but he recoiled a little.
Sayuri took a step back and scratched her head. "Sorry, Sanachi."
Sanada rolled his eyes. Sayuri took a gold-wrapped present out of her sack of presents and handed it to Sanada. "Merry Christmas, Sanada Genichirou." Sanada looked at her in surprise. Sayuri blushed a bit and said, "That's my last time saying your actual name for awhile, so don't get used to it." Sanada took the present.
"Open it, open it!" Sayuri bounced up and down and grinned, oblivious to the laughter of the entire tennis team watching them.
Sanada carefully untied the ribbon and peeled away the paper. He scowled a bit as he ripped it unnecessarily, but managed to get the box out. Sanada opened the box apprehensively, as if expecting something to jump out of it. He examined the book and the ink then looked at her, "Thank you, Muramoto."
Sayuri smiled, "You're welcome, Sanachi."
"You should stop calling me that name." Sanada said, as he handed her a sparkly white gift bag.
"Sanada-fukubuchou bought a girl a present?!" Akaya said in surprise, before having a hand put over his mouth by Yanagi.
"If you're too loud, he'll tell her to open it somewhere else and this is good data."
Even Yukimura looked over in curiosity as Sayuri opened the gift.
"Ooh," Sayuri took the present out of the bag. "It's so pretty~" It was a white scarf that had threads of sparkling gold woven in.
"I asked my mother to help," Sanada looked away. Tiny arms encircled his waist. He looked down in surprise to see the top of Sayuri's head.
A muffled, "Thank you, Sanachi." was heard by Sanada. But the moment was over almost as quickly as it had occurred. Sayuri waved at all the tennis players before running off, wearing the scarf like a wrap.
"I never knew you had such taste in gifts, Genichirou." Yukimura's teasing voice rang out. "We all know your mother has the worst gifting sense in your entire household."
"Be quiet, Yukimura." Sanada turned to face him. "She doesn't need to know that."
Meanwhile, the girls that happened to witness this encounter all spread the news quickly. Before you could say "Rikkaidai", the entire female student body knew that Sanada Genichirou had given Muramoto Sayuri a Christmas present.
Mimi and Maki had been perusing the snack table when they overheard two girls gossping about Sayuri and Sanada. Mainly things like, why. When Sayuri came back over to them, Mimi sighed. "Sayuri, can you please stop getting into giant drama with the fangirls. It's affecting my social status."
Maki snorted, "What social status?"
"The one that I imagine I have." Mimi pouted. "Oh, I have to give Marui his cake, I'll be back."
Maki facepalmed. "Face it, we're all magnets for fangirl drama."
They sat in silence for a moment. "Oh well," Sayuri shrugged. "Hurry up and give him your gift, Mimi. You wouldn't want it to get crushed by fangirls."
Mimi nodded and bounced over to where Marui was.
"Mimi-chan," Marui grinned as she came over.
"Marui-kun." Mimi held out a box. "That's for you."
Marui accepted it, then handed her a small box. "Here, I picked this up for you."
Mimi looked at him, then set about opening the box. It was a necklace with a charm on it, a piece of cake charm. Mimi smiled and closed the box. "Thank you, Marui-kun."
"Thank you, Mimi-chan." Mimi waved as she went back over to Sayuri and Maki.
"No luck?" Niou dropped into the seat besides Marui.
"She didn't put it on, but at least she accepted it." Marui said.
Niou patted him on the back, "That might be better than what's gonna happen to me."
Marui looked up at Niou, who was walking over to the trio of girls near the snack table.
"Maki." He said lightly.
"Masa-" Maki stopped herself, "Niou."
He grabbed her wrist and placed a box on her palm. Niou wrapped Maki's fingers around it, and walked off.
Maki just stared at the gift. Sayuri and Mimi peered at it.
Sayuri spoke first, "Are you going to open it?"
"No." Maki's other hand turned into a fist. "I'm not accepting anything he gives me."
"Okay." The other two left the matter alone for the rest of the night.
The rest of the party was just the students of Rikkaidai partying, laughing and eating.
xXx
Sayuri three-way called Maki and Mimi on December 30th in the afternoon.
"Hey, do you guys want to go visit the shrine on New Year's?"
Mimi's voice rang through the phone, "That sounds like fun! Sure, I'll go."
"I'll go too." Maki said. "Do I have to wear yukata?"
"Ooh, we should!" Mimi said enthusiastically. "I got a really pretty one last year."
"Okay, we'll wear yukata. Let's meet at Maki's house since it's the closest to the shrine."
"Okay~"
"Fine."
They hung up.
The next day, late in the evening. Sayuri, with aid from her mother, put on her yukata. It was a purple color that matched her eyes, with light blue and green patterns running all over it. She pinned her hair up, letting a couple strands down in the front, and placed a purple flower in it. As an afterthought, she grabbed the scarf Sanada has given her. It matched, and there was absolutely no reason to be cold tonight.
"Now, Sayuri, I let you go to that party on Christmas. And now I'm letting you go to the shrine. When you get back, for the rest of winter break you're going to do homework, okay? Your grades are horrendous."
"Yes, Mother." Sayuri deadpanned.
"Also, you need to start doing more chores. You barely do anything around this house anymore."
"Yes, Mother."
"You may go now."
"Thank you, Mother."
Sayuri picked up her bag, which contained her phone and money, and escaped the house. Maki's house was near the shrine, so the streets were very crowded. Many people from all over the neighborhood wanted to wish for things in the coming year.
"Sayuri-chan!" Mimi waved excitedly at her from Maki's driveway, dressed in a pink and white yukata. Maki waved also, dressed in a black and silver yukata. Sayuri walked a bit faster, trying to not let her yukata come undone.
That would be embarrassing.
The three girls set off for the shrine together, talking excitedly about what they might wish for.
"I'm gonna wish to learn a lot more techniques for baking." Mimi said, "And perhaps learn some actual cooking, for the future, you know?"
Maki seemed to ponder something, "I don't really know what to wish for... Maybe for me and Rin's safety in the coming year." She looked fondly over at Rin, who was tagging along, as well as Maki's mother.
"I think I'm going to wish for Sanachi to not overwork himself," Sayuri smiled. "I think it'll be good for him."
"Ho~?" Mimi's eyes glinted.
Maki smirked, "You so like him."
"Do not!" Sayuri said indignantly, "I just think that he shouldn't tire himself out, as a friend."
"Right~" Mimi said. "But at least make a personal wish too."
"Hai, hai," Sayuri thought about it for a moment, "I guess I'll wish for good health. Can't be getting sick in my third year of Middle School."
They reached the shrine shortly after that. It was decorated all over with strings of fairy lights. Fireworks could be seen in some areas, ready to go off once the New Year hit. Booths were positioned all over, advertising foods, games and even merchandise. Sayuri sighed, it was just the kind of shrine visit she had imagined.
"Come on, let's go make our wishes." Maki said, "Then we can enjoy the festival." They made their way over to the altar where offerings were to be made. Each threw their own yen piece in and clapped their hands. Sayuri closed her eyes and wished for her own, and Sanada's, health in the coming year. Once she had opened her eyes, Mimi and Maki were looking at her expectantly.
"Let's go!" Sayuri grinned. They separated from Rin and Maki's mother and went off to enjoy the festival.
"I wanna go eat takoyaki!"
"I wanna go fish for a goldfish."
The girls argued about what to do first. The festival had so many options, and they only had so much time. Sayuri gasped, an idea in her head.
"Why don't we go get charms?"
Mimi and Maki looked at each other, shrugged, and relented. The trio made their way over to where the charms were sold. All three of them got matching friendship charms in different colors. Sayuri got white, Mimi got red and Maki got black.
Seeing a fortune-telling stand right next to the charms, Sayuri curiously walked over.
"Hello, young one," The elderly lady running the stand stretched out a hand to her. "Would you like your fortune told?"
"Okay," Sayuri paid the lady, and sat down on the stool provided. "Onegaishimasu."
The lady gently picked up her hand and felt her palm lines. "My dear, all your luck seems to be terrible this year." Sayuri recoiled a bit, then sighed. She had been expecting that. "No, wait..." The old lady felt the right side of her palm. "Your luck in romance seems to be flourishing. Is there perhaps, a young man that has caught your eye?" Sayuri shook her head. "Oh, well, maybe you'll find love right around the corner then." The old lady smiled at her and released her palm.
"Thank you," Sayuri bowed, then left to find Mimi and Maki. As she turned the corner to the food stalls she ran into a warm chest.
"Oof," Sayuri felt a strange sense of deja vu. She looked up. "Eh? Tezuka-san?"
Tezuka looked down at her, "Ah, Muramoto-san."
"How are you?" Sayuri asked, "It's surprising to see you here."
"Hn, I'm okay."
Sayuri grinned, "Why don't you walk with me?"
The two walked together for awhile before Sayuri tripped. It was no surprise, she was clumsy and these platform shoes were ridiculous. She caught herself though, and waved off Tezuka, insisting, "No, no, I'm fine."
She pointed at a food vendor and tilted her head questioningly at Tezuka. He nodded and they walked over to it.
"Ooh~" Sayuri inhaled the scent of food. "Those skewers look really yummy."
Tezuka ordered a couple. As Sayuri was pulling out her money to pay, she was stopped by Tezuka. Sayuri gave in, as she had experienced with Sanada, these types of people don't give in easily.
"Thank you, Tezuka-san." Sayuri bowed her head slightly. She took a skewer and began devouring the teriyaki chicken on it. She sighed and put a hand on her cheek, "It's so yummy~"
Sayuri ended up eating three out of the five skewers Tezuka had bought.
"Oh wait, I ate more than you... And you paid for it..." Sayuri looked at her feet in embarrassment. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Tezuka said.
Sayuri had kept looking around for Mimi and Maki. Tezuka noticed her looking around and asked, "Looking for something?"
"Yeah, my friends. I kinda lost them when I got my fortune told."
"Do you have a phone?"
Sayuri stopped walking. The fact that she had a phone had totally slipped from her mind. She took it out of her bag and pressed the button that turned it on.
On the screen read, 8 missed calls from Mimi and 10 missed calls from Maki. Not to mention, about 27 texts combined from the pair.
She dialed Maki and held the phone away from her ear. That had been a good call, Maki's screaming voice came through the speaker.
"SAYURI! Where the hell are you?!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm with my friend, Tezuka-san. Don't worry."
"Tezuka-san?" Maki asked.
"I'll tell you about it some other time. I'm near the food vendors, where are you?"
"No, you stay there. We're coming to get you." Maki ordered.
Sayuri sighed in defeat, "Yes, ma'am." She hung up and turned to face Tezuka. "My friends are coming to get me, you don't have to wait with me."
"Hn..." Tezuka glanced at his watch. He sat down on a bench. Sayuri took that to mean he was staying with her, and sat down on the other end of the bench.
"Hm... I wonder what Sanachi is doing to ring in the New Year." Sayuri wondered. Tezuka glanced sideways at her, but said nothing.
Tezuka's phone rang, which he picked up. "TEZUKA!"
He sighed, "Yes?"
"Where did you go?! We're all worried." A voice chimed in, "I'm not."
"Nya~ Tezuka's such a meanie, leaving us alone like that."
"I'm by the food vendors."
"Tezuka we're coming to get you, stay where you are."
They hung up.
"It couldn't be..." Sayuri said, "You're lost too?"
Tezuka stayed silent.
"Sayuri!" Mimi's voice broke through the awkward silence.
"Buchou!" A crowd of boys ran towards the pair.
Tezuka and Sayuri both stood up. Mimi ran and hugged Sayuri, "I'm glad you're okay."
"Eh? Sayu-chi?" Eiji poked his head out from the crowd that had surrounded Tezuka.
"Hi, Eiji." Sayuri gave him a hug. "How did you like your present?"
"I loved it! I especially liked the cat keychain, it's on my school bag."
Sayuri grinned, "That's great!"
"Oh, it's the Sanada's girlfriend chick." Momoshiro said.
"Who're you calling his girlfriend?" Sayuri glared at him.
"Ah, don't mind Momo-senpai, he's an idiot." Ryoma said.
"Oi! Ryoma!"
"Mada mada dane, Momo-senpai."
Whilst Seigaku conversed with Mimi and Maki, Sayuri pulled out her phone and texted Sanada. She sent a picture of the festival and asked, "Are you here?"
Sanada texted back surprisingly fast, with a short reply. "Yes."
Sayuri sent him, "Where are you?"
"Don't worry about that." Sanada replied. Sayuri blinked at that message.
"Sayuri..." Maki whispered. Sayuri looked up at Maki, who jerked her head in the direction of a figure behind the crowd of rowdy Seigaku boys. Sayuri made her way around them.
"Sanachi?" Sayuri tilted her head. "How did you find me?" Sanada was wearing a navy yukata that accentuated his muscles. Not like Sayuri especially noticed that, or anything.
Sanada smirked, "I followed the loud noise."
Sayuri glared at him. "Oi..."
The bells tolled at that moment. Seigaku, the girls and Sanada looked to the skies. Fireworks shot in every which way, sprinkling the night sky with sparks of every color under the rainbow.
"Happy New Year, Sanachi~" Sayuri smiled at him, then turned to wish the others a Happy New Year.
Sanada watched her go, then turned to rejoin his parents at the shrine. An amused look came upon his face when he realized she had been wearing the scarf he gave her. He yelled, "TARUNDORU!" at himself mentally. He wasn't about to become soft about a girl.
After wishing everyone a Happy New Year, Sayuri, Mimi and Maki reunited with Maki's family and left the shrine. They parted ways after reaching Maki's house.
"See you when school starts," Sayuri said. "My mother's not letting me leave the house."
Mimi gave her a hug, "We'll see you."
"Yeah..."
xXx
"Muramoto-kun," Nakamura-sensei said, adjusting his glasses. "I've determined that Sanada-kun's grade has improved enough. He is no longer in need of your tutoring."
Sayuri froze. Wait... what?
xXx
This story had kinda a mixed timeline in regards to the manga/anime. The match that Sanada had with Ryoma was anime, but this part is manga-ish. You see, in the manga, Tezuka leaves to go to Kyushu instead of Germany. Therefore in my timeline, he comes back to visit for the holidays to visit his family and team and all.
So he can meet Sayuri, wai~
So yeah, it's all canon, just different parts of the canon.
aha next time~ Oh no! Sayuri is no longer tutoring Sanada? Can their friendship still continue? or something like that...
Read and Review~!
Happy Holidays, everybody~!