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*Thud*
"Ah, gomenasai!" Ruka didn't dare look up. Her luck had been bad enough today, and she clearly didn't want an enemy on her first day of school. "Ah, no sorry, it's my fault. I should look where I'm going. Are you hurt anywhere?" a deep, but kind voice spoke.
Ruka took a peek at the person she had bumped into and saw a boy – older than her, with dark skin and a dark, shiny head. He was bald no doubt, but he seemed nice. "No, I'm fine, it's not like I've fallen out of my wheelchair or anything." Ruka explained.
"That's a relief, I'm sorry, but I've got to go, I'm in a rush." Ruka felt the boy softly pat her head. "I see, no need to apologise, we're not really acquainted or anything. Speaking of which, may I know you name… senpai?"
"Ah! I'm Jackal Kuwahara, senior year student. And you?" he bowed politely, "Echizen Ruka, freshman. I guess I'll see you around." She bowed back as Jackal quickly checked his watch. "See you, I'm sorry, but I don't want to be running laps when I can be training later. Ja ne Echizen-chan!" he replied, waving as he jogged away.
"Run laps…?" Ruka wondered out loud, "Must be part of the track team. How lucky."
xxx
Marui Bunta grabbed the wrist of Yagyuu Hiroshi and checked the time once more. "Mou," he said, "Jackal still isn't here, and he said he was bringing me cak—" his complaint was cut off by the loud clang of the rooftop door.
The rooftop was the Rikkai regular's usual hangout spot. Since 'Mura-buchou liked to tend to the pots and plants up there, they tended just to stick around and eat their lunch during that time, seeing as it really was the only time they could do such activities.
"Sorry I'm late!" a slightly puffed out Jackal entered onto the rooftop. "You brought the cake… right?" not even a greeting came out of Marui's mouth as it started watering, thinking of all the fluffiness that was about to fill his mouth. Jackal nodded and handed him a small white box.
Giving a toothy grin, Marui dug in when, "Ne, senpai," Kirihara Akaya started to speak, "No Akaya, you are not getting any cake!" Marui stated. "Ah, but senpai, I've been hearing stories."
"Saa stories? About what?" Yukimura looked up from watering the plants. "Apparently Marui got owned in English by a freshman girl." Kirihara blinked innocently. "TARUNDORU!" Sanada snapped, "Is this true?" Marui nodded cautiously, chewing slowly on his cake.
"Ah, does this freshman girl happen to go by the name of Echizen Ruka?" Jackal, Marui's doubles partner asked. "Eh? How do you know her?" Marui asked, making everyone turn to Jackal expectantly.
"Well, I bumped into her before, that's why I was late when I came." "It is also 99.6% that she was victim to your red goo this morning, Niou. Unless she just happened to be in the 00.4% that just got splattered with it. Am I right?" Yanagi now turned to face our resident prankster. "Piyo?" Niou said, scratching the tip of his nose. "How did you know?" "I'm her partner for Chemistry. I would be blind not to notice that she still had goo in her hair." Yanagi stated, as if it were an obvious fact.
"Niou, 50 laps at training." Sanada spoke. "Aw man." Niou complained, taking out an onigiri to eat. "Don't make me raise it to 70."Sanada said, stoic as ever. "I'm good thanks…" Niou said, biting into his lunch.
"You should say sorry." Yagyuu pushed up his glasses, his gentlemanly skills kicking in. "I will, I will." Niou defended. "Don't leave it until it's too late." "Aw, come on! It hasn't even been a day since I met her, let alone even talk to her! Hey! Now that I think about it, isn't it such a pain to be in a wheelchair?" Niou continued to babble as others just 'listened' to him.
Sanada rubbed his temples, feeling a slight headache coming on from his noisy team mates. He stood up and left the roof top, only saying, "I'll be back."
xxx
Sanada Genichiro wandered around Rikkai Dai, hoping to find a quiet spot. He felt like he was being watched and turned around once more, only to find no one there. 'I guess this headache is worse than I expected.' He thought, rubbing his temples once more.
Unexpectedly, he found himself in the boy's tennis team clubroom, reaching for his racket and taking a few spare tennis balls. He sighed and straightened up, still clutching onto his belongings. 'I guess a few hits alone won't hurt too much.' He thinks while walking out the door and turning the corner into a more secluded area with a nice, sturdy wall to be his 'rally partner.'
*Pok* *pok* *pok*
Ruka watches as the boy with black hair and a frowning face makes the poor wall his victim of stress release. She takes a final bite and carefully closes the lid to her bento box and places it back in her bag.
The tennis boy had yet still to realise she was sitting there, watching him. He seemed stoic and had the face of an adult, but you could tell, he was still a middle schooler. 'He's pretty good.' She thinks, wondering if he could match Ryoma's level. 'It's quite possible, he could even be better… but.' "Ano..? S-senpai?" Ruka tried to say, but her words came out croaky and dry.
The boy twitched and turned to look the other way. Ruka gave a light cough and the boy swivelled around to face her. His face immediately hardened as he asked, "What are you doing here? Did you follow me?" "Ah, no, actually, I was here first…" Ruka explained, "You know, you should really turn that frown, upside down. It's not good for a boy of your age to be so stressed!" Ruka smiled at him as his face twitched, but she could distinctly see that it had softened the slightest bit.
"Tarundoru. Why do you care?" he stood to his full height, towering over her. "N-never mind. Anyway, next time you want to add more top spin to a cross-shot, you should lower your racket a little more. Maybe about 1 or 2cm? Believe it or not, it actually puts more speed into the shot. If you want more power, spread your legs a little wider and push forward more too."
Sanada could not believe it. A measly little girl, looking like a freshman at that, was giving HIM, the emperor of Rikkai Dai, tips on tennis? "Why do you care? What do you even know about tennis anyway?" Sanada retorted, pushing down the urge to slap the little girl for trying to, in his point of view, embarrass him.
There was no way he would be humiliated, whether there were people around or not. "Don't worry, pretend I never said anything." Sanada's attention snapped back to the smiling girl. It was now, he realised, that she was sitting in a wheelchair. "Well, senpai," she continued, "it was nice meeting you. I'm Echizen Ruka, see you around." She gave a small wave before giving a push to her wheels, and turning the corner.
Sanada made no move to go after the girl, nor did he feel sorry for her. "I guess I should be heading back." He mumbled, heading back to the club room to pack his things away neatly, before making his way to the rooftop again.
"Saa, did you enjoy your walk?" everyone shuddered at the smile Yukimura gave. "It was fine." Came the reply.
xxx
"So, can anyone tell me what 'p' is if 4p+ (21 – 6) = 7p – (3+9)?" The teacher wrote the equation up on the board and looked around the class room to see no one had put their hand up. "Kirihara-san? Would you like to tell us the answer?"
Kirihara groaned as he was picked. Again. Maths was not his thing, and he absolutely had no idea what the answer was. He felt a light tap on his shoulder from behind and a small note drifted onto his table.
Curious he opened it and pretended to solve the question in his note book. His eyes widened a little when he saw the note was filled with neat numbers, placed into easy to read lines, all leading up to the answer. He silently thanked Kami and whoever had passed him the note as he stood up and walked toward the front of the room.
He picked up the chalk, and in his messy writing, started copying off the note he was given onto the board. (A/N: random maths stuff you may not understand is about to be written… so yeah. P.s this is just based off what I know as an 8th grader. I suck at maths, so I picked something easy.)
4p+ (21 – 6) = 7p – (3 + 9)
4p + 15 =7p – 12
7p – 4p = 15 + 12
3p = 27
27/3 = 9
p = 9
CHECK: 4 x 9 + (21 – 6) = 7 x 9 – (3 + 9)
4 x 9 + 15 = 7 x 9 – 12
36 + 15 = 63 – 12
51 = 51
p = 9
The teacher eyebrows shot up in surprise. Could it be that THE Kirihara Akaya had been listening in his maths class for once? "Ne, sensei?" a voice cut through his thoughts, "This is right, right? Can I go back to my seat now?" "Err, hai." The teacher nodded as Kirihara made his way back to his seat.
At this moment, he took a chance to see his class mate who had tapped him from behind, not to mention he/she was probably the person who had conveniently given him the answer.
He was quite surprised when he saw a petite girl sitting in a wheelchair, her long dark hair curtaining her face. The girl was solving math problems in her note book at a fast pace and Kirihara wondered why he'd never seen her before. He decided to still be thankful and quietly whispered thanks as he slipped into his chair. Being the great tennis play he is, he could hear the faintest of whispers, and "You're welcome." Was exactly what he heard.
The maths lesson went on and Kirihara found himself getting notes every now and then on how to solve the problem whenever he was stuck. Whoever this girl was, she had great instincts.
Ruka had noticed every time the boy in front of her was stuck, he press the end of his pencil into his unruly curls and mumble something to do with the equation. Ruka decided to help him for the sake of it, she'd had enough of seeing people so stressed today and wanted to remain happy.
xxx
Ruka found herself near the back of the school, facing a huge sakura tree. Her main class had P.E for last period, and the office had yet to tell her what to do in the meantime. So she could pretty much go home now. If she could. Ruka had received a text message from her mum saying she'll be at Rikkai around 4 o'clock to pick her up for her psychiatrist appointment, ugh she dreaded those.
Since Ruka hadn't really had the chance to make friends, she was either stuck in the library or outside. And she'd rather be outside breathing fresh air. She'd checked out the library earlier and had found that there were few Chemistry books, all of which she had already read. She sighed and reflected on her day so far, a habit she'd picked up from playing tennis. It used to be reflecting on training or a match, but soon it turned into subjects, to a school day, until she had started reflecting on every day in her life.
"Excuse me Miss, are you perhaps lost?" Ruka found herself facing a man with purple hair and opaque glasses. He was carrying a rather large folder with a clipboard atop and a pen in the other hand.
"No, sorry, I'm just… supposed to be in P.E right now…" Ruka trailed off. "I see, would you like some help taking you anywhere? Or are you just fine here?" The boy pressed no further. "I'm fine, but thanks for the offer… uh?" Ruka looked at the gentleman, as if asking for a name. "Yagyuu Hiroshi." "Oh thanks for the offer, Yagyuu-senpai. I'm Echizen Ruka, first year." "Echizen?" he questioned, remembering the conversation at lunch. "Hai, what brings you out here in the middle of class anyway, senpai?" she asked. "Ah, I'm running some errands on behalf of the student council."
"I see, well, I wish you the best of luck, I shouldn't be disrupting your priorities any further. It was nice meeting you, Yagyuu-senpai." She gave a small wave, not wanting to stop him from his errands. "Ja ne, Echizen-san." Yagyuu waved back before walking off.
'Hmm, what a nice boy…' Ruka thought.
xxx
Ruka made her way toward the gate and saw her mum's waiting car. She started wheeling herself faster as to not keep her mother waiting. Not noticing the pebble resting on the ground a few meters away, her wheelchair rolled over it, causing the wheelchair to be thrown off balance, Ruka teetering dangerously on the verge off falling off.
Her wheel chair was suddenly put back to balance. Looking around her to find her saviour, she saw a tall girl with blue hair. She was wearing a yellow and black striped t-shirt and white shorts. Wait. No, she was actually a HE. "Saa, it would be a shame if you fell, wouldn't it?" the boy spoke up first. "Thank you. Why are you dressed like a… bumble bee?" she wondered out loud.
The bluenette gave a soft chuckle and simply replied, "Ah, it's our uniform."
"Eh?!" she hadn't realised she'd spoken out loud, but wanted to know more and pressed further, "what for?"
"The tennis regulars… surely you'd know this, coming to this school?"
"Tennis regulars? You must be good at tennis then… and no, I'm sorry, I've only just moved here a few weeks ago."
"I see… well, I must be getting to practice… ah, it seems that I don't know your name…" the 'bumble bee' realised.
"Echizen Ruka. Well, good luck with practice, I need to get going too…? It seems I don't know you name either."
"Yukimura Seiichi, I'm in my third year. You must be that freshman who was able to move up a few years in certain subjects." Yukimura's mask slipped out, tugging at his lips, causing him to smile, although not real.
"Eh, how'd you know?" Ruka's eyebrows shot up. "I have my connections." Yukimura was still smiling, too sweet of a smile in Ruka's opinion.
"Ruka!" a voice came from the gate. The two turned to see who it was and saw a woman calling out to them, "You're going to be late if you don't hurry up!"
"Ah! My appointment!" Ruka remembered, "Well, I really have to go now, ja ne!" She gave a quick wave and rushed off to where her mum was standing.
"Who were you just talking to?" her mum asked as soon as Ruka came over. She was probably excited that her daughter had made a friend.
"Mm, just someone who helped me when I almost fell." Ruka explained. Reiko, a little bit disappointed, helped Ruka into the car and then drove off in the direction of the psychiatrist's.
xxx
"So, how have your dreams been lately?" Ruka's psychiatrist, Suzuki Yoro asked. "Fine." Was the reply.
"Are you sure?" "Yeah, I don't really want to talk about it."
"Ruka, I know you don't really want to do this, but maybe it's good to open up once in a while-"
"NO!" a pair of hand slammed down onto his desk. Yoro was unfazed by this, but his face darkened a little.
"You're killing yourself inside! I know you want to be happy-" he was cut off again.
"I am happy! I won't let anything bring me down! My family loves me, I know that, but I want to make friends, go to school, do what I want and CAN without anyone worrying about me! But I can't! Not when I'm stuck in this wheelchair!"
"But then- "I know, I know. But they're stressed enough as it is! I don't want them worried about having a depressed daughter ok? I have my brother too! He knows me best, you should know that! We're twins! For the last time, I. Am. Happy."
"Ok. I just wanted to know that we, your family and I, we're there for you. You have to open up one day. Promise me that… alright?"
"Fine. One day."
"Good."
Ruka promptly turned and left the room, leaving the large wooden door swinging on its hinges. She went out into the waiting room where Rinko was waiting, reading a book. Rinko looked up as Ruka entered the room.
"Did it go well?" "Yeah, it was great mum! I think I don't even need these appointments anymore!" Ruka said happily. "Well then, your dad and I will talk about it." Rinko nodded, oblivious to her daughters lie.
"Well then, let's head back home, ne? Ryoma and Nanji are going to supposedly 'die from hunger' soon. Anything you want to eat?"
"I'm fine with anything, but how about something Japanese to celebrate Ryoma's first day of school in Japan?"
"Always thinking about others, aren't you?" Rinko smiled happily at Ruka. Ruka nodded and said, "As long as you're all happy, I'll be!"
Rinko picked up her child slightly annoyed by the fact she was much too light. 'Japanese food it is tonight then. LOTS of it.' She thought.
She placed Ruka into the front seat and Ruka buckled herself in. Folding the wheelchair and placing it in the boot, Rinko hopped into the driver's seat and started up the car.
"Ne, kaa-san, you are happy… right?" "Of course I am! I've got my two little ones and Nanji by my side. I'm positive Ryoga will come back and visit after he finishes his studies too!"
At the mention of Ryoga's name, Ruka smiled. She hadn't seen her adoptive brother for ages and couldn't wait for him to come back. Ryoga had stayed in America to finish his studies at University before coming back to find a job et cetera, et cetera.
"Thanks mum, I love you too!" Ruka giggled.
The rest of the car ride was spent in a pleasurable silence as Rinko drove the two back home.
'Ryoma, I had a pretty good day today, what about you? You better have some good stories to tell, or else!' Ruka smiled as she spoke out to her brother in her mind. Ryoma always had some sort of exciting adventure to tell her, whether real or not.
Ruka always loved them and got him to tell her a few stories every day. Ryoma would usually get embarrassed and say that they were too old for those kinds of things, but you'd never miss the hint of excitement in his eyes as he told her such stories.
xxx
"Tadaima!" The women of the Echizen house called out and you could hear a faint call of "Okaeri." From the other room. Rinko turned to face Ruka and said, "You go talk to your brother, I'll go make dinner." She smiled. Ruka quickly nodded and rushed into the living room where Ryoma sat on the couch flicking through the channels on T.V.
"Ryoma! How was school? I mean, well of course it was boring in class, you're too smart! But like you know; tennis and stuff…" Ruka realised she was babbling and saw Ryoma looking on with an amused face. "Well, first of all, it turns out that girl from the train station the other day is in my class."
"Eh? Which girl?" Ruka racked her brain, thinking of the people she'd met in the past week. But all that popped up were the faces she'd met today. "Never mind," Ryoma waved a hand, "You'll remember later. Anyway, the tennis club people are cheap. Sticking rocks in a can to trick the newcomers."
"That's like, the oldest trick in the book; no one really falls for that these days!" Ruka said surprised people still tried that to scam money.
"Nah, tree of these freshmen fell for it; one of them was really annoying, saying that he was going to get a regulars spot with his 'two years of tennis experience'."
Ruka laughed, "Let me guess, his missed every time?" Ryoma nodded.
"Ne, Ryoma, tell me a story!"
"Ruka, you know we're getting too old for this…"
"PLEASEEEEEEE?"
"Che, fine."
Ryoma and Ruka sat in the living room, Ryoma telling a wild story, his hands behind his head and looking at the ceiling. Ruka sat there listening intently, almost falling out of her wheelchair, leaning forward so much. Luckily she didn't, since Karupin was curled up in her lap.
"Ryoma, Ruka! Dinners ready!" Rinko's voice came from the kitchen a while later. "Hai!" the twins chorused. "Mum, made Japanese today!" Ruka told Ryoma excitedly.
xxx
Ruka lay in bed, trying to get to sleep. So much had happened in just one day, and I guess you could say she was quite overwhelmed.
Getting dumped with goo, singing for the first time, being able to keep up with her senpai's – not to mention telling one off at lunch – but as she thought about all this, she had a sudden moment of realisation.
"Ah! I remember who she is now!"
Mwahahahaha, thanks for reading, I'll update soon and REMEMBER TO VOTE!
Enjoy :)