Note:

In Quotes:

"Ryoma-kun." Ryoma-senior

"Ryoma-sama." Ryoma-junior

In Paragraphs:

Ryoma Ryoma-senior

Ryoma-junior Ryoma-junior

0.0

Chapter 6: The Reality

He stood by the doorway with the usual bored expression she had seen countless of times in televisions; his golden cat-like eyes stared back at her astounded ones.

Although he didn't show any slightest indication that he recognizes her, at the very least, he didn't question her dumbstruck expression and her bold move to stare openly at him. She could feel her heart pounding as she opened her mouth to say something.

"O-Otou-san?" she was cut off short when she heard Ryoma-junior call.

Sakuno thought she was prepared for it, but hearing it from another woman's child was kind of painful after all. Instinctively, her hand reached for her chest. She couldn't believe it, what she had seen in dramas were true.

"Nee-chan, you're staring too much," the child called as he tugged at her sleeve.

"Uhm…" Sakuno trailed nervously as she glanced towards Ryoma-junior's way with an awkward smile.

"We're going on a date," Ryoma-junior admitted and reached for Sakuno's hand, his black eyes glinting satisfyingly. "Do you want to come?" he offered.

Ryoma raised a brow, "Let's talk later," he said after a moment and stepped aside to enter the mansion.

She didn't know how it happened, but as soon as realization hit her, she turned around and grabbed Ryoma's arm.

'What stupid thing did I just do?' she asked herself as she raised her head to check, wishing Ryoma had just ignored her.

Unfortunately, he looked as surprised as she was.

"What are you doing?" Ryoma-junior whispered as she stood there frozen.

"Uhm…Anou…" she murmured uncertainly. "Kyoko-sensei is out as well as the two other maids so there will be no food," she said, her voice slightly quivering. "If you don't mind, I can cook for you."

Unsure of what to say, Ryoma remained silent.

"I'm sorry," she managed to continue as her hand hesitantly let go of his arm. "I know it's not my business. We-We'll just go," her hands instantaneously reached for Ryoma-junior's.

With this, Ryoma just nodded and turned once again to leave. Sakuno didn't expect a better response. She should have known better before doing something as impulsive as grabbing his arm with the thought of asking him out to eat breakfast with them.

"Ne," Ryoma-junior said as he tugged her back from further leaving the mansion. "Let's forget about the date."

"Eh?"

"Otou-san, my girlfriend's going to cook for us," Ryoma-junior called as he raced towards his father.

"I'll wait upstairs," Ryoma answered and motioned for the staircase.

"Tch," the child muttered, his feet following Ryoma's lead.

Sakuno, stared at the two retreating figures. It was so fast; the whirlwind of events is overwhelming her that she couldn't find her the strength to move or even think properly at all. First, there was the whole incident about the child being Ryoma's son, then there was his mother and just a day after that Ryoma was there himself to eat breakfast with her. Nothing could be more bizarre.

Her hands raised and slapped her face continuously. She shouldn't have time for such trifles; she was here to work and more importantly, cook something edible for them. With a determined look on her face, her feet hauled her body towards the kitchen, her hand reaching ingredients in an autopilot.

The only problem with working all alone by her self was the fact that she was left alone with her thoughts as well. As such, it was inevitable for her to think of the earlier events; therefore, it was clearly unavoidable for her to mull about the fact that she was slightly disappointed with Ryoma's previous display of attitude. Not that she was expecting that he would chat with her or remember everything about her. She was sure she was far from making such deep impression on him. It was just that…there was no slightest hint of recognition. In some ways, it made her feel insignificant and forgettable.

Her hands absentmindedly reached for the knife as she proceeded towards the counter to get the salmon which she prepared earlier. Too preoccupied with her thoughts, she hadn't sensed somebody's presence behind her back until she felt his arm brush past her, reaching for something, the water pitcher, which was right in front of her.

She spun around to meet the face of her intruder, "Ryoma-kun?"

"Hn?" he asked as he poured himself a glass of water.

"What are you doing here?"

He lifted his glass to answer.

"I see," her eyes averted away from his. "So, uhm…I'll just…go on," she said, sidestepping him.

Ryoma chose not to comment but instead sat on the dining table overlooking the kitchen.

The hairs on the back of her neck started to prickle as she felt his eyes bore on her. Not that she minded his presence, but his open scrutiny made her tense for a lot of reasons.

"Uhm…" she started to ease the atmosphere. "You're son's really good. He's doing well in school," her hands expertly cut through the fish.

"Aa," was his answer.

She just hoped that he tried a little harder to give a better response. If he didn't want a conversation, he should have just returned upstairs.

"Is Ryoma-sama still upstairs?" she asked, hoping that the child would be coming down to save her.

"Un," he answered. "He's sleeping."

Great.

"I see," she nodded and turned to ask what was keeping him there (though it was practically not her business to begin with) only to meet Ryoma's deep stare, his palm propping his chin as he leaned on the table. "D-Do you need anything?" she stuttered instead, her face red, as she lowered her head.

To her disappointment, he didn't reply.

In desperation, she lifted her head to ask yet again but stopped short as she found him grinning.

"Don't mind me," he answered finally and continued his staring.

Sakuno nodded stiffly and hastily turned around immediately cutting the ingredients as if it would magically turn Ryoma invisible. She couldn't really figure out what he was thinking. After all, she was certain that he didn't remember her and, moreover, she was his son's girlfriend.

Lost in her thoughts yet again, she hadn't realized that she angled knife in the wrong way inevitably cutting her forefinger, "O-Ouch," she muttered as blood trickled down her skin.

She turned her head to the side to look for a cloth to wipe it off but unfortunately found nothing.

"Is your blood part of the recipe?"

Sakuno almost jump at the sound of his voice and his sudden presence beside her, "Sorry!" she bowed her head low.

Ryoma sighed as he grabbed her hand and hauled her towards the sink. He opened the faucet as soon as they reached it and let the water wash the blood on Sakuno's hand.

Sakuno could only stare at the running water in humiliation. She didn't really expect that her mind would wander off to the point that she would actually cut herself. And now that she thought about it, she hadn't even realized that Ryoma already left.

There was really something wrong with her. She wasn't really expecting that Ryoma would stay there all day, was she?

Her right hand reached for the faucet to turn it off. After wriggling her hand dry, she wiped the bloodstains on the counter as well as those which were on the floor. Then, without wasting time, she continued with her unfinished work.

"Oi," someone called from behind.

"Y-Yes?" Sakuno replied as she hesitantly faced his way.

He lifted a bandage, "Sit down," he prompted and pushed her through her arm, situating her to the nearest chair and sitting on the vacant seat adjacent hers.

"I'm fine, Ryoma-kun," Sakuno answered with a nervous smile.

With a shrug, Ryoma pinched her hand. Hard.

"Ouch!" she exclaimed at the sudden pressure and tried to pull her hand away from his grasp, blood oozing out from her finger. "Ryoma-kun!"

Just when she was about to cry, he finally let go of her hand.

"You don't have to do that," Sakuno whispered.

Ryoma was void of any pity when he answered, "People like you wouldn't just say thank you." He actually didn't feel sorry that he hurt her.

"Anyway," Sakuno replied and got the bandage from his hand. "I can do this by myself," she added and started wrapping her finger, rotating her chair slightly to obscure it from his view.

The tennis prince didn't wait for her to finish. He stood up and moved towards the counter and started the broiling. Realizing what was happening, she rushed towards him with an attempt to stop him from further doing things.

"Ryoma-ku—"

Ryoma's eyes glinted exasperation.

She didn't know how it happened but in with one swift move, she was pressed on the counter, with his hands both on her sides, cornering her.

"I'm already hungry. I won't wait for you to finish strapping up your wound. Unless…" he bended forward to whisper, "You want to be my breakfast?"

Sakuno could feel heat rush up to her ears and face and neck. She couldn't even bring herself to answer. In fact, she was actually quite confused between what was just and what was her desire. But much to her disappointment, before she could even decide and reply to his inquiry, he pushed himself back and took the seat he had earlier.

"Your boyfriend's here to save you," he said with an amused smirk.

She actually sighed in relief when the child entered the dining room. Not only was she betraying Kumiko, she was also being unfaithful to Ryoma-junior. Whether contract or not and whether he was a child or not, she agreed to be his girlfriend. Flirting with other men is utterly forbidden.

"Yo," Ryoma-junior said to break the silence.

"Ryoma-sama," she smiled awkwardly. "The breakfast is ready."

He nodded and glanced towards his father, "What happened? She looks like she's constipated."

Sakuno frowned but chose not to answer. She couldn't possibly tell him that Ryoma cornered her and asked her to be his breakfast. So instead, she just motioned towards the broiler and put the shiozake (1) in plates to serve.

0.0

"You still owe me a date," Ryoma-junior said as his father lifted him from the ground.

She couldn't understand why the child was refusing to sleep because of the said date. She already promised that they would do it tomorrow yet he incessantly wanted to go. However, she didn't dare argue since it would save her from making their dinner. Besides, it had been a while since she went to a restaurant.

Noticing that she wouldn't move any further from her current stance, Ryoma's free hand extended for hers and tugged –dragged – her across the front steps of the mansion to his car. She almost forgot, Ryoma was supposed to come as well since he would drive for them.

When they finally arrived in front of the black convertible, the tennis prince let go of Sakuno's hand and dropped Ryoma-junior slowly to reach for his keys.

Getting cold from the sudden lost of contact Sakuno reached for her arms and instantaneously rubbed them.

"What really happened this morning?" Ryoma-junior asked curiosity apparent in his tone.

Sakuno cocked her head to the side in confusion.

Knowing that the woman didn't get the slightest idea on what he was talking about, he merely shrugged and said, "Get inside," he pushed her then and sat beside her.

"Otou-san, what brings you here in Japan?" Ryoma-junior asked as soon as Ryoma turned the engine on.

"Nosy today, aren't we?" Ryoma smirked and turned the car left to exit the mansion's driveway.

"Advertisement? Tournament?" Ryoma-junior asked further.

"I was forced," Ryoma said and glanced their way for a moment, causing Sakuno to blush when she caught his eyes.

"By mom?"

"The other one," Ryoma answered, his eyes staring ahead.

For some unknown reasons, his answer made Ryoma-junior visibly stiffen. "Ryoma-sama?" Sakuno asked worriedly.

His fist clenched, "Where do you want to eat?" he asked as he raised his gaze to look at her.

"Uhm, I'm fine with anything," she answered with a smile as she risked a glance yet again towards the driver's way.

"Don't smile, you look stupid," he shrugged and faced forward.

She didn't know whether she should worry or slap the back of the child's head. If only the latter was allowed, she would have opted to do it. "I'll try to keep that in mind," she answered with sheer sarcasm.

"You should have sat at the back," he replied spitefully. "Your presence makes me uncomfortable," he added with a huff.

"Where did that come from?" Sakuno said, not completely understanding why the child was suddenly acting obnoxious. "You pushed me here in case you forgot," she said and gave Ryoma an apologetic look.

"Stop looking his way damn it," he whispered, pouting in the process.

She wasn't sure if she heard him correctly so she asked to confirm, "What?"

"Nothing," the child said evadingly. "Stop talking."

0.0

"Welcome!" a familiar voice greeted them as soon as they entered the sushi restaurant. "Ah! Echizen!" the voice exclaimed in recognition.

Ryoma adjusted Ryoma-junior in his arms and raised his left hand, "Yo, Kawamura-senpai," Ryoma greeted back.

Now that she remembered, the way towards the place was quite recognizable to her.

"Stop the 'senpai', that was a long time ago," Kawamura said as he waved a dismissive hand. "Ah! Ryuuzaki-san, is that you?" he asked as Sakuno bowed.

"It's nice to meet you again, Kawamura-senpai," she smiled amiably.

"So you two did end up together," Kawamura spoke as if the matter was a typical thing to mention, causing Sakuno to blush furiously. "You got a cute son," he added, nodding to the child in Ryoma's arms.

"Uhm…" Sakuno waved her hands in front of her frantically. "It's not like that."

"When did the two of you get married?" Kawamura asked, pondering, as the three of them took their seats. "I should call the others to celebrate."

"Senpai—" it was too late to protest, Sakuno realized, as Kawamura was already out of sight and was dialing numbers on the telephone frantically.

0.0

It had been a long day. The former tennis club members of Seishun Gakuen, sans Horio, Tezuka and Inui, finally had their long planned reunion. They hadn't really expected that the sudden news of Echizen and Ryuuzaki nuptials would be enough to reunite them all together regardless of hectic schedules.

"Hoi! Hoi! Tezuka texted!" Kikumaru exclaimed enthusiastically.

"Congratulations. Don't let your guard down," it read, making everyone laugh in amusement.

"He never changes, does he?" Oishi commented as he got a sushi artistically laid around their table.

"Se-Senpai," Sakuno tried to interrupt their merry conversation.

"Ah! Hai! Hai!" Momoshiro laughed. "Let's hear a message from the bride and groom. Why am I not invited, Echizen-san?" he asked as he held a chopstick in front of Ryoma as a mic. "Is it abrupt? I should be your best man, you know."

"You're drunk, senpai," Ryoma said as he tried to push him.

"Come on, answer me!"

"He's kind of bitter, is he? Poor Momo," Kikumaru said as he tapped his friend's shoulder.

"I told you—" Ryoma answered to no avail.

"That's a lie!" Kikumaru covered his ears. "You have a kid! I can see him!"

"What a lame excuse to push the topic away," Momo added and slumped on the table.

"So he does remember you," Ryoma-junior whispered to himself.

Sakuno glanced down at him, "What?" she asked, not quite catching what the boy was talking about.

"I totally forgot about it," he continued talking to himself.

"Forgot about what?" Sakuno asked as she tried to catch Ryoma-junior's attention. It amazed her somehow; she did not know that the child love talking to himself.

"Ne, nee-chan, isn't he your childhood sweetheart?" he inquired as he pointed at Ryoma.

Despite her self, Sakuno blushed at the thought, "We're not exactly like that. I'm just…a childhood friend," she sounded as if she was convincing herself.

"I see," Ryoma-junior replied and leaned on the table.

Sakuno scooted closer and looked at him, "Why are you asking?"

"You don't have to know," the child replied almost inaudibly. "That aside, let's pretend for today that you're my mom and he's my dad," he said, altering his voice into a childish tone while clapping his hand in excitement.

"Wha-What?" her eyes widened at his sudden request.

"It won't hurt seeing that everybody believes you're a couple."

"Exactly," Sakuno said as she lifted a finger. "It might be silly explaining this to a kid but Ryoma-sama, I don't really like lying. Especially to senpai-tachi. And while I can still explain—"

"There's no point in explaining things to drunken men," Ryoma-junior lectured back as he stared at the men hurdled over the tennis prince.

"But, Ryoma-sama," Sakuno tried to oppose but was cut off when the child began to join the group.

"Ne, ne, otou-san!" Ryoma-junior called as he tugged on Ryoma's sleeve. "Can I tell you something?" he added as he motioned for him to lean down.

"See?" Kikumaru exclaimed as he turned to everyone. "He called him 'otou-san'!"

"Ryoma-sama!" Sakuno interjected as she rushed forward to get the child.

But regardless of the protest of the adults, Ryoma-junior decided not to care and continued his business with his father. Though it left Sakuno worrying, she couldn't really object knowing that Ryoma was indeed Ryoma-junior's father. Everything was completely normal without her in the picture.

"But Sakuno-chan," Kikumaru whispered as he scooted closer so that only the two of them would hear their conversation. "I was wondering why your marriage wasn't televise. You know, Ochibi's kind of popular if you ask me," he touched his chin as if in deep thought. "Is there something in it?"

"Kikumaru-senpai," Sakuno breathed as she fiddled with the chopsticks atop the table. "Ryoma-kun's not my husband. We're not married," she said almost in a whisper.

"Not you too, Sakuno-chan!" the red-haired exclaimed.

"Se-Senpai," Sakuno tried to explain yet again.

"So if you're not the wife…" Kikumaru trailed, his lips turning to a disappointed frown. "Then who is?"

"We-Well," she faltered. "She's really kind, Ryoma-kun's wife I mean."

"You mean you met her?"

"But something's odd," a low voice suddenly whispered behind Kikumaru, causing him to bump his knee on the table.

"Fuji!" Kikumaru pushed the tensai lightly. "Don't go startling people like that!"

Fuji, however, chose to ignore his friend's whining and sat on the vacant seat beside Sakuno, "Saa, this is interesting."

"What do you mean senpai?" Sakuno asked, her eyebrows burrowing in confusion.

"I'm saying that Ryoma's marriage is a bluff," Fuji answered with unmistakable confidence as he leaned closer, propping his amused face with his left hand and opening his azure eyes.

Not bearing the deep scrutiny she was under, Sakuno opted to pull back. "Blu-Bluff?" she inquired, her face red at the sudden close proximity the tensai positioned them.

"Aa," Fuji replied. "Since it's him, he must have a good reason for doing it."

"What do you mean, Fuji?" Kikumaru butted as he sandwiched himself between the two.

His gaze traced the tennis prince's whereabouts ominously as he put up the usual smile he always wore. "I'll unravel his secret…and the kid's as well."

"You mean Ryoma-sama?" Sakuno tilted her head. Fuji's sudden revelations were too overwhelming for her to follow.

"You mean Ryoma's son?" Kikumaru, on the other hand, seemed to be within the same page as hers.

Fuji nodded and stuffed his mouth with wasabi sushi. "The child's the most suspicious of all," he added after munching down the said dish.

Sakuno could only stare at her former senpai. No matter how she tried to ingest the words that he had just spoken, she still couldn't get how he had come to the conclusion that Ryoma's marriage was a bluff. Although it interested her in more ways than one, she couldn't bring herself to believe such an idea as she was fully aware that it was impossible. After all, she already met his wife and there was no doubt to it that they were desperately head over heels in love with each other.

"Echizen!" she heard Momoshiro exclaimed from the background. "Drink!"

Ryoma pushed the glass away from him and replied, "I'm driving later."

"As Eiji said, his wedding wasn't announced," Fuji said, catching Sakuno's attention back.

"Now that you mention it, it's quite odd that the media didn't know it," Kikumaru replied, crossing his arms behind his head as he returned to his seat.

Now that Sakuno thought about it, she never questioned that fact before. Although it didn't seem to prove anything to her, both of her senpai had a point.

"The child isn't Ryoma's," Fuji uttered with a smile.

Kikumaru laughed, "Na-ah, I'm guessing that the child is Ryoma!" he clapped his hands with a loud slap.

Her senpai-tachi were already drunk, Sakuno finally concluded. Ryoma-junior looks like his father so there was no way he was someone else's child and, more importantly, Ryoma-junior could never be Ryoma since the present father of Ryoma-junior which is the real Ryoma is there.

Her head spun as the ideas flooded through her. It didn't help that she took a few shots of sake herself.

"I think," Sakuno started as she traced the rim of her glass. "Ryoma-kun's telling truth."

For a while, Fuji just stared at her until he leaned forward yet again, closing the distance that Kikumaru made earlier, "Why? Do you have a reason not to believe my theory?"

"Yo, senpai," Ryoma suddenly appeared, his hands wedging in between the two.

"Echizen," Fuji answered as his blue eyes met the tennis prince's golden orbs.

Instead of explaining his sudden interruption, Ryoma settled grabbing Sakuno's hand.

"Ryoma-kun?" Sakuno tugged her hand back in hesitation. She didn't know but she didn't feel like leaving just yet.

"Don't try to make me jealous," the tennis prince replied, "Because I will be."

Sakuno opened her mouth to answer but her voice seemed to have abandoned her.

Ryoma smirked and tugged her yet again, more forceful this time, and spoke to the brunet, "I don't intend to share my wife to anyone." The way he offhandedly said the phrase only worsened Sakuno's scarlet face.

"Fuji-senpai it's not what you—" she tried to say though uselessly as she was already hauled towards a table away from him.

"You should know who your date is," Ryoma-junior said as soon as she sat on their table.

"Ryoma-sama, you shouldn't have involved Ryoma-kun," Sakuno explained. "Now they would think that we're really married."

"They won't listen to a kid," Ryoma-junior replied as if it was the most obvious reason.

Sakuno sighed, "I would at least."

At that, she wasn't quite sure but she thought she saw a blush crept on his cheeks, "Whatever," he replied with attempted indifference.

0.0

"So…how are things going?" the person asked on the other end of the line.

Thanking the heavens for keeping the crowd busy, the tennis prince slipped outside to answer the not-so-unexpected call.

"Oya? Silent much?" the voice teased with a laugh. "Should I rescue you?"

After a pause that seemed to have lasted forever, the green-haired boy finally spoke when his gaze landed the wobbly figure approaching his way. "Betsuni" turning off his phone, he stepped forward only to catch her vomiting.

So maybe he needed a little help.

…To be continued