Disclaimer: I do not own Tennis no Ohjisama and Card Captor Sakura, especially each anime's characters. Iwase Kumiko-san, Yasuhiro-kun, Maeda Hideki-san, Furuya Akiyoshi, Furusawa Maya and the Reverie Café are my own creations. Any similarities with real people and/or places are unintentional and coincidental.
Just a note: Raised the rating just to be safe. Please enjoy!
The Sadist of Seigaku
Chapter 19: Complication
"You seem apprehensive, Ryuzaki-sensei."
"Yes, of course I am, Maya-san. It's not every day my little granddaughter gets an offer to appear in a magazine and television," the older woman says as she paces in her living room once again. "The school director has a certain perspective on this, that's why he readily gave permission for Sakuno to do so; but I really can't say I share the same."
"I perfectly understand your situation."
A hand straightens her already gray hair. "I know, and you've been patient enough. I am just worried that the exposure would overwhelm my granddaughter. She isn't used to anything like this."
Furusawa Maya calmly looks at the tennis coach. She has heard how protective the older lady is when it comes to her famous protégés – around three of the Seigaku tennis regulars. From banning the media from the school grounds to tight security during tournaments, Ryuzaki Sumire is like a mother bear to her cubs. That is the reason why she knows how she would react to her offer; but Furusawa Maya is as ruthless as her in getting what she wants.
And what she wants is to introduce the young baker genius of Seishun City to the whole of Japan
That is why she deliberately opened up her encounter with Sakuno to her most recent interview. The media group immediately offered to feature the auburn-haired girl and two other declared "baker protégés" in one of the most popular lifestyle magazines in the country.
It doesn't stop there.
Ryuzaki Sakuno will appear with her in a three-part show featuring French-Japanese cuisine.
While she knows her plans are overwhelming, she would have to be very careful in handling the seemingly fragile and shy young girl she met several days ago. Ambitious as she is, she is not going to let talent and fame get the best of her friend's protégé.
"Give me a chance with this, Ryuzaki-sensei. I will take care of Sakuno-chan."
The older lady finally slumps herself on her favorite couch, somehow surprised at her guest's straightforward manner. It may be her upbringing abroad, she tells herself. Massaging her temple, she pulls out an envelope from her pocket and presents it to Furusawa.
"If that is the case, here is the school director's written permission for Sakuno's media exposure."
Dark eyes stared at vibrant green ones.
"Please take good care of my granddaughter."
"Ryoma-kun!"
Sakuno's squeak echoed in the forest. Realizing the position she is in, she pulls away from Fuji Syuusuke only to be pulled back into his arms.
She never saw amber eyes darken at the act
"Remove your hands from her, senpai." But she clearly heard his voice, dark and heavy with a foreign emotion.
Unfortunately for the young tennis prince, the prodigy does not take orders just from anyone. Instead, he pulls himself and Sakuno up from their sitting position before tightening his hold on the auburn-haired girl.
"I don't think you're in any position to tell me those things, Echizen," was the cool reply. "By the way, why are you here? Did Tezuka call for us?"
"No, but we better stick as a group as we are not really familiar with this area, ne, Fuji-senpai?"
The question was meant to mock him, and Fuji knew that the tennis prince is trying to make him feel guilty for separating from the group. Tezuka always reminds them to remain with the group in unfamiliar places, and the captain never failed to mention that tad bit of information hours before the mock match started.
And while he does not really worry about such things, Sakuno does
Squeezing his favorite kohai's arm, he pulls himself away from her, looking at her huge hazel eyes glazed with confusion.
Pinching her cheek, he gives her his gentlest smile before dipping his face to hers. "Do me a favor, Sakuno-chan," he begins, her breath dangerously mixing with his. "Return to the tennis courts now. Echizen and I have lots of things to discuss."
"Eh? Bu-"
A callous finger presses onto her soft lips, preventing her from continuing further. Willing himself to remove his finger from her lips, he gently pushes her away from him, urging her to walk back to where the others are.
The moment she is gone, Fuji faces the young tennis prince before him.
"Echizen."
He re-clenched his right hand upon hearing his name. His gut already told him that the tennis prodigy has certain plans for Sakuno the moment he discovered the two missing. While his brain is a little bit naive to think of molestation – please forbid that – he knew that the tennis prodigy is capable of anything more than flirting; and Sakuno would be too innocent to know what would hit her. And so with all the speed he could muster, he scours the forest for signs of the two.
Lucky he did in time
He just stopped Fuji Syuusuke from locking his lips with Sakuno's
"We have to talk," the older player said.
"What if I don't want to?"
"Saa...don't play hard to get, Echizen. I know you want to talk as well," Fuji says as he scans the area. "I had a hunch you would be coming to look for us...but not too soon."
"And taking Sakuno for me to come looking for you two was also a plan of yours?"
Blue eyes darkened at the accusation.
"Don't you dare charge me of manhandling Sakuno again, Echizen. We both know I am well past that stage."
The tennis prince kept quiet after hearing the statement, watching the prodigy with intense amber eyes. Yes, he knows it too. Fuji is too close to Sakuno, and this isn't about making him jealous anymore. The worst part is that the auburn-haired girl does not seem to mind the older guy's presence.
And as always, he is just a standing duck because he has thought of not pursuing this...angle of his life for now.
"I like her."
Now, it is Fuji's time to stiffen at the announcement.
"And I'm going to pursue her when the right time comes."
A few seconds ticked before the other guy spoke.
"I can sense trepidation in your voice."
Echizen fumed at his observation. "I plan carefully for the future, as much as I do for her."
"You can only plan as much Echizen, but you have to be sure you will last long on this trek. Just as I am in it, I will be watching how many will start, pursue and give up nearly at the end."
"Tsk. You are a sadist."
"Why, thank you. I think so too."
"Mou..."
Sakuno whined to herself for the third time as she finally accepted the fact that she is lost.
In a deep forest
Alone
Knees aching at the trek she just did, she sits on a boulder to calm herself. She is not a damsel in distress, she tells herself, as she looks around her searching for a sign to tell where to go next. It is not yet late in the afternoon, and she has lots of time to look for a way out...hopefully.
Scrunching her nose a bit, she grabs her mobile phone only to heave a sigh. There is no signal in the forest.
Just when she decided to move on, she hears footsteps from her front. She stands up, ready to run if needed.
"Ore-sama is offended that you find his presence frightening."
"A-atobe-san?"
The purple-haired King of Hyotei flicked a stray lock of his hair before approaching Sakuno. She has visibly relaxed at the presence of a person she knows, though inwardly, she wanted to be relieved that it is him who came to her.
"Ore-sama was informed that you get lost a lot, so Ore-sama thought to look for you."
"Eh?" Sakuno blushes at the thought of another person discovering that little quirk of hers. "Ano, thank you for looking for me, Atobe-san. This forest is huge," she says as she starts walking with him back to the courts.
"And dangerous, if Ore-sama says so himself. You shouldn't wander around."
"Hai," she whispers with an adorable pout on her face. Atobe Keigo patted her head before willing his limbs to stay still on his sides. Better not to be obvious in the beginning as he tells himself, although he is inclined to believe that even if he becomes showy, the naive girl beside him would not really notice at all.
A few moments passed and the two found themselves a few feet from the tennis court. Singles 2 are now on court – Oshitari stood in for Atobe for the card draw – and Atobe is slightly amused to find Akutagawa Jirou playing against Kunimitsu Tezuka.
For once in his life, Jirou is playing as if his life is on the line.
Good for him, Atobe muses to himself, a mischievous smirk plastered on his handsome face.
Jirou faked a volley by running to the front part of the court. When he had Tezuka running to the front part of the side of his court, he drives the ball to the farther end of the enemy court, believing the Seigaku captain would have no chance of running after it.
Unfortunately for him, Tezuka predicted the move beforehand; split-stepping the way Echizen would do, he easily returns the ball and makes Jirou take a dose of his own medicine.
Jirou is now whining like a puppy, much to Tezuka's amusement.
Another hour passed. Seigaku won the mock match winning three games to Hyotei's two. Nevertheless, the two captains amiably shook hands with Tezuka politely refusing an offer for dinner at Atobe Keigo's vacation villa.
"Will nothing change your mind?"
"Gomen, Atobe, but we are to leave early the next day. We have preparations to do at the camp tonight."
"Ehn?" The handsome Hyotei captain raises an eyebrow at the reply. His plan is not going the way it is supposed to be. With wandering eyes, he searches for his auburn-haired interest when his eyes landed on the dark-haired girl beside Sakuno.
"If that is the case, will you be minding if Ore-sama asks your two girl companions for dinner tonight?"
Tezuka is about to mouth a 'no' when Atobe pulls a statement the Seigaku captain is not prepared to hear. "Ore-sama needs to discuss business with Daidouji Tomoyo, and of course, she would not want to be alone, ehn?"
With a sigh, Tezuka looks at the two girls, innocently chatting with Fuji Syuusuke. "I'll ask them about this. Should they agree, I'll see to it they are back at camp half an hour past eight."
"Suit yourself."
The clock at the tennis court ticked loudly for Atobe as he waited for Tezuka to bring in the news. He knows he is manhandling the situation; using the common knowledge that the Daidoujis and Atobes are good business partners. Then again, if he directly asks for Sakuno – or even approach her for that matter – he would be too obvious to smart Tezuka Kunimitsu.
After a few minutes, Tezuka approaches him. "They agreed, but I'll be there to pick them up at the agreed time."
"Ehn? You sound so protective of the girls, Tezuka."
The stoic captain did not say anything at the statement.
He just glared at Atobe before turning and walking back to his teammates.
"You allowed them to?"
"Echizen!"
Oishi snapped at his kohai, but before he could speak any further, Tezuka motions him to stop.
Tezuka took a spoonful of his soup knowing full well that his teammates have gone quiet after Oishi's outburst. Of course, he had to be open to them, and so he told them that he had allowed the girls to go to Atobe's villa as he had invited them for dinner. Because of that, the guys had to fend for themselves and cook dinner...which is not actually bad considering that Taka is there to their stomachs' rescue.
If he were Inui, Tezuka would have commented something like this: "There is a ninety nine percent chance that Echizen will ask me why I allowed the girls to leave for Atobe's house." Then again, he does not have to be Inui to know or even say something like that. He knew his protégé would nag him about that the moment he gave in to Atobe's whims.
At the back of his mind, he knows there is more to that business talk Atobe has given as an excuse.
But he is not about to tell that to them
"Atobe needs to speak with Daidouji regarding business matters. Someone has to accompany her for that. Ryuzaki is the best choice," he monotonously tells them.
The other regulars did not say anything, but one good look at two particular people told him things are not exactly okay for all.
Echizen is glaring at his plate of well-made and obviously delicious tuna sushi.
Fuji, on the other hand, is already wearing his stoic face: blue eyes burning cold and lips drawn in a thin line.
Tezuka sighs to himself.
Obviously, he cannot please everyone.
Oshitari Yuushi smiled to himself as he watched his best friend guide his guest to one of the several courtyards donning the Atobe estate.
"You look pleased, Oshitari-kun."
The blue-haired tennis player turns to find the dark-haired Daidouji Tomoyo standing a few feet behind him. He smiles at her, a silent invitation for her to join him at the 'sight-seeing'. Tomoyo happily obliged.
"In behalf of Atobe, I apologize for the deception he had made. He just wants to speak with Ryuzaki-chan."
Tomoyo's smile never left her face, but the sparkle in her eyes told him she is getting a grasp of what is happening right now.
"Atobe-kun likes Sakuno-chan, doesn't he?"
Her taller companion smirked at her question. "Likes her bad enough to deceive even Tezuka."
"But he has rivals."
"So it seems. Ryuzaki-chan is a charming girl, and I am starting to see what Atobe sees in her."
Tomoyo grinned at him before turning to watch Atobe and her best friend walk along the courtyard. Their positions in the veranda up above said courtyard gave them a good vantage point.
She can see that the young heir to her mother's business partner is thoroughly smitten, and only time would tell how deep it would go for him. Sakuno, on the other hand, is thoroughly oblivious to his attentions, smiling amiably and responding to his stories like her sweet and innocent self. She wants to be happy for them, but deep inside her, she has another person in mind who she wants Sakuno to choose.
And it definitely isn't Fuji or Echizen
While Oshitari and Tomoyo are lounging at the veranda several feet above the courtyard, Atobe and Sakuno are chatting their merry way through the gardens. It all started with Sakuno asking this and that plant name, until the conversation became deeper and more personal.
She does not know it, and may never will, but Atobe Keigo is inwardly thrilled at the progress he is making.
"Ne, Atobe-san, how does it feel to attend a violin concerto?"
"How?" The young heir mused to himself. Of all the questions that could be asked regarding his high-born extravaganzas, he had to be asked with 'how'. "Exhilarating. Ore-sama finds it comparable to winning a tennis match."
"Really? I've never been to a classical concert before," Sakuno whispers more to herself. "Tomoka-chan would always drag me to pop concerts in downtown Tokyo. They're always noisy."
"Hn."
"But it's okay, since I get to spend time with my friend. It's just that I am not particularly fond of crowded places. I feel like I'd be eaten alive."
"Ore-sama does not like crowded places as well."
"Eh?"
"While they would scream their adoration, they barely know Ore-sama to do so."
"Oh. But Atobe-san has great friends, ne? Oshitari-san, Shishido-san..." Sakuno started mentioning the names of each Hyotei player she knows. "While they won't scream their adoration for you, they accept you for who you are."
A mental image of all Hyotei tennis club players, including the regulars, screaming "Atobe-sama!" went into his head.
He shivered in disgust at the thought
"Ore-sama prefers their acceptance than adoration."
Sakuno's eyes widen at his remark before blushing furiously. "Oh, ano, I did not mean it that way!"
Before she could continue rambling her apologies, she hears her companion laugh. A few seconds later, she joins him, giggling her merry way.
When their laughter has subsided, Atobe quietly leads Sakuno to a garden bench and sits her on it beside him. Silence ensues between them, but it is a welcoming quiet. The past few days have been a whirlwind for Atobe and he thinks he needs to pause and let go for a while. Leaning on the bench, he studies the beautiful profile of Ryuzaki Sakuno; from her lovely face to her lithe frame.
And at that moment, he knew he likes her more than he intended it to be.
"Ne, Atobe-san, are you going pro after graduating?"
Pro? Nobody even asked him that question; personally, he has not ventured to such thoughts either. All his life, he is groomed to be the heir to the vast fortune and wide array of business ventures of the Atobe clan. While his father is not as controlling as some do, he could feel his father's expectant gaze whenever he would announce a meeting here or a company event there.
On second thought, of course he wants to go pro; because more than half of his life is spent on playing tennis, and he is more than sure he loves it.
But can he balance his life as a businessman and as a professional tennis player? That is one thing he has yet to answer, but being his prideful self, he would always say 'yes'. Because at the end of the day, it would always boil down to how he would manage the loves of his life.
"Ore-sama is going to be a professional tennis player."
Sakuno beamed at him, and not at the way he arrogantly answered her question. Then again, she just finds it amusing that Atobe Keigo, who has a really strong personality, also has a gentler side to him too. "Hai. That's very good for you, Atobe-san. I doubt that it would be good for me, though."
"Ehn? How so?"
"Because I wouldn't know who to root for during tennis tournaments."
He smirked at her attempt to tease him before patting her auburn head. "So, what about you? Any plans after senior high?"
"Oh, ano, I'm going to study hard for ToDai, that's for sure. Then, if I could get a graduate degree after college, I would do so," she answers him, biting her lower lip nervously.
"ToDai?"
"Hai."
He relaxes instantly at her firm answer. At the very least, she is not planning to leave the country. How that would fit to Furusawa Maya's plans would be intriguing.
Then again, if her mother's friend decides to foil Sakuno's own plans, he would be sure he is there to deal with her.
Properly
Daidouji Tomoyo smiles to herself after Tezuka walked her and Sakuno to their room. Her best friend gave the stoic captain a sheepish smile and a thankful bow before opening the door to their room. Once they have entered, she caught the handsome captain smiling knowingly to himself.
She wanted to squeal her heart out, but seeing that her friend is quite oblivious to everything around her, she just widens her smile for the entire world to see.
"Ne, Tomoyo-chan is so happy right now."
"Hai. It is just a good day, isn't it? But then, we should rest now, Sakuno-chan. We'll be leaving early tomorrow morning."
Sakuno tiredly agrees to the suggestion as she goes through her nightly ritual. Once she has changed to her pajamas, she immediately lays on her bed but not before noting that Tomoyo is already asleep. She sits up and approaches the bed where her friend is laid. She adjusts the covers to make sure Tomoyo would not get cold through the night. Satisfied with what she did, she stands up to go to her own bed only to realize she is not really sleepy.
"A good glass of warm milk would do," she murmurs to herself as she quietly opens the door, tiptoes out of the room and all the way to the end of the staircase.
Only to stop when she sees the tall form of Echizen Ryoma leaning on the wall adjacent to it
"Ryoma-kun?"
It seemed that he did not hear her as he stayed unmoving, his face down. She walks to face him, slightly tapping his arm to get his attention.
"Ryoma-kun."
This time, he looks up at her, surprise etched on his face.
"Are you all right?"
Amber eyes darkened at the question, but he stayed silent for a moment. "I should be asking you that question. Why are you still up?"
"Oh, ano, I could not sleep. I think the adrenaline this afternoon has not ebbed yet. How about you, why are you still here?"
Echizen bowed his head and did not give a reply. Why can't he sleep, she asks? He has been thinking about the whole confrontation with Fuji a while ago, and he has had certain realizations; realizations concerning her.
He deems himself too young to even think of having a...girlfriend, in Momo-senpai's terms. He likes her...enough to drive him crazy – he knows that for sure – but yeah, a girlfriend is out of the picture yet. Then again, he gets easily riled up when he sees her with other men, guys, whatever, and he knows he has it bad. Real bad.
And so comes the real dilemma
What to do with the emotions inside him?
"Ryoma-kun?"
"Huh?"
"You haven't answered my question," she tells him. When he gives her an incredulous look, she just giggles. "Why aren't you sleeping?"
"I've been thinking."
Sakuno pauses as she openly stares at him, much to his chagrin. There is nothing fangirly with the way she is looking at him; just pure concern for a friend.
He hisses at the thought.
"Ryoma-kun? Ano, I don't know what you're going through right now, but if there's anything you need, I'll be here to help, okay?"
He limply nods at her request. When he did not react any further, she walks to climb the stairs only to do a double-take. "Oh, by the way, you should sleep soon. We have to wake up early tomorrow as Tezuka-senpai wants us to bid Atobe-sa-"
The rest of her words died when she felt her back bump against the wall and Echizen's warm body imprisoning her.
"Stop!" He hisses, as his trembling hands re-wrap their hold on her; his head resting at the base of her neck. "Just stop."
Her hazel eyes widened in bewilderment as she tried processing what is going on. There was a time in her life when she would have enjoyed this, but now, she just does not know what to do. Her friend is doing something rather...unusual...untypical for him to do. "Ryoma-kun?" She asks, gently tapping his arm. "Ano, are you alright? What is wrong?"
She felt him shake his head, his action tickling her in the process; but instead of hearing a reply, he just pulls her closer to him.
The clock hanging on the wall ticked ominously, and Sakuno did not know how many times it ticked before Echizen stands to his full height and cups her face with his hands.
"I think that's enough, Echizen."
The two younger teens jumped at the voice that interrupted their moment.
Sakuno froze at who she saw the moment she turned.
"Syuusuke-senpai."
"Ne, senpai! I really can't believe you said that!"
His kohai's adopted Kansai accent tickled his ears in an annoying way. Heaving a sigh, he stretches on his bed before burying his head under a pillow.
"Kin-chan, I need to sleep. Hang up the phone," he whines. His kohai, who is at the other end of the line, whined back at him and rattled something about "cute Sakuno-chan" and "beating up Koshimae".
"If you don't shut up, I'll make sure I'll be visiting your dreams with my poisonous hand after you."
The threat worked effectively as always as he heard a beep at the other end of the line. Heaving a sigh, he shifts his position on his bed only to be disrupted again by another caller.
He is about to shove his phone under his bed when he sees a certain name in the caller id.
Chitose Senri
Reluctantly, he answers the call only to be thoroughly disturbed by the caller's news.
"I bet you'd want to hear what I just found out."
He traversed the way to them with slow steps, all the while watching Echizen slowly drop his hands to his sides while glaring at him with dark amber eyes.
He had heard the door to his favorite kohai's room open and easily guessed that it was her who went out of the room. He listened and waited for her to return to her assigned room, but after twenty or so minutes, she has not returned. He guessed something must have kept her from returning immediately, but he never expected to see that.
With dark blue eyes, he watched as Echizen Ryoma wrap his arms around Sakuno.
And when he thought everything was over the moment the prince pulled away, Echizen did the unexpected by cupping her face with his hands
That was thoroughly unacceptable
And now, looking at his other kohai, he discovered what the other tennis player had been planning after all.
"You should sleep Echizen."
The tennis prince just glared at him, but seeing that it is pointless to argue with the prodigy in front of Sakuno, he breezes past him, glare still intact.
With that, little Sakuno is left to face off a 'highly amused' tennis prodigy whose blue eyes are as dark and as hooded as they can be.
"Saa...my adorable little Sakuno, what are you doing here at this hour?"
Sakuno took a step back and promptly bumped against the wall. Even in near darkness, she can see his beautiful eyes intensify with a foreign emotion as he approaches her like a predator would do a prey.
"A-ano, I am having trouble sleeping, so I went down to drink milk."
"And you saw Echizen on the way."
She blushed at the way he described her encounter with Echizen. "A-ano...hai."
"Do you still want to drink milk?"
She pondered at the question. With what had happened earlier, she terribly needs that hot dose of good old milk.
"Hai."
"Okay," was his simple reply before she found herself being lifted off the ground and in his arms after a second.
"Syuusuke-senpai!"
"Shhh...tone down your voice, Sakuno-chan. We do not want to wake up everyone," he teasingly said before carrying her off to the kitchen.
Once in the confines of the kitchen, he settles her on the counter before rummaging the fridge for a carton of milk and the cupboard for a mug. He pours milk into the mug, returns the half-full carton to the fridge and grabs a microwavable saucer from the cupboard; he covers the mug with a saucer and puts it inside the microwave.
He keys in 'one minute' to heat up the milk before turning back to his kohai who has been watching him with wide eyes.
"I used to prepare Yuuta's milk when we were younger," he begins as he leans on his side at the counter. "I've always prepared his milk this way because haha-ue discouraged me from using the kettle."
"She thought you might burn yourself?"
Fuji chuckled at her hunch. "No. She was worried Yuuta might burn himself. He liked playing with things from the kitchen when we were little."
"Oh."
A beep to his other side signalled that the heating is done. Grabbing the kitchen gloves, he takes the mug from the microwave, removes the saucer-lid and sets it on the table far away from Sakuno. "I'll give it to you when it's not burning hot anymore."
She nods at him before smiling. "Syuusuke-senpai really cares for his brother, ne? I can see it in the way you prepare the milk."
The prodigy smirked. "Just don't even bother thinking of me seeing you as a sibling, Sakuno-chan. You know what you are to me."
She blushed hotly at his statement.
And unconsciously bites her lower lip in the process
"Sakuno-chan, what did I tell you about lip-biting?"
"Huh?"
He chuckled as he traces the curve of her cheek with a finger.
"Do that again and I'll kiss you," blue eyes darkened thereafter. "On the lips."
Sakuno's blush darkened and, this time, she gripped her pajama pants instead of biting her lower lip, much to Fuji's disappointment. Either way, he smirked at her actions as he grabs the mug and hands it to her.
The prodigy watched as she drank milk from the mug; happily watched if he may add. When she has drank enough, she settles the mug on her lap and curiously looks at her senpai.
"Senpai?"
"Hai?"
"Is something wrong?"
He smiled at her; the smile that did not bode well for her cute and innocent self. Unfortunately, she does not know it so she ignorantly played his game.
"Nothing, Sakuno-chan. It's just that I think I would need milk as well."
"Eh?" She looked at the mug of milk she held with her hands; then back at him. With all her innocence, she offers the mug of milk to him.
Fuji merrily drank the milk...with his lips resting on where hers used to be.
"Say it again," he whispered hoarsely.
"Daisuki da yo, Ryoma-kun."
His eyes dilated at her words; his fingers tingling at her wide-eye stare. She feels the same way for him, and happiness is not enough of a word to capture what he is feeling right now.
"Say it again."
"Dai-"
Before she could finish her sentence, warm lips cover her own in a possessive and branding kiss.
Ten seconds felt like eternity for him, and when he decides to pull back, he crushes her smaller frame to his. "Sakuno..." his voice traced the syllables of her name, and he shivered in delight when she returned the embrace. Lifting a hand to caress her auburn head, he stiffens when it felt different to the touch.
It was kind of fluffy.
Immediately, Echizen Ryoma pulls back the body away from him.
Only to realize that it is Karupin he has been embracing all throughout his dream
A manic scream was heard in the Echizen household afterwards.
"Oi, seishounen, I head you screaming and moaning in your sleep," his father stated matter-of-factly at the breakfast table. "So, tell me. How was it?"
"Huh?"
"Don't pretend to be innocent, kid. Just describe to your father your sensual dreams."
"Urusai!"
"Oh, come on, kid. Live a little. I bet you were dreaming about the lovely granddaughter of Ryuzaki-baachan, ne?"
Crimson silence
And that was all Echizen Nanjirou needed to see.
"Sou, sou. Apparently, she is the object of your teenage fantasies," he says before pausing to drink from his cup. "Don't worry, kid. As much as I resent seeing her grandmother often, Sakuno-chan is one lovely girl to look at. She'll make a good addition to the family."
And that caused the younger tennis player to spray all his milk to his father's face
After muttering a string of "baka oyaji" all the way to the bus stop, Echizen Ryoma walks his way to school. Of all things, he had to dream about Ryuzaki Sakuno; and not just being there in her dreams, but actually kissing her. He could feel his cheeks heat up and his muscles tense at the mere thought of locking lips with the girl; and now that he has thought he actually likes it, he does not know how he would react to seeing her in person.
Glaring at nothing in particular, he alights the train and strolls his way to school, unmindful of someone else's back in front of him.
Until he bumped to said person
"Oi, watch where you're go-" The reprimand did not continue. Instead, Echizen felt himself choking. "So, Ojou-sama, what are you doing here early?" Momoshiro's friendly voice interrupts his musings. "It's not like it's bad, you know? But you and going to school early don't really go together."
"Urusai, Momo-senpai. I had to run away from home."
"Eh?"
"Baka Oyaji is making my life miserable again."
"Oh? Poor kid," he noncommittally says as he drags the younger boy along the streets of downtown Seishun. "But don't stress yourself that much, okay? The Nationals are nearing and we don't want emotionally compromised players in the team."
"My problem is not that big."
"Your eyes say otherwise," Momoshirou pointedly says as he flicks Echizen's forehead. "Unless it isn't really your father you are having problems with."
The moment Echizen's cheeks turned red, the junior power player knew he hit the bull's eye.
"I guess I am-Oh! Look!"
Surprised at the sudden change of topic, Echizen follows his senpai's line of gaze only to see the Reverie Cafe more crowded than usual...and it isn't anywhere beyond seven in the morning no less.
"Ehn? What do you think is the commotion all about, senpai?"
"Dunno, kid, but we better stay away from that place first. I can see cameras and media men."
Amber eyes squinted to look further only to prove his senpai's claim. There are journalists inside the quaint cafe. While he has nothing against media people, he knows they would be frantic when they spot him; and that is the last thing he wants to happen.
Taking his senpai's lead, the two rush to the school building which is only a few blocks away.
"Hey Taka. You might want to see this."
Fuji ceremoniously offers a glossy magazine to Kawamura Takashi while they are lounging at their classroom. It is still considerably early, and with morning practices down to a minimum – stressed muscles are not good prior to the Nationals, as Inui says – the two friends are happy to spend time idling around.
The power player curiously read nearly the entirety of the magazine, until a certain article catches his eyes.
Fuji knew he would react that way.
"Sa...I'd really have to say 'congratulations' to you, Taka. Landing a spot on the list of top restaurants in Tokyo isn't easy."
"Yeah. This would make dad really proud."
"You seem passive about it."
"No, it's not that Fujiko-chan. I think the news hasn't sunk yet."
Fuji chuckles at his friend's reaction. "Well, I guess it is too bad tennis practice is still in the afternoon. You might have expressed your joy differently."
Kawamura sheepishly smiles at the comment before reading on. "You know, I think it isn't just my dad we should congratulate."
"Eh?"
"Look," he tells Fuji, showing the prodigy a page off of the magazine. "The Reverie is also one of the best cafe shops in Tokyo. I think we owe Iwase-san and Sakuno-chan a visit."
He received a noncommittal nod from his friend as the prodigy stared at the picture. One whole page was dedicated to the quaint coffee shop down Seishun City, showing the lovely and homey entrance of the two-storey building. While it should have been ordinary at first glance, Fuji could feel his heart sinking the moment he noticed who wrote the article.
Furusawa Maya
And that is when everything became very clear to him
"I think you're right, Taka-kun. We do owe Iwase-san a visit later," was his firm answer.
Meanwhile, as the other Seigaku students are rushing up and about to go to school, Sakuno has resorted to sitting on a stool near Iwase Kumiko. She was told by the school principal that she got the day off from school with her assignments and lectures to be brought by a classmate.
And the reason why she is out of school and in the Reverie is because of an interview with the top food and lifestyle magazine in the country
For someone who has no experience of being in the limelight, she knows she will be an absolute wreck
"Don't be nervous, Sakuno-chan. Just do what you do best and everything will be fine."
Iwase squeezes her hand to reassure her as she feels the older lady urging her to stand up and take her place at the cafe's private kitchen.
With slow steps, she takes her place at the kitchen counter with a group of journalists at the opposite end. Unconsciously playing with a cookie mold, she nervously smiles at the people in front of her before executing a perfect bow.
"It's nice to meet all of you."
Time passed rather quickly for the students in Seishun Gakuen. While the others are excited to leave school for afternoon shopping downtown, a good number of them are stuck in club activities – nine of which belong to the Seigaku Tennis Club.
"The Nationals this year feels kinda different," Kikumaru says as he lifts his leg with a dumbbell being balanced on is ankle. "It seems as if it just popped out of nowhere."
"Hai. I think it's because we're rather relaxed this season compared to last year," Oishi comments as he sips from his water bottle. "Not that it's bad, but it makes me feel more pressured to do much better."
"Uwa...if Tezuka were here, he would say something like, 'Don't let your guard down'."
Oishi chuckles at Kikumaru's poor imitation of Tezuka. Turning to his right, he spots their team's tennis prodigy whose eyes are stuck at his mobile phone's screen; figuratively, of course.
"Ei, Fuji, is there a problem?"
It took a while for him to receive a response as Fuji's hands were dead set in finishing his message to whomever he is sending it. After a few seconds, the prodigy turns to him with an obviously plastered on smile. "I hope none, Oishi. I just found out that Sakuno-chan was not able to go to school today."
"Eh? Did something happen to her?"
"I don't know. She said she's fine and that she'll explain later."
The two were silent for some time, with Kikumaru's soft counting as their background. Out of the blue, the red-head sputters a question even Oishi is not prepared to hear. "Ne, Fuji, you seem so close to Ryuzaki-chan," he says as he stops stretching. "Is there something going on between you two?"
"Eiji!"
"Na, Oishi, you shouldn't mind the question," Kikumaru says as he swats Oishi's hands. ""I'm just curious, Fuji."
The prodigy smiles at his two friends. "I'm courting Sakuno-chan."
A pregnant pause...
"COURTING?"
"Eiji!"
"Courting?" Kikumaru sputters rather softly this time. "You are courting Ryuzaki-chan?"
"Hai."
"And we do not know it."
"You do now."
Kikumaru pouted at the answer. "Does Ochibi know this? He does not notice it, but he's rather possessive of Ryuzaki-chan. I saw him react negatively to Atobe whenever the Hyotei captain would talk to our little princess."
Fuji's smile wavered a bit at that piece of information. "Yes, Echizen knows it, too. We already discussed it a few days ago."
Oishi gapes at him. "How well did he receive it?"
"I'd rather keep it to myself this time, Oishi. Besides, I have yet to ask permission from Sumire-chan about this. I bet she has a hint or two, but it would be best to make it formal."
"You sound like you're asking for Ryuzaki-chan's hand in marriage."
"I do?"
Oishi buries his face onto his hands at Fuji's creepy smile. He has been right all along: Fuji madly loves their coach's granddaughter, and for the usually happy-go-lucky young man to go to the point of formalizing the courtship means he is really serious about the auburn-haired girl.
"You look like a truck hit you, Oishi," Fuji tells him with a little pat on his back. "Just relax. It is me who will be facing the wrath of Sumire-chan; not you."
Before the vice captain could utter a reply, the grating sound of rubber shoes on asphalt disturbed their conversation. All three looked up to see the rest of the Seigaku regulars, with Inui on the lead.
"It's good all of the regulars are here," he begins the moment he spots the three. "Ryuzaki-sensei has made some arrangements with the school director to allow us a two-day training camp at her summerhouse. We'll be leaving on Tuesday and return on Thursday."
"Which is okay as we would have time to prepare for next Saturday," Kawamura points out.
"The Nationals," Echizen whispers, but the other eight did hear him.
The mood in the court suddenly changed. Momoshiro started pumping his fists, while Kaidoh tightened his grip on his bag in an effort to control the adrenaline rushing through his veins. Kikumaru gifts Oishi an enthusiastic headlock; Kawamura, on the other hand, drops his duffel bag and fishes out a head band with 'Ganbatte Seigaku' written all over it. Inui coolly adjusts his glasses, glancing at Tezuka who seem unfazed at his seemingly excited teammates.
Fuji and Echizen just stared at each other before smirking to themselves.
"I think we're all ready for club practice today," Tezuka announces.
To his delight, he received a massive shout of cooperation from his team.
Fuji half-dragged himself to the shower room after tennis club practice. While he enjoyed the wackiness of his teammates on court, he couldn't say he enjoyed feeling sore afterwards. Heaving a sigh, he enters one shower cubicle while everything was drained away by the water.
Meanwhile, Momoshiro and Kaidoh slump themselves on the floor leading to the shower cubicles. With all cubicles occupied, the two would have to wait to get one each.
"Oi, Mamushi, don't argue with me right now, okay? I don't feel like putting up with you for now."
"Fsshhh...you don't have to tell me that."
"Good. My body feels like lead all over. I need a burger or two on the way home."
His companion did not answer.
"Hey, Mamushi, you still alive?"
"Yeah. Just keep on talking."
"Okay." Momoshiro sits up as he looks at the ceiling. "You know, Echizen and I passed by the Reverie this morning. There were lots of media people. We had to run before they saw the kid."
It took a while before he received a response from Kaidoh, but he did, eventually. "I guess that's not unusual. That cafe got a spot in the best cafe shops in Tokyo. The media hype must be about that."
"Really?"
That was not Momoshiro.
Kaidoh's eyes immediately opened at the question, while Momoshiro nearly stood up; both were surprised.
"Fuji-senpai!"
The tennis prodigy, now fully dressed, crouched in front of the two; blue eyes alight with curiosity.
"You said there were journalists in the Reverie this morning?"
"Hai!" The two answered; Momoshiro looked confusingly at Kaidoh.
Fuji pauses in thought before standing up. Then, without another word, he leaves the two juniors more puzzled than before.
While Momoshiro and Kaidoh are arguing over who gets to shower first, Fuji is doing some mad brisk walking all the way to the Reverie. The news about the cafe this morning; the magazine covering the cafe; Furusawa Maya; Iwase Kumiko; Ryuzaki Sakuno; everything came to a flash to him and slowly but surely, he was able to solve a puzzle that has been plaguing his head.
He better get to the cafe fast.
Without second thought, he runs all the way to the cafe. He arrives there in record time, only to freeze at the quietness enveloping his surroundings.
No media people are around, and it seems as if the cafe is just running on its usual basis.
Then, he catches sight of a familiar auburn head.
With slow, foreboding steps, he enters the cafe, eyes locked on to the figure of his beloved kohai who is serving tea to an elderly couple.
"Please enjoy your tea," he hears her say amiably to the couple.
Sitting himself on his usual spot, he continues staring at her beautiful profile with hooded eyes. She looks happy with what she's doing, but he can sense anxiety in her.
Three minutes passed before she noticed him. "Syuusuke-senpai?"
"It's good to see you, Sakuno-chan."
She flushed at his greeting, before bowing to him several times. "Gomen nasai, senpai! I did not intend to-"
A warm hand traced the curve of her cheek, effectively stopping her from apologizing again and again. "When will your shift end?"
"Ano...uhm...at five, senpai," she replies before looking at the wall clock. It displayed five o'clock. "Oh, I guess I'm free now, senpai. Just wait here, ne? I'll just get changed. Oh, by the way, what would you like to order?"
Fuji smiles at her. "Three hours to spend time with you would do."
Sakuno nearly dropped her notebook at his statement. With a blush adorning her whole face, she shyly looks at her senpai before whispering her question again. "Ano, not that senpai. What do you want to eat?"
He smiles again, blue eyes staring back at her; she evidently squirms at his gaze. "An apple pie and tea would do."
Bowing awkwardly at him, she rushes to the counter, out from his line of sight. Running a hand through his light brown hair, he looks around the cafe. As always, the cafe is filled to the brim with people, and with a popular lifestyle magazine featuring it, its popularity to the public will also rise.
"Ano, Syuusuke-senpai," he hears her calling him. He immediately pulls a chair for her and makes sure she sits closely beside him. "Your apple pie and tea would arrive soon. I hope you won't mind."
"Ne, Sakuno-chan, I don't mind, really."
She gifts him a small smile before slumping on her chair. Tired. She looks really tired, and while he is sure she is not having some bad fever of some sort, the way she looks worries him.
"Did something happen?"
Hazel eyes glanced at him before looking down immediately. "Nothing much, senpai. Iwase-san asked me to help her with something and it took me almost the whole day to do so."
"And what is this something, little Sa-ku-no?"
She flushed at his intonation before pinching her own cheeks, again and again. "Ano, I' really sorry senpai. I know I promised you I'd tell you but I couldn't right now," she says before stopping her adorable act. "Iwase-san said something about confidentiality."
"Is it about your pending trip to Paris?"
Sakuno pauses, cocking her head to the right. "Ano, I think not, senpai."
"Well then," Fuji says as he abruptly stands up, pulling her up with him. "We better go."
"Eh? We?"
Fuji bends down to her height. "My dear little Sakuno has to be punished, ne? That's why we're going on a date."
"Eh? But what about the apple pie, senpai?" She asks in a whisper as he leads her out of the cafe.
"I'll ask them to deliver it to my house."
"B-but sen-"
Her words were cut off when she felt being whirled around and enveloped in his warm body.
With one hand holding her head against his chest, and the other around her waist, Fuji whispers to her ear.
"Just spend time with me, Sakuno."
His lips brushed against her forehead.
"Just spend time with me."