Sorry for the late update! Sorry! I was really busy, you see. I have band practices three days a week (like literally take up the whole day -.-), and piano exam is coming, and my guitar teacher is asking too much from me, and I have lots of holiday homework and readings to do…
I hope you forgive me. Please read and enjoy.
XxXxX
A peaceful day at Seigaku, Horio, Katsuo and Kachiro were happily chatting away…
"Trouble, trouble, big trouble!" Tomoka announced as she ran towards the clique.
"What is it?" Horio asked, staring at the panicking Tomoka curiously.
"Sa…Sakuno…she is with Ryoma-sama…!" Tomoka said in between breathes, pointing towards the window. "Look, you can see it from this window!"
Horio, Kachiro and Katsuo rushed to the window to see what Tomoka was saying.
"Where?" Horio asked, eager to see.
"There! Under that tree!" Tomoka pointed.
The other three squinted and followed the direction of her fingers. Sure enough, Sakuno and Ryoma were hiding under the tree, talking. Ryoma's arms were around Sakuno's waist, and they were so close, all Sakuno had to do was to tip-toe slightly, and her lips would touch Ryoma's.
"Whoa, since when are they so close to each other?" Kachiro exclaimed.
"I don't know. They must be having a secret relationship!" Tomoka said. "I mean, Sakuno didn't even tell me!" She added, her voice tainted with hurt.
"How could they have a secret relationship?" Horio cried. "If they have any relationship, we could definitely tell, right? And even me, the great Horio didn't even realise anything!"
"Eh? I thought it was pretty obvious…" Katsuo said timidly. "The stares they have been giving each other every time they walk by, and the way Sakuno-chan always disappears during lunchtime…I thought it were all pretty much a giveaway. I thought something funny was going between them, but wasn't sure." He stared at the couple. "I can't believe they have advanced to this stage already…"
"I…It was obvious?" Tomoka repeated in shock. "Why didn't I notice, too?"
Horio puffed out his chest, and added proudly. "I noticed too! Of course, I just have to notice these kinds of things, since I'm the closest to Ryoma!"
"…" The other three stared exasperatedly at him. "Didn't you say the exact opposite just a minute ago?"
"B…but…Sakuno can't be with Ryoma-kun…" Kachiro said. "I mean, not after what they say about him…what if Sakuno got…" Kachiro gulped. "Taken advantaged of?"
"Yeah, furthermore, Sakuno trusts Ryoma a lot." Katsuo added. "Ryoma-kun…what if he said something to Sakuno and Sakuno believed him?"
"Ah!" Tomoka exclaimed angrily. "How dare he cheat my Sakuno's feelings? How dare that dirty pervert get close to my best friend?" Tomoka shouted, gripping the window grills. "I know Sakuno loved Ryoma-sama, but I told her all about his…disgusting rumours! I mean, there's no way Sakuno, after hearing all that, would still want to be with Ryoma-sama! T…That pervert must have brainwashed her!"
The other three gasped. "B…Brainwash…?" Katsuo stammered.
Horio slammed his hands onto a nearby table exaggeratedly. "This despicable crime is not to be allowed in Seigaku!" He announced pompously. "That Echizen has to be stopped! We will not allow Sakuno to be harmed by him!"
It was one of the rare times that the other three actually agreed with what Horio said. "Yeah, I will knock some sense into Sakuno!" Tomoka said determinedly.
Suddenly Kachiro gasped. "Look! They're…kissing…"
The other three spun around to see what Kachiro was saying. They gasped along too when they saw Ryoma giving Sakuno a peck on her forehead.
"Goodness, look at how Sakuno-chan is blushing…"
Tomoka gripped the window grills with shaky hands. "I…I didn't know Sakuno had fallen so deeply into Ryoma-sama's brainwash…" She stood up suddenly. "As her best friend, I must save her! I'll talk some sense to her and snap her out of that dreamy trance she is in!"
"Dreamy trance?"
"If I must," Tomoka continued, taking out a pocket watch. "I would use this pocket watch to enchant her back to reality!"
"Shh!" Katsuo shushed them suddenly. "Sakuno's here!"
They kept quiet, and turned around to see Sakuno hopping to the class happily. Sakuno smiled at them cheerfully. "Good morning!"
"Good morning…" They answered.
"What's wrong?" Sakuno asked, worried about their lack of enthusiasm. Normally they would reply back ten times the volume, given their loud voices (actually, only Tomoka and Horio's voices), so what's with the sudden decrease in volume and excitement?
"Sakuno…" Tomoka said, facing her with an expression of sadness mixed with worry. "Why are you so close with Ryoma-sama?"
Sakuno blinked. "C…Close…? I'm…not close with him…" She stuttered, trying to lie her way out.
"We saw you snogging with that pervert!" Horio announced, again too loudly for his own good. The whole class started string at the five of them. Whispers and murmurs started breaking out among their classmates. Horio remained ignorant over this matter as he continued saying at the top of his voice. "How could you still be with Echizen after all those rumours?"
"Horio-kun, you are too loud…" Kachiro reminded him softly.
"Silence! I will be the one that will save poor Sakuno-chan from falling into the trap of Echizen!" Horio said, putting his hands on Sakuno's shoulders. "Sakuno-chan, I know you are being brainwashed by Echizen, snap out of it! Being with him only causes harm!"
Sakuno flushed red at the sudden attention from her class. Why must Horio say such things in such an abnormally loud voice? S…snogging? Ryoma just gave her a peck on the forehead, it's nothing! Why did Horio have to exaggerate the truth? How does he even manage speaking so abysmally loudly without damaging his throat? Now everyone was looking at the five of them, boring their eyes down at Sakuno accusingly. Sakuno wanted to shout at them, explain to them that there was nothing wrong being with Ryoma, Ryoma is completely innocent from all those horrible rumours, and that he is not a pervert and she is not brainwashed by him…
She sighed. They wouldn't believe her anyway. The only thing she could do was to work hard so that she could get out of her job as quickly as possible, and save Ryoma from this misery as soon as possible. For now… "A…Anou…I'm not brainwashed by him…"
"Then why are you so close with him?" Tomoka demanded, equally loud.
Sakuno fidgeted, wondering what to say. The whole class was staring at her, waiting for her to speak. She had better say something right, or else some weird gossip would start spreading around the school like wildfire. "Erm, well, I wanted to be with him…I…er…I like him…." She said, blushing a bit. It was easier telling the truth, and all the blame would be on her in this case, not on Ryoma anymore.
"Y…you…wanted to be with him…even after…" Tomoka said incredulously. "I know you liked him all along, Sakuno, but he has been to the Aging Bar, Sakuno! How could you still trust him?"
"He's really nice! He's not the…the erm…pervert that you all call him… I…erm…asked him out…and found out that he is quite nice, actually…really." Sakuno said, trying to defend Ryoma.
Tomoka, Horio, Kachiro and Katsuo exchanged worried glance to one another. They were pretty sure now that Sakuno was brainwashed. She is definitely brainwashed!
"Sakuno, there are so many other guys out there…" Tomoka said.
"But I like Ryoma-kun!" Sakuno said, more adamant this time. She stared at her friends, afraid of what they might say. When the four of them sighed in defeat, she cheered in relief silently. At least now they stopped asking weird questions, and Ryoma would be pretty much left alone…
XxXxX
Ryoma walked towards the rooftop, as he always did.
Recess was the only time Ryoma could really relax. He got to get away from his class that would pressure him with weird glares, get to catch some sleep after staying up late to do finish his stupid homework (Sakuno kind of forced him to it), and yes, he got to see Sakuno, privately, and eat her homemade food. Privately, freely, no stupid gossiping people to disturb them, just me and Sakuno…
But the damn recess only last for one hour. So freaking short…
Even tennis practice had not been fun either. This school really is great in spreading and exaggerating the rumours, and still make them highly convincing. Even Inui the data-collector seemed to believe them. Even though no one actually showed it, but from his seniors' actions, it seemed everyone is affected by those dumb rumours. The way they look at him, talk to him, even Kikumaru-sempai's hugs had been decreased to none.
And that damn Chemistry lesson just now was so humiliating. Why did sensei just have to let the whole class see his freaking 'D' in his quiz? I mean, he was not the only one, right, why just show his? And it was not his fault that he didn't have time to study, the teachers were the one that gave so much homework he had to stay up till past midnight to finish it, there was just no time to study. And that topic wasn't even important, he'd have plenty of time to revise it before the end-of-year's, what's with the big fuss…
Ryoma stopped in his tracks.
Someone was following him. All these times, and he did not notice it till now.
He frowned. He turned back to check.
Oh…so it was Horio and gang…even though they tried hiding, they were still very obvious. Ryoma shook his head at their 'talent' in spying, and walked another way, to a secluded place so that at least they could talk.
If he was not wrong, those people were Sakuno's friends. The fact that they are following him…either means they might have found out something about Sakuno, or they just wanted to make sure Sakuno was not around him. Leading them to the corridor along the science block would be the perfect space for them.
Alright, he's here. The corridor along the science block.
"Okay, you guys, come out of your hiding places." He said.
No response.
"I know you're there…" Ryoma repeated, getting bored. Why can't they just come out right at the start? Why do they have to pretend that they're not there when they are so bad at it?
Four people, one girl, three guys (the guys look familiar…oh, they are from the tennis club as well!) came out of the pillar they were hiding behind. "How'd you know we're here?" The girl asked.
Ryoma rolled his eyes, and refused to answer to this insanely dumb question. "What do you want?"
The four of them look at one another secretively. "I want you to break up with Sakuno." The girl said.
"What?"
"I know you've been brainwashing her, so that she trusts you and believes you. But we know better. You're trying to take advantage of her gullible character, but as her best friend, I will not allow that! So I demand that you break up with her and not see her again!" She said in a demanding but fearful tone.
She cringed a bit when Ryoma glared at her. Are you freaking serious? They think that I'm brainwashing her? Ryoma thought incredulously, marveled at their wild and creative imagination. Why can't they just accept the fact that both of them are clean and rightful couples, damn it?
Ryoma felt his temper rising. He's already pissed off, what with the recent development of his gossips, and with everyone ignoring him, and with that stupid teacher humiliating him… Now this? He had better get off the scene before he got mad and make everything worse.
"I don't want to." He said simply, and started to leave. He's hungry, this stupid detour just made him further from his lunch… Argh…He could hear his stomach growling…growling for Sakuno…
"I won't let you!" The girl stood in front of Ryoma, blocking his way, arms spread out in a protective manner. "I won't let you leave this place until you promise me that you will leave Sakuno alone, and not try to harm her!"
"I am not trying to harm her, woman." Ryoma said, irked.
"I don't believe you! I want you to leave her for good before I'm assured!"
Damn it, he has no time for these kinds of crap… Ryoma rolled his eyes and pushed the girl away harshly, walking past her.
The girl fell down to the side in surprise, and scratched her arm.
"Tomoka-chan! Are you alright?" The other three guys crowded around her, looking at her injury.
"Oi, Echizen, how can you hurt a girl?" Horio shouted at him.
Ryoma stared at Tomoka. Her arm had a long line of blood, but it was just a scratch, so there was no life danger or so. He got these scratches quite often while playing matches, so this girl shouldn't have much problem with it. "Che, not a big deal…" He muttered, though he did feel kind of apologetic. Because of his annoyance, he pushed the girl a bit too harshly than he actually wanted. Sigh, Sakuno would scold him after this…
"Not a big deal? Y…You heartless pervert!" Horio exclaimed, grabbing Ryoma by the collar. Ryoma slapped his hands away defensively, as Horio cringed from his strength.
"Oi, what's this ruckus?"
They turned around.
"Sensei! Echizen pushed Tomoka-chan!" Horio took the chance and started screaming as usual.
Nadaki-sensei raised his eyebrows and glared at Ryoma. "Come with me to my office." He said to Ryoma. And only Ryoma. Ryoma sighed. Guess the whole school is biased against him already.
XxXxX
"Explain." Nadaki-sensei said.
"They were blocking my way on purpose, but I need to eat lunch, so I pushed her aside. She must have tripped and injured herself." Ryoma said.
Nadaki raised his eyebrow sardonically. "Oh really?" He said, his voice filled with skepticism. "But Osakada-san said you pushed her."
"Yes, I did push her, but it was because she was blocking…"
"She said she came to you because you wouldn't stop pestering Ryuuzaki-san. Is that true?" Nadaki asked harshly.
Pestering? That annoying girl actually changed the whole truth like that? How could she? Ryoma could feel his anger rising up in him. He had been feeling pissed all the while now, and this just made him boil. He took a deep breath to calm himself down. "I was not pestering Ryuuzaki. We are just friends. Osakada is thinking too much."
"Hmm." Nadaki said simply, obviously not believing Ryoma. "Echizen-san, your behaviour nowadays has not been…good. Firstly, in every single subject, you have at least dropped a grade, and you even dropped four grades in math. There has been…weird rumours about you, saying that you go to the Aging Bar, trying to…speed up your growing process by…indulging yourselves in…despicable stuff. Now, you injured a student, pushing her in front of so many people, trying to pick a fight, just because she's trying to stand up for a friend against you." Nadaki glared at his form class student. Ryoma glared back as well, angry at the cynical accusations aimed at him. He swears, the goddamn rumours are going too far…
"Echizen-san, are you trying to be a delinquent? Because our school do not welcome delinquents like you, and will be more than happy to send you off to another school, even if you are a tennis prodigy. We do not care how much trophy you bring this school, if you continue to disgrace us like that, more so, by being a delinquent, we would chase you out of the school, do you hear me?"
Ryoma was fuming with anger, so he did not speak, fearing that his voice would betray him with all these livid blood rushing to his head.
"I hope you think about what I said, Mr. Echizen, and take note of your conduct. I do not want the same behaviour to happen again. You can go back to your class now."
Ryoma left the office, head literally smoking with angry fumes, stomach growling uncomfortably, lips almost bitten to half due to him trying not to speak out in Nadaki-sensei's office.
Recess just ended like that. His favourite time of the day, of the week, of the month, the time where he could rest from all the stress he had been going through, where he could take a break from all those angering stuff just ended like that. The only time in school where he could spend some good quality time with Sakuno…
"Ryoma, where have you been?" Sakuno asked, worried, when he walked back to the class.
He took a deep, deep breath. It's for Sakuno. If she's happy, everything is alright.
"Nothing." He mumbled, forcing a smile. "Sensei's coming in."
After all, he still had going home to look forward to, where he would have the whole house and Sakuno to himself.
XxXxX
End! Review! I think about 3 or 4 more chapters and it would be done… Teehee this chapter is a bit sad, right?
I promise I will try and update faster. I have to. I don't want to carry this project all the way until school reopens… Then you'll get a really really slow update…