Chapter 12: The First Day
Disclaimer: Tennis no Oujisama is Konomi Takeshi's.
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A/N: Hello everyone! Hey, it's been a long time since I've updated ! But then, I don't hate schooling for not letting me update and those type of stuff, it's just that I'm enjoying the academics (what?) as of now. Of course, it'd definitely change in the future. Believe me. Oops. New Year's resolution: Stop blabbering. Yes, of course. How could I forget? It has been only the fifth day of 2k9, and tomorrow's my birthday! Hurray! Oops again. Oh well. Hope this is long enough to compensate for the long wait. Hey wait, thanks to indistinguishable for editing this as well. This is pure RyoSaku-ness too, so enjoy!
~oOo~
His Eyes on Hers
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Chapter Twelve: The First Day
Sakuno nervously collected her very long hair in one, big ponytail as she faced a mirror inside the girl's comfort room. After the somewhat-enormous task, she looked and inspected herself at the mirror again. There was still a tiny strand left dangling on the back of her head. She sighed and repeated doing her hair in a ponytail. She no longer can remember when was the last time she had to arrange her hair like this; her hair was always arranged in two neat braids that danced freely as she moved. After finishing her hairdo, she tied a small white ribbon to secure the ponytail and then ran her comb furiously on her locks to make sure it was neat and would be in the right place. She looked upon her small vanity case and thought about putting lip gloss on her lips or not. She jerked when she heard one of the cubicle's door flew open. From there came out Tomoka, and the latter went to her side.
"Never expected you would even have to do this to your hair just because of him." Tomoka commented as she arranged her own hair while facing the mirror. She undid her own pigtails and started combing her hair. Sakuno put back the lip gloss back in its place before Tomoka could see it.
"You were even drowsy back at our previous classes, and I suspect you were so late up last night or you wake up so early just to finish his lunch."
"This is getting problematic, really…" Sakuno hurried her words, making them incomprehensible for the other girl. Tomoka just looked at the nervous girl beside her with raised eyebrows, and then looked back at the mirror. She saw a dark shade under her eyes which she tried to hide away with a little make-up.
"You know, it shouldn't be you, Sakuno. It's my fault, yet you kept claiming that it's yours. We could still talk to him and arrange things." Tomoka said worriedly as she started redoing her pigtails. Sakuno was finished washing her hands and was wiping away the water with her hanky. She stared at the cloth in her hand.
"It really was my fault, Tomo-chan. Although this is problematic, I'm quite confident that I can go through this without any bruises."
-Flashback-
After being mesmerized by Inui's strange concoction, the four persons were left by the Glassman to "chase" Kikumaru. The four came back to the realization of the current problem—the thick pile of paper.
"Now look what you've done, Osakada!" Horio scowled at the girl with the mole in her cheek. "Our project is ruined for good and just awhile ago we were already late passing it!"
Tomoka felt the guilt in her actions but due to Horio's harsh tone, she fired back with the same pitch.
"As if I knew that this was still open!" Tomoka showed the water bottle to the unibrow boy. "And I was just trying to protect the pastries from your filthy hands! For your information, this is not for you!"
"Excuse me? Didn't you see that Ryuzaki offered me these pastries with her own will?" Horio was starting to get angry, and so did Tomoka. Sakuno and Ryoma went up the two to stop them from the fussing.
"Tomo-chan, Horio-kun, that's enough! It was my fault." The brunette spoke up. The other three persons looked at her, and they were more than surprised, to be exact.
"What…?" Horio asked, "This is not your fault, Ryuzaki. Stop covering Osakada. This is HER fault!"
Tomoka wanted to pounce on Horio, but before she could, Ryoma stopped her from approaching the other boy.
"Ryoma-sama…" Tomoka looked sharply at Ryoma, and the latter just glared at her.
"Could you just go to our Science teacher and tell her what happened with our project?" Ryoma pointed at the papers. "Show that as evidence. I'll be the one to talk to them."
"But…"
"Just go," Horio received a glare then from the tennis prince. He was still reluctant, but decided that maybe, it was for the good.
"I'll also… ask her if she would let us reprint everything else," said Horio Satoshi before finally going to the teacher's lounge.
"Tell me what happened that you're telling us that it was your fault." Ryoma looked back at Sakuno. "You have to do something about this accident if you're really the one who is responsible for this."
Sakuno fidgeted and squirmed at Ryoma's stare. She looked down while trying to recollect her thoughts, half-nervous that she might say the wrong words and half-nervous because Ryoma was staring at her.
"But it was my fault, Ryoma-sama! You all saw that I pointed at Horio with the bottle, so the water spilled out of it. There's no mistake in it. Sakuno has nothing to do with this!" Tomoka objected from the side.
Ryoma slightly slapped his forehead with his hand and shook his head, his hand covering his face.
"Go settle the matter for yourselves. My head aches with the two of you claiming the blame." He opened up his palms a little and peered secretly at Sakuno. He closed his eyes again when he saw the look in her eyes. "This is crazy."
When Ryoma removed his hands from his face, he already saw Sakuno walking forward towards him while blocking Tomoka from doing the same thing.
"Sakuno, listen to me!" Tomoka whispered from behind, "I know you wouldn't want talk to him or do anything else with him for that matter, so just let me do it! Stop-"
"Tomo-chan." Sakuno looked behind her and smiled sweetly. "For once, let me do things on my own."
"But Sakuno, this is not the time to act all heroine!" Tomoka's voice was getting louder with each word. Sakuno still wore the same sweet smile.
"Tomoka, trust me. Besides, this is just a little thing. Please do me the favor of bringing these back with you to the classroom, please?" Sakuno finally said as she gave the container before walking towards Ryoma. Tomoka's jaw dropped at what Sakuno had just said. For the whole course that they have known each other, Sakuno had never called her by her given name without an honorific. But then… She left hurriedly towards Section 1's room.
"So it's your fault?" Ryoma asked as he saw Sakuno approaching him. The girl nodded her head. Ryoma looked back and put both of his hands in his pants' pockets. He changed his mind when he noticed the familiar, annoying face of Hiroshi. He took Sakuno's wrist and started leading her to the other side of the corridor. "Good, let's talk over there."
Sakuno bit her lip. She also saw Hiroshi as he was approaching them. She just looked at him and wished he would understand that she would just talk to him later. She almost felt sorry for claiming the blame for it. She stared at Ryoma's back as they walked slowly towards the other side of the corridor.
But it really was my fault. I even insisted Tomo-chan to give those pastries I made to him…
Upon reaching the spot, Ryoma faced Sakuno. She didn't realize that he already stopped walking so she bumped right into him. Ryoma caught her shoulders to prevent her from falling completely on him. The couple blushed for a moment before Ryoma faced away from her as he removed her hands from her shoulders rather awkwardly.
"So."
Sakuno shook her head and tried to act nonchalant.
"I'm so sorry for being so careless with my actions." Sakuno bowed down before him, "I'll accept whatever it is that I can do to make up for the misdeed I have done."
Ryoma looked at her. He couldn't help but feel a li'l glorious right at that moment. He had all the chances in the world to spend time with the girl who disturbed his thoughts! Now the only thing he had to do is tell her what exactly she has to do for him and some reasons to back up whatever tasks he would give her.
"Stand up straight. I accept your apology." He told her, but Sakuno didn't budge.
"Please tell me first what I should do, so that you will forgive me for real."
Ryoma shook his head. He started to notice that she avoided facing him or even say his name just like she used to do it for years.
"Stand up first."
"No, please… tell me first."
"I'm already telling you what to do. Stand up and look at me, Ryuzaki."
Her back started to feel a little numb for bowing, so she slowly rose up and faced him. Although she hated the truth that she's aware that her face is blushing, she still did what was told of her.
"And listen. I'm the one who printed every page of that, so the damage dealt was done to me." Ryoma saw her flushed face and wondered if she was fine. Her face was redder than the usual face he saw. He wanted to touch her face, but he held back his hand to his side. She, on the other hand, looked at him first before looking down.
"I understand."
"I've decided." Ryoma looked at her and smirked, the thought ran in his mind so fast that he was afraid he might lose it for good. "You'll be the one to make my lunch everyday for one whole week."
"Me… make lunch… for you?"
"Yeah. Lunch. That's for seven days, including weekends."
"But I thought…" Sakuno blushed further as she looked away from him.
"That?" Ryoma's smirk faded away.
"You hated my cooking?"
Sakuno stared at Ryoma and waited for him to answer.
"Meet me outside my classroom alone next Monday, and do the same for the following days. Don't forget to bring my lunch and don't lose your way from your classroom to my classroom. I'll expect you next week."
Ryoma left her while he was still smirking. He remembered the day when she made him lunch for the first time when they were still 12-year-olds, and for some reason unknown to him, Sakuno ran away from him while he was eating the lunch she made him. He heard her mutter something like, "Ryoma's a fool!" before the girl disappeared. He wasn't even able to thank her properly.
"Wait, Ryoma—"
Something sparked inside him when she called him by his name, without any honorifics at all.
"You told me you didn't like my cooking? Is it really okay… with you to eat something like that for a week…?"
He plainly looked at her.
"Ryoma… kun?"
Maybe he was mistaken with that weird feeling just a while ago. He looked away again before allowing his lips to smile.
"We'll see how you've improved, won't we?"
"Ryoma-kun!" she almost stomped towards him but then paused when he faced her again.
"And by the way, your hair… It's too long."
"This has nothing to do with my hair!" Sakuno's cheeks puffed up.
"Tie it up nicely starting Monday, too. I'll see you."
He proceeded back towards his room, the thought of the project now at the back of his head. He never thought that he would look so forward to another day.
Mada mada da ne, Ryuzaki.
-End of Flashback-
"What you made you think that way, huh?" Tomoka faced her. Sakuno hesitated to spill the words she had thought of.
"Well…"
"Yes?"
Sakuno shyly fiddled her hands.
"I made you believe that… I can do it while I'm talking to Ryoma-kun…Didn't I?"
"Oh my…" Tomoka's eyes widened, and her hand searched for her mouth. "You mean…"
"I was just trying to apply whatever I have learned from the workshop… And I guess I got carried away."
"Sakuno!" Tomoka rushed towards her and started violently pinching her cheeks, "How could you do this to me! I'm your best friend!"
Sakuno only played along, but she couldn't help laughing.
"Tomo-chan," she giggled, "aren't you happy? I did it!"
Tomoka let go of Sakuno's cheeks, which were already red.
"What can I do? You seem happy about it." Tomoka smiled contentedly while patting Sakuno's head.
"I do…?"
"Yes, you do!" Tomoka gave one last pinch on her friend's cheek, and then put her hand on Sakuno's shoulder.
"The most I can do for you now is to tell you 'Good luck.'"
Sakuno smiled at this.
"Thank you, Tomo-chan…"
"Now, now… Won't you be late for your appointment with Ryoma-sama?"
"Ah! It's lunch time already!" Sakuno said nervously as she looked at her watch. "Let's go, Tomo-chan!"
"Yes, yes, ma'am!" Tomoka saluted before following Sakuno out.
Ryoma impatiently waited outside his room. The bell rang at least five minutes before the present time, and he wasn't very happy that the person he was waiting for hadn't showed up until now. He pocketed his hands from time to time as he leaned on the corridor wall. He closed his eyes, his eyebrows obviously showing how pissed he was. His classmates passed by him as they went outside to eat their lunches, and even though they wanted to ask him what was wrong, they didn't dare to at all. They knew better than to ask Echizen Ryoma when he was in a foul mood.
"I'm so sorry I'm late, Ryoma-kun!"
Ryoma looked to his left and couldn't help but let his jaw drop, even a little. Well, at least he could still cling to the poker face he had shown her most of the time. This is the first time she saw her arrange her hair differently, and he had to admit she was no longer cute. She was… beautiful.
"Ryuzaki…" he whispered to himself. He watched as the girl in ponytail panted and caught her breath. In her hand is a lunch box wrapped neatly in a sturdy cloth of black and white.
"I'm late. I'm so sorry…"
"Did you run?"
"Yes, I did…" Sakuno huffed out in between pants. She brought the lunch box close to his face as she rested her other hand atop her chest.
"What's that?" Ryoma asked while imagining what kind of food can there be inside the box.
"Eh?" Sakuno finally recovered, and she straightened. "It's your lunch, as you've-"
"How come it seems like it's good for only one person?"
Sakuno realized that since Ryoma is already fifteen years of age, the huge lunch which she prepared might not be enough for him. But reflecting on the fact that she spent some hours for it, she was quite sure that the lunch she made would be more than enough for him.
"But I've prepared more than enough…" She withdrew the lunch box close to her.
Ryoma just eyed her, and he tilted his head.
"I mean, where's your lunch box?"
Sakuno blinked her eyes.
"I've left it in the classroom."
"Left it?"
Sakuno wanted to shake her head. "I left it because I am told to give the lunch to you and I will... eat my lunch at my classroom."
Ryoma stared at her face.
"I didn't… tell you to bring it with you?"
Sakuno shook her head, hands fidgeting atop her chest. Ryoma's look lingered at her face. He walked past her, and Sakuno followed him by looking.
"R-Ryoma-kun, can I go now?"
"I'm hungry..." Ryoma took Sakuno's hand without any ado and started walking.
"Eh… R-Ryoma-k-kun, w-where are we g-going…?"
"To your room."
"My room…?"
"We're goin' to get back your lunch box."
Sakuno looked around, and she felt she could almost explode due to her sheer embarrassment. All the people were looking at them as they continued to walk through the corridors. She glanced at Ryoma who did not seem to mind at all.
"R-Ryoma-kun… I can walk on my own!" Sakuno tried to withdraw her hand, but he wouldn't let her.
"I know."
"T-then please let my hand go…!"
"No."
"Ryoma-kun, please..?"
Ryoma looked back at the girl behind him and regretted doing so. She was trying to use the same eyes Karupin and Karu uses whenever they want something he didn't want to give. He took his sight away from her as just as fast as he looked at her.
"Who knows? You might escape me again."
"Again?"
"B-but I'm done with the lunch, I would just have to… retrieve it before the lunch break ends."
They had finally arrived outside of Sakuno's classroom, and Ryoma let go of her hand. Sakuno frowned.
"There. Do it quickly."
"Eh?"
"Get. Your. Lunch. Box."
She wanted to ask him what was the reason behind all this, but she was too preoccupied with the thought as to why she was disappointed when Ryoma let go of her hand... like that was what she wanted. She shook her head before heading to her chair inside the room.
"Welcome back, Sakuno-chan!" Tomoka rose from her chair. Hiroshi smiled at her as well.
"Hello, Tomo-chan, Hiroshi-kun." She greeted as she took out her lunchbox from her bag.
"See you later, Tomo-chan, Hiroshi-kun!" She was about to go with her lunch box in tow when Hiroshi asked her.
"Where are you going with your lunchbox, Sakuno-chan?"
"Umm…" Sakuno thought of an answer when Tomoka winked at her and pushed her to the exit of the room.
"Bye, Sakuno!" Tomoka shouted, and then saw Ryoma waiting for Sakuno. The latter pleaded silently to her friend to explain things to the other guy. Tomoka readily understood.
"Enjoy your 'date!'" Tomoka whispered making Sakuno and Ryoma blush.
"You're mistaken, Tomo-chan! This is not a date—!"
Ryoma proceeded to grab Sakuno's hand again and lead her somewhere else. Tomoka looked back inside the classroom to check on Hiroshi. To her surprise, she found him right beside her, watching Ryoma and Sakuno leave.
"Osakada-san, what's going on?" came the question from him. His voice was unusually low so Tomoka was obliged to explain things as soon as possible. She was worried while at the same time, the usual pain stung in her chest.
"Nothing important, Hiroshi-kun! Sakuno has some important appointments during lunch breaks, I guess?" Sweat dropped from Tomoka's cheek. Hiroshi just stared at her.
"Well, uh… Hey! I made a big lunch for today! Would you like to share it with me? I'm supposed to share it with Sakuno but it seems like… she can't be with me this time."
Hiroshi looked down.
"Wait, I'll go look for Sakuno-chan first—"
"No, we have to eat together!" Tomoka reached for Hiroshi's hand, and Hiroshi looked at her inquisitively. Tomoka realized what she just did.
"C'mon, let's go inside!" Tomoka dragged Hiroshi along, to the protest of the guy. He forcefully removed her hand from his.
"Why is Sakuno going out with Echizen, Osakada-san?" Hiroshi hoarsely whispered to Tomoka. Another sweat dropped from Tomoka, and she gulped.
"Don't be silly, Hiroshi-kun!" she faked a laugh as she went towards her bag, took out a box wrapped in red cloth and opened it. From it came an aroma which could only come from sumptuous food. She settled herself on her chair and pulled out Sakuno's chair close to her table. Hiroshi only looked at her.
"Here, please suit yourself." Tomoka pointed out to the chair beside her. Hiroshi sighed in defeat and followed Tomoka.
"Here, your chopsticks." Tomoka smiled her usual foxy smile. Hiroshi took it and sighed again.
"I'm sorry, Tomoka-san. But can you please explain to me things that I needed to know?"
"I'm going to eat!" Tomoka clapped both of her hands and looked at the food and then at Hiroshi.
"I'm going to eat!" Hiroshi mimicked, and he waited first for Tomoka to dig in first before he picked a red squid which looked really juicy and yummy. As he was accustomed to do, he smelled the food first before putting it in his mouth and munching it slowly. A small grin crept to his face. Tomoka blushed while watching him.
"So, is it… good?" Tomoka looked down at the food in the box and then back at Hiroshi.
"Is it… good?"
One bite. Munch. Munch. Munch.
"Ryoma-kun…?"
Another bite. Munch. Munch. Munch.
"Echizen-san…?"
Munch. Munch. Munch.
Ryoma looked at the sky as he ate while Sakuno watched him in desperate hope of making him come up with a comment at least. She tried another call to a seemingly deaf Ryoma, but it didn't work for the third time either. She resigned herself to eating her own lunch for she was feeling hungry herself. She scooted some space from Ryoma before proceeding to indulge with her food. It wasn't long before she felt full just after a few bites and strangely enough, she felt sleepy.
"Ryoma-kun?"
"…Ryoma-kun?"
"Ryoma-kun…?"
Earth calling to Ryoma-kun!
Sakuno wanted to voice out that small thought, but she stopped herself just in time. He wouldn't mind if I take a little nap here in the rooftop with him, would he? She bit her lip and slightly slapped her cheeks while still trying to stop herself from sleeping. With the few birds left chirping and the soothing autumn wind and the overall relaxing atmosphere, her eyes were making her surrender to slumber.
Is 3 a.m. in the morning too early for a high school girl to prepare lunch?
That's it. She's going to sleep. There wasn't anything more she could use for a pillow than her lunchbox, but the strange drowsiness made her feel anything would be fine as a pillow. She hugged her knees with the lunch box on top of them and rested her head. A few minutes later, Ryuzaki Sakuno was asleep.
With the lunch box nearly empty, Ryoma noticed that the surroundings became quiet—oddly quiet. He found his lunch very satisfying. Or is it just because the food tasted good and little Ryuzaki was calling "Ryoma-kun" over and over again? He would really have to make the most out of this one-week shot.
"Ryuzaki, although this is better than the last time, you still have a long way to go." He smirked as an image of Sakuno's face when he teases her came up. But there was no voice to answer him.
"If you're angered in any way with me dragging you here…" he almost whispered, embarrassment evident in his features. It wouldn't hurt if he apologizes to her like this. It would definitely not. Especially that now, he got the chance to be closer to her for a whole week and win her over from that Hiroshi guy. He would need a lot of chances for him to lower his ego. This would be the first. However, the object of this quest must cooperate with him, and he needed to make her cooperative, unlike now.
"Are you listening?"
"Ryuzaki."
He turned towards her and saw only her back facing him. Oh heavens, he hadn't started yet when he was never given the chance to start in the first place?
"Ryuza—"
He rushed to her side, assuming she was crying all to herself. But to add up to his anxiety in this little circle of complexities in which he made up, he saw the most innocent face in his whole life—at least for the last fifteen years of his life.
Gulp.
He moved backwards away from the sleeping Ryuzaki Sakuno and emptied his water bottle as calmly as he could. He looked back at his watch. You've got to be kidding me. It's only forty-five minutes past lunch time? He looked back at Sakuno as he silently sat beside her sleeping form. For one time he imagined what she would look like when she sleeps. Reality is even better. It's even better if...
He reached out to touch her locks but withdrew his hand when he felt they were too fragile for him to touch. As he looked at her face again, he remembered how fragile she could be. Her crying face haunted him just like the night and the day after the party.
Ryoma clenched his fist. He wanted to protect her if a time like that came again and threatened tears to fall. But the reason for last time… it was him, wasn't it? He wasn't aware of his face coming closer to Sakuno's until he was a mere inch away from the girl. He had to admit she was beautiful, and he wanted to touch with his own hands and lips that beauty; the haunting episode came to him,and then, he realized, he wasn't worthy of it.
But I will be worthy; I'll make myself worthy enough.
Ryoma took his head back after being contented to watch her up-close as she slept. He took his head back but not after whispering some words. Contented with the ten-minute thinking, he touched her nose to wake her up. The poker face was back perfectly in place.
"Time to go back to class, Ryuzaki. You slept for some time."
Sakuno's heart raced, and she swung her wrist in front of her face. It was time for class. Ryoma waited for her at the entrance to the roof top, carrying the empty lunch box. She rubbed her eyes furiously and walked to Ryoma.
"Let's go."
As the two descended the stairs, Sakuno had this feeling that she heard Ryoma talk to him as she slept. But she was ashamed of asking her former crush of it because the word themselves were not the type to come from an Echizen Ryoma.
"I'll see you tomorrow at the roof top."
She looked at him and she was surprised. He was smiling at her.
"By the way, thanks for the lunch. You still have a long way to go, though."
This type of words never failed to tease her.
"Ryoma-kun!"
And Ryoma was on his way to his classroom. Sakuno put one hand on top her chest and she could feel the loud thump of her heart. She checked her cheeks and they were warm.
Oh no.
As she watched him leave, she wanted to call his name again and ask if he told her those words.
Ryoma was at a good hearing distance from her now.
Should she? Should she not?
"Ryoma…"
He was out of her sight.
"Did you really tell me that…"
"...you would me protect me…"
She covered her face.
"…beauty?"
Just wait for me, Ryuzaki. I'll protect you in my own way, beauty.
Ryoma finally reached his room and entered.
~oOo~
Another A/N: Don't get disappointed if it ends here, this is just the start of the RyoSaku part, so hang on, people! Honestly, it took me so long to update because I thought that I haven't receive much reviews (feel free to slap me), so there. More reviews = faster update. Haha. Great. But anyway, thanks to all those readers and reviewers last time. Please accept this as a late Christmas gift and a… New Year Gift? Haha. I'll see ya next time. Bye! Belated happy New Year!