Disclaimer: TeniPuri by Konomi Takeshi.
~oOo~
A/N: Sorry if it took so long. Enjoy! This is my (very late) present for Christmas, New Year and my birthday. Enjoy, especially RyoSaku fans! :)
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His Eyes on Hers
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Chapter 15: Remembering from the Future
--
"I'm home, Kaa-san."
The place, although sparking clean, looked like a mess for him. He headed to his room, threw his bag somewhere, and slumped on his bed. He intended to stare at the ceiling, but the light from above hurt his eyes. He frowned as he closed his chocolate-tinted eyes. The fatigue from his limbs was not helping his will to stay awake.
He had to stay awake. He had to stay awake.
He should not sleep – he should not sleep. His aunt and uncle would come and visit him so he had to prepare everything, including himself.
Forcing open his eyes, he looked at the light for a mere tenth of a second – until his eyes could not bear the light's intensity any longer. Hiroshi blinked twice, and for the last effort to fight the urge to sleep, his eyes looked for the lone picture frame in his room. It showed a woman somewhat in her late twenties, with her brown braided hair cascading down her right shoulder. Beside the said woman was a young boy, around five years of age, holding tightly onto her. They were both smiling, although the younger boy did his smile with a hint of reluctance.
"Were you like Tomoka-san when you confessed to that man?" he asked, and looked away once again. The momentary closure of his eyes soon took him off to the recollection of his memories.
-oOo-
White was all around him. Above him was the white light, which was not too bright for his tender eyes. Below him were the white tiles, all clean and looked new. He was seated in a white chair which material felt velvety and soft. He looked to his right and to his left and saw white flowers arranged such that they looked like towers guarding something in between them. Finally, he looked in front of him and saw a white coffin. Set atop it was a white picture frame. He slowly strode towards the picture frame, afraid of what he might he see. He saw how the face of his mother with her pretty and kind face smiled to him. Why would a portrait of his mother be here in a coffin? He could not understand why. He looked at the coffin and wondered why someone who looked exactly like his mom would lie there. From what he last heard from heard from her, she said they'd be having rice bowls for dinner.
"Hiroshi... This might have been very painful for you," he looked above and saw someone he never saw his whole life. "...you're just five, for heaven's sake..."
"Mister?"
"I'm your uncle." The man nodded and glanced at the coffin. He wiped his cheeks and his eyes.
Hiroshi sighed and looked at the coffin. This person really looked like his mom, only that the person lying inside the coffin was in pain. He never saw his mother like that, but for once he heard her weep.
"Uncle?"
"Yes?"
"Where's Kaa-san?"
-oOo-
"Kaa-san, what's for dinner?" a 5-year old Hiroshi leapt and hopped as his mother watched him with amusement and an adorable expression. With one hand, she hugged the paper bag full of groceries to her chest. The other hand held the young boy's hand, although the bond between them was not stable with Hiroshi's leaping.
"Let's see... What do you want for dinner, Hiroshi-kun?" She smiled and tugged his hand.
"Eto..." he put his hand on his chin and pretended to think. "What about beef on top of steaming rice? That's yummy!"
"You're a demanding, little boy. We only have chicken here." She peeked at her grocery bag. "How about some chicken on top of rice?"
"But Kaa-san!" he pouted. They waited for the go signal for the pedestrians to cross the street. Hiroshi's mom ruffled his auburn hair.
"Okay then. One big rice bowl for my demanding, cute son." She smiled and tugged his hand again when the green light for the pedestrians lit. Hiroshi's face had a very wide grin as he watched his mom walk beside him. He hopped and held his Mom's hand just a little tighter.
Not very far from the happy mother and son, there were loud shrieks coming from other pedestrians. A big, black motorcycle was racing down the streets, causing commotion in the urban areas for disregarding any kind of traffic rule. What's more was that it was running away -- from what, no one knew. Neither did Hiroshi's mom know. But when she saw that the said motorcycle was heading towards them, she panicked. Her first thought was to run away as fast as possible with her son to the other side of the street. But the vehicle was gaining velocity. The next instinct she had at that exact moment was to push Hiroshi away – and so she did.
"Kaa-"
A faint smile appeared in her face. He felt like he was flying, and things were happening in a pace his five-year old mind could not comprehend. He became dizzy and closed his eyes. The voice calling his mom seemed not to reach her.
"Kaa-san...!"
-oOo-
"Kaa-san, when will I see my Otou-san?"
"Eh?"
"You know, so he can help me with my math home works."
His mom was washing the dishes while Hiroshi struggled to do his homework alone. Truth be told, kindergarten homework was really not that hard for him. He just wanted a father-figure in their house. The other kids in his school had them – all of them. He did not have one. And even if he loved his mother so much, he still envied the other kids with their fathers.
"Let's see..." she appeared behind him, making him startled.
"Kaa-san!" he pouted and tried to punch her arm with his small fists. "Stop surprising me like that!"
She chortled and hugged him from behind. "What if I find you a new Otou-san?"
He made a face. "I want my Otou-san."
She patted his head and looked below. "Even though we want him so much to come back to us, it will never happen, Hiroshi-kun."
"Why?"
"The world never allowed him in the first place."
He looked confused as she hugged him. Hiroshi's mom only looked at his finished homework and beamed. "As expected of my Hiroshi-kun! You don't need help on your homework, see? Now let's arrange your things for tomorrow. Okay?"
He nodded with doubt and proceeded to arrange his notebook and book. To baffle him once again, his mom walked hastily towards the comfort room. He hurried to follow her and was met with the closed door. Out of curiosity, he pressed his ear towards the door and heard muffled sobbing.
-oOo-
A momentary flash of Sakuno running away from him during the acquaintance party went through his mind. The way her hair danced with the air as she ran had a strong resemblance with his mother's hair when she ran away on that night.
"Hiroshi? Hiroshi!"
The voice of his aunt woke him up. He shook his head and wiped his eyes. There was a stray flow of liquid from his right eye.
"We're coming in!"
He faked a smile as he usually did. To his dismay, he wasn't able to prepare food for his visitors. It was too late for him, for his aunt and uncle were already in front of him.
"Hiroshi. Were you having nightmares again?" The worried aunt looked at her nephew's face. Hiroshi only shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Oba-chan, Oji-chan." He bowed.
"Don't bother about it. We know you're tired." His uncle said and nodded. "So, nightmares again?"
Hiroshi looked down. "It came back to me again after three, long years."
The couple looked at each other.
"She would have never died that early if that bastard had took care of us."
But somehow, he felt like he was imitating his Otou-san even though he never saw him. He rejected yet another girl, this time it was a close friend. Why? He liked Sakuno. Did his father felt like this when he rejected his mother?
---
"You can never be with me, Tatsuya."
She placed the copy of the script on top of her desk then flopped down on her bed.
"Being Chieko might not be that hard, but it can be... boring."
Sakuno sighed and hugged her pink floral pillow. For a moment, the memory of Ryoma from their lunch flashed in her mind. She blushed and buried her head in her pillow.
"Ah. I still have to arrange my things." A newfound smile was in Sakuno's lips. She went down to the floor and sorted her books and notebooks. Humming as she went in her routine task, she happened to glance at the phone which was beside the copy of the play's script.
"Shall I call her?" she played with the thought and picked up the receiver. One more digit and she would have been seconds away from hearing Tomoka's voice. She hesitated at the last minute and ended up putting down the receiver. She stared at the phone and sighed. The phone started ringing.
"Aah!" she gasped in surprise. The phone continued ringing.
"Sakuno, you're okay there?" came the voice from her grandma's room. She gulped and nodded.
"I'm okay, Baa-chan! I was just surprised..."
"Keep it down, it's evening already."
"Yes, Baa-chan."
She put a hand atop her pounding chest while she picked up the phone. Why am I so nervous?
There was a five second fangirl shriek before she was sure who was calling her.
"Sakuno, it's Tomoka!"
---
Tomoka beamed as she heard Sakuno answer the phone.
"You surprised me!" came the gleeful voice of Sakuno from the other end of the call. Tomoka laughed and rolled over her bed, the cordless receiver still with her.
"You'll be more surprised when you find out what I am about to tell you."
Silence.
"Tomo-chan, don't leave me hanging!" Sakuno giggled and urged Tomoka to continue.
"Nuh-uh-uh." Tomoka looked at her fingernails. "Before that, let me ask you something."
"What is it?"
Tomoka's ears and cheeks turned red. "Well... How does it feel when someone confesses to you...?"
Silence. Sakuno's eyes widened, and good graces let the receiver in her hand not to fall.
"Eh?!" her voice raised a pitch. "Someone confessed to you, Tomo-chan?!"
"Sakuno!" The receiver vibrated as Tomoka hollered, making Sakuno wince. "Just tell me. Geez, it's just a question. It's not like it happened already..." the voice from the other line faltered.
Sakuno couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. She would have never imagined the very courageous Tomoka to be shy when it came to things like this.
"Well, how do I describe it..." Sakuno blushed as she played with her hair. "It's embarrassing, really." She remembered how she dealt with those during her junior high school and smiled. "But eventually, you will feel all bubbly inside, and you can't help but smile."
Tomoka nodded vigorously. "Oh. I see."
"Now I have to see for myself..." Sakuno continued smiling, "so, who's the brave person to fight for you, Tomo-chan?"
Tomoka snorted. "I really don't like the tone of your voice now, Sakuno-chan."
Sakuno shook her head. "It's not really like that. I'm sorry."
"Well, actually, it's fine. It's the opposite."
"Opposite?"
"I..."
Tomoka sighed and inhaled. "The one who confessed is... ME!"
And there was a momentary hush.
"Eeeeh~!? As expected of Tomo-chan. Finally!"
I finally said it! There came the cheerful voice in Tomoka's mind. Kyaa~!
"Tomo-chan?"
"Uh. Yeah... I really confessed I wasn't able to hold it in my mouth any longer!" The Osakada girl screeched. "So, I made the head of that Hiro-"
The air stifled once more.
"No, it's not like that! I mean, Hiroshi's name just slipped! He has nothing to do with my confession or--"
"I wondered what Hiroshi said..." Sakuno's braids swung like two pendulums as she moved her upper body from left to right. "It's time for Tomo-chan to spill the beans!"
"Well, uh..."
Sakuno only laughed.
"Stop laughing at me, Ryuzaki Sakuno!"
---Flashback---
Hiroshi's eye widened with surprise. Not long after, a small smile appeared on his lips.
"Thank you, Osakada-san."
"...Exactly." Tomoka smiled bitterly during the time she was suppressing hiccups. He reverted to calling her by her last name. Well, that was to be expected. She should have known better...
"But," his pause was agonizing for her. "you know how I feel, right?"
She bit her lip and shouted as modestly as she could.
"Stupid!"
He received a light punch on his cheek. Tomoka bursted out laughing before returning to her pensive face.
"I'm not asking you to accept it or return it... now." She grinned her toothy grin. Hiroshi could only scratch his neck.
"Well, I don't know how to act accordingly in this real-life situation..."
And she laughed heartily again. "With that face and personality, no one has ever confessed to you? Ever since?"
Hiroshi's face was flushed, obviously avoiding eye contact. "No, I mean... I have dozens of girls confessing to me but..."
She leaned at the wall and looked at him with her impish stare. "And now, you're bragging, huh?"
He brought his chest up then relaxed as he looked at Tomoka. "This is the first time someone close to me did this."
"Is that a compliment?"
"I don't know." He looked amused and threw his glance at the afternoon sky. "But Tomoka-san, I'm really glad you've been my friend."
Her lower jaw dropped.
"I really hope it'll stay like that for a long time."
As Hiroshi finished speaking, she closed her mouth and gritted her teeth.
"Stupid, stupid Hiroshi! You're the most stupid person on Earth!" she started walking away. "One day, I'll make that most stupid person fall in love with me! I'll win him for sure!" She faced him and pointed at him. "Just you watch, Nakayama Hiroshi!"
She walked away whilst laughing hysterically. The emotional tears were again in her face, which in turned into soft sobs.
"How many times will I still have to say to you that I hate seeing girls cry?" Hiroshi ran towards her and offered her another handkerchief. She looked at him and grabbed the cloth from his hand.
"You're really stupid, aren't you? You're ruining my wonderful speech for the readers." Beneath the cloth Hiroshi offered her, she was smiling wonderfully.
"Whatever. Let's walk home, Lovey-dovey."
"Lovey-dovey?!"
--End of Flashback--
Sakuno smiled herself to sleep. Her best friend was really happy. Hiroshi seemed to like Tomo-chan too, although the possibilities of a love triangle never seemed to cross her naïve mind. Instead, she was happy for the both of them. Her heart ached when the focus of her thoughts came to Ryoma.
"When will it be for me and you, Ryoma-kun?" she whispered to herself while burying her head in her pillow. She shook her head. "What am I talking about? I sound like Shakespeare's heroines now." The moisture from her eyes went unnoticed. "Besides, I've tried to forget him...already."
She drifted to sleep with a smile and a lone tear on her cheek. Maybe, just maybe... As the days would pass, so would the distance between them vanish.
---
"You happen to come this Saturday?"
Ryoma was quite sure that Sakuno knew what was on Saturday. It was their first battle for tournament this year. Of course, she knew – she had to know. She was his former coach's granddaughter. Wait, that did not come first in his reasoning though. Sakuno had to know because she wanted to know – she supported him, er, the Seigaku team every fight. He always saw her watching either from the bleachers or from the fences as he played. So it was a given fact – she knew everything about his battles, er, the team's battles.
"Eh? Is there something on Saturday, Ryoma-kun?" she naively asked him in turn as she fixed their lunch boxes. He only stared at her like she was the most ignorant person who stepped on earth. Oblivious to any facial expression he was making, Sakuno carefully did the ribbon to tie the lunch boxes and finished. She smiled upon noticing she did a rare arrangement of the ribbons of the cloth she used. Ryoma was careful not to slap his forehead hard. Why did he assume? Times changed. The things on her list of priorities changed. If one of his nightmares could come true, then this might be it -- he might not be included in that list anymore.
"Ryoma-kun?" a tiny, dulcet voice came from his side. Sakuno was worried again. Was Ryoma-kun talking to himself? It looked like he was thinking very hard. Unconsciously, she put her hand on his shoulder.
"Ryoma-kun?"
As if it needed a lot of attention (and it lacked a lot of it, therein), a strong gust came flitting through the pair. It was successful for once, it obtained a shriek from the surprised Sakuno. It failed for once; she placed her hands in her lap just in time to prevent her skirt from being blown up. It was successful for a second time because it let something enter the girl's eye. Ryoma, being the human being he was, was left undamaged. Or partially he was left unscathed because he was facing away from the blow of the wind's direction.
Nasty wind, he thought to himself as he saw Sakuno try hard to remove whatever was the infiltrator in her eyes. She was really trying hard – she was blinking her eyes for multiple times as an initial attempt to drive away that annoying thing off her eye. It was to no avail.
"Are you flirting with me?" he teased, as he curiously watched her. He really did not like showing her sadistic side, but he couldn't help it.
"Mou, Ryoma-kun!" she fidgeted whilst rubbing her eyes as a second attempt to guard her eyes from infection – which is still not a very good way to remove a small thing caught in her eye. Children, please refrain from imitating Sakuno. Do not rub your eyes.
"You see," he watched her suffer from the minute particle on her eye and the blush. He missed those things in her cheeks. "That's not how you do it. It's either you blow that thing away from your eyes or you force tears."
Sakuno was persistent with her little attempt to drive away that thing. She would not let Ryoma see her up-close nor see her with tears again. "No, I can do this, Ryoma-kun!" she voiced and tried to sound energetic. She failed to impress him when there was another thing caught in her ailing eye, and it was pricking her eyes!
"I-it..." she muttered under her breath. Making a heavy sigh as he kneeled before her, Ryoma tilted her face and held her chin.
Heh.
As if he would not let himself be tempted. As if he would not grab this chance. If he was no longer in her list of priorities, he should make her return his name in capital letters to it. He talked to her naturally now after only a few days of lunch dates (that, he would admit now), but the topics only consisted of his tennis, her theater, a few trivial things. Period. Nothing else. And he was uncomfortable when all the people she mentioned in their small talks were either her granny, Osakada, or that damned Hiroshi.
Heh. A devilish grin crept up his face. Sorry, Sakuno.
"Open up your eye. Hurry."
It was a given that she was obedient. And she was naïve – at least in Ryoma's perspective. Well, maybe she was just a little naïve. He saw her cheeks stain a darker shade of pink when he held her cheeks in place.
"Now try not to close them while I try to blow that stray eyelash away."
He gently blew and the little hair stuck on Sakuno's eye moved near to the eyelid. To prevent her eye from instinctive blinking, she held her the skin above and below her right eye. It did another thing to hide how her cheeks turn now to red upon feeling a warm wisp of air from Ryoma.
"There. It's gone." Ryoma smiled and watch Sakuno's lip curve. "Close your eyes for a second."
"Ryoma-kun, tha-"
Ryoma calmly planted his lips on hers.
Or at least that was what he expected himself to do.
He wasn't exactly calm when he closed the distance between them. He was actually trembling. But then, feeling how her lips were so soft and silky when it touched him, he no longer shook. Sakuno's body warmth was another thing that kept him all safe inside. And for the first time in his life, he regretted not doing this single thing earlier. With her like this, beneath him, his lips on her lips, everything was dissolved into perfection. The chilly breeze, the semi-smooth floor of the rooftop, and the cozy and warm feeling – it was enough for him to describe heaven.
She was more then shocked. She almost hyperventilated. She wasn't even able to move. She held her breath for the complete seven seconds of that, of that, of that ki---
Warning for kids, do not imitate Ryoma. Do not kiss the person you like out of the blue if you are not sure of his or her feelings. Even if you really, really like that person, you should not because –
She was not able to keep her arms from pushing him away – as if it was already instinct for her to stay away from Echizen Ryoma and never, ever touch him.
Ryoma was brought back to reality. Although she never mentioned it, these days she was sad when she talked about theater. He might have guessed it that the thing she came to love now was hurting her this early. She wasn't able to become Juliet. This was just a recurring thought of him, but if she liked him before and he now came back to claim her like he owned her and she had nothing to say about this...
That was very selfish of him. He looked away, a pang of guilt in his features.
"I-I'm..." the both of them chorused, causing them to look at each other, and look away. The moment stood still. And it was a very awkward moment.
"This Saturday, we have a tournament to attend." He looked away, a hint of hurt evident in his eyes. "I'll wait for you... with my lunch."
"Un." She nodded automatically. Her ponytail followed her movement when she stood up.
"Are you oka-" he cut himself, racing with his subconscious thought of worrying for her. "Let's go. The bell's ringing."
"Un."
They walked in silence. Unlike the past two days, their short walk from the rooftop was decorated with the music of their talking, no matter how few a syllable each word from their sentences consisted of. The staircase looked like it was not about to end in a few more steps and without an accident involving a dazed Sakuno.
"Uwaah-!"
"Watch out!"
He caught her waist to keep her from falling. Between them, it was an unannounced contest of who would be able to stop breathing longer. The moment froze in icy silence before she took herself away from him violently.
"T-The bell's ringing." She looked down and started walking. Ryoma looked at her small back and eyed something else to keep his mind wandering, perhaps from their kiss, or his stolen kiss. As they walked in the stillness, Sakuno raised her hand to touch her lips.
I never knew that...he can be soft too. Her slim fingers quivered upon contact with her lips.
---
Her practice shoes seemed to shine under the lights of the room. Her long legs walked to the center of the stage. Her shiny black hair flew with the movement of her head as she scanned the presence of the people around her. A certain brown-head caught her eyes and suddenly, the elegant, famous girl aura she had with her dissolved into another persona in the name of "fangirl."
"My Hiroshi-sama..." Funabashi Saika's eyes glittered. "I've waited a long time again for this to happen. You and me as lovers..."
The two girls behind her imitated her when they realized that they were not looking at Hiroshi.
"Ah, Saika-chan," the girl on her right poked her shoulder, "that's not Hiroshi-sama. Your Hiroshi-sama is over there, talking to the coaches."
"But that guy is cute too," the other girl piped from behind. Saika tried to mesmerize the other two girls with her beauty by sweeping her hair and then tossing it. Her plan took effect on the persons around her immediately.
"Of course, I know." She flashed her pearly white teeth. "I just wanted to practice my expression so that when Hiroshi-sama sees me, he'll instantly fall for me and..."
"That's our Saika-chan!" the two girls admired as Saika indulged in her fantasies. The three gals were all holding their reddened cheeks, imagining Hiroshi with them. Tomoka's eyebrow perked up and decided to disengage with her committee's discussion first.
"I admire the courage you have to fantasize about Hiroshi when you are in the center of this room." Her sarcasm ticked a nerve in the main actress' head. "Can you give me any tips to make my face thick enough?"
"Oh, hello there, Osakada Tomoka-chan." Saika's tone was sweet and piercing, making Tomoka wince. The other girls crossed their arms in front of them. "I heard you cheered louder than me when you cheered for your idol during junior high. I thought you can let me know some of your secrets to keep your cheering voice more annoying?"
Tomoka sensed the challenge and smirked. "I can give you better tips, like ways to get closer to Hiroshi in the legal way."
Saika's frown went unnoticed as the two girls behind her giggled. "You two, leave us alone for a moment." she smiled at them as she shooed them.
Tomoka watched the two walk away. All the while after she mentioned the name Hiroshi without any honorifics, she could sense the jealousy of Saika pouring out.
"You seem to be awfully close to my Hiroshi-sama." Saika sounded sweet until the name Hiroshi. Tomoka smiled widely. "Even calling him without honorifics... who do you think are you, anyway?"
"Me?" Tomoka showed Saika her evil grin. "What if I told you I'm your Hiroshi-sama's girlfriend?"
The actress' eyes shot up bloody red, and her fangs showed up. Her blood started boiling, and her hair floated in the air to act up as pseudo-Medusa's snakes. Everyone who watched them fled to safety of the corner of the room.
"Don't you know when someone has started acting?" Tomoka only continued grinning as she put her hands in her hips. "Just kidding, Saika-chan."
The eerie aura from Saika disappeared in a flash. "You're kidding?"
Tomoka nodded and smiled. "Of course, I am. Peace?" She offered her hand for a handshake, and Saika took it without hesitation.
"Peace!"
Their hands clutched each other, enough to leave marks of fingernail on their hands. They stared at each other immensely, never letting the other win even in a staring contest.
"Tomo-chan? Funabashi-san?" They looked at one side and saw Hiroshi's face uncomfortably close to their faces. Beet red crept up their faces before Tomoka and Saika put their one arm on each other's shoulder and pretended to be each other's best friends for life. They chorused in calling out Hiroshi's name, with one adding a honorific to it. They stared at each other for a split second before smiling back to Hiroshi.
"Were you just having an argument a while ago?" He asked and peered at the faces of the girls, albeit frowning a little at the forced smiles of the two.
"Oh, no. Hiroshi-sama, we were just practicing. Er..." Saika looked at Tomoka, asking for support. "She was helping me with my lines, is all!"
"As she said, Hiroshi." Tomoka also smiled while Saika flinched. "You don't have to worry about anything at all."
He smiled, and the two girls melted. "If you say so. Anyway, practice's about to start. Let's go, then."
A momentary look at Tomoka, and he walked away, never minding his habit of teasing her. Tomoka frowned and let go of Saika.
"Now, Ayame-chan. It's your chance to get your Tatsuya." Tomoka taunted, and Saika snorted in response.
"I have something to do before that. Just wait, Tomo-chan." Saika left, and Tomoka shook her head.
---
Sakuno walked like a zombie as she wandered around the club room. Her eyes were empty and she seemed to focus on nothing. Unfortunately for her, she was spotted by Saika. Still, the main actress's mood was unstable, and she was fuming from her argument with Tomoka. Finally, a perfect person to vent your anger to. She sneered as she walked towards Sakuno.
"Ryuzaki-san, practice's starting. Let's go now." She smiled sweetly at the brunette, but Sakuno's eyes were not looking at her smiling face exactly.
"Ah, anou..."
Saika looked away and made a I'll-enjoy-bullying-her face.
"Oh, I'm sorry..." she pouted a little, "I remembered. Chieko has such number of lines even other minor characters would have more than hers." She laughed elegantly making Sakuno look at her straight at the eye.
"I'm sorry, Saika-san. I guess I'm bothering you. Please excuse me." Sakuno bowed a little and wanted to walk away. She was stopped when Saika tapped her shouder.
"No, not at all!" Saika waved her hand. "The truth is, I need your help. Can you help me for a bit with my clothes? I mean, you have next to nothing to do."
Sakuno looked down and with a flushed face said, "Saika-san, I'm also one of the cast. Besides, you're not the director."
The Funabashi girl's jaw dropped a little with Sakuno's answer.
"I mean, I'm sorry for my straightforwardness!" Sakuno shook her head and bowed. Saika's annoyed face lightened up.
"If you're sorry, can you please do this for me?"
---
Everything was a blur. All Sakuno knew was that she had to mop the stage. When asked by her other co-members why she was doing that, she only answered that Saika-san told her to do so. Oddly enough, the coaches did not seem to notice the weird task of the dazed Sakuno. Even the said girl didn't know why she was doing it.
And as she left the stage carrying the mop she heard some props committee people saying, "Careful with that!" It was too late when she turned, and she realized that she left the pail of muddy water in the stage. Saika was talking to other members of the cast. Between Saika's cluster and the people who were setting up the other things in the stage was the lone pail of water. The latter group of people was constantly moving towards Saika and her group.
"Watch out!" she screamed, but the next thing she saw was that there were a lot of people down on the floor.
---
Sakuno couldn't look at Saika when the undamaged club members accompanied her to the clinic.
"I guess this is karma." Saika whispered to Sakuno and frowned. Sakuno could not help but say "I'm sorry" over and over again like a prayer. Kokuten-sensei and Suzuhara-sensei talked to the school nurse and asked her to take care of the persons injured for the mean time.
As the club walked back to their room in silence, Tomoka tried to assure Sakuno that it wasn't her fault by holding her hand. Sakuno smiled bitterly and looked down at her feet.
The club assembled for the remaining time of the club practice and their main agendum involved the replacement of the persons to act out. Suzuhara-sensei held his forehead and then tried to smile. Kokuten-sensei tapped his shoulder and asked him to state their decision.
"As you may have known," Keiichi Suzuhara started out, "this unfortunate accident caused us to make a change of plans. We, your coaches, have decided for the following persons to replace the others in acting the roles."
A momentary buzz and the two coaches nodded at each other.
"It's decided, then."
"Sakuno-chan, please."
The said girl looked at Suzuhara-sensei with sad eyes.
"You'll be our new Katayama Ayame starting tomorrow."