Maybe you own the obvious

Ryoma was sleeping on her bed.

The room was conspicuously silent, the only sound audible being Sakuno's breathing. In and out. In. Out. She involuntarily took a step back, only to collide with the door that was not fully shut. Worried at once that the sound of her clumsiness would wake him, she frantically turned only to find him still sleeping.

What is he doing here?

Couldn't he tell that this was obviously her room? Granted, it was bare due to her freakish stand on cleanliness but little items that were obviously hers were thrown all around. Her pink lampshade, self-made. A picture of her grandmother and her on the bookcase. The stuffed cat on her bed. Wait a minute, she thought. Where was her stuffed cat? Did Ryoma throw it away or something?

Anger propelled her nearer to the bed. She was about to roughly shake the inconsiderate ass awake when he mumbled something in his sleep. She froze, her hands in their halfway motion. When Ryoma merely quieted down and shifted slightly, she gave a relieved sigh.

Quietly, Sakuno gazed at the person she admittedly wanted to see most during the past few years. Her heart clenched, noticing the changes on his person. No doubt about it, Ryoma had grown into a very handsome young man. His hair looked soft and was dark as ink. A stray lock was brushing across his forehead; her fingers itched to push it back. She noticed how long his lashes were, curling slightly at the edges. His cheekbones were prominent now though, and he appeared to be gaunter than when she last saw him.

She also found out something new about Ryoma that night. Similarly with his father, he too snored. Unlike Nanjiroh however, Ryoma's was softer, and sort of breathy. She found herself smiling like a fool, thinking how adorable it was. This was a precious secret that she would never share with anyone.

Finally giving in, she reached out her hand and ever so gently, pushed Ryoma's hair back, slightly caressing it at the same time. It really was as soft as it looked.

"Welcome back, Ryoma-kun…" she whispered.

Sakuno got up from where she was kneeling on the floor, and padded as quietly she could out the door. Never noticing a pair of golden eyes shining brightly at her when her back was turned.

…………………………………………………….

When Ryoma woke, he felt a sudden pang of loneliness. He missed his cat horribly; her presence was a much needed balm in the morning. Instead, he sighed and burrowed himself deeper into the covers. When the alarm that was set on his phone began to buzz, he hazily grabbed at it and shoved it under the mattress.

He knew he was delaying the inevitable. He was living with the coach; of course he would come across Ryuzaki regularly in his stay. It was also very likely that he would be attending the same school as her. So chances were, they were going to be seeing a lot of each other.

He was not particularly bothered by this. To be bothered was to admit that he had feelings for Ryuzaki. And if there was ever something that Ryoma was sure of (other than Tennis) was that he felt nothing for her.

Which did not explain why he grew hot thinking about her hands gently sliding through his hair…

……………………………………………………..

Sakuno was in a state of conundrum. Did she scramble them? Should she flip it into an omelet? What if Ryoma didn't even like eggs?

This was turning into a disaster. She really was a useless ditz if she couldn't even fry eggs for Ryoma. And for her grandmother of course. This flustering was not for Ryoma, she was just preparing breakfast as was traditional on Sunday mornings.

When the eggs were slightly browned, she flipped it and neatly slidded it onto a warm plate. Pleased with the presentation, she turned to place it on the table. Only to come across Ryoma standing still by the kitchen door.

His parched throat had finally forced him to come out his room. He had planned to grab a can of ponta from the fridge and hole himself in his room. The sight of Ryuzaki cooking at the stove was something he did not expect though. Her back was facing him and though they were a few feet apart he could hear her muttering to herself while her customary braids swung around her hips as she moved. He was about to escape from a potentially awkward situation when she had abruptly turned.

The thousand thoughts running through Sakuno's mind halted to a comical stop. Hormones that had remained dormant since the start of puberty were suddenly creating a paroxysm of historic proportions inside of her. Apparently, the sight of a tousled, sleepy induced tennis prodigy was what it took to push them over.

"Ah…eggs…Echizen-san…?" Idiot formerly known as Ryuzaki Sakuno mumbled while holding out the plate of eggs expectantly.

Ryoma quirked an eyebrow. Some things never changed. Ryuzaki was still a ditz. He had nothing to vex himself about.

"Thank you. But … I'm not hungry,"

"Oh..of course! You must be tired! Yes, yes..Ahah.." Sakuno awkwardly tied to dissipate the tension. Inwardly she was screaming obscenities at herself for being such a fool.

While Sakuno remained rooted to the spot, Ryoma moved towards the fridge and plucked out a bottle of milk. "Going to my room now, ja."

Sakuno merely nodded at him and smiled hesitantly. When Ryoma left, she sat at the table and started to eat her recently cooked plate of eggs. She stubbornly refused to acknowledge the tears meandering down her cheeks and into her eggs. A little salt never did anyone wrong.

…………………………………….

His face was strangely hot again. He rubbed at it to dispel the warmth. When he had heard Sakuno crying at the table, he had felt the most compelling urge to rush in and…and….

And what? Wipe her tears?

He shook his head, as if to clear his thoughts. Gulping at his milk, he was once again back in his room. Bending at the knees, he moved two large boxes containing his apparel nearer to where he was at the bed. Absent mindedly, he took stock of everything. One of the boxes contained his clothes and several knick knacks like his console games. The other contained his tennis items. Broodingly, he shoved the box away. That would likely never be opened again. His mother had probably packed them.

Sighing, he picked out several folded clothes and moved towards the drawers. He was stunned into stupidity at the sight that greeted him. Rows and rows of…feminine items were staring at him. Laid out neatly. In colour. Like an army. Was that one actually dotted with tennis rackets?

He was about to shove the drawer close and possibly run towards the hills when of course Ryuzaki knocked on the door and peeped in. She was about to say something when she noticed that her drawers was open. And that a stoic looking Ryoma was standing right in front of her open drawer, his hands hovering over her underwear.

If there truly was a kami-sama, she would like to die now.

So..i updated. To my dear reviewers, as small as you are, I write for you and you alone.

Will need a beta reader in future. Story is getting longer than i expected. And yes, I plan to introduce the other Seigaku members but for now, want to center it on RyoSaku