A/N: Thank you all so much for supporting this fic. I honestly didn't think it would get so many wonderful reviews. Please continue to support me. This is a new chapter. Hoping to win your hearts once more. Please r&r.
Chapter-12
Fuji and Tezuka sat at a bench after a run in the park. Fuji had been awfully quiet ever since all this started. But he became more depressed ever since the Rikkai Dai boys came to visit.
He cannot console his friend by telling him it wasn't his fault when it clearly is. He felt helpless as a friend and even worse as a captain for he could see his tensai straying away from his priorities. He only hoped he would come back to his full strength during the regionals.
Fuji looked like a mess. He felt like crap. He could not believe he put Asuna through so much with his ignorance. He didn't once stop to consider how his actions may affect her. What was worse was that she never even told him any of this on her own. Had her hair not come up in their conversation, she wouldn't even have told him.
What should he do? How should he face her? Not that she refused to see him again. But he wanted to clear the air between them. And what about Rikkai? Especially Renji? How serious is he about Asuna? Does she like him back?
His racing thoughts stopped when he felt Tezuka shift beside him.
"What are you going to do?" Tezuka asked, turning to him.
"I don't know, okay? I didn't think this could turn out to be so… complicated. I never thought I'd want her back so badly." Fuji groaned into his hands.
"You can start with apologizing. If not anything else then at least you'll get closure. So will she." Tezuka felt bad suggesting this, but he didn't feel like giving Fuji false hope.
"I don't want closure. I want her back. I never thought I would, but I really want her back. And Renji being in the picture just drives me mad."
"Fuji please," Tezuka sighed. "Take some time off and give her space as well. Let her decide who she wants to be with. I don't mean to sound unsupportive of you, but after what has happened, I think she should get to decide what she wants."
Fuji stared at him for a long time.
"Tezuka,"
"Hm?" Tezuka turned to him expectantly.
"I think that's the longest you've ever talked."
Tezuka felt like making Fuji run laps, but sighed.
Well, at least this is better than watching him sulk around.
DDDDDDDDDD
Asuna woke up feeling rather fresh and cheerful. She looked out the window to be welcomed by the view of a lovely sunny day. Right then though, last night's events flashed in front of her and she fell back on her bed, blushing and sighing.
Was it real? Did all of that really happen? She felt so safe when Renji hugged her. He was so gentle too. She squeaked and hid under her blanket, embarrassed to have thought about her senpai like that when she didn't even know what he felt for her? Was it because he thought she was a dear friend and kouhai? Did he see her as a little sister? Or was it something else? And what did she feel for him?
All these questions made her head hurt. She shook herself out of her thoughts and began to get ready for school. Maybe I'll make a bento for Yanagi senpai. The thought made her blush but she wanted to thank him too.
She quickly got ready and made bentos for herself and Renji. Satisfied with her work, she ate a small breakfast and headed to school.
It's going to be a beautiful day, I just know it.
DDDDDDDDD
Renji put his head down on his desk and groaned. This was not a good day.
He had forgotten to change the alarm time since there was no morning practice today and had ended up waking too early. Then, he got tangled in his blanket and fell from his bed, stubbed his toe and burnt his lunch, before making his way to school. He even found it hard to concentrate in class and missed a few things during lecture.
He groaned again as his stomach rumbled. Just great, he thought. He had to wage war with his household to get to school, missed points during lecture and was now sulking during lunch without any food. Maybe this is what poverty feels like. Is individual or private poverty a thing? Maybe it applies for me? Before his thoughts on poverty could wander too far though, the smell of nice food teased his nostrils.
He looked up a little annoyed but blinked when he saw someone holding a nicely packed bento in front of him. He turned to the side to see none other than Asuna holding out the bento for him. His stomach rumbled loudly and he blushed.
"I thought you might want some" Asuna smiled shyly and pulled another chair to his desk. They began to eat quietly, Renji gobbling the lunch given to him.
As the nutrition reached his stomach, his brain began to compose thoughts other than poverty. His eyes wandered to the girl sitting on his right, taking small bites of her rice balls while turning pages of his Japanese lit text book. Suddenly feeling his stare on her, she snapped the book shut and went back to eating quietly.
A small smile came on Renji's face as he covered it with the onigiri Asuna had so lovingly made for him. Lovingly? The thought made him wonder about last night. He turned his head only to see Asuna already staring at him.
"Something you want to talk about?" he asked casually, closing his bento box.
Asuna fidgeted in her seat and bit her lip in concentration, she wasn't quite sure where to start from.
"Last night…" she started carefully, keeping her gaze fixed on the table.
"I meant everything I said" Asuna's eyes turned to Renji and found him already staring at her. Not his usual closed-eyed way, but actually looking at her.
And for the first time, Asuna felt like he could peer into her very core if he wanted to, with his beautiful brown eyes.
The thought made her blush furiously.
"Uhh, I have to umm…" she mumbled gibberish as she hastily picked up both bento boxes and got up to leave.
Renji grabbed her wrist to stop her and Asuna felt like her heart would collapse. From the corner of her eyes, she could see everyone watching them and she began to panic.
"Walk home with me today." Renji's deep voice pulled her out of her panicked state. It took her a while to comprehend what he was saying, with her heart racing and all, but then she blushed and nodded.
Renji watched her leave, a smile tugging at his lips. He was looking forward to spending more time with Asuna. Not even the looming existence of a certain tensai could ruin his mood.
