Bribe me
By Jerui
Author's note: aah. I got three reviews only. so sad.
But I think I get to update later on June you have time to review now. lol. I am currently working since it is summer vacation. Sorry guys.
To anon, my anonymous (since you don't have an FFN account) reader, thank you, that was motivating. I guess this chapter is for you. Sorry it was short though.
Jaz-147, thank you, though I must ask you not to rush me on updating, ideas does not come so easily.
Imnobeautyqueen, thank you also. Was it that predictable? Anji will be appearing in later chapters though.
Hope to see your reviews on the next chapters! I decided to reply here instead.
I'll make it up with a longer chapter next time. Forgive me.
Chapter 4 Conspiracy
It wasn't a confession. No. That was what I kept telling to my self.
I said it, hoping that I sounded nonchalant and a bit indifferent. Still, I can't believe it came out from my mouth. And girls wouldn't misinterpret that right? Especially this girl? Hell, I'm tired of waiting for her to confess. I'm making her life easier. Or so I think.
It was lunch time, and I was with Sakuno Ryuuzaki, on the rooftop, eating the bento she made drinking the ponta I bought. As expected, the meal has my favorites again.
Like as it was in the past two weeks, she was slightly fidgeting today, her hands shaking a little, her face blushing, even her ears. She was eating silently, staring at her food.
And then I said my death wish, telling myself I was just repaying her for researching on my favorites.
"Hey, go out with me."
She looked at me, wearing a mask of disbelief, her eyes wide open.
"Ppft! Ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
And I thought she'd die laughing, placing her lunch beside her, clutching her stomach and laughing hard.
What the hell? She even has tears brimming from her eyes because of her laughing.
"Ryoma…Ha ha ha…Echizen! Ha Ha ha ha!"
"Oy! Why the hell are you laughing like that?" I shouted, overshadowing this rude woman's laughter. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha. What the heck? Ha ha ha ha, I never knew their plans would work this well! Ha ha ha ha ha," she interjected between her laughing. "That was fast!"
"What plans?" There was a sharp pang of pain on my chest.
After sensing my hostile mood, she said "Okay.. Ha ha ha ha… I'm, hah, calming down."
I'm seriously gonna kill this woman.
"Sorry, Echizen.I had to do this." She pulled out what seems like a sound recorder from her pocket.
I glared at her, all admiration that I felt during the past two weeks evaporating. Raising one eyebrow, I looked at her, demanding for more explanation before I snap.
She raised both her hands, her palms facing me, as if in a surrender. "This is a bugging device. Sorry, my upper classmen made me do this. I never knew it would work the other way though."
The day of the tournament: (Ryuuzaki Sakuno's memory)
"Yes, he is related to Nanjirou. In America, he was called the Prince of tennis," grandmother answered our query.
"Prince of Tennis?" We all animatedly asked, except for Fuji, Tezuka and Kaidoh-senpai but all was looking at her.
"He was called that because he won 4 consecutive junior tournaments when he was 12. He also participated on the US Open when he was still at America last year and showed impressive skills. The family decided to come back to the country this year. Ryoma said that he wanted to finish school first but he didn't give up tennis while schooling either so he's participating in amateur tournaments," grandma explained. "I did talk to him into joining our club though but I got an immediate no."
The umpire announced the scores. "Game to Echizen: 4 games to love. Change courts!" I stared at Echizen. His breathing was stable. And he wasn't even sweating.
And then I heard Inui-senpai's pen scratching the surface of his notebook, writing who knows what. But I think it is data.
"Game and match! Echizen: six games to love!" the umpire proclaimed. The spectators and photographers approached him. The organizers motioned him to get up the small platform and handed him a gold trophy and congratulated him.
"Echizen's champion nya~! Ryuuzaki-sensei! Convince him to join the club!"
"I told you I did that already. He won't budge. Maybe you guys should be the one to convince him. Wait, I'll check the bus." And then she left.
My attention was on Echizen-san when I heard someone calling me.
"Sakuno-san."
It was Sadaharu Inui with Kikumaru-senpai and Momoshiro-senpai.
"Yes?"
"Can you help us with sometihing?"
And then I saw that glint that I ever get to see only when he hands out his weird concoction.
To be continued.