I am so pleased about your words. Please recieve my gratitude:
music4life1791 - thank you very much for the inspiring review. I am pleased that you like the way I made Ryoma here. Well... I am keeping his attitude as much as I can. As well as my absolute kiss. ^_^
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Everytime I read your reviews, I am so happy and so excited that I want to post another chapter as fast as I can. But I can't hold my time to do that. Anyway, I am so blessed to have all of you, Thank you very much. *Made a big bow*
Disclaimer: I do not Own TeniPuri. Just my inspirations, Imaginations and fantasies that's all I have.
Chapter 17: Challenge
Chapter Summary: The Match has taken its toll to the three personas. When everything has finally turned out fine… she made her decision. Is it already too late?
8pm at Ryuzaki Residence:
She was lying on her bed still awake. It was impossible for her to sleep but she tried to anyway. She rolled on her side back and forth but no matter what she did, those scenes between the guys in her life kept bugging her.
Fuji; Ever since their last talk, the tennis tensai didn't approach her if it wasn't tennis related. She realized it as well and she wasn't being fair to him. She looked at the pink teddy bear which was sitting on her study table.
Ryoma; She didn't know if he got her last message yesterday. But everything was all in that simple sentence. And that's it.
"Sakuno, dear."
She wiped her tears that had fallen on her cheeks. She hadn't realized she was crying when her grandmother called her. She sat up on her bed when Sumire entered her room.
"You took everything pretty hard on your heart, didn't you?" Sumire said as she sat on the edge of the bed and touched her cheek. "You're still very young; you're gonna experience lots of it."
"Obaa-chan… " She stared at her grandmother. "W-what should I do? How can I overcome these hateful feelings that I have?"
"You don't need to overcome it Sakuno, face it." Sumire said to her. The senior stared back at her granddaughter. "I am not interfering with your love life despite the age you are in now. I let you do this kind of thing because I know I can trust you."
Sakuno just stared at her, absorbing all of her words into her mind. Sumire then continued;
"I trust that you can make your own decision. You impressed me by managing to keep something from me but I don't want you to do that again. My point is, if you managed to survive that kind of situation, why not this one? Believe in your heart. Mada Mada Da Yo."
Upon hearing that from her, she felt a little relieved. She smiled at her grandmother and hugged her tightly, "Thank you very much, Obaa-chan. I am really lucky to have you as my grandmother."
"Don't give me that crap, young lady. I AM your grandmother from the very beginning."
"That's why I'm very thankful. I really love you. Obaa-chan."
Sumire responded on her hug. "You little rascal, wait tell I get those two for hurting you like this."
"Iie, I can do this. Don't do anything to them. Please."
"Okay, don't let your guard down." Sumire mimicked Tezuka's words in a coach manner.
"Hai!"
They were back to being cheerful when Sakuno's cell phone rang. Sakuno hadn't even said her greetings before the person on the other line spoke;
"SA-CHAN!" The person on the other line shouted. Sakuno flinched from the high volume.
"T-tomoka-chan—w-why are you shouti-"
"Where are you? Have you know the news already?" Tomoka said on the other line.
"W-what news?"
"I heard that Ryoma-sama and Fuji-senpai will be having a serious match tomorrow morning at the school grounds."
"W-what?" she blurted out.
"And it's because of you."
Sakuno was shocked, "B-but why me?"
"They plan on settling everything in the upcoming match once and for all."
"W-why would they do that? I-I don't want them to fight… if-if the reason is me…" she gripped on the apparatus hard.
"Come on Sakuno, you have to see this. Come to the tennis court tomorrow at eight."
"W-wait, T-tomoka-chan-"
"No, I'll come to pick you up tomorrow instead. I'll see you then bye."
Sakuno couldn't utter her words as her best friend dropped the call on her. She sighed big after that.
"What are those two up to?" Sumire retorted.
"Obaa-chan…"
"Come and see the match and clear everything up tomorrow," Sumire ordered her. "You have to settle this Sakuno, once and for all," She tapped her shoulder and said, "You should follow your heart this time."
That made her become absorbed in her thoughts once again. She just told her grandmother that she could do this but she didn't expect it to be so soon… tomorrow to be precise.
Saturday 8am:
The young tennis prodigy was tying his shoelaces on the bench. Any minute now, the match with Fuji wouldbegin. He thought that it would be a great chance to have a practice match with a tennis tensai before flying to America. His mind was fixed on joining the four major grand slams. His coach would train him in America before going to Australia for the first grand had just finished tying his shoelaces when he saw Fuji exit the club room with his racket on his shoulder.
"Let's have the best of three." Fuji said as he entered the court.
Ryoma nodded, and stood. Everyone was there already except for Tomoka and Sakuno. Sumire arrived a bit earlier to lecture the two of them but gave them their permission to have the match.
"It's not about being rivals of one another; I just want to have a serious fight with you, Echizen."
"You're the only one who's not serious when I'm having a match with you." Ryoma replied keeping his stoic face.
Fuji smirked, "Then I'll give you what you wanted."
They decided who served first by tossing a coin. By the anonymous decision, Ryoma was the first to serve. They prepared themselves on both sides of the court. Just when Ryoma was about to make his first serve, Eiji disturbed them with his voice;
"RYUZAKI-CHAN, WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?" the acrobatic player ran towards the two girls and dragged them both to the court fence.
"I thought you weren't gonna come." Momo said.
"That's impossible because I forced her to come with me."
"Well, that's your specialty forcing someone to come with you at all cost." Horio said walking towards them with his hands at the back of his head.
"What did you say?" the two fight once again. Everyone laughed on the scenario while Sakuno just didn't know what to do.
Ryoma and Fuji looked at the pigtailed girl. The girl couldn't look at them. They were aware that she was already aware of why they were here. They resumed their match. The pokpokof a tennis ball was theircue;everyone's focus turned to the court; Sakuno did the same. The tension between them was getting higher.
"This is quite interesting." Inui said as he was writing some information in his notebook.
"What do you mean by that?" Kawamura asked him.
"To think that they doing this for a girl... " Inui said and continued, "You can tell how serious they're."
Sakuno heard that. She looked down as if she didn't hear anything. She heard that Fuji scored first. Later on, it was Ryoma. They won alternatively until they scored 'deuce.' She gripped her hands tightly. The first set was taking so long. She was tenser than anyone else. She couldn't be the reason of their match that why it was taking so long. There must be another reason. There was no way that she was the root of this. Especially to Ryoma, he would never do this kind of thing. She closed her eyes tightly as she attempted to run away.
"DON'T RUN, SAKUNO!" Sumire shouted. Everyone was shocked at the soundSumire's voice. They looked at her curiously. The coach was watching her granddaughter for a while and noticed the turn of her foot.
She didn't continue running as she was facing their backs already. The coach continued talking;
"It's their match that you have to see. Watch them play until the very end."
Sakuno didn't say anything. Everyone looked at her except the two opponents at the court who were panting slightly. She gripped her hands tight as she looked around to see them again. She stared at them for a long time. They kept exchanging shots. She saw in their eyes how serious they were while having the match. Her passion of seeing a match trances her. She returned to her post and continued watching something she hadn't done earlier. Sumire smiled at her actions and shifted her focus back to the boys who were still playing hard.
Ryoma was gripping his racket firmly. It was Fuji's turn to serve. Once again, the exchanging shots lasted for a couple of minutes before Fuji finally scored. The tennis tensai smirked while the young prodigy was caught his breath.
"What? Is that all you've got?" Fuji dared him.
"You haven't seen everything yet."
They continued the match and it lasted for another five minutes before the set was finished.
"6 games to 4, Game set and Match! Syuusuke Fuji!" Tezuka announced the winner of the first set.
The people outside the fence who were watching them felt the tension rise inside the court. They saw how the players both looking worn out were panting and catching their breaths. Not to mention that it was only the first set.
"Fuji won the first set." Inui said as he began scribbling the information in his notebook.
"What's the percentage, Inui?" Eiji asked the data analysis.
He fixed his glasses as he replied to Eiji's question, "I'll consider that classified information."
"Aaa, no fair." Eiji said acting childish as usual.
Everyone looked at the two regulars in the court. They were about to start the next set.
Fuji served first as he won the first set. But this time Ryoma scored first.
"15-love" Tezuka announced.
Fuji smirked as he composed himself. Ryoma next serve lasted for more than three minutes before Fuji scored.
"15-all."
The second set was a tough fight. It was longer than the first set. They were both sweating a lot for the game had already gone over an hour already. The score was alternatively implemented.
"30-15"
"30-all"
"30-40"
"Deuce!"
"This match is awfully serious," Momo said. "It's not like we haven'thad a serious match before but it was different."
"To think that they're doing this over Ryuzaki-chan" Kawamura said.
"Senpai, lower your voice." Momo and Kaidoh said at the same time. They were shocked at first for speaking at the same time once again but they ignored the consequences when they looked at the blushing girl. No doubt about it, she heard them.
Ryoma dribbled the ball and tossed it upward as he hit it afterwards. Fuji returned the ball to him. The get up was once again left untouched until Ryoma scored after a minute. The boy was panting already.
"Ad in!" Tezuka announced.
Ryoma needed one point to win the set. He gripped the ball hard as he focused straight ahead. His senpai had won the first set so he couldn't lose this one. He served once again. Fuji was panting as well. He didn't know but it seems that he found a hole where he could get this point done. He scored this time.
"6 Games to 4, Game set and Match! Ryoma Echizen!" Tezuka announced.
Ryoma composed himself. It was actually his turn to smirk this time.
"This is getting interesting., its finally heating up." Sumire said as she observed the match. She looked over at the tennis captain and nodded.
Tezuka understood raising his hand "Break time for 30 minutes!"
Ryoma walked to the bench and sat down. He reached for his ponta and the towel that he prepared before the game began.
"You're slowly improving." Fuji approached him.
Ryoma didn't say anything as he drank his favorite drink.
"I can understand your rude attitude. Were all used to seeing you like that." Fuji said.
"What are trying to tell me if you already know I'm like this?" he finally replied to him.
"My point is that you can't stay grumpy like that forever," Fuji said as he started to walk away from him. "Stop suppressing your feelings. It won't help you."
His eyes dilated when he heard that. It was the second time hearing this from someone else, two different people perhaps. He stoodup as he attempted to talk to him but the regulars approached him excluding the girls and Kaidoh.
"Ochibi! Nice move you got there." Eiji said as he locked him in his arms.
"S-senpai, let go." Ryoma complained.
"Echizen, I just want to remind you," Oishi said as Eiji released him. "This may be a serious match, but I want you to knowthat it's just a game. You fight Syuusuke because you have something to improve."
Ryoma didn't expect that. He stared at his senpai as if asking for more clarification which the mother hen did.
"Tennis is for fun, we play seriously all right but we enjoy it all the same. So do not forget that you're enjoying playing the game. Think of the goal that you have to achieve and face it. If the match is over, whether you win or not, you can look at Syuusuke without hesitation," Oishi said as he looked at the other side of the court,"Of Course, the same goes to the person over there." He raised his voice just for Fuji to hear that.
Fuji heard Inui's words and ended up scratching his head.
"Yeah, we're all comrades here." Eiji said.
"Brothers fight but they make up, right?" Momo said as he tugged his Kouhai.
Ryoma looked at the people around him. He thought about it… hard. They were right after all. He was irritated at him sometimes but that doesn't mean that they weren't comrades as Eiji had said. He smiled as he lowered his hat after hearing that.
The members of the club looked at him curiously. They were about to asked him when Tezuka announced that the break was over. They left the court as he walked inside the playing area and whispered some words;
"Thank you… guys."
They faced each other once again. They stared but this time it was different. Their aura had gone back to normal, like the one they used to have when they were having a friendly match. Ryoma initiated a conversation this time;
"Let's play… fair and square."
Fuji smirked and replied. "Aa," He held up his one hand to him. "The match isn't over yet but let's do our best."
Ryoma accepted his hand without hesitation and stared at him with his eyes all fired up.
Sakuno on the other hand had felt relieved that they finally made up. At least some of her worries subsided. But that didn't mean that her nervousness would just disappear like that. She was still worried about the outcome of the game.
The final set began.
Now that they were rested and, all fired up, this game was expected to be the served first on the final set. He performed a twist serve on him but Fuji returned it with one of his triple counters. But just like the previous two sets, it took them too long until someone scored; Ryoma. Each interval serving was definitely long and the crown waited for someone to score. One scored and the other scored next. And then they tied.
"This match is going nowhere." Momo commented.
"Neither of them are leaving openings for the other to score. They're pretty serious, all right." Oishi said.
Inui stayed silent but he smirked. In fact, he had already predicted who would win the match. Though, he still kept it to himself.
To everyone's shock, Eiji approached Sakuno and held both of her hands. Even Fuji and Ryoma reacted quickly turning to face the two.
"Ryuzaki-chan! You're the only one who can stop them. No-I mean, you can make them finish this match." Eiji said.
Sakuno blushed a lot. "E-eh! W-what do you mean?"
"Make up your mind. Who are you going to pick? Follow your heart. Don't run away anymore and face it."
Sakuno's eyes became wide. She thought of something when she heard that.
"Stop that, Eiji!" Fuji shouted just right for them to hear.
Everyone looked at the two. Sakuno was surprised to see them looking at her. She blushed even more.
"She has the freedom to choose. She's strong enough to face everything. She's not A RYUZAKI for nothing, remember that." Fuji declared.
Sakuno was shocked. She realized something after Fuji had said that. Everyone left her behind as they continued the match. Sakuno was still absorbing the words that Eiji had told her. It slowly cleared something which was blurred before. But everything was ALL clear now. She looked down as she smiled… genuinely. No one saw that except for Tomoka. As her best friend, she understood.
"Deuce!"
The score was tied again. It's already been forty-five minutes since the last set began. They were getting fired up and it seemed that the match hadn't ended for quite a while… at least not yet. The tense grew bigger when Fuji scored 'ad out' before tying for a deuce once again.
Fuji was exhausted but he wasn't he wasn't any different than Ryoma. The young kouhai served the ball as he returned it. He stole a glance at Sakuno as he thought of something;
I entered your life because you let me. You're so sweet and kind that anyone would fall for you. I just couldn't understand why this person in front of me hadn't noticed you until now. But if you let me, I will fill that emptiness in your heart like you asked me before. And if you finally learn to like me… even just a little, I will never let you go. Call me selfish but I want you to feel how much I love you. That someone is loving you. Just let me win this match-
His thought had distracted him enough to miss Ryoma's shot; an odd thing to miss a shot like that. He looked at the ball outside the line as he realized something. He closed his eyes after that.
"Advantage Echizen." Tezuka announced.
Ryoma was catching his breath. It had been a shock for him that his senpai missed that shot. Is he thinking of something?... or someone? That surprised him. He knew that he was thinking of her. He started to dribble the ball once again. He was aware that she was looking at him so he didn't look at her for he knew that if he did that,she would just look away. He tossed the ball up in the air as he started to think;
You've always annoyed me. But I couldn't get angry with you entirely. You pissed me off when you tried to do something but still I wanted to help you. I can't even leave you when you're in trouble. And then you started to invade my mind. Your presence affected me and I couldn't concentrate on my training these past few weeks. When I kissed you, something changed inside me. I don't know what it was… then again maybe I didn't want to accept the fact that I did know…
He had finally realized it. His eyes widened but his concentration didn't leave him. Fuji saw that reaction. He knew that he had realized something important. The tensai returned the shot he made. He gripped his racket with both of his hands. He lowered his head as he smirked;
"There is only a way to find out," he whispered. He gave his best shot in that one. "TO WIN THIS MATCH IS MY GOAL."
Everyone was shocked on his shouted words, even Fuji. He thought that he returned his shot but he was wrong. The ball was spinning on his side, making a friction with the ground before it stopped spinning.
Silence covered the area. Tezuka broke it.
"Game set and Match! Ryoma Echizen!"
Ryoma caught his breath. He stared at the shocked tensai. Everyone had a delayed reaction.
"YATTA!" Eiji jumped as he ran to the court. "Finally the game was over."
"Congratulations, you two." Sumire praised them. The regulars went to court as well.
"Well, there you have it. I lost. You should be honest to yourself now." Fuji said to him as he walked towards him.
Ryoma realized that just now. He had to be honest… to himself… to his feelings. He felt himself trying to find just what it was he was feeling right now. He should know. It's been there all along. All he had to do was to voice it all out. He pinned his hat above his eye level as he faced the girl. The girl flinched when they're eyes met.
The young lad stared at her for a while before he said something to her, "Don't take this the wrong way but I really find you annoying and I hate that. You're clumsy and a girl with absolutely no sense of direction."
Sakuno was shocked. She knew it… she knew something like this would happen. But still she realized something that no matter what she does, it'll never change.
"I don't want you to be honest, I-"
"Stop!" Sakuno interrupted his words. Everyone looked at her. She was looking on the ground so either of them couldn't read her emotions. To everyone's surprise, she ran to Fuji as she held his one arm and said;
"You don't have to say it… I understand," Sakuno said as she took the courage to look at him. "I am a Ryuzaki after all."
Ryoma's eyes dilated. He himself didn't expect that. The girl stared at him for a while before she said something
"Syuusuke-kun… can I talk to you." Sakuno then looked at Fuji.
Fuji was shocked as well. But he composed himself as he agreed to the girl's request. He was aware that there would be and weremisunderstandings about this conversation. Whatever it was, he would figure it all out.
Everyone was stiff when Syuusuke and Sakuno left the court and went somewhere else. They looked at the young tennis prodigy who was looking towards the ground. He couldn't quite make out his ownface at that time. The atmosphere around him made it seem like if someone dared to speak, he would attack them. They just stood silently and watched the young tennis prodigy as he walked away to exit the court.
Sumire remained silent as she was thinking over what had happened. The boys created a slight ruckus.
"What was that all about?" Eiji wondered, "Does that mean that Ryuzaki-chan…picked Syuusuke over Ochibi?"
"Hey! Don't jump to conclusions, were not certain of that yet." Kawamura objected.
"But that's what this situation tells us, how can we think of any other outcome else t that?" Momo defended his senpai.
Inui interrupted the conversation, "Whatever the outcome of this situation, let's just hope that everything will turn out fine in the end."
Everyone looked at Inui silently before nodding as a sign of agreement.
xxx
He was walking in the corridor, opposite to the other two. He was absorbing everything that happened. Didn't he win the match? Why does he feel that he… lost? Worst was that she hadn't let her finish his sentence and she just assumed that she understood him. What was that all about? In fact, she chose to talk to the tennis tensai instead of him. He gritted his teeth as he stopped walking. He gripped his racket hard holding it in his right hand. Still looking on the ground, he realized something he hadn't thought about before…
"Am I too late?"
Done! Another match was done once again. I'm sorry if I made a mistake about the match. I just wrote on how I understand it. But anyway, I hope you like it.
I have to tell you that Triangle Hearts is coming to an end. There will be three more chapters of the story. I hoped that you like this story as I did. And good news for my Absolute Kiss readers out there, after I finish this story I will make a sequel of Absolute Kiss.
Absolute Kiss sequel will be posted alternatively by another new story that I am going to make. So that means I am making two stories at the same time. So please stay tuned.
Thank you minna-san… and reviews please. A single or double words will be appreciated by me. ^_^
Next Chapter: Decision