"Sugoi!" Sakuno exclaimed as she left the airport. Indeed, New York is amazing. With the magnificent buildings and the tallest towers and skyscrapers... and of course, the looming Empire State Building looked beautiful. She was excited but at the same time, scared. Knowing how navigationally-challenged she is, she knows that she can easily be lost at the big city. She sighed at the thought.
"Sakuno-chan!" Ada Thompson called her as she jumped out of a black limousine. She ran to Sakuno and gave her a bear hug. She awkwardly hugged her back. In a few moments, they boarded the car.
"I wonder how good her friendship with my family is," Sakuno thought as she looked at the woman beside her, "I haven't seen her before, but why is she so willing to sponsor my studies at Thompson University?"
"What's the matter, Sakuno-chan?" the woman asked, eyes looking a bit worried, "Did you have any problems with your flight?"
Ryuzaki shook her head. Then, she asked, trying her best not to sound offending.
"Ano, thank you for everything... But I wonder why are you so kind to me to this extent? I-I mean, Thompson University isn't a cheap school, so I'm sure that the expenses are ridiculuously high... I just hope that I am not giving you a burden."
"Oh." Ada chuckled, "No worries. My husband owns the Thompson University, so it's totally okay—"
"Eh???" Ryuzaki exclaimed, baffled at the woman's truth bomb, "How is anyone that rich our family friend?" Her head felt dizzy, trying to make sense.
"Plus, this is the least I can do for Sakura's daughter, you know?"
All of a sudden, Ada Thompson's voice sounded melancholic. Sakuno turned curious as to what was her mother, Ryuzaki Sakura, had in connection with the Thompson. Aside from her grandmother's accounts, she doesn't know much about her mother-- even her father who died shortly after.
"Do you know my mother, Thompson-san?" she asked.
"Of course, I know your mother," Ada laughed, though it sounded more sad than it should have.
"You don't have to call me with japanese honorifics." she added, then spoke in english, "Aunt Ada is fine."
"Aunt Ada." Ryuzaki repeated, reminding herself that from now on, she should speak english as often.
"Yes?"
"Can you tell me more about my mother?"
"Hm? What do you want to know?" Ada asked.
"I'm not picky," the girl explained, "As long as it's about my mother."
"Okay... How about my relationship with Sakura?"
Sakuno eagerly nodded, eyes watching her.
"Your mother... Ryuzaki Sakura was my bestfriend. We've been friends since childhood. We attended Seigaku together along with your father," she started, "Sakura was a gentle and shy person. It was one of the reasons why I, along with your father, acted as her protectors. The three of us have been tight-knit until college, even after I migrated to US and your father and mother married."
For a while, Ada Thompson's expression was soft, telling the story as if she's reliving the past. Then, suddenly, it hardened.
"Your mother's tragic accident actually happened when I was going back to Japan. It was around two years after your birth, and she was really eager for me to meet you. She proposed to pick me up at the airport that day... But then, the car accident happened."
At that point, tears started to gather in Ada's eyes, "Back then, I thought that if I didn't choose to go back to Japan that day, then the accident wouldn't have happened. And that she may have been alive today..." her voice finally cracked, "I'm sorry, Sakuno-chan."
Sakuno instinctively hugged the woman. It was unfortunate that her mother died, but she was sure that her mother wouldn't want her friend to blame herself. Her grandmother was initially the person who told her about her mother's accident. But on that account, even her grandmother didn't blame Ada at all.
"No one's blaming you, Aunt Ada." Sakuno replied. Her eyes started to sting with tears too.
"Gomen ne, Sakuno-chan... I promised your mother to take care of you, so here I am, even if late..." Ada tried to smile, "It's the least I can do for her and you."
"Don't cry, Aunt Ada," the girl tried to comfort her, "I'm sure Mom is happily watching over us."
She and her Aunt Ada talked about many things on their way to Sakuno's new home. The girl discovered how her Aunt met her husband who was the owner of Thompson University that she has longed to attend. Sakuno also told her about her life in Japan, and how she will really miss her friends, especially her grandmother.
"Here we are, Sakuno." The car halted. She opened the car door and saw a small, two-storey house.
"I--I think it's a little big for me, after all, I'll be living alone." Sakuno stammered.
"Who says you'll be alone?" Her Aunt Ada giggled, "See those other houses? Those are properties of the school. The small houses serve as the dormitories and every house have at least two students living in them."
"Who are the people I'll be living with?" Sakuno asked, wondering. She hoped at least that they would get along well.
"I heard that he or she's a japanese, so I think you'll be comfortable with that person. Honestly, this dorm thingy is not arranged by the school through tests or anything but by the time the person inquired for the dorms... So, I have no idea what kind of person you'll be living with." Ada told her apologetically. "Anyways, you can go inside and see the house for yourself."
Ada was about to accompany her inside the house for a brief tour, but the woman suddenly had a business call that she had to attend to. Sakuno, alone, went inside the house that will be her new home.
Sakuno found the place really comfortable. There are around four separate bedrooms, each with bathrooms and complete of studying materials such as books. Each of the bedroom contains a computer. The kitchen was amazing and equipped with cooking appliances. The living room also boasted a huge LCD TV and entertainment system. Sakuno just sweat-dropped at how extravagant these so-called dorms of the school are. "So this is really a school for the rich." she thought as she placed her things on one of the empty bedrooms upstairs.
Obaa-chan,
I'm already on the house I'll be staying. No need to worry.
-Sakuno
She immediately sent an e-mail to her grandmother. Sakuno also sent a similar e-mail to Tomoka, before finally dropping herself on the soft bed. It was already around 7 pm. She honestly wondered about the kind of people she would live with.
"I hope I get along with my housemate."
Sakuno sighed, now feeling jittery. She then, decided to cook for dinner in an attempt to ease her nervousness.
She was descending the stairs, when she suddenly heard an audible clang from the kitchen. She was sure that she locked the front door when she arrived.
"Who could that be?"
Fear crept up to her. In a new country, this was the worst case scenario if it turned out to be trouble. To be safe, she grabbed on a vase situated by the nearby table.
"Kami-sama, could that be a thief?!" she prayed as she stealthily sneaked out of her bedroom to the origin of the noise: the kitchen.
Sakuno slowly opened the door to the kitchen, just enough for her to see the supposed 'thief'. The thief opened the refrigerator and opened a can of the chilled soda drink she's ever familiar with.
"Ponta?" Sakuno thought that it was weird for the thief to drink soda while thieving a house, but that didn't stop her from trembling.
The location of the refrigerator is opposite to the door, it was the reason why all Sakuno could see on the thief is his back. He had a white cap on and was wearing a collared red jersey with black shorts. She was already ready to hit the thief with the vase. Silently, she approached the guy... vase in her hand, ready.
Then said thief suddenly faced her direction.
"R-Ryuzaki?" the guy uttered, amber cat-eyes wide in disbelief.
"R-Ryoma-kun?" it was all that Sakuno managed to say. Her heart continued to race, but now, for a different reason.
Indeed, it's the Prince of Tennis who was standing before her. His green locks and the same amber eyes are unmistakably Echizen Ryoma's. Long silence enveloped the kitchen. Both were too surprised at the sudden turn of events.
"Why is she here?" Ryoma had no idea. All he knew was the fact that he was required to share the boarding house he occupied alone to a new japanese student starting the semester.
"R-Ryoma-kun..." Sakuno murmured.
Knowing how out of character that he, Echizen Ryoma was seen shocked, Ryoma immediately responded casually.
"Hn?"
"W-why are you here?" she still managed to stammer.
Ryoma, finding her stuttering nostalgic, smirked as he asked, "Why are you here?"
"Mou, R-Ryoma-kun... I'm the one w-who asked first. Therefore, you should answer me first."
"I'm living here." Ryoma calmly answered as he took another sip of Ponta.
"E-Eh???!!! T-Then, R-Ryoma-kun, y-you're the one I'll be living with?!" Sakuno exclaimed, finally realizing her predicament.
"Heh, you're going to study here?" Ryoma asked genuinely. He already had the idea, the moment he saw her, but still, it was a surprise to see her actually studying there.
"H-Hai," she didn't know what to say, "S-see you t-tomorrow, R-Ryoma-kun, I-I just realized t-that I s-still have lots more c-cleaning to do...J-Jaa." Sakuno, red all over her face and neck, lied as she immediately turned back to her room frantically.
Her heart is loudly pounding against her chest. Who would've thought that she's going to live with her long time crush? This reality never really crossed Sakuno's mind except when she's daydreaming herself.
"Sakuno, you're such an idiot!" she face-palmed, upon realizing how rude her actions were. From suspecting Ryoma as a thief, planning to hit him with a vase (that didn't happen, thankfully), the stuttering and then suddenly leaving him in the kitchen without a word.
"Relax, Sakuno... inhale, exhale... relax... There's nothing wrong in living with a previous classmate." she jumped to her bed and hugged a pillow. Sakuno lay there for a while, before deciding to pull out her phone and listen to music on shuffle to even her heart.
Now Playing: Ashita,Boku wa Kimi ni Ai ni Yuku (Tomorrow I'm coming to See You) -Wakaba
Simply liking you won't satisfy me.
Simply admiring you won't satiate me.
Today, too, the only thing real is my loneliness.
If I go see you now, I'll surely end up crying.
Sakuno sighed. Surely, the song reminded her of their middle school days, when she would only look at Ryoma from afar. The days when she, and her best friend Tomoka would cheer endlessly for him.
I fell in love with you.
In a sunset, filled with the scent of the wind,
When I recall your voice and your smiles,
I immediately become happy.
She remembered the day when the Tennis Prince saved her (unknowingly) from a group of senior students from the train. The time, when she said sorry for giving him the wrong directions that made him be disqualified in the match he will be playing. And back when she offered him a drink, though she didn't bring any change (that made her really embarrassed because it's Ryoma who offered a drink to her instead). There's also when he bravely played against one of the seniors whom they met at the train. Sakuno knew that deep inside, since that fateful day, she liked... no, she fell in love with that Prince.
I fell in love with you,
but I haven't been able to tell anyone yet.
When I recall your voice and the way you talk,
even though I'm alone
I'll become happy.
It was funny how she would always seem to remember the way he talks, even his voice. A brief conversation with him, no matter how nonsense it appeared, she'll always think about. That's why, when the Tennis Prince went to the US Open, she knew it's selfish. But she can't help feeling sad, knowing that Ryoma may not be able to come back. And it took her five years to even see him now.
The feeling of loneliness...forlorn.
The feeling of love...sparkling.
As I'm unable to differentiate between these two feelings,
my heart becomes slowly crushed in the sunset.
The sudden knocking at the door surprised her.
"Huh?" Sakuno jumped out of the bed and opened the door, "R-Ryoma-kun?"
"The principal called. I will be your school tour guide." Ryoma told her.
"Ah." Sakuno said as she stared at the boy.
Ryoma cleared his throat, impatiently looking at her.
"W-What is it, Ryoma-kun?" the girl asked, bewildered.
"Change." he said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Huh?"
"Change your clothes. I'm busy tomorrow so the tour starts now." he adjusted his cap casually.
Ryuzaki Sakuno wondered if he was joking, It was already dark out, and a school tour only happens in daytime, right? But judging Ryoma's character, she's sure that he wasn't joking at all. She can only awkwardly agree.
"Ah, g-gomen R-Ryoma-kun, I'll change now. You can wait outside." she felt flustered, as she slowly closed her door without waiting for his reply.
She changed her clothes from what she wore on her travel to a casual sleeveless dress which she topped with a cardigan. By the time she opened her bedroom door, he wasn't there anymore. And just as she asked, he was already waiting at the porch outside the house.
When he saw her going out, he didn't say anything. Instead, he just started to walk with Ryuzaki following him. It was a short distance away from the main building of the university. The main building's walls are made of glass, enough for her to make out the well lit lobby of each floors filled with students doing their own business. In front is a large fountain with colorful lights that go along with the flow of the waters. At seeing the first two things at this school, Ryuzaki has already concluded that it was a school too extravagant for her.
Sakuno sure hoped that she didn't look as awed as she is inside. The inside of the building was even more impressive, in an architectural viewpoint. As they passed by the hallways where the classrooms were situated, she can see through the small windows that some classes are still ongoing. A few turns on corridors, they passed by a vacant classroom, and then to a door that led to the laboratories.
"This is the laboratory." he said, briefly opening the door and abruptly leading the way to another corner that led to the 1st floor library.
"There's the 1st floor library."
"Wow." Sakuno murmured, her wonder now visibly showing at the sight of the big room.
The boy have picked on her sudden action, so he added, "At the right side, you can see the stairs that led to the 2nd floor Library, up to the fifth."
She excitedly nodded. "He must also like the libraries too."
Ryuzaki recalled that he used to be a Library Rep back in middle school too. She was full of her thoughts that she didn't realize that she has started on staring at him.
"Why are you staring at me?" Ryoma asked bluntly, though he looked nonchalant.
"S-Sorry..." she apologized, cheeks blushing as she have done another embarrassing thing again.
She figured that it must be some sort of an unconscious thing for her. To always look for him, since she haven't seen him personally for so long. And this was all too fast, that seeing and talking to him felt like a dream. If he only knew how much he affected her until now.
This secret feeling...swaying.
This bewildered feeling...softly.
As I'm unable to embrace both of them into my arms,
my heart becomes slowly crushed in the sunset.
Who knew that unheard feelings can well up this much? She felt like her heart would burst out any moment. The somewhat stable state of her hidden emotions... upon seeing him again, tumbled over. And she wasn't sure if she can ever be the same again.
Simply liking you won't satisfy me.
Simply admiring you won't satiate me.
Once the morning light pours in,
I, with courage, will say "I like you!"
Liking him seemed to be the hardest things she's ever dealt with.
Simply liking you won't satisfy me.
Simply admiring you won't satiate me.
Today, too, the only thing real is my loneliness.
If I go see you now,
I'll surely end up crying.
If you'd ask her if she could wait for another day, in order to tell him about the past five years that he's haunt her heart... She wasn't sure what to answer. What she's sure is that she wasn't confident if she can still manage to not spill anything. It was one of those situations where she can't seem to do things according to her mind. Unable to say no to her own bottled up feelings.
Simply liking you won't satisfy me.
Simply admiring you won't satiate me.
Once the morning light pours in,
I, with courage, will say "I like you!"
It can't be tomorrow. It had to be today.
"R-Ryoma-kun, I have s-something t-to s-s-say..." Sakuno's stuttering now doubled, nervousness engulfing her. Crimson blush covered her face.
"What is it?" Ryoma asked, wondering.
"A-Ano...I--" Sakuno said but she was interrupted by a woman.
"Ryoma!"
A girl around their age called the Prince of Tennis by his given name. The pink in her short hair, complemented the green long sleeved dress she's wearing. Her bubbliness is a thing you can see, as she enthusiastically hugged Echizen Ryoma.
"Ryoma, who is she?" the pink-haired girl asked, arms still draped around Ryoma who's trying his best to get out.
"Ryuzaki Sakuno, a friend." He simply answered.
The hug was one thing, but for Ryuzaki Sakuno who was about to open her heart fully off of her pent-up feelings felt like she was stabbed.
"... a friend, he says..." As if it was the most natural response of all. Tears threatened to fall from her cheeks. She immediately tried to hide it, not wanting to show any hint of her failed confession.
"Hi! My name is Kate Thompson. Nice to meet you!" if Sakuno squinted hard enough, she could pass as Osakada Tomoka, the cheerful and lively mood she exuded, "I'm Ryoma's girlfriend!"
"My name is Ryuzaki Sakuno..." as if being a called a friend wasn't enough, another truth bomb exploded right through her face, "... a friend."
She didn't know what's worse. Ryoma's ultimate view of her, or the girl's statement that managed to finally break her heart. She can't fight back her tears now, so she excused herself before giving in to the tears she suppressed for so long.
"S-Sorry, R-Ryoma-kun... Kate-san... But, I forgot to do something in the dorm so e-excuse me..." she finally said as she backed away and run.
It was a miracle that she happened to find her way back to where the dorms are without being lost. She craved for her own room, where she can be alone and cry everything out. The pain, the love, and the cruel reality.
"There's no such thing as 'Tomorrow, I'm Coming to See You' because now, it has been made more impossible to say it to you, Ryoma-kun."
A/N: Edited/Revised July 2020