"Ryoma-kun?" she gasped. It was a stolen photo of Ryoma, sipping coffee while reading a book. She assumed the one who took the photo was Emily. But why does she have a photo of Ryoma? Emily returned Sakuno's phone to her and noticed that Sakuno was staring at something.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Oh, no-nothing! I'm done!" she handed Emily's phone. The girl checked her phone. It displayed Sakuno's contact information.
"Okay. Nice to be your friend!" Emily smiled. Sakuno nervously nodded back. She wanted to ask her about the photo but decided not to, to respect her privacy. But she already thought of a possible answer, and it would be the last thing she wants to hear.
It was almost six in the evening when they finally decided to go home. After sharing a lot about themselves, the 'curry group' already became close friends. Well, except for Emily and Justin, who still seemed to dislike each other. Sakuno learned that the two of them had recently went on a date and it obviously did not end well, and Dennis is their mutual friend. Sakuno also shared her exchange student but left the part about Ryoma.
Walking toward the dorm buildings, Sakuno lagged behind. She still seemed troubled about Emily's wallpaper. Justin suddenly walked slower and let Sakuno catch up to him while Dennis and Emily walked ahead of them while they talked.
"Hey, Sakuno." he greeted.
"Hello."
"The guy you were with at the library, that's Ryo, right?"
"Ryo?"
"Ryoma Echizen."
Sakuno stopped. Justin turned around and smiled at her. She felt nervous with that smile.
"Uh… yeah. You know him?"
"Of course. He's Emily's boyfriend."
Sakuno's mouth flew open. Her hunch was right, Emily saying something about her boyfriend dumping her earlier, and the wallpaper looking like they were sitting across each other at the coffee shop, and she bumped into Justin that day. She felt her throat dry up. The first day she finally had a female friend in America and this happened.
"I was right. I thought you were the girlfriend. You know, with how close and touchy feely you two looked back then. Don't worry, I won't tell Emily." Justin turned around and was about to continue walking but Sakuno caught his wrist.
"Wait! It's not what you think! Let's talk later, please?" She looked at Justin's eyes with a desperate look, hoping he would agree. Justin sighed.
"Okay, sure."
That night, after they went their separate ways, Sakuno called Justin and told him to come to the coffee shop they just went to at exactly eight. He agreed.
"Sakuno!" he waved.
"Justin!" she waved back. They settled in one of the table near the window to avoid anyone hearing them. Sakuno actually doesn't know how to start. It looked bad, what happened in the library. She was aware of how romantic Ryoma looked after her but it was nothing more than that. He was probably just worried because I am the granddaughter of his former tennis coach (which is the truth).
"That date with Emily sucked." Justin suddenly spoke. Sakuno looked up, clenching her bag on her lap.
"Yeah?"
"It sucked because she kept bitching about her boyfriend."
"…"
"So, I thought maybe he's cheating on her or something. I just never thought it would be with you."
Sakuno heard the door of the shop opened and random student began crowding the place. She remained unbothered. Too focused on the issue before her. Justin actually thought that Ryoma's cheating on Emily with her. That's the most ridiculous thing ever.
"You're wrong, Justin. Ryoma's just a friend, nothing more."
Justin blinked at her, then chuckled.
"Hey, why so serious? I actually think you two could be an item."
"No, it's not like that. We were classmates since middle school. He was just worried about me as a friend, that's all. Plus, he has a girlfriend so it can never happen."
"Really? So you do like him?"
"Uh, well... it-it's more like being a fan…" she knows that's not she really feels. Of course, she likes Ryoma. It was a crush ever since they met! She might even say she loves him. But Sakuno knows Ryoma doesn't feel the same so why bother speaking her truth?
"Oh, that's a shame. Well, okay I get it now. Sorry for jumping to conclusions. I thought you two were together!" he smiled. Sakuno breathed a sigh of relief and they ended the conversation with a laugh.
I'm glad that's been cleared! Now that's out of the way, I better get home and—wait, I feel like I'm forgetting something.
She whipped out her phone and found a text message from Ryoma. She gasped.
Imagine how catastrophic it could have been if Emily saw Ryoma's contact in my phone!
She opened the mail and read,
Ryoma Echizen:
What time do we have to meet up and where?
It was hours ago that the message has been sent.
"Oh no!" she cried. Sakuno quickly typed to send a reply to Ryoma. Justin watched her, looking confused.
"Why, what's wrong?" he asked.
"Oh, nothing. I gotta go. Thank you for hearing me out, Justin!" she scurried away, leaving Justin looking clueless.
After class, Ryoma walked out the engineering building and pulled out his phone from his pocket. He started to type a text message for Sakuno. He was glad that the girl wanted to talk to him after what he did. He honestly thought that he scared her away. After sending the message, he headed towards the library where he intended to wait for Sakuno.
Unfortunately, he never received a reply, so he decided to go home. A little bit confused, but he just shrugged.
Upon entering his dorm, Ryoma removed his shoes and socks, threw them behind and went into his bathroom to take a bath. After that, he got dressed and opened his fridge to find nothing in it. Actually, there is one thing, Ponta.
Oh, I forgot to get groceries again. I'll just order online.
He opened his delivery app and ordered Chinese food, which is the easiest choice, but he still missed Japanese food, the one Sakuno cooked for him that day, and on most occasions during their middle school days. He sighed. He cannot believe that he's thinking about a girl at this late hour.
After dinner, he brushed his teeth and got ready for bed, but he hated his bed, so Ryoma settled on his sofa and turned on the TV for white noise. He stared at the city lights out the window. His dorm room is on the 25th floor so he could basically see the whole city.
He could feel his eyes droop, but he fought it. A strange feeling of loneliness embraced him, not to mention the fatigue that tennis club and studies brought him.
Maybe I should just quit tennis? Or my studies? Or both...
After graduating from Seigaku, he immediately flew to America to go to college and continue his tennis career. But nobody said it would be this hard to do two things at the same time. And doing it alone is worse. He finally realized how hard it was to take care of one Ryoma Echizen. He regretted not taking his mom with him. He learned to do laundry by himself, cook-buy food for himself, and to set as many alarm clocks as possible it would take to wake him up in time for class. Money was no issue since every competition that he took part in had paid him more than enough, and he learned how to manage his finances alone.
When things finally began to stabilize in his life, he unexpectedly acquired a close friend named Dennis. Ryoma liked him because he could see Momoshiro-sempai in him. Both are bubbly, funny, and their attitudes clicked. He felt a little homesick but thankful that there is finally someone he could hang out with. The people at his tennis club were overrated by their fans, not Ryoma's kind of people. Anyway, Dennis is studying a different program than Ryoma, but it didn't stop them from hanging out once in a while.
Ryoma sighed and put his arm over his eyes. He could hear the faint music from the television. He wondered what it is about the night ambiance and city lights that make people sad and nostalgic. He was sick of feeling this way every night when he goes home. Sometimes, he gets preoccupied with school projects that he barely slept in his bed and just end up lying on his sofa with a bunch of paperwork on top of him.
Suddenly, his phone rang, popping his thought bubble. He limply reached for his phone on the coffee table and saw that it was Sakuno.
Sakuno Ryuzaki:
Ryoma-kun, I'm so sorry I forgot to check my phone. Are you still up?
"Hmmm..." he thought of something to say but he got nothing, as usual.
He tapped the call button. It rang twice before someone picked up.
"Hello? Ryoma-kun?"
"Yeah, uh..." he actually doesn't know why he called her. "Uhh, we can talk now, if you want."
"Um, well, I don't know your dorm number but um, if-"
Ryoma sat up which gave him a little headache.
"Wait, you're still out? At this hour?"
"Yeah... I think I'm at your dorm building..."
"And you're outside!? Wait, I'll come get you."
"O-Okay!"
Ryoma was dumfounded. Who is their right mind would mindlessly hang around a boys' dorm building late at night? Only a klutz like her, that's for sure.
He hurriedly put on his cap and jacket, grabbed his house key and ran toward the elevator while checking on his phone every minute. Ryoma was a bit annoyed. It was almost ten in the evening, it was chilly outside, and God knows what Sumire will do to him if she finds out her granddaughter is out at night waiting for him.
Finally, he reached the lobby, ran past the guard, and opened the door. He saw Sakuno standing under a tree, completely covered in darkness but his eyesight never failed him to see in the dark. Ryoma walked towards her and he saw how she instantly smiled at him. She clenched her hands together, probably frozen from the evening breeze.
"Ryoma-kun, I'm sorry for making you come out."
"Stupid. Why are you here?"
"Um, well, we were supposed to meet up but it was my fault..." she quivered when the wind suddenly blew past them. Ryoma removed her jacket and gave it to Sakuno. She blinked at him rapidly, as if she doesn't know the obvious. Ryoma was reaaaally pissed now.
"Wear this or you'll get sick." Sakuno noticed Ryoma wearing thin clothes, shirt and sweatpants.
"No, I'm okay-"
"Take it." he insisted. Sakuno had no choice but to comply.
"I'll walk you home. We can talk tomorrow or any other day you want." he said and began pulling her on the wrist until she followed behind him.
Sakuno blushed. That was another romantic remark from the prince. But she can't let herself be so happy about it. There's still something she wants to know. The walk home was too quiet, but Sakuno could not think of anything to break the ice. She was sure that Ryoma was mad. It was understandable.
Maybe he was already sleeping when I texted him. And why did I go to his house? I'm so stupid! Maybe I should apologize as many times as I could!
"R-Ryoma-kun. I'm so sorry about this. I know you're mad and I-"
"Uh-huh. What if some random dude tried to hurt you out there? I wouldn't know what to do." he quietly muttered, but Sakuno heard it loud and clear.
Sweet but no, I can't be happy! Must apologize!
"And don't even think about apologizing again." he glared at her. It would freak the hell out of her if not for the romantic remarks she heard a while ago.
"O-Okay..." she smiled.
As they approached Sakuno's dorm building, they noticed that the doors were already closed, and all lights are off.
"It's closed?" Ryoma looked at his wristwatch then looked at Sakuno. The girl simply stood beside her, looking stupid.
"I'M SO SORRY!"
"You can sleep on my bed. I'll take the sofa." the boy said, leaving Sakuno standing by the entrance. It was all happening fast. She stood there, wearing Ryoma's jacket and cap, and was about to sleep in his dorm.
She watched as the boy turned on the lights in the kitchen and bedroom. He pulled out a few clean sheets from his wardrobe and laid them on the bed. Next, he got some shampoo and soap form the cupboard and placed it by the shower.
"I don't have any food here, so I guess I'll order dinner for you."
"Oh no! No Need! I don't need food at all." she could feel her face burning from embarrassment. Ryoma shrugged and prepared to go out anyway. He grabbed his wallet on the way out. Sakuno stepped aside, still in shock.
"I'm going to the convenience store. You need anything?" he asked as he opened the door.
Of course, she would never ask Ryoma to buy underwear for her, so she shook her head no. And so, Sakuno was left alone in Ryoma's room.
"Well, this is unexpected." she sighed.
TBC...
Well what a development LOL.