chapter 13 : The Swan Princess
"Only in love can feel like too much and not enough"
In the midst of busy life even late at night; Miyu was standing alone in the balcony of her hotel room, staring at the skyscraper lights, the whole city became lively even at this hour. The lights illuminating the whole place; breath-takingly beautiful, however, from Miyu, she can't find any reason to admire this kind of scene.
Miyu never felt all alone like this; despite of how being used to be alone, growing up being an independent lady, a person to be able to stand on your own, she found herself here- inside her room; alone, empty and scared.
"Are you okay?"
A familiar voice of the tennis prince echoed inside her room, she turns around looking for the sign of him and yet, the only thing she saw is how miserable she looks like on the reflection in her window. She laughed without humor, though he's voice always sounds monotonously in her ears, she always found his voice soothing and comforting. Like a ray of light in her dark life.
Far from anyone knew; Miyu is living a life like a marionette, hiding in a picturesque of a perfect family; good family background, a loving parent, protecting brothers and good fortune she has. however, behind closed door was the harsh reality she was in- grew up in a loveless marriage of her parents, children born out of necessity to continue the legacy they had, a household whom one's worth will only be measure on how "valuable asset" you become, her own siblings were some sorts of competitors and her home, if it can really call one, was her battlefield.
Miyu licked her lips, as her heart started to feel heavy, tears verging in her eyes, no matter how she tried so hard not to cry. She sobbed; the familiar pain stabbing her heart is too much for her to bear, the indescribable pain inside her, slowly scattering her whole being. She was beyond shattered. Miyu held her chest tightly, as a painful sobbed escape once again in her lips. She was never been this hurt before; not even when her father used to be so harsh on her, not even when she saw disappointment in his eyes or the envied feeling she always feel whenever her brother took all the favors; not even she seeks comfort from her mother. Growing up, the harsh reality slapped her big time, that if she didn't try her hardest, if she didn't become the best, there is no room for her. Her own father never missed to make her feel that way. it was painful. yes, so painful but nothing beats the pain she feeling right now. What she felt right now is beyond compare. Tears freely fell in her eyes. It hurts so bad!
Tears falling her eyes without mercy, her painful sobbed continuously echoing inside her room. She scrunches down, sobbing so hard, for the first time in her life she let herself be vulnerable like this. The great Kurosawa Miyu, the swan princess, was pathetically crying!
Miyu harshly wipes her tears, she straightens herself, she took a deep breathe, making up the lost composure of herself. Trying so hard to pick herself. She was not weak like this; she wasn't born to be like this. She's not a loser! She was tough. She was brave. She was born to have anything she wanted. another tear escape in her eyes, but this time, her face hardens, with eyes screaming of determination, she stood up, wiping all the traces of her prior breakdown. Miyu stared once again in the city lights in front of her, hugging herself as if shielding herself from all upcoming things might happen to her, she was ready, she was pretty determining for the biggest fight on her life.
"Miyu..." A gentle knock from the outside door pulled Miyu from reverie. Slowly, Miyu wipes the remaining residue of her tears as she sighed heavily before turning her head on the door. "It's time"
"Are these enough?" The tennis prince turns his head on his wife, wearing a pink apron in his body, courtesy of Sakuno's forcing on him to wear one, one hand holding a spatula, confusion was evident on his golden irises.
"Ryoma-kun, that's too much!" Sakuno eyes widen in fraction seeing how 'generous' he was in putting salt on the soup. "You won't want to eat soup that tastes like sea water" she commented
"Hah, this is too hard" the tennis prince huffed. On how he ended up in kitchen is beyond him. Sakuno's way of things to him is imaginable.
"I thought you like to learn the things I like to do?" Sakuno smile at him. The amusement on her face was pretty taunting.
"Heh, you complaining too much on how I teach you tennis too." he refutes back, he raises his brows.
"Mou! Coz you are being too much Ryoma-kun!" Sakuno narrowed her chocolate eyes on him. She pouted her lips as he laughed on reaction.
For a week after Sakuno became the Seigaku tennis team; she found herself under the intensive bashing of her own husband. On how she started regretting asking for her husband help to teach her how to play tennis which become his source of entertainment is kind of depressing. Of course! Echizen Ryoma would love to tease her to death.
"But I'm really surprise though, you know a lot about basics, moves, technicalities and such, yet you can't even apply the most basic one on yourself? You really never failed to amaze me" Ryoma chuckled.
Sakuno eyes narrowed once more, 'Mou! Ryoma-kun is starting again! Sakuno knew it to herself, she really admits how awful she was in terms of playing tennis. Okay, she was really not an athletic type, in fact she has a tendency to fall on her own without any hindrances on her way; in short, she was a natural klutz. "You're so mean Ryoma-kun" she muttered, pursing her lips
The tennis prodigy just chuckled, he gently pulled her on him by placing his arms on her shoulder and sweetly caressed her hair as he kiss her on her nape. "You are not that bad y'know" he whispers on her ears, making the twin braided girl blushed furiously.
"Mou!" Sakuno wanted to refute him, however seeing how he looks seriously staring at her with his golden orbs without any hints of making fun of her, she looks away, hiding her more blushing face and heart racing wildly.
"You just need to stay focus whenever we play, you're mind always wonders a lot that's why you forget what you supposed to do" the tennis prodigy muttered.
Mou. How can I stay focus when my heart beats so fast whenever you're around? Sakuno pouted her lips from her thoughts.
"And your knees were too weak, it wobbly every time." The tennis prodigy continued.
'that's your effect on me Ryoma-kun! My knees turn into jelly by your simple stare. You making my heart skip a beat! Mou!'
"Ne, you're not listening to me again" An amused smirked from the tennis prince was evident. Sakuno looks up, she pouted seeing his playful smile.
"You making fun of me again" she accusingly muttered.
Ryoma just laughed on her, playfully pinching her nose. "C'mon! Let's finish this thing" he points the soup they were currently cooking. "what we will put next?" He seriously asked.
Sakuno smiled staring at him. "Seriously, you don't need to help me out. Just sit there and wait until I finish"
"Yadda!" The tennis prince stubbornly answered, he raised his eyebrow "I told you, I want to learn" he muttered in slow, concise monotonous tone of his. "I want to learn anything that concerns to you"
Sakuno was stunned, something warm inside her melts and touches her heart. A fluttering feeling inside that makes her stomach churned.
"So, be a good teacher and teach me about this" he smirked.
Slowly, a smile crept on her lips, she never knew that some simple things like this makes her heart happy. Sakuno nodded her head, as she faces him, without even noticing her own actions, her arms automatically wrap around on his waist; making the tennis prince stunned, eyes widen in fraction, surprise from her innocent stunt. Sakuno tilted her head with wide smile on her face, she answered him merrily "hai!"
The tennis prince chuckled, in return, he gently pulled her, embracing her with a warm hug, giving her light kisses on her forehead.
Ding...
Sakuno and Ryoma stop from preparing their food when they heard a door bell on their door, both exchange meaningful look to each other wondering from who it might be. It was a so rare to hear the buzzing sound of their door. In fact, having a visitor was the rarest thing in the Echizen household and only counted times in fingers when they have one since they are not particularly fond in parties and such. And though countless of times his annoying senpais would insisting that they want to visit him, Ryoma always refuses them.
"I'll look on it" Ryoma said, he put down the utensils in his hand as he walks straight on the doorway.
A woman in her mid- 20's was standing outside the Echizen's door, with huge bag on her free hand, and a boy hiding on her back, they both patiently waiting for someone to open up the door.
The young boy patiently waiting, his innocent dough shape eyes were eagerly expectant. Just like him, his mother smiled widely hearing the creaking sound of door opening; ready for their morning greeting, her greeting same as her smile hangs in the thin air as the least person, she expects to open the door for them came in the view.
Wearing a pink apron, in contrast on his stoic personality, the youngest son of the Echizen couple was in front of her, staring so blankly to her. Yu Noriko, hesitantly smiled on him. From months of living just in front of the Echizen residence, only three times she saw the young lad at this close distance, face to face. And the third time was today. Noriko smiled, though she was certain that her smile looks constipated, she gulps nervously; for a twenty-five-year-old lady like her, was obviously nervous for a high school boy. But boy! This guy in front of her was so intimidating. Echizen Ryoma was really intimidating. He was far from his parents' personality; his father was playful and funny conversationalist while his mother always have this calm and collective demeanor yet sweet and warm. How come they son was expressionless like this?
"Uhm" she paused, blinking like a fish.
"What is it?" His controlled yet polite voice sends chill on her. Noriko gulps a saliva once again.
"Uhm. I-I was looking for Sakuno-chan, is she's here?" She asks, she badly wanted to run fast and forget the real reason why she's here. Just by looking at his expressionless and unreadable face makes her wanted to do so, clutching her bag tightly in hand, she still smiles to him nervously.
"She's inside, I'll call her. just wait here inside"
Noriko sighed a relief when the tennis prince widely opens the gate and leave them for a while. She cautiously went inside the gate pulling her five-year old son gently.
"Mama! I don't like him! Why Sakuno-neechan always with him?" Haru muttered, he stared at his mother.
"Shh! That's bad Haru. I told you not to talk ill about others, right?" Noriko gently advises her child "niichan seems nice, he just talks less but he seems nice"
Haru lips pouted, "I still don't like him, he always looks at Sakuno- neechan like he's going to eat her. He's scary!"
"Haru... What nonsense are you talking about" her eyes narrowed on her son. Sometimes, his wild imagination is beyond compare.
"That's true mama! I always watch them in the window whenever they go to school. I know exactly when they go to school, uhm… it's before nanny gives me breakfast" he said "and he always holds her hand, he always kiss her here! I don't like it!" Haru points his forehead as he pouted more. Dissatisfaction was evident on his face.
Noriko wanted to laughed on her son's reaction obviously, he was taking a huge liking to Sakuno ever since the two met. It was the night when Haru sneak outside the grocery store and followed a mascot man. Imagine her horror when his nanny called her that Haru was missing. Luckily enough, it was Sakuno who found him walking, almost hit by the car. She was so kind to tend her five-year-old kid. However, being new to the place; and already losing her way during that time, they both ended up lost. They found the two seating on the swing of the playground. To her surprise, she saw the youngest son of the Echizen couple; huffing for running, and that was the first time she saw him in such different emotion on his expressionless face. He looks so worried about Sakuno.
Ohayou Noriko-san" A warm smile welcome her and pulled her to her thoughts. Sakuno was smiling so sweetly to her. "Oh! Ohayo Haru-kun" Sakuno greeted the young kid. Haru immediately blushed seeing the young lady.
"Neechan!" Haru immediately went to Sakuno.
Sakuno leveled herself to the kid's height. Soft giggles escape from her lips as Haru dives himself giving her a hug. From her back, the certain tennis prince was silently looking at them, leaning himself to the doorframe of the main door.
"Uhmm... Sakuno-chan... Gomene, but can I ask you a favor?" Noriko hesitated ask, her gazed automatically landed on her back, where the prince prodigy was.
"Was, is it?" She asks.
"Can you-"
"Can I stay here for a while neechan? Please?" Haru beats his mom by saying it first, he looks at Sakuno with his pitiful face. "Mama has an emergency at work, my nanny was in her home, she has to take care her sick son. No one will look after me" his cute chubby cheeks make face.
"Haru! Gomen Sakuno-chan, you might be busy but I don't have much time to look for temporary nanny and besides I don't have anyone personally knew besides you. Uhm, if it's not too much to ask. But it's okay if you were busy. I might bring him with me in my work" Noriko muttered nervously.
"No! I want to stay with neechan!" Haru protested. He seems about to cry. He looks at his mother.
"It's okay, we look after him" both Noriko and Sakuno turns they head towards the tennis prince when he speaks, he steps besides Sakuno. Shock was evident on Noriko's face while Sakuno seems happy on what he said.
"Honto? I mean is it really fine?" Noriko asks, still shock from everything.
"Yeah. Don't worry we will take good care of him" Ryoma simply shrugs. He looks at Sakuno who smiling at him. He smirked. "Besides, Sakuno will be delighted to have him in our home. He's safe here" he added. The young boy throws him a glare before tugging Sakuno's hand.
"Neechan, why don't we stay at our instead?" He asks, he smiled at her innocently. He looks again to the tennis prince, glaring at him.
"Haru!" Noriko scolded her child.
"We have a swimming pool in our house, we can swim together and play after"
The side of the lips of the tennis prince slightly rose, he stared at the young boy amusingly before dropping his arms on his wife's making the young boy looks so annoyed.
"Neechan loves planting, we have a huge backyard court in the temple, you can freely run there while looking at neechan's garden" Ryoma playfully muttered.
Noriko was stunned, he stared at the tennis prince face for a while, though face was remain constant, the way he talk to a kid is natural; as if he really used to handle kids on his own way.
"I don't like plants" Haru retorted. Making the twin braided girl laughed.
"Too bad, Sakuno loves those, she might feel bad for you" Ryoma shrugs.
Haru glared at the tennis prince, a taunting smirk appeared on the tennis prodigy's face, making the young boy annoyed more. "Neechan, you don't like me anymore? Coz, I don't like plants?" He cutely asks. The two ladies' giggles in his reaction.
"You're so cute Haru-kun" Sakuno can't help herself but pinch his cheeks. Haru looks at the tennis prince with satisfied smirk on his lips, taunting him.
"Heh," the tennis prodigy smirked. He stared at him for a while before finally holding Sakuno's hand, gently kissing it. Obviously teasing the young boy.
Seems like he finally lost it, Haru glared at him, as if he was sending him a lightning strikes the way he glared at the young tennis prince which the latter only smirked, adding the fuel of flames in his eyes.
"Mou? Ryoma-kun that's enough." She stops her husband with his little banter on the kid. "Ja! Haru-kun, I will make chocolate cake especially for you. Let's go!" Sakuno cheerfully said, she stared at Noriko, giving her a smile. She carried Haru on her arms and started walking towards inside, which makes the young kid delighted. He even looks at Ryoma and stick his tongue out.
"Uh. Thank you so much" Noriko muttered shyly. "And sorry for Haru's behavior" she apologized "he really just like Sakuno-chan... a lot..."
"I can see that. You can rest assured that we will look after him Noriko-san" The tennis prince said.
"Thank you, I go now"
"Uhn"
.
.
.
"You should eat the vegetables, it's good for the health" The tennis prince muttered in monotonous tone. He stares at the young boy whom busy separating the vegetables in his plate.
Haru looks at him with annoyed expression. He pouted his lips pretending not to hear him; a knowing smirk escape on his lips looking at the kid. Obviously, the kid doesn't like him. He was not hiding his dislike to him by the way.
"Ara... what are you doing Haru-kun?" Sakuno asks as she seat right next to Haru, making her facing the seat of the tennis prodigy.
"He doesn't like eating your cooked veggies" Ryoma nonchalantly informed his wife, he stared at the young kid who's giving him his cute glare. Ryoma hides his amusement.
Sakuno laughed a little, Haru's blatant displaying of his dislike towards the tennis prince is pretty obvious. From the very first time he saw him, the night that he found them, and whenever they accidentally met each other on the road, Haru will just ignored the certain prince presence at all after greeting her. As if, the tennis prince didn't exist at all.
"No! That's not true neechan! I like eating your cook meals!" Haru spoke, he quickly shove the vegetables on his tiny mouth, wincing, obviously trying so hard to swallowed the food. Making the young couple chuckled.
"You're so cute Haru-kun" Sakuno giggles, she pinches his chubby cheeks.
"You should eat too Sakuno" Ryoma gently pushed the side dish on her front.
"Mou, I'm eating Ryoma-kun"
"Not that quite" he points out. Raising an eyebrow, the tennis prince stare at her, demanding her to eat. As if he seems not pretty satisfied on the way she eats, he took a slice of meat on his chopstick, and offered it to her, making the latter eyes widen in sudden surprised and blushed.
"Eat" his chopstick with meat is still in the air. Blushing Sakuno hesitantly opens her mouth and eat. The tennis prince chuckled. He took another bite full of veggies and just like earlier, he offered it to her once again, feeding her.
Young Haru watches the two, his eyes continuously observing them, most especially the young tennis prince whom didn't stop feeding her until he was satisfied. Feeling annoyed, he took the omelet using his own chopstick, and hurriedly offered it to the braided girl.
"Neechan! Try this!" He competitively said
"Are you feeding me too Haru-kun?" Sakuno smiled.
.
.
"Haru-kun! It's time to take a bath!" Sakuno called, it was almost lunch time. Haru was currently busy playing with Karupin. They were happily running around the patio, it seems like Haru turns Karupin into a pet dog.
Upon hearing her voice, Haru hurriedly jumps and run towards her, abandoning his playmate. she smiled. "Are we going to take a bath together neechan? Just like mama?" His hopeful eyes were twinkling in anticipation. "I can scrub your back!" He added giddily.
Sakuno smiled, she was about to reply but before she could ever do, Haru was abruptly float in the air; all courtesy of the tennis prodigy whom carry the young child like a piece of log.
"Not a chance kid, we were going to take a bath together" he muttered, gently pinching his nose as he headed towards to the path of the bathroom.
"No! I don't want! I only want neechan!" Haru struggles in his arms.
"Don't wiggle a lot. You might fall" the tennis prince warns, he looks at his wife, smirking. "I'll take care of him while you cook"
"Close your eyes so I could wash your hair better" The tennis prince muttered in monotonous tone. Wearing nothing beneath the tub, he gently scrubs the hair of the young boy who still sulking. Seating face to face, the young boy keeps on looking at him with dissatisfaction on his chubby face.
"Hmmp!" Haru grunted, yet he obediently complied, he closes his eyes and let the tennis prince wash him. "
"Sulk all the way you want but I won't let you take a bath with my wife" the tennis prince side lips rose. The young child creased his forehead, as if he found his words new to his innocent ears.
"What is wife?" He innocently inquired.
"That's for you to find out" The tennis prince chuckled; he gently flickered his forehead gaining a groaned from the young boy.
"No fair! Hmp! You like neechan, don't you?" I like her so much! I will marry her in the future!" He said, his eyes twinkles.
"Heh, you know the word marry but not the wife?" There is a hint of amusement on his voice. "But too bad, you can't marry her" he shrugs.
"Mama said I can marry the girl I like!" He said demanding, brows furrowed as if he was proving his point in life.
"Heh, yes you can marry any girl but not my wife" he smirked peevishly.
"You keep calling neechan wife! Stop calling her like that!"
"Heh, but she is my wife" Ryoma taunted. "See this?" The tennis prince took something on his neck, it was a necklace; he took out the pendant and removed it. it was the wedding ring of them hanging on his necklace that he custom made when they were in Hawaii. The ring was connected and properly secured in custom made racket holder, so if someone saw it, it will mistake for a tennis racket. "Your mom and dad have something like this in their finger, right?" He asks.
Haru eyes widen in surprised. Slowly realization daunts him. "You are married to neechan?" He asks inaudible but enough to him to hear.
A knowing smirk escape from his lips but completely change into panic. "Oi..."
"You... marrie- ump!" Tears welled on Haru's eyes.
"Oi! Don't cry! Sakuno will surely scold me!" Horrified from that thought, the tennis prince quickly covered his mouth. For sure he will cry out loud base on his reaction. This kid really knows how to use properly his trump card. Most especially on his wife!
The young boy still crying a river, his tears keep on falling on his chubby cheeks.
"Ryoma-kun! Are you both done? Lunch is ready" Sakuno announces outside the bathroom door.
"Ump... Ump..." Haru started struggling on his hold upon hearing her voice.
"Hey! Stop crying" Ryoma gently hissed the young boy, horrified that she might hear it outside. "We will be there in a minute" he shouted.
"Uhm. Okay" wondering on his nervous voice, Sakuno just tilted her head and went out on the dining.
The tennis prince sighed; he took away his hand on the young boy's mouth. Still crying, he pursed his lips and glaring at him.
"What can I make up too for you to stop crying?" The tennis prince asks. "Any minutes from now, Sakuno will surely knock again on this door, so better wipes your tears or I'm surely dead meat." He spoke. Well, his wife is an angel but he doesn't want to see her mad. Not that he already sees her one anyway, but he doesn't want to take a risk, for sure Sakuno will really get mad for making this kid cry.
"I want neechan" he hiccups and cry once again.
"Oh! Not that one" he retorted back. He stared at his crying chocolate eyes, the reason why even though he wasn't fond of kids this kid is kind' a of exemption, is because of his eyes. His chocolate eyes remind so much of the twin braided wife of his. He can't even get mad at him even how annoying he was, he was so lucky to have something in common with his wife. As he stared at him, a perfect scenic view vividly crossed his mind, he smirked. "How about we have a deal?" He uttered.
"What deal?" Haru asks, his brows furrowed as he intently looking at him.
"Hmm... How about I give you a girl playmate who looks exactly as my wife. How is that? Sounds good right?" The tennis prince smirked. Just by imagining the image of his daughter who looks exactly like his wife overjoyed him. He can clearly envision himself holding the mini version of her in his arms like his most prize possession. His daughter's innocent and sweet smiling at him just like her mom. For sure, it's a magnificent sight to behold. He can't wait that moment to happen.
"Hmmm... Then can I marry her?" Haru asks innocently.
"NO!" The tennis prince almost shouted, horrified, his face contorted with disgust just simply thinking about it. "You wish! I won't let anyone marry my daughter!" He hissed annoyed and with finality.
"You're so unfair! You already married neechan!" Haru retort. Tears are verging in his eyes. "And you don't want me to marry her?" He asks, pertaining for her future playmate.
"Of course! No one deserves my daughter!" He hissed once again. No one! As in no one would ever be deserve to her. He was certain for that; his daughter is the most precious girl in the world next to her mom! How dare them aspire his daughter?! The nerve of them!
Haru sniffed, tears started to fall in his eyes. Alarmed by his outburst, the tennis prince suddenly spoke in urgency. "Okay! Fine! I will think about it! But first... You have to defeat me" in something he was so good at and surely no one can ever be. A sinister, evil smirked formed on his lips. "You have to defeat me in tennis"
"Okay!" Haru answered determine. He stared at him, making the latter raised his eyebrow. "But... Niichan, what is tennis?" He asks innocently. The tennis prince drop his head in the air, surprised from his innocent question.
"So, you mean to say your parents will stay for another week? Well, that would be their second week, right?" Tomoka asks Sakuno while they were walking along the hallway of their school.
"Uhm. Kaasan said so" Sakuno answered, her eyes were remaining in the hallway, she saw how the other student looks at them, most especially on her. Uhm. Or was she assuming things?
"I see. They might miss Ryoga-san that's why" An muttered, she was busy fixing her bangs in the side of her hair.
"Hmmm... Another week alone with Ryoma-sama?" Tomoka whispers in her ears, making the twin pigtailed girl blushed.
"Mou! Tomoka-chan!"
"Why?! Your face is too red Sakuno, now, I wonder what is happening when the two of you were alone!"
"Mou! Tomoka-chan!" Sakuno hissed blushing so hard. "Someone might hear you!"
"What?!" Tomoka laughed. "I didn't drop a name thouh" she shrugs.
"Seriously Sakuno you are so cute" An giggled.
"Mou! You two always making fun of me" Sakuno pouted her lips, she stared once again to the other students, they were looking at them, all of a sudden, she felt like the way towards their room was so far, she even saw one of them rolled eyes on her. She looks down.
"Don't mind them" An commented. "They were just envy of you"
Sakuno pouted her lips, for almost two weeks after she become the tennis manager, her name suddenly became famous. Her quiet existence in Seigaku High School turns into uproar upon breaking the news. She received a lot of criticisms of course at first, but with the helped of the tennis team and her will and determination to prove them wrong, although there are still who raising their brows on her, she made it somehow. She guess?
For the past weeks she became close to the whole team so far, though it's so hard to hide the relationship she had with the tennis prince since she didn't know how to act in his front; to the point that she stutters and turns into super clumsy whenever he was around her, afraid to be caught. She even almost has a nervous attack when suddenly she called him 'Ryoma-kun' right in front of everyone (since she tried her best not to call him by his name) when he provokes her so much by not calling him in his name, making the tennis prince smirked contentedly on her. She was so lucky enough since no one make a big deal out of it. (Since the tennis prince was the only one, she called by given name) Somehow she survived, of course with the help of her best friends- An and Tomoka.
"Right! Now, I started to wonder on how will react if they know that you are Ryoma-sama's wife" Tomoka huffed.
"Mou! Tomoka-chan!" Sakuno almost shouted, she looks from left to right afraid that someone might hear her.
"Hai. Hai. okay I zip my mouth" Tomoka giggles before entering their classroom. They all walk through their designated seat.
"Do you think Echizen-kun and Kurosawa-chan will getting back together?" One of their classmates asks on her friend, making the three of them most especially Tomoka looks on them.
"What did you say?" Tomoka asks, her voice was much louder than ever "who's getting back together?" Though it was pretty clear on their ears, Tomoka still asks for it.
"Echizen-kun and Kurosawa-chan."
Sakuno looks down, hearing his name was enough to feel something fell inside her.
"And why are they getting back together?" Even without looking at her, there is an obvious taunting remark on her voice. "Of course not! There is no way they getting back together" her voice lace with finality.
"Huh? Why are you so sure? There is no clear reason why they broke up right? We are not even sure if they really broke up" the girl retorts back, looking at her.
"You-"
"Tomoka" An holds her hand stopping her friend.
"They are not getting back together. And that's the fact" Tomoka rolled her eyes. "I don't know where did you get these nonsense you babbling about but one thing is certain, . .back. you hear me?!" Tomoka slowly and annoyingly muttered.
"Jeez, why are you so fired up, haven't you heard the news? You keep telling yourself your Echizen-kun's fans club president, and yet you didn't know about this? Huh." Their classmate rolled her eyes on her
"What news?"
"BIG NEWS! BIG NEWS!" Horio hurriedly went inside their classroom just the right time they all needed an answer; he came, carrying a magazine in his hand. A very stunning lady wearing a ballet uniform comes in their view. Kurosawa Miyu: The Swan Princess. In bold highlighted title, Sakuno quickly realized who she was. Kurosawa Miyu looks so beautiful in the cover of the magazine.
" You have to see this! Kurosawa-chan is obviously hinting for-"
"Let me see!" Tomoka snatch the magazine on his hand, it was laid neatly and properly on Sakuno's desk. Sakuno didn't even realize that they were now in her desk, and her friends are obviously around her. She felt something inside her, she felt her heart constrict with sudden pain. Slowly, Tomoka opens the magazine one in one. Sakuno silently peck what's inside.
'she's really beautiful' Sakuno muttered inside her head.
There are many beautiful shots on her, in different angles, in different hairstyles and dress. She's grace in perfection. There is a short bio about her.
Full name: Kurosawa Miyu
Birthday: January 14
'So, we have the same birthday'
Though she felt heavier and heavier inside, she keeps reading the entire magazine. It turns out the whole magazine was about her, her recent wins in three prestigious ballet competition held abroad and how bright her future might be in ballet awaiting from her.
"Huh? What is this?!" Tomoka eyes widen in surprise. Sakuno's eyes automatically shifted on what she was reading. There is a part where she was been interviewed, she answered precise, clear and on point. In some point Sakuno can clearly tell that she's smart.
Interviewer: ballet training is not easy, you still young, you are in prime of your youth, do you ever think of giving up?
Miyu: yes, certainly. There is a point of my life that I want to give up. I really wanted too. You see, I even enrolled myself in non-ballet school during middle school just to prove my point. However, in the midst of giving up, I met someone who questions all my thoughts during that time. Do I really need to give up? Looking at him, just made me realized how pathetically shallow I am. Just like me, he has a biggest dream waiting for him. He made me realized how precious my dream is...Not because it's getting harder, not because it's not going my will and not because I'm getting tired, I should give up. He made me realized that what I need is to paused for a while, rest and go back. No matter how it takes, no matter how hard it is. You see... He has this kind of vibe that can makes you strive for the bests and that you should exceeds more than to your fullest capability.
Interviewer: he? So, was it a friend? Or more than that?
Miyu: oh! Is this will being part of magazine? I hope not.
Interviewer: Well, it depends on the editor. I guess? So, tell us more, was he?
Miyu: Oh god! I bet I am lucky since he will never see this. Uhm, He's special. He's more than a friend. We're more than just a friend.
Interviewer: hmmm pretty interesting... so, who is he?
Miyu: oh please. I want to keep him private for a while. He really is a private person. Though I might spill some beans when time comes?
Interviewer: when it's that?
Miyu: let's wait and see
Sakuno just stared blankly at the magazine. Though the interview says a lot, she lost interest on the other, her eyes paused on that part. Strangely enough, she can't point out what she really felt; painful? Sadness? Fear? It was oddly enough that despite of pain and fear she felt right now, the guilt feeling inside her reign over her system. She was guilty for taking him away for her. Yet, she was so afraid that she will take him away to her.
"Quit it! Momo-senpai!" The tennis prince grunted in annoyance. For the umpteenth of the day, how he wished he can pull the time faster, so he can go home right. Nothing good happened this day. He was so annoyed to the point that he wanted to pulled his wife away from everyone and go home.
"Heh, our ochibi is getting shy." Kikumaru commented teasingly.
The tennis prodigy grunted once again, from his peripheral vision, he can clearly saw his wife watching not so far from them, scribbling something on her notes, looking cautiously towards the freshmen whom busy doing warm ups. But no matter how busy she looks at; she looks different right now. Despite the fact that she was smiling, and laughing around with them, her smiles, it never reaches her eyes, her eyes telling something that he started to get nervous at. 'Damn! If only he can ditch this practice!'
He's getting irritated each second's past, and his senpai- tachi's teasing him was not helping at all. It adds the annoyance he was feeling right now.
"Nah, Echizen, now that Miyu-chan is blatantly saying she has still feelings on you, what will you do?" Momoshiro asks, he glare at his senpai, from the corner of his eyes, he saw how Sakuno momentarily stops, she looks at their direction, only to look away when their eyes met. He once again, shifted his eyes to his dunk smasher senpai and give him another deathly glare. Clearly, his senpai is literally getting to his nerves. Since lunch time, he did nothing but to annoy and tease him to Miyu in front of everyone. How lucky he was that his Kaido-senpai was there, he quickly ended the topic right away. But for real? Really? No matter how he answered him that they will friends and nothing but friends, they still tease them together. Like before, just because of her some sort of what? Magazine interview? Clearly, he didn't read anything about her interview. And he wasn't even interested. It was late for him to know about it too. Too late that they were being tease together right in front of his wife! His wife of all people.
"I told you, we are just friends. Friends." He hissed in clenched teeth. Hoping that they can take the hint of how he was pissed right now.
"Heh, that's not what she says, she said that you both were more than friends!"
"Ne, you both seriously talking behind our backs, no? You sneaky child!"
"The probability of Echizen and Kurosawa-chan getting back together 100%"
Oh! Good God! Ryoma started to think of pulling Sakuno right now, in front of anyone. He starting to think to announced that he was married to her, to make everyone shut up. Great! Now, he started regretting not blatantly showing his advancement to his wife. Heck! Why are they even hiding whenever they talk alone anyway? What's the point of hiding when now they suffering from it? Damn. Fuck this secret hiding. He closes his eyes trying to composed his raging annoyance. Instead of retorting back to his annoying senpais he started walking away to them; fending off himself to launched his twist serves straight to their faces.
"Oi... Echizen, where are you going?"
"Ponta!" He angrily spats.
"What's wrong with him?" Upon walking away, he can still clearly hear his senpai said.
"Just quit annoying him baka!" Kaido hissed.
"What did you say?"
"Wanna fight?"
"Oi... You two, Momo... Kaido... quit fighting"
Ryoma continues walking, He just close his eyes reprimanding himself to their loud voices on his ear.
"Ryoma..."
Hearing a very familiar voice, the tennis prodigy opens his eyes, his track stops midway of the tennis court. His eyes darted to the owner of the voice right in his front. Looking at him intently, Miyu was smiling widely on her, from her side, his Fuji senpai was giving his usual smile.
"I missed you"
Miyu runs to him, giving him a hearty hug. Shocked from her sudden act, it was too late for the tennis prince to react, he was about to push her away when she did the last thing, he expected her to do.
Miyu leaned closely to him, as she locks their lips together making his eyes widen in fraction. She kissed him in front of everyone. Right in front of his own wife.
Okay. Altogether: let's be mad at Miyu Hahaha... so, let the heartbreak begins, I guess? Anyways, I was having a hard thought about something. But I want to stick in my original plan about this story. Yep. Some few characters to the following chapters might be hateful to you, to the point that You might got mad at me too, but that's how their character supposed to be. Remember, they act according for what they think is right. I already gave my hint. So please don't be so mad at me nor how they character been portrayed. There's always reason for why's.