Chapter7: Unlearn You

"Wish that I could unlearn, all of the best things about you

That would make it easier for me to be okay

If only I could close my eyes

Different ending to the storyline"

They say, time passed so fast when you were so much happy. Sakuno started to believe that. Just like today.

Surrounded by friends she couldn't imagine she will have, Sakuno started liking this kind of feeling. The feeling of belongingness.

"Damn! Can I switch course now?!" Momoshiro distressingly grumbled. Putting both of his hand on his aching head. He really looks stress looking at the piece of paper in the table. However, contrary on how he felt, the rest of his team mates, and even his own girlfriend laughed on his own misery. Poor him.

Sakuno can't help but giggled. She put her mechanical pencil down; momentarily stops as she stared at the dunk smasher tennis player on her front. On how she ended hanging out with the Seigaku Tennis team, she didn't have any idea too. It happens, naturally. One day, she found herself seating right next to them with Ryoma grumbling on her side.

It was one of memorable memory for her, for the first time meeting the rest of the Seigaku tennis team, she was so nervous, however seeing how the Seigaku team friendly stares and warm smiles welcomes her, as if she was a lost friend, that they never seen for so long. She couldn't even forget how they told her she was like a sister to them. It's really a warm feeling. It feels like she found another set of brothers to be with just like the Rikkai Dais'. Since that day, she always looking forward for this special day.

It was Wednesday; the only day in a week where they all gathered together having lunch, hanging out, even doing their own things together while laughing most of the time, exchanging jokes and bickering to one another, Sakuno found herself a new place to call home.

"Nah... Takeshi it's fine. Just make it up on your next quiz" An chortled. Making fun of her own boyfriend.

"Nah, babe... You're not helping either" Momoshiro grunts. "If only I knew that Engineering will squeeze my brains out. I should have listened to my grandfather to handle one of our businesses" he litany complaint.

"Idiot. You don't have brain in the first place, so how the hell you are going to handle business? It might get bankrupt in no time." Kaido, his frenemy said making everyone including Sakuno laughed.

"What did you say?! Huh!"

"Now, bunny eat up. You are not eating" Ryoma push the platter of spaghetti on her front.

Sakuno just stared on untouched spaghetti, tempted to eat, however thinking about the deadline of her artwork, she restraint herself and continue sketching, though most of the time she stops as she found difficulty to find inspiration on her work.

"Is Fine Arts difficult Yukimura-chan?" Fuji senpai asks the moment she paused from sketching. Maybe they figure it out that she was having troubles since earlier.

"Uhmm... Not at all. Learning is actually not that difficult. I enjoy most of it all the time" she smiled. "It's just sometimes it's so hard to find inspiration in every piece I made. Like now" She admitted as she pursed her lips. Sakuno put pressure on her lips realizing that she's not going nearer in her work. She just keeps on disregarding the sketches she first made. She sighed heavily, realizing that she might not able to do a better artwork this time.

"But you seem very good at it" Momoshiro complimented.

"Uhm... Uh... Not at all... You see... I just really love painting" she softly mumbled. She keeps on playing on her pencil for some reason. Bothered, her eyes darted to the tennis prince who twirl her single braided hair.

"Eat up first and continue that later." He mumbled. He looked at her sternly as if, if she didn't listen to him, he will scold her any moment now.

"Mou! But it's already due on Friday. I can't even think of any to do. I keep messing up" she confessed.

"I'll buy you something easy to eat. At least put something on your stomach, you still have class remember?" He reminded her. "Just eat first, so ideas come after" he eased, tucking the strands of her loose hair on her ear.

Ryoma stood up on his seat without a word as he headed straight to the counter to order food again for her. Sakuno just keep watching him, as he continues scanning the food stall, he just standing there and yet he could easily attracks attention by his simple gestures she couldn't help but see how the other girls stare at him, admiration written all over their faces as they keep looking at him hoping for his one single glance. As if he senses that she was looking at him, Ryoma turn his head on her direction, their eyes met, he smirked boyishly making her heart skip a beat. Hurriedly, Sakuno look down, hiding her blushing face though she wasn't sure if it is visible on where he was standing.

"Now eat this" Ryoma muttered as he put the tray down on her front. It was dumplings, spring rolls and meatballs. All in small sizes and easily to bit in one bite.

"Demo-"

"Eat bunny. Or do I need to feed you?!" He asks, his one brow raising, as his one hand leaning on his cheek.

Sakuno blushed immediately on what he uttered, she could literally hear their senpais and friends feighing cough. Even without looking she can tell that they are all looking with teasing remarks on their faces.

"Mou! Ryoma-kun!"

"Stop whining and eat." He ordered. He even opens the bottled water for her and place it in the place where could not hinder her work.

"Our new head coach will be coming around this week, right?" Momo senpai said.

"Uhm.. uhm.. but I am still confused though, why we need a new head coach if Yamato sensei can be the one?" Kikumaru senpai asks.

Sakuno paused for a while as if she found their conversation interesting, she took a bite of dumplings on her mouth.

"I heard Yamato-sensei turns down the offer to be the head coach instead recommend someone befitting the role" Fuji muttered.

"From what I have heard, the new head coach is Yamato sensei's coach during his younger years" Oishi senpai muttered.

"Try this bunny" Sakuno looks at the tennis prince, offering the spring rolls in his hand, Sakuno pouted her lips, wanting to refuse yet seeing how he looks determine she took a bite of spring rolls. Satisfied, Ryoma smirked.

"Eat more" Ryoma encourage her to eat more. This time he is the one who keeps feeding Sakuno whom busy sketching.

"Mou! Ryoma-kun, I am full already!" She complains.

"Eat..." He said, raising one meatballs in the air.

"Ahem! Ahem! They are just friends, right?!" An teases.

"So young... So young..."

Sakuno glance at them; she saw Tomoka looking at her with huge grin on her face, even the rest of their friends were all the same. They all looking at them teasingly. She pursed her lips. Over the time they spend together, Sakuno got used on how they tease them together. As if it was something so natural to them.

Dazed in front of her canvas; Sakuno found nothing to sketch, crumpled paper scattered on her trash bin, she sighed heavily. 'Mou! What to do?!'

It's not like she doesn't know what to do, but she can't put herself to make it. Her ideas don't fit on her own emotions, although she executes what she wanted to sketch, there is no emotions in it. It was so bland despite the colors, there is no feelings as if her heart can't longer connect on whatever she did.

'sakuno you should always put your heart and soul in every piece you make. That's the secret of every master piece'

'my sweet little Sakuno'

'my lovely child'

'I love you so much, my child'

Sakuno close her eyes; a gentle and warm voice from someone echoed from her ears. She smiled, whenever she remembers that certain voice, she felt at ease, but at the same time her heart constricts in so much pain. The heaviness she felt that never gone over the years passed.

'bzzzt'

Sakuno startled on the ringing sound of her phone, seeing the name of the person calling on the middle of her breaking point, a sudden feeling of happiness pulls her out of the reverie of misery. A smiled appeared on her lips.

"Hello"

[Hey bunny]

"Ryoma-kun"

[Do you have a time? Let's say two or three hours? nope just 2 and half hours.]

"Mou! I'm doing my project remember"

[That's why. Come out. I have something to show you might help for your inspiration]

"Mou! Ryoma-kun it's late" Realizing that it was already 9 in the evening.

[Don't worry. I ask permission to your brother]

Sakuno could hear his chuckling in the other line, followed by the gentle knock on her door.

[Your brother told me to brought you back before 12 A.M since we still have class tomorrow]

Sakuno hurriedly went to her door, she saw his brother smiling at her. "Sa-chan go now. Take care okay"

.

.

.

"Mou! Why do you need to cover my eyes like this?" Sakuno asks the moment they reach their destination after almost an hour of driving.

"Because it supposed to be a secret for a while" Ryoma answered, he supporting her by holding her in shoulders and slowly walking along the way. "We are here. Now open your eyes at the count of three, okay?" He said, he removed the handkerchief on her eyes.

Slowly, Sakuno opens her eyes. Her eyes widen in surprise, lips almost parted, her eyes sparkle on the spectacular view on her front. It was like a picturesque view; as if the night unfurls its velvet cloak, only moon and stars spill like silver dust on the sky. The glowing yellowish- silver moon mirroring its beauty across the lake, stars shine like diamonds flashing so brightly, not wanted to be left unnoticed. Few clouds like sparkling cottons gathered together in one corner to give emphasize on how beautiful the night sky view was. It was so perfect. It was beyond you couldn't imagined for.

"Wow" Sakuno mumbled, her smiles resemble the beauty of the glowing moon. "It's so beautiful"

"Told ya" Ryoma smirked, he put both of his hand on his pocket looking at her. His eyes staring at her smiling face, Ryoma couldn't help but admire her. Eyes seeing only her. "Yeah. Beautiful" he mumbled.

"Thank you so much Ryoma-kun" Sakuno looks up on him with bright smiles. "It's so beautiful. I never knew there is a place like this" her smile grew bigger.

"I told you I will bring you in the place where stars are better to look at" Ryoma smirked. "Now we only have 30 minutes to stargaze". He said as he looks on his wrist watch. "Let's enjoy while it lasts" he beams as pulled her arms to seat beside her on the grass.

"Ah! Mou! Ryoma-kun!" Sakuno complains upon him pulling her, however seeing how it was more relaxing it is when you were seating, she giggled. "See that Ryoma-kun?" She points out to the sky. She even shakes his arms just to have all of his attention. Sakuno beams at him still holding him in his arm.

Ryoma chuckled seeing how excited she was. He attentively looks up on the sky where she was pointing out.

"That's the big dipper" her smile got bigger when she looks at him looking at where she points out. She looks up once again in the sky "And that one... That's the little dipper" she points out once again.

"It's pretty, right?! That's one of my favorite constellations. It's like a mother and baby bear in the sky" she beams. She giggled on her own thoughts.

"Heh" Ryoma chuckled. He looks at Sakuno who keeps talking about the constellations and the mother and son in Greek Mythology stories behind the stories of constellation. His gazed focus on hers, she looks so happy and livelier whenever she talks about things she really like. He was right when he thought she would love this place.

"Mou! Are you listening to me?" Sakuno creased her brows on him. "You are not listening"

"I am bunny." Ryoma chuckled. "It turns out that the jealous wife of Zeus, Hera, turns his mistress, Callisto to be a bear; years later, her own son, Arcus almost killed her own mother who turns into bear. Zeus, intervened and threw the mother and son in the heavens where they become constellation." He narrated without stopping. He chuckled seeing how her eyes widens in surprised.

Sakuno dumbfoundedly amazed by him, her lips parted in surprised.

"See? Told 'ya..." he chortled. " I'm all ears when it comes to you, bunny" he stared at her eyes directly leaning on her ears. Sakuno looks away blushing so hard.

"Mou!" Sakuno mumbled, she puts the back of her one hand on her face trying to hide her face flushed. She felt her heart skip a beat.

"Continue talking bunny, I'm listening" Ryoma encourages. A ghost smirked appeared on his lips seeing her cute reaction.

Sakuno who gains composure of herself from momentarily heart fluttering, started telling stories once again. They remain there sharing some moments together.

And that same night, Sakuno face her blank canvas once again. This time with smiles. Unlike the day had passed, ideas fluttered in her mind and in less than an hour unlike earlier, a contented and happy smile appeared on her lips looking at her finished canvas.

"So, you are going there?" Miura asks while slicing the meat on her plate. She looks sternly to Sakuno who somehow looks livelier than before.

"Yes mommy" Sakuno answered without looking her mother.

Miura raised one of her brows while wiping her lips with napkin. "Haaa... I don't know... What's the point of giving respect and tribute for someone who will never come out and get up" her voice was full of mocking sounds.

Sakuno clenched her fists tightly under the table.

"Miura!" Hiru shouted. "Pay respect."

"Haaaaa! I don't know huh, why are you always so giving to this girl?!" Miura glared at Sakuno. "Respect should be given for those alive not for those who rotten under the ground." She spats angrily. "Go! As if I can do anything about it. Just do it quietly Sakuno. I am telling you; I don't want any issues and rumors about it! Do it quietly!" Miura stood up throwing the table napkin on the table giving her one last chilling glare.

Hiru just sighed, he looks at her daughter with apologetic smile. "Sakuno, do you want me to send you there?"

"No dad. I'm good" Sakuno answered politely.

"You want me to accompany you Sa-chan?" Seiichi smiled trying to ease the tension in the dining.

"It's okay oniichan. I plan to go there alone." Sakuno smiled.

"Alone? How about bringing your friend there? What his name again? Echizen Ryoma?! That's it. Call him and asks him to come with you" Hiru, their father suggested with warm smile.

"D-dad!" Sakuno stutters, her eyes widen.

"It's okay your brother told me about him. And it seems he's a nice person." Her father smiled warmly. "Sakuno bring him here. I want to meet him properly"

"W-we are just friends daddy!" Sakuno caught off guard

"Whether you are only friends or more than that, I want to meet him." Hiru muttered.

"I... I try..." Sakuno shyly muttered. "But not now please ... Dad" she muttered.

"Do that. I want to meet him personally. I want to meet the guy who sneaks my daughter's out at my back during night" he added.

Seiichi snickered from the side. Making Sakuno blushed in an instant.

Sakuno wore a simple knee length dress paired with knitted sweater. Wearing her favorite sneakers and hair tied in single braid. Sakuno was good to go. After putting her things inside her bag and quickly took a peek on her phone to check the cab she already booked in advance, she hurriedly went downstairs.

She was so ready to go outside when she saw an unexpected person standing near at their entrance door.

"Akaya-kun" she mumbled softly.

Akaya looks up on her, their eyes met, right after the tennis match happens in Ariake Coliseum, it was the first time they saw each other again.

"Uhm... If you are looking for oniichan, he might be in his office or tennis court." She said in solemn voice.

"I came here for you. I know you are going there. I am here to accompany you" he said.

Sakuno looks shock at first but quickly recovered. "Uhm... It's okay" she smiled. "I don't want to bother you. I am going alone" she added, as she started walking pass through him.

"Haaaa! Why did he come with you?" Akaya hissed.

"What?!" Sakuno paused, confused, she turns her head at him.

"That Echizen, is he accompanying you?" He asks arrogantly. "Are you bringing him there?" There is a malicious and mocking tone on his voice. "Seriously? Does he already know?" he asks as if it was something disgusted to be knew about.

Sakuno brows creased. "Just like I said, I am going alone Akaya-kun" she muttered. "If you excuse me, I am going now Akaya-kun" she said, she was about to leave when Akaya grabs her in her wrists.

"Haaaaa! You become feisty huh. Who are you bragging off? That guy?! Echizen?! Haaa! Hahaha!" Akaya laughed without humor. "Why? Did he say he likes you?! Did he promise you anything like love? Live happily ever after?" He spats every word angrily.

Sakuno just look at him.

"You think he is serious to you? You think he really likes you?" He muttered stepping forward on her. "Sakuno, don't trust someone like him. That's for your own good."

"Guys like him will never be serious. Once he got tired of you, once you were not amusing on his eyes and once, he got what he wanted to you he will leave you" every word he muttered is like a dagger stabbing her.

"Stop talking like you know Ryoma-kun well, Akaya-kun." Sakuno defended the tennis prince. For weeks had passed, the tennis prince did nothing but for her to be special. For her to be belong. For her to be loved. That she didn't get for years of begging it to them.

"Haaaaa! And you do?" Akaya wanted to laughed, however he looks at her with contempt. "You just met him a few weeks. Just few weeks Sakuno. Not because he showered you the attention you badly wanted. Not because he showed you interest you badly needed, and not because you badly wanted to be love, you will believe in the first person who shows you doesn't mean he's sincere to you. It doesn't mean he remains constant. So don't be so petty and overly seeking for attention, use your brain. You are smarter than that. " He muttered scorn without hesitation.

And that hits hard. That's hits where hurt the most. Sakuno held her breathe. She couldn't believe she will be heard it from him. Yes, all her life, Sakuno only wanted attention for people she loved. Yes, all her life, she begged for it badly. And all her life, she longed and wish they can love her. At least a bit. Even just a tiny bit. That's why she did everything. She did everything to please her mother, and the person she loves most which is him. Him! Of all people, Sakuno thought that Akaya would be the first person to understand her. He witnesses it all. He saw how she was treated by her mother. He saw her pain. To think that Akaya could mocked and contempt her like that, to scorn and belittle her feelings and only tiny hope for things she keep looking for; like that so easily, as if it was nothing but a petty whim of a little girl who just seeking for attention is too painful for her.

Right. Sakuno bitterly laughed. Why she always been begging for wrong people?

Sakuno stared at Akaya with cold eyes. "Are you done now? " She said in cold voice "stops badmouthing Ryoma-kun, Akaya-kun. And don't meddle with our affairs from now on. It's only between me and Ryoma-kun." her voice sounds different from her usual tone. "Please let's draw a line here." Sakuno said coldly mimicking his own words.

Flabbergasted, Akaya stared at her. "You changed Sakuno, as if I don't know you anymore" he stated, shaking his head. "it's not you anymore"

"No Akaya-kun, I didn't change, I'm still me. I am still the same Sakuno, the only difference is, you know what?" she said looking at him without eyes wavering" I just realized how to set my priorities first. Thank you so much for making me realized that. "And that's how to unlearn you." Sakuno said straight in his eyes leaving him behind.

-end of chapter 7-

to be continued...

*Clap* *clap* Sakuno that was satisfying, indeed! Hahaha ...

There will be no update for tomorrow and another? I guess.

Since I have been planning to finish Ryosaku alphabet chapter 10

This love is ours chapter 23

Rewrite the Stars chapter 8

Yep. I am looking forward to finish the updates for my three stories. Hopefully