The sun hung high, casting a cheerful glow over the school as students buzzed about after their final exams. For them, today was different—not only had they survived another term but it was the day of the eagerly anticipated parent-teacher meetings.
After a breakfast that was more animated than usual, Sakuno and Ryoma headed out the door.
"I'll come later to the meeting," Sumire assured as they approached the main entrance. Her voice echoed with warmth, but a hint of mischief danced in her eyes.
"Okay, grandma," Sakuno replied with a smile, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. They arrived at school, the familiar gates framing their world of classes and friends.
Ms. Sakaki, the always enthusiastic teacher, greeted them cheerily. "If your parents have already met with me, you're free to go home early." she announced, and one by one, students began to leave with their parents.
As Sakuno stood waiting, glancing outside for Sumire, she spotted Tomoka waved as her mom finished up with Ms. Sakaki. Horio, Katsuo, and Kachiro, soon joined her as they made their way back home. Tapping her foot nervously, Sakuno thought, 'Grandma sure is late...'
With one hand in her pocket, she fished out her phone and called Sumire again. "Are you okay, grandma?" she asked when her grandmother picked up.
"Yeah, sorry! I will be a bit late. Just wait a bit, okay?" Sumire's voice reassured her.
"It's okay, Grandma, take your time," Sakuno replied, managing a slight smile as she hung up. Turning to Ryoma, who had been quietly observing her, she added, "Grandma will be late."
"Then do you want to grab something to eat at the cafeteria? It's already lunch hour." Ryoma suggested, his tone casual yet inviting.
"Yeah! I didn't bring my bento today," Sakuno admitted. They both walked towards cafeteria, took a tray of food for each of them and sit down. A giggle escaping her lips as she added, "It's funny—it's the first time we're having lunch together at the cafeteria."
Ryoma's lips curved into a small smile. "That's because you always bring bento," he remarked, and for a moment, Sakuno felt light, as if floating on air.
Once they finished their meal, Sakuno announced, "Ryoma-kun, I need to go to the restroom for a bit."
"Okay, I'll head back to class then," he replied, unaware of the fleeting sadness that flitted across her features.
Once inside the restroom, wringing her hands, Sakuno composed herself. As she washed her hands, she glanced outside and caught sight of someone familiar. There stood Ryoga, Ryoma's older brother, casually tossing an orange in his hand, looking exceptionally handsome in a suit.
"Ryoga-san?" she called, recognizing the older boy from visits to Ryoma's family.
"Hey there, Sakuno-chan!" Ryoga flashed a charming smile. The sunlight catching his features just right.
"Are you here for the meeting? Ryoma-kun didn't tell me you're coming," she asked curiously as she approached him.
"Oh, he didn't tell us about it. We found out from your grandma," Ryoga explained nonchalantly. "I'm visiting my aunt here, so I just thought I'd drop by."
Sakuno blinked, her interest piqued. "Oh! I didn't know Ryoma-kun has an aunt here."
"Yeah, she just my aunt, Ryoma and I have different mothers," Ryoga replied with a smirk, sensing her curiosity.
"Oh I see." They hanging in silent for a while. Sakuno thought she never knew about Ryoma's family circumstances. She stammered "Well, I'll show you to our classroom," she offered.
Just then, they both spotted Ryoma approaching. "What are you doing here?" he asked, annoyance lacing his voice.
"Of course, I'm here for the meeting. Why didn't you tell us?" Ryoga ruffled Ryoma's hair playfully, earning an exaggerated scowl from him.
"There's no point; it's too far from the US," Ryoma shot back, trying to keep his expression serious.
"I have some business to attend to here anyway, so it's okay." Said Ryoga, as they walked towards inside of the school building.
Sakuno watched their banter unfold, feeling the tension ease but also a faint envy bubbling inside her. As they walked, Ai and Ume spotted them, making their way excitedly over.
"Ryuzaki-chan!" Ai exclaimed, pulling her aside. "Who's that?"
Ryoga looked at Ai and Ume, and winked at them, made them both blushed.
Ryoma gave him a bored look, "Can you not embarrassed me?"
"C'mon, lighten up! Give me a chance, it's been so long since I graduated high school," Ryoga laughed, nudging his brother playfully. "So where's your classroom?"
"He's a bit similar to Echizen but their personalities are completely different." Ai said.
"That's Ryoma-kun's older brother, Ryoga-san," Sakuno replied shyly, feeling heat rise in her cheeks.
"Really? No wonder! He's so handsome." Ai gushed, and just then, Heisuke approached.
"Who's handsome?" Heisuke asked, trying to maintain his cool demeanor.
"Why, are you jealous?" Ai teased, her laughter ringing out like music.
"I'm not jealous!" Heisuke retorted, but his face betrayed him, turning a shade of beet red, causing Ume to chuckle quietly and said, "Ookami-kun, it obviously written on your face," which made Heisuke blushed more.
The girls laughing together. Then, Sakuno waved goodbye, leaving their friendly chaos behind as she returned to her classroom. She sat down, attempting to read the book she had brought along,
Ms. Sakaki sat at the modest table, her files ready, facing the two figures—Ryoma and his older brother Ryoga.
Ms. Sakaki smiled warmly, turning her attention to Ryoga. "So, you are Echizen's older brother?" she asked, curious yet composed.
Ryoga leaned back in his chair, an easy grin plastered across his face. "Yes, I am." His smile was bright, almost blinding. As if on cue, a rush of warmth spread across Ms. Sakaki's cheeks, tingeing her face a delicate pink.
"I didn't know you had such a pretty teacher," Ryoga added, his words laced with playful mischief.
The blush deepened on Ms. Sakaki's face, unexpected and erratic. Across the table, Ryoma shot his brother a glare that could cut through steel. 'Here he goes again,' he thought, rolling his eyes as he exhaled impatiently.
"Get to the point, will you? And this teacher is not available. She's dating someone," Ryoma interjected, his tone dry yet protective.
Ms. Sakaki felt her embarrassment grow, her hands instinctively reaching up to mask her flushed face. So much for professionalism, she thought, trying to regain her composure. "E-Echizen, how did you know?" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I saw you and Coach Jun at the tennis center in Shinjuku," Ryoma replied bluntly, recalling a moment from months back when he had accidentally glimpsed them sharing a tender kiss amidst their playful match. The memory danced vividly in his mind.
Ryoga erupted into laughter, clearly amused by his brother's straightforwardness, while Ms. Sakaki sank a little deeper into her seat, mortified at the revelation. How could this conversation have turned so quickly into a discussion about her personal life?
After a pause filled with a mix of embarrassment and amusement, she cleared her throat. "Well, let's talk about you now," she said, forcing the conversation back to its intended course. "I don't see any problems with Echizen here. He usually scores full marks on exams and excels in sports as well." She flipped through Ryoma's records, taking pride in his achievements. "Ah, I see you wrote you want to attend an athletic college in the US, right? Is it specialised for tennis?"
"Yeah," Ryoma confirmed, a hint of determination creeping into his voice.
"Then I see no problem," Ms. Sakaki smiled encouragingly. "You have dreams, and that's wonderful. What do you think, Echizen-san?" Her gaze shifted to Ryoga, seeking support.
"We're aware of it," Ryoga chimed in, his expression earnest. "If he's okay with it, then we'll support him as much as we can."
Relieved, Ms. Sakaki beamed at them. "That's good, then. Support is vital for success."
As the meeting wrapped up, Ryoga remarked, "Is Sakuno-chan okay with you going to study in the US?"
"Yeah, we talked about it," Ryoma replied, determination etched on his face.
Ryoga chuckled, "I envy you, meeting someone like her."
"Go ahead first; I'll stay," Ryoma told him, his heart warming at the thought of Sakuno.
"Waiting for Sakuno-chan? You're becoming quite the gentleman," Ryoga teased.
"Just go already," Ryoma replied, dismissing him.
"Let me know if you need anything!" Ryoga called as he left, waving his hand and stepping into the hallway filled with the afterschool clamor.
Ryoma watched his brother leave, then made his way back to the classroom. The atmosphere was quieter now, with only a few students lingering. His gaze landed on Sakuno, who smiled brightly upon seeing him. He returned her smile, slipping down beside her.
"You can go back if you want," she offered gently, her voice kind yet inquisitive.
"It's alright. I'll wait with you. I have nothing better to do," Ryoma replied, watching the classroom empty. They were alone, savoring the comfortable silence that enveloped them as the day drifted toward its close.
"I wonder what's taking Grandma so long," Sakuno mused, peering at the door expectantly.
Just then, the class door swung open, and the sight of her father, Shinji, startled Sakuno. She gasped, "Dad?!"
Shinji, out of breath and visibly distressed, glanced between them, relief flooding his features. "Is it over?" he asked.
"Oh no, the school isn't over yet," Ms. Sakaki interjected, stepping in. "We can still have the meeting."
"Thank goodness!" Shinji exclaimed, wiping sweat from his brow. "How can I miss the last parent-teacher meeting? I've been a terrible father for missing previous ones. But this time, I want to make sure I'm here."
Tears welled in Sakuno's eyes, touched by her father's effort. "Oh, Dad…" she whispered, emotion welling within her.
From a distance, Ryoma silently admired the scene, a soft smile gracing his features.
In the meeting room, Ms. Sakaki initiated the discussion. "So, are you aiming to be a teacher?" she asked, casting a curious glance at Sakuno.
Sakuno blushed, "Yeah."
Shinji's eyes widened, his mouth gaping as the realization dawned on him. "You want to be a teacher?" he echoed, astonished.
"I heard you study with Echizen; you've shown great improvement in academics," Ms. Sakaki noted, encouragingly.
Sakuno smiled shyly, "Yeah…"
"What do you think about her being a teacher, sir?" Ms. Sakaki inquired, turning to Shinji.
Shinji beamed, "Who am I to oppose that? I don't even know my daughter's ambitions enough."
"Dad, don't say that," Sakuno interjected, firmly holding his hand. "You've worked hard for me and our family. I'm always proud of you for that."
Touched, Shinji wiped his eyes, feeling emotions swell. "Whatever your dream is, your mother and I will always support you."
"Thanks, Dad," Sakuno murmured, her heart swelling with gratitude. Ms. Sakaki watched the scene unfold, her heart warmed by the bond they shared.
As they left the room, Sakuno hugged Shinji tightly. "Thank you for coming. I really appreciate it."
"Anything for my daughter," Shinji replied, squeezing her back affectionately.
"By the way, did Grandma tell you about the meeting?" Sakuno asked as they walked together. "No," he replied, an amused smile spreading across his face. "Ryoma told me."
"Eh?" she exclaimed, blinking in surprise.
"We're quite close, you know," Shinji grinned, acknowledging the strong friendship blossoming between his daughter and Ryoma.
As they reached the school gate, Ryoma stood there, waiting, a silhouette against the fading light. Upon seeing him, Sakuno's face lit up like a firework display, and she rushed towards him, her joyful laughter echoing in the air.
Shinji observed the two with a sense of fulfillment, imagining the future they might dare to weave together. The soft golden hues of sunset illuminated their faces, revealing a tale of dreams and connections, supported by love—a tapestry crafted with the threads of ambition and affection, forever intertwining their lives.