The Monday morning sun broke through the curtains of Sakuno's room like a gentle nudge from the universe, urging her to embrace the day. With barely an hour before the school trip to Kyoto and Nara, she rushed around her room, stuffing clothes into her bag, her heart racing with both excitement and anxiety.
"Ryuzaki! We have to hurry!" Ryoma's voice echoed against the wooden door. "We should take the Shinkansen in 40 minutes!"
"Yes, yes! Just give me a minute!" Sakuno replied, her hands moving frantically as she fought off the remnants of sleep clinging to her.
Ryoma leaning against the doorframe with a knowing look. "Why didn't you pack last night?"
Sakuno turned, her eyes wide, cheeks flushed. "I... fell asleep!" She could hear the shame in her voice.
"I'll wait downstairs," he said before disappearing down the stairs.
With one last glance at her unmade bed, Sakuno secured her bag, her heart still fluttering with the thrill of the upcoming adventure. She rushed downstairs, where the smell of breakfast wafted toward her from the kitchen.
"Sakuno, don't you want to eat something before you go?" her grandmother, Sumire, asked, concern etching lines on her face.
"Sorry, Grandma! We'll be late!" Sakuno exclaimed, pulling on her shoes.
Sumire's expression softened. "Just take care of yourself. You know your sense of direction is a bit…"
"Okay! Bye, Grandma!" Sakuno called over her shoulder as she hurried outside, the door slamming behind her.
Outside, Ryoma was already tying his shoelaces. Together, they walked briskly toward the station, their breaths mingling with the morning air. As they reached the platform, the sight of their classmates warmed Sakuno's heart. Tomoka spotted them first, her waves more energetic than the rest.
"Thank goodness you're not late!" Tomoka exclaimed as they joined the group, which was already buzzing with excitement. The teacher took attendance, and soon enough, they boarded the bullet train.
As the train sped toward Kyoto, Sakuno settled beside Tomoka, who had a wide grin plastered across her face. Ryoma took a seat behind them with Horio, while Katsuo and Kachiro made themselves comfortable nearby.
"Here," Ryoma said suddenly, pulling out a bread roll from his backpack and offering it to Sakuno. A blush crept onto her cheeks as she hesitated.
"Aren't you going to eat?" she asked softly.
"Eat it. You didn't have breakfast this morning," he insisted, his gaze steady.
"T-thank you, Ryoma-kun," she stammered, her heart fluttering at the kindness. Tomoka's grin widened further, noticing the blush that painted Sakuno's cheeks.
The ride passed in a blur of laughter, chatter, and the occasional glimpse of the stunning scenery rushing by. After two hours, the train finally pulled into Kyoto Station, and the aura of history and culture enveloped them.
They checked into their ryokan, dropping off their bags, before heading out to explore. Their first stop was the Sagano Bamboo Forest, where towering green stalks swayed gently in the breeze. Mesmerized, they snapped photos together, capturing moments in time.
After an adventurous walk, they spotted Kikuya restaurant, where delicious aromas twisted around them. Inside, they reveled in laughter, sharing stories over steaming bowls of noodles.
Their next destination was Kiyomizu-dera Temple. While the group wandered, Sakuno found herself alongside Tomoka and Ai, enveloped in giggles and whispers.
Suddenly, a commotion pulled their attention. A girl with long, flowing black hair approached the boys, her face lit with excitement.
"Kato-kun!" she exclaimed, locking eyes with Kachiro.
The boys all turned, surprised, as Kachiro's features shifted from shock to pure joy. "Hana-chan?" he stuttered, his cheeks flushing a deep crimson.
The girls approached, curiously eyeing the unexpected scene. Tomoka leaned in closer, whispering, "Who is she?"
Hana smiled shyly, glancing at Kachiro before addressing the group. "Nice to meet you all! I'm Hana Shirosaki."
Horio's eyes widened. "Wait, are you Kachiro's friend?"
Kachiro smiled awkwardly. "Actually. she is my girlfriend. She's attending Kokoku high school in Osaka."
"Oh my gosh, that's so cool!" Tomoka exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over. "How do you two even manage that? Osaka is so far!"
Hana and Kachiro exchanged glances, smiles spreading across their faces. "We met online and we share a lot of common interests—music, anime, everything! We rarely meet, but I don't mind about that since he always put me in ease." Hana explained, her eyes sparkling and her cheek blushed. Hana's words made Kachiro blushed as well.
"Can I borrow Kato-kun for a moment?" she asked, her gaze shifting between the boys and girls, who appeared stunned.
"Sure thing! You guys have fun!" Tomoka encouraged, waving them off.
Kachiro waved back and followed Hana, both of them disappearing into the thrumming crowd of shoppers.
"I'm so jealous! I want a girlfriend too!" Horio protested with a dramatic sigh.
Tomoka raised an eyebrow, teasing him mercilessly. "You? A girlfriend? I don't think you'd stand a chance!"
Horio's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Why not?" he protest, sparking yet another round of their usual bickering.
As they continued their argument, the others try to calm them down but couldn't help but laugh at their ridiculous antics.
As Kachiro and Hana drifted away to explore, the dynamics shifted once more. Three girls nearby observed them, including Ume Kurumizawa, a popular figure at their school.
Her friends, Shion and Hitomi, exchanged knowing glances and nudged Ume playfully. "Isn't that the person you like, Ume-chan?" Shion teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Hitomi chimed in, "Yeah! You should go talk to him!"
With her heart racing, Ume took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and approached the group. "H-Hello!" she stuttered, her voice laced with a feminine vibe that drew attention like a moth to a flame.
Horio was momentarily stunned by Ume's beauty. He leaned toward Heisuke, Katsuo, and Ryoma, whispering, "That's the popular girl from the dance club!"
"I know," Heisuke replied casually, though his eyes betrayed a hint of awe, "we're in the same class."
As they spoke, Tomoka felt a twinge of annoyance. She shot a glare at Horio. "Wow, someone sure is weak for beauty," she muttered under her breath.
Ume summoned every ounce of confidence she had. "Can I talk to you, Echizen-kun?"
Everyone turned to Ryoma, who wore a puzzled expression. "What do you want to talk about?"
Ume blushed deeper. "Um… Can we talk somewhere else?"
"Can't you just tell me here?" Ryoma asked, tilting his head slightly, confusion etched on his face.
Horio whispered urgently, "Are you stupid? It's obviously a confession!" With a gentle push, he prodded Ryoma closer to Ume. "As a man, even if you want to reject her, you should do it properly."
Ryoma sighed, clearly reluctant. "Fine. Lead the way."
Ume's heart soared as she motioned for him to follow. As they walked away, Tomoka and Heisuke watched Sakuno who seemed uncharacteristically downcast. "Why did you ask Ryoma-sama to go with her, Horio?" Tomoka snapped, irritation bubbling to the surface.
"It's rude to decline her like that," Horio said defensively.
Tomoka sighed, unable to disagree. Meanwhile, Sakuno quietly interjected, "Um… I forgot to buy something at the shop. I'll be back later."
"Do you want me to go with you?" Ai offered, her kind smile encouraging.
"No, it's okay. Just a minute," Sakuno replied, grateful yet anxious.
Sakuno made her way to the shop. 'Of course there are other girls who like Ryoma-kun too!' she thought, sighing heavily as she entered the store.
Ume brought Ryoma to a quieter spot sheltered by trees. She nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, taking a moment to collect her thoughts. "Uhm, Echizen-kun," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I like you. Please go out with me."
Ryoma stared, taken aback. Confusion washed over his face as he processed her words. "Sorry, I'm not interested," he replied flatly, shocking Ume to her core. This was the first time she had ever faced rejection.
"Why? Can I know why?" she asked, her voice shaking.
"I don't even know you," Ryoma stated bluntly, turning on his heel to walk away.
Frustration welled within Ume as she grabbed his arm. "We can get to know each other!"
Ryoma pulled away, his expression unyielding. "I'm not interested in getting to know you," he insisted before striding away without a backward glance.
Ume clenched her fists, the sting of humiliation burning in her chest. Just then, Shion and Hitomi appeared beside her. "Ume-chan, how is it going?" they asked cheerfully, only to fall silent when they saw her furious expression.
Down at the shop, Sakuno had emerged with a blank stare, her heart heavy. Suddenly, someone grabbed her backpack gently, pulling her aside. "Ryoma-kun?" she exclaimed in surprise.
"Nishiki Market is over here, not there," Ryoma replied, his voice steady yet softening.
Sakuno blushed, glancing around. "Eh? Where are the others?"
"You took too long, so they left first," he explained, glancing at the distance where the others had gone.
"What?!" Sakuno was bewildered, her heart racing inexplicably.
Meanwhile, Tomoka grinned widely from a distance. "I made a great idea right to leave those two," she laughed, delighted with the unfolding drama.
Ai only giggled.
Horio, walking alongside Katsuo, remarked, "What is this? Operation Love Echizen and Ryuzaki?"
Katsuo nodded. "Isn't it great? They'd make a perfect match."
Heisuke just silent at first, then smiled looking up at the sky as if envisioning a bright future.
Not far from them, Ume watched the scene unfold with a rigid posture. "Who is that with him?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
"That's Ryuzaki Sakuno," Shion replied, a hint of pity in her tone. "I think she's quite close to him since they became partners for the mixed-doubles tournament."
Ume's heart sank as reality set in. "She's his partner?"
"Yeah, they won the tournament together," Hitomi added, her excitement dimming as she sensed Ume's disappointment.
Suddenly, Ume's world felt shrouded in shades of green envy. Ryoma and Sakuno shared a light conversation and their laughter occasionally punctuating the air.
As Ryoma looked over at Sakuno, their banter unearthing something warm between them. In that moment, Ume made a silent vow to herself: she wouldn't give up. After all, love was worth the chase—even if it meant navigating a maze filled with competition and heartache.