Warning: Rate T

Ryoma Echizen had barely managed to shake off the toll of his long journey from the United States when his phone erupted with a shrill ring. Blinking in the dim light of his new Tokyo apartment, he squinted at the clock—9:00 PM. Six hours of sleep felt like a distant memory, but Horio's enthusiastic voice jolted him into wakefulness.

"Echizen! I heard you came back to Japan!"

His reply was a weary, "Yeah..."

The silence that followed felt heavy, filled with memories of past summers spent in Japan, where laughter flowed as freely as the drinks. Yet, beneath that comfort lay a strange itch for something—a sense of belonging he needed to rediscover.

Horio chirped again, "Want to get some drinks?"

For a brief moment, Ryoma considered refusing. He craved solitude, the quiet that settled over him after the long flight. But then, an idea sparked in his mind like a firework; he could ask Horio about Sakuno's apartment. It had been far too long since he'd seen her, and he longed for a glimpse of his girlfriend.

"Okay," he found himself saying before he could change his mind.

After washing his face, he locked the main door behind him, stepping out into the cool night air. The streets of Tokyo were alive, humming with energy and possibilities. It felt both foreign and familiar, a hybrid of memories rushing back to him.

The izakaya restaurant was just around the corner, its wooden facade glowing invitingly in the neon-streaked darkness. As he entered, he spotted Horio at a table, grinning widely like a child who had just discovered a hidden treasure.

"Long time no see!" Horio exclaimed, clapping Ryoma on the back as he slid into the chair across from him.

"Yeah," Ryoma replied with a small smile, grateful for the ease of their friendship amid the chaos of re-adjusting to life in Japan. Horio been helping him watching over Sakuno when he was in US, and he somehow felt grateful for that.

Horio wasted no time in ordering two beers, the clink of glasses promising a night filled with camaraderie and laughter. They fell into easy conversations, sharing stories of their lives—the pressure of college, the strain of expectations, and the moments that made it all worthwhile.

Then, without warning, the atmosphere shifted as Horio's phone buzzed on the table. He picked it up, his eyes widening.

"Oh, I just got a picture from Ai!"

"Huh?" Ryoma leaned closer, a spark of curiosity igniting within him.

Horio's face still shocked as he turned the screen to Ryoma. There she was—Sakuno, the girl with the gentle eyes and infectious laugh, caught mid-gesticulation in a raucous celebration with Tomoka. Her cheeks were flushed, and her smile was bright, exuberant as she'd never looked before. Ryoma's heart skipped a beat at the sight of her. There's also Tomoka inside the picture.

"They're drunk!" Horio exclaimed, barely containing his shocked. "We need to go, Echizen!"

Horio's quickly stood from his seat, and before Ryoma could say anything, Horio tossed a few bills onto the table and bolted toward the door. Caught in the whirlwind of Horio's enthusiasm, Ryoma found himself following suit.

In the heart of the city, nestled among the neon lights and lively chatter, sat a cozy snack bar buzzing with laughter and friendly banter. Tonight, it was especially vibrant; three friends, Sakuno, Tomoka, and Ai, gathered together to celebrate an important milestone in Ai's life—a sponsorship from the prestigious law school that would allow her to continue her studies.

As Sakuno entered the snack bar, her heart lifted at the sight of her two friends. Tomoka waved energetically, her excitement contagious. "Sakuno! Hurry up! We've got something to celebrate!"

Sakuno hurried to join them, taking a seat across from the duo. "Congratulations, Ai-chan!" she beamed, her eyes sparkling with joy. "You deserve it."

Ai grinned, her cheeks flushing with warmth. "Thank you! I couldn't have done it without you guys."

Their laughter filled the room, but amidst the revelry, Sakuno's gaze drifted past them, landing on a poster plastered on the wall. The bold letters read, "Kei: Tomorrow's Star," accompanied by a striking image of their high school friend strumming a guitar, lost in the rhythm of the crowd. "Isn't that Ookami-kun? He has a stage name now." she pointed, her voice tinged with nostalgia.

At the mention of Heisuke's name, Ai's expression darkened. "Don't talk about him," she snapped, anger glinting in her eyes. "I hate him."

Startled, Sakuno leaned forward. "What's wrong, Ai-chan?"

Tomoka joined the conversation too, "Yeah, did something happen?"

Ai, feeling both defensive and vulnerable, took a deep breath. "He left after sleeping with me." The words fell between them like a heavy stone.

Both girls gasped. "You slept with him?" Tomoka stammered, incredulous.

Ai shrugged, chugging her beer with reckless abandon. "I couldn't help myself; he was so handsome that night." Sakuno and Tomoka exchanged wide-eyed glances, sweat-dropping in disbelief.

"Wait, when did this happen?" Tomoka asked, curiosity piqued despite herself.

"Last week," Ai admitted, her tone softer now. "I was at the convenience store when reporters started chasing him. He brought me to a hotel to hide. We talked, and then…" Her voice trailed off, frustration boiling beneath the surface. "He just left me a sorry note. I asked Ume, since she's in the same college as him but she can't find him either."

Sakuno, who had been silent for a while, finally spoke up, her voice soft. "Maybe he had his reasons. People sometimes get swept away in the moment…"

Ai sighed, allowing her anger to dissipate somewhat. "I don't know. We weren't even a couple, yet I still let it happen. It's my fault too."

In a sudden shift of mood, Ai turned her attention to Tomoka. "Tomo-chan, what did you feel when you… you know, with Horio?"

Sakuno and Tomoka blushed furiously, exchanging flustered looks. "Why are you asking me that?! It's our privacy." Tomoka said.

Tomoka and Horio have been dating each other since their second semester. Tomoka fall in love with him after she saw Horio's braveness to protect Sakuno, when she got into trouble during Ryoma's absence.

Ai sighed. "Must be good to do it if you both in love with each other."

Tomoka then said, "But, if you both decided to do it and you both love it, don't you think you both like each other already?"

Ai drink again, "I'm not sure how he felt about it, but for me, i was not really hate it."

Sakuno and Tomoka looked at each other and smiled. Sakuno said, "then it's a good thing, right?"

Ai turned to Sakuno, her tone suddenly teasing. "Enough about me. What about you, Sakuno-chan? What do you feel when you think about doing 'it' with Echizen?"

Sakuno's face turned crimson. "W-Why are you asking me this?" she squeaked, caught off guard by the sudden onslaught of questions.

Tomoka chuckled softly, her playful nature returning as she nudged Sakuno. "Come on, you must have thought about it if you're dating him!"

Sakuno still blushed and stammered, "T-that... I never thought about it. A-aren't we supposed to do it after we get married?"

Ai and Tomoka looked at each other and silent for a while, then they both burst into laughter.

Ai still laughing, "I expect that answer from you."

"Stay innocent, Sakuno," Tomoka teased, raising her glass. "Now come on, we're drinking to celebrate! Let's drink to our hearts' content!" With a determined glint in her eye, Tomoka started chugging her beer, urging Sakuno to join them.

"C'mon, Sakuno!" Ai encouraged, grinning widely. "You can't let us drink alone!"

Sakuno waved her hand dismissively. "I'm not good with drinking."

"Just one sip?" Ai teased mischievously.

With a nervous chuckle, Sakuno finally relented and took a small sip. But within moments, her head began to spin, and she fainted on the desk. Tomoka glanced at her in shock, then chuckled. "Sakuno is really bad with drinking," she said, shaking her head.

A short while later, Tomoka, too, succumbed to the effects of the alcohol and fainted beside her friend. Ai couldn't help but giggle, taking a snapshot of the two girls sprawled out on the table. She sent it off to Horio, hoping to share the laugh.

Across the room, Hiro spotted the trio. As he prepared to join some other friends, he caught sight of Sakuno, passed-out. Worried, he excused himself from the group, making his way over. A concerned look crossing his face as he approached Sakuno.

Just then, Ryoma and Horio arrived, Ryoma's expression shifting into one of alarm when he noticed another guy leaning over Sakuno. Hiro reached out to take Sakuno's arm, but in a flash, Ryoma was there, grasping her arm first. "I'll take her," Ryoma stated firmly, his voice unwavering.

Hiro stammered, thrown off by the sudden appearance of this confident guy. "Who are you?"

Ai looked up and her eyes widened as she saw the guy who supported Sakuno. "Oh, Echizen-kun!" she exclaimed, recognition dawning.

The very mention of Ryoma's name pulled Tomoka's focus. "Ryoma-sama?! You're back!" Tomoka's eyes widened, as she turned toward Ryoma in sheer disbelief.

Hiro froze, realization crashing over him like a tidal wave. This was the Ryoma—the prodigious tennis star, the boyfriend whose initial matched the name Sakuno had mentioned. His gaze shifted to Ryoma's wrist, where he spotted the elegant bracelet that mirrored Sakuno's.

"Ryoma-kun? Is it really you?" Sakuno's voice cracked, emotions spilling forth as she rushed into his arms, enveloping him in a fervent hug. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," Ryoma whispered tenderly, brushing away her tears with his thumb. "Let's go home, okay?"

Sakuno nodded, still drunk. Tomoka grinned and gave a mischievous looked to Sakuno and Ryoma, while Horio tried to support her walking towards them. She whispered conspiratorially to Sakuno.

Ryoma sensed the tension in the air. He didn't bother introducing himself to Hiro; he merely led Sakuno away, supporting her delicate frame as they walked.

"Hey, aren't you Sakuno's classmate?" Horio asked Hiro, glancing back with raised brows. Hiro nodded slowly, feeling a mixture of disappointment and newfound responsibility.

"Can you help me with that girl?" Horio pointed his index finger to Ai, struggling slightly with Tomoka's playful attempts to wiggle away.

"Sure," Hiro replied, taking Ai's arm to assist Horio in getting them into a cab.

Meanwhile Ryoma tried to balance Sakuno's weight as they walked. But as they approached the street, he realized he hadn't asked Horio where her apartment was and sighed in frustration. He attempted to call Horio multiple times, each ring echoing unanswered. Ryoma thought probably he's busy with the other two girls.

Ryoma looked at Sakuno's tipsy state, and when she finally lost her footing, he was there to catch her. With a gentle smile and steady hands, he scooped her up onto his back, her giggles ringing like wind chimes in his ears.

"Your back is warm," Sakuno murmured sleepily, snuggling into him.

"Where's your apartment?" he asked, shifting her weight slightly as he began to walk, but the only reply he received was a breathy laugh and a nuzzle into his shoulder. In that moment, Ryoma made a split-second decision, to bring her to his apartment.

As they reached his apartment, he carefully set her down on the couch, lifting her to sit up as he brushed a stray hair behind her ear. She looked up at him, bleary-eyed but shimmering with warmth. "Wait here, I'll get you some water," he said, hoping to clear the fog in her mind.

But just as he turned to leave, he felt a tug on his wrist. "Where are you going? Don't leave me." Her voice lilted, a mix of vulnerability and mischief. "I just want to grab some water," he replied, doing his best to remain composed.

Ryoma hurried to the kitchen and filled a glass, returning with cautious steps. Just as he handed it to her, a wave of laughter sent it slipping from her hand, cascading down her front and soaking her dress in a shimmery splash. "Sakuno, your clothes are wet," Ryoma noted, his cheeks warming slightly. "I'll get you something else to wear," he said without thinking, already moving toward his room.

He returned, a simple shirt in hand, hoping it would avert any potential disaster. "I'm going to open your dress now." he warned gently. She nodded, still caught in the rays of her inebriated bliss. As he lifted her dress, his cheeks flushed with warmth, his heart racing like the thunder outside. The sight of her delicate lace bra and matching panties jolted him, like a sudden storm. He already got used to half-naked girl when his father kept shoving his dirty magazines to him, but with Sakuno, it felt different somehow.

Ryoma brushed away the flutter of heat pooling in his chest and hastily dressed her in his shirt, which hung loosely over her figure. "There," he said, stepping back to give her space. But before he could fully retreat, she hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest. "Ryoma-kun, stay with me," she murmured, her words heavy with whispered longing.

Feeling warmth fill his chest, he patted her head softly. "Okay." Yet, moments later, her affectionate embrace morphed into something more intense as she pinned him down on the couch. The world shifted again, this time leaving him breathless.

"Ryoma-kun," she purred, her voice sultry enough to melt any resolve he might have clung to. She leaned closer, brushing her lips against his neck, igniting a fire that made him gasp. "Sakuno, wait... don't do this," he stammered, his voice barely a whisper, yet the plea was lost in the heat of the moment.

But she wouldn't stop. The sensation of her warm mouth on his skin sent electric shocks straight to his core. He felt a bit pain on his neck as Sakuno kind of biting there, leaving a mark.

"Tomo-chan told me to seduce you," she confessed, her breath hot against his ear, sending a shiver of confusion through him.

He made a deadpanned look. 'This Osakada.'

"Look," he attempted to reason, his breath strained, "I don't want to do this when you're drunk, okay?"

She paused, her brows furrowing slightly. "What if I'm not drunk?" she countered, a glimmer of determination in her eyes.

"We'll talk about it later. When you are completely sober." he offered, wishing desperately for a way out of the tangled web of emotions pulling him in. But her neediness spoke louder than his caution, and she responded with a sultry nod.

"I still feel hot." she whined, leaning closer while her fingers traced patterns on his chest. The heat within their shared space threatened to consume him.

He grabbed her hand to stop. "Okay, stop there. What about we just kiss? Let's just kiss until we both tired, okay?"

Surrendering to the moment, Sakuno nodded, and Ryoma pulled her. Their lips met, tentative at first, but quickly igniting into a charged symphony of desire. He pressed closer, deepening the kiss, their tongues dancing as though they were two souls finding solace in each other.

Time slipped away, and soon Sakuno slipped into a dreamy slumber, her head resting against his chest. Ryoma, heart still racing, carefully lifted her into his arms, cradling her close. The wild flutter of uncertainty began to settle into a soothing rhythm as he carried her to the bedroom.

Once there, he gently laid her down, caressing her hair as he tucked her beneath the covers. He sighed, "I guess I need to go shower to cool myself down." He quickly took his towel and went to the shower room.

As he finished showered, he lay beside her, exhaustion from the evening's tumult finally overwhelmed him, and the world fell away into dreams.

He pulled her close, whispering, "Goodnight." With that, he too succumbed to sleep, the promise of tomorrow lingering in the air—a soft glow of hope amid the warmth of their shared hearts.