Sakuno leaned over her desk, scribbling frantically before the lecture started. Each note was a lifeline, a tether to the world of academia she loved. Her focus shifted, however, as the sound of Yuna's whisper pierced her concentration like a well-aimed arrow.
"So, why didn't you tell me?" Yuna leaned closer, her grin wide and teasing.
"Eh?" Sakuno replied, caught off guard.
"About your boyfriend!" Yuna's tone was conspiratorial, a playful lilt in her voice.
Sakuno blinked, her cheeks instantly warming at the mention of Ryoma. "You knew?"
"Yeah, Hiro told me," Yuna giggled, stealing a glance at Hiro, who was smiling to her.
"I told you I saw you that night," Hiro added with a chuckle, his eyes darting between the girls.
Sakuno shocked a bit. "So you met Ryoma-kun?"
Hiro nodded, nonchalantly. "I just guessed since I saw him wearing the same bracelet as you."
Yuna gasped, her excitement bubbling over. "Ryoma? You mean the famous tennis player Echizen Ryoma?"
Sakuno felt her blush deepen, internally chiding herself for not announcing their relationship sooner. "I'm sorry for not telling you. It's just that… I don't know how to say it."
Yuna threw her arm around Sakuno's shoulder, her smile warm and genuine. "That's okay! But you have to introduce him to us!"
"I'm not sure about that…" Sakuno hesitated. "Ryoma-kun seems like doesn't really like meeting people he doesn't know. But maybe I can introduce him if we meet..."
Just then, the lecture ended, and students began streaming out of the lecture hall. As Sakuno gathered her belongings, a sudden notification chimed from her phone, pulling her attention away from the chatter of her classmates.
It was a LINE message from Ryoma. 'Let's have lunch together.'
She quickly typed back, 'Where are you?'
'At your university,' he replied almost instantly.
"Eh? He's here?"
'I'm outside of the education faculty building.' Another message came in.
Her heart raced. "He's outside?" She shot up from her seat. "I need to go!"
"Wait, Sakuno-chan!" Yuna shouted as she and Hiro scrambled to follow her out.
Outside, Sakuno quickly scanned the area, anxiety bubbling within her. "What's wrong, Sakuno? Are you looking for someone?" Yuna inquired, curiosity evident in her tone.
"Oh, um…" Just then, the buzz of gossip surrounded them: whispers about a "handsome man."
Sakuno turned and spotted Ryoma leaning against the wall, casually bouncing a tennis ball with his racket. He looked effortlessly cool in a simple t-shirt and long pants, and her heart fluttered at the sight.
"Is that your boyfriend?" Yuna said.
Sakuno could only nod, her cheeks flaming red. She walked toward Ryoma, each step fueled by a mix of excitement and nerves. "Ryoma-kun!"
He stopped bouncing the ball and smiled slightly, those familiar hazel eyes glinting with affection.
Yuna approached with a confidence that startled Sakuno. "Hi, I'm Yuna Sato, and this is Hiro Agawa. We're Sakuno-chan's classmates."
Ryoma responded with a slight nod, his face an impassive mask that made Sakuno wonder what was going through his mind.
Sakuno bit her lip, her heart racing. "Is it okay if we go to lunch with them too?"
"Sure," Ryoma replied simply.
In the bustling university cafeteria, they found a table, and Sakuno sat beside Ryoma while Yuna and Hiro settled across from them. The noise of students filled the air, but Sakuno's world narrowed to just the four of them.
As they started eating, Yuna's eyes lit up when she noticed the couple bracelets matching Sakuno and Ryoma were wearing. "So, you guys have been dating since high school?" she asked eagerly.
Sakuno smiled, nodding shyly. "Yeah, we started dating back in the third year."
"No wonder you always rejected me when I asked you to go to the mixer!" Yuna teased, leaning back in her chair. Sakuno blushed and awkwardly glanced at Ryoma, who wore his typical bored expression.
Hiro chimed in, "So how long will you stay in Japan, Echizen-san?"
Sakuno turned to Ryoma, her thoughts mirroring Hiro's question. She had been so wrapped up in her classes, she hadn't thought to ask him.
"Until Sakuno finishes her studies," Ryoma replied, glancing at her.
Sakuno's heart skipped a beat at his answer. "W-What?" she stammered, caught off guard.
Yuna gasped, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, that's just a few months! So do you plan to go to the US together after that?"
Ryoma looked at Sakuno again, and she felt her breath hitch. "We—we didn't discuss that yet…" she said, her voice trailing off, uncertainty creeping in.
"I see," Yuna said, smirking playfully. "By the way, Echizen-san, what do you like about Sakuno?"
"Yuna-chan…" Sakuno interjected, cheeks flaming again.
"Seriously Yuna, you ask them to many questions. Give them some spaces." Hiro protested, raising an eyebrow.
Without missing a beat, Ryoma answered, "Everything."
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to him. His expression remained stoic, yet something in his demeanor shifted as he continued, "Everything about her."
Sakuno felt her heart swell at his words, but a wave of shyness washed over her, turning her into a flustered mess. Yuna beamed, "Sakuno-chan, how lucky are you! Don't worry, we'll leave you two alone now."
"Wait!" Hiro protested, still eating enthusiastically. "I haven't finished my—"
"Bring your food! We'll go to another table!" Yuna declared, grabbing Hiro's arm and dragging him away despite his protests.
Sakuno said, "Eh? You guys can just eat here."
"It's okay. We'll sit somewhere else. Echizen-san just got back to Japan; I'm sure you both have a lot to catch up on." With a wink toward Sakuno, she tugged Hiro away.
Sakuno watched them go, torn between gratitude and embarrassment. She turned back to Ryoma, who had relaxed slightly, a ghost of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"You sure attract friends like Osakada," he commented, taking a bite of his food.
Sakuno smiled gently, her heart feeling lighter. "They are nice friends."
"Do you have another class after this?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied, her cheeks tinged with a hint of pink. "I signed up for an English class as an additional course."
Ryoma raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Not bad. So, you can speak in English now?"
"A little…" Sakuno murmured, a shy smile creeping onto her lips. "I'm not as good as you."
"Then talk to me in English now," he suggested, his tone light but encouraging.
Sakuno felt her heart race at the challenge, a wave of warmth rushing to her cheeks. "Now?" She hesitated, but Ryoma's gentle nod pushed her forward. Clearing her throat, she focused on the words that danced in her mind.
"I… I had classes today. The math class was… difficult and… the science class was very interesting," she stammered, her voice shaky but determined.
Ryoma's smile widened, genuine admiration shining through. "Not bad," he replied.
Her giggle bubbled up, infectious and bright. "Ryoma-kun… I want to—"
Before she could finish her thought, Ryoma's phone buzzed violently, interrupting their moment. He answered it swiftly, switching seamlessly to English.
After he hang up, he turned to Sakuno. "Sorry, the manager in the US called."
Sakuno watched him, intrigued by how effortlessly he transitioned languages. "It's okay. Did he ask you to do something?"
"No," he replied, looking back at her with a hint of relief. "He said I can stay here for a few months."
Sakuno's face lit up with joy. "That's great!"
"What did you want to talk about earlier?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.
Sakuno shook her head, feeling the weight of unspoken words press down on her. "It's nothing."
Ryoma slid onto the seat beside her in the classroom. "Are you sure you want to sit here?" she asked, her brow furrowing with concern. "The teacher will find out you're not a student here."
"I'll be fine," he replied with a casual grin. "Besides, it's been so long since I've been your desk mate."
With a playful giggle, Sakuno felt a flutter of excitement in her stomach. As the class began, Ryoma's presence transformed the mundane into something special, the lecturer oblivious to his true identity. Time seemed to slip away, and before they knew it, class was over.
As they walked hand-in-hand across the campus, Sakuno felt a sense of euphoria wash over her. "It's nice to walk like this with you," she said, her eyes sparkling. "It's like we are from the same university."
Ryoma smiled softly at her. "Where do you want to go after this?"
Sakuno said, "I think I'll just head home for today. I have an assignment to do."
He paused, meeting her gaze with sincerity. "Do you want to come to my house and sleep over tonight?"
Sakuno's heart raced; the idea thrilled and intimidated her. "Sleep over?"
"Well… sure, but I need to take a few things from my apartment first."
"Okay," he agreed, and they made their way to Sakuno's place. After a quick stop for clothes and books, they headed to Ryoma's apartment, where the evening unfolded comfortably.
Later that night, as Sakuno sat cross-legged on the floor, typing furiously on her laptop, she let her hair fall freely around her waist. Ryoma lounged on the couch, absentmindedly twisting strands of her hair between his fingers.
"Your hair is getting longer," he observed casually.
Sakuno looked up, her heart skipping a beat. "I like it that way."
Ryoma glanced at her screen. "Still got more assignments?"
"Just a bit," she replied. "You can sleep first if you want."
"I'll sleep here," he insisted, settling into his position. "You go sleep in the room later."
"Won't you feel uncomfortable sleeping here?" she asked gently.
"Why? You want to sleep together in the room?" he teased, a glint of mischief in his eyes.
Sakuno felt heat rise to her cheeks. "It's not like that! I just feel sorry for you having to sleep on the couch…"
"I'm okay," he clarified with a smirk. "Besides, I don't think I could hold back if we slept together."
"What?" she gasped, her heart racing at the implication.
"Just kidding," Ryoma replied nonchalantly, a playful smile gracing his lips.
Silence enveloped them for a moment, the air thick with unspoken thoughts. Finally, Sakuno spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper. "Ryoma-kun…"
"Yeah?" he responded, propping himself up on one elbow, giving her his full attention.
"When I finish my studies, is it okay if I go with you to the US?" Her heart fluttered nervously in her chest.
Ryoma stared at her, surprise evident in his expression. "Are you sure you're okay with that?"
Sakuno's determination shone through her nervousness. "I want to be together all the time…"
His smile was warm, sincere, and full of promise. "Okay, then."
As Sakuno finished her assignment, she noticed that Ryoma had drifted off to sleep, his features relaxed and peaceful. She quietly slipped into the bedroom, returning with a soft blanket to drape over him.
"Goodnight, Ryoma-kun," she whispered, brushing her lips against his cheek in a tender kiss.
"Karupin…" he murmured in his sleep, a small smile twitching on his lips, as if he were dreaming of something delightful.
Sakuno giggled, her heart swelling with affection. She turned off the lights and retreated to the room, cocooned in warmth and hope. With thoughts swirling in her mind, she drifted off to the melody of distant dreams with a smile. She looked forward with her life if she went to the US with Ryoma.
