141Chapter 5
Courtship
"No one here but you eh, Ryuuzaki?"
Three tall, leering senior boys loomed over her. She was frozen in place; not exactly knowing what to do or how to ward off the boys blocking her way. For one, they were a foot taller than her; intimidating them, much less telling them off was quite impossible. Asking for help was out of the question as well, considering the fact that she still didn't have her voice back. Because of the treats she received while she was confined in the hospital over the weekend, her sore throat essentially worsened.
With big, brown eyes, Sakuno stared back at the seniors in fear.
"What's up with your cast and wheelchair, anyway?" said the boy with jet black, spiky hair as he gazed at the highly uncomfortable girl, "Didn't you just scrape your knee or something? You don't really need all this, do you?"
"Little Ryuuzaki's so delicate," the boy to her right sniggered. "Too bad no one's here to keep her from getting hurt now, huh?"
.
.
.
"Take care of yourself, okay? Eat properly! And don't you even dare think of eating more chocolates! Oh, and don't forget to apply the cream and take your medicine! And please, please, don't do anything rash! Don't even attempt to stand up—"
Sakuno grabbed Tomoka's previously flailing hands and clasped it in her own. With an assuring smile, she nodded in response.
"It's too bad that you can't go with us in Osaka. I was really looking forward to you joining us, Sakuno-chan…" said Tomoka, eyeing her friend somewhat guiltily as if it was her fault that Sakuno couldn't join them in their trip.
Sakuno merely smiled in response, seeing that she had forgotten to bring her notepad with her that morning.
But this only heightened Tomoka's anxiety.
"Make it faster. We're going, Osakada!" cried Horio from the bus.
Tomoka ignored Horio and continued to fuss over Sakuno. "Will you be able to manage on your own, Sakuno-chan? I can stay if you want—"
With as much force as she could, Sakuno tried pushing Tomoka towards the other waiting students now comfortably settled in the bus. Tomoka was looking at Sakuno as if she just found out her friend had a severe case of leukaemia, but the girl gazed at her as if saying, Don't worry about me. I will take care of myself, I promise.
But Tomoka was still quite reluctant to leave. "You know Sakuno-chan… I don't really trust you for taking care of yourself. Look at what happened when I left you to erase the blackboard for a few minutes—"
"Osakada Tomoka! We don't have all day!" roared one of the teachers in the bus.
"Osakada, Sakuno will be fine as long as I'm here, don't worry," said Sumire.
It wasn't long before the freshmen were off for Osaka. Sakuno, alongside her grandmother Sumire, watched as the bus drove off around the corner and disappeared out of sight.
"It seems that you're the only freshman here today, Sa-chan."
Sumire quickly took hold of Sakuno's wheelchair and veered it back towards the school building. Just as they were about to enter the entrance door, there was an unexpected sight that greeted them, standing right by the doorway.
Sakuno's eyes could have bulged out of her sockets at the revelation.
"What are you doing here, Ryoma? The bus just left!" Sumire was equally shocked at Ryoma casually drinking his Ponta as if he hadn't just been left by the bus.
Ryoma pushed himself off the wall and smirked at the still surprised Ryuuzakis. "I was just wondering where those who are staying would be having class today."
English had never been her favourite subject. Dangling modifiers and parallelism were enough to send her off the rockers, but she vowed to endure every painstaking lesson in which she had to struggle understanding the words that were coming out of her teacher's mouth. It was hard enough as it was, but that day's situation just had to make things a tad bit more difficult for her.
Focus, Sakuno. Focus! she told herself as she attempted to read the passage again. The first time she read the text, she did not comprehend a bit of it at all. I wonder how it feels to be a genius, she thought bitterly as she stole a glance at the person sitting to her right.
Ryoma was done reading – as expected, Sakuno thought – and was now busy boring a hole on their English teacher with his cat-eye gaze. Mori-sensei had continuously yapped about appreciating the beauty and essence of literature and how the youth should follow the footsteps of such and such…
"Hn," Sakuno heard Ryoma grunt, a clear indication that he was bored out of his wits.
Sakuno thought that Ryoma's reaction was pretty much reasonable. Definitely more understandable than the passage they were supposed to read in fact. But what she could not understand was why Ryoma was with her in class...
"Echizen."
All three occupants of the classroom turned towards the doorway. It was Ryuuzaki-sensei.
"The deputy principal would like to see you."
Ryoma's previously impassive face was now contorted with confusion. Nevertheless, he stood up and quickly followed Ryuuzaki-sensei out of class, leaving Sakuno in a state of bewilderment.
"Please read the passage out loud, Ryuuzaki," said Mori-sensei, snapping Sakuno out of her daze.
Sakuno was about to stand up and do as she was told when she remembered that she could not stand up and read aloud at all. Well, considering her present state.
Mori-sensei sighed when she seemed to have realized her mistake. "Very well, Ryuuzaki. You will be excused for any reading now, also taking into account that it is as clear as day you have not understood a word of the passage at all."
Sakuno flushed.
"It would be quite difficult understanding your concerns in your present condition, but it would be manageable. However, seeing that we only have several minutes left before the next class begins, right now is not a good time to make up for the things you missed." Sakuno considerably darkened, "But of course, I already prepared a remedy for that." Now Sakuno looked curious. "I would advise you to ask help from a classmate, Ryuuzaki."
A sickening feeling was slowly starting to form in her stomach. Sakuno was well aware that at the moment, there was only one classmate available for this job.
"Why are you here?"
Lifting his gaze from his interesting pair of shoes, he stared back at the school's deputy principal who had been watching him with faint amusement the moment he entered the office.
"I wasn't allowed to go, sensei," said Ryoma nonchalantly.
At this, the deputy principal smiled somewhat knowingly.
"Well, that is quite a revelation, Echizen-kun. I just received a call from your cousin actually. And she was asking for the address of the resort you were going to stay in Osaka because it seems that you have forgotten to bring your packed duffel bag, and she intended to bring it there for you."
Ryoma unflinchingly stared back at the upright man calculatingly scrutinizing his pokerface.
"I don't have a waiver."
Ryoma clearly remembers crumpling and giving it to Karupin as a toy before leaving for school that morning. It would be impossible for the deputy principal to find out about that now, wouldn't it?
"Ah. So you forgot about your waiver too." It wasn't a question. But much to Ryoma's surprise – although his expression hadn't cracked one bit – the deputy principal smiled. "I'm afraid your memory is going bad. This is unfortunate, Mr. Echizen. Most unfortunate."
Ryoma remained unresponsive, simply staring at his sensei currently feigning regret.
"Now, I don't know if you were hoping to skip school the moment you are unable to join the rest of the freshmen in the trip to Osaka. I hate to break it to you, but you would have to take your lessons normally even if it's only Ryuuzaki and you that are left in your batch."
The deputy principal clasped his hands together and smiled innocuously, "Which reminds me… I'm sure you know about Ryuuzaki Sakuno's tendencies."
Ryoma's lips thinned. Was his sensei going to divulge anything of significance about Sakuno? Not that he needed to know more. Ryoma believed that he is already adequately informed about the girl's condition.
"But you have to know that the teachers cannot be beside Ryuuzaki the entire day. Even Ryuuzaki-sensei cannot attend to her every moment since she still has her responsibilities to the school and the team, and you are fully aware of that. Now, speaking in behalf of the faculty members, I would like you to watch over Ryuuzaki and make sure she keeps out of trouble. I heard it was Osakada for this job, but since she's on her way to Osaka right now, we have no choice but to settle for you. Am I understood?"
Ryoma grimaced – not because he had to take care of Ryuuzaki, but because he didn't like being constantly reminded of what he had already intended to do.
The recess bell just rang.
With a last fleeting smile, her Geometry teacher stepped out of the classroom. Sakuno gathered her notebooks and placed them under her desk, after which she grabbed her wallet and notepad, and veered her wheelchair towards the door. She hesitated entering the hallways since there were already crowds of juniors and seniors streaming out of their classrooms to head to the cafeteria – they were all just so big compared to her. And it gave her the willies just thinking that Tomoka wasn't at her side right now.
"Hey."
She whirled her wheelchair, only to be met by a familiar pair of golden orbs.
Ryoma-kun, Sakuno blushed.
Ryoma was leaning casually by the doorway, his hands tucked inside his pants pocket. He wordlessly pushed himself off the wall and approached Sakuno as if staying with the auburn-head was something people would see Ryoma do everyday. Sakuno was still gaping at him, but he ignored this.
Once he was beside Sakuno, he met her eyes for a moment before positioning himself behind the wheelchair and began pushing Sakuno towards the cafeteria, "Let's go, Ryuuzaki."
Hailed as the school's Prince of Tennis, Ryoma was used to it by now. Pairs of eyes penetrating his back as if he was some kind of eye candy would have at least caused him to tell people off and ask them to mind their own businesses. But since he was already used to it, he was more inclined to just ignore these things and go about his merry way.
Taking a sip from his grape-flavored Ponta, Ryoma took this as the chance to look at the girl sitting right across him.
Sakuno looked pale and fidgety.
The boy cannot blame her. She must have had enough doses of stares in the hallways to make her anxious, but her fretfulness just had to heighten right now. Eating together earned them people having bizarre conclusions as to why that was.
Personally, Ryoma thought that eating with Sakuno was no big deal. For one, they knew each other. Unless he'd eat and laugh with Kite or Sanada like childhood friends, then people should start freaking out. But it was just Ryuuzaki. There was nothing wrong with that. Second, she was dying. Even half-witted fools would know better than to leave a disabled, disaster-magnet girl alone. The sight of a girl lying lifeless on a deserted hallway was not a pleasant sight. And lastly, it was his fault. Sakuno was stuck in a wheelchair for God knows long because of him.
Karupin, actually, Ryoma thought grimly.
Suddenly, Sakuno was moving away from their table, her eyebrows drawn together in a frustrated manner.
"Where are you going?"
Sakuno stopped in her tracks. With a fierce blush on her face, she turned to the boy who had regarded her for the first time since they settled in one of the cafeteria tables. When Ryoma, apparently waiting for a reply, remained looking at her, Sakuno hastily scribbled on her notepad.
I'm buying a sandwich. :)
Ryoma had to fight back a smirk at the doodled smiley. Without wasting another moment, he stood up, his figure towering over Sakuno, "I'll buy you one."
Before Sakuno could respond, he headed towards the counter, still ignoring the stares and murmurs he received upon transit.
As he purchased Sakuno's food, he couldn't help but replay the thoughts of Sakuno falling in the staircase over and over again. Right after Sakuno's fall that fated afternoon, he remembered that he realeased his anger by playing his father non-stop over the weekend.
Nanjiroh, the forever snoop he was, bombarded Ryoma with outrageous hunches as to why he was venting out. He mentioned things like, 'sexual tension', 'getting it on', and 'growing up'. For the most part, Nanjiroh teased him with falling for a girl. But because his patience had reached its optimum, Ryoma shouted, 'No, she fell on me!' before he could even stop himself. Nanjiroh insisted that his son meant, 'She fell for him," but Ryoma knew better than prolonging this kind of conversation with his father, so he stomped off to his bedroom even before Nanjiroh could tease him even more.
Before drifting off to la-la land that night, he remembered Sakuno unmoving at the foot of the stairs – it wasn't a pretty sight. Picturing it in his head made him feel things he knew he shouldn't feel. In fact, just thinking of Sakuno was already a bother, but he could not bring himself to stop doing it. As his conscience slowly began to eat him whole, Ryoma produced the resolve to catch her next time she comes hovering out of nowhere.
The thought of Sakuno falling was enough to send his insides churning.
Sakuno knew that sitting in a wheelchair would attract attention. But she did know that having Ryoma push her wheelchair would draw a battalion. Sitting with Ryoma had been really awkward. Considering the fact that she could not talk (or that she would have chosen not to talk even if she could because of the countless times she embarrassed herself in front of Ryoma), recess passed in an uncomfortable silence.
She struggled to engage herself in 'conversation' with him, but because the boy was content in sipping his Ponta in silence and not looking her way, she decided to occupy herself by eating.
But Ryoma just had to have her taken aback by volunteering to buy her food. And she wasn't sure if there was something wrong with her ears, but Ryoma actually sounded... as if he cared.
Sakuno quickly dismissed the thought, fearing that she would jump into the conclusion that Ryoma was starting to fall for her.
Which is, of course, impossible, Sakuno thought miserably.
The only thing that broke the girl from her hapless thoughts was the sudden appearance of a food tray on the table. A juice box, an apple, strawberry yogurt, and a bar of chocolate lay beside the sandwich Sakuno wanted.
What's this? she asked Ryoma right after she recovered from shock.
"Food," Ryoma said without missing a beat.
Sakuno blushed, You know what I mean, Ryoma-kun.
But all Ryoma said was, "Better eat quickly. There's only ten minutes of recess left."
Quite reluctantly, Sakuno popped the straw in her juice box and unwrapped her sandwich. She was still confused with what happened, but seeing that Ryoma would not give her a direct answer, she decided to drop the matter and appease her grumbling stomach instead.
As she occupied herself with her food, Sakuno failed to notice the ghost of a smile on Ryoma's face. For the remaining ten minutes, Ryoma entertained himself by watching Sakuno wolf down the food in the tray.
The next lessons passed rapidly. Sakuno found them all quite uneventful, save for the detail that she shared all classes with Ryoma that day. Even if they had not uttered a word to each other all-throughout, Sakuno was satisfied to sit beside Ryoma. Ryoma was essentially not her classmate, and Sakuno only heard of his genius in class through the conversations flitting about in campus. Seeing him breeze through everything up close was exhilarating. Though she realized she was such an idiot next to him.
It was History class when things became more interesting: Sakuno's bladder became a serious nuisance.
For the corner of his eye, Ryoma saw Sakuno timidly raise her hand.
Furuki-sensei stopped his discussion and regarded Sakuno sharply, "Is there something you don't understand, Ryuuzaki?"
Sakuno blushed and quickly shook her head.
"No, you don't understand?"
Sakuno shook her head again.
"Then was it?" the teacher snapped.
Ryoma's eyes narrowed. Was it necessary to pull that tone on Ryuuzaki? Stealing another glance at Sakuno, he noticed that she was slowly starting to resemble a tomato. He watched the girl rip a page from her notebook and began writing something using a thick, red marker.
I need to go to the restroom, sensei.
Ryoma had to stifle a snigger at Sakuno's desperate expression. It seems that the girl was now informed of her weak bladder and that it wasn't to be taken lightly.
"Echizen, accompany her."
The boy pretty much expected this, so he didn't think twice in standing up to accompany the girl. What had him taken aback though was Sakuno's resistance against the suggestion.
There's no need for Ryoma-kun, sensei!
Ryoma's eyes narrowed for the second time that afternoon. Was Sakuno actually pushing his help away?
"Stop being proud, Ryuuzaki," berated Furuki-sensei, causing Sakuno to turn scarlet. "I don't want to risk you falling over anything again."
Thank you. You can go back in class now, Ryoma-kun.
Sakuno bit her lip when it appeared that Ryoma would not move an inch from where he stood. This is really embarrassing, Sakuno thought as Ryoma placed himself by the wall. Deciding to get things over with, she hurriedly wheeled herself towards one cubicle to finish her business.
Ryoma was startled by the loud bang inside the girl's restroom.
"Ryuuzaki!"
He swiftly rushed inside, the thought of him entering the girl's restroom currently not on his mind. His loud entrance in the room was enough to warn Sakuno of his presence.
"Ryuuzaki, are you alright? Where are you?"
His question was met by recurring taps on one of the cubicles. Go away! I'm fine!
"What, you need help?"
More taps. No!
As much as he didn't want to admit it, Ryoma was panicking. More taps ensued, and this made Ryoma panic even more. What if Sakuno accidentally dunked her head in the toilet bowl and was drowning in toilet water? As more taps resounded in the silence, soon enough it dawned on him which cubicle Sakuno was in, and he instantly resorted to kicking it open. He was on the verge of throwing a flying kick at the cubicle door when,
"Echizen, what the hell are you doing inside the girl's bathroom!" Arai cried, his eyes as wide as saucers. The Seigaku junior was frozen in spot right outside the bathroom.
"Senpai," Ryoma muttered.
"What are you doing there?" Arai repeated, now a bit calmer but still sounded suspicious.
"Someone needs my help."
"The hell! Who in the world would need your help in the girl's bathroom? Are you delusional?"
"No," Ryoma replied curtly, now turning to the cubicle door once more. "Do you still need some help? Tap once if yes. Tap twice if no."
He received two taps.
Evidently aghast, Arai watched Ryoma talk to the tapping cubicle. Currently, Echizen was giving an impression of a perverted psycho. Seeing that he was merely wasting his time gaping at his odd team mate, Arai was ready to leave when there was another explosion of taps from the mysterious cubicle.
"Is it safe to enter?" Ryoma asked.
One tap.
Without wasting another moment, Ryoma pushed the door open, only to find Sakuno awkwardly seated on top of the covered toilet seat.
"Can you stand up?"
Sakuno shook her head, her cheeks hued bright pink.
Ryoma didn't hesitate lifting Sakuno off the seat and carrying her towards her wheelchair, "Your legs are numb?"
Sakuno was too embarrassed to meet Ryoma's eyes, but she nodded her response.
"Arai-senpai, are you still there? Can you get Ryuuzaki's wheelchair?" Ryoma shouted.
"What the hell! I'm your senpai! You don't have the right to order me around!"
"As a senpai, aren't you supposed to help your kouhai in need?" Ryoma said coolly.
Sakuno blushed scarlet when she saw Arai-senpai, with a blush to match her own, enter the girl's bathroom and position her wheelchair properly.
"I swear if someone sees me in here, I'm going to kill you, Echizen."
"Try."
"Come on! Make it quick and drop her already."
"I'll tell you to sensei."
"I was kidding!"
Why do I embarrass myself all the time? Sakuno wished she could just be swallowed by the earth that instant.
As soon as the lunch bell rang, Ryoma and Sakuno immediately exited class to save themselves from being horded by the bigger students. Sakuno was surprised that Ryoma led her to the staircase leading to the upper floors, but the boy did nothing to answer her questioning gaze. Instead, he kneeled right in front of her and said,
"Hop on."
Sakuno's mouth hung open.
"Make it faster, Ryuuzaki."
Despite her clueless-ness to whatever the boy was planning, Sakuno extended her arms and wrapped it around Ryoma's neck. He was considerate enough to secure her legs for her, and the next moment, Ryoma gave Sakuno a piggyback up the flight of stairs.
The two comfortably situated themselves on the rooftop and ate their bentou in silence. Ryoma received occasional glances from his present company, but he pretended to be oblivious to this. It would seem that the girl was actually waiting for an opportune moment to start friendly conversation.
He was about take another onigiri from his bentou box when a piece of paper fluttered down on his grub.
I really appreciate what you did earlier in the bathroom. Thank you, Ryoma-kun. _
He looked up expecting to be eye to eye with Sakuno, only to be disappointed for the girl had her head down and seemed to be occupied with stuffing herself with some curry. It amused him how Sakuno could eat so much.
Ryoma smirked, "Slow down, you might choke yourself and die."
Sakuno began choking the moment Ryoma spoke up. Evidently, the girl hadn't expected him to break the silence.
"I was kidding," he said, patting Sakuno's back.
Ryoma noticed that Sakuno's face was burning once her coughing subsided. But it irked him when she remained clenching her throat. She reached out for her water jug and began chugging down the contents of it.
His eyes widened minimally.
"It's getting worse."
Sakuno coughed out the water she just drunk, diverting her gaze towards the suddenly fearful looking Ryoma.
"It's starting to be difficult to swallow, isn't it Ryuuzaki?" Ryoma muttered woefully.
Sakuno merely gaped at Ryoma as if he had just sprouted another head. She couldn't find it in herself to respond to his questions for she was just reminded of the fact that Ryoma was finally aware of her affections for him. And it only occurred to her that the boy was currently using his metaphorical language once again.
"Wait here. I'll fetch the school nurse."
Sakuno was still gaping at him when he left. And it was only several minutes after those words were spoken when three senior boys caused further havoc to her day.
.
.
.
"Ouch!"
Sakuno was surprised at the outburst of the tallest boy. Not wanting to see anything gruesome after sensing there was going to be a fight, she immediately shut her eyes closed and strained to hear things instead.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Practicing." Sakuno's heart beat rapidly when she recognized the voice and the familiar thud of a tennis ball on the concrete.
"Hey, Tanaka, calm down. It's just a kid."
"Maybe we can ask for his lunch money, too— H-Hey! Keep that racket away!"
"I already told you, I'm practicing. Get out if you don't want to get hit."
Sakuno whimpered inaudibly.
"Who do you think you are? Ordering your senpai-tachi around?"
Footsteps followed right after.
Ryoma-kun, run! she thought frantically, still refusing to open her eyes afraid that she was going to witness something violent.
Pok.
Pok.
Pok.
And there was silence.
"Ryuuzaki, you can open your eyes now."
Ryoma-kun…
Gradually, Sakuno opened her eyes and the first thing she saw was gold. Ryoma was standing not too far away from her, and he was scrutinizing her while sporting a huge scowl on his face.
"You really are troublesome," Ryoma said. And to Sakuno's great surprise, he smirked.
That's the nth time you saved me. :|
"Tsk. You don't expect me to leave you to die," Ryoma muttered. "Are you alright now?"
What made you think I'm not alright?
Ryoma shrugged, "Well, you are the girl in the wheelchair."
Sakuno flushed, I'm fine.
His gaze was penetrating, "Are you sure?"
She nodded, I'm sorry if you had to run and fetch the nurse for nothing. T_T
"Mada mada dane, Ryuuzaki. I believe your illness has affected your eyesight," Ryoma smirked. "There are three unconscious bodies lying on the rooftop right now."
A/N: Happy birthday, Ryoma-kun! I apologize for the lack of updates, but school's been a pain in the past few weeks. It's a miracle I survived and got to write this chapter! Anyhow, I hope you enjoyed this. Definitely packed with RyoSaku moments. (:3) I want to know what you think of the chap! Was it fantastic? Dreadful? OOC? Please review! Reviews can serve as nice Christmas presents! I'll make sure to give out review replies as well. And you'll never know, but I just might update faster. It's Christmas break after all. (;))
ADVANCE MERRY CHRISTMAS!