Momoshiro was idling around the court when he saw Mizuno, Kachirou, Horio and Ritsu huddled around a corner, whispering about. Curious, he went to them.
"Oi, what are you guys doing?" Momoshiro asked.
The four jumped in fright.
"Momo-chan-senpai..." Horio breathed.
"You scared us, senpai..." Ritsu said.
"What were you doing in this corner anyway? You don't have practice?" Momoshiro asked.
"Oh. You shouldn't be slacking... Ryouko-chan is doing her best for all of you." Kikumaru commented as he went over to them. Behind him were Fuji, Oishi, Tezuka and Kaidoh.
"We weren't slacking, senpai. Ryouko-san gave us ten minutes break." Mizuno answered.
"Well, you still haven't answered my question. What were you whispering so secretly about?" Momoshiro asked again.
The four looked at each other worriedly. "I don't know if we can bother the senpais for this..." Kachirou said.
"Tell us. We're not your seniors for nothing... Right, Tezuka?" Oishi said.
Tezuka nodded. "Especially if what you have to say involves the club or a club member." He said.
"It was yesterday, senpai. We had morning practice with Ryouko-san. We actually saw someone strange, a hooded guy with a camera. When we looked carefully, we saw that he was taking photos of Ryouko-san. Then all of a sudden, the guy was gone. Right after that, at lunch, I'm sure the senpais also heard about the flowers that kept on arriving. It annoyed Ryouko-san and it even took away time for her one-on-one with Ikeda-senpai." Ritsu narrated.
"I know about the flowers alright... Man, was I surprised when I walked inside the locker room and found bouquets of flower in every corner..." Momoshiro commented.
"Ryouko asked for my permission to keep them there until she had someone take them away." Tezuka said.
"The thing is, senpai... The flowers are still arriving today. That's why we've been having difficulty in making progress with today's practice. It's driving Ryouko-san crazy. She's been in a foul mood all day." Horio told them.
"Well... I think Ryouko-chan needed to talk to these people and ask them to stop sending those flowers." Fuji replied.
"She's trying to, senpai. But the only thing attached to those flowers were greeting cards with people's names. She said she's going to have her butler investigate those names. The delivery people were prohibited to give away information of their customers." Horio said.
"She's right there. She's been on the phone for quite a while now..." Ritsu pointed.
They looked at the direction he specified and saw Ryouko there, talking on the phone with a serious face.
"It's strange... And it probably made our little Ryouko-chan pretty uncomfortable." Kikumaru commented.
The four freshmen looked at each other and nodded determinedly.
"Senpai... We've been thinking... You don't think this has something to do with that mysterious hooded guy taking secret pictures of Ryouko-san?" Ritsu asked.
"What are you trying to say?" Kaidoh asked back.
"I mean... Looking at what's happening, isn't this some sort of terrorism towards Ryouko-san? We're thinking that maybe... just maybe... That she's being stalked or something..." Ritsu answered.
"Stalked?" Momoshiro, Oishi and Kikumaru chorused.
"That's a serious thing if that's true. And it can be dangerous for Ryouko-chan." Kikumaru said.
"We're trying to figure out what to do. Ryouko-san doesn't even know of that person yesterday who was taking her pictures." Horio said.
"We're really worried, senpaitachi." Kachirou said with his eyebrows downset.
"What if Ryouko-san went home and someone intercepts her and drag her somewhere?" Mizuno said.
"Aren't you just thinking a bit too much?" Tezuka said, although he did acknowledge the possibility of it being true.
"We can't take chances with Ryouko-chan's safety, Tezuka. I think it may be best to inform Ryuzaki-sensei about this matter." Fuji said.
"I also think that will be for the best." Kaidoh said with a nod.
"Should we tell Ryouko-san?" Horio asked.
"No. Don't. There's no need to alarm her." Oishi answered.
"Waah... It's turning out to be such a serious thing, these flower-senders..." Kikumaru commented.
The regulars went away to proceed with practice and talk with Ryuzaki-sensei.
"Nee, sore hontou? (Hey, is that true?)" A voice interrupted the four. They turned around. Ryoma was looking at them.
"Echizen..." Horio said.
"Is what you just said to the senpais true?" Ryoma asked again.
The four nodded.
"We're really worried about it. We've been talking about it since yesterday actually..." Mizuno replied.
"Hmmm..." Ryoma said and placed the head of his racket over his shoulder. "And those flowers were still arriving?" He confirmed.
The four nodded.
"Since the start of afternoon practice." Kachirou answered.
Ryoma went away.
"Echizen, where are you going?" Horio asked.
"To practice." Ryoma answered. He looked over to where Ryouko was standing, still in deep conversation with whoever she's talking to on the phone.
"What's happening with that girl?" Ryoma thought.
~~~
"Heve you heard? Ryouko-chan has a stalker they said..." Mami told Miyako.
"A stalker?" Miyako said in surprise.
"Yep. A stalker. I heard the freshmen boys buzzing about it. You know those flowers that kept on arriving? They think it's some sort of way to terrorize Ryouko-chan..." Mami narrated.
Miyako gasped. "Ryouko-chan must be scared." She said.
Mami nodded. "And Echizen-kun must be on edge. The girl that he—"
"Shh. Mami-chan. We're not supposed to talk about it." Miyako silenced her.
"Oh right." Mami said and placed a finger on her lips.
"I wonder what Ryouko-chan will do now." Miyako said.
"I heard that she doesn't know anything about it. She's better off not knowing. It's a scary thing, a stalker I mean." Mami said.
"So she's clueless that some maniac might be after her? That's just silly. They should tell her so she can be on the look-out." Miyako replied.
"Hmm... Thinking about it, you're right." Mami said thoughtfully.
"The afternoon club practices are ending. Let's tell her when she goes back to the classroom to get bag. She forgot to take it in her hurry to receive another one of those bouquets." Miyako told her.
~~~
Osakada Tomoka was walking past the Tea Club's clubroom on her way to deliver some flyers to a teacher when she overheard two girls talking. The voices were familiar. They were Kurihara Miyako and Ayase Mami's voices.
Tomoka stopped to listen for a while because she heard Fujioka's name. "What about her this time?" Tomoka thought.
They were talking about some kind of stalker and terrorism towards Fujioka.
Miyako gasped. "Ryouko-chan must be scared." Tomoka heard her say.
Mami responded. "And Echizen-kun must be on edge. The girl that he—"
"Shh. Mami-chan. We're not supposed to talk about it." Miyako silenced her.
"Oh right." Mami replied.
"Ryoma-sama?" Tomoka thought. "What's my Ryoma-sama have to do with Fujioka-san?"
Tomoka frowned. There's something fishy. There's something really fishy. And if it concerned Ryoma-sama, Osakada Tomoka, as the president of his fan club will not be letting this thing slide.
~~~
When Mami and Miyako returned to the classroom, they saw Ryouko entering the room with Ryoma.
"They said it was to terrorize you or something. Is it true?" They heard Ryoma say.
Mami and Miyako sat down so they couldn't be seen from the window and leaned their backs on the wall to eavesdrop.
"I'm pretty sure that's not it." Ryouko answered.
"What about that hooded figure taking your pictures?" Ryoma asked.
"I'll figure that one out after I settle the flowers thing." Ryouko said.
"I'll walk home with you. Just to make sure." Ryoma told her.
"You know best that I'm perfectly fine by myself." Ryouko told him.
"I do know... I know you think you're invincible because you're strong, but you're still a girl." Ryoma replied.
"You're behaving like one of my cousins." Ryouko commented.
"They'd be thankful about it." Ryoma answered.
"Come on... Don't be such a worrywart." Ryouko said in exasperation.
"It's not a big deal. I'm just walking you home. The moment you're inside the manor, I'll get going." Ryoma said.
"Damn it. Always treating me like a helpless girl." Ryouko mumbled in an annoyed tone.
"You are a girl. And you can be helpless at times." Ryoma said.
Mami and Miyako peeked on the window and saw Ryouko glaring at Ryoma.
"Just settle the flowers thing and have someone catch whoever it is that's taking your pictures. When everything's clear, I'll get lost from your personal space. Deal?" Ryoma said and held out his hand in front of him.
Ryouko looked at his hand thoughtfully. "Deal." She said, taking it. She was about to shake it when Ryoma dragged her out of the classroom by her hand.
"Hey. Let go of my hand now. I thought that was a handshake." Ryouko complained.
"It's pitiful that I have to undergo such deception and tactics just to get you to hold my hand. It's safer this way." Ryoma said.
"Echizen Ryoma. If you don't let go, I'm going to twist your arm behind your back." Ryouko threatened.
"Try it then." Ryoma replied playfully.
Their voices faded out from the corridor. Mami and Miyako gave each other knowing looks.
Secret campus couple Echizen-Fujioka pair... They're so fun to observe!
Above photo - Shimada Ritsu - 1st year
Above photo - Ayase Mami - 1st year
Above photo - Kurihara Miyako - 1st year
:D