Hye! I am back! I never thought that writing everyday is challenging hahaha. Because, I keep thinking of the days. I hope this remains good. I really hope.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Prince of Tennis
Chapter 10: Three French Hens
Chapter Summary: She got advices from the people she'd never expected.
'On the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Three French hens,...'
The late morning and early lunch on the third of January came naturally between Obaa-chan and me. I woke up that morning when Obaa-chan told me that my parents were calling me. Excitement filled me when I heard their voices. It made me miss them more already.
They never had the chance to call me since New Year's Eve for they were so dreadfully busy. They apologized and made up to me that morning, using my time just to talk to them. I was really grateful to have loving parents like them despite the distance. It wasn't a hindrance for them to reach me as it was the same for me.
That was the reason we decided to have a brunch the moment we finished talking to each other. I sighed as I finished washing the dishes that early noon.
"That was a big sigh," I heard Obaa-chan said from behind me, "Are you worried about something? You had some quality time with your parents if I remember it correctly."
"It wasn't that, Obaa-chan." I whispered lowly as I wiped my hands to dry.
"Well, spit it out then." Obaa-chan insisted.
I thought to myself. What was wrong with me? I had never been bothered like this before, not when the time I thought Ryoma-kun was hard to reach. I realized that it had been him all this time. I was really bothered that Ryoma-kun was going to leave again. It only intensified when I heard him call me by my name for the first time yesterday. I believed that since Christmas, we had gotten close to each other.
We passed beyond acquaintances years ago but this year felt different. Ryoma-kun was taking his time to spent his days with me. I had never been this close to him before.
"Sakuno." Obaa-chan called out when I didn't speak for a few seconds. She reached out and grabbed my hands pulling me away from the kitchen and brought me to the living room. She gestured me to sit down which I did, "What's bothering you?" She asked looking straight at me in the eye.
I sighed deeply once again and looked down, finding our intertwined fingers interesting to watch, "Obaa-chan... how do you deal when someone you care about leaves you?"
Obaa-chan frowned at me, trying to figure out what I was trying to say, "I'll be sad of course. Why?Are you still sad that you are far from your parents."
"No! I mean, yeah. Sometimes I do and I miss them but, this feels different," I looked at my grandmother inwardly, "It feels like the person is going away... for good."
"What makes you think that?"
"Because... I feel like the person's saying goodbye," I blushed as I thought of the activities we had together during the past few days, "despite the things we did..."
"You are not talking about your parents, are you?"
I slowly shook my head.
"This has something to do with your fortune."
I was about to deny it but thought otherwise.
"This is about Echizen, is it not?"
I guessed that I couldn't deny it anymore, "I-is that weird? He usually leaves but why do I feel like he's not coming back."
Obaa-chan scooted over and placed her arm to my shoulder, "You are just confused. You are bothered of your own fortune this year. You don't really take them seriously so why start now?"
"I think he's changing. He does things I never expected him to do. He notices some thing I do which he does not before."
"Because he starts noticing you now," Obaa-chan grinned at me which made me frown in reply.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Sakuno, just tell him your thoughts," She said ignoring my question, "He can be dense at some things but I am sure he is not with this one."
"I... don't get it."
"Just tell him what bothers you, okay." She said hugging my shoulder tightly. I ended up nodding at her slightly confused at her words. But I understood what she was trying me to do and I couldn't help but smile to it.
"Arigatou, Obaa-chan."
xxx
It was already five when I went to Kawamura's to help him. I already brought the cake I made last night and it was safely stored in their fridge for the meantime. Kawamura-senpai was busy doing his own things while I started aligning the chairs especially for the regulars. As usual, the restaurant was exclusively closed for the party tonight.
They closed it early so we could have all the room by ourselves. The restaurant had been a big part for the team. Win or lose, they would still celebrate afterwards and the father and son were more than willing to welcome their place for the team.
I was really thankful for them.
"It is the time of the year again, huh?" Kawamura suddenly said cutting my reverie in the process, "I can't believe Echizen is leaving again so soon."
"He's... in demand abroad." I just said out of the blue.
"It's feels empty without him around, don't you think?"
I looked at Kawamura-senpai who was cleaning the counter, "You are used of being around him, than... for him to leave the country."
"Aren't you?" Senpai asked me back. Blush appeared to my cheeks when I thought of words to say.
"I get used to. He's... grown accustomed to me now" I bit my lower lip as I looked at him, "Senpai, how do you deal when he's leaving and not seeing him with the team?'
The powerhouse player scratched his head and smiled awkwardly at me, "Well, it's a tricky question indeed. Things aren't the same without him around. I guess I just look forward of seeing him and joining our team again."
"But... what if you feel like... he's leaving for good?" I couldn't help but asked him that. He looked at me surprisingly before replying to my words.
"You are not thinking that, are you?" He asked me as he walked closer to me, "Echizen cannot leave for good. This is where he lives."
"I know that but," I fidgeted with my fingers before I continued speaking, "The other countries can also be his home too."
Senpai observed me for a few minutes before he approached me from where I was standing, "Ryuzaki-san, you just have to believe in him. He cannot forget his friends here no matter where he goes."
I sighed knowing that he was right, "I guess so."
"Are you bothered by it?"
I gave him an awkward smile, "That is what everyone is saying to me, senpai. I guess, I am so easy to read."
"Because you care a lot. And that's already given," He smiled at me, "Just put your faith in him like how you always do when he plays."
Lightened, I eagerly nodded at him. I should trust him. He was Ryoma-kun after all.
xxx
Time flew really fast and it was the evening of the party. Everyone gathered already in front of the big table. For some reason, Tomoka and I were the only girls invited for tonight's party. I was not sure if that was fair to the other girls who supported Ryoma-kun ever since. Obaa-chan said it was something he requested and I could not understand him for that.
We were celebrating for Ryoma-kun's leave. It was indeed weird. Ryoma-kun was leaving but we were celebrating it. He seemed to be enjoying himself as he had some food competition with Mono-chan-senpai and Kikumaru-senpai. I guess it was fine after all.
I'd been thinking what Obaa-chan and Kawamura-san said to me. I shouldn't worry things about Ryoma-kun leaving. But I knew there was something missing and I could not figure out what it was. I drank my soda while thinking that. I smiled when Seigaku no haha sat down beside me.
"I can believe that this night could be this tiring!" Oishi-senpai complained leaning his forehead on the table.
"You made sure that everyone was having fun, senpai." I smiled serenely at him which made him look at me and smiled back.
"I just can't get rid of the worry I feel everytime I am with them," He said looking at the group of boys in front of us, "They just want to have fun not thinking of the possible consequences later."
"How'd you do that, senpai?"
"Do what?"
"To keep them having fun and not worrying the consequences at all."
Oishi-senpai looked at me and smiled before he stared at them, "You don't take the worry away from them. You just do it."
I frowned at his words knowing that I didn't get what he was trying to say. He chuckled when he saw my questioning look.
"You just do your best to express yourself to them. That's all."
My eyes widened when I realized what he was trying to say. How could I not figure that out? I'd been trying to do that, at least I did. Especially when I was in front of him. I was not good at doing it, maybe but I hope he'd understood me even just a little.
xxx
Just as expected, everyone was awfully tired despite them being hyper through the night. I was even surprised to see that Ryoma-kun managed to stand up and went to the bathroom. Tezuka-senpai was already sleeping together with Oishi-senpai and Fuji-senpai. The rest was a sleeping mess on the ground.
I gave Tomo-chan a thumps up before she collapsed her head on the table. She too had been hyper entertaining the others. Obaa-chan and Kawamura's father were both sleeping facing their heads on a table while the son was on the counter mumbling some incomprehensive words.
I was left alone cleaning the sink deciding to finish it first before hibernating for that night as well.
"You sure are working really hard."
I flinched when I heard Ryoma-kun speak behind me. I wiped the sink to dry as I answered him, "It isn't that much. I am about to finish cleaning then I'll call it a night too."
I didn't hear him saying anything after I said that. When I was done, I peeked at him and saw him standing a few inches from me. I bit my lower lip as I felt my heart beat faster than the normal.
"What is it?"
I blinked my eyes when I realized that I was staring at him for too long. Blush immediately appeared to my face. Before I could stop myself, I shared my thoughts with him;
"You're leaving soon... again."
He seemed to be surprised at my sudden words. He placed his hands in his pockets and looked at me, "I've been always."
I nodded at him and looked away, "Until when will you be away?"
"Not sure. I can't tell." He shrugged like my question was nothing to him.
"Why do I feel... so worried about it?"
"You always are."
"I am not!" I shot back up at him, "It's just I feel like you are not coming back." I whispered my last three words to him.
"You're just feeling it."
"You're not sure of that."
"I am sure!" He said walking a step closer to me. His movement made me catch my breath, "I'll come back..."
My eyes widened when he said that. My heart was making loud noises. My face was flushed red. I could even hear our own heart beats because of our closeness.
"And there is not a single fortune slip can stop me from returning here."
I gasped when I heard that from him. How did he know? The only people knew about it were my best friend and Obaa-chan. At least the content of the slip that was. But I couldn't think properly now. The next thing I knew, his arms were around me. I could hear his own heart beat clearly this time.
It was beating calmly.
Ryoma-kun was embracing me.
"Tomorrow, meet me in the train station at 10 am," He whispered to my ear. I was really shocked at his invitation so I couldn't do anything but nod, "Do not be late."
I could sense the smirk that he was wearing on his face that time. I slowly raised my arms to return his hug as I smiled in the process.
"I will try."
Done! How was this chapter? I hope you like it. Domo.
Three French Hens, the other one was the mother hen... got the clue?
Reviews please!!! Two more... Thank you very much.
See you tomorrow!