Silver's Effect

Ryoma

i was covered in sweat laying in the middle of the court i had just gotten finished playing on when the rest of the tennis club got to the courts.

momo seemed to be the first to see me since he raced over to me and dropped to my side as he yelled my name as if i was dying.

i gave him a glare that didn't seem to do much considering i was panting like a dog in heat.

his look of concern soon turned to amusement when he realized i was just worn out. "what happened to you ochibi?" kikumaru asked as he popped up next to momoshiro.

i just closed my eyes and concentrated on getting my breath back as fuji and oishi leaned over me as well.

oishi was worried and tried pushing a water bottle in my hand while fuji asked thoughtfully "who did you play to put you in such a state?"

i gulped the cold water down before spraying a bit on my face and said "a girl."

everyone seemed surprised before kikumaru and momoshiro burst into laughter at me.

fuji slowly opened his eyes as he asked "did she beat you?"

i looked over at the silver racket sitting beside my own cherry red one and shook my head before saying "it was a draw."

a flash of her smiling face before she left flashed through my mind and i felt myself smile a little in return.

she was covered in sweat and her face flushed slightly from the heat, her hair was falling out the already messy bun on the top of her head and she had been panting just as much as i had been, but that smile on her face told me she truly loved tennis.

i just wonder what made her stop playing two years ago.

i sat up and looked towards the school.

a flash of silver in a window made me look to see Koyuki in the music room.

she was opening a window.

turning she smiled over her shoulder at some girls and a teacher, but something was wrong with it, it was a fake smile.

she heaved a sigh and sat down lifting her arms slightly.

as she moved her arms music filled the air around the courts, everyone looked over to the music room and i realized she was playing the piano.

it sounded beautiful and sad at the same time, then her sweet voice started to sing along with sad lyrics rolling off her tongue.

i felt my eyes widen slightly as i watched her.

a breeze blew through the window and lifted her hair that had been brushed and pulled back into a ponytail.

she seemed even more gorgeous the more i looked at her and i felt heat rise to my cheeks.

before anyone noticed i turned away and stood up.

"what a pretty voice that girl has." oishi said with a happy smile.

"indeed" fuji said as he watched me with an unnerving smile.

i rolled my eyes and picked up my racket and a ball.

i cast one last look at her over my shoulder before going to a back wall and hitting the ball to the same spot on the board continuously.

once practice was over i grabbed my bag and made my way to the front gate to go home.

as i neared the exit though i noticed someone walking the same way as me.

looking up silver flashed in my eyes before my eyes widened and i realized i had paused to stare at Koyuki.

she had seemed to pause upon seeing me as well before flashing another fake smile to me.

i shifted onto my other foot before saying in a mocking tone "that wasn't very nice."

she tilted her head in confusion and i smirked as i said "that was fake."

she seemed shocked as she looked down muttering a small "im sorry."

i shrugged and we both continued walking.

i glanced over at her and slowed half a step so i was walking beside her but didn't say anything as she looked up at the sky and tracked the clouds with her eyes.

she either didn't notice we were walking together or did not mind.

silently i hoped it was the latter.

we walked in a comfterable silence for a few minutes before coming to a train crossing and stopping as the guard came down for the train to go by.

i slowly turned to peek a glance at her to see her sucking in a deep breath as she watched the train get closer.

then surprisingly as the train got to us she let out a barely audible scream, the sound of the train blocking out all of the sound coming from her except the tiniest of whisper that i wouldn't have even noticed had i not been watching her.

when the train was gone and the guard lifted she walked on as if nothing had happened.

when she got to the other side she stopped and turned back to me quizzically before calling "aren't you coming?"

i snapped myself out of the daze i was in and jogged up to her.

so she had noticed me beside her.

we walked quietly again until she stopped about a block away from my house and gave a small genuine smile to me.

i stopped as well and looked at her in slight confusion.

she pointed to a medium sized house to her right and said "this is my stop. i suppose i should thank you for walking me home."

i shrugged and said "not really. i live just up there." i pointed up the road in the direction we where walking and her smile seemed to drop a little.

"but" i said slowly as i looked over to her house to avoid seeing her disappointment "i did enjoy walking with you."

i chanced a look back at her to see her smile back as she bowed slightly and said "i enjoyed it too, it wasn't as lonely as the walk to school this morning."

she looked down at her shoes awkwardly and i sighed before turning to walk away.

"ryoma?" her voice made me stop and turn slightly to her.

she was still looking down at her shoes but she glanced up at me before asking "what time do you normally go to school in the morning?"

i furrowed my brow slightly before giving her the time.

she raised her left hand and played with the hair that framed the side of her face in a nervous gesture as she asked "if i happen to leave at that time too would it be ok to walk with you again?"

i felt my confusion disappeared, instead replaced with surprise as i stared at her.

i must have stared for too long because she looked down dejectedly and turned towards her house.

when she reached the gate to her yard i blurted out "see you in the morning!"

she froze then slowly turned to face me with slightly pink cheeks.

i made a small wave to her and slowly turned back to walk away, barely catching the grin she wore from the corner of my eye.

in the morning huh?

maybe school isn't as boring as i thought it was.