A/N: Hello! I'm back with a new story. Haha. I know I posted Someone You Love earlier and it was really supposed to be the fic I would be posting along Waiting for that Promise, but then, the story was becoming longer than I expected and I'm yet to finish half the outline I needed. But this story, the downward spiral to romance, wasn't as long. And since the overall premise of this is really light and the plot wasn't really taxing and simple, I chose to continue with this. Haha. Anyways, I'm rambling too much. Here's the prologue.
Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis is not mine.
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0. Echizen and Ryuzaki
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It was a wonder when it all first started. The common knowledge that for some reason, there was this thing going on between them. From the numerous tennis lessons, and specially-made bentos, there was this unspoken understanding that everyone seemed to share. After all, he always goes out on his way to save her from bullies and she would always be seen as his constant supporter and silent cheerleader in all of his matches. It was all the explanation they needed along with their constant observations.
"Oh, look! Echizen from Class 2 is looking for Ryuzaki!"
"Ryuzaki always stays late at school to watch the boys' tennis club practices, right?"
"Did you know that Ryuzaki gives Echizen her bentos for lunch?"
"Last Sunday, I spotted Ryuzaki and Echizen meet up at the station."
"Have you heard? Echizen accepted Ryuzaki's honmei chocolates last Valentines!"
"I heard Echizen dumped another girl today. I wonder if it's because of Ryuzaki?"
"Ryuzaki has many admirers, ne? I pity them because Echizen is around."
"Ryuzaki and Echizen are dating, no?"
"Echizen and Ryuzaki..."
They'll speak of it as if their names always belonged on the same sentence that everyone would talk about with a degree of certainty. Little did they know how the relationship between the two was vague in contrast to what everyone believed. They are somewhat friends, that much was confirmed enough. But the possibility that there was something more within their exchanges and encounters goes over their heads-- the tennis prince's in particular.
It was baffling for him. For the most part of his middle school he has been Ryuzaki's private tennis tutor due to family connections and Coach Ryuzaki's favor. They would meet on Sundays at the station for tennis lessons. In exchange, the girl would give him bentos. And on Valentines and Christmases she would never fail to give gifts for the team and her friends-- himself, included.
Just because Ryuzaki Sakuno was basically the only female outside of his family that he's in close contact with, everyone thought that it was special.
He thought that they were wrong, but he never had the energy to explain. He doesn't care about what they think anyway. And even if his senpais and father would continually tease him about it, he never gave them the time of the day. Because what or what's not his relationship with Ryuzaki isn't anyone's business.
And so, through the past years that they studied in Seigaku Middle School, the rumor that has never been addressed eventually became an unconfirmed fact.
YOU ARE READING
the downward spiral to romance
FanfictionRyoma is getting annoyed at everyone for constantly teasing him with Ryuzaki. In the first week of high school, he commits the first of his many mistakes before realizing how much the twin-braided girl meant to him. The thing is, he just might be to...
