the downward spiral to romance

1. On the First Week of High School

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1. On the First Week of High School

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Ryoma yawned for the umpteenth time that day. He had a hand propped to support his chin as he looked outside the sunny clear skies. The breeze from the window beside his seat was enough to make him even more sleepy. He lazily observed the sakura petals swaying with the wind as it slowly descended. The sounds of his classmates in the middle of their own introduction blurred in his ears as he remembered missing his breakfast that morning. By the time he flashed a look inside his classroom, he realized just how bored and hungry he was.

Thinking about it now, not much has changed since his middle school days. As a first year high school now, he still felt relatively the same. One would think that after winning the Nationals three years in a row would have sufficed his hunger for playing tennis, but it was the opposite. It was still tennis that he lived and breathe. And albeit the enjoyment on his third year dwindled a bit because of losing his senpai-tachi, this year... this year, they were all reunited and it was enough for him to look forward to the future matches that he would play.

"Ah! Sakuno! Your sweets are delicious as always!" the high-pitched voice of Osakada Tomoka filled his ears that it made him flinch.

Cut off from his reverie, Ryoma didn't notice when lunch break finally started. He unconsciously turned his head to look at the source of the noise. There was a commotion around the seat that was three desks away from his. His eyebrow quirked up, wondering what was happening. Around Ryuzaki Sakuno, who was seated at her desk was their classmates who looked eager to try the contents of the bento box that she had on her table. Aside from Osakada's voice that was loud enough for him to hear at his distance, he didn't quite catch the words of his clubmates Horio, Katsuo, and Kachiro as they conversed with Ryuzaki who could only shyly smile at the attention in her small space.

Not really particularly interested in meddling with other people's stuff, Ryoma stands up. On his mind, he was already making choices on the food he will buy at the cafeteria. He trudged on, making his way to the classroom's door. Stifling a yawn, he exits the room. Almost immediately though, he halts on his steps. He was barely away from his classroom when a girl he didn't recognize approached him.

Her blue hair was short, and she was blushing. She was staring at him expectantly, and he could see the traces of makeup on her face-- a trend he wasn't exactly sure how would happen, considering the school's strict rules on makeup. It took all of his willpower to not simply walk away and ignore. He's already been in a scene similar to this for so many times that he could count. Since middle school, he's had a fair amount of love confessions than he could ever remember.

"Echizen-kun, can we talk by the rooftop?"

"Hn."

It was due to the countless pep talks of his peers and basic human decency taught to him by his mother that he agreed to follow. He had a faster pace that the girl had to follow him even as they ascended upstairs to the door for the rooftop. Ryoma wanted this affair to be over with as soon as possible. His stomach craved for lunch and he wouldn't want to waste the whole lunch break without eating anything. As the girl closed the rooftop door behind her, he saw how she tensed for a bit. There it is. He already anticipated the words that she said next.

"Echizen-kun, please go out with me!"

"I'm sorry." Like a well-rehearsed line that he was already used to give over time, Ryoma replied. There wasn't any particular tone in his voice. It was just what he plainly said. He isn't interested and the fact that he doesn't even know the girl didn't help. He waited for the girl to react, half-expecting her to flee away or cry, but she didn't. Instead, he was surprised at the question she asked.