He opened the door out of the familiar locker room. Outside, sitting patiently on the bench, she was waiting for him. Like she had always done.
A small shy smile, and she ran her slender fingers through her long brown hair, a habit. He nodded silently, acknowledging her presence. Closing the door and locking it, he turned back to her, shrugging on his tennis bag.
She stood up as his walking led past her. And then she silently followed him, walking slightly behind him. Her hair was loose and slightly wavy, reaching down to her hips, the two braids so characteristic of her younger years absent since the beginning of their second year.
A bicycle went past them as they walked. He glanced up, almost by reflex. And then he looked down again, his hand tightening around the strap of his tennis bag.
She spoke up for him. "I wonder how Momoshiro-sempai is now."
He glanced back at her, his clear eyes meeting her direct gaze, before turning back. "Probably in high school."
They fell silent after that, and continued walking down the same street as the pair has done ever since the school year started.
It started off simply enough. She was in charge of the female tennis team, and he had just taken over the post of captain of the Seigaku tennis team. Both of them were extremely lonely in a sense; they both had to distance themselves away from their members.
So she waited for him one afternoon, and he walked with her home.
Almost a year has passed since then. Today was the last day they would do this. After today there will no longer be club activities for either of them.
Brushing her hair out of her face, she breathed in the heady fresh smell of evening. It had been a most wonderful year. Smiling sadly to herself, she walked silently behind him. After today I'll have to find another reason to stay near him.
It was as if he knew.
Their hands brushed against each other as he slowed down suddenly. Slightly surprised, she pulled away slightly.
He reached out and grabbed her hand, and then, his clear gaze holding her shocked one, he gently interlocked his fingers with hers.
With that, he turned back to the road and continued walking like nothing had happened.
"Don't you dare cry. I hate girls who cry."
That was the way he showed his affection. Even so, she cried.
chiiyo's comments :
Even though Sakuno was extremely irritating in the anime, I looked beyond that personality, and had an image of what Ryouma and Sakuno would look like in their third year. That image stuck with me for a long time, and is the primary inspiration for this drabble; one of Sakuno grown-up and becoming a graceful, beautiful third-year with long flowing hair, and of course a handsome but still internally shy Ryouma. Despite the large yaoi fandom Prince of Tennis has, I still think this pairing has a chance of working out, given the Sakuno grows out of her annoying personality...