Hot spring accident part 2

As soon as the two arrive, everyone continued eating. The regulars started to reminisce about the events that happened four years ago and laughed as well into some memories. After finishing their snacks, Fuji and Tezuka walked inside the court and readied themselves for the match. Coach Ryuzaki stood and followed them, "Alright. Let the match begin."

After hearing those words, Fuji served the ball and used his technique called "Disappearing serve." The ball landed on Tezuka's right and disappeared, though the captain used as well his technique called "Tezuka Zone" and the ball was drawn to him. Both players rallied, and gave their best at it not wanting to commit any mistake. Outside the court, everyone gathered and watched the match without blinking an eye. 30 minutes passed and the match was over, Tezuka won only by a point advance to Fuji.

"The match was really intense, I didn't know who will win" Momoshiro said as he saw Tezuka and Fuji keeping their racket.

Ryoma saw a racket leaning on the fence of the tennis court and he got it only to give to his sempai Kawamura. The latter after holding the racket instantly became aggressive, his eyes burned with fire as he was shouting. "Burning…! What a great match you have Fuji and Tezuka! It doesn't matter which one won, it's about giving your best in the match!" Kawamura said as he raised the racket like that of a sword. The others looked at him and Momo walked behind the shouting sempai only to snatch the racket he was holding. Kawamura after that returned to normal and found everyone looking at him, "wh-what happened?"

The others laughed, even Tezuka and Fuji smiled. "Nothing really, ask Echizen" Oishi said with a smile and looked at the tennis prince who upon hearing his name only lowered his cap.

"You played well everyone. As a treat, you can do whatever you want. Just be back at 6 for dinner and after that, we can go to the hot spring," Coach Ryuzaki said with a smile and upon hearing that, everyone raised their hands and shouted "Yeah!"

As the regulars and the others were leaving the court, Coach Ryuzaki looked at their retreating figures. No matter how much time have passed, they are still the Seigaku regulars that I have been with in the past 4 years. Nothing really quite changed, Coach Ryuzaki thought and left the court as well.

Nighttime came and everyone were gathered in the dining room which consist of one long wooden table and lots of tatami floor cushions, aside from that only a tokonoma and ikebana were displayed inside. The food that were already prepared on the table consist of different kinds of sushi, sashimi, chicken takoyaki, tanuki udon, pork gyoza and beef that is sizzling in the gas stove placed on their table.

"I hope you'll have a nice night, the hot spring outside as well as in the inside were opened only for you. If you have any concerns, feel free to address any of the helpers here and we'll gladly assist you. Please excuse us and Enjoy your dinner," the hostess said with a smile as she bowed to them slightly and left afterwards. Her helpers also bowed to the guest with a smile and followed their manager.

"The hostess is really pretty" Eiji commented and Momoshiro added, "Not only that but she seems to be still young…well atleast younger than Coach that is." Upon hearing that, everyone except Momo stopped eating and slowly looked at Coach Ryuzaki with fear. Surely enough they found their Coach surrounded by a dark aura and Sakuno as well as Tomoka who were beside her on both sides slightly backed away. The elder Ryuzaki then smiled in a scary way and looked at Momo with a deadly glare, the unsuspecting sempai continued eating and reacted in pain when his right ear was pinched really hard.

"Did I hear you say something Momoshiro?" Coach Ryuzaki asked while Momo replied in pain, "Nothing Coach…ow, I was just joking! I'm sorry!" the elder Ryuzaki released her grip on Momo's right ear while the latter caress it softly. Everyone that saw what happened earlier continued eating and acted obediently. Indeed the hostess was beautiful, her ebony hair was tied in a bun by a white hair pin. She has a fair skin complexion, her eyes were pale blue and her gentle smile can make anyone feel better even in hard days of work.

After everyone finished eating dinner, the regulars immediately went to the men's hot spring outside, while the girls went to the girls' hot spring. All the regulars took off their clothes and used a white towel to cover their lower part while the girls used the white towel to cover their whole body. upon entering their designated hot spring bath, they were amazed by the water as soon as their feet dipped in it. The hot spring cooled off their body and relaxes their muscle, they could feel all the pain fade away.

"Ahh, going to the hot spring after dinner really helps relieve stress and can be relaxing…" Momo murmured and Eiji, Kawamura as well as Kato, Katsuo and Horio agreed to the statement.

"Let's go bath here again tomorrow morning before we practice tennis," Oishi suggested and everyone looked at Tezuka. The former captain only nodded and the others after seeing his answer, smiled.

Meanwhile as the boys chatted about their routines for tomorrow, Sakuno and Tomoka, on the other hand was talking about Ryoma. Both of them enjoyed the hot spring for they can talk openly about anything without being conscious to Coach Ryuzaki. Sumire after eating so much decided not to take a bath to the hot spring but instead went straight to her room.

"Ne, Sakuno…have you said to Ryoma-sama about your latest match?" Tomo asked the timid girl and the latter smiled weakly.

"Um, I haven't told him yet Tomo-chan. it's seems that he is more needed by Momo-sempai and the others, so…" Sakuno replied and Tomoka suddenly intervined.

"Eh? But Sakuno how can you-" her sentenced was cut when her bestfriend immediately covered her mouth.

"Tomo-chan…please lower your voice, our sempais might hear it" the auburn haired girl said in a hushed tone and Tomoka nodded. Indeed, even though they can talk freely, they can't actually talk about Sakuno's feelings for their sempais as well as Ryoma were just bathing at the adjacent side.

When the timid girl removed her hand off Tomoka's mouth, she began to speak again, "Sorry Sakuno, but really…I can't believe this. Ryoma-sama returned here for the reunion right? He will only be staying here for a week, you must say it to him and also…this might be your last chance to admit to him as well what you feel towards him."

Sakuno's eyes widened, she then faced her bestfriend and saw that she was serious. "But Tomo-chan…" Sakuno paused then look away and clasped both of her hands together, "if I do confess to him, I'm afraid that Ryoma-kun might never talk to me anymore. Besides, what's the point in admitting it to him? He would never acknowledge such a shy and clumsy person as I am."

"Nonsense! What are you saying Sakuno? You haven't tried it yet, right? If Ryoma-sama will ignore you for that reason, atleast you got the chance to admit it to him right? I mean, it's better to try than regret for not trying," Tomoka said and the timid girl once again looked at her with surprise. Where did that cheerful, assertive and president of Ryoma's fan club go? The girl sitting beside her is different from the Tomo-chan she used to know, this girl is serious and looks like she knows a lot through experience.

Sakuno can't help but smile. 4 years indeed has passed and Tomo-chan seems now mature not only physically but mentally as well, she thought. "Sakuno? Is something wrong? By the way, did something good happen between you and Ryoma-sama? Afterall, you both sleep in the same room…I'm jealous of you Sakuno. I mean, you can actually spend some quality time with him, talk things about yourselves, and also when you become sick, he will take care of you. Kyaa! I hope Ryoma-sama will do that to me"Tomoka said she started drifting to dreamland.

Upon hearing her bestfriend's comment, Sakuno imagined those things, and at the last scene she pictured herself being taken care of by Ryoma with a worried expression. Though she imagined too much that she didn't notice her face becoming flustered and the heat within her, is rising. Tomoka continued to imagine things about her and Ryoma but was brought back to reality when she heard a plop beside her. She looked and gasped, "Sakuno! Sakuno! Where are you?" she continued to search for her bestfriend, slowly touching the place where the timid girl used to sit. Finally she grab a smooth but tiny object. Tomoka immediately pulled it up and saw it was her bestfriend's arm, the timid girl was unconscious. Tomoka pulled her out of the hot spring and called for help, "Can anyone hear me? I need help! My bestfriend here is unconscious!" Tomoka waited for a response, yet no one came. She then looked at her bestfriend, some of Sakuno's hair were sticking near her lovely face, her hands were dangling loosely at her sides, her lips slightly open, her body not moving.

Tomoka's heartbeat raced, she checked her bestfriend's pulse. It was still beating yet slow. Tears began falling down on Tomoka's cheeks, "Sakuno…please, don't leave me" she whispered to her bestfriend and again called for help.

Meanwhile, as the regulars were playing with the water. They heard someone's voice, though they knew that voice and after hearing the whole sentence, they rushed towards the Girl's hot spring. They were about to enter when two household attendants stop them, "Excuse us sir but this section is strictly prohibited to men. If you have someone you know in here, please do wait until she is finished."

"Finished? What are you saying! We heard just a while ago a call of help! You are actually requesting us to just sit and wait while they need help in there?" Momoshiro answered back a bit angry, while Oishi tried to calm him down.

"We are deeply sorry sir, but a rule is a rule. You have to wait till they are finished," one of the household attendant said with a smile.

Grr, this girl makes my blood boil. Calm down Momo, you don't want to make a ruckus here now right? besides, fighting with a girl can only lead to trouble, Momo said to himself and calmed down. "Yes, you're right. I'm sorry for my actions, we will wait for them here." The two household attendants nodded and guided them to the waiting area. Not known to them, Ryoma sneaked in secretly while Momo was arguing with the attendant. The tennis prince entered the bath, he was wearing a yukata which he got on a cabinet on his way to the girl's bath, he looked around and saw Tomoka hugging someone. He slowly walk towards Tomoka and tapped her shoulder.

When Tomoka felt a tap on her shoulder, she immediately turn around to see who it was. Her eyes widened and she smiled, "Ryoma-sama…you're here. Thank goodness" she said in a hushed tone.

The tennis prince looked at Tomoka, he noticed her eyes were a bit puff. He slowly looked at the person she was hugging a while ago, and his eyes widened for a sec but returned afterwards. He saw that it was Sakuno whom Tomoka was hugging, she was not moving. At the sight of her, Ryoma couldn't help but notice his heartbeat race as well, not because he was happy, but because he felt suddenly scared.

"Ne, what happened to her?" Ryoma asked in his usual voice. He was still looking at the auburn haired girl that is lying unconsciously.

Tomoka answered, "It's all my fault! I started dreaming about you and me and then I just heard a plop. I turn around to look what dropped and notice that Sakuno was nowhere to be found. So I searched for her, and when I finally saw her, she was not moving anymore."

"Hn, it could be because of the heat in here. She might not have been able to take the temperature and lost consciousness," the tennis prince answered. "Well, I better take her to the room. I'll tell her to go to you as soon as she woke up," he added and with that, he slowly took Sakuno into his arms. Ryoma carried her bridal style and began walking out of the bath. Tomoka is still looking at her friend, then suddenly Ryoma spoke "Don't worry, she'll be fine. I promise you that. We'll be going now, bye." And with that, the tennis prince left completely the bath and Tomoka smiled to his retreating figure, "Take care of her Ryoma-sama."

As soon as Ryoma entered his and Sakuno's room, he carefully place Sakuno in her bed. He realized she was only wearing a white towel as clothing and so he took a yukata from their cabinet and slip it in Sakuno. He looked at the unconscious girl lying in front of him, he sigh and sat beside her. "Stop making me worry," he whispered with a worried expression and remove a loose hair in Sakuno's face. For a sixteen year old girl, she sure looks the same. I haven't noticed that she looks beautiful when she let her hair down, Ryoma thought to himself and smiled slightly. After realizing what he just said, he turned away from Sakuno. What am I thinking? She never affects me this much before, he cursed himself silently then sigh. The tennis prince looked at Sakuno for the last time, "Rest well for today Ryuzaki...and also, stop surprising me in different ways. I can't just take in your new look without actually letting myself get distracted by it." He smiled at her and kissed her forehead, he then went to the bathroom to change clothes and left the room.

While everyone were busy worrying to the call of help, someone entered the hot spring and the hostess greeted him with a smile. "Good evening Sir, did you took a reservation?" she asked and the mysterious guy smiled and nodded. "May I know what your name is?" the hostess asked again and the mysterious guy got a card from his pocket, in it was his name and contact number. "Very well sir, I'll take you to your room, please follow me" the hostess said and walk towards the reserved room while the mysterious guy trailed behind her.

Suddenly his phone ring and he answered it, "What it is now?" he asked a bit annoyed.

'Did I made a mistake in sending you there? You seem to be angry' the voice on the other line spoke.

"No, I'm sorry. I'm just tired from the flight, that's all…" the mysterious guy replied.

"Here we are now, sir. If you have problems or needs assistance on something, feel free to speak to any of the attendants her or to me. Here's your key. I hope you enjoy your stay here, Goodnight" the hostess said and bowed slightly at the guest then left.

When the mysterious guy received the key, he entered his room and took off his hood. The guy has black greenish hair, his eyes were that of gold. He sat on his bed and answered his phone again, "Did you speak? I'm sorry but the hostess called my attention. Where were we?"

'Listen well, all you have to do in there is kidnapped the person we need. You're free to use any methods you want, just get that person. And also…try not to be distracted by family relations. I'm counting on you' the voice on the other line answered and after that, the call ended.

The mysterious guy smiled, "Geez, he doesn't trust me at all. Why can't I have a little fun in here? After all, the target is with my dear brother.

To be continued...