Tennis no Ojou-sama: A Prince of Tennis Fan Fiction

CHAPTER 69: The White Tower

Ryouko strolled on the pathway towards the other team cabins. Arai-senpai and the others told her that the campsite cabins were arranged according to the team numbers. "It should be right about here... I think..." She mumbled as she looked around.

Her eye caught the silhouette of a roof very similar to their main cabin and she walked towards the shadow. "Mitsuketa. (Found it.)" She said, smiling in satisfaction.

"Ryoma is in what cabin number again?" She asked herself. Thinking about it, she didn't even know. Ryouko shrugged. "Oh well... It'll work out somehow." She thought and proceeded on her way.

From a distance, she saw Mikoto, Tohru and Motoki, hanging freshly-washed tablecloths on the clothesline at the side of the main cabin of the third team. They were moving in a sluggish manner, stretching their backs and legs a little too frequently. They wince in pain every once in a while as they went on with their work. They also looked haggard. "Maybe I did overdo it a little." She thought. It was common sense that the training drained all their energy. It also robbed them of rest and sleep.

She shook her head. Her resolve shouldn't be shaking this early. The boys have to go through the training steadily. She had no time to be having second thoughts.

Finally, the person she was looking for was caught in her field of vision. It seemed like Ryoma is designated with the task of cleaning the main cabin. He is currently sweeping the lawn with a long broom.

"Hmm... It's surprising to see him being cooperative. I thought he'd slack off, sleeping under the shade of a tree or something." She said to herself.

She started to walk closer when suddenly, Ryuzaki Sakuno came from the back door of the main cabin, carrying what looked like a big, black trash bag. She was struggling with the task and almost fell over twice as she crossed the lawn.

Ryoma noticed her. "Oi." Ryouko heard him say. "Isn't throwing the trash Zaizen-san's chore?"

Sakuno stopped on her tracks and put the bag down. "Oh. Ryoma-kun... Otsukaresama deshita. (Thank you for the hard work.)" She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. "Well, I couldn't find Zaizen-san anywhere and the trash is piling up. It has to be thrown out." She told him.

"Let the other guys do it then. Or just leave it there. Zaizen-san might be planning on throwing it out later." Ryoma replied.

"But..." Sakuno said. "I've already carried it all the way out here so..."

Ryoma sighed. "Here." He said, giving the broom to her.

"Eh?" Sakuno said cluelessly, taking it. "But why—"

"Hold it for me for a while." Ryoma said. He took the trash bag and lifted it easily. "It's not that heavy. Why did you look as if you were carrying your own body weight?" He said.

Sakuno's face reddened. "It's heavy for me... I'm not used to lifting stuff around."

Ryoma started to take the trash bag towards the enormous bin placed a few yards away from the main cabin.

Sakuno was ecstatic. "A-arigatou, Ryoma-kun." She said, her tone both grateful and delighted. Her cheeks glowed pink.

"Don't overdo it. Ask for help if you need some." Ryoma said as he passed by her.

Ryouko surveyed the scene, leaning on the trunk of a nearby tree. For some reason, she felt a lump settle on the pit of her stomach. It felt a bit heavy and quite uncomfortable. "Tabesugita ka na? (Did I overeat?)" She asked herself, tentatively poking her stomach.