Runaway Girl

“WEEEEEEEE!!!”

Saeki looked up to see where his best friend was and sees her going down the slides.

“Koji-kun! Let’s climb that tree!” she cried

“Wait up -chan!” Saeki called out to her

Both children climbed up the mighty oak and settled down on their usual long branch.

The sun was setting and the sky was colored in pink, purple and orange.

It was the end of summer and the two have always been sitting up that tree ever since they started to play together.

“Koji-kun…” sighed

Saeki tilted his little face and smiled. “Nani?”

The little girl blushed.

“I… I have to go!”

Saeki watched in surprise as the she jumped off the high branch, stumbling a little, but still manage to take off.

He blinked in confusion as he himself jumped off the tree and slowly walked home in the sunset.

~~~

“Bane-chan! My mom wanted you guys to have these fresh baked buns so you can do well for your tournament!”

“Your buns are as hot as my buns”

WHACK

“That was stupid! Plus you shouldn’t be saying that in front of a little kid!”

It was a typical afternoon for the Rokkaku tennis team.

Saeki sighed and smiled as Amane gets another beating from Kurobane for making a pun this early in practice.

It has been three years since the day that just took off. He glanced at the tree where they used to sit to watch every sunset during the summer.

The tree has grown a little bit taller and could still hold up as many children that came in to play.

“OY! Let’s go practice you guys! Ojii wants to change our racquets for the next tournament!” yelled out their ever so loud captain.

“Why? Why does he want to change it? Mine’s still good. Why??” Itsuki questioned.

Saeki put his arm around his confused teammate, “Don’t worry. It’s probably better for us to use than the old ones. Come one, let’s play!”

~~~

“Sengoku-san, I swear to kami-sama that I will shove ALL these tennis balls up your nose if you don’t stop hanging on me like that!”

was being weighed down by Sengoku’s constant hanging and flirting.

“Heh, this time you didn’t threaten to chop one of my limbs off! Lucky~”

’s face turned crimson. Not from embarrassment, but from anger. She grabbed the boy’s arm, pushed him against the wall and started to slowly twist the boy’s arm.

“EEEIIIIAAAA! Ok ok!!! Let go already!” yelped Sengoku

“AH! That’s not good desu! -sempai please let Sengoku-sempai go!” Dan begged as he walked into the tennis club to see the struggling player against the wall.

smirked and released her victim.

“I’m gonna be waiting on the court you two! So hurry up!” yawned as she flicked her hair into Sengoku’s face.

“Ahh… Sengoku-sempai are you alright desu?”

Sengoku smiled his cheeky smile.

“She didn’t break my arm and she let me smell her hair. Lucky~” Sengoku winked at the team manager as he walked out of the tennis club.

“Ahhh… ano…” Dan sweatdrops as he watched his sempai leave.

~~~

was like a tomboy, for she grew up with two brothers and many male relatives, but her appearance was something that people would mistake her not to be.

Her long blue hair was always brushed and her bangs were swept to the side of her face and were held by two tiny rose pins. 

It was her only way of making herself feel feminine and not be compared to everybody in her family.

She is always seen standing outside the tennis courts waiting for cousin to finish practice so they could walk home together.

“Keeeeennnntttaaaarrrroooouuuu!” whined as her cousin winced.

“I’m coming I’m coming! Yeeesh!” Minami replied as he quickly went into the change room to get his gym bag.

“Oy buchou! When is your cousin ever gonna go out with me?” grinned Sengoku.

Minami sighed, “Dude, she’s never gonna go out with you. Besides I wouldn’t let you NEAR her. You’re too much of a lady’s man Sengoku. Give it up.”

“Yea Kiyosumi. She’s WAY too aggressive when you’re around. It’s very unlucky for you to be around her,” Kita pointed out as Sengoku frowned.

“That’s not true! She never actually broke anything of me! Maybe a few bruises here and there. So I consider myself to be pretty lucky when I’m around her,” beamed Sengoku

Minami sighed again. He knew that would never go out with Sengoku. Her heart was set on somebody else and she would never let it go. Sengoku was out of luck there.

~~~

“Kentarou, if Sengoku doesn’t lay off me, I don’t know what I’m gonna do!”

Minami laughed.

“Don’t worry. He’s like that to every girl he sees,” he winked.

“Next time I’m gonna walk home right after school. I’m not gonna even bother waiting for you or I’ll be held responsible for making your team short one member,” replied as she jumped off the tree she was sitting while she waited for Minami.

The walk home was very short. had moved away from the Rokkaku grounds three years ago because her parents found a better job near Tokyo. She missed her old house and her friend that she has left behind.

sighed.

“Eh? What’s wrong ?”

“Nothing Kentarou. I was just thinking about someone…”

Minami nodded in reply. He knew about the friend that she had left behind and missed him. He doesn’t know his name but he was the person that had her heart set on.

“So when are you going to tell me his name?” teased Minami.

“Eh? Hmmm… NEVER!”

“O come on! I’m family!”

blushed. She knew that Minami would tell everybody in the family and she would never hear the end of it. Being the only girl in the family really was a disadvantage for a growing adolescent girl.

“Are you coming to the game tomorrow?”

“I guess so. But if Sengoku comes on to me again…” growled .

Minami sweatdrops.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let him near you. Besides, we still need him to win the game.”

~~~

“Game and match, Saeki-Itsuki pair. 6 games to 3.”

Saeki wiped a sweat off his brow as Itsuki did he trademark breathing. It was a sunny day and the team was in good shape. He didn’t have to worry too much.

He took his water bottle and drank from it as the children behind him were cheering for their team.

“Good job you two! Now it’s my turn to play and I’m so pumped!” Kentarou exclaimed.

“Kentarou is as happy as a clam when it comes to his game.”

“The clam is as--”

WHACK

“Don’t even say it you.” Kurabane twitched as he kicked his doubles partner on the back.

~~~

“Game and match, Minami-Higashikata, 6 games to 1.”

“Yay Jimmies!” cheered.

“Quit calling us that!”

loved to annoy her cousin as much as he annoys her. She looked around to see Sengoku trying to go and greet her but is being held back by Dan along with the Nitobe-Muromachi pair.

She smirked and went to congratulate her cousin.

“Nice job on that game you two. And thanks for tying down Sengoku.”

“No worries. He’s quite assertive today. I guess it’s because you don’t look as ugly as you usually do an--”

WHACK

Minami was sent smacking head first on the ground.

stood there with her hand in a ball of fist, twitching. Higashikata backed away from her and looked helplessly at Minami.

“I’m gonna go get something to drink. I guess I’ll get you something cold too so you can cool off that ugly face of yours,” said, walking away and trying to keep her cool.

“Ahhh… Minami, you knew that was coming right?” Higashikata said as he struggled to pick up the unconscious captain.

Minami remained swirly-eyed and was unable to respond to anybody for the next ten minutes.

~~~

“Stupid cousin. Making me lose my cool again. And I was enjoying my time without Mr. Lucky bothering me,” grumbled.

She slipped in her money in the vending machine and took her time picking a beverage. Just as she was about to pick her drink, another hand pressed the button.

POP

A ginger drink came out of the vending machine and a small old man picked it out of the slot.

“Ah.”

sweatdrops as the old man looked at her with a confused face.

“HEH! Ojii?! Did you take another person’s drink again??”

swirled around to see a tennis player who was shorter than her smiling.

“Ah. Drink.” The old man said.

“Haha… ah I’m so sorry! Here I’ll get you another drink!” the boy apologized and started to look for change in his pockets.

“Iie, it’s ok!” quickly said looking embarrassed.

“Nonsense! Ah! I left my change in my other shorts! OY! Sae-chan! Do you have any change?” the boy yelled behind him as a group of guys were slowly walking towards them.

“Sae-chan?” thought. She then looked at the uniform that the boy was wearing. “Rokkaku? That’s so fami- EH?!?”

“Yea I have some change Kenta--”

froze. Saeki froze.

The two looked at each other for about 10 seconds in silence.

“Eh? Why did you stop walking? What’s wrong Saeki?” Kurobane asked as he almost crashed into the boy.

“He’s as pale as a pail.”

Amane’s pun was responded with another kick form Kurobane.

“I have the go!” said the blue-headed girl and took off the other way.

“HEH?! I didn’t get to pay her back for Ojii’s drink! Sae-chan was taking his sweet time!” Kentarou whined loudly.

Saeki stood there in shock.

“AH! That’s cold!”

Ojii held the drink to Saeki’s face, “Ah you’re there good.”

Saeki couldn’t believe it. She ran away again. She left him without telling him where she’s going. She left him hanging again.

~~~

sighed as she walked home by herself after another long of class. It was the last day of school before summer break and a month bumping into Saeki.

She thought about that day. He looked good in his team jersey. His hair was still the same but a little longer and he was a lot leaner.

She sighed as she walked into her noisy house. She tilted her hear just as a shoe comes flying towards her, missing her by a few centimeters.

“Oy, ! Get Akira’s foot off me! And pack up your stuff! We’re going back to Chiba to visit!” one of her brothers grunted as he struggled to get up.

“Chiba? Why are we going back?” asked with confusion written across her face.

“For the Sakura Festival baka! We didn’t go last year because SOMEBODY had to have their stupid graduation on the same week!”

“It wasn’t my fault that they planned it on the same week! Gimme back the remote control!”

grabbed the remote from her brother and turned off the t.v.

“When are we leaving and how long are we staying there for?!” she demanded.

The two brothers cowered in fear. Luckily they were saved by their mother who answered her, “We’re going to be there for the whole summer. Your father’s company is hosting the festival and we are all invited. So pack up your things. We’re leaving tomorrow morning.”

’s face paled.

“Oy! Didn’t you leave your boyfriend there?” her brother teased.

glared at him and flung the remote and it perfectly hit her brother’s head.

“AH! Mom! knocked Kahio out again!”

~~~

“Owah! Kojirou! Long time no see!”

“Ah! Aunt Mito, long time no see,” Saeki replied and hugged his aunt.

His relatives were sleeping over at his house and almost everybody has arrived. The house was very lively with aunts and uncles hugging each other while little cousins were running around the house.

“Heh! Kojirou! You grew even taller since the last time I saw you!” boomed his uncle.

“Neh, there’s no need to be so loud in the house, Seiiru.”

Saeki smiled as he watched his relatives try to take a seat at their small living room.

“Let’s look at the photo albums when Kojirou was a little boy!”

Saeki sweatdropped. He didn’t look exactly like his childhood pictures. He used to look really lanky. He was not used to his height and was a klutz. A lot of kids used to pick on him except for one person. She would always help Saeki up whenever he tripped or crash into things.

Saeki smiled sadly as he remembered all the things that he and used to do when they were little. They would hang around the playground that Ojii had built and climb every tree in sight. They were always together and no matter what other children would say, they would stick up for one another.

“Kojirou! Can you please help me with the luggage?”

“Hai okaa-san.”

~~~

“Wow! Such a nice hotel!”

and her family has just checked into their hotel and was greeted with complimentary gifts.

set her luggage beside her bed. She was sharing her room with her mother but was not with her because she and her father had to go to a meeting.

She opened her window to see the sight of cherry blossoms blooming everywhere. She smiled as she opened the sliding door to see the beautiful sight.

The phone rang and it was her mother.

“Hi honey. Your father and I are going to be staying late at the meeting. So you and your brothers can eat at the buffet downstairs for dinner. If you’re going to go out just bring your cell phone with you. I’ll talk to you soon!”

hung up and was happy that she was allowed to roam around the town where she used to live in.

She quickly went into her brother’s room and told them to have their dinners downstairs and to come back to the room after. She took her handbag with her camera and cell phone to go and was off to explore the town.

~~~

“Ah that was a great meal!”

“You out did yourself this time mom,” Saeki complimented his mother.

Everybody was finished eating and was settling down in the living room to watch t.v. and to chat.

Saeki felt out of place to see that none of his cousins that were his age came to visit.

“Mom, I’m gonna go out for a second. I’ll be back in a few hours,” Saeki told his mom.

“Alright. Be back before midnight.”

Saeki took his jacket along with his keys and his cell phone. He bid his relatives goodbye and was off to the Rokkaku playground.

~~~

“Heh… everything’s still the same as I left,” whispered in awe as she looked at the playground.

She smiled as she walked towards the tree where she used to sit with her best friend. It has grown taller and the branches were thicker.

climbed up to the tree and sat at the branch where she used to sit and watch the sunset.

It was still the same sight. The same smell. The same feeling that she had when she used to sit on the same branch every night three years ago.

She layer her legs on the branch and leaned on the trunk while looking at the beautiful sky. She then heard a sigh. She looked down to see Saeki, looking at the sunset one hand on the tree trunk.

slowly turned herself upside down with her legs clamped on to the tree. She stared at the back of Saeki’s head and smiled.

Saeki, not noticing anything behind him, turned around and softly bumped into ’s face. Their lips almost touching.

Saeki stood still. hung still. They both looked at each other.

“Wow”

Saeki couldn’t stop looking at ’s eyes. Her eyes were as blue as the sea, just as he has remembered when she used to look up at him. Her hair was a lot longer compared to back then when it was a bob.

felt her head being rushed with blood flipped herself off the tree and looked at Saeki.

He was still the same. His eyes were as caring as it was when he helped her get up after a fall in kindergarten.

“ …” Saeki trailed as he was speechless to see his old friend in front of him.

“I… I have to go!”

And took off. Again. Saeki stood there. He was left hanging. Again. He never understood why she ran away from him in the beginning. Now it’s replaying itself all over again three years later.

Saeki stared at the empty street where had ran off to. She never ran away from him when they used to play at school. She never ran away from him when they were playing on the playground. She only ran away when they were on that tree, watching the sunset.

Saeki sighed.

“Will she run away if I told her I have always liked her?”

~~~

“I want to go and see the fishies!”

“I want to go and see the snacks!”

The two brothers yelled excitedly at and their parents.

It was the night of the festival and the town was brightly covered with colorful lanterns and was surrounded by many different stands. There were stands that sold pinwheels and another sold many different types of cloths. The other side of the street had many food stands. Meat buns and fried squids were being cooked to attract customers.

was wearing a red kimono with little pink water lilies design. Her hair was held up with a decorated pink flower.

She had been quiet on the whole ride to town. She thought about what she had done to Saeki. She did it again. She ran away from him. She fought back tears as she slowly followed her parents towards a stand.

“Ok kids. Your father and I are going to be looking at every stand and speak to the vendors. So you guys can go and run around by yourselves. Just remember to keep your cell phones on and , you can stay out as long as you want.”

shook her head. Her mother knew that she was feeling really low since she went back to the hotel.

“Ok, I’m gonna go now… I’ll call you guys later.”

’s mother sighed as she watched her daughter slowly walk away.

~~~

“Bane-chan! I want to go there first!”

“No way! It’s so girly there! Let’s go here Bane-nii!”

“That stand. I can’t stand it just standing like--.”

WHACK

“You’re totally not helping me out here Amane.”

Aoi Kentarou laughed and helped Amane up from the floor.

The whole Rokkaku team decided to go to the festival together and agreed to bring their little cheering squad. The parents of the little kids were more than happy to let the team take their children off their hands so they can enjoy the festival themselves.

“Alright you guys! Saeki and I will take Rika and Merina while you guys can go with Bane-san and Amane-kun, ok?” Kentarou decided.

“YAY! Let’s go Bane-nii! This way!”

Saeki watched as the doubles were being dragged towards the games booth.

“Sae-chan! Let’s go! I want to go and see the pretty hairpins!” the little girl squealed as she ran towards one of the many booths and was immediately followed by her friend.

Saeki smiled and followed the girls. He knew that they were going to stop at every hairpin booth that was there.

“Might as well get something for mom.” He thought.

Kentarou was already trying to bargain with the stand owner where one of the little girls wanted to buy a hairpin.

“What?? That’s so expensive! Come on now! 2000 yen should be enough for a small pin like that! Look at the girl! She’s only eight and you’re planning to charge her that much?!”

“Ahh fine fine! Here take it! Just stop making a scene! Jeez!” the stand owner said.

Kentarou smiled, “Thank you very much! Here you go Rika-chan! What do you say?”

The little girl giggled, “Arigatou gozaimasu Ken-nii!”

Kentarou nodded.

“AH! Rika-chan! Look at that stand! Let’s go!”

Saeki and Kentarou watched as the girls ran towards another hairpin stand. The two boys went to another stand to get something to drink.

“Eh?! There’s that girl that I owe a drink!” Kentarou thought

“OY! You in the red kimono! WAIT!” said as he ran towards the girl.

was looking at a stand that sold bracelets and earrings when she heard somebody yelling at her. She looked up to see a boy jogging towards her with smile on his face. She recognized him and immediately felt nervous.

“Ahh… nice to see you again,” she greeted anxiously.

“Heh?! Come on! I still owe you that drink that Ojii took from you! Let’s go to the drinks stand! Oy! Sae-chan! Get me a drink!” shouted Kentarou.

“O no…” thought.

Saeki was still looking at the menu when he turned around to ask what Kentarou wanted when he saw that was behind him.

“Wow. She looks… stunning.”

Saeki was speechless and kept staring at . , feeling her cheeks get warm, broke free from Kentarou’s grasp.

“I… I have to go!”

“EH?! But your drink!!!”

She was already off squeezing through the crowd of people and disappeared.

“Man, she keeps running away every time she sees you, Sae-chan.”

Saeki was ready to curse. Not again. As he looked back at the menu, he held it until his knuckles were visibly white. He wasn’t angry at . He was angry at himself for not being able to stop her. He wanted to just make her stay for just a minute and let him tell her how much he missed her friendship.

“Sae-chan”

Saeki looked up to see a worried Kentarou.

“Go and look for her Sae-chan. I’ll take care of the girls.”

Saeki smiled.

“Thanks Kentarou. Hey mister! Two ice teas to go please!”

~~~

“Stupid stupid stupid!”

quietly scolded herself. She ran from the bazaar to the old oak tree and had a hard time climbing the tree in her kimono.

“He did look good. Maybe that’s why I got nervous…” smiled as she thought of Saeki while staring at the sky.

The moon was out and illuminated the playground while the wind gently blew against her face.

“AH!” yelped as a cold substance was pressed against her face.

Saeki smiled. He took his seat beside and gave her an ice tea.

“Hey.”

“Hey.”

Silence. The two stared at the moon and were slowly drinking their beverage. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence. It was the same feeling that they had since they were children, really comfortable.

“I… I have to go!”

quickly stood up. She tried to get down but Saeki was sitting where the trunk was. She would usually just jump off the tree but with her kimono, it was really hard to do it.

Saeki gently placed his hand on ’s. She looked down to see Saeki’s sad face.

“Please don’t run off again,” he softly said.

“Koji-kun…” looked away. She sat back down and continued to stare at the moon.

Saeki looked at the distance.

“It’s been awhile since we sat here but it still feels the same. Except it’s night and the moon’s out instead of the sun setting,”

nodded.

“You know that after you left, I would still sit here and watch the sunset.”

“Koji-kun… I…” trailed.

“You know running away doesn’t solve anything…” Saeki quietly said.

“I really like you Koji-kun!”

Saeki looked surprised. paused and looked away. She couldn’t believe what she just said.

“I… only ran away because I knew that if I said it then… it would have ruined our friendship… especially when I found out that I was moving.”

Saeki finally understood. She didn’t run away because she hated him. It’s because she cared too much about him to hurt him.

Saeki chuckled.

“Just to let you know, I have never given up on you. You were the only one that I had my heart set on. If you never came back, I would have still waited for you. If you keep running away, I will eventually catch up to you.”

looked at Saeki and smiled as a tear fell from her face. She sighed and leaned on Saeki.

“That’s not enough.” He said softly an arm around her and holding her really close.

put her arms around him, “Koji-kun…” kissing his jaw lightly, “I’m glad…..” she whispered, “Im really glad.”

“Me too.” Bending down to kiss her.

~~~

“Oy! -neesan! Don’t do too many kinky stuff while you’re here!” teased ’s brother.

WHACK

“Ahhh…” the little brother mumbled as he laid on the ground.

’s eyebrow twitched as she held her fist in the air.

“Now now . You should be that violent. Please try to refrain from using violence while you’re at the Saeki residences. We’ll see you in a month,” her mother waved goodbye as they drove off.

“Hey! Come in! I want to introduce you to the family!”

smiled. Saeki had invited her to stay at his house for the remaining month of the break.

Saeki took her luggage and lead her into his house.

“Koji! Where’s your girlfriend?!”

“Mou Uncle Kirou, you’re embarrassing her,” Saeki replied.

blushed. She didn’t know that his family already knew about her.

“Ahh… Konichiwa… desu. Nice to meet you,” she bowed.

“Heh… cute girl. You’ve got good taste Koji,” nudged another uncle.

“Hey! It’s time for dinner! Kojirou, your bentos are ready. Go before your uncles get rowdy, especially after a little bit of sake,” Saeki’s mother said to her son. She looked at and winked.

“Let’s go !” Saeki grabbed her hand and ran out of the door.

~~~

“Koji-kun… you… you planned this?”

Saeki smiled proudly.

He had a set up a little picnic for two. They were sitting under the oak tree and were watching the sun slowly setting set. They ate their bento happily and chatted about their personal adventures.

When they finished their dinner, climbed up the tree and took her seat. Saeki took his spot beside her. They quietly watched the horizon as the wind blew gently on their faces.

“Koji-kun…”

Saeki looked at her with smiled.

“This is strangely familiar,” he commented.

sighed.

“I won’t run away if you promise me one thing,” she said.

Saeki tilted his head and continued to smile.

“What’s that?”

“Promise me that you will always hold on to me whenever I try to break lose. I don’t want to be afraid anymore.”

Saeki’s smile grew bigger.

“If you manage to break away from my hold, I’ll always find a way to run after you.”

~~~

Written by Babybel