Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis was created by Konomi Takeshi. No profit is intended to be gained by this story.

AN: I know. It’s been years. Thanks for sticking with me.

Cuffed!

By Cinpii

Chapter 2: Victims of Sugar Plum Fantasies

The Ichinen Trio was two short during lunch that day. Katsuo Mizuno and Kachirou Kato had begged off, skipping the midday meal to put the finishing touches on a class project. Horio Satoshi was not to be deterred. He was determined to show off his magic trick, and if he had to substitute one schoolmate for another, so be it.

Luck was in his favor. Fridays were the days that Osakada and Ryuzaki joined them for lunch. It had originally started so that Osakada would have a reason to impress Echizen with her homemade bento, and naturally, the bossy girl had dragged poor Ryuzaki along in her scheme.

Horio remembered it well. They had interrupted the boys’ luncheon that day two months back. Echizen, in his typical fashion, had not cared one way or the other at the sudden addition to their party. If anyone of the Ichinen Trio had an objection to the surprise female intrusion, they did not voice it. Ryuzaki was sweet and docile and always a welcome presence. Osakada was not sweet or docile at all, but she was too intimidating to shoo away, and so the girls had stayed.

Over time, their luncheons together had become habit. The group of six freshmen would gather every Friday afternoon for their meal. While he and Osakada would sometimes butt heads, she was still a pretty girl, and she prepared delicious bento to share with everyone. Ryuzaki tended to bring dessert, as she was always learning how to bake new kinds of cakes from Coach Ryuzaki.

It was decided, Horio nodded. He’d thank the girls by demonstrating his newest magic trick to them. They’d see him for the magical genius that he was. That, combined with his tennis skills, would be an unbeatable combination, and of course, word would get out. He’d soon be recognized as the most talented freshman in Seigaku. Girls would flock to him in droves. He’d receive actual chocolates come Valentine’s Day.

Horio’s eyes glazed over in anticipation. How lovely.

Echizen Ryoma sighed as he scouted for a place to rest. How did he let himself get suckered into this? He should have known nothing good could result from anything concerning Horio. Two years of magic experience, his ass. If Horio’s magic skills were anything like his tennis skills, Ryoma wanted no part in the trick.

But the boy had whined and pleaded and insisted that he knew what he was doing. Ryoma had given in on the condition that Horio would leave him alone for the rest of the day. Aside from tennis practice, there were still the rest of classes after lunch. If he could shut the yapping hole that was Horio’s mouth, indulging in his small request would net a welcome reprieve.

Too bad Horio didn’t know what he was doing. Now Ryoma was handcuffed to Wobbly Hips, of all people. A clumsier, navigationally inept, stuttery girl he had yet to meet. Sure, she wasn’t a bad person. She was well meaning, in a bumbling sort of way. He actually liked her, when she wasn’t frustrating him with her lack of common sense. What kind of person needed such long hair? What was she going to do with it all? Play jump rope?

Then again, it could have been worse. He could have been cuffed to the Loudmouth or the Hissing Viper. But still. It was Wobbly Hips. And he was handcuffed. To her. Ryoma’s expression deadened. Tch. Such an inconvenience. Horio was so becoming target practice once they were freed.

Not that it mattered now. Deciding to make the best of it, Ryoma stopped when he reached the clearing of trees. No point getting mad when there was nothing to do about it. He would sleep until Horio returned. Dropping down under the eaves, Ryoma reclined upon the grass and closed his eyes. Assuming his usual napping position, he proceeded to tuck his arms under his head, until he felt the gentle warmth of a palm pillowing his crown.

Hn? Oh, right. With the metal bindings, everything he did with his left appendage would affect her right one. Oi vey, this could be a hassle.

“Do you mind?” the tennis prodigy inquired, opening one eye for confirmation.

The pigtailed girl flushed as she shook her head, twin mahogany plaits sliding against her slim shoulders. Receiving her consent, Ryoma shuttered his eyes and without another word, started his nap.

How did she get herself into this? Ryuzaki Sakuno bit her lip in concern, a looming sense of doom threatening her wellbeing. Due to an unsuccessful magic trick, she was handcuffed Echizen Ryoma. No, she couldn’t be handcuffed to her best friend. She was handcuffed to the boy who couldn’t bother to remember her name half the time. The boy who gave her the embarrassing moniker of ‘Wobbly Hips’. The boy who tied up her tongue and her feet.

Echizen Ryoma.

The boy who consistently amazed her with his sports prowess. The boy who repeatedly saved her from bullies. The boy who would occasionally give her tennis advice.

Seigaku’s resident tennis prince. Ryuzaki Sakuno was handcuffed to him.

What in the world did she do to deserve this? There he was, the object of her affections, lying down in the grass, not an arm’s length away from her. And he was sleeping with her hand in his hair. Her hand. In his hair. Due to his favored sleeping position, he was making her touch him.

I’m touching Ryoma-kun. I’m touching Ryoma-kun. I’m touching Ryoma-kun—

Sakuno bit her lip harder. Did he not understand the gravity of the situation? Apparently not. The obtuse boy was completely clueless. They were chained together for crying out loud, touching, and he was sleeping like this was a normal, everyday occurrence. Sakuno had never touched a boy before, and especially not one she liked. Now she was being forced into it.

It was too much too fast for the cripplingly shy young girl. Sakuno breathed deeply, trying to calm the inner, frighten being within her that wanted to flap its wings and run around like a headless chicken.

Pull yourself together!

What was the point in fretting? Didn’t a part of herself, the small, locked-away-in-a-box-and-abandoned-in-the-tiniest-corner-of-her-heart part of herself, actually enjoy this? Ryoma-kun had yet to complain, which meant that maybe… maybe he didn’t mind being chained to her. Maybe he liked her a little bit too. He wouldn’t sleep so easily next to someone he didn’t like, would he?

A small seed of hope blossomed in Sakuno’s chest.

Their situation was absurd. Once they were freed, Sakuno was sure that she would look back and treasure the time they spent together. She might as well start now. Empowered with a new frame of mind, Sakuno felt the uneasiness drift away. She looked around, taking in their surroundings with fresh eyes. Several yards away, she could see Tomo-chan and Kaidoh-senpai sharing the shade of another tree. The presence of her best friend helped alleviate her anxieties.

Their current location was a good choice. The expansive tree they were under provided a wealth of welcome shade from the afternoon heat. The area was secluded enough that they would not be seen, but it provided an excellent view of the campus. They would be able to see who was approaching before they would be seen themselves.

If they were lucky, Horio-kun would be back before long, and her attendance record would not become too blemished. Being Ryuzaki Sumire’s granddaughter did carry high expectations after all, and Sakuno was expected to be responsible.

Oh well, it was out of her hands. It was only a matter of time, so she might as well let herself relax. The pigtailed girl allowed herself a tiny smile as her eyes gazed down at her companion.