Everything is Possible in a Story

Ayumi Nazu/Author's Note: Tenth entry of the 15 One-Shot Contest! Ryoma Echizen's POV. I thank you for your comments, critiques and votes in advance.

Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis belongs to Konomi Takeshi.

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Theme #10

They’ll Laugh their Butts Off!

Written by: AyumiNazu

     Ayumi has been so stressed lately. Her art project was taking longer than expected and the deadline was in two days. Aside from that, the next tennis tournament was coming up, she signed up for it but didn’t get to practice at all for the past week! The school is also bombarding us with a bunch of assignments and tests since the end of the year was coming up.

     I was doing fine, school didn’t bother me. My grades don’t fall lower than an eighty percent naturally. However, Ayumi’s been struggling with science and she’s been complaining about how the history teacher has been talking too fast for her to catch everything.

     With her stress and agitation piling up, I’m becoming worried of her health. I took a walk in the middle of the night to check up on her. Even though it was passed midnight, the lights in her room were still on. What should I do? What can I do to help her?

     At the last resort, I asked my seniors for help.

     “I’ve got two tickets to a comedy show,” suggested Eiji, “but you’ll have to buy it off of me if you want them!”

     “Che,” I ignored the suggestion, the price for those tickets was way more than expected, I don’t even know how great that comedy show is or if Ayumi will even like it.

     “It’s too bad, I’m sure they’d laugh their butts off if they went together! Poor Nazu-chan, being stressed and her dear boyfriend, Echizen, is too stubborn to bring her to a comedy show~” Eiji was making a huge emphasis on how I should really get those tickets while talking to the other seniors behind my back.

     It was a pain, but I hadn’t a better idea, “Fine.”

     He laughed and exchanged the tickets for sum of money. I stuffed them in my pocket and headed to Ayumi’s house. The show was this afternoon, I hav to tell her as soon as possible.

     When I rang her door bell, I heard a crash from the inside of her house. Soon afterwards, Ayumi opened the door with ribbons and small pieces of paper all over her hair. I was going to ask her about it, but then I realized that the crash I heard was Ayumi with her box of collage materials down the stairs. The hallway was a mess!

     “Are you ok?” I asked while helping her pick up the materials on the floor.

     I was surprised that the pressure and stress that built up on her could get her to be so clumsy. She’s been knocking stuff over non-stop.

     “Sorry about that. The nervousness of meeting the deadline for my art project is taking over me,” she forced a smile, pretending to be all right.

     I showed her the tickets, “Take a break.”

     For a short moment a blissful and excited expression showed up on her face, but it quickly changed to being unsure.

     “I don’t know… If I don’t finish this project by—”

     I reached the top of her head and gently brushed the papers off her hair, “You won’t be able to concentrate on your project anyway right? Come on, you got an hour before we leaving to the show.”

     “An hour? But—”

     “No buts, you’re taking a break!” I pushed her to her room and made sure she came out changed and ready to leave.

     At the show, Ayumi was laughing a lot. I wasn’t too into comedy shows, but this one was indeed pretty good. It was a relief to see Ayumi enjoying it so much.

     When it was over, and we were both out of the building, I said, “I’m glad the show made you feel better. You were laughing a lot.”

     But she shook her head, “It wasn’t the show. You were the one that made me feel better, Ryoma.”

     Ayumi gave me a small peck on the cheek, “Thank you so much, but I have to finish my project so I have to go now.”

     She smiled and waved a goodbye. I waved back. My cheeks were a little pink since I wasn’t expecting the reward.

     I smirked to myself when I touched the part she kissed on my cheek, “Good luck, Ayumi,” I whispered.

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