Sasaki Sono!

Upon exiting the gymnasium, Josiane who was still in the area happened to witness something very interesting and palpitating regarding her classmate, Ryuji Fujimiya.

“ Impressive! I didn't know you were that strong.” Josiane clapped her hand in enjoyment.

“ How much?” Ryuji’s sudden question puzzled Josiane who didn’t understand his understatement.

“ Excuse me?”

“ How much do you want to keep your mouth shut? $20,000, $50,000, $1,000,000? How much?”

Josiane stared at him in dismay. She couldn’t believe her eyes and what she was hearing. This was the first time she had something like this happen to her; someone offering you free money just to keep your mouth shut was something out of a novel or manga. She just couldn’t believe a scene like that was happening in real life, much less to her.

“ I don't need your money. What the hell is wrong with you?” She shouted at him.

“ You saw me fight, didn't you?” He interrogated her.

(So, this is what he’s offering me money for).

“ Yeah! I saw everything from beginning to end, and I must admit you're good at Martial Arts.” She admitted straightforwardly.

“ Shut up! Enough! Say no more?”

…

“ It was a mistake. It won't happen again. Forget everything you saw today!” He uttered.

…

“ I don't want to. I don't want to forget. Why do you hate Martial Arts so much?” She asked interrogatively to him.

“ I don't hate it or anything like that. I like Martial Arts more than anyone else in the whole wide world. It's just that I shouldn't be doing this.” He uttered a confession.

“ Why?” She asked curiously.

“ It's none of your business! I don't know why I told you all that. Forget everything I just told you. Now go? Leave me alone! You can tell everyone about what happened today, I don't care one bit.”

“ What's the matter with you? Who do you think I am?” She shouted in anger.

…

“ I don't know what happened in your life until now, but you should learn to trust people more.”

“ Trust people? What for? I have nothing to gain from it. And besides, why are you suddenly being so nice to me?”

Ryuji remembered their previous altercation, and it wasn’t a memorable one for any of them. Due to the current situation, it completely slipped his mind that he was supposed to apologize to Josiane for his previous behavior, and with the flow of things, he will make yet another grave mistake.

“ Let me guess! You want a favor, don't you?”

…

“ You want my father to do you a favor. You're only after money.” He uttered whatever nonsense came to his mind without a moment of reflection.

Josiane couldn’t take any more nonsense that was coming out of his mouth. Having lost her composure, she slapped him hard. That hard slap he received from her seemed to have been effective, as it irremediably brought him back to his senses.

“ Who do you think you are? You're a rich kid, and you think it gives you the right to look down on people? Do you think I get close to people because I'm after their money? I may be poor, but I have my dignity. Do you rich people think you have everything, hum? But let me tell you this: There's one thing that money can't buy, and that's friendship. I wanted to offer you my sincere friendship, but you treated me like trash. Fine, I'll leave you all by yourself if that's what you want. I won't bother you ever again. Goodbye!”

After telling him his four truths, she dashed out of there in anger, leaving Ryuji ashamed to have made another mistake, even greater than the first one. He touched his swollen cheek and simply with the pain, he felt that whatever he did just a moment ago was uncalled-for and should be rectified.

“ What have I done? What got into me?” He muttered,

(I went too far. I shouldn't have said those words. Not only have I offended her once already, but I did so twice and on the very same day. I don’t think she’ll forgive me even if I apologize earnestly. I truly crossed the line this time).

Sabrina and Patricia have been waiting for Josiane for a very long time, as they usually walk home together after school. When she finally showed up, the girls didn’t notice her lost expression.

“ Where have you been? We were looking all over for you.” She got questioned on both sides.

“ I'm sorry!” Only when she apologizes did they notice something was amiss with her and get worried.

“ Are you okay?” Sabrina was the first to notice her lost expression.

“ What happened, Josiane? Tell us!” Patricia asked with a deep concern for Josiane.

“ It's nothing, girls! Don't worry about me!”

“ Is it Ryuji Fujimiya?” Sabrina asked doubtfully.

“ No, it has nothing to do with him. Let's go home!”

Sabrina and Patricia knew their friend from head to toe. They could tell when something was amiss with her or when she changed the subject to avoid any further interrogation. The grin she put in front of them, so they wouldn’t worry about her. They knew all of those things quite clearly, so she could try all she wanted, she couldn’t hide her true self from them.

“ Josiane, something happened to you, didn't it? So, why can't you tell us?” Patricia asked with concern.

“ Sabrina! Patricia! You're truly my best friends. Something happened, but I don't want you two to worry about a thing. Let's not talk about it. We better go home. We have an interminable day waiting for us, tomorrow.” She uttered to the girls with a calm mind.

From the other side, Ryuji exited the school. His chauffeur, Thomas Albertini, was waiting for him. He opened the car seat for him. He entered without giving a glance to him. The chauffeur entered the car soon afterward and started the engine.

“ How was your day, master?” He asked as he was driving.

“ Half good and half bad.” For the first time, he gave him an answer and the chauffeur got even more curious as he wanted to know more.

“ Why is that?”

“ Never mind! I won't tell you anything at all, ‘cause you will report everything to my dad, anyway.”

The chauffeur kept driving, and the atmosphere got all silent until they finally reached the Fujimiya Residence several minutes later.

“ I'm home!”

“ Welcome home, young master! How was your first day at school today?” A maid named Anna Flash greeted him with courtesy.

“ It wasn't too bad. Where's my dad?” He warmly grinned at her and afterward asked about his dad's whereabouts.

“ He's at his office.” She answered.

Ryuji dashed in the direction of his father’s office. There was something Anna wanted to tell him, or whether informed him about, but couldn’t.

He knocked on the door upon coming to his father’s office and was irremediably granted access. He entered and saluted his father without the slightest idea there was a surprise waiting for him.

“ I just came by to say hello, that's all. Now that it's done, I'll be leaving. If you'll excuse me.” He turned his back to the doorway.

“ Wait up a minute, my son! I have a surprise for you.”

“ A surprise? For me? I have done nothing to deserve a surprise from you, dad.” Ryuji got elated for a moment and wondered about the surprise his father got for him.

“ That might be true, but you'll be pleased with what I have for you.”

“ What is it that you want to give me?”

“ You'll know soon enough. You may come out now!” His father looked in the direction of the curtain.

Being excited about his surprise, Ryuji’s excitement turned sour when he came across the surprise his father truly got for him.

(What? What's she doing here?)

“ Ryuji! Ryuji! I've missed you.” A young woman came out of the curtain and hugged Ryuji tightly.

The young woman who suddenly hugged Ryuji was none other than his fiancée, Sasaki Sono. It’s a business relationship contracted between the Fujimiya and Sono Corporation. Their fathers have betrothed them to each other since young, to extend their relations. Whether they hold affection for each other or not is yet to be seen.

“ So, my son, do you like my surprise?” He asked a lost Ryuji.

“ Come with me, my fiancé! I need to talk with you.” Ryuji grabbed Sasaki’s hand and was about to drag her out of his father’s office when—-----------------

“ What is it you can't tell in front of me, or perhaps, are you displeased by her being here? Is that it?” He interrogated him.

…

“ You got it all wrong, dad! I'm very glad to see her. Why shouldn't I be? She's my fiancé, and we will get married.” Ryuji put up a front for his father.

“ Ryuji?” Sasaki suddenly interpellated him.

“ Hum?”

“ Do you love me?” She asked him in a forwarded tone.

“ Why do you ask? You already know the answer to that question.” He grinned at her.

“ Our parents have known each other for ages and have been friends since. For that reason, they betrothed us to get married. I don't want you to marry me if you don't love me. I know that you don't love me. If you're going through with this, it's because you have no other choice. Even though our parents decided for us, I want you to know that I truly love you and I want us to be happy together. That's why I want you to answer my question honestly. It's very important to me. I have to know. So tell me, do you love me?” She asked once more.

(What should I do? What am I supposed to do? What is the right thing to do? If I should be honest with myself, I will be free and this act will be over. As the heir of the Fujimiya Family, I have responsibilities and I know dad won't be pleased if I reject her. He will be furious with me. I don't want to deceive him. I want to meet his expectations. What I want doesn't count, so there's only one thing to do).

“ I love you, Sasaki. If I didn't love you, I wouldn't marry you.” He grinned with his heart aching.

“ I'm glad! I'm so glad! I thought you were doing this by obligation, but I'm relieved it's not the case. Let's go to school together, tomorrow!” She hugged him once more.

“ Okay!” He nodded.

“ I'll be on my way. I just came here to see Ryuji. Now that I've seen him, I can go home assured. Goodbye, Mr. Fujimiya! See you tomorrow, my beloved!” She exited the office.

“ I'll be leaving too.”

“ Wait up a moment, my son! We have to talk.” Ryuji stopped in his footsteps.

“ What is it you want to talk about?”

“ Tell me, my son: Why did you take so much time to answer Sasaki's question?” He questioned him.

“ It doesn't matter. I did exactly as you wanted me to. My desires don’t matter.” He answered coldly.

“ Have you met someone? A girl, perhaps? I'm right, aren't I?”

Whenever his father was questioning him like this, instead of being happy like any other kid, he was rather anxious as all those questions were just a way to extend his control over his son.

“ Why do you think such things? I have met no one. Not even a girl.” He uttered coldly.

“ I hope you're not lying to me. You may go? Ask Thomas to come to see me right away?” He commanded.

“ As you wish, dad!”

Ryuji exited his father’s office at last. When he came across Thomas, he informed him that his father had called him to his office. Before leaving to attend to the head of the family, the latter questioned Ryuji regarding why he never smiles and also whether he loved his fiancé or not. Just like last time, he confided to him slightly before turning a cold shoulder once again.

Meanwhile,--------------------------

“ Come on in!”

“ You called out for me? Is there something I can help you with?” Thomas was now standing in front of Tatsuki Fujimiya.

“ It's about my son, Ryuji!” He uttered.

“ What about him?”

“ He seems down. Something may have happened to him at school? Try to find out what it is? Be discreet! I don't want him to be aware of anything.” He uttered emotionally.

“ Sure thing, master. As you wish! But before that, I want to ask you something very important.”

“ What is it?”

“ Why are you going through with that marriage? Why is it so important for the young master to marry Miss Sasaki Sono?” He inquired boldly.

“ That marriage will unify our two families. I'm sure she'll be a good bride, and Ryuji agrees with me.”

“ What makes you think that?”

“ He said it himself when Sasaki came this morning. They had a conversation. They talk about going to school together tomorrow. They'll likely go into Sasaki's car. I'm so happy for them. As things are going now, he might fall in love with Sasaki.” He beamed joyfully.

(Fall in love? I doubt that would happen).

“ I'll be on my way, master. I'll see you later.” Thomas exited the office.

Fujimiya Residence

(Today, I sure have to apologize to her. I hope everything will go well, and she'll forgive me).

“ Young master, may I come in?” Thomas knocked on the door.

“ Yes, you may!”

“ I just came to remind you I won't be driving you to school today.”

“ Why?”

“ Have you forgotten? You'll be driving to school with your fiancé today.”

(I forgot about that. This sucks. I have to get to school on time, so I can apologize to that girl, Josiane Sakamoto).

“ What are you thinking about, young master?” He inquired.

“ May I ask you a favor?” He inquired straightforwardly.

“ Yes, you may! What is it?”

“ Drive me to school today!” He uttered affirmatively.

“ May I at least know the reason why you want me to drive you to school instead of waiting for your fiancé?”

“ There's no reason!”

“ I understand! Be ready in ten minutes.” Thomas left the room.

Ryuji was quite surprised that Thomas didn’t ask him any further questions and just agreed. He was feeling mixed emotions about whether to trust Thomas or not.

Ten minutes later, Ryuji came to the garage, and they left right away for school. As soon as he arrived, he hurried inside. Luckily, he happens to run into two female students.

“ Excuse me, girls?” He interpellated them.

“ Ryuji Fujimiya? What can I do for you?” Sabrina asked.

“ Do you know where I can find Josiane Sakamoto?” He forwarded his question.

“ What do you want from our friend?” Patricia showed him hostility and depreciation.

At the Fujimiya Residence, Sasaki was informed that Ryuji left early for school as he had some unfinished work to get done when she came to fetch him. Tatsuki Fujimiya got suspicious as his son didn’t mention anything regarding leaving for school early the previous day. He felt something was amiss and couldn’t help but think about his earliest behavior.

Felicitae High

“ I want to apologize for my rude behavior.” He confessed.

“ You want to apologize, or do you want to insult her even more than you already have?”

“ Enough already! You shouldn't be like that!” Sabrina calmed Patricia down.

…

“ He realized his mistake and came to apologize. We should give him a chance.”

…

“ You'll find Josiane over there! Turn left, count 2 classrooms; she's on the next one.” Sabrina kindly gave Ryuji directions as to where to find Josiane.

“ Thank you!”

“ Sabrina Mosley!” She introduced herself to him as he didn’t seem to know who she was up until this moment.

“ Thank you, Mosley San!” He dashed in the direction indicated to him by Sabrina.

…

“ Do you think it was the right course of action?” Patricia suddenly asked.

“ Yes! We should leave them alone for now. They have a lot to talk about.”

Felicitae High Dojo

(That training sure was helpful! Time to get ready for class!)

“ Sakamoto San?” Josiane heard a familiar voice.

“ You again? What do you want this time? What did you come here for?”

…

“ I know! You came here to remind me we're not of the same social status, and also to make sure I don't tell any of your relatives what I discovered about you. If you came here just for that, you don't have to worry. I don't disclose other people's secrets.! If that was all, I'm leaving. I have to get ready for class.” She closed the dojo and was just about to leave when—--------

“ I'm sorry!”

“ Hum?”

“ Please forgive me!”

To be continued---------------------!!!