Waiting for that Promise

Ryuzaki Sakuno quickly tried to hit the ball aimed on the corner side of the court. Barely reaching it, she returned it as an easy to hit lob. In a brief frenzied panic, she expected a strong smash coming from her opponent. She braced herself for the quick return of the ball.

It didn't arrive. Instead, the white-capped lad returned it normally, letting the girl get another chance of return.

"Try to lower the position of your grip a little bit more," Ryoma commented, easily hitting back the ball.

The girl nodded, adjusting her hold on his extra red racket that he lent her. She focused on the whizzing neon ball directed on the corner of her court. Running to follow up, this time, she successfully hit it with a great swing.

The ball bounced then whirred fast, missed by the tennis prince who was standing opposite.

"Game Ryuzaki, 5-1." He had his amused smirk on, appraising the way she improved.

"I took a game from Ryoma-kun..." she felt stunned, but ultimately felt giddy. After all, the tennis prince is also a world-renowned pro.

"Your turn to serve," he spoke, a small smile gracing his mouth as he observed her face lighting up in happiness.

"Un." Her twin braids swayed as she positioned herself to serve. Sweat lined her face, as she took a deep breath. She tried to remember all of his tips, channeling the best serve that she could do. Sakuno tossed the ball in the air and then jumped up, hitting the most powerful serve she could muster.

His eyes carefully looked at the spin on the ball, calculating its trajectory. He returned her ball with ease, starting a rally. With every hit and return, both parties felt an emotion that seemed to be from before. Just enjoying their company, and playing tennis.

For the first time since her confession, Sakuno felt light around him. It was as if on every shot, she conveyed the stress she felt for the past few days. And their rally felt cathartic. It was starting to remind her of how she enjoyed seeing him play, and even more when he played with her. The happiness she felt back then in middle school when she started to love tennis because of him.

Those times from long ago where he would teach her play for almost a year before he left. And when they met again, five years later, he praised how she improved. She can't express just how much happy she was, when he asked to play just before he fell sick back then.

And then there's the steady friendship-- one she hoped he felt too, when they started living together. Even if her feelings were unspoken back then, she was truly content in keeping him company. From sharing breakfast and dinners, watching some TV on the living room, and even with the occasional idle times where they just drink tea or coffee over the confines of the kitchen enjoying each other's silent company.

When she confessed, all those memories suddenly felt so far away. They seemed to have happened years ago that she almost forgot. How their relationship changed over the last few days they spent in Japan. With a heavy heart, even if he asked her to wait for an answer, change became inevitable. It even came to a point where the both of them struggled to talk with each other.

She was beginning to think whether her five years of unreturned feelings for him were ever worth to hold on. When it caused this much chaos to the simple platonic relationship they have, was it really worth it? Maybe she should have just accepted it long ago. And even if her heart refused to bury that first love, then maybe she should have tried more.

Maybe if she lets go of her feelings, she wouldn't feel hurt anymore. He wouldn't burden himself with thinking anymore. And they would return to the stage where everything is stable... everything turning normal. No romance issues to inconvenience each other.