Waiting for that Promise

Their last day in Japan didn’t prove to be better so far.

At least, that is what the prince of tennis thought as he woke up that day to a western breakfast. He can’t even loudly complain as his mother seemed to be pissed about something his father did, again. “Must be those stash of his dirty magazines again.”

Plus, his american friends who crashed for the night were acting so suspicious. Granted, Kate didn’t really talk with him at all since yesterday. “It’s not even my fault.” And now, Kevin, who was so worried about her that he continuously bugged him yesterday, doesn’t seem to talk to her anymore either. In honesty, he wouldn’t have minded what his friends did as long as they didn’t involve him. God knows how much Kate and Kevin quarreled back then. But somehow, he felt involved without even knowing their problem.

The weird tension in their house felt suffocating. It certainly didn’t help him feel better as he was wallowing in his own thoughts too.

He was sure that it was Ryuzaki Sakuno whom he saw on the public park last night. In the corner of his eyes, he knew that she paused for a moment to look. Majority of himself expected that she would actually stop by and approach him-- that’s what she used to do when she sees him play.

But the thing is, she didn’t.

And so, when she turned her back, he can only stare at her from afar. How her shoulders seemed to droop as she tried her best to briskly walk away. For some reason, he felt an uncomfortable pang in his chest. Was it betrayal or plain hurt? He wasn’t really sure if he should be feeling those anyway.

Ryoma isn’t dumb enough to not have the slightest idea as to why she acted that way. For the first time in five years, he was made aware of her long-time feelings for him. Kevin telling him how Ryuzaki was there at the same time Kate kissed him made the way she acted last night an easy to solve puzzle.

Of course she felt hurt. She didn’t know the context of Kate’s actions. And truthfully, he didn’t know too. Kate wasn’t exactly helpful as she didn’t really clarify anything yesterday at all.

The tennis prince could feel his head ache for all the thinking. It just wasn’t his forte-- thinking about things beyond tennis. He was used to things being simple. Things like returning a ball landing on his court no matter what and refusing to lose in any match. It isn’t that complicated.

With a frustrated huff, he looked over the side of his room where he placed his tennis bag. He lazily stood up, getting his racket and some tennis balls. Wearing his signature white cap and practice clothes, he descended the stairs to do some wall practicing.

-------

“Sakuno? Are you sick?” the concerned question of her grandmother earned a surprised expression from the girl, “You don’t look well.”

They were currently baking some sweets. It has been a long time since they last baked sweets. Considering that before tennis, the grandmother and granddaughter duo had baking and cooking as their shared hobby. Over time, it became a sort of tradition that they do at least a month. Since Sakuno started to study overseas, they didn’t have the time to bake again. On her last day in Japan, they decided to revive that tradition.

“I-I just had trouble sleeping last night,” she gave an awkward laugh while stirring the bowl of dough, “But I’m okay, obaa-chan.”

“Hmmm. Are you sure?” Sumire looked at her curiously, mittens in hand as she carefully put the tray of cookie dough inside the oven, “You see, Ada called me up about something.”

“Eh?” the girl’s stirring was put to a halt.

“She told me that you seemed to be in a problem,” her grandmother sighed, “The other day, you asked for her permission to transfer back here and then apologizing for changing your mind since you still wanted to study there.”