7/1/2012: Just amended some parts of the chapter.

Disclaimer: Nothing in POT belongs to me. All OoC-ness, OCs, events, situations, venues and tournaments are just figments of my imagination.

"xxxxx" Conversation

'xxxxx' Thoughts

xxxxxxx Flashback

Hope, Love, Joy

1. The Bad News

"I'm afraid I have bad news, minna-san." The doctor began grimly, "Your son has a debilitating neural disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndrome."

"What is this disease?" The mother cried in despair.

"Well, firstly, this serious disorder occurs when the body's defense (immune) system mistakenly attacks part of the nervous system. This leads to nerve inflammation that causes muscle weakness. That is why your son's body experienced pain and temporary paralysis which caused him to collapse during his vigorous tennis practice."

"Sensei, what can be done for my son?" The father asked anxiously.

"Sadly there's no cure for this disorder. However there is an experimental surgery performed by the United Tokyo Medical Research Institute (UTMRI) on people with this disorder but…"

"Let him have that surgery, Sensei." The father pleaded eagerly.

"Please remember that it's just an experiment. Besides, the survival rate of the surgery is 50-50. Even those who survived the surgery are still in their long recovery stage. "

"Can I still play tennis after the surgery, Sensei?" Yukimura Seiichi asked in a gentle voice with a solemn face.

"Seiichi-kun, you have to undergo painful rehabilitations after the surgery and your recovery could take months or even years."

"I can still play tennis after all the rehabilitations, can't I?" Seiichi gave the doctor a hard stare.

His stubbornness caused the doctor to sigh and say, "The chances are you can, Seiichi-kun."

"Otousan, okaasan what do you think?"

"You decide, Seiichi." Yukimura Harumi nodded at her immovable son while placing her hand over his fisted hands on his laps.

"Seiichi, your mother and I are behind you 100 percent!" Yukimura Satoru gave him an encouraging grin.

"Good! I want the surgery done as soon as possible, Sensei."

The doctor finally released them from his office after getting the parents to sign some documents and setting an appointment for them to meet the doctor in charge of the experimental surgery at UTMRI.

2. The First Meeting

"Wait for us here, Seiichi, while we pay the hospital bills."

"Hai, Okaasan." Seiichi sat down in one of the chairs in the busy waiting room.

Ignoring the other occupants, he closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair.

Waves of despair swelled within him as his mind dwelled on his circumstances. 'Gah! Kantou Championship is just around the corner. Why must this stupid disorder show up in me? Ahh! I want to play tennis so badly.'

He opened his eyes to gaze at the ceiling, 'How am I supposed to lead the Rikkai tennis team to win the Kantou Championship for the 16th year with me being out of commission? What am I going to tell Sanada, Yanagi and the Regulars?'

"Ano, could I sit here?" A meek voice interrupted Seiichi's musing.

His eyes turned to rest on a young petite brunette with long hair in twin braids. Her large doe-like eyes filled her sweet face that reminded him of a fawn.

'Kawaii!' The sudden thought had really surprised Seiichi. He never had any interest in girls until now.

"Ano!" A blush appeared on her cheeks making him realize he had been staring at her.

"Dozo. No one is sitting here." He gestured to the seat next to him.

"Arigatou!" The girl smiled shyly causing his heart to beat faster.

His eyes widened with joy as she carefully placed a tennis bag next to the chair. 'She plays tennis? That's great!'

She daintily sat down next to him and his body was warmed by her close presence and fragrance of lavender. 'I want to know her more.'

After taking a deep breath, he turned to her to ask casually, "Do you play tennis?"

Her doe eyes looked at him and his heart melted. "Hai, but I just started learning it actually."

"Do you enjoy it?"

"Yes, I do. What about you? Do you play tennis?"

"Hai. Tennis is my passion. I always play with my school team."

"Which school is that?"

"Rikkai Dai Fuzoku of Kanagawa."

The girl's widened eyes told him she knew the school's reputation for tennis. "Rikkai Dai Fuzoku? Wow! You must be a good player."

"Eto, I do my best for the team and the school. My love for tennis itself is more than enough for me."

"So kah. I am beginning to like tennis too. That's why I joined the Girls Tennis Club in school."

"Ano, what's your name?"

"Oh, I haven't introduced myself and we've been talking for some time. My name's Ryuzaki Sakuno, 1st year student of Seishun Gakuen. And you are?"

"Ryuzaki-san, I'm Yukimura Seiichi, 3rd year student of Rikkai Dai Fuzoku. I'm pleased to meet you." Seiichi said happily for he knew her name now. The young teenagers were then interrupted by an elder couple.

"Who's this, Seiichi? A school friend?" Harumi asked with interest. This was the first time she had seen her tennis-loving son talking to a girl.

Seiichi introduced Sakuno to his parents while hoping to get the chance to exchange phone numbers with the girl who captured his interest.

"Why are you here, Sakuno-chan? Do you have a doctor's appointment or are you visiting someone?" Harumi inquired once everyone had found a seat.

"Iie. I'm here with my grandmother. She is having her annual check-up. It's the school policy."

"School policy?" Satoru was confused.

"Obaasan works as Math teacher in my school." Sakuno explained.

"And your parents? What do they do?" Satoru wanted to know.

Seiichi's heart ached when Sakuno's face immediately dimmed with sadness. "Otousan and okaasan died in an accident when I was six. I have been living with Obaasan ever since."

"Oh!" Harumi and Satoru looked at each other awkwardly.

"It's good that you still have your Obaasan, Ryuzaki-san." Seiichi tried to comfort her.

"Arigatou, Yukimura-senpai."

"Sakuno!" A voice called out. An elderly woman in a pink jumpsuit walked over towards them with curious eyes, "Ara, it seems you have made some new friends here, Sakuno."

While the older people introduced themselves, Seiichi took the chance to pull Sakuno aside to ask, "Ryuzaki-san, can we exchange phone numbers?"

"Eh? Nande?" Sakuno was surprised by his request.

Feeling his face reddened, he confessed, "I enjoyed taking to you and I hope we could keep in touch. Is that okay with you?"

Her eyes casted down in shyness and her cheeks turned pink as she pulled out her mobile phone. In a few seconds, their numbers were stored in each other's mobile phones.

"Ryuzaki-san, I hope we could talk more often."

"Hai. I also could ask you for tips about tennis."

Despite his galloping heart, Seiichi said calmly, "I don't mind that at all. Call me anytime."

Sweetly, Sakuno replied, "I will, Yukimura-senpai."

"We have to go now, Sakuno. The Regulars are waiting for us." Ryuzaki Sumire called her even as she was giving Seiichi concerned looks.

Seiichi looked at Sakuno curiously, "Regulars?"

Sakuno smiled, "Obaasan is the tennis coach for Seishun Gakuen tennis club."

"So kah." He was stunned for it seemed the world of tennis brought him and Sakuno together. 'That means I could see her more often in the future.'

"It's nice to meet you. If you're in Tokyo in the future, please come and visit us." Sumire bowed to the Yukimuras who returned her bow along with the same sentiments.

"All the best to you, Seiichi-kun," Sumire clapped a hand on Seiichi's shoulder and walked away.

"See you around Yukimura-senpai." Sakuno waved at the dazed boy, bowed quickly to the Yukimuras and hurriedly followed her Obaasan.

His eyes watched intently as her figure disappeared into the distance, creating an empty ache in his chest. 'Why do I feel this way about her?'

"I like her, Seiichi." Harumi smiled knowingly.

"Yeah?" He answered vaguely.

"She's a sweet girl." Satoru also smiled knowingly.

"Hmmm."

His mother observed him for a moment and asked gently, "Does she know about your condition, Seiichi."

The question quickly brought him down from the thoughts of Sakuno. 'Oh no! I have forgotten about my condition. Do I need to tell her? How do I tell her? How would she feel about me having this disorder?'

"Don't worry, my dear," Satoru said, "Her Obaasan might tell her later."

Taken aback, Seiichi asked, "What do you mean, Otousan?"

"Well, we told her why we're here in this hospital when you were talking to Sakuno. Ryuzaki-san already knew about your condition, Seiichi."

3. The Disclosure

Sumire regarded her granddaughter carefully as Sakuno did the washing up after their evening meal.

Being a doting yet strict grandmother, she was able to observe Sakuno's tendency to daydream throughout their journey home. The gentle smile and dreamy look on her face convinced Sumire that her granddaughter had a crush on Rikkai Dai Fuzoku's Tennis Club Captain.

Seeing how the young man acted around her granddaughter, she had inkling he had a crush on Sakuno too. She was surprised to find out about Yukimura Seiichi's medical condition from his parents. 'What a waste to see such a talented tennis player brought down by his own body. I hope the surgery is successful.'

"Obaasan, are you alright?" Sakuno asked when she joined her Obaasan at the dining table for a cup of green tea.

"What do you know about Yukimura Seiichi, Sakuno?" Sumire was amused by the embarrassing look on Sakuno's face.

"Eh? Ano..," Sakuno blushed with mortification, "Yukimura-senpai loves tennis. He plays in his school tennis team. That means he's really good in tennis. He's also kind and friendly. That's all I know about him, Obaasan."

Sumire sighed and sipped her tea. 'It's better for Sakuno to hear the truth from me. I don't think Seiichi-kun could handle her tears.'

"Do you know that he's sick, Sakuno?"

"Eh? But he looks so healthy."

After Sumire had explained what Yukimura had and what treatment he's taking, Sakuno was in tears.

"And …we…were talking (Sob!)…about ….tennis…he must (Sob!)…be feeling ...so sad…about…not play (Sob!) … playing ….. until … (Sob!) he…. recovers…!"

Sumire waited until Sakuno had calmed down before proposing, "You could support him, Sakuno."

"Support him? How do I do that, Obaasan?"

"You could learn more about the GBS, recognize the symptoms and give him the care he needs. You could cheer him on when he's feeling down, visit him often, talk to him and even listen to him when he wants to pour out his emotions."

After thinking for a moment, Sakuno was encouraged, "I could do that. Obaasan, you've done that for me, haven't you? You've been there for me ever since I came to live with you.

"Hai, Sakuno."

Sakuno gave her grandmother a loving hug."Arigatou, Obaasan."

After some moments, she withdrew to say, "I have to go to my room now, Obaasan."

"Why?"

"I have to make an important call, Obaasan. Oyasumi!"

"Oyasumi! Give my regards to Seiichi-kun."

"Hai!"

…. To Be Continued …

Constructive criticisms are welcomed!