Family Interference
When Yuuta gripped his tennis racket with his right hand it didn't sit right and felt awkward no matter how much he practiced. Syuusuke swung his racket with his careless grace, earning praise from their tennis instructor. While Syuusuke was complimented, Yuuta swung with more vicious strength but the racket just wobbled in his hands, swinging through the air in jerks. Their teacher straightened his hands, aligned them on their racket, but each time Yuuta's hands failed to stay their place and no matter how much Yuuta tried, he didn't get any better.
Syuusuke watched, eyes open for a moment, lips pursing as their teacher got more and more short of temper with Yuuta. The racket in his hands was gripped tighter but Yuuta didn't see, caught in trying and trying and not succeeding with holding his racket successfully. Yuuta bit his lip and looked away when their teacher snapped at him.
When their mother came to pick them up from their lesson, Yuuta was red and angry while Syuusuke was quiet and reflective. Yumiko was in the front seat of the car, but she walked out, catching the attention of the people around them, despite or perhaps because of her young age and beauty.
She and Syuusuke spoke for a while, mother listening with half an ear as their teacher raved about Syuusuke's potential and never mentioning Yuuta. On the way home, mother said they would be going to a new teacher. Yuuta didn't hear, clutching at his racket like he used to do with his stuffed bear who was now hidden in the back of his closet only brought out when Yuuta was very frightened. On those days, Yuuta would usually wake up with Syuusuke, the bear between them.
Later that night, Syuusuke came to his room with a couple of tennis magazines. Yuuta was interested despite himself, rubbing at his pink and puffy eyes and refusing to look at Syuusuke directly. The bear was hidden quickly under his pillow, one paw sticking out woefully. He read slowly, frowning at unfamiliar characters, not commenting when Syuusuke pointed out the meaning as if he was merely saying the words to himself.
"You can play with your left hand too?" His voice sounded terribly young and hopeful. Syuusuke smiled and nodded.