Of Remembering, Letting go and Waiting

DISCLAIMER:

PRINCE OF TENNIS. Not mine. Nope.

(='.'=) Sequel to DEPARTURE'S MORNING. It might help if you'll read that first before reading this one.

Chapter Three: Recur

Months have passed since that day at Café Sunshine. Leaves has fallen from the trees and finally white has fallen from heaven. It was the night before Christmas, and the Echizen household is filled with bright lights and laughter.

Ryoma stifled a yawn from his seat in the couch. He can't believe he actually agreed to this.

His mother and his Idiotic father contacted him days before his birthday and asked him what his plans are. Obviously his blunt reply of "Nothing" did the trick. The next thing he knew, he was barricaded with plans and stuff to do like contacting his very limited circle of friends on the night of his 24th birthday for a small get together and all that jazz. He tried to explain that the only thing he wanted to do was spend his birthday on his own, survive the fact that he's a year older than last year, greet Christmas day "Merry Christmas!", go to sleep and just basically get the whole birthday-slash-holidays over with. But his parents won't have any of that. So against his will, with a few blackmails of showing his childhood photo of him sitting on his potty trainer to his friends from his father, he reluctantly called all his peers and grudgingly informed them of the whole party hullabaloo. And now, the said party's going on in full swing. Almost all of the people he invited managed to come, with the exception of his Toudai friends. He didn't really mind. The less people there are, the better. At least that's what he thought. Yet for some reason he could feel that there's something wrong. He just couldn't quite put his finger on what that something is.

"Ryoma-sama! Look this way!" A loud voice interrupted his thoughts. Tomoka flashed a photo of him on her digicam, making Ryoma blink, dots dancing in air.

Tomoka was about to flash another one when Kaidou pulled her away from the still blinking-the-dots-away Ryoma. "Stop that. You've flashed enough photos to make the boy go blind for the whole night." Tomoka stuck her tongue out at her husband for 2 years. "Jealous much?" Kaidou snorted. "You wish." He grumbled under his breath, earning himself a cuff on the head from his wife. He was muttering something about "Fan girls, Digicams and physically abused husbands" when Momoshiro's snickering made the imaginary vein of his forehead pop. The two started bickering, threats of trouncing each other at tennis and making the other drink Inui juice flew in the air, while the others chose to ignore the two, knowing full well that those words will remain what they really are: threats. They all knew that the 2 bickering idiots are the best of friends not matter how much they deny the fact.

Everyone at the party pretty much came in pairs. The 'League of the Whipped', as what Ryoma privately calls them, are there of course, with their wives as their escorts. Fuji came too, with a partner much to everyone (except Ryoma's) surprise. The tensai is now twirling Ayumi, his girlfriend for 3 months, on the dance floor as the music pounded through the whole house. Everyone was having fun, eating, dancing and catching up with one another. Right now Horio's currently complaining something to Ryoma about how his soon-to-be wife Haruka, who he has been teaching tennis for 2 months, whooped his ass at their tennis match just a couple of days ago. "It just doesn't make sense! I TAUGHT HER! It's highly illogical!" Horio whined.

Ryoma once again stifled a yawn and continued his staring match with the can of orange flavored Ponta in his hand. He just wanted to get the whole thing over with, go home to his apartment, and climb on his nice, warm bed and sleep. Just when he was starting to fully block out Horio's whimpering and discreetly get some shut-eye, his mother chose that time to call everyone's attention.

"It's time for Ryoma to blow his candles! Everyone gather round!"

Ryoma slapped his hand on his forehead. Honestly, did he really have to? And who blows candles on their 24TH BIRTHDAY?

Ignoring the snickering and teasing coming from his former team mates and tennis rivals, he made his way towards the dining table where everyone was gathered. His scowl deepened even more when he saw his father's gleeful smirk, a digicam in his hand. Yep, it was all so clear. His father's never gonna let him live this one down.

He finally made it in front of the table and everyone started to sing.

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, happy birthday. Happy 24th birthday to you!" Everyone around him sang and clapped, pretty much making Ryoma feel like he's back to being a 5 year old kid.

"Nyaaaah! Ooooochibiii! Make a wish!" Eiji yelped, hugging the so-called ochibi tightly. So tight that the said boy's supply of oxygen was starting to deplete quickly. Thank goodness Oishi has half the mind to pull away his cat-like senpai before he passed out.

"Make a wish, Echizen." Fuji said gently, repeating what Eiji said. Ryoma sighed. Guess it wouldn't hurt to try. He closed his eyes and made his wish. If she's still not coming back, I just wish she's okay..

He opened his eyes and gently blew out his candles. Everyone around him clapped, wishing the very best for their friend. The doorbell suddenly rang, making everyone stop. Tomoka was the one who broke the silence.

"That must be Ryuuzaki-sensei! She said she'll be a bit late but she'll follow as soon as she could!" Tomoka rushed to the door as everyone else went back to they were doing before Ryoma's mom called all of them. Ryoma went back to his seat in the couch, more determined than ever to just get the whole night done with and go home. If only she was here..

True enough, it was his former coach who has arrived. She headed straight to Ryoma's parents to greet them before approaching Ryoma.

"Happy birthday Ryoma." Ryuuzaki Sumire greeted the silent boy infront of her. Ryoma smiled slightly. "Thanks Ryuuzaki-sensei. I' glad you could come." Sumire nodded and motioned to the empty seat beside Ryoma. "Is that seat taken?" The boy shrugged and moved a bit, making enough room for his old coach." Sumire took the seat.

"It's been a while, ne? Haven't seen you around much." Ryoma shrugged. "Been busy. Tennis and stuff." Sumire smiled. "I heard from your father that you're considering quitting the life of being a PRO. Is that true?" The silent nod she got was all she needed. "You really are that idiot's son. Have you found a bigger dream you wanted to pursue?" Ryoma raised questioning eyes at her. "Huh?" The old lady beside him chuckled. "So he still hasn't told you, eh." Sumire shook her now fast graying hair. "He quit PRO tennis because you came along. He found a bigger dream he wanted to pursue. And that's you." Ryoma's eyes widened slightly before he tugged his cap down to hide his eyes. Sumire asked him again. "Have you found a bigger dream you wanted to pursue?" Ryoma smiled slightly, his hand reaching up to touch the scarf wrapped around his neck. "Yeah. I think I did."

Sumire smiled. "Then I guess this is the right time to give you this." She handed Ryoma a square box. He opened the box and found a tennis ball inside. He pulled the ball out and shot his former coach a confused look. The smile on his coach's face remained. He turned the ball around froze when he saw a familiar handwriting on the tennis ball.

Congratulations on making it Number 1.

He almost dropped the ball in shock. It couldn't be..

His thoughts were in a jumble. It came from her. She knew. She remembered.

He barely heard the ringing of the doorbell again. He turned to Sumire, a mixture of bewilderment and shock etched on his face. His former coach laughed at his expression. "I never thought I'll see the day I'll be able to see you with that idiotic look on you face."

"Neither did I." A voice said in English.

Ryoma could've sworn he felt his world stop. This time, he really did drop the ball he was holding. He slowly turned around, feeling the seconds of time ticking by loudly in his ear. His eyes widened in shock.

A smile. "Happy Birthday, Ryoma-kun."

She's back.

(='.'=) Final chapter's coming up.