Thanks to kidanimationlove , kikumarucat , Girl-luvs-manga and sweet-Lia for reading and reviewing Chapter 9!
Disclaimer: Nothing in POT belongs to me. All OoC-ness, OCs, events, situations, venues and tournaments are just figments of my imagination.
Thanks to princeoftennis .wikia .com for all the relevant information.
CAUTION: Some plotlines won't be following the original storyline from manga, anime or movie! Characters may be out of original characterness!
"xxxxx" Conversation
'xxxxx' Thoughts
xxxxxxxFlashback
Hope, Love, Joy
28. The News
"You don't have to do the dishes, Sakuno!" Yukimura Harumi watched with fondness as her son's girlfriend soaped the dirty dishes.
"I want to, Harumi-san." Sakuno gave her a smile and turned back to the sink.
Yukimura Hana walked into the kitchen and put another stack of dishes into the sink. "Sakuno-neechan, can I help too?"
"Sure. I wash and you dry the dishes, ok?"
"Hai!"
Harumi moved to the other end of the counter and began making some tea. While waiting for the water to boil, she chatted with Sakuno.
"How are you doing in school, Sakuno?"
"I'm doing fine, Harumi-san. The school workload isn't as hard as I thought it would be."
"But you have Seiichi and his friends to help you, don't you?"
"Hai. It's all thanks to them that I'm not failing my classes."
"What about the school dormitory where you're staying in? Are you still having trouble with Seiichi's fangirls?"
"Iie. Nowadays, they stay away from me but I managed to make friends with other girls from the dorm."
"That's good. I'm sure not all girls at Rikkai are crazy maniacal tennis club fangirls."
"Seiichi had said he would take care of everything. Besides the harassment in the first few months, everything went smoothly."
"I'm glad Seiichi is there to take care of you, Sakuno." Harumi grinned to see Sakuno blushing at her words.
The water finally boiled and Harumi went on to prepare the tea and bring out some cakes. By that time, Sakuno and Hana had finished the washing up. They accompanied Harumi and made their way to the dining room where Yukimura Satoru and Seiichi were waiting.
After enjoying the tea and desserts, Seiichi and Sakuno went for a stroll around the neighbourhood.
Sakuno was curious about Seiichi's behaviour. He hadn't been talking as much as he usually did. In fact, she could feel his gaze on her from time to time throughout the evening. 'There must be something on his mind.'
"Sakuno, you know I'm graduation soon, right?"
"Hai." She felt sad knowing she won't get to see him around the school for another 2 years.
"I've received an offer to study at a prestigious university. A sponsor is going to pay for my university studies and after I graduate, a professional tennis career."
Sakuno's eyes widened in surprise, "Sugoi, Seiichi. That's a wonderful chance for you. But does the sponsor know about your past medical condition?"
"They do but they are confident of my abilities. Anyway, they have the most excellent medical facilities over there so they aren't worried."
"Where is this university, Seiichi?"
He stopped and turned to her with eyes full of anguish, "The university is in Berlin, Germany, Sakuno."
(Seiichi is in his 3rd. Year of High School while Sakuno is in her 1st. Year of High School)
29. The Sleepless Night
Sakuno couldn't sleep at all that night. She was lying in a futon in Hana's room next to a slumbering Hana. Ever since she had moved to Rikkai's school dorm in Kanagawa, Seiichi's family have been inviting her over to their house for dinners and weekend stays if she wasn't visiting her Obaasan and the Seigaku tennis team in Tokyo.
She tossed and turned in her futon a few more times. Finally she gave up and sat up in frustration. The news from Seiichi was totally unexpected and their conversation that evening didn't end well.
xxx Flashback Begins xxx
"Berlin...in Germany?"
"Hai. The sponsor is the same one that has given Tezuka the same opportunity as well. That means I'll be studying and living there for 4 years at least."
"I see." She numbly turned around and began walking back to Seiichi's house with doubts in her heart, '4 years apart? Can our relationship survive the time and distance?'
"Sakuno, what should I do?"
His question stopped her in her tracks and she looked at him with a frown, "I can't tell you what to do Seiichi because this is something you have to decide on your own."
"But, Sakuno, we'll be separated for 4 years."
Somehow, his words made her agitated."Seiichi, please don't make me the obstacle to achieving your dreams."
With that, she had stomped off and hid herself in Hana's room.
xxx Flashback Ends xxx
Knowing she won't be getting any more sleep, Sakuno left Hana's room and made her way downstairs to the kitchen. She felt she needed a cup of tea.
Sakuno almost screamed when a shadow appeared before her at the kitchen doorway.
30. The Decision
"Sakuno, it's me." She felt relieved when the light was switched on to reveal the tired of Seiichi.
"Can't sleep?" he asked.
She nodded and made her way to the kitchen counter, "I want to have some tea."
"Sakuno, we have to talk."
"There's nothing to talk about."
"Sakuno..."
"Seiichi," she turned to him, "I can't tell you what to do with your life. When you decide, I'll give you my full support."
He sighed and went to her to hug her in his arms, "I know that but I still don't like the fact that we'll be far away from one another. You are an important part of my life, Sakuno."
She wrapped her arms around his waist and whispered into his chest, "I don't want to stop you from achieving your own dreams, Seiichi."
"I really want to play tennis professionally so I'm going to accept the offer."
"Wherever you are, you have my full support, Seiichi."
"Thank you, Sakuno."
They stayed glued together for some time before Seiichi pulled away. He cupped her face in his warm hands and looked her in her eyes, "I love you, Ryuzaki Sakuno."
She smiled with teary eyes, "I love you more, Yukimura Seiichi."
With the moonbeams shining through the kitchen window and surrounding them, their lips met gently.
To Be Continued …
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