Chapter 3

If there is one thing Tanaka Megumi loves the most, it was the ocean. She love the sound of crushing waves at the shore, the crackle of the sand as she grazes over it, the breeze that lifts her spirits and the salty waters that touches her fingertips. It was these little things that made her fell in love with the ocean.

Niou remember the day where he talked to his girlfriend, Megumi about her book. Megumi have always wanted to be an author. She was aspired to write a book and have her book published. Niou doesn't see eye to eye with the idea but as long as it made her happy, it did not matter.

She wanted to write a book about the ocean. A forbidden love revolving around the crashing waves and the beautiful sunset that intertwines with fate. Niou thought the idea was cliché but Megumi was all about it.

"It's the media that makes it mainstream. I personally love it." She would say everytime Niou gives a critic about her work. She wasn't the one who could take criticism but she was a hard worker and will be willing to improve if it makes her a good author. That is why, Niou fell in love with her. He love the fact that she was determined, kind hearted and will not be bound to any sort of harsh words. She would take it and strive for the best. She did not let any array of harsh comments tie her down.

That's Megumi for you.

Niou loves her truly, madly and deeply.

But her death foreshortened his life.

Until now, he cannot utter a single word about her death. It was very sudden, drastic and most of all it pained him. It left him miserable for the rest of the years and he had no courage to even speak about it.

Ever since then, he never ever stopped loving her.

10 years is a long time for someone to hold on to that sort of love. There were times his classmates have told him countless and umpteen times to let her go. In fact, he remembered how it affected his tennis playing as well. Yagyuu, his long time doubles partner was at his wits end. He had no way of getting through Niou's thick skull and now, he was dealing with his emotions. They were just much more complex and complexity though it was Yagyuu's forte; however in this case, he could not handle Niou's emotional phases.

Throughout his third year, it was devastating and painful. He painstakingly got through it but of course, there was a sacrifice.

Truth to be told, no one knew this day was coming. It was just another day at Rikkaidai Middle School. The routines were the same for classes; canteen breaks and everything went smoothly. Club activities proceeded on without hesitation and everything went according to routine.

Everything but the tennis club.

"What is the meaning of this?"

There was no other voice that could be this condescending like Sanada's. He was a man to be feared and he had every right to be. His stern, stoic and demonic face could literally burn right through your soul. The magnetic sound waves from his voice could send a vibration down your spine, shivering it to its core.

He was definitely feared by many.

But today was different.

His feared demeanor possessed no harm or shiver down Niou's spine when he broke the news to his assistant captain.

Niou left everyone speechless. Even Yukimura could not find the courage to utter a word.

"I'm quitting the tennis club, Sanada. That's my final decision." Cooed Niou as he passed his regular jersey, the one he wore so proudly throughout the years to Sanada. Sanada could only lift his hand up with much reluctance to receive it.

Even Sanada could not find words to resolve the situation.

Niou sighed, walking out of tennis clubroom with all eyes staring at him as he walked out knowing that once he set his foot out of this club, he was officially no longer a part of the tennis club.

The tennis club that was part of his family for 3 years.

He ended it with a sour note much to everyone's dismay.

Perhaps Niou thought Sanada had it worst but unexpectedly, Yagyuu Hiroshi did not take that news well, at all.

"Are you fucking mad?" Yagyuu yelled at Niou over the phone without much hesitation the moment Niou picked up the call.

Niou didn't expect that kind of response from Yagyuu but he didn't really care.

"You CONVINCED ME to join the club and now you're leaving? What kind of bullshit are you trying to pull?" Yagyuu demanded with much demonic rage pounding inside him. He certainly could not accept his doubles partner to suddenly resign from the team.

"Hiroshi. I'm sorry. I-.."

"GET YOUR ASS BACK. OR I'M QUITTING." Yagyuu admonished, without even realizing how hurt he was. He didn't think Niou's departure would leave him completely wrecked and depressed but he definitely demanded answers for Niou's displeasing departure.

"Hiroshi…I can't."

"Why not?" Yagyuu interjected without much hesitation.

"Hiroshi…I need time. I need to compose. I just can't do this at the moment. You just have no idea what I'm going throu-"

"Masaharu, I am perfectly clear on what you're going through. Because really, this is a childish and immature way of deciding things. Clearly, Megumi wouldn't want-"

"HIROSHI!"

And for the very first time, Yagyuu had a sudden fear enveloping inside his heart.

"DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT I WANT? DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH? IF YOU DO, WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION NOW WOULD WE?"

Niou had raised his voice for the very first time and he sounded absolutely furious. He was inflamed with so much rage but at the same time his voice was shaking. He could feel Niou trying to recompose on the other line but he could tell immediately he was trying to hold back.

He was trying so hard to hold back the tears.

"I definitely didn't want to do this either, Hiroshi. But playing tennis at this state, it's such a disgrace to Rikkaidai Tennis Club's name. I can't bear to play in such a shit state and letting everyone down; letting you down. You may call my ways, childish, immature, whatever fancy words you got up your dictionary but this is my final decision. I cannot bear to continue playing tennis with my pride, my life crumbling down, crushed and torn. I want to play with pride, but not like this."

Finally, the string that bonded Niou so well broke. The wall that sheltered him so well fell and crumbled into million pieces.

Niou Masaharu cried and Yagyuu Hiroshi was not there to witness it but even hearing it over the phone, Yagyuu wished he had all the power to take back whatever he had said.

"I love her Hiroshi. I really do. They took her away from me. Why? What did I do? Why did they take her away from me? I treated her well didn't I? I gave her everything. I gave her all my love. All my pride; EVERYTHING to her and they took her away. Why Hiroshi? WHY?"

He cried instantly. He cried because it hurt him so much to think his only love slipped past his fingers like sand from the ocean. It pained him even more that he let this matter got the better of him and affected his passion for tennis. In addition to that, he had caused so much damage to the club but most of all, putting a strain to his friendship with Yagyuu.

Perhaps, he had given too much of him that he was left nothing without a single sane pride.

They call him psychotic.

But in his heart, it was unconditional love.

And Yagyuu knew that.

Niou went on for about an hour before calling it a night.

"Masaharu."

"Hmm?"

"I'm sorry."

"….Hiro-"

"I just…want you to be happy again. Megumi was like a pal to us. She was family and her death was tragic. We feel remorse as well Niou. But we need to move on. I truly am sorry for not understanding how hard it was on you. I was just…upset. Clearly because we're best friends and you doing this to me, I thought it was betrayal. But I didn't realized how much pain you were going through and that should have been my first concern as a friend. I do hope your decision will help you get through this phase. Always remember, no matter what…. I'm always here for you."

Niou didn't say anything but Yagyuu continued on.

"The tennis club will always be open for you to walk in."

The conversation ended with a sour note. Yagyuu certainly tried his best to make amendments for his words but he knew that Niou would take time to recompose himself. For the duration, he wasn't sure. It could take years before Niou readjusts himself but he wanted to make sure he would be there for Niou every step of the way.

To pull him up from the shackles that's been holding him down.

How Megumi died will be revealed slowly throughout the story. Please enjoy