Chapter 5: Under One Roof
A/N: Hi everyone sorry I took so long but here I am still alive Please enjoy…
His amber eyes' gaze were piercing it was like the way he looked at her before but this time the impact on her was unbearable. It made her heart stop and her breathing difficult and unaware to Sakuno… her stare also had the very same effect on him. It was as if suddenly everything vanished leaving the boy with dark green hair and the girl sitting on the couch alone while their eyes never broke contact. The loud alarm of the digital clock on the coffee table brought them back to the real world.
"Sa…Sa…Sakuno! You're Tsubaki-san's partner?!" the Seigaku player with brushed up hair exclaimed while the others made their queries. "Are… you know each other already?" the old woman sitting right next to the girl with long brown hair asked innocently. Sakuno's big chocolate eyes looked at her old partner as if asking… Why are you doing this? With a surrendering sigh, Sakuno finally spoke "Yeah… they're the tennis players from my old highschool Seigaku," she said with a monotonous tone as her eyes only looked at the one wearing a green bandana and the one with brushed up hair.
Her hand gently turned off the alarm of the digital clock, took her cap then slowly rose from her seat. "Welcome to the Shingujii manor. I'm sorry but I can't keep you company for this day. If you need anything please feel free to ask the maids," she said politely then bowed and soon after she hid her long brown hair inside her baseball cap then exited the room.
Almost everyone stared after her as she quietly left the room leaving the smiling Tsubaki. "You're very lucky. She's rarely at home," the old woman stood up slowly then a maid arrived and bowed at her respectfully. "Are… its time for breakfast," as if hearing the announcement, a couple of stomachs complained loudly making their owners laugh in embarrassment.
One by one, the Seigaku players left the room and head towards the dining area… all except one. His amber eyes were still staring at the place where he last saw her… unable to believe she was right in front of him.
As everyone dined on the scrumptious dishes served, their old coach couldn't even touch her food. She probably really hates me. In her mind, Coach Ryuuzaki replayed the seen a while ago. Her granddaughter didn't even spare her a glance. Her eyes were never focused on anyone. It was… all too formal… not a hint of her usual clumsiness or even her usual stutters that often happens especially when she's in front of the boy protégé.
"She's a blessing to me…" the old coach heard Tsubaki's words and immediately, she knew the old lady was pertaining to Sakuno. The entire team became silent… knowing how important the topic is for their coach…and also for them.
"Years ago… a frail girl stepped into my almost ran down bathhouse and asked for a job. I couldn't afford to hire anymore employees as it is but she only asked to have a place to stay and food to eat as exchange for her labor," upon hearing Tsubaki's beginning… Coach Ryuuzaki gripped the napkin covering her lap.
Flashback
The next tournament was at hand… the team couldn't afford to lose. They decided to train in a mountainous area to exercise both stamina and speed. For weeks, the team trained hard with their coach supporting their every step.
As the old coach arrived home, her neighbor approached her immediately. "Have you seen your granddaughter?" the neighbor asked anxiously. "Not yet… Why?" her heart immediately started to race upon hearing the question. "She was at your doorstep for three days… I offered to let her in my house but she refused saying that "My grandmother will be back. I already called her several times." So I thought it was okay," the neighbor shared worriedly. Immediately, the coach entered her house, threw her baggage in one corner hen charged her mobile phone.
There were at least twenty text messages and fifteen voice mails. Mostly coming from Sakuno. "Grandma, where are you? I need your help… please come home," mostly the message and the voice mails contents were all the same. Growing panicky, she called her son and daughter-in-law overseas. It was only then did she discovered that the two were separated and that Sakuno decided to go back to Japan in hope that she, her grandmother, would take her in.
End of Flashback
"Sakuno is a very hard worker… she's the first to wake up and the last to sleep. Her efforts inspired my employees and in turn… the bathhouse regained its former glory. Anyone would settle for just having a well paying job, a house to live in and food to eat but that girl… she is not contented with just that. The reason why she's always not around is because… she has three more jobs besides managing the bathhouse. She was earning money for her tuition fee in med school. I told her that I can shoulder her schooling but she turned me down saying "It is my responsibility… I'll handle it." Until now, I'm trying to understand her… the only thing I know is that… she doesn't like it when she's not doing something when I asked her, her reply was "When I'm not doing anything… my past catches up to me."
"Oh I forget to ask… is tennis really that…uh… how should I say this… er… physical?" the old lady asked the team. "What do you mean?" the smiling genius inquired politely while Momoshiro and Kaido looked at each other nervously. "When Sakuno returns from a game, she's always so tired… that's the only time I was her that tired," Tsubaki answered honestly.
The guy with brushed up hair swallowed with difficulty then proclaimed "I'm so full! These dishes are delicious… who made them?" thanks to him, the topic was later forgotten.
Sakuno didn't come home until it was very late. Tsubaki reassured everyone that this was her regular schedule but still Coach Ryuuzaki stayed up waiting for her. At last, the door slowly opened to her a girl, wearing a baseball cap and rollerblades, in.
The girl was surprised to see someone still awake but she did not let her reaction be so evident. "Do you know what time it is?" Coach Ryuuzaki unconsciously let her grandmother instincts lose. "3:00 AM," Sakuno replied truthfully as she removed her shoes. "What kind of job would…" the old coach's statement was cut by her granddaugther. "Why are you so worried about me now… when all these years, you were with your team. Look, I only respected my partner's decision to let you stay here… as a guest… nothing more. Now, If you like to assume being my grandmother… may I remind you that you lost your right to be one when you chose to be with your team than me," her tone was flat… almost emotionless… her eyes were cold… almost lifeless. Coach Ryuuzaki… couldn't say another word.
The room was spacious… the bed was soft… the blanket was warm and yet he couldn't sleep. His amber eyes saw images of the girl he once knew and the girl he saw now. His ears remembered her sweet voice as she called his name and soon after… he hears the cold, formal tone the girl used a while ago. After hours of trying to sleep, the boy with unruly dark green hair got out of bed and dressed in his training uniform.
The sky was still dark and the air was still chilly but still Ryoma decided that he should start doing something else instead of trying to sleep. Quietly, he made his way downstairs but he was surprised to see someone at the door. It seems he was not the only one who was unable to sleep that night. The figure also wore a training uniform… but from a different school. Maroon and black. His amber eyes widened in realization… "Ryuuzaki," he called out unconsciously.
Hearing his voice, the person by the door stopped walking and slowly faced the boy approaching her. "It's Sakuno… I no longer use the name Ryuuzaki," the girl immediately proclaimed as Ryoma was a feet away then she left the house.
The closed door glared back at him as his amber eyes stared at it blankly… "Sakuno…" Ryoma muttered.
A/N: read and review please!