Konnichiwa minna-san! I am back again. So how's my story so far? I told you before that I was corrupted and still am today. But I am trying my best to make them in order so please bear with me for a little longer. Next chapter switched on! Please enjoy. ^_^
(I just uploaded this one without reviewing this... please have mercy...)
Disclaimer: I do not own 'Ang Prinsipe ng Tennis'. Totally don't, except for my imaginations and fantasies.
Chapter 12: Doomsday
Chapter Summary: The competition began… and soon ended. She collapsed on the ground when she finally heard the announcement of the winner…
Sakuno was the third to play. She was scared when the umpire called her name. A lot of noises surfaced the crowd when they called her. The boys from the tennis club wouldn't let the noise overwhelmed without them. They joined the crowd in the lead of Kawamura who was still holding his racket;
"BURNING! GIVE WAY FOR THE PRINCESS OF TENNIS! SWIPE THEIR FEET AWAY RYUZAKI-CHAN!"
Ryoma reacted on his word but he didn't say anything. …The princess of tennis, huh? He thought instead as he looked at the girl who was blushing already. He smirked after holding his hat down. Momo noticed that.
"You are having fun, Echizen." Momo teased his young kouhai.
"Just shut up." He replied not looking at him keeping his position intact.
Fuji was staring at the young girl inside the court. She was standing there and a bit embarrassed. He ignored Kawamura's words and continued watching the girl.
"Hey, stop him from making a fuss." Sumire said as she noticed that the boy was still going wild. They stopped him and Eiji replaced his position but not as wild as Kawamura. It ended up as a comedy.
"Mou senpais, that's enough. It is embarrassing already." She said as she looked down.
Later on, the umpire called her first opponent. Her heart skipped a beat when her opponent appeared on the other side of the court. It was the girl with the pigtails who was going to be her first opponent. The girl smirked devilishly;
"I guess I won't be making a sweat on my first match."
Sakuno composed herself, "nan kuru naisa, everything will be fine." She whispered repeatedly as she gripped her racket tightly.
The first match began, the girl with pigtails served first. The girl smiled at her sweet fully that made her confused for a while. Why did the girl do that? The girl took that chance to make her serve. She threw the ball in the air and hit it. Sakuno couldn't react, out of her reflexes; she knew where the ball was coming so she placed her racket in front of her and blocked the shot. The ball was strong enough to push and fall her back. The regulars were shocked on the scene. Fuji, Ryoma and even Tezuka remained silent but anger could be notice on their faces. Some people of the crowd laughed.
"What a show! Is this a comedy?" they heard a comment like that in the crowd.
The girl laughed after making her first serve. She scored first. "What happened to your training? What were you actually doing?"
Sakuno was embarrassed already but she stood up and gained her composure, "Everything will be fine." She said as she gripped her charms that were hanging at the bottom of her racket.
The match continued. The girl won the first set and Sakuno catch up on the second set. The match was a tie until the very last set. The next set will be the one declared to be the winner. The girl was a bit surprise for her improvement. Sakuno was somewhat catching up with the score, until they both tied the score. Sakuno was the one to serve. She closed her eyes and thought hard, Concentrate, don't let your guard down. Look at your opponent's eyes and gave them a fright. She did what Fuji told her. It was effective, the girl flinched. "Don't swing your racket hard but do your best for the shot." She whispered as she threw the ball in the air and hit it. Because of the stare she gave a while ago, the girl loses her attention that she returned it a bit wobbly. She took the chance of running towards the ball. "If there's a chance, don't waste it but grabbed it." She hit the ball hard and it entered to the other side of the court. It touched the ground… inside. Silence occurred; both girls were catching their breaths.
"6 games to 5, Game set and match! Ryuzaki Sakuno." The umpire announced.
The reaction was a delayed. The crowd rejoiced when Sakuno did an excellent job on her first try. She was happy that she won her first match.
"I-I won." She said as she looked at the fence outside.
"Way to go, Ryuzaki-chan." Eiji shouted.
Some of the members praised her and some just nodded including Kaidoh and Ryoma. Fuji gave her a thump up sign.
The girl was shocked that she lost to her. She gritted her teeth. Sakuno went near to the net and offered her hand to her, "I-It was a nice game."
The girl was staring at her hand and said, "Don't think highly of yourself because you won a match from me. Remember that you have to win all the matches before claiming that you are free from the deal." The girl whispered in front of her and then started to walk away from her.
"Sakuno was surprised oh her words. She was right. She needed to win every match and everything will be alright. She looked at the area where the girl went in and thought hard. If she won her first match, she will definitely win the other matches.
The competition continues. A lot of matches was been implemented and luckily for Sakuno that she was always winning her matches. She won against three from the five girls she was having a match with.
She was happy. Actually she was qualified for the semi-finals. All of her effort was paying her off. It was definitely thanks to all of her senpais… to Fuji and Ryoma. The contestants who were qualified for the semi were given a 30-minute break. Tomoka was included in the semi too.
"What's happening to you girls, why are you letting her win? She is not good enough to be a player." The girl with the long hair scolded them. Like Sakuno, she hasn't lost any match yet.
"S-she's different senpai when she is in the court. We feel like she is a different person unlike the stupid girl we see everyday."
"That's stupid, how can she transform inside the court. It will be your next turn. Make sure that you will from her." She turned to the girl with a wavy hair.
"Hai! Leave her to me." The girl nodded.
The semi-finals began. Her match with the girl started. She was not that nervous unlike the first but that doesn't change the fact that her worries lessen a bit. She tried to concentrate as the girl made her first serve. Sakuno was able to return. They started to quicken their paces. I can catch up with her. She thought. She also noticed that the girl was hitting the ball on opposite sides alternately. Is she making that on purpose? But she was not actually worried. She been running 50 laps everyday that her stamina wasn't failing her. She hit a hard shot that she almost missed it. Sakuno jumped from her position and hit the ball but the problem was her landing. She kneeled on one of her knees that caused her from a false landing. That pained her but she didn't show it. The crowd stopped when they saw it happen but she told the umpire that she was okay.
Inui fixed his glasses as If he noticed something. "Don't push too hard."
"What are you saying Inui?" Eiji heard him.
"I say that 60% that Ryuzaki-chan will win this competition." He said as he started writing some notes.
"What did you say that, Inui senpai?" Momo couldn't take his words.
"Just wait and see."
They remained silent after that. Fuji and Ryoma were aware what Inui said. 60% is a high risk. Even though it's just a calculation, Inui's intuition never fails him… almost. They hoped that this 60% will be in her favor.
She was hurting inside. It was not painful but the sensation is registering inside her head. Focus, focus on the ball and to your opponent. She thought. She made the serve this time. Don't raise your racket until it is time. She said as was dribbling the ball and threw it on the midair and hit it. The girl from the other side returned it. The match continued until the score 40-30. Ryuzaki Sakuno was in favor luckily. Despite that situation that she could hang on, she had the advantage. The girl was furious the she can not concentrate. Every time Sakuno was staring at her, accusingly… she loses her stance. The girl made her serve. No one scored for a minute until the girl made her shot. The moment Sakuno step on her right knee, the pain surfaced. She winked one eye but her focus was still on the ball. I'm not gonna lose, not this one, not this time. She thought, as she tried to catch the ball and hit it opposite to the girl's position. The girl didn't move thinking that it was out but she was wrong. The ball went in to their surprise, it was definitely close to the white line but it just went in. The crowd made noises once again.
6 Games to 4, Game set and Match! Ryuzaki Sakuno." The umpire announced her name once again.
She couldn't believe it. It was a deuce via game match. She won again. She had to win a few matches and then everything will be alright. She sat down for a rest and for her knees as well.
"Sakuno" Sumire suddenly called her.
"H-hai." She was about to stand up but her grandmother stopped her. Instead her grandma kneeled in front of her and applied a compress on her knee.
Sakuno was shocked. "O-obaa-chan."
"Don't do such reckless things or you'll end up worrying others."
"Obaa-chan but I-" Sakuno looked up everyone was there except for Tomoka who was having her match outside for a while now. The trio was cheering for her.
"Stop hiding like this one, it is pretty obvious." Fuji said as he sat beside her.
"But you are incredible, Ryuzaki-chan. You can be a regular after this." Momo said.
"I-I'm not-"
"Why not, you are improving. Continue beating those girls. You will definitely win." Eiji added.
"Don't worry, we will cheer for you from the fence." Kawamura said to her.
"S-senpai. Thank you very much. I-I-" She couldn't finish her words when they heard the umpire's declared the winner's name… it was not Tomoka's name. Everyone remained silent.
"Osakada-san's lost." Oishi spoke first.
"We didn't cheer for her there." Eiji said.
"She understands that. She must have her reasons." Fuji said enigmatically.
"What do you mean?" Momo said.
Fuji remained silent. Ryoma chose not to say anything too. Sakuno just wore a wondering look but sad for her best friend. Momo didn't have the chance to ask again as Tomoka entered the shed.
"Tomoka-chan." Sakuno said but she didn't stand up.
Tomoka just stuck her tongue out as she said her words, "I lost bleh."
"Are you sure about that?" Ryoma asked her.
"H-hai, I didn't regret anything. I did my best besides I can join again next year," She said as she turned her face to Sakuno and made an encouraging action. "It's your turn Sakuno-chan., don't let them beat you."
"Tomoka-chan… I will. I will do my best." Sakuno said.
The announcer talked on a loudspeaker saying that the finals will be starting soon. Sakuno excused herself from them to prepare. When she left, Ryoma caught the attention of everyone;
"Chotto matte… minna," Ryoma said. Everyone stopped from walking outside. He looked at Fuji and Tomoka. Fuji knew his stare and so as Tezuka and Tomoka. The two nodded as a sign of agreement while Tezuka just remained silent. "Gomen, for keeping this up to now… but I think this is the right time for you to know it." He said once again as he looked at their wondering faces.
xxx
The 30-minute break was over. The first player went outside to have her match. Several matches has won and lost by players. Sakuno participated well with the complete status. The match continued until only two left. Miraculously, it was Sakuno and the girl with the long hair.
Complete Status: Win – XXX, Lose – 0
They are on their final match, between the two of them. The girl smirked as she said her words;
"…Never thought that you will make it to the finals defeating all of my girls."
Sakuno replied to her words with enough courage, "Nothing is impossible… if you wish for it."
"Nicely said, let's see how long does your wish will hold on." The girl positioned herself as she beginning to serve. She made a fierce shot but Sakuno returned it.
t-the force was strong. She thought as she felt the pressure in her racket. The girl hit her returned shot but the direction was opposite to hers. She ran on that direction and hit it. The girl hit it again but this time it was very fast that Sakuno couldn't catch the ball.
Fifteen-love.
"I can't wait for you to lose this game." The girl smiled devilishly after that.
Sakuno stood up straightforwardly. I can't lose, for the sake of everyone. For my brothers… she strongly held her racket.
The match continued. The game set was pretty long. They tied on the fourth set but the girl won the fiftth set. Sakuno was beginning to worry even though they tied the score for that set. If the girl won the next set, everything will be over. The game was heating up. The crowded was making loud noises. Some were making fun of it while the others were serious watching. The exchanging shot continued. The girl made a shot that Sakuno almost missed. The shot was returned by the girl but since she was a bit worn out; her shot was way out of direction. Sakuno was not aware of the hit. She couldn't move at the moment. The result was the hit her right arm. She irked as she dropped her racket and crouched on the ground. The crowded displayed a silent reaction, and so as the tennis boys who were still cheering for her.
"Sakuno!" Sumire said she went closer to her granddaughter. The umpire went closer as well.
"I-I am okay—Y-you don't have to worry." She said while winking her one eye.
"That doesn't sound alright, Sakuno. Stop it."
"N-no! I can't stop now Obaa-chan. I need to go on." She looked at her grandmother.
"You don't need to do this." She held her granddaughter.
Sakuno was a bit shocked when she did that. "O-obaa-chan, trust me… I-I will win."
Sumire looked at her. She saw how serious she was.
"Can you still go on?" The umpire said.
"Y-yes." She said.
Because of that foul shot, the score belonged to Sakuno that made her won the fifth match. The match began for the last set.
"Will she make it?" Momo asked the data analysis wearing a concern look on his face.
"…. I'll say it's a 50% chance that she will win this game." Inui said honestly to the regulars.
Everyone remained silent. His calculation was gone done to 50. Ten was originally omitted. That means whether she will win the match or not. Luck will be just on her fine and probably a miracle will only be her luck.
Ryoma and Fuji were seriously looking at the girl. She warmed up her armed. They saw her how she reacted on her right arm. It was painful and it was just amazing that Sakuno could hold that pain.
"I believe in Sakuno-chan. She can win this."
Ryoma looked at his senpai, emotionlessly. They were reacted when Kawamura shouted for he was holding his racket again.
"VICTORY! THE WINNER IS RYUZAKI-CHAN AND THE LOSER IS HER OPPONENT. YOU CAN DO IT!
The tense was a bit loosen when he made a mimicked on Hyotei signature cheer. The group laughed after hearing that and so as Sakuno.
Thanks minna-san. I owe you really big. I won't let you all down… I promise. She said as she held her charms once again as she closed her eyes and concentrated. "Everything in the end will be fine… " she whispered.
And so the final set started. The girl was distracted at first because of the hit she had earlier but she compose herself afterwards. She didn't mean hitting Sakuno despite her hatred that she felt for her. She still wanted a fair and square match.
Sakuno served first, the shot was not strong because of the pain that she felt. But she was able to give a nice shot. The returned it and so as she but in the end the girl scored. She was enduring the pain; it was more painful than the injury she felt on her knee before. Luckily that she was still holding on. She could still hit her shot. But she was on disadvantage side. The girl score consecutively.
Get a grip girl. Don't give up now, this is the final stage. You can not stay a coward forever. She thought.
Tomoka and the others were staring at her silently. She gained her strong countenance as she catched up with the game. It was 40-40.
"She made it miraculously." Oishi said.
"Yeah, good thing that she hold up until not." Inui agreed.
"The next serve will be the last," Tezuka retorted. "How will she end the game?"
"That's for us to know and her to find out." Inui said.
The girl served last. They were both tired and exhausted. The hit was not strong unlike before but no one scored for the final set. It lasted for a minute until SOMEONE scored. The girl returned her hit. It was her best. She made it as her best strong shot, and the force was incredulously strong.
"I will win this game for sure, Ryuzaki!" the girl shouted.
Due to reflexes, Sakuno was aware of the shot. She knew how strong the hit she made. She gripped her racket with both of her hands supporting her right hand; she swung her racket with all her might and said;
"The winner, will be declared for the person who shows, passion for the tennis!" she gave her best shot on that one.
Everyone stared at the ball silently. Everything was a slow motion. Seconds later, Sakuno couldn't hear anything except the crowd's noise. She was breathing hard and it took her to realize what was the umpire said. Out of energy, she collapsed on the ground. She stared at it for a long time.
"SAKUNO!" She looked up the persons who called her name at the same time.
It was Ryoma and Fuji. The boys ran closer to her. She couldn't stand up when they reach her. She looked at them wearily.
"You won!" Fuji announced.
Sakuno's eyes widened slowly, "I-I won?" she looked at Ryoma asking for confirmation. The boy nodded. She became speechless. She looked at the fence when she heard them cheering for her. Then she remembered how she did it. The ball almost hit the girl's face. The girl just blocked the shot but not the force. It was strong that made her fall down. The ball went up and fell down straight… in front of the girl. The shot was like Ryoma's twist serve, the same move he did to her before. Luckily she mimicked it… almost. She lowered her head afterwards. "I-I won… " She repeated her words just to be sure that was not dreaming.
"Here."
She looked up again, and stared at the boys to one another. They both said that one word and at the same time they offered their hands to her. The looked at each other and then made a static communication afterwards. It was not tense but somewhat funny in Sakuno's point of view. She ended up giggling that made the two looked at her once again.
"What's the matter?" Fuji asked her.
Sakuno shook her head, "uhm… nothing." She accepted both of their hands as she gave them her best smile. "Thank you very much, you too."
The regulars went closer to them as well their coach.
"Congratulations! Ryuzaki-chan." Oishi said to her.
Sakuno nodded and thanked them as they congratulated her.
Eiji faced at the young kouhai and gave him a teasing look and said, "To call a spade a spade, Ochibi."
He knew what her means. He ignored his senpai. The others just looked at each other as they were thinking the same thing.
"T-this can not be happening, I can't lose, I can not accept this."
Everyone turned their faced on the other side of the court. The girl was standing there with anger and hatred on her eyes. She was breathing hard and couldn't accept her defeat.
"You lost to her, it's clear," Fuji said as he turned his direction to the girl. "The deal was off."
The girl and Sakuno were shocked at his words. Sakuno regained first, "F-fuji-kun, w-what-"
"There's no use hiding it anymore, since the match is over."
She looked at Ryoma who said that. The boy was also looking at the other side of the court. She understood it, he told everyone about it.
"You were not playing fair except this game but still we couldn't accept it," Fuji continued. "You put Sakuno-chan in pedestal."
The girl walked back. She saw how serious they boys were. The crowd was awfully noisy because of the commotion. Sakuno was a bit worried too.
"She won, so please don't bother her anymore." Oishi said.
"I don't want to be rude to girls because that is not our forte," Momo said as he put himself in front of everyone, "but Ryuzaki-chan is our little princess. We will protect her, together with her princes and her knights that were surrounding her." the other positioned themselves as well.
Sakuno was shocked. She couldn't be dreaming right? This isn't a fairytale. She couldn't bring her words out. Everything was okay until Eiji butted in;
"…With her maid, nurse and three followers!" The acrobatic player proudly said in front of everyone.
Eiji received a punishment from his coach. "What you mean by that? Huh, Eiji." She pinched his ear really hard. He felt pain as he begged to let go. The other's just looked at him.
Tomoka made her scene in the court. "Senpai, I won't buy that as well. I am her best friend after all." She looked at her best friend who was about to cry and then looked at the girl at the other side. "You know what, I wanted to beat you before when I heard you talking about Sakuno-chan, but Ryoma-sama stopped me from doing so. Now, that everything is slowly revealing, I still can't do that. Sakuno-chan won't probably allow me."
"Tomoka-chan-" She was pleasesd on her best friend's words.
Sumire interfered with the commotion, "the match is over and the winner was declared. And as for you, you will still receive punishment together along with the four girls for blackmailing my granddaughter."
Sakuno reacted on her grandmother's words, "O-obaa-chan, y-you don't need to do that now."
"Sakuno, being kind has still its limits so think of yourself once in a while." Sumire said.
"B-but obaa-chan"
"Stop it Sakuno-chan, no more. You had done enough!" Tomoka retorted.
Everyone just stared at the scene doing nothing. Sakuno was silent after that. Sumire resumed on her words, "I won't use my title as a grandmother of Sakuno but as a faculty member. You know the consequences so just do what you think are right. The news was already received by your captain. So wait for the further announcement."
The girl lowered her head as she nodded to the coach. The girl left after that she managed to say sorry before leaving the court. The crowd was noisy as usual. Tomoka looked at her and so as everyone. Sakuno felt embarrassed and guilty as she looked at them. Because of that, she bowed involuntarily;
"I-I'm very sorry everyone, f-for keeping this for long." She closed her eyes after saying that.
"You should have told us, Sakuno-chan." Oishi went near her.
"I-I can't. It was a part of the deal. I-I felt the feeling of betraying her when I injured my arm. I-it was… scary."
Everyone looked at her once again, including Ryoma and Fuji. She was already crying when she said her next words, "Truly I am, I don't want to worry everyone that's why I kept it to myself.
What a helpless girl. Inui thought as he was noting some events in his notebook.
Tomoka suddenly walked closer to her. She looked up at her best friend. "You know… I really want to slap you for being stupid and coward," She retorted. Sakuno was shocked on her words but then her best friend continued, "But I can't because you will still do some reckless things beyond our back. I hate that about you, Sakuno –chan ." Sakuno was shocked when he Best Friend hugged her tightly, "but despite the attitude, I am still proud of you."
"T-tomoka-chan… " Sakuno was still crying. She was helpless at that moment; she needed someone's strength to stand up.
"No more keeping secrets anymore, promise me… " Tomoka said as she closed her eyes.
Sakuno cried her heart out as she promised her best friend. The boys' tennis club rejoiced now that Ryuzaki-chan was back again. She couldn't talk them enough. She was very happy to have them all.
xxx
"Hurry up boys; we're gonna late for the flight." Sumire said.
"Hai." They said in chorus. It is their time for the nationals and needed to leave the school premises for the competition. Kaidoh was also coming to support the team.
Sumire went inside their club and was a bit shocked to see Sakuno was sleeping soundly on the sofa. Exhaustion was still visible for her entire body. Fuji was covering her with the blanket. Ryoma was just standing nearby.
"R-ryuzaki-chan was here?" Momo said. The others peeked a little. "She was very tired, let her sleep."
Fuji smiled as he was staring at the girl, "At least the weariness on her face was gone and she was able to sleep without hindrances anymore."
Everyone nodded. Sumire left Sakuno to Tomoka and the trio who just arrived. They were about to compete for the nationals away from the Seishun… away from her.
Done! The competition was done as well. They left for the nationals but the festival has just started. More surprises will come. Please stay tuned. Thanks a lot. ^_^
Reviews please! Need motivation…
Next Chapter: A Festival Without You