Sakuno had been fussing with car's flip down mirror for the last ten minutes. She kept adjusting her hair, pinching her cheeks, and practicing her smile. Ryoma had noticed almost as soon as she started but had yet to say anything because he doubted it would make a difference. Sakuno would be nervous no matter his words.

Ryoma understood. He had his own fair share of nervous energy building, but he hid it better. The coach was undoubtedly going to kill him or maybe his own mother would take that honor. For once in his life, his mother had been the one to yell at him and pick a fight over the phone. It did not help that Nanjiro kept making crude comments in the background.

Ryoma's phone began to ring and he cursed before answering. He had been ignoring his manager's calls for the last 24 hours but now she was calling every 10 minutes. He knew he needed to answer eventually…now was as good a time as any.

"Moshi, moshi."

"Echizen, where are you? The paparazzi are having a field day with this. It doesn't help that Sports Illustrated's list of most eligible bachelors leaked—you're in the top ten. We need to hold a press conference."

"No."

"No?"

Sakuno's head perked up as she heard the manager's yell from her seat. Ryoma pulled over Momo's car and exited so neither Sakuno nor Minako could overhear his conversation.

"What do you mean no? This is disaster! We need to hold a press conference and deny the claims. We can tell them you were drunkly sprouting off nonsense."

"No, I'm not lying about my daughter and I'm not pandering to any camera crew."

"Your daughter! Have you even thought she might be lying? You need a paternity test right now."

Ryoma growled menacingly, "No. Sakuno is not a liar."

His manager bravely continued to suggest Ryoma could be mistaken or tricked but Ryoma was steadfast in silencing the comments.

"I am taking responsibility for Minako so stop suggesting I do otherwise. Do your job and manage my tennis career, not my life."

"But that is your life!"

"That's about to change. Do what you need to do to shut the press up and leave us alone. That's your job!"

Ryoma and his manager continue to argue for another few minutes with Ryoma eventually hanging up the phone in frustration. He took a moment to collect himself and slide on his quintessential stoic face before returning to the car. Sakuno gave him a concerned look but given her own anxiety was on overload she did not prompt him for any explanation. He appreciated it.

"You're here!" The high pitched squeal of excitement was unexpected from Rinko Echizen. Immediately upon opening the door she bent down to Minako's height next and opened her arms wide, "Minako!"

Sakuno nudged Minako forward slightly and she went into her new Grandmother's arms. Rinko squeezed tight and then grabbed Minako's hand to guide her into the house. "Come, come. I want to know everything about you." Rinko shot a narrowed look over her shoulder, "I have FIVE years to catch up on."

"She hates me," Sakuno muttered under her breath as she entered the house.

"That was for me not you," Ryoma said while closing the door. He had not relaxed since his call with his manager. If anything, he was more tense now in his own childhood home. Sakuno awkwardly grabbed his hand either for comfort or to be comforted and he allowed it without question. Then, he began to lead Sakuno down the hallway but after a few steps she resisted. Ryoma turned around confused, "What?"

"This picture!" Ryoma followed Sakuno's gaze to the wall. On it was a large, framed photograph of a dark haired infant with a pink bow. "That's Minako on her first birthday."

Ryoma's eyes widened and he looked farther down the wall to another framed photograph; it was a toddler on a tricycle.

"My mother," he said shaking his head, "she went overboard." Ryoma had not yet seen the worst of Rinko's actions. As they finished walking down the hallway past a dozen newly framed photographs they turned towards the main living room which was entirely cluttered with freshly bought toys. There were books, dolls, legos, and a miniature oven. Minako was bouncing from each item to the next while Rinko followed her proudly.

"Okaasan," Ryoma muttered while shaking his head.

"Ryoma, is that you I hear grumbling?"

Ryoma tensed as Nanjiro turned the corner pushing Sumire in a wheelchair in front of him.

"Obasan!" Sakuno shouted and rushed to her grandmother. "Are you sure you should be out?"

"The old hag is healthy as a horse if you ask me," Nanjiro laughed while abandoning the two woman. He walked over to Ryoma and slapped in on his back before whispering something in his ear. Everyone else was too distracted to see Ryoma turn red in anger, but Nanjiro saw, laughed, and then left to greet Minako.

After taking several breaths to suppress his anger, Ryoma walked over and greeted Sumire.

"Coach, I am sorry to hear about your health."

"Don't feel sorry for me, Ryoma, I'm as healthy as can be for my age." Sumire said with a smile, "It's good to finally see everyone together."

Ryoma noticed Sakuno's head hang a little lower, but he said and did nothing about it.

Dinner was a boring affair for the young adults. They were generally ignored as all attention was focused on Minako. That is until Nanako arrived after desert with her husband. His cousin, a family therapist by trade, made quite a fuss over Ryoma and Sakuno. She asked all sorts of questions about their well being that Ryoma refused to answer in front of the others — she should have known that! Sakuno was also tight lipped but eventually allowed herself to be dragged into another room to chat privately.

After the dishes were done and Minako was being put to bed by Sakuno — in his old bedroom hastily transformed for her — Ryoma only barely caught a tennis ball zipping towards his head. He looked over and saw his father holding two rackets. "Seishonen, let's play a game."

Ryoma nodded. Ryoma needed the practice both for his mental health and the upcoming tournament. The father and son duo walked out onto the courts without saying a word. They continued their silence throughout a quick stretch and flipping a coin for first serve.

"I win," Nanjiro stated while grabbing the ball and walking to the back line. "Prepare yourself."

Ryoma blinked twice at the odd phrasing and was surprised by a twist serve again aimed at his face. Least to say he had not been prepared enough and the score was 15-love.

Nanjiro served the second ball. This time Ryoma returned it but his father had entered his Samurai state. The ball returned directly to his racket and Nanjiro slammed it back into Ryoma's right corner.

"Mada mada dana, Seishonen."

Ryoma's eyes narrowed. If that was how his father wanted to play, then Ryoma would join. He switched the racket into his left hand. "Serve, old man."

By the end of the match the score was 5-4 in Nanjiro's favor. Both men clasped each other's hands tightly and then collapsed on the edge of the court grasping bottles of water they did not recall bringing to the court but they were too desperate to question it. Their chests were heaving and their clothes were soaked with sweat. Ryoma once remembered Sumire saying his father was a monster on the court. Never was that more true than tonight. Ryoma may have been monstrous, too.

The two men sat until their breaths became steady. It was likely after eleven but the court lights were bright. Finally, Nanjiro broke the silence, "What are you going to do?"

The game made him forget everything else in his life so Ryoma responded, "About what?"

"Your daughter." Those two words were enough to shock Ryoma back into the present. Minako.

"I told Sakuno I would be a father."

Nanjiro gave him a skeptical look, "There's a lot to being a father. What are you going to do after the tournament? If you win you'll be headed to France and your permanent address is in America these days."

"I know," Ryoma groaned. He took his forearm and laid it against his eyes to block out the court lights. "I'll come back to Japan when I can. What else can I do?"

"Are you asking for advice?"

Ryoma gave Nanjiro a suspicious look through the gap, "Sure."

Nanjiro laughed. "I never thought I'd see the day when you'd ask me for help. Even if it was a bit forced. My advice is," Nanjiro paused to savor the moment, "Sakuno is sexy young woman. Take her to the bedroom and see if it's as good as it was 6 years ago."

Ryoma's whole body clenched as he ripped his arm away from his face and glared at his father. He was half tempted to punch the old pervert. Unfortunately, Nanjiro had had the good sense to scoot a few inches back in anticipation of this. Ryoma stood and grabbed his jacket before started stomping towards the house. He was wound up tighter now then before the match.

"Seishonen, stop!" Nanjiro commanded and Ryoma turned around angrily.

"What is it, pervert?"

"That was cruel and hilarious, but let me give you a piece of real advice." Nanjiro said with a surprising amount of sincerity that he startled Ryoma, "I never once regretted my decision to end my professional tennis career to raise you. It was the right choice for me. But, you and I are different people and our situations are different. You need to weigh your obligations to Sakuno and Minako with your personal goals, and then evaluate all of that against your capacity. A half-assed father and a half-assed tennis player is not going to make anyone happy. Neither is a fully present but spiteful father." Nanjiro patted Ryoma on the shoulder. "Find your balance point."

I have not posted FF in ages but recently I found several unpublished documents. For a kick, I decided I was going to publish the chapters for this one. Of course, that lead down a rabbit hole of updating all the prior chapters for grammar, story consistency, and all the tweaks one does when reading something they have not touched in 8 years. If you are reading this now, hopefully you feel it was worth it. There are at least 2 more chapters—from my younger self—I could edit and update but no definitive ending. As a nearly middle aged person happily without kids, I am torn on what a "happy" ending is for this situation. Do I go with the romantic and predictable ending I originally planned or the far more mature one I envision now? We will see...