Chapter 31: Comeback
"After almost three years on hiatus, Ryoma Echizen finally shows up at the NewPort tournament."
Nanako reads the news headline. She was currently sitting in a cafe with Rinko. About a month ago, the young woman migrated to the US with her husband and would spend time with the Echizens from time to time.
"The most awaited comeback of Ryoma," the older woman said as she scrolled down the news portal.
"Yeah, he better win this one," Nanako sighed. She was aware of how problematic Ryoma had become during his disappearance, and she was worried that her cousin might not do well on his match. But no one could really do anything at that point.
Somewhere in Japan, two young adults sat inside Mr. Arata's restaurant and were tuning in to ESPN. The television was currently showing a young man wearing his signature white cap, who was preparing to hit his famous serve.
"Twist serve!" Horio cheered. Beside him was a scowling Tomoka. She has been feeling a little under the weather these days and her boyfriend's loud voice was not in any way comforting her.
"Shut up, Horio. I knew that, I was his number one fan," she stuck out her tongue and earned a scoff from Horio.
"Well, I was his best friend,"
"You're the only one who thinks that, dummy."
They started to bicker again and the old man behind the cash register only sighed heavily. His restaurant was not getting any more customers since the couple started frequenting his place. He wasn't complaining, but they could at least minimize their fights, though. It was noisy!
"Ryoma, you okay?" His brother massaged his shoulders that seemed too stiff that day. Ryoga noticed that Ryoma was a little bit tense, and that won't do him good. He must be a hundred percent focused to win the match. If he loses right away, it could destroy his confidence and would determine the momentum of his comeback.
"I'm fine," was his usual answer. Ryoga glared at his back. He would always say he's fine but there were times that he would have a panic attack and it was over by the time he heard it from Sakuno. Ryoga swore that Ryoma only ever listens to his girlfriend. Not even to his mother!
"Just keep your head in the game," When he finished massaging Ryoma's back, he tapped on his shoulders as a sign of goodluck, and then he was off to the courts.
Ryoga watched him walk into the open field with an uncertain aura around the boy. He was definitely different from the old days, but Ryoga did his best to help Ryoma regain his confidence on the court and would hopefully win his first match in a while. He was worried that his baby brother might be pushing himself, but during their six month training, Ryoma proved that he could manage to fight again.
The crowd was cheering for him, chanting his name and waving banners with his face on it. Ryoma was feeling overwhelmed by the warm welcome, it has been a while since he stood on the court, waiting for his opponent. It sent shivers through his skin, and he grew more nervous as time went by.
Ryoma wondered if he could win today. That was the first and only time that he doubted his own ability. What would he do if he loses? How could he face his parents? Friends? Brother? Sakuno?
He was scared to go on that he almost turned around and walked back to Ryoga. But he resisted the urge to do so, for his effort was not the only thing that would be wasted if he cowered in fear. He had to do this, he needed to know something.
He wanted to know if he still loves playing tennis, because if he wins and he still feels indifferent, then that really is the end of his life.
"Are you ready, Mr. Echizen?" He heard the umpire say. Ryoma only nodded even though he wasn't entirely sure that he's ready. His breath became heavier as his surroundings started to blur, he was only hearing his own heartbeat in the process. Anxiety enveloped his mind and he desperately tried to calm himself down.
Okay, okay, okay. I can do this.
Ryoma repeated those words, closing his eyes, blocking the voices of the audience. He took one last inhale, then he went to his spot.
"Echizen! Echizen!"
The voices of the crowd returned to his ear, and he started to hit the ball with his twist serve, signaling the beginning of his first match. The opponent was dumbfounded by his weird trick that he could only dodge, giving Ryoma the first point.
The game went on and Ryoma was leading. Sure, the opponent managed to steal a few points from him but that wasn't a big deal to Ryoma anymore for he was back in the game! He couldn't believe how easy it was to instantly resume to his old self and guarantee his win. He was running from one corner to another with his split step, and he was superbly hitting the neon ball with his techniques. The crowd was going wild, as were the netizens watching the livestream of his game in their own houses.
Ryoga sat by the bench, smiling to himself. He was pleased to see that even if Ryoma was practically dragging his feet on the court, he was adjusting pretty well. He recalled the training that they went through and how difficult it was for his younger brother. But still, he prevailed and right now, Ryoga was sure that he would win this match.
"Game won by Echizen," came the announcement. It was time to change courts. As his opponent walked towards him, they met by the net. Ryoma tipped his hat as a sign of greeting, but the opponent scoffed and suddenly whispered something to him.
No one heard it, only him. That was why Ryoga noticed the decline in Ryoma's posture. His eyes were wide, and his hands were shaking. The older brother couldn't help but stand on his feet, preparing to come to his aid in the event of his meltdown.
But none came. After a split second of what he could only describe as the biggest reaction Ryoma has ever made, he continued to walk forward to his new spot. A few of the spectators were heard murmuring, obviously wondering why the enthusiastic Prince had suddenly fell dull and quiet.
Meanwhile, Ryoma had no time to dwell on the thing that his opponent told him. He was about to serve again. Ryoma thought of stealing the game while he held onto his service. He was planning on acing everything to this point. But after that close encounter with him, the Prince's resolve was wavering.
He stood on his spot with legs apart from each other, he clutched his racket tightly, trying to anticipate his next hit.
He could easily read through his opponent's play, that was what he did in the first half of the match. On the outside, he was in perfect shape. However, his mind was crumbling. His muscles were frozen, and his eyesight is getting blurry. Ryoma tried to rub them desperately, but it wasn't clearing. Suddenly, he became too nervous to even react to the opponent's serve.
Then, the ball landed behind him. It was a clear score. The opponent's lips smirked. Ryoma was done for.
W-What?
He turned his head around and saw the neon ball resting just by the white line. It was in.
"Chibisuke…" Ryoga wondered what happened that disrupted his strategy. All of a sudden, Ryoma was frozen. Ryoga watched with a tense aura as the game continued. Just as he suspected, Ryoma was beginning to slow down. It was as if his ability to play tennis was fading. Is he having another attack? Is his stomach hurting? What could it be?
When the opponent successfully stole the next game, Ryoga called for a timeout. He had to pull Ryoma out of that game before he lost his mind.
"Chibisuke, what happened?" He led Ryoma to the bench and handed him a towel and water. He could see that the younger man was sweating too much even though he wasn't playing all out. Something was going on and he couldn't realize what it was.
"Ah, I should have stayed home," he mumbled under his breath. He covered his head with the towel and dropped the water on the ground. It spilled all over his shoes but he didn't care. He just wanted to get out of that place. He wanted to flee the country and start a new life.
He was shaking.
"Ryoma, what are you talking about?" Ryoga sat beside him and waited for him to respond. He was breathing heavily. He didn't know if that was how every anxiety attack starts but he gets the feeling that he needs immediate attention right now.
"I don't want to continue," he spoke with weariness in his voice. Ryoga stared at him, observing the sadness and tiredness that Ryoma displayed. He was very different now and it was completely foreign to the older brother.
"Y-You have to. What's wrong?" He asked.
Ryoma couldn't really explain what he was feeling. His body was not moving to how he intended it to, and his brain was throbbing it hurts.
Long time no see. I hope you're ready for the press.
Those were his opponent's words. It wasn't anything negative, he's sure that the man meant well, or at least that was how he wanted it to be seen. But, maybe because he developed a trauma from the press or anyone with a camera that he found those words threatening. He didn't even scoff, that was only a product of his hallucination.
"Nevermind," he muttered before returning to the court. Ryoga couldn't say another word to him as he quickly walked away. Ryoga was only made aware of Ryoma's current situation to the extent that he didn't want to continue tennis, that he finally wanted other things for himself, or maybe he was having trouble with Sakuno. But unbeknownst to him, it was deeper than that. He's afraid that his brother has been thrust to a downward spiral to his own doom.
The match continued and as expected, his opponent was getting used to Ryoma's slow attacks. He was beginning to score more points and gradually catching up to the Prince's score.
"What's with him?"
"Three years away and he's gone rusty."
"Man, Echizen sucks."
The crowd was not getting happier as the match went on. Ryoma was basically giving all the points on a silver platter. The obvious lack of spirit in his play was seen not just by the skillful eyes of Ryoga and his fellow athletes, but the civilians as well.
Amidst all the chaos around the court, Ryoga's phone suddenly rang. He answered it.
"Ryoga, is Ryoma going to lose?" He heard his mother's voice on the other line. She didn't sound happy, of course. Rinko realized that if Ryoma ever loses his first match in a while, she feared he would lose all remaining confidence in himself and would run away again. This time, she wasn't sure that there'd be any way that he would return.
"No, mom. He's just a little tired. I'll make sure he's alright." He offered reassuring words to their anxious mother. However, how is Ryoga going to straighten Ryoma's act? Anyone who knows the name Ryoma Echizen would know how stubborn he is.
So, when the players were granted a five minute break, Ryoga wasted no time on sitting besides Ryoma.
"Chibisuke. Are you going to keep playing like this?"
Ryoma shrugged followed by a heavy sigh.
"I'm tired. It's almost over,"
"Yeah, it's almost over, and you're about to lose. Don't you care about your future at all? You've been working hard since you were little, just for this moment. You have to win," Ryoga's eyes reflected a hopeful expression and Ryoma noticed it. But, he doesn't get anything from it. In his mind, losing was a better idea than to be thrown in front of the media again, and who knows what happens next?
He was scared.
"Don't think about what will happen next. Focus on right now. I'll be waiting for you," He heard Ryoga say in a robotic and monotonous voice. When he looked at him, the older man shrugged while looking at his phone.
"Sakuno-chan said that, not me."
Ryoma blinked, unable to comprehend what he said. When did Sakuno talk to him? Is she there?
"Where?" He turned his head around and tried to spot her face among the crowd. But Ryoga chuckled at his action.
"She's not here, you idiot. She sent a message, though. Here," He handed his phone to Ryoma, then he read the most recent text message that Sakuno sent him on his phone. How did Ryoga know where his phone was, though? That was another problem for another day.
Right now, he felt warm as he stared at the phone's screen.
Ryoma-kun, I know you're having a hard time adjusting to your match, and I know I can't support you right now. But I want you to remind yourself why you started again. Fight for your dream, don't think about what will happen next. Focus on right now. I'll be waiting for you.
-Sakuno
Ryoma sighed. He wasn't sure if Sakuno really understood why he left in the first place. He didn't want to continue living his chaotic life anymore. A life where he was being controlled on what to do, where to go, who to like, etc. He felt suffocated. The pressure that ultimately pushed to the edge.
How could he keep his peace when a single word from her and he was back to where he started. He just wanted to finish this match and go to where she is. He just wants to tell her that he did it, he won.
He won.
During the time where it seemed like he was alone in his own pitch black mind, the match resumed and what felt like a minute to him was actually four minutes into the game. He was playing without his own knowledge. He smashed the ball onto the opponent's blind spot like it was the easiest thing to do.
His eyes were trained to follow the neon object like a cat, so he did. Even though he quarreled with his mind that he didn't want to move, his arm reacted even before his brain could decide. Then, before he knew it, he was the only one standing on the court.
"Game and match, won by Ryoma Echizen!"
The crowd was silent for about a minute. Nobody dared to speak as they were all unable to believe what actually happened. He didn't even use Self-actualization and yet, it seemed like he was truly enjoying tennis.
Sweat trickled down his cheek as he cluelessly watched the audience's bewildered faces. He turned his head and saw Ryoga smiling at him. He felt the urge to smile back, and he did.
"I won," he mouthed. Ryoga closed his eyes and nodded in approval.
Ryoma wondered how he mustered the courage to play to the end. He was sure that he gave up halfway, and that he just wanted to go home or go somewhere else, where no one knew his name, where he could live anonymously.
He didn't know, but he was glad that he tried. And now that he won, he could finally sleep for a long time.
Ryoma's eyes slowly closed and his body could no longer stand on its own. He fell to the ground, Ryoga couldn't react in time to catch him. The crowd goes wild, finally celebrating and cheering for Ryoma.
On that day, the world witnessed how the prodigy from Japan, Ryoma Echizen, had truly come back to them with another trophy under his name.
Sakuno Ryuzaki was on her way to board the plane going back to Japan. She ran towards the terminal, hoping that she would not get lost and be late for her flight. She had just completed her internship from the restaurant and she immediately booked a flight home. She didn't want to attend the farewell party that her co-workers organized, she had thanked them and apologized that she couldn't make it. She just has to come home and visit Ryoma in the hospital. She has been informed by Ryoga (via Ryoma's phone) that he won the tournament and is currently confined in the hospital. He seemed to be exhausted not just physically but mentally, as well.
His family ordered that the media stay away from the Prince and respect his privacy as much as possible. They knew that Ryoma had not been fond of the press since three years ago and they wouldn't want him to panic when he sees cameras flashing when he wakes up.
That's why Nanjirou put him in the most secluded hospital room to make sure that they were alone.
Anyway, Sakuno couldn't wait to tell Ryoma her congratulations and that she was excited to tell him her own news, too.
As she patiently sat in the airplane, only good thoughts roamed Sakuno's mind. She was happy that both of their endeavors were promising and that things are looking up.
"I can't wait to meet you again, Ryoma-kun," she mumbled to herself as she stared at the clear, blue sky out the window.
When he opened his eyes, he saw many familiar faces. First was his mother, beside her is Nanako whom he didn't want to see because he feared she might be mad at him for not going to her wedding. Then, there's Ryoga, and lastly, his father.
Ryoma tried to move but he was surprised to feel that he had a cast on his left arm. He didn't even know that he had injured himself.
"W-Why is my arm broken?"
"Oh, you must have broken it when you fell unconscious. You fell pretty hard, bro." Ryoga answered.
"Oh…" he stared at his cast and immediately felt lame. He wasn't the type of guy to injure himself with his own stupidity.
"Still, you won, brat!" Nanjirou cheered. He was the happiest among Ryoma's visitors. He was glad that Ryoma still got it, the 'it' factor for tennis players. He was still a samurai junior!
"Congratulations, Ryoma!" Rinko joined in.
"Congratulations, Ryoma-kun!" Nanako smiled as she held a basket full of fruits.
"Chibisuke, you did it," His older brother said.
He was a little overwhelmed by their happy aura that his cheeks blushed a little, but he was happy, too. He just won't admit it for now.
"Thanks," he only smiled.
After seven days confined in the hospital, Ryoma was scheduled to meet Miss Mao. His parents had to contact her so that the same thing doesn't happen again. They recalled how Ryoma shut everyone out and disappeared after he beat Jason Baker. He was under a lot of stress that year and who knows, he might still be the same this year and he might just run away again. Nanjirou and Rinko had to take precautions.
"Hi," The beautiful older woman, Miss Mao, greeted.
Ryoma had not seen her in so long that he forgot what she looked like. Thankfully, he didn't need to remember her name, it was written in his schedule.
"Hi, Miss Mao," he smiled genuinely. RYoma felt instantly relaxed as soon as he sat down in her familiar office. It radiated an autumn vibe, and it felt like he was at home.
It even helped that she had the most empathetic voice.
"Congratulations on winning the tournament, Ryoma. I see that you have returned with a new set of courage. I'm so proud of how far you've come."
"Thanks," he stared at the ceiling while he laid down on the sofa, "It wasn't easy." He added.
"That's right. You have worked on yourself and faced your fear. That alone was victory enough. You've been strong these past couple of years and I'm glad to see you again."
"I feel… new. I don't know why but I do," he hesitated to look at her eyes, but he still did. He was waiting for Miss Mao to explain how he managed to do it, when a while ago, he was ready to leave everything.
"I think that you've found something more important and you wish to protect it, to have it, and your desire over it is more valuable than the fear that you hold on to. You've found a new reason, an inspiration," Miss Mao smiled at him.
Really? I did?
"You may have realized a new goal for yourself, something that you wanted to journey to. Be it an object, an animal, or even a person. You did your best to create your own path towards that goal. I am proud that you are starting to live for yourself. If you live for other people's approval, you will live for their rejection."
Ryoma nodded. He wasn't sure what Miss Mao was talking about but he kind of gets it. He wasn't sure what it was about, but then, only Sakuno's face entered his mind.
Looking back, he had nothing to think about but tennis. It was the only logical path for him. He never intended to think about other people, he only had himself to live with.
That changed when he met Sakuno. Of course, he knew her since middle school. But when she lived with them, that's when he truly got to know her.
And he fell in love with her.
"It sounds cringey," he muttered.
"What is?"
"L-" he hesitated to say it, but Miss Mao's pleading eyes forced him to.
"Love."
Ryoma heard Miss Mao chuckle. He pouted, that was the reason he didn't want to say something so corny!
"My dear, love sounds cringey, it's corny, it's stupid. And that's how it's supposed to be," Miss Mao nodded to herself, she guessed that this is someone who helped Ryoma overcome his situation.
"Right…"
He liked talking to Miss Mao. It felt like he was just talking to a friend. They spent an hour of their session just catching up with each other.
"How did you feel when you won?"
"I almost didn't know it. When I came to, it was over."
"Did you have fun?"
"Yeah…" he smiled. "I guess I did, Miss Mao."
The elder lady admired Ryoma's smile. A few years ago when they last talked, there were tears running down his face, he was obviously frustrated with his life. And now, he looked stronger, and more open with her.
It seemed to her that Ryoma was reborn. He was not the lonely boy anymore, his eyes were bright, his lips were smiling, and Miss Mao swore that she could feel his heart becoming happier.
To be continued.
