Tennis no Ouji-sama © Konomi Takeshi, Shuheisha, Inc.


- Act XXXVIII -
[Kunimitsu's POV– Stargazing]


When was the last time he had the worst day of his life?

Was it three years ago when the injury on his left arm started to get in his way to play tennis? Or was it when Hikari ran away after arguing with their family?

Or was it that day when the little star that guided him suddenly was out of his reach?

No matter which one of them, that morning was the first time ever he didn't feel like waking up because he wished everything that occurred would be wrapped up as a nightmare; then everything would be back to normal again. Not only the doctor had said that he would probably have to quit tennis if it wasn't properly treated but the fact that after all these years, Hikari's heart attack relapsed and he had never been that afraid all his life…

Especially because his argument with Keigo was the one that triggered the attack.

Who was it that should have had the heart attack when he saw Keigo smearing his lips over his sister?

He had let his guard down too much, especially when he already had a hunch that Hikari was somehow involved with Keigo, yet chose to dismiss the thought away simply because he refused to believe it.

Until Arai Masashi saw Hikari coming to the school and blurted, "Isn't she Atobe's girlfriend? I saw them holding hands while strolling near Kadokawa Park months ago," without knowing her relationship with him. Masashi quickly clamped his mouth when Kachiro told him that Hikari was his sister. His grandfather solidified that suspicion when he told his parents that Hikari was going out with a rich man around his age; the very rich man that made Hikari rebel against him and his family.

Since they were kids, he did everything correctly and perfectly just so he could protect his sister, so he could fulfil their parents' expectations so Hikari wouldn't have to carry that burden. Yet the opposite happened and his achievement became her burden instead.

Sighing, he pushed himself off from bed, having his eyes landed on a booklet he received from Coach Sumire. The booklet was given by coach Sakaki Tarō from Hyotei. It appeared that the coach informed Sumire about the Sports Medicine Facility in Germany for the injured athletes. They had a good reputation since they had healed numerous famous athletes. What was interesting was that Tarō said that he didn't need to worry about the fee.

How he hated to think that Keigo was the one behind the offer…

What was he planning to do this time?

Along with the booklet, Sumire also gave him the line-up for their upcoming match against Midoriyama. As Shūsuke's name replaced him as Singles 1, Kunimitsu felt like it was a reminder of how useless he was with his injury. He couldn't beat Keigo, and failed to fulfil his duty as Seigaku's pillar of support.

He walked towards the booklet, flipping it upside down just so he wouldn't need to see its detail. Just beside his table was the lonely racket bag that was sitting beside his table. Playing tennis was his daily routine but for a moment, he wouldn't be able to do so. Thinking about how everyone else could keep practising increased the jealousy within his chest.

"Mitsu, may I come in?"

"Yes." He craned his head to see his mother coming in with the first aid kit in her hand.

"Here, let me change your bandage." Kunimitsu nodded and took off his clothes, allowing his mother to change his bandage. He opened his mouth to say something but his mother had preceded him. "Hikari is going to be released tomorrow. The doctor said that she shouldn't be too tired or stressed out in the meantime."

"I was responsible for it…" He lowered his head.

"Straight up your body, Mitsu. I can't have this loosely wrapped around your body." His mother lightly slapped his back so he did what she asked him. "Hikari said that your team won the ticket to the next round. Congratulations, Son!"

"We managed to get into the next round because my team worked hard for it. I've lost my match and even… dropped my racket." He took a deep breath upon recalling the shameful thing he did.

"But even with your condition, you still managed to push your opponent that far. You should be proud of yourself, Mitsu." His mother finished bandaging him, and then brushed his hair the way she was when he was a kid.

"I'm not a kid anymore, Okā-san…"

"You'll always be my little boy, Mitsu. Even though people often mistook you as an old man, you'll always be my little boy." She pulled his head to rest on the crook of her neck. "You've done a great job, Son. You'll do better next time."

"I'll remember that." He could feel her mother's smile even in his position. How long had it been since he allowed his mother to hold him like this? After all that happened, it indeed gave him a sense of comfort he had forgotten, just like back when he was a kid. He could understand now why even in her teens, Hikari still loved to snuggle on their mother's side.

"So, you've met her boyfriend." Suddenly, he lost all that comfort.

"Ex."

His mother chuckled. "You don't like him that much, do you? I heard that he's your rival." Kunimitsu didn't answer. "Hikari hadn't told me much but yeah, I can understand why you were so angry."

"I didn't like him not because he's a rival. I know him enough to disapprove of their relationship."

"Well, how far is this 'enough'?" He slightly raised his brows at the question. "You'll never know someone enough, Mitsu. Hikari probably saw something more than just what you know."

Indeed, he only knew the outer part of him, the part he wanted to be displayed for the world to see. Kunimitsu clenched his fists upon recalling Keigo's eyes when he was looking at his sister, the way he was holding her hand until Kunimitsu pulled her from him.

"I'm angry with the fact that Hikari lied to us because she wanted to meet him, even having a relationship with a man she didn't even know the name of, but on the positive side, he brought a positive change in Hikari." His mother smiled a bit. "After the incident in Germany, she recollected her confidence and back to her feet. She's no longer mad with what had happened in Germany, almost like she's grateful to be got back."

"But Hikari is—"

"Growing up, just like you are." His mother put her hand on his head. "You must accept the fact that she won't be a kid forever, Mitsu. She needs her own room for her growth. I understand that you want to shoulder everything as a first child and protect your sister. Maybe it's time for you to be a little bit selfish and think about your own matters."

He lowered his gaze to both of his hands; the left he used to chase his dream and the right he used to hold his sister's hand. Clenching his fists, he shut his eyes as he suddenly felt the sensation of holding both. As if knowing what he was thinking, his mother held his left, pulling it close to her and kissing it.

"Be the best tennis player in the world, Mitsu. Do whatever it takes to achieve your dream." The way his mother patted his shoulder filled with so much love and encouragement that he shut his eyes. "I love you, Son."

"Hmm…"

All those things his mother told him do make him reminisce about his argument with Keigo the day before. She was probably right about him knowing nothing about Keigo. No matter how much he wanted to convince himself that Keigo was only playing around with Hikari, Keigo's eyes said different things…

Kunimitsu knew what kind of eyes they were…

He knew it so much that it drove him mad to see himself in Keigo.

"…and here's the winner of the Women's ITF Junior Circuit!"

He glanced at the television to watch the announcement, seeing her back for the first time in a while before the camera rolled to her face. She was on top of the podium, holding her golden trophy while waving her hand towards the camera.

It was years ago when he used to have this little star glowing his path, leading him away from the darkness called despair. The little light this star shed upon him was what gave him hope to keep on walking through all the horrendous practices to become the way he was today.

"Isn't it good enough to be able to gaze at stars from afar?"

Indeed, it was good enough.

"…She's known as Kanto's Lightning Spear back in Japan but now she's competing with Germany's flag!"

She raised her trophy as the crowd were cheering for her, shaking her hands to the runners-up while exchanging hugs. Kunimitsu sat there, watching the closing ceremony where she was surrounded by the camera blitzes which light would never outshine hers.

"Do you have anyone you want to dedicate your winnings to?"

Instead of saying words, she raised her right hand skywards, pumping it once before brandishing her clenched fist before waving goodbye to the media. Kunimitsu let out a small smile when he did the same gesture but stopped halfway through when his shoulder was screaming in pain again.

"I see… You're always out of my reach after all…"

Because it was good already to be able to gaze at the star from afar…


AN: Quiz time! Who would be holding the camera in the next chapter? It won't be Hikari or Keigo. I wonder if anyone can guess this correctly. XD

The pandemic isn't even over yet another war is broken in another part of this world. Today, I still am grateful that I still have the luxury of getting up knowing that I would have a normal day.

I wish the war to be over soon so that all brothers and sisters living in the war zone will soon be able to live a normal day again. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Please stay safe and healthy for everyone who is reading this.

Favorite, follow, and most importantly—review are gold for me! As I mentioned in the previous chapter, the story is also posted in Wattpad. Since the site allows me to post videos and images, I might be able to pamper your eyes there. Check my account in ReikaNanatsuki!

Thank you for reading and have a nice day!