Chapter 21: Mood

Ryoma sat on the sofa inside his dressing room. He wore a different kind of coat now since he couldn't remember where he left his other one. Under the coat, Ryoma wore a black shirt that was tucked in his trousers. Looking at the mirror across from him, he does look decent enough, he eyed how the makeup artist managed to hide the dark bags under his eyes, making him look fresh. He wanted to wear his signature white cap, but the stylist hid it somewhere he couldn't find. So he laid his head back as he stared at the ceiling, with his arms resting on the side. He was already exhausted before the interview even started.

They have been invited to a local television channel again, much to his annoyance. But he respected Coach Rui so much that he had no choice but to comply. He loved exposure, Ryoma thought.

When they were finally called into the studio, Ryoma sat with his teammates on a large sofa, with the host blabbering his mouth away. He didn't even care to listen anymore. He was busy wondering how much more he would need to do for the media to be satisfied with them. They're not celebrities, for God's sake. They were athletes who would rather spend their waking hours training than answering some stupid quiz. He looked down on the paper he held, reading the personal questions.

"Type of girl?" he mumbled. He wondered how this particular question is even related in his career. Of course, it's an easy question. But he felt it was unnecessary for people to know how he likes girls.

Nonetheless, Ryoma grabbed his pen and answered it.

After a while, the host collected their papers and started disclosing their answers to the camera. Ryoma was surprised that their answers were going to be revealed, and the host looked excited. He looked like he was having the time of his life, Ryoma thought. As he announced Brina's type of girl, he looked over to the rest. Brian has been awkwardly smiling to the audience as it was revealed that he liked tall and slender women. Honoka glanced at him when the host announced that she likes handsome and talented guys. Richie had of course described Beth in his paper, and Beth only wrote "nice guy".

When it was Ryoma's turn, everyone in the audience and the members fell silent, waiting for the answer that he wrote. Ryoma could not fathom how famous he is that everyone actually wants to know his type. He didn't think it was such a big deal, but then again, he wrote his answer with someone in mind. He was confident and proud of it.

"Ryoma-san's type of girl is… brunette," the host slowly looked at him like he had just said the most ridiculous and effortless answer in the whole segment. There was no other context, just one word.

Brunette.

Honoka knew instantly who Ryoma was thinking about. She felt a pang in her chest, like she had just lost a tennis match with some amateur player. But she projected a confident smile or else, her dejected face would be a headline.

She didn't really hate Sakuno when they met. She was a kind and pretty girl. Honoka was just insecure that she's not as close to Ryoma as the girl was. She wasn't as cute as her, and she wasn't the apple of Ryoma's eye.

It was Sakuno.

Somewhere in Tokyo, Nanjirou sat in a ramen shop, slurping the noodles from his bowl as he watched television. He chuckled at Ryoma's answer to the quiz.

He really is my son, Nanjirou thought.

After all, he never liked blondes, too.

The day of the practice match came. Coach Rui's team made their way to the indoor tennis courts filled with paparazzi and reporters as audience. Civilians were not allowed to come since this is not an official match. Ryoma was unusually grumpy, Brian thought as he watched the boy drink his Ponta with a frown on his face. He ignored Honoka's chattering and flirting. He would glare when the paparazzi pointed their camera at him.

Brian could not understand why his friend has been like that since this morning. As far as he knew, Ryoma was happy to have defeated Honoka yesterday, and he was actually looking forward to the practice match. So, why is he being like this now? Did something happen?

He sat down beside him, gesturing for Honoka to stop pestering Ryoma for a while.

"Hey, Ryoma. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, why?" he said without looking at Brian.

That morning when he woke up in his hotel room, Ryoma felt heavy. He didn't know if he had a bad dream or he's about to get sick, but he knew that he was in no shape to play today. It was a big problem for him even if it's an unofficial match because this is his first match in Brazil and he didn't want to give a bad impression. His pride couldn't allow it.

"Do you have a fever? Because if you do, you can just sit this one out," the older man said worriedly. He wanted to tell Coach Rui about Ryoma but he felt this icy aura around him, momentarily giving him the chills. Brian wondered if it was because of anyone from the team, or maybe Coach Rui has been giving him a hard time at training.

"I'm fine," he said as the umpire announced that the next match was between him and a Brazilian tennis player that is a well-known regular member of the country's top high school tennis team. Ryoma didn't feel threatened at all, in fact he looked forward to how he's going to beat him in just a short time. He felt that he needed to let out steam that he had no idea where it was coming from.

Ryoma stood on the court, patiently waiting for his opponent. The more he watched him leisurely tie his shoelaces, the more the veins in his head popped. How long would it take to tie some strings? He thought.

When the time finally came, Ryoma groaned, feeling an impending headache. When the opponent hit his first serve, Ryoma wasted no time to hit it back with enough spin. They entered an intense rally, neither of them giving the other a chance to smash the ball for the first point.

As the rally went on, Ryoma felt more and more frustrated at not getting past his solid defense. He would grunt loudly with every hit of his racket. Brian and the others noticed that he doesn't usually make any noise when playing, but right now, Ryoma looked like he's already exhausted even though it's still the first game. When he couldn't take it anymore, Ryoma decided to go for the goal and set up a volley for the opponent. Coach Rui realized this and knew that something was wrong with the boy.

"Echizen, don't!" But it was too late, Ryoma was up in the air, about to smash the ball past the opponent's legs. But the guy had it all planned, so when Ryoma went for it, he stepped a couple of spaces back and received the ball just in time, landing behind the prince.

The loud sound of the ball hitting the floor sent a vibration into his body.

Ryoma stood in front of the net, unable to grasp what just happened. The opponent was already in his position to serve, but he was still frozen in his place.

Coach Rui scratched his head and called for a time-out. Murmurs from the crowd sounded loudly as Ryoma was being pulled by Coach Rui to the bench. When he was seated, Honoka handed him a towel, and Brian fanned him with a paper. He felt like he was a boxing contestant.

"Echizen, you've got to cool your head. This is not a real match, okay? Why are you being aggressive today?" Coach Rui said.

"Nothing, just a little tired," he wasn't even sure if he's just tired or it's something else. He doesn't know anymore. Having no time to think about his own feelings, he couldn't understand why he did that. Normally, he would take the first point with a Drive B or something.

"Are you okay?" he heard the coach ask. That was the second time someone asked him that question and it only pissed him off more. Again, he doesn't know why.

"I… don't know why," he muttered.

When the time-out was over, Ryoma inhaled deeply, then exhaled a heavy breath. He shook his head to clear his mind from whatever he was thinking.

The match went on, and he was almost losing. He has not won any game yet, and the team was worried. As for Ryoma, he felt his legs stiff and his arms heavy. His head throbbed viciously, preventing him from analyzing his opponent. Sweat flowed down his hair, and his wet shirt clung on his body. Ryoma removed his cap and wiped off his forehead. If only he could set his mind to what he wanted to achieve right here, right now, he could finish this match.

If I lose here, how could I show up in front of that bastard Jason-something? If I lose now, what good am I?

He shook his head and got ready to serve. He started with a twist serve, which the opponent hadn't heard of. That's why the ball wheezed through the net, spinning beside his foot, and finally flying towards his face. If he hadn't dodged in time, he could have been hit in the nose. Luckily, the opponent escaped.

The crowd goes wild, forgetting that this is just a practice match. The camera flashed continuously towards him, capturing every angle. He ignored his surroundings and meticulously planned his next move, determined to win.

Hordes of people exited the arrival area with luggage behind them. But one particular person nervously walked out with just a sling bag over her shoulders. She was visibly close to crying as she held her phone.

"This is the unluckiest day of my life!" Sakuno groaned. As if getting lost wasn't enough, she just had to lose her luggage as well. Now she's just someone who goes to Brazil without even a toothbrush. She wandered aimlessly inside the airport, hoping that there's a sign in Nihongo that she could read. Her English is fine, of course. But speaking and reading are very different from each other. So, with her phone in hand, Sakuno tried her best to search for information about the hotel she booked.

When she read Cliffside Hotel on her Maps app, Sakuno whipped out her flight and hotel details and sure enough, it's the hotel where she'll be staying. She had only landed but Sakuno was already tired.

It's just going to be one day, then I'll get to go home tomorrow.

When Sakuno decided to go to Brazil to seek Ryoma, she hadn't the tiniest clue of where she could find him in such a large country. Good thing that when she asked for Nanjirou and Rinko's permission to leave the country, they had assisted her to book a decent airline and hotel. Of course, it's a hotel where Ryoma is currently at. So, the first problem is now solved. But now, another problem arises when her luggage got lost. Sakuno sighed and just decided to buy a few things before going to the hotel.

So far, her trip overseas is not amusing.

The neon ball dropped on the ground, behind the panting person clutching his racket. He tried to catch his breath, but he was too tired after the intense rally against the Japanese tennis player. The team rejoiced that Ryoma emerged as the winner despite his foul mood earlier. He managed to pull through, Coach Rui thought.

But it doesn't give him immunity from punishment for being reckless out there. Coach Rui had ordered Ryoma to run a hundred laps around the beach that morning and the boy could only comply. So, while the rest of the team enjoyed a luxurious five-course meal for lunch, Ryoma had diligently completed his punishment without a single word.

It was kind of therapeutic for him to have some time alone. He obviously played like a lunatic, and it was not him at all. Ryoma wondered if he's been too stressed with training lately. Whatever the cause is, he can't go on like this. But what can he do? He never experienced something like this before, so he didn't need to think about things that much. That moment when he thought that he would lose had him shaken up, and losing is not something Ryoma was accustomed to.

He wasn't even sure if this was because of tennis anymore.

Sakuno's face would pop up in his mind every now and then, reminding him of the failure that he did back in Japan. He felt stupid every time he recalled the events. Now, every time something reminds him of Sakuno, only loneliness envelops his heart. Can he really live like this? To stay in love with someone who doesn't want you back. He was beginning to think that all these thoughts about Sakuno had been affecting his performance, and his life.

A sudden realization hit him. He has been feeling irritated and now he knows who the reason is. Ryuzaki pushed him away and led him to believe that she actually cared. He might even say that he hated her now.

Would it be better if I just forget everything? I'm never going back to Japan, after all.

His feet gradually stopped moving, and he caught his breath, his arms on his waist. He looked down and watched trickles of sweat fall down from his hair.

This isn't like me at all. I need to get my head in the game. This is the only thing I want to do in my life. I can't be thinking about anyone else right now.

It has been quite a while ever since he started running. Now, at his ninety-ninth lap, the sun was beginning to set and his stomach growled. And when he finally completed his run, Ryoma laid on the white sand and kicked his shoes off, letting the water waves dampen his tired feet. He didn't care if the sand clung onto his sweaty clothes anymore. He just wanted to close his eyes and hoped to dream a happy memory for once.

Sakuno opened the door to her own room. It was a basic one, with a decent bathroom, television, a view of the ocean, and two beds. She would have been happy to have a nice rest and a hot bath, but she remembered her lost luggage and how the only clothes she owns now is the one she's wearing.

"I'm such an idiot…" she approached the veranda and opened the sliding door. She inhaled the smell of the ocean and peered down the white sand. She wondered how she would be able to talk to Ryoma if his schedule is too packed.

Now that she had the time to think, Sakuno might have jumped the gun. It didn't even cross her mind if the boy would have the time for her, or even if he did, would he want to talk? Considering how they left the conversation on a sad note, Sakuno doubted that he would show up.

But fate is on her side as she caught sight of the familiar dark green hair lying on the beach. He seemed too relaxed to care about the onlookers around him. Sakuno was sure that it was Ryoma. Her heart began to race as she ran out the door, took the stairs rather than the elevator, and then ran to the beach. With all of her doubts and worries draining, Sakuno let her lips smile as she removed her sandals to run a little faster.

I can't believe it. He's here!

She doesn't even know if it was tears or sweat that trailed down her face. She just has to talk to him again. When the boy was within her sight, she called him out.

"Ryoma-kun!" her voice boomed all around the beach and the bystanders turned their heads to her. But she didn't care. She didn't care if she looked like a lunatic running around with a smile plastered on her face.

The love of her life was just a few meters from her. It was all that mattered.

"Ryoma-kun!" she repeated. The boy was sleeping soundly, completely oblivious of her calls. Sakuno knew that this would be harder, that's why she was prepared to do everything she can.

Sakuno walked towards him carefully, silently. His white cap covered his face, but his hair gave him away. His bare feet were dipped into the shore and his arms rested on his chest as it rose up and down.

In Ryoma's dream, he heard someone calling his name from somewhere far. He couldn't recognize the voice, but he felt relaxed to hear it. When the voice called him a second time, Ryoma was sure that he knew that voice. He felt a mix of gladness and misery as he listened.

Who is that?

Suddenly, light flashed through his eyelids, and he saw a hand holding his cap, revealing his sleepy face. Ryoma's mouth opened to say something, but his throat was sore.

"Ryoma-kun," the girl spoke. Ryoma blinked a couple of times before reality struck him.

It was Ryuzaki. Ryuzaki's here.

He slowly got up, sand weighing his shirt down.

"W-What are you doing here? Why are you here?" he stared at her, refusing to believe that she appeared before him.

"I… wanted to see you," she smiled softly. The sunset behind her had only added magic to her ethereal beauty. Ryoma doesn't know what to feel. A moment ago, he despised thinking about Sakuno. But now, seeing her in Brazil, he felt his troubles fading away.

No, he thought. He can't be swayed with her presence alone. This has to be another one of her ploys and he won't bite into the trap.

"Why did you come?" He stood up and dusted himself. Sakuno grabbed her sandals that were forgotten by the sand and stood up.

"I wanted to apologize," she muttered. Now that she noticed that he's in a foul mood, Sakuno didn't know how to approach the boy anymore. She felt clueless on how to apologize properly. Her history of handling an irritated Ryoma has proved to be quite difficult.

"You don't have to," he grabbed his own shoes and started to walk away. He didn't expect Sakuno to follow him diligently. He turned around and faced her. Sakuno smiled nervously at him.

"What are you doing here, Ryuzaki?" Ryoma wanted to tell her that she ended it between them so what is the purpose of her visit, but he stopped himself because a part of him was glad that she came.

"I-I just told you–"

"No, I mean what are you trying to do? Why did you come to see me?"

"Because… I need you back– no, I want you back!" she said in a brave voice. Her cheeks reddened as Ryoma stared at him with big eyes. For a moment, Sakuno caught a glimpse of his weak smile.

He found the situation funny. A girl is basically begging in front of him. He chuckled at the thought.

"You're being unfair, Ryuzaki. That was the second time you lied to me and hurt me on purpose. It seemed like you really wanted to push me away. But now, you're taking back your words again."

Sakuno fell speechless. She realized that she has been hurting him in more ways than what she cared to admit. Those words she said can never be taken back, and she can never mend his heart. But still, she offers her whole being to make it up to him, even if it meant forever.

"Just when I thought that I gave you the peace you wanted," he sighed. Sakuno was beyond regretful, unable to look him in the eyes anymore. If she could just turn back time, she would.

Ryoma stared at her meek figure. It felt like he hadn't seen her in a year when it's only been days.

"It's unfair that you let me go just like that," he continued. His accusing words felt like daggers in her heart but she accepted it.

"I'm sorry…" she whispered as she fidgeted on her clothes. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes but she has to endure Ryoma's hatred.

"You just know how to get me back," he pulled Sakuno's hand and guided her back to the hotel. Sakuno was dumbfounded. She was prepared to take a beating if it meant that Ryoma would forgive her, but he decided to accept her again.

Sakuno watched his back full of sand as they walked along the shore. Ryoma kept his head straight, hoping that she couldn't see him smiling because he just realized that he can't let go of Sakuno just yet.

To be continued.