Chapter 25: Bittersweet

The birds were chirping, the sun rays blinded her, and the warm blanket covered both of their bodies. Sakuno opened her eyes and saw Ryoma sleeping soundly beside her. She admired his long lashes, and soft lips. Her hand gently brushed his bangs, moving it away from his forehead.

Remembering the events last night, she couldn't help but smile. It was both their first time and it's safe to say that they have taken their relationship to the next level.

Sakuno recalled how Ryoma touched her, gently familiarizing, and memorizing every detail of her body. It was a whole different kind of sensation and that was the night that changed them forever. Albeit clumsy and inexperienced, making love with him felt like paradise, and she wished that it never ends.

But it will be over as soon as she leaves him later.

If there was any other way to protect both of them, she would have done it. She just doesn't want to leave him again. But they mutually agreed that this is for the best.

She wrapped her arms around his body under the blanket, feeling his naked warmth. Even though they had cherished each other last night, it felt to her that it won't ever be enough to fill the emptiness they're going to feel.

Ryoma was in a deep slumber, so Sakuno figured she should let him rest and get her luggage ready. She sat up and carefully covered him with the blanket, then she grabbed her clothes on the floor and proceeded to freshen up in the bathroom.

When she stepped out of the bathroom, her phone started ringing. Sakuno hastily answered it to avoid Ryoma being woken up by the loud ringtone. He would be pissed at her again.

She went outside the balcony and took the call.

"Sakuno-chan, are you going home today?" She heard Aunt Rinko on the other line.

"A-Ah, yes…"

"Okay, then. We'll pick you up at the airport as soon as you land, okay?"

"T-Thank you!"

"How's Ryoma?"

Sakuno turned around and the boy was still asleep. He looked peaceful as he snored lightly.

"He's fine, Aunt Rinko," she forced a smile.

"Anyway, Sakuno-chan. Don't mind those rumors going on, okay?" the older woman said.

"I won't, Aunt Rinko. Thank you for worrying. I'll be home soon," she happily said, and they ended the call. It felt comforting to hear those words from her, and Sakuno knew that she's not going to be alone at all. But she worries over Ryoma when she leaves. No one is going to be there for him.

But she couldn't stay anymore. Even if she fights within herself that this is not right, she knows that this is necessary for him. They can only hope that everything's going to be alright.

When she returned inside the room, Ryoma was starting to wake up. He shivered from the cold breeze coming in from the balcony, and Sakuno immediately closed it.

"G-Good morning, Ryoma-kun," she shyly greeted. He nodded, keeping the blanket wrapped around him.

"S-Sorry, you should get ready," she turned around and busied herself with the television. Ryoma realized that he was still naked underneath the blanket, so he stepped down from the bed, grabbed his own clothes, and took a bath. Even though they already did it, it was still awkward for them. Neither had thought about how to talk about it the morning after.

While Sakuno tries to distract herself with the cooking channel, Ryoma let the cold shower drench him, hoping to drown the red from his face.

As soon as he walked out of the bathroom, Sakuno stood up and grabbed her bags. It was almost time to go to the airport.

"I'm leaving," she said.

He looked at her with sorrowful eyes. If he could only at least send her to the airport, he would. But she was against it, thinking that the media could take photos of them and worsen the rumors. She decided to take a cab alone, leaving him behind.

He only nodded. Ryoma sat on the bed as he watched Sakuno walk out of the room. It was the last time he's going to see her, and he felt like his heart was being strangled.

Life is cruel for him. It has always been that way with being famous. He felt suffocated by the controlling grasps of people around him. They had to mold him to be something he's not, even sacrificing his own happiness in the process.

Losing Sakuno once again just made him hate tennis even more.

Leaving without saying goodbye or even one final kiss was her decision. She doesn't want to put an end to their bond, like putting a period on a sentence.

Because somewhere inside her heart, she still hopes that one day, they will find a way to get back together without hindrance.

Because memories don't say goodbye.

As Sakuno waited for the elevator, she felt tears roll down her face. Her legs wanted to run back to their room and just stay with him forever. But they had to stick to reality. The reality is that their paths were never meant to cross, and that they were destined to have different lives, away from each other.

It would take an eternity for her to accept that.

"Sakuno-chan?" Honoka stood by the stairs. She was dressed in her training clothes, sweat covered her face and neck. She seemed to have just gotten back from a morning jog.

"H-Honoka-san…" she muttered under her breath. The woman who ruined her relationship with Ryoma stood before her, looking unbothered. She gripped her suitcase tightly as blood rushed to her head. Intense anger grew inside her heart as her vicious glare pierced through Honoka.

"You're leaving? What's the rush?" she asked with a smile on her face.

"Why are you asking?" she said with a firm voice. Being polite doesn't help her now, especially in front of Honoka.

"You want to play a match with me?"

Sakuno thought for a moment. If this is her way of completely crushing her resolve, Sakuno is prepared to take it head on.

So, they stood inside the indoor court. Honoka had been granted access so she could practice whenever she wanted. She lent Sakuno her spare racket and waited for her to get ready.

"Let's keep it simple, Sakuno-chan. Whoever wins the first point is the winner," she said with a knowing smile. "Don't worry, I won't keep you for too long from your flight."

Now, she is mocking her. Sakuno kept her cool and prepared to serve. She decided to go all out and let fate do its work. She was not confident in her abilities, especially against a pro. But she's not going down without a fight.

She tossed the neon ball high up in the air, and with a swing of her racket, she hit the ball, and it flew over to Honoka's side. The girl was swift on her feet, an ability that Ryoma knew too well. In no time, she caught the ball and hit it over the net. Sakuno fumbled on her feet and ran fast to catch the ball, a loud groan escaped her lips. She had not played tennis for so long that her body almost forgot the moves.

But her determination didn't fail her. She lobbed the ball; it flew over Honoka's head, and she stepped backwards to hit it. She waited for the right distance before she jumped and smashed it. Sakuno was one step ahead of her and received the ball.

She struggled to grip the racket as the ball possessed a strong spin on it, making it hard to hit back. Her wrist ached, but she still did her best to fight back. Sakuno diminished the spin of the ball and she hit a drop volley.

As the ball approached the net, Honoka sprinted towards it, hoping to make it in time. It felt like time was slowing down as the girl ran, extending her racket in its direction. Sakuno fell on her knees as she watched the neon ball about to drop on Honoka's side. Her eyes dilated; her palms became sweaty as she anticipated her win.

It seemed to her that this is the only time that she ever tried so hard to fight for someone, and the fact that it was Ryoma whom she's fighting for made her feel that it's all worth it.

Sakuno let go of her racket, exhaustion finally catching up to her due to lack of training. She closed her eyes and exhaled deeply as she heard the ball fall behind her.

Honoka won.

There was silence in the court, only the distant murmuring of a crowd was heard. Honoka catches her breath while she stands before the kneeling girl. She had easily defeated Sakuno. Of course, she would, the girl has stopped playing ever since her grandmother died, and the result was obvious.

Honoka smiled triumphantly. She felt a sense of superiority as she stared at the image of Sakuno standing up, her knees were scraped, and her hair was a mess. Their match proved who was better than the other.

"I won, Sakuno-chan," she muttered. "Don't feel bad, though, I won't tell anybody."

Sakuno's brows arched. She doesn't know if Honoka wanted to make her feel flustered. For her, she didn't mind losing, as long as she tried her best. Because fighting is not all about the physical act, it is also about fighting mentally, and she knew that her mind was stronger now than before. She's not going to be swayed by the girl's wicked antiques.

"It's such a shame that Ryoma-kun's type of girl is a woman who is good at tennis. I bet he only keeps you for the fun part," she shook her head in disappointment. Sakuno's lips quivered, but she resisted the urge to cry. She just realized how evil Honoka really is. How could she say those things to Ryoma?

"You're not any better, Honoka-san. You said that you like him, but here you are, destroying his reputation to the world. You're a fake," Sakuno dusted her skirt and held her head up high. She decided to be straight with her.

"What did you say?" Honoka's face grew redder and redder from the girl's comment. She never realized how bold Sakuno's mouth was. She thought that the girl was timid, but she was mistaken.

"Because you were jealous and bitter, you chose to ruin both of us. But I'm different from you. I chose to leave because I can't bear to drag him down with me," Sakuno walked over to the bench and returned the racket that she borrowed.

Sakuno turned around and faced Honoka. She inhaled deeply before speaking once again.

"Honoka-san, I lost today. But even before we started this match, you never stood a chance in Ryoma-kun's heart. I may leave now, but I know that I left a part of me with him. All you did was make him resent you."

Honoka was speechless at the girl's statement. She didn't know what to say. Realization hit her that she was single handedly ruining what Ryoma has worked hard for years. If she truly liked him, she would not do this to him, right? Honoka started to feel bad about herself. But she didn't know how else she would handle the jealousy she was feeling inside.

She just wanted Ryoma, no one else but him.

"Well then, I'm going," Sakuno grabbed her bag and suitcase, and walked out the door. Honoka chuckled at how cool Sakuno was. She accepted her defeat with dignity and sportsmanship. She was indeed a formidable rival to the prince's heart. But now, as much as she hates to admit it to herself, she can say that her personality is indeed suitable for someone like Ryoma. She can protect him even though she has lost.

But which of them really lost?

Honoka wondered how she would face Ryoma now that she had taken away his future.

The Final exam is over, the students of Seigaku High School excitedly talk about their own future, to which university they will go to, and where they will move to. One particular girl stood by the window; her brunette hair being blown by the wind. She stared at the distance, ignoring the chatters of her classmates.

Sakuno Ryuzaki had just passed her finals exams and it meant that she was set to graduate from Seigaku and would be moving to another city just like she planned. There's an apartment in Kyoto where she will live after this. Soon, she will leave everything in this city, and start a new life with nobody but her.

"Sakuno-chan," Tomoka approached her best friend. It has been a long time since she saw Sakuno and they've been spending a lot of time with each other ever since she got back from Brazil.

"Hi, Tomo-chan," she greeted.

"So, Kyoto, huh?" Tomoka stood beside her and admired the trees swaying with the strong breeze that February afternoon. Sakuno has a month before she moves out for good, and it only makes Tomoka sadder.

"Yes," she replied with a blank expression. It was as if she was devoid of emotions. Leaving Ryoma in Brazil and ending their relationship has changed her. She's not the same girl anymore, and it only made her more determined to go away from all of the issues. She just wanted a peaceful life, but her happiness was in the way, and they had no choice but to choose the most sensible solution. Even if they both think that they're still young and have their future ahead of them, being with each other felt right.

It was true love.

For weeks, she had cried herself to sleep, imagining what Ryoma was doing now. Is he happy? Is he sad? Sakuno wanted to know all about it. But they had agreed not to contact each other because it would only make them want to do things that would cost them their dreams.

Knowing and loving you has made my world a little brighter. It was just bad timing, that's all.

That night, she walked on the streets towards her old house, her and grandma's house. It has been a while since she last visited the place, and it made her feel nostalgic and sorrowful at the same time. Memories of how she died came rushing back to Sakuno's mind.

She opened the door and was greeted by an empty living room. There was dust all over the place, and no sign of anyone living there. When Sumire died, the house seemed to have died with her.

Sakuno made her way to the stairs, the creaking sound of the wood echoing inside the house. The banister that she remembered was almost broken was still the same. She traced the wood with her hand and reminisced.

When she reached the second floor, two doors were left open, one for her room, and the other for her grandma's room. She blinked her eyes to see a little better since she didn't want to turn on the lights.

One look at her room brought back all the memories.

The faded wallpaper on her walls, the wooden floor, and the big window in the middle. She couldn't help but cry silently. She had been too occupied with work and everything else that she completely forgot where she came from. She distracted herself enough and had let go of the painful memories in this house. But coming back to it now, she felt glad.

When she moved on to Sumire's bedroom, it was empty. But she can still remember where everything was. the large bed, nightstand, closet, and the bookshelf where her grandma used to keep all the trophies and awards.

Sakuno sniffed and sobbed. She missed her grandma very much, and she knows that with all that's happened to her, Sumire would have protected her. But now that she's alone, those things made her stronger and more determined.

Sakuno felt no regrets at all. She was glad to have met Ryoma, fall in love with him, and be loved by him. It was short, but a precious memory that she will keep in her heart forever.

And now that it's time to leave, Sakuno exited the house, surrendered the key to the realtor, and made her way back to the Echizen house.

"Thank you for being my mentor, Mr. Arata. I will miss you," Sakuno gave her resignation letter to the restaurant a few weeks ago, and now that the time for departure has come, she tried not to cry as she said her goodbyes to the place where she grew the most.

"Thank you, too, Sakuno-chan. You were a wonderful employee, and if Atsushi were here, he would have cried seeing you off," the older man replied with a sad smile.

Atsushi had gone ahead to America even before Ryoma left for Brazil. She remembered how the guy used to walk her home, and how Tomoka was so in love with him. He was a dependable big brother to her, and she wished they could meet again somewhere.

As she returned to the house, a green object caught her attention. It was the bicycle that Ryoma gifted her on Christmas. There was a bittersweet feeling as she walked towards it. It has not been used for a long time and has been collecting dust.

Sakuno thought of actually learning how to ride it by herself. If she could do this, then she can be independent.

She sits on the bike and prepares to pedal it. But as soon as it moved, Sakuno fell on the side, her knees hitting the hard ground.

"Ouch!" She looked at the scrape on her knee, and she remembered how Ryoma whips out a band-aid for her wound.

"Again," she muttered, grabbing the bike and trying to do it again in the yard of the Echizens.

Mr. Matsumoto sat in front of Sakuno, silently writing something on his pad before they started their counseling. If he remembered correctly, she decided to work right after graduation, but he secretly hoped that she might change her mind. Sakuno has so much potential to be a chef, and the fact that she has been dreaming of it long enough was evidence that she really wanted it.

"Mr. Matsumoto, I'm leaving the city," she started. The man could only sigh. There really is no changing the girl's heart. But he understood. Sakuno might want to start fresh and live her life without worries, he couldn't stop her.

"Um, okay. What job will you be doing then?"

"I'm thinking I could work part time while I attend college,"

Mr. Matsumoto blinked. He wondered if he heard that right. A few months ago, Sakuno didn't want to continue her studies, but now, she's talking about going to college! He must have made her realize something. Should he take credit for it?

"W-Wow, that's great! But why did you change your mind?" he probed, hoping that it was because of his counseling prowess.

"I was inspired by how the people around me tried so hard to reach their dreams even if they were met with trials. I always wanted to have that kind of courage," she clutched a book on her lap, gently feeling its surface.

"Also, someone made me realize how easy it was to leap and do the things I can. Because this is not for anyone else's, this is for my own future. I owe it to myself."

Sakuno smiled as the image of the boy lingered in her mind.

"Congratulations!"

The students all rejoiced, throwing their hats in the air as they marked the last day of their high school lives. They held their diplomas close to their hearts, and took pictures with the teachers, the school staff, and with their friends.

Tomoka, Sakuno, Horio, Katsuo, and Kachiro stood in front of the building. The three guys couldn't help but cry over the realization that they're not going to see each other as often as now. Tomoka held Sakuno's hand, and they smiled at each other. Even though they were sad that their paths will soon part ways, the best friends only have good thoughts for each other.

"I'm going to miss this place," Tomoka said.

"Me, too," Sakuno replied.

Horio sniffed and spoke.

"Too bad, Echizen will never come back. We're never going to be complete."

Tomoka nudged him on the waist, gesturing for him to stop talking about the prince as it is a sensitive topic around Sakuno. But the girl only shrugged at them.

"Don't worry. I'm sure he'll be back."

Sakuno tried to block all of the thoughts about him and pretend that she's okay with how they left things, but in the corner of her mind, she wanted to go back to Ryoma.

But this is their reality now.

It hurts to think that they were never meant to be together, and that they were bound to ruin each other if they tried. But it was for the best, she thought. Sakuno never fails to remind herself of that phrase whenever she wavers.

But even if she thinks so, she couldn't bring herself to admit to Ryoma that she didn't care for her future at all. She was prepared to throw it all away if it meant she would be with him.

In the end, she chose to support him, just like the old days.

"When chasing love at any cost—

The pathways meet but seldom cross."

― Michael Faudet, Bitter Sweet Love

To be continued.