A/N: Longest chapter to date! Oh my… For some reason, as I was finally writing the climax (which I had already drafted last year) I can't seem to find a perfect part to cut the chapter. So, in the end, I decided to publish it in one single chapter. I would normally write for a maximum of 5k words, but today is 8k. PS. I have the cutest side characters lol. Anyway, please enjoy.

Chapter 53: Downfall

After going to the hospital and receiving immediate treatment, Ryoma was ready to go back home. Although his manager insisted that they stay in case his body is not in a condition to travel, the prince would rather go back to Japan and see Sakuno. He was looking forward to showing her the award that he got. So, they got onto the earliest flight the next morning.

As he and the manager both relaxed in the first class section of the plane, the manager nudged his shoulder.

"Ryoma-kun. Watch this!" Manager Kawazu handed his phone to him and a video played. It was a clip the children sent to congratulate Ryoma for his award. Manager never got the chance to show it to him last night for obvious reasons.

In the video, a huge crowd of children as well as the coaches were gathered inside the stadium and were collectively speaking.

"Congratulations, Mr. Echizen! Thank you for giving us a place to live our dreams. We look forward to more years of playing sports together!" they said. It made Ryoma smile. He didn't expect that they would even hear about it. He chuckled as he stared at every single one of them on the screen.

"Are you happy?" The older man teased him with his dorky smile to which Ryoma scowled.

"Why are you making that face?" He played the video over and over. He had never felt this way about other people before. They couldn't go to the stadium since he fell ill. The award and the children fueled him to do more work for the children.

"Manager, can you send me this video?" he shyly requested, handing over his phone.

"Sure!" As Kawazu began to send the video via Bluetooth, a staff from their team sent an email to him. He immediately checked it out while the video was being sent. He had expected that it would be about business, but he was shocked to see a video of the prince's wife walking with a man in a dark street. It seemed like someone had filmed them secretly, like a paparazzi. The staff wrote below that the video clip is currently going viral since Sakuno is known as Ryoma's wife, and of course, people were growing suspicious over the man she was with. It was alarming for him as the manager since he would be the first person to deal with this scandal and fix it.

He felt cold sweat running down his neck. He contemplated if he should tell Ryoma or not. He never expressed much emotion, especially anger in front of him, but this might be the first.

He observed the prince's relaxed state as he tipped his white cap over his face and was intending to take a nap. Should Kawazu ruin his perfect mood? Or should he break the news to him right now so they could do some damage control immediately? Kawazu grew uneasy in his seat. The agony of waiting for the news to blow off on Ryoma's face was unsettling. But no, he couldn't let that happen. He has the responsibility to tell him right now!

Ryoma's phone suddenly beeped. It means the video transfer is done. He removed his cap and checked his phone.

"Thanks," he smiled, then watched the video again.

He's so cute. I don't want to tell him now…

He closed his eyes and prayed to the Lord to give him enough strength to deal with all this. Knowing how famous Ryoma is, this kind of news would definitely be heard around the world. For a moment, he actually felt a bit of hatred towards Sakuno.

"R-Ryoma-kun. Can I tell you something?"

"What is it?" He was now picking a movie on the plane's mini tv as they spoke.

"I don't think you're going to like this but please stay calm, okay?" He pleaded. He knew Ryoma loved his wife very much and he would always prioritize her. Damn, he didn't even want to go accept his award because he didn't want to leave her in Japan! Kawazu didn't know how he was going to react, but he could only hope he would do something crazy like yell at him. They're in first class!

"Just tell me," he decided to watch Shrek.

"Um, this was sent to me," he handed his phone to him and watched as Ryoma's eyes widened and jaw tightened. He watched the video in close proximity, as if making sure that it was real.

"This is Sakuno? Who's the guy?"

"I wouldn't know! But the thing is, it's blowing up on social media. I hope he's one of your relatives or else both of you could be the subjects of controversy!" He was almost panicking, but contained his shock.

"I'm sure she can explain what this is. I'll talk to her when we land," then his eyes returned to the mini tv.

Kawazu blinked. Their trip was full of surprises! Ryoma was calm as he dismissed the subject. It would have been unbelievable if he didn't know that the prince is usually a laid back guy. Then, if it's not a problem to him, it's not a problem to Kawazu, right?

Okay! I will work hard to clear the air around this video!

He whipped out his laptop from his bag.

Beside him, Ryoma might seem to be enjoying the animated movie, but inside his head, he was burning up with anger.

Last night, after Soichiro said those words, Sakuno watched him walk away and disappear from the streets without another word. It took her a few minutes to snap out of it and go inside the house. She couldn't believe that her hunch was true. Soichiro does like her, and he told her himself.

"What do I do?" She wondered how she could reject him peacefully and gently, without hurting his feelings. But given that the whole world knows that she's married to the famous Ryoma Echizen, why did Soichiro confess?

She mindlessly put the salmon in the oven and started cutting the cabbage.

"Ryuzaki? If you don't focus, you'll end up cutting your fingers," The head chef stood behind her, glaring as if she had just committed the worst crime in history.

"Erm… sorry, chef!" She hurriedly chopped the vegetables and ended up preparing more ingredients than what is needed. When the head chef walked away, she breathed a heavy sigh. It was tense enough to be working around Soichiro who by the way has been avoiding her all day, but it seemed that there is more tension around the whole kitchen, or is it just her imagination? Sakuno was aware that everyone hates her, but she thinks there's something more.

That night, she had lost hope to even talk to Soichiro, so she got ready to go home. As she grabbed her bag and jacket from her locker, she heard a few of the staff whispering behind the door.

"Poor Ryoma Echizen!"

"I know, right? They'll end up getting divorced in no time,"

Sakuno's ears perked up and not being able to resist at the mention of her husband's name, she stealthily eavesdropped on their conversation.

"I mean, this is obviously Soichiro in the video! And they're going to a big house, just the two of them. I wonder what they did inside,"

"They're having an affair, huh?"

What?! Are they talking about me? And last night?

Sakuno whipped out her phone and checked through Twitter to see what video it was, and viola. Someone took a video of them walking home last night. It definitely looked suspicious to others, but Sakuno was sure that it was nothing but a friendly walk!

Her mind panicked. It would not only cause trouble in her daily life, but it might ruin Ryoma's image.

She silently closed her locker door and waited for them to walk away before she could sneak out. Sakuno figured that the staff would be hanging out by the front door (as they normally would at night) so she opted to go through the back door where she usually eats lunch. Passing by the deserted kitchen, she almost felt relieved to be able to escape their confrontation, but when she opened the back door, Sakuno's eyes landed on Soichiro, who was smoking outside.

His eyes met hers, and then they both knew that they had to address the elephant in the room.

Talk about luck.

"S-Soichiro-kun," she had no choice but to speak as the boy was now staring at her with wide eyes.

"Ryuzaki…san," he planned on avoiding Sakuno for quite some time since he couldn't bring himself to face her after his confession. It was almost on purpose that they suddenly met outside. She normally uses the front door to exit. But right now, fate wasn't on his side.

Sakuno stepped down from the pavement and stood in front of him properly.

This is awkward…

"Um… how are you?" she started.

"I'm alright. Having a couple of beers before I go home. You?" Soichiro pointed at the cans of beer by his feet, and Sakuno quickly nodded.

"I'm going home," she tried her best not to stutter. She should have the courage to face him, neither of them even did anything wrong.

She bowed to him to bid goodbye and was about to run for it, but he managed to grab her arm on time.

"Wait, Ryuzaki-san! About the video circulating online. I'm sorry for causing trouble. I shouldn't have walked with you," Regret reflected on his face, but even if that was what he said, Soichiro was glad to have shared a brief moment with her.

"Oh, right…" she smacked her forehead for forgetting such an important matter. They should talk about it and think of a plan to dismiss the rumors. But what could they do? They're just ordinary people without any power to stop a wildfire of scandal. And what's worse is their friendship is crumbling right now, and Sakuno didn't know how to resolve any of her problems.

She could feel herself about to throw up.

"Also… I'm sorry for saying such things," Still holding onto her arm, Soichiro looked up and found her brown eyes. It was evident how he developed such admiration for her. It was a no-brainer.

Sakuno is a beautiful woman, inside and out. He had a front row seat and saw everything that she was. The way she worked hard for her dream of becoming a chef. The way she cries at the back of the building whenever everything is too much for her, and the way she smiles when something goes right.

It wasn't just "like", he's in love with her.

Maybe it was the alcohol that made him move, or maybe the feeling inside his heart that made him do such a thing. His hand slid from her wrist to her small and petite hand. He felt her flinch from the sudden contact. He decided to continue.

"But I don't plan on doing anything about it. I just wanted to let you know, that's all," he smiled bitterly.

"Thank you for letting me know, Soichiro-kun… but I love our friendship the most. I treasure you deeply," Knowing that she could never reciprocate his feelings and being okay with it, she admired his courage.

"I do, too," he looked down and gripped her hand tighter. If it was the last time they'd be this close with each other, Soichiro wished time would stop, and he would relish the soft feeling of her hand to his.

"I hope you find someone you can love as much as this," With the sense of friendship in her mind, Sakuno held his hand with such comfort. She has always been the one to offer solace to other people, and she was glad that she never changed that aspect of herself.

"As much as you love your husband?" He jokingly inquired. Sakuno chuckled at his question, but she replied.

"Yes, for sure!"

"I can't believe this," the two heard a familiar voice behind them and they both turned their heads to his direction. Under a single streetlight stood Ryoma. He was wearing a black hoodie with his black mask, an attempt to hide his identity. He took into account the fact that people would recognize him whenever he steps out of the house, especially at Sakuno's workplace. That was why she strictly instructed him not to go there, ever.

The whole time he was thinking that Sakuno probably only wanted to protect him. But the scene before him made him think otherwise. As his golden eyes glared at how the unassuming guy held Sakuno's hand, and they seemed talking to each other happily, he tightened his knuckles and was almost blacking out from madness.

He was in shock.

It was neither jealousy nor the instinct to protect what is his, but the despise he felt for them.

In a matter of seconds, Ryoma had landed a solid and powerful punch at Soichiro's jaw, effectively removing his hand from Sakuno. Soichiro flew quite further until he fell on the floor next to the wall. The cans of beer were knocked down, some of the liquid spilled over the ground.

Sakuno's eyes widened at how the scene unfolded in front of her. Soichiro flew to the wall. Meanwhile, Ryoma's knuckles burned from the impact. He knew that it was his injured wrist, but he didn't care anymore.

Sakuno, finally able to react, ran to Soichiro's side and panicked at the blood oozing from his lips and his jaw was purple. The guy couldn't even open his eyes, only a grunt was heard from him.

"Soichiro-kun! Are you okay?!" Her hands were shaking, and she wasn't sure if it was because of Soichiro's state, or her fear from the man behind her. She could sense the seething anger around Ryoma, but it wasn't the time to confront him. She needed to take Soichiro to a hospital soon!

"Come on, I'll take you to the hospital," she did her best to fling his arm over her shoulder and managed to help him stand up. Soichiro's sight was blurry, but he could see how Ryoma looked like he could practically kill him.

"Don't touch him," he ordered. Sakuno was close to crying, but she resisted her emotions.

"Ryoma-kun, what do you think you're doing?!" She screamed at him in frustration.

"What am I doing? What are you doing?" came his strained voice. He could feel the tears threatening to fall as he stared at her desperate eyes.

"Let me explain," Soichiro tried to speak but his lip was painful.

"I'll take you to the hospital!" She pulled him up. Ryoma couldn't believe what he was seeing right now.

"N-No, I have to let you know, Echizen–"

"I'm not talking to you, fucker," he cut in.

"Ryoma-kun! Stop it!" Sakuno was scared but violence is never a good thing, and the fact that Ryoma crossed the line angered her.

"How could you let other guys touch you? And why the heck is he going to our house yesterday? Have you lost your mind?"

"No, you've got it wrong. Let me explain–"

"You don't have to say another word. You're going home now," he tried to grab her arm but Sakuno was able to back away from him.

"No, Ryoma-kun! You can't keep doing this to me! I feel like you've put me in a cage and I feel suffocated! I can't like this! You don't want to listen to me, that's why you don't understand a thing about me!" Sakuno letting the tears fall down as she poured her heart out. Thankfully, the alley was deserted, and the three were the only people around.

Ryoma fell silent. He didn't know that's how Sakuno felt all this time. He wanted to say that he never restricted her at all. But did he really? Is that why she did it?

"Come on, Soichiro-kun. I need to get you to a hospital,"

"Sakuno–" he called out to her, wanting to beg for her not to go. But she exuded a cold aura that Ryoma could no longer understand. For a moment, he couldn't move. He was starting to regret what he had done to him, and to her. Ryoma felt like the bad guy, the villain in a story that he wasn't even a part of.

"I just can't take it anymore," he heard her say before they got in the cab. Ryoma could hear Soichiro's attempt to let him go alone, but Sakuno was persistent on going with him. As the cab drove away, Ryoma's heart sank.

How did it turn out like this?

In the emergency room, Soichiro received first aid for his torn lip and swollen cheek. He was lucky that he didn't get another hit or his nose would have been broken. Sakuno was relieved that he was going to get well in a matter of days, and he didn't need to skip work. It would have been bothersome to Soichiro.

"He can punch real good," he chuckled. Soichiro tried to touch his cheek but it was burning from the pain. He wondered how he would eat in the next few days.

Sakuno sat beside him, looking completely apologetic. She felt guilty for causing trouble to him.

"I'm sorry…" she buried her face in her hands and sighed.

"Ryuzaki-san. Weren't you a bit harsh on Echizen-kun? It was my fault, but you still said those things to him…" he said.

"What? But he hurt you. I can't ignore that. Besides, you didn't do anything wrong, Soichiro-kun,"

"He didn't do anything wrong, either. But he's the one suffering the most,"

"W-What?" Sakuno thought for a moment. It seems she can't understand what he was trying to say. It was bad, right? Getting punched in the face for something nonsense?

"I need to apologize to him,"

"No, I should be the one to talk to him. I'll take care of it so please get better soon. Ryoma-kun has always been hot headed but I can fix this," Sakuno smiled in hopes to comfort her friend. But Soichiro wasn't convinced. It was bad enough causing a rift between the couple, but to let her think that he wasn't at fault was worse.

"You might feel differently now, but as a guy myself, I understand why he was upset. So, try to understand him a little more,"

Sakuno sat beside him, a heavy sigh escaped her lips. It was her anger that made her say those things to him. Now that she thought about it, maybe she intended to hurt him as hard as he had hurt her friend. She couldn't help it, Soichiro was a friend she treasured. But maybe she could have handled the situation differently. The same goes for Ryoma. And that's the thing that they need to talk about right away.

"Ryuzaki-san. I think you should go to him now. I can manage on my own from here. Thank you very much for the help, and I'm sorry," He didn't want to keep her any longer, so he forced her to leave even though he would probably need help to go home. But it was the right thing to do.

He's going to have to apologize to Ryoma in person if there is ever a chance for them to meet.

"Are you sure?" she asked in a worried tone.

"Yes. So, please go," He flashed a smile and waved goodbye to her. As he watched her leave hurriedly, Soichiro felt a heavy weight in his heart. The guilt was only growing tremendously as time went by.

As Ryoma walked along the dark streets, he was beginning to feel the throbbing pain on his arm. He found a small ramen shop that was the only one open for twenty-four hours. So, he sat on the ground, as he needed light to see how his wrist was doing.

Bad.

He looked at his knuckles and realized that it was purple. His wrist was now swollen from the impact of his punch. He has never done that before, and he was surprised at his own strength. But even though it looked painful, he felt nothing inside.

He knew he needed to get to the hospital now, but exhaustion was starting to take a toll on his body. Being only recovering from his sudden hospitalization in America, his body was not yet fully healed. He couldn't possibly walk any longer.

It was as if he was paralyzed from everything that happened over the past twenty four hours. He leaned on the wall behind him and started banging his head over and over again until he could feel the pain. Regrets and frustration swirled in his mind, and he hoped that he could just die.

"Who's banging on my shop at this hour?!" An old lady opened the sliding door and Ryoma fell on her feet. He blinked at the sight of the old lady who looked a lot like someone he knew.

"C-Coach?"

Is this a dream? Is she really in front of me?

"Oh my! Your hand seems to be broken! You need to get to a hospital! Dear me, I need to help you right now!" The old lady hurriedly locked her shop and with her purse, she dragged him and they got into a taxi. All that time, Ryoma was speechless. He was only staring at the lady, and she seemed to be ignoring him completely.

When they got to a hospital far from the city, Ryoma and the old lady sat on the bench as they waited for their turn. Since a few patients who had worse injuries were priorities, Ryoma can only wait patiently. He slowly regained the strength to sit up and drink a bit of water.

"What were you doing outside my shop? Don't tell me you were going to rob me!" The old lady frowned at him. Given his getup (a black hoodie and black mask) anybody could assume that he was a thief.

"Why would I do that? Don't you know me?" He removed his hood and revealed his dark green locks. Then, he pulled off his mask. The old lady stared at him suspiciously, studying his face.

"What? Are you some kind of actor? That can't be. You're handsome, but not tall enough to be an actor," She put on a sour face.

"Eh?"

"Ya heard me, champ,"

Ryoma studied her closely. It was impossible that a random old lady would look exactly like the coach AND roasts him like she does. The old lady stared at him questioningly.

"You really do look like her. You sound like her, too,"

"Who are you talking about?"

"Sumire, my coach from middle school. She's gone,"

"Oh… Sorry for your loss,"

"You look like her," he laughed at his amusement.

"Hai, hai. I'm Sumire. Let's pretend I'm her, yeah?"

"Okay," he smiled in satisfaction.

As time passed by, more patients were called into the doctor's room. Ryoma was beginning to feel sleepy and exhausted from his flight, his hospitalization in America, and he hasn't had dinner yet. His head was bobbing, resisting the urge to sleep. The old lady noticed this, so she lent her shoulder to him. As his head landed on it, Ryoma leaned onto her comfortably.

"You're like my grandson," she looked at his bittersweet smile. Ryoma looked peaceful, but she could see the tiredness on his face.

"It seems like you've been through a lot,"

"Hn. Not that much,"

"What happened to your arm?"

"Oh, I… nothing. I punched a wall,"

"It looks bad. What do you do for a living?"

"I'm a tennis player,"

"Oh, damn. Your career is over!" She gasped at his reply, and the prince was pissed off at her harsh words.

"Don't say that!" He couldn't believe how naughty the old lady was being. He raised his head and frowned at her.

"Echizen Ryoma-sama?" His name was called. Ryoma stood up and waved goodbye to the old lady.

"Thanks for taking me here. You don't need to wait for me,"

"Okay, then. Take care!" She watched as he was ushered to the doctor's room.

"You should take a break from tennis and let your wrist heal. Also, you can't keep taking such anti-depressant pills. It's caused you problems in your stomach, right? I suggest you take time to let your mind heal completely. It's the only way you can get back to your hundred percent," The doctor said. Ryoma nods in agreement, but his mind was in a daze so he couldn't completely digest the information.

"For now, let's do some first aid on your wrist and some pain killers. Echizen-kun, please take better care of your mind and body," he added.

"Hai. Thank you, doctor," he grabbed the prescriptions that the doctor made, and he was finally released with his wrist bandaged.

Ryoma was guided back to the waiting area and to his surprise, the old lady was still there.

"You didn't go yet?"

"Well, I had to make sure you were doing alright! Now, are you hungry? I make the best ramen in town!" The old lady smiled proudly at him, and without waiting for his reply, Ryoma was once again dragged back to her ramen shop.

How did it turn out like this?

Thinking that Ryoma hadn't had dinner yet, she prepared a bowl of ramen for him and sat together. She rested her chin on her palm as she observed the poor boy's reaction. For Ryoma, it was the tastiest food he had ever had since he flew back to Japan. It is without a doubt the best ramen in town.

"It's good," he complimented.

"I'm glad!" She beamed. "So, what did the doctor say?"

"He said I had to quit tennis and focus on therapy,"

"Oh dear. That can't be good. But will you?"

"I don't know,"

The old lady frowned at him. She was skeptical of Ryoma's decisiveness in his life. Even though they only met that night, it was as if she already knew what kind of man he is. And if she even had at least one grandchild, it would certainly be like this.

"Don't you want to rest, though? You can travel the world, date someone then marry her, have kids,"

"I already did those things,"

"Eh? You're married? You have kids?"

"No kid,"

"But why didn't you call your wife to come to the hospital?"

He paused, watching the onion chives swim across the ramen soup.

"She's… somewhere else with someone else,"

"Eh? That's sad! You're not bad to look at, I guess she doesn't like you anymore! Don't worry, you can stay here for as long as you want,"

"I have a house, you know. I'm not a lost kitten,"

"You do look like a kitten!" The old lady seemed so fond of him that Ryoma felt a sense of familiarity to her. It was comforting. He continued to eat the ramen while she watched him. She wondered how young people view marriage today? Wasn't it the young people who are proactive in dating these days? Why does this guy in front of him seem to be through his whole life?

"Can I ask you a question, old lady?" he asked.

"It's Umi," She said.

"Ah, grandma Umi… What do you do if you're losing everything you've worked for your whole life?" He looked down on his food. He wasn't used to asking for help from anyone, but it seemed easier with a stranger.

"Well… let go of the things that weigh on your mind. Let go, so you will feel lighter," she smiled warmly.

"But I can't just do that," He thought about Sakuno, and his tennis career. Looking at his bandaged arm, Ryoma knew that it would only be a matter of time before his career ends, and then what? He was afraid to know the answer.

"I don't think you have a choice. Instead of getting hurt, choose the path that frees you from it," She crossed her arms over her chest, as if she had just given the most helpful advice of her life.

Ryoma thought hard about what to do after dinner. He stayed in Umi's shop the whole night. He didn't want to go home knowing that Sakuno would be there. He didn't have any will left to even walk. So, Umi offered an extra room upstairs that her son previously owned before moving out. But even though the bed was warm and soft, Ryoma couldn't get a good night's sleep.

His mind was restless.

He thought about how to protect Sakuno from being the subject of the rumors again. He recalled in the past how she dealt with the media resulting in their separation. He didn't want that to happen again, but this was an entirely different situation now. Hearts and minds that were once one, were now worlds apart from understanding each other. He figured he should do one last thing for her before everything ends. In fact, with the idea he had, he could kill two birds with one stone.

Ryoma sat up and contacted his manager.

"Don't announce my withdrawal from the tournament. I'll be going after all," he didn't wait for Kawazu's reply before he ended the call.

"Ryoma-kun, are you sure about this? I mean… It's working. The issue is slowly dying down since you rejoined the tournament. But are you going to be okay?" The worried manager carried a box of Ponta for Ryoma, who was currently flexing his hands as warm up.

Ryoma was confident he could play with one hand. He had always done it, and he always won.

"Of course. Don't you know me?" He smirked at him before walking over to grab a can of Ponta. He gulped the whole content and then he was ready. The claps and yells of the audience was heard throughout the stadium, and though he didn't care about them, Ryoma felt a bit inspired.

"I can't watch," Kawazu sighed in frustration. He sat on the bench and prayed to God for Ryoma's safety.

"Sorry I'm late," a voice behind him said. Kawazu turned around and saw Tezuka Kunimitsu in his usual jersey.

"T-Tezuka-san! Why are you here?"

"You don't remember the favor you asked of me? I'm here to help Echizen heal,"

"Thank you… but he insisted on playing. I couldn't stop him at all. Would it be bad if we let him go on?"

"There's no use stopping him because he'd still do it. Even with an eyepatch on his eye, he never let it stop him," Tezuka almost smiled at the memory, but the manager didn't seem to know about that since he looked bewildered.

"Eh…"

"Let's support him, and see where his determination could take him,"

Ryoma's first match started. Of course, playing with one hand was a piece of cake for him, and since his opponent was a bit below his level, he had no problem hitting the balls back. The audience were rooting for him, and Manager and Tezuka were pleased at the kind of play he was displaying. He was light on his feet!

But it just wasn't in his cards today. His stomach was acting up again, and it was preventing him from moving from one point to another quickly.

As long as I can hit it, I will hang in there.

Pok!

He hits the ball back, the opponent hits it back to him.

Pok!

The same thing happened again. It remained that way for a whole minute, but each time, the opponent would adjust the distance to where the ball would land. Inches to inches, Ryoma realized he was beginning to have a hard time reaching for it.

One more point and it's his win.

The opponent was desperate. He lobbed the ball high enough to make Ryoma stumble to the baseline and fail to reach it. No one else knew about his wrist, so he was surprised by his strategy.

There was no other choice. He knew he would have to use his left hand sooner or later. Maybe it was too soon.

Tezuka and Manager saw Ryoma switching hands and jumped to reach for the ball.

"No, he said he wasn't going to use his left hand!" Kawazu gasped.

"Echizen is desperate," Tezuka commented as he watched the scene unfold before him.

Ryoma's racket managed to reach for the ball and smashed it on the opponent's baseline.

"Game and match, Ryoma Echizen!" The crowd went wild as he kneeled on the ground, panting.

At that moment, his childhood days flashed in his mind. The earliest memory he had was when his father would teach him how to properly hold a racket, and how to hit a ball. It was the most fun he had until his life became more professional. In middle school, he was one of the few who were gifted, and though he was confident in his own strength, there were others who were far more talented than he was. But still, he had fun with his friends.

After that, he worked hard nonstop to become a professional tennis player in the world. There were setbacks and problems, but he pushed through and made it to the final court. For him, this is probably the last time he could set foot in the court, but it was worth it. He had done his best without regrets, with all of his power to return that ball and win the first match. He was content enough to walk out of there with dignity.

Nobody said congratulations to him. Instead, the staff were worried about his arm as he held it tightly. He was visibly in pain, and Tezuka ordered them to call an ambulance. Memories of his own injury came crashing to him. He watched Ryoma wince in pain as the people around them prepared everything he needed to be transported to the hospital. Manager gathered his things and waited for the ambulance to arrive.

He felt responsible for allowing Ryoma to play even though he wasn't in good condition.

"Echizen. Are you satisfied?" Tezuka asked. Ryoma looked up at him, confused by his question.

"What?"

"Are you satisfied with your play?"

"Yes,"

"Good. Then you'll have no regrets before you leave. It will be a long journey to healing, but I'll be here for you," He wrapped a wet towel on Ryoma's arm and held it firmly, showing his unwavering support for the prince.

"What do you mean?" He asked him. It was the end of the line for him, right?

"You've served your purpose as a pillar of support for everyone. You were the children's support, and our inspiration. Isn't it natural that we do the same for you? I will help you stand up once again. This time, heal everything inside you that's been hurting, and soon you'll be able to come back to your true self,"

Ryoma could feel the tears falling from his eyes as he felt the sincerity of the captain's words. He really hated to cry in front of others. But he couldn't help it, there was so much to his words that made him feel hopeful and depressed at the same time. It would mean he'll leave behind everything. But at this point, he was going to let fate take over his life one more time.

After winning one match, it was announced that Ryoma will not be participating any longer due to his injury. Tezuka had offered a rehabilitation plan in a facility in Germany where he previously went. Everything was decided without Ryoma saying another word. He was set to go with Tezuka next month.

And news about his blunder overshadowed the issue regarding Sakuno and Soichiro, saving them from harassment.

Manager Kawazu was doing some work on his laptop. Arranging plane tickets, paperwork, and official statements on social media is quite taxing for him, but it was part of his job, after all. As he composed a statement for the prince, Kawazu couldn't help but realize why Ryoma did it. He used himself to divert the world's attention, making him the target for criticism instead. For the longest time that he had been working with Ryoma, Kawazu couldn't help but admire him more for his courage and selflessness.

At last, he was able to protect her.

It's been days since the incident, and Sakuno hadn't seen or talked to Ryoma at all. She cried at night on the days he wasn't home, wondering if he ate, or slept peacefully.

When she got the news that Ryoma had been injured in a tournament, Sakuno wanted to go and see him, see if he's okay. But she resisted the urge. Following the incident, she convinced herself not to give in. She values her own pride and feelings now. Maybe she was wrong, too. But if she kept on running back to him, how would he realize her worth? Sometimes, absence can teach a person a lot of things, and she hoped Ryoma would somehow see that.

She couldn't do anything but pray for his safety. News about him quickly went viral and soon, people forgot about the video of her and Soichiro. People would talk about Ryoma and his downfall. It hurts to hear those things, but Sakuno couldn't do anything for him anymore.

When she was alone, Sakuno had the time to contemplate over things. One night, she walked endlessly to a street that she doesn't know of. Her mind was full of thoughts of Ryoma. She wondered what to do since she felt that there was no hope for it. He was probably still under the impression that there was something going on between her and Soichiro, but there was no chance to clear it up to him anymore. Ryoma refused to go home or even answer her messages.

She walked and walked until she saw a twenty hour ramen shop.

Since she was already a bit hungry, Sakuno went inside for a bowl of ramen.

"Welcome!" An old lady greeted her. Sakuno was taken aback by the resemblance the old lady had with her late grandmother.

"Y-You–"

"I know, I look a lot like other people. Sit down,"

Sakuno scratched her head before complying. She realized it would be weird to tell her that she looks like a family member who passed away, so she dismissed the thought.

"I'd like a tonkotsu ramen, please," She sat on one of the chairs and watched the old lady happily prepare her food.

She looks and moves like grandma…

"You look tired, dear,"

"Eh? How can you tell?"

"I can feel it! So, what's the problem? You can tell a stranger, I've been giving advice all day!" The old lady beamed at her.

Sakuno sighed. Well, she's been in a house alone for days. It wouldn't hurt to talk to a stranger about her thoughts or she would just go crazy.

"My world is falling apart. I don't know what to do," she rested her chin on her hand.

"Let go of the things that no longer benefit you, no longer make you a better person," The old lady turned around and looked at her.

"Keep the ones that matter," she added.

"I guess you're right," Sakuno found it made sense, after all. But what would she give up? That was what she wanted to know. What were the things that mattered to her? And what are those that causes her misery?

"Eat this and you'll know what to do. That's what happened to a fellow I met last week. He was probably a homeless thief or something. But I helped him get back on his feet," She proudly laughed at her statement, and Sakuno chuckled at how adorable she was.

Sakuno enjoyed the food as Umi watched her eat. It made her feel good to help people who were miserable with their lives. She hoped that they could realize the answers to their troubles and find a solution where everyone can be happy.

Sakun got home, fully expecting that she would still be alone. But she was greeted with a man sitting by the sofa, looking serious and tense. Ryoma returned from the tournament. Sakuno could see the bandage on his arm, and she remembered that it was the hand he punched Soichiro with.

He stood up, seemingly welcoming ang waiting for her to sit.

Sakuno realized he had come back to give the both of them a chance to talk about everything, probably for the last time. Sakuno wondered why she felt that it would be the last time? Her hands were sweating as she took a seat across from him.

She faced him, and for the longest time, they looked into each other's eyes without much emotion. Ryoma looks and feels like a stranger to her now. She couldn't understand it, but it was what he emanated.

"Tell me what's on your mind. I'll listen," were the first words he uttered after weeks of absence.

Sakuno hesitated. She was afraid he would not accept her side of the story. She was worried nobody would understand her troubles. But still, she has to try, right?

She swallowed, before starting.

"For the past few days, I waited for your return, and I was thinking carefully about what to say. Millions of reasons clouded my mind, and I wasn't sure if I could say everything. But facing you, I realized all I really want you to know is… I love my job,"

He nodded. It has always been clear to him.

"...and I can't let anything or anyone destroy it. This is my dream," she held her hands together, praying for her words to reach his understanding, and for her to be able to convey her feelings properly.

"But it'd be hypocritical of me to say that I didn't do anything wrong. Because I have been too engrossed with working, I didn't realize how much I was neglecting you and our family. I'm sorry for my shortcomings,"

Ryoma looked down on his feet and nodded. He promised not to say a word, and kept listening.

"Then, it's your turn to talk," her voice came softly, and quietly.

"It's just holding on to things that matter the most. I understand," he said.

Sakuno wasn't sure what was on his mind, and how he took her words. But if he says that he understood her, would it be true? Or is it because he wanted them to make amends?

"Thanks,"

"Then I honestly hope you reach that dream no matter what,"

"Thank you, Ryoma-kun. Tell me what's on your mind so I can understand you more," she wanted to approach him and sit closer, but the atmosphere was so heavy that neither of them moved at all.

"Nothing much. Oh, I'm not going to continue with tennis after all," he finally informed her.

"Oh, then… you can return after you heal, right?"

"Maybe, maybe not. But on a lighter note, no one's harassing you, right?"

Sakuno had eventually realized what Ryoma intended to achieve, like pieces of a puzzle. She was able to reconnect everything. But the more that he talked, the less she understood. Why would he sacrifice tennis for her? Was doing all of those worth it?

"Why…?"

She wanted to cry.

"I promised to do everything for you, didn't I?" There was pain in his smile but in his mind, he was truly glad to be able to talk to her about everything. And even if it would cost him everything, at least he stayed true to her. That's what matters to him.

"But why are you giving up on your dream, and I get to keep mine?" Sakuno didn't stop herself from tearing up anymore. She could keep the life she wanted, but she was also losing Ryoma. Why does it hurt this much?

"I don't regret it. I gave it my all, and that was what matters to me. I did that until I can say that I've done everything in my power. Though I didn't win all the way, there's still something that came out of it," he smiled sincerely as he clutched his bandaged wrist carefully.

"I see," she could only agree with his words. Unable to think anymore, Sakuno gave up and let him decide for himself. She excused herself before heading inside the bedroom. Ryoma sighed in relief. At least he got to hear her side. Then, if that was the final step, he supposed he should go ahead and bid farewell.

Sakuno sobbed silently as she leaned on the closed door. Not even the moon can bring light into the room. She tried her best to wipe off tears and forced herself to stop crying so she could face him again. He still hasn't told her everything. He still hasn't told her about what he hated about her, and the things he wanted to change about her so they can still be together.

She heard a soft knock on the door.

"Sorry I can't stay for long. I came to give you this," he slid the envelope under the door. Sakuno picked it up and because the lights were off, she didn't bother to read it. But Ryoma continued to speak.

"I'm moving out as soon as possible. I leave this house under your name,"

What?

No, it can't be. Am I hearing it right?

Sakuno was paralyzed. She begged her legs to stand up and move, begged her arms to open the door and stop him, but she felt lifeless for the first time. As if a part of her wanted to let him go.

"I'm sorry for wasting your time on me," his voice was weak and sorrowful, but on the other side of the door, he kneeled down and was picturing what kind of face Sakuno was making right now. Is she crying or is she angry, like that night?

Ryoma nods to himself as he concludes his visit. He stood up and left without another word. Even though the night was colder than ever, he didn't bother to wear his jacket and didn't try to mask his identity. A few passersby saw him, some even recognized him. But he didn't care. Nothing else mattered.

He was going to start over from scratch, together with Captain Tezuka and Manager Kawazu, who swore to be with them until he returned.

Even if he loved her very much, he couldn't live with himself knowing that he was the reason for her troubles and crushing down her dreams.

He hoped for the day when he could accept that he wasn't the right person to be with her.

An hour passed before she had calmed herself down. Sakuno slowly opened the door and as light gradually illuminated her, she finally saw what was in the envelope, as well as the things he left by the door.

She pulled out the papers and saw the divorce papers that Ryoma himself had acquired, signed, and stamped. On the floor laid a bankbook in her name, and his wedding ring.

Her whole body collapsed as it dawned on her that it was truly over.

To be continued.

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Bonus:

At the reception, it was time for their first dance. As the lights dimmed, the bride and groom made their way in the middle of the reception hall, and then the music started.

Ryoma leaned his cheek on Sakuno's, and he felt how warm her face was. He held her waist with both hands, as if he never wanted to let go. Sakuno wrapped her arms around her neck, caressing his hair at the back of his head. It felt magical and comfortable.

"Ryoma-kun… let's stick together forever. Let's love each other even when we hate each other, hold my hand when I want to leave, even when we're old and wrinkly,"

Ryoma chuckles at her whispers. It sounded funny, but he was thinking the same thing. Before the song ended, he kissed her forehead and whispered back "Forever."