Ryoma stood at the entrance to the apartment. His trademark cool demeanor masked the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside him; today was the US Open's final.
As he adjusted his grip on his tennis bag, Ryoma's gaze flickered to the horizon, his thoughts a tug-of-war between duty and the precious family he cherished. The air felt charged with anticipation, yet his heart found solace in the warmth of Sakuno beside him, even as she struggled with the weight of her pregnant belly. Their baby was due any day now, and as she reached out, her fingers brushing against his arm, it was a reminder of everything they had built together.
"I'm so sorry I can't go see you play in the finals," Sakuno said, her voice soft but laced with regret. The glow of her smile belied the worry that clouded her eyes.
Ryoma's brow furrowed slightly as he reassured her, "I told you it's okay. Are you going to be alright?" He knelt slightly to meet her gaze, concern etching deeper lines on his youthful face. "It's almost your due."
She inhaled deeply before responding, her expression calming him. "It's going to be okay. Mom and Dad are here too." Her assurance was like a gentle balm, easing the tightness in his chest.
He hugged her tightly, allowing himself a moment to breathe her in, the familiar scent of her floral shampoo enveloping him. "Call me if anything happens," he murmured against her hair, gripping her protective mood fiercely.
Sakuno nodded, her confidence shimmering through her warmth. "Good luck with the match." She leaned forward to kiss his cheek, but just then, an awkward throat-clearing split the moment.
"It's okay to be sweet, but we are here too right now," Shinji said from behind Sakuno, his lips curving into an amused smile. Next to him stood Sayaka, her laughter brightening the mood.
"We show ourselves too soon," Sayaka chuckled, glancing at her daughter with a knowing smile.
With a reluctant smile, Ryoma turned back. "Please take care of Sakuno," he urged, his voice steady, though his heart raced with anxiety about leaving her.
"Don't worry about a thing and just win the match," Shinji replied, placing a reassuring hand on Ryoma's shoulder.
"Yes, just focus on your game," Sayaka added, nodding encouragingly.
With a final nod to both his parents-in-law and Sakuno, Ryoma took a deep breath, the weight of their expectations resting on his shoulders as he stepped away from them. Each step toward the stadium felt heavy, as if pulling him backward, but Sakuno's encouraging smile lingered in the forefront of his mind.
After Ryoma left, Sakuno let herself sank onto the couch, resting her hands on her swollen belly. "How are you feeling? Are you feeling the contractions yet?" Sayaka asked, her motherly instincts taking over.
"It's still irregular," Sakuno replied, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. "Maybe it's not time yet."
Sayaka smiled gently. "That's perfectly fine. The time will come. Just don't forget the breathing techniques I taught you. Relax and focus on the baby."
Sakuno nodded, absorbing her mother's words like sunshine after the rain. The day had its own way of unraveling, each moment strung together like beads on a necklace, and she felt the bond between her and Ryoma grow stronger despite the distance separating them.
Ryoma sat in the waiting room, the bright light overhead casting a halo over his tousled hair. His heart raced, not from the impending match but from a different kind of anticipation that thrummed beneath his skin. Beside him, Kevin couldn't stay still, his brow furrowed with concern.
"Your opponent this time is good with his backhand," Kevin said, his voice a mix of encouragement and worry. He watched Ryoma, who seemed lost in thought. "Hey Ryoma, are you listening?"
Ryoma blinked, shaking off the clouds that had settled in his mind. His gaze remained unfocused, staring into the distance, where the echoes of laughter and shouts from the nearby courts floated like whispers. "Yeah."
Kevin sighed, exasperation mixed with a hint of camaraderie. "Is your head now only full of your wife?"
Ryoma found no words, he couldn't deny that. He felt the familiar pull of worry coiling tightly in his chest. "I can't help it," he finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kevin leaned back, looking ahead. "Don't you worry about your opponent?"
Ryoma shrugged, his expression determined yet detached. "It doesn't matter." For him, the opponent was the less important for him that time.
Kevin squinted at him, considering his friend's words. "I wonder if you will still keep playing after this match," he mused aloud.
Ryoma turned towards him, meeting his gaze. "Who knows?" he said, a shadow of uncertainty crossing his features. Thoughts of his future were tangled with visions of being a father.
Meanwhile, in the apartment, Sakuno hung clothes on the balcony, the gentle breeze ruffling her hair as she worked. In the kitchen, her mother, Sayaka, watched with concern. "Sakuno, I told you to just sit and let me do it."
"It's okay, Mom," Sakuno countered, her smile bright yet strained. "Even the doctor said I need to move around." She could feel the weight of expectation pressing down on her, though the sweet thrill of impending motherhood wrapped around her heart like a warm blanket.
Sayaka sighed, her eyes softening as she observed her daughter's stubbornness. Just then, Shinji entered the room, arms laden with a bag of tangerines. "Come here, Sakuno, I bought some for you," he called, grinning widely.
The doorbell rang, interrupting the lighthearted banter. "I'll go get it," Shinji said before darting out of the room.
As the door opened, Sakuno's heart leaped. There stood Sumire with a smile that could light up the entire room. "It's been so long, right, Sakuno?" she said, her soft voice wrapping around them like a hug.
"Grandma!" Sakuno beamed, her worries slipping away as she rushed forward, enveloping her grandmother in a tight embrace. "I missed you so much!"
"Watch out for your belly," Sumire chuckled, gently patting Sakuno's rounded form. "What a big belly. The baby must be really healthy."
With her grandmother's warm presence filling the room, the worries of the day seemed to fade. She gestured for Sumire to sit, a wave of happiness washing over her as they talked about everything and nothing. The legacy of family filled the air, bringing Sakuno comfort even amidst the chaos of her life.
She then moved with a waddle as she reached for a glass of water. Shinji was sitting on the couch, eyes glued to the television, searching for updates on Ryoma's match, his son-in-law's much-anticipated debut in the professional circuit.
"Is Ryoma's match not started yet?" he asked without looking away from the screen, his fingers expertly clicking through channels in hope of catching a glimpse of his son-in-law's face. Sumire and Sayaka also there, sitting on the same couch, doing their own things.
Sakuno chuckled, "Probably not started yet. It's a long day of matches. There's few matches in a day." She could feel the familiar flutter of anticipation in her chest.
As the thought crossed her mind, an unexpected sensation tugged at her attention. A sudden urgency made its way into her thoughts; she turnedslightly to shuffle off toward the bathroom.
Once inside, she barely had time to settle before a chill clawed through her. She glanced down in dread and disbelief as she saw a small trail of blood running down her leg. Panic surged through her, sharp and unsettling. This was it, the moment she had been both eagerly awaiting and dreaded. With a quick intake of breath, she burst out of the bathroom, her heart racing faster than it had ever in her life.
"Mom!" she called out, her voice shaky. Sayaka sat on the couch immersed in a magazine, but at her daughter's urgency, her head snapped up.
"What is it, Sakuno?" Sayaka's eyes widened, fear blooming on her face.
"I think it's time." Sakuno hardly knew what she was saying, outside of her own panic, she noticed Shinji and Sumire freeze mid-conversation. Sayaka jumped to her feet, urgency replacing the relaxed atmosphere of earlier.
"What's the sign?" Sayaka asked, her tone shifting from shock to focus.
"There's… there's blood," Sakuno managed, trying to steady her wobbling knees as she spoke.
Sayaka gasped, covering her mouth. "It's one of the sign. Sakuno, did you prepare your things?"
"Y-yes. I packed everything just in case," she replied, the natural instinct kicking in, urgency taking precedence over fear. Her thoughts raced a mile a minute. She had envisioned this moment countless times; in her dreams, it had been equally beautiful and terrifying.
"That's good. We should go to the hospital now." Sayaka instructed, her voice now clear and commanding, pulling Sakuno back from the spiraling void of panic and bringing clarity into the chaos.
Later, the fluorescent lights buzzed softly in the small hospital room as Sakuno lay on the crisp white sheets, her breath coming in steady intervals. The rhythmic beeping of the monitor provided an odd comfort, a reminder that she wasn't alone in this moment brimming with anticipation.
"You're doing great, Mrs. Echizen." her doctor encouraged, gently examining her progress. "You're already four centimeters dilated. We'll admit you now." Sakuno's heart raced with excitement and anxiety, the thought of meeting her child soon overwhelming her senses. Shinji, Sayaka and Sumire looked each other with the obvious worried faces.
Meanwhile, the Echizen residence was cloaked in an air of utter chaos, though from the outside, it appeared deceptively calm. Nanjiro lay sprawled on the couch, half-heartedly skimming through a newspaper filled with sports headlines. Hidden beneath it, a magazine featuring scantily clad models beckoned him, a guilty pleasure he tried to keep secret.
"Nanjiro! Answer the phone." Rinko's voice cut through the silence like a knife. He didn't even flinch at her commanding tone, too engrossed in pretending he was the model husband who kept his interests pristine. Seconds ticked by before Rinko peered over the back of the couch, her eyes narrowing.
Nanjiro sheepishly moved the newspaper to his side, stammering, "R-Rinko…"
With a swift motion, Rinko knocked on his head with the rolled-up newspaper, sending him into a mini-panic mode. "Pick up the phone or I'll burn all your magazines."
"Ouch!" he exclaimed, clutching his head in mock pain. "No, not my treasures!" The urgency in her voice sent a rush of adrenaline through him, and he finally reached for the ringing phone.
"Nanjiro speaking!" he said into the receiver, his jovial tone replaced by unexpected seriousness. As the voice on the other end relayed the news, his expression shifted from casual indifference to complete shock.
"Rinko!" he called out, practically flying into the kitchen where she was mixing ingredients with practiced ease. "It's Sakuno-chan! She will deliver soon."
Rinko turned around, her face a mixture of surprise and disbelief. "Eh?"