Lift Me Back Up (Prince of Tennis Fanfic) (Completed)

Lift Me Back Up

Third PoV

The next day that early morning, Ryoga came back to visit Ryoma but when he returned in the hospital, he was surprised to see his brother, dressed with his white jumpers, crying and holding his own legs while he was alone with him.

Sakuno wasn't there, nor his parents.

Ryoma stopped his tears after noticing his brother and dried it with his own hands.

"Am I going insane, brother? The Echizen Brothers Corporation could not afford a sick man, be their heir!" after that, he cried on his pillow, burying himself into it. Ryoma took the golden necklace on the table and he was trying to hand it over to Ryoga but then, the anger he tried to force down was released by slapping his right cheek, shocking Ryoma.

"Nii..... san?"

"Oshiete, naze wa Ryoma?" his bangs is covering his eyes and his tears flowed down, too at the same time. "What happened to you after we were not all with you? I don't understand your sickness! I may not be in Iwate at that time but I know that what have happened to me in my aunt's place is worse than death itself. I am also older, much much older than you!" he looked at Ryoma and screamed at him, "YOU MUST NOT BECOME A SAKURA RYOMA!!!! BE HUMAN!!!! ACCEPT THAT PAST! IF YOU REMEMBER YOUR MISERABLE PAST, DON'T STRUGGLE!!!! JUST LET IT GO! YOU'RE AN HEIR! YOU ARE ALREADY SAFE! YOU MUSN'T FORGET THAT EVER!!!"

Ryoma was astounded with what he said. Of course, those who were outside, most especially Nanjiroh and Jiroh overheard them. They were about to rush inside to stop Ryoga but then, before they entered Ryoma's room, they heard him say, "I don't deserve that necklace. That is yours alone. We believe in you as the future head of the family. Ryoma, you're an Echizen. A known Tennis Player runs down your veins. You are known to be strong. Don't disappoint me."

Nanjiroh and Jiroh felt happy. With those sharp words comes a kind advice that Ryoma must feel. They found Ryoga hugging his brother while they were still standing. Ryoma was still crying due to his pain.

"I'm afraid, nii-san. I'm afraid being alone," he told his brother.

When he saw that his family was there already, he looked at them angrily. "Why leave him alone?"

Nanjiroh answered, "He was sleeping when I left."

"And I woke up having nightmares, oyaji," he told him. His tears fell on his eyes.

Nanjiroh and Ryoga stared at Jiroh, "How is he, father? Is his condition worse than before?"

Jiroh cleared his throat. "No. His physical health is fine. We just need to keep monitoring him, most of all, give him enough emotional strength. His psychologists prescribed a drug for him if ever the attacks come back. It will help him," he paused for a little while to breathe and sigh, "Ryoma needs to fight his fears, Nanjiroh. In that only way could he be free from his sickness."
...

Sakuno was back at her school. Also, she copies her lectures twice. One for her and one for Ryoma. She still remembers the times that when she visits or sleep in the hospital, she would hear him silently crying or screaming in pain. Her hugs were useless sometimes and it couldn't reach Ryoma.

While they were copying, she began having bittersweet tears making his classmates, friends, and professor to worriedly look at her to calm her down. Of course, she's also hurt.

Her professor in English, Mr. Yoshitake, a man with black eyes and wearing black glasses and long sleeves went beside her and spoke symbollicaly which he knows she'll understand so that she's the only one who will understand, "Sakuno, dry your tears. He won't like you seeing like that. Ryoma might resemble a thorn that kept your hand bleeding but, he's struggling to fight off his own demons. Tears won't help him. Give him light to the right path to reach the true destination to see your stretched hands waiting for him, so he can fully go back to you and for him to come home. He can't afford to be a Sakura Tree. He's still too fragile. You're the one being told to become one."