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

Christmas Eve

A/N: Oh my god!!! Oh my god!!! I really don't want to end it but it's coming soon. This isn't the last chapter, it's like what my title of the chapter is... A chapter before Christmas... A chapter before a new beginning. I'll be writing a side story about Tezuka as the main character. I hope you read it, too! I'll tell you the title at chapter 20. That story intersects with this story...
....

Ryoma POV:

I was already home and my sickness doesn't bother me that much already for months but I haven't seen our Captain playing with us anymore after they all went home when they visited the mansion for the first time and when I asked my grandfather, Shuichiro to build an indoor tennis court to also help me in my health.

I was practicing with Sakuno, Atobe Keigo and my team inside our indoor tennis court that Christmas eve when I asked Vice Captain Fuji about Captain Tezuka, yes, Fuji Syusuke has been the new Vice Captain in my highschool year, not Oishi-senpai. He only answered me with a sad smile.

I just realized this when I finally got over my PTSD even there are still several attacks. I had my tournaments with them afterwards.

I ran after Sakuno when I accidentally strikes the racket hard at her and the ball painfully hits her waist. I know that I've been thinking too much lately.

"Are you alright?" I asked, worried.

Sakuno blushes, the blush which makes me blush, too. "Mou, Ryoma-kun!!!! What were you thinking with that last shot?"

I looked around and sighed, "I know that it's my birthday and I invited lots of those who wanted to play with us like Kirihara.., well.., he's in our clan. Even I don't want to invite him, I have to. My grandfathers would beat me if I don't."

When she looked at me, I know she had sad eyes. Vice Captain Fuji already answered my question, "Tezuka can't come for your birthday nor the Intraschool Tournaments. You'd know the truth, soon. First of, it's your birthday. Tezuka won't want you acting like that. Think about your future first."

"I know that but...."

In an instant, I was asked to attend one of my grandpa, Dr, Jiroh's meetings in his office upstairs by one of my butlers and grandpa's secretary.

I answered Secretary Takanayori, "Do I really have to attend?"

Secretary Takanayori bowed at me and said, "Young Master, it's the future of the corporation with which they will discuss. An heir of a Corporation should attend if the President wanted you to attend."

"We'll wait here, Ochibi!!!" Eiji-senpai said.

I sighed, "Alright, I'm coming," I told him as I and Atobe Keigo join Secretary Taka.
...

When we reached the auditorium already, I know that I felt very nervous since it's my first time to attend an important meeting. When I looked around, there was an empty seat near a white screen and in front of all the representatives of our clan and all the business partners of my grandfather. I'm sixteen and I have to do this?

Likewise, I know I have to act older. Atobe Keigo carried it more than me since he already knows it long before.

When I already sat down, I looked at everyone and somehow, I felt there's something or someone missing. I knew quickly that Tezuka-senpai isn't here, so, I asked Grandpa Shuichiro, "Where's Tezuka Kunimitsu-senpai?"

I know they all heard me but they started to chatter by themselves, saying things like 'Why isn't he informed yet' and 'Why doesn't he know?'.

Grandpa Shuichiro smiled at me and told me, "You'll be informed later, Ryoma about your trusted butler. For now, we have to discuss about your future as today is your birthday."