When You Smile - Complete

Chapter Sixteen - Fun on the Sand

Chapter Sixteen – Fun on the Sand

The game continued and for fifteen minutes there was no break for either side as they slammed and played their way through to score after score and tricked the other team with strange tactics. Until in the end, Fuji and Sakuno were the winners.

Tezuka held onto the ball he’d just picked up. “We should have made a rule against using our Tennis techniques.” He muttered as Fuji stood up from his Higuma Otoshi pose and turned to face Sakuno for a hi-five.

“Don’t worry about it.” Miyako said. “You can’t win all the time. I mean look at Ryoma-kun.”

Tezuka looked over at the first year who was teamed with Momo against Kaidou and Yori. The boy hadn’t so much as touched the ball – other than the ones who had landed on his head. Tezuka chuckled. “Yes, I suppose.”

While he was momentarily distracted Miyako reached for the ball between his hands and snatched it away, running off down the beach. However she hadn’t bargained on his quick reflexes or feet on the sand. He seemed to catch up with her in an instant and she squealed – unintentionally grabbing the attention of everyone on the beach.

She quickly changed direction, trying to outwit him and run back towards the nets, but he reached out an arm and caught her around the waist to lift her into the air. She dropped the ball due to her laughter, but with the movement her arm collided with the side of his head and she felt the side of his glasses as they slipped off his face.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!”

Tezuka carefully put her down and before bending down to search for the glasses, searched for a moment while standing to avoid looking ridiculous – but before he knew it, Miyako had bent down and picked them up for him.

“Here.” She said softly after wiping them gently on her tank top. “They don’t look scratched or anything.” She added handing them over.

Tezuka took them from her fingers and was about to put them on when Miyako gasped. He looked up at her, though the vision was a little blurred, he noted the pleasantly surprised look on her face. “What’s the matter?”

She shook her head and he could see the slight flush on her cheeks. “Oh, it’s nothing. It’s just that I’ve never seen you without your glasses on before. I didn’t expect that there would be such a difference.”

“And there is?” Tezuka pressed.

“Well…your eyes are lighter than I thought – they’re more honey brown than I assumed before.” Miyako explained, flushing darker.

Tezuka smiled warmly as he placed the glasses back on. “I’d gladly take them off more often but that’s counterproductive to being able to see and walk – without running into things.”

Miyako giggled. “Yeah, I guess.”

“Lunch is served!” Kikuchi announced. “Go to the hall or you’ll miss out!”

The volleyball courts were soon empty as Miyako and Tezuka recovered quickly from their quiet and hardly private moment.

“Miya…I have been doing all that I can…”

She looked up at him and noticed that he could barely look at her.

“And I’m sorry that it looks like I haven’t been – but….I promise you…I’ve been doing all that I can to finally be able to hold your hand without hurting you.” Tezuka said softly. “I beg of you, please, wait just a little while longer.” He looked at her pleadingly. “And I swear to you, your heart won’t ache anymore.”