Tezuka Kunimitsu has a sister who chases after a dream to become a professional ballerina in Germany. However, fate is playing game with her - leaves her with no choice but to abandon her dream and return to her homeland. She goes back to the abando...
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Watching Seigaku's farewell for their captain was nothing short of ridiculous. Kunimitsu would only be gone for the summer, yet his teammates acted like they'd never see him again. Momoshiro Takeshi, in particular, had been sobbing since the sibling showdown between Kunimitsu and Hikari. While their reconciliation had been touching, it was unexpected to see Takeshi so moved by the moment. What surprised Keigo more was Hikari's calm composure—she smiled throughout the entire scene.
The airport announcement for Kunimitsu's flight echoed in the background. Keigo glanced over at Hikari, watching her struggle to hold back her tears. She clenched her fists to her chest, biting her bottom lip as if willing herself to stay strong. After bidding farewell to his teammates, Kunimitsu approached her.
"Take care, Onii-chan... Let's play together again when you return."
"Yeah. I'll see you later, Hikari," replied Kunimitsu. Hikari threw herself on her brother, hugging him tight. Kunimitsu patted her head and said, "Good luck with your Cinderella performance. I'm sorry I can't be there to watch."
"It's okay. Just focus on your recovery, Onii-chan."
"I'll record it for you," Keigo chimed in. "Don't worry."
"I appreciate it, Atobe." Kunimitsu nodded, taking a deep breath. It was clear he had more to say.
"I'll handle it. Don't worry," Keigo responded, reading Kunimitsu's expression. Hikari shot him a confused look, but Keigo only smiled. He understood that leaving without the clarity of people who was behind Hikari's kidnapping-attempt worried him. That aside, Kunimitsu himself had to worried about himself.
"My security?"
"Yes. You'll be on your own in Germany, and I can't risk you being attacked, especially given your condition. Whoever targeted Hikari could come after you too. We still don't know who's behind it," Keigo explained, pulling out a document. "Fudomine's Tachibana approached me after Sanada's report on Hikari's kidnapping attempt. His teammates were in a hit-and-run accident on their way to the Prefectural Match. Fortunately, they only suffered minor injuries, but I decided to dig deeper."
Keigo handed Kunimitsu a CCTV recording. The video showed a car tailing a taxi carrying Kamio Akira and three of his teammates. When the taxi was about to turn, the car accelerated and collided with them, causing the taxi to overturn.
"This..." Kunimitsu muttered, eyes narrowing.
"We're all targets," Keigo said, his fists clenched. "And that includes everyone close to us."
"But going as far as Germany..."
"That's not all," Kunimitsu added after a moment's hesitation. "Someone in Germany informed me that the people who falsely accused Hikari were paid a large sum to get her expelled."
Keigo's eyes widened. "Whoever's behind this has both power and money. It wouldn't be far-fetched to think it's connected to illegal tennis gambling." He pulled a phone from his bag and handed it to Kunimitsu. "In case of an emergency, use this. It's bug-free and has strong reception, even underground. Hold zero to send an SOS."
Kunimitsu flipped the phone over, examining it. "I appreciate it. But why are you going to all this trouble?"
"Because you're my queen's brother," Keigo smirked. "Anyone important to her is important to me."
"If you think this will win my approval, you're mistaken, Atobe."
"You will approve of me, Tezuka. There's no man better suited for her than I am."
Keigo glanced over, noticing the tension in her face. He let out a soft groan before pulling her into his arms.
"Huhu... I already miss him, Keigo... I want him back," she sobbed, clutching his shirt tightly.
Keigo smiled softly, whispering comforting words as he gently stroked her hair. In all his life, he had never seen a sibling bond as strong as Kunimitsu and Hikari's—so close-knit that nothing in this world could break it. Though their personalities were opposites, Keigo was certain that deep down, Kunimitsu was just as sad about the separation as Hikari.
Looking up at the plane flying overhead, Keigo tightened his embrace, silently repeating the same words he had told Kunimitsu.
"I promise I'll take care of her, Tezuka. It's a man-to-man promise. You can count on me."
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author's note
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I'm glad I've finally reached the point where I can mark this story as 'Completed.' Yet, at the same time, there's a sense of melancholy in saying goodbye, knowing this is truly the end of the journey—for now. As for the sequel, I have 11 drafted chapters, but I'm hesitant to release them without fully committing to finishing the project. It's not just about finding the time; I have to admit that the dwindling feedback has affected my motivation, and the fanbase itself seems to be shrinking.
Whether I'll continue in the future or not remains to be seen. But for now, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to all the loyal readers who stuck with me through the highs and lows of this story—those who cast their votes, shared fan art, and left thoughtful reviews.
Thank you. It has truly been an honour if this story brought even a few moments of joy to your day. ❤️
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