9 Games To Love

Chapter 8: Day Out With Tezuka

Saturday

08/16 8:00 AM

Tokyo, Tezuka Household

After the awkward meeting between the two youngsters of the two families, Mrs. Tezuka ushers Phoebe and Kunimitsu out of the house with a list of groceries to buy for dinner and some extra money from Kunimitsu's father, urging the bespectacled boy to take his companion around Tokyo. It is then that the young Tezuka learns about Phoebe's blindness, answering some of the questions he had about her odd playing style.

Tezuka is now dressed in more decent outing clothes: a pair of beige pants, a light blue collar shirt, and a thin dark blue sweater over a pair of black tennis shoes. Walking next to him is Phoebe in a large red, white, and blue Fila sweater that covers down to her knees, black tights, and a pair of white tennis shoes. Crossing her chest down to her hip is a small purse. Phoebe's hair is pulled into a high ponytail. The boy continues to give the shorter girl besides him side glances, taking in her features only to snap out when she chimes up.

"I can feel you staring, Tezuka-san. Is there something on my face?"

Tezuka quickly replies and turns away, a light pink tint on his cheeks, "Ah no. Nothing."

Phoebe can tell that the older youth have questions, so she grants him the chance, "If you have a question Tezuka-san, please feel free to ask."

After a moment of contemplating, Tezuka complies, "I apologize if I am too intrusive, but...were you born blind?"

Phoebe continues walking in silence. There was no reason for her to hesitate, but Phoebe still doesn't like talking about the incident. It brought back bad memories. Even so, American raised girl decides to tell Tezuka anyway; she has an unexplainable feeling that Tezuka wouldn't judge or pity her.

"I lost my sight in a car accident when I was seven."

"...I see," is Tezuka's only response.

The two continue their path to the supermarket to buy ingredients for dinner. Once they made it into the store, Phoebe claps twice and picks up a basket to collect food. Phoebe then asks the older boy to tell her the ingredients. Throughout the time at the market, Phoebe would hear murmurs from other shoppers about how she and Tezuka are "a cute couple" or "so adorable". Both teens turn away from the comment and continue with their quest, yet the comments didn't leave their minds and are stuffed in the back of their minds.

As the pair come upon the fruit section, Phoebe begins her search for good strawberries. The stoic captain follows behind the petite lady in silence as Phoebe mentally lists off the ingredients for the dessert she will be making for the Tezukas as a thank you for hosting her and her grandfather for the day. It is interesting to watch the blind girl being so resourceful in using her other senses, mostly smell and touch, to select the fruits. Once Phoebe finally finishes her own list, the teens make their way to the cashier to pay for the food. Walking out of the store, Phoebe insists she helps Tezuka with the bags, but the silent boy is stubborn as steel; not letting her help him. Phoebe pouts as they return to the Tezuka house. After dropping the groceries with Mrs. Tezuka, the woman rushes the young pair out of the house once more, addressing the fact that this is Phoebe's first time in Tokyo and Kunimitsu should show her around. The megane reluctantly agrees and leads the girl to some of his favorite spots in the city.

Along the tour, Kunimitsu and Phoebe reveal to each other some of their interests. Kiyoko (Phoebe) talks about why she moved to Japan and Kunimitsu in return gives his condolences. The emerald green-eyed foreigner learns that Kunimitsu is the captain of his school boys tennis and in return, Phoebe tells him that she is a regular on the Rikkaidai team. The two internally hope to see each other on court again. Phoebe mentions her love for sweets, artificial and natural; in which Tezuka notes to take her to the cafe he often goes to. Phoebe then animatedly shares about her "babies" - which Tezuka raises an eyebrow at; her Labrador Retriever and her German Shepherd. This fuels Tezuka's curiosity and asks Phoebe why they aren't with her. The blind player smiles and says that they had to stay back for a check up, but are moving to Japan soon. Facts are shared throughout the stroll and Tezuka finds the younger girl pleasant to hold a conversation with. Phoebe is not only intellectual in subjects about tennis (which Tezuka is satisfied about because he got most of his questions about the female Barnes's style answered), but also outside of tennis. The two discover that they enjoy reading and hiking. Phoebe is quite surprised at how well the older male is able to converse and understand English as the pair had to help a lost foreigner who only spoke English.