The Silence In The Dark (Prince of Tennis) ||REWRITE||

Chapter 21

Two weeks went by quickly; Reichi went out with his teammates more often after tennis, going out for ramen or just to the arcade to hang out; sometimes, he went out with just one or two of them. Even meeting up with them on the weekends. Of course, his family spent long nights packing and getting everything moved to return to America. Already having sent large things, like dressers and stands, the couches and chairs had gone a day before their final packing day. As his parents talked to the moving company the day before they were scheduled to leave, he was on his way to Kanagawa, more specifically to a park near Rikkaidai. A park he and his teammates favored going to after practice to decide what they would be doing that day. His eyes caught the figures of his teammates ahead of him on a bridge that crossed a small man-made river in the park. He waved slightly as he walked up to them, greeting them softly.

"Ah! Reichi-kun! So, tomorrow is the big day, eh?" Kirihara said enthusiastically, yet so very sadly, knowing that come next school year, he'll be alone at Rikkaidai. Reichi nodded a bit, getting comfy standing beside Seiichi and Sanada. "Yeah, mom and the old man are finishing up with the moving company right now... Most all of the packing and moving is done besides some odds and ends now..." He mumbled, voice slow and hesitant, making sure he spoke clearly, though that didn't help with the fact he barely was speaking above a whisper. He noticed everyone leaning in just a bit to hear him, Yagyuu straightening a bit and pushing his glasses up his slim nose.

"You're still uncertain when you'll be returning, Echizen-kun?" He asked lightly, back straightening a bit more as he looked at his underclassman. "Mm... No, I wish I did know and was able to... Tell you all when... Uhm... I will be returning... But mom and dad... Still don't really know." He whispered, fidgeting a bit and playing with his thumbs before covering his mouth as he stifled a small yawn. Seiichi, standing beside Reichi to his left, placed a light hand on his head, ruffling his hair up a little. "Hm, you can still keep in contact with us, though; you have our numbers; it'll just be a bit hard with the timezone difference."

Reichi, as usual now, moved into the touch with a very light hum in response. "I hope so.." He slowly looked at his teammates, letting Seiichi keep his hand in place as he smiled. This tiny little, happy smile that none of them had seen before. Lips turned slightly upwards with a slight flush to his young face. "Thank you... For being there when I needed it... The most... I've had a really... Amazing year with all of you... And I really don't want it to end here... But since it kind of has to for now... I'm really glad I met you all..." Kirihara sniffled and dashed forward, pulling the first-year into his arms tightly; Reichi stiffened a bit at the sudden hug before relaxing slowly; a few others, namely Jackal, Marui, and Nio, joined in on the hug, Yagyuu, ever the gentleman, stepped back, standing beside Sanada as Renji took his spot between Seiichi and Sanada. Smiles on all their faces as they watched the five hug.

Though all good things must come to an end, sadly, the hug ended when Reichi's phone rang, making him exhale and wiggle from the hug to answer the call, making a few hums and huffs as the other person talked. "Alright... I'm on my way home now, then, I... Should be back in about an hour or so... Okay, see you then, Ryo..." He slowly hung up and exhaled slowly, looking up at his upperclassman and smiling a bit sadly. "I have to get home now... Uhm... Finish packing... So I... I guess this is goodbye, for now...?" Seiichi stepped forward, offering a comforting touch and hugging the younger boy lightly. "Yeah, this is goodbye for now, Reichi," His captain said gently, slowly stepping back as Reichi nodded and waved to his other upperclassman, slowly walking off. The others shared sad smiles, watching him walk off, only leaving the park once their underclassman was out of sight.

Reichi's thoughts swirled a bit, getting home within an hour and some and helping pack up the remaining boxes of smaller things, mind clouded over with the thoughts of his friends. Friends he was going to be leaving the following day. Friends who had helped him through one of the hardest stages of his life, being in a new country with new people, in a new school without his twin for once, being mute, and regaining his ability to speak. But it was hard. It was difficult and mentally draining, and his friends knew that, knew and respected that, and knew that some days still he struggled with words and some situations he didn't want to speak in. And they never forced him to. They never pushed and shoved him to speak when he couldn't or didn't want to.