Fly (Keishin Ukai) - COMPLETED

8 - Grandad

To Ukai:

Ukai I'm sorry I had to leave. My grandad needed some help with a few things; I know the way by public transport so no need to worry! Tell the boys I said good luck; they've got this!

Yuki reread her message over and over, and the guilt she felt had not disappeared. It was a lie, she knew that, and he probably did as well, but she did not want to burden him with her problems. The team had been working hard for the Inter - Highs, and it would be wrong of her to distract them, they needed to stay focused if they wanted to win. She wiped away her last tears before giving two knocks on the door in front of her. There was one thing she did not lie about; she was going to her Grandad's house. Her foot tapped nervously on the floor as Yuki waited, she did not know why she had gone to him exactly, but she did know if she went home her parents would cause a fuss, which is the last thing she wanted. Her Grandad was fairly laid back, and she felt that would be what she needed.

"Hello, and what do I owe the visit?" her Grandad smiled fondly towards Yuki, who nervously chuckled, her eyes averting his. He looked closely at his granddaughter, his eyes may have been getting worse with old age, but even he could see her puffy red, tear-stained cheeks. "Come on in. I'll put on some tea." Yuki was glad he had not questioned her so quickly. She followed behind, a gentle smile forming on her face as her shoulders relaxed.

The two stayed in comfortable silence for a while as they had their tea. Yuki relaxed, and her tears stopped, but she still did not make eye contact with her grandfather.

"Do you want to tell me what's wrong?" He broke the silence. Yuki nibbled on her bottom lip as her eyes stared into her half-empty cup. She knew he needed some sort of answer, but she did not want to talk about it.

"C-can I s-stay for a-a f-few days?" Silence rang out, and she could feel his eyes on her. Slowly, she glanced up to see his bushy grey eyebrows furrowed together. "Please?" he nodded as if thinking of what to reply as he took the seat beside Yuki.

"Alright," he finally answered after a moment of stillness, "but you need to help me rearrange upstairs. I never liked how it looked, and if I do it alone, I think my back will give out!" Yuki chuckled at his answer. He was always cheeky - Yu got much of his personality from their Grandad - and relaxed. He knew she did not want to talk about the situation, so he would not make her do so, and she was grateful.

"Of course I-I will h-help," she replied with a smile.

"Perfect, we'll get started first thing in the morning!" He ruffled her hair and stood on, a beat in his step, causing her to huff a laugh.

"A-also," she suddenly called out after him, he stopped and turned to face her. "Can y-you tell m-mum and dad t-that you a-asked m-me to h-help and y-you need m-me to stay a-a few d-days." Her Grandad's head tilted to the side as he watched her curiously. She was so different, but he ensured to treat her no differently like her parents did. He always teased Yuki and joked with her no matter how she felt. Even when she was little and got mad or upset, he would tease her, and she would storm off to her bedroom, arm crossed over her chest and lips pouted, but he would simply laugh. Over time, she got used to his humour, and she found not much would affect her. She grew a hard skin and found a way to laugh off most things. But now, with how she was, it was finally the time to change, just a little.

"Volleyball is a game you can't win alone," he started, his voice gentler than usual. Yuki looked up, "the only time you can get a point alone is when serving, but that is also the only time you are by yourself. If you touch the ball more than once you lose the point and no matter how many times you try, you will continue losing points until you lose the game. If you have a team around you who want the same thing as you, then use them so you can win."