The Unfamiliar Player | Kei Tsukishima

18 (十八): America

5/8/2020 (1 Day)

She watched as he ran up the hill, she watched as she kept going further and further away from him. But she turned and faced forward, not wanting to look back- it was like a false hope that she'll see him again. Out of all the guys that liked her, why couldn't she have him?

Did she do something wrong? To whoever looked after her, why couldn't they let fate give them a happy ending? Why couldn't fate bring them together?

She watched as she looked at the buildings and trees that passed her, she sighed and pulled out her phone. Taking a couple pictures of the scenery, she frowned, it was still dark outside. After a couple of moments of looking outside, she realized that she didn't even take any pictures of the memories she had- she didn't have a picture of Kei. Clicking onto her contacts, she hesitated and stared at his contact. Beanstalk.

Clicking her phone off, she turned her attention back onto the scenery and drifted off to sleep before being woken up by her father that they arrived at the airport. Pulling her suitcase out and putting on her bag, she walked with her parents as they put their luggage aside and walked through security as they finally reached the terminal they needed to be in.

"Did you buy that sweater?"

[Name] looked at her mom before shaking her head. Her thoughts back onto the tall- blonde boy who she confessed, recently.

"It's from him."

Her mom looked at her and smiled sadly, "[Name], I'm sorry. It's my fault that you couldn't spend more days with him.."

Looking at her mother's face, she had wrinkles and eye-bags. She knew that she couldn't be selfish. She knew that her mother cared for her mom a lot and [Name] loved her grandmother just as much.

Her grandmother would be the one to drop off and pick her up to her volleyball games and matches. She would even watch and cheer [Name] on. Her grandmother supported her in everything she liked. She was even the one that suggested the family to take a break and go to Japan since the family was having a tough time. It was her grandmother's health that she had to worry about. Not her own heart and emotions. But she couldn't help but hold Tsukishima's sweater to her nose, inhaling his faint scent.

___

Tsukishima stood up as he wiped away the tears. He didn't like emotions that made him cry or make him look weak and he would never admit that he was weak. He looked at his phone on his table and grabbed it. He unlocked the phone and immediately clicked onto [Name]'s contact. But he didn't bring himself to text or email her. Sighing, he opened his door and walked downstairs, cooking breakfast to focus on something other than the girl that cried in his arms.

"Tsukki? You're awake, early."

His brother yawned as he rubbed his eyes, going to his brother's side to help cook breakfast. Akiteru couldn't help but look at his younger brother's eyes and cheeks.

"Did you cr-"

"No."

Akiteru didn't press on as he silently looked at his younger brother. Their relationship wasn't the best but it was growing ever since he started to go to his college practices. Looking at the boy, he patted his shoulder.

"Whenever you're ready."

Kei simply nodded, "She left."

With those words, Akiteru looked at his brother and watched as his golden eyes wavered and glossed over. He didn't know how to answer so he simply walked and hugged him, which was slowly returned.

___

[Name] looked out of the taxi window as she finally arrived at the hospital, the family took no time in rushing to get there, they brought their suitcases and bags as they were watched by nurses and patients, as they sprinted to her grandmother's room.

Softly knocking at the door, a feint voice responded, "Come in."

[Name]'s mom opened the door and everyone looked at the frail woman in front of them. Her eyes still had a youthful glint and her smile relaxed them. Her gray hair were braided to the side as she motioned for them to close the door.

"Mom." [Name]'s mom whispered, before walking to her side, a sob escaping her.

"Victoria, stop crying, I'm fine-"

"But mom, you had a seizu-"

"Jeez, Victoria. I'm alive. I'm going to put up a fight."

[Name] grinned at her grandmother's strong attitude. She loved her and her comments, it always lightened the mood but everyone knew that her grandmother was lying. As they watched her gasp for air, every few minutes. Her heart rate was normal but they knew she still needed a lot more rest to recover.

"Why did you come back so early?"

"Because we were worried, Mom."

Her dad responded, kissing his mother- in- law's cheek. Which he earned a scoff.

"Please! You guys needed more time to relax, Kou."

[Name]'s dad laughed as he motioned for her to go closer to the bed. Her grandma's eyes sparkled as they settled on her.

"Did you have fun? How was the volleyball practices?"

A smile slowly filled her face as she nodded, "I went to Tokyo for a week and practiced with Tobio's team."

"I'm glad."

[Name] smiled as she held her grandmother's hand. It was so light and she was afraid that she'd break her wrist if she made a sudden movement. The girl continued to tell stories about Japan as she left out details of a special blonde. Her mom and dad left the room to go and get things sorted with the hospital and go to their house to put their bags there.

"Now tell me why you're sad."

The girl looked at her grandmother with wide eyes. Her expression made the woman laugh.

"I know you far too well to know something's wrong. You're an open book, dear."

[Name] flushed as she fiddled with her thumbs, "I met a guy."

"And you'll never see him again."

"Mhm.." She hummed before a sob escaped her, her tears were wiped away as her grandmother looked at her.

"I met your grandfather in Switzerland. I lived and continued my life so that he could send me more letters. I lived every day for his letters before I met him in Canada, four years later. Life may try to break you but fate works in different ways. Don't give up too easily."

The [hair color] nodded as she looked at her grandmother who closed her eyes.

"Grandma?"

"I'm still alive- I'm just thinking, child."

[Name] let out a breathe as her grandmother laughed at her, "Email him. Or text him, whatever you kids do these days."

"I'm scared to.."

"What's holding you back?"

'False hope.'

****

Grandmother: "A simple vote, please."