Of tennis and love ( PRINCE OF TENNIS YUKIMURA SEIICHI FF )

CHAPTER 13 - HEART TO HEART TALKS

A/n : It's a new month! i hope everything is doing well for y'all :-)

I bid farewell to the children, before collapsing on the tennis court. I laid down, holding the racket up as the strings shone with the sunset glow. I was exhausted and felt so...confused. A cold drink pressed against my face, I flinched, eying Yukimura.

"What are you thinking about?" Yukimura asked, sitting beside me.

"I feel weird," I muttered, sitting up reaching out for the offered drink.

"I thought I could live my life hating tennis until today. Seeing those kids earnestly learning tennis, I started to remember...." I continued, as I took a sip of my strawberry fanta, feeling dazed.

"I really...missed tennis." I croaked out after a long moment of silence, clenching the drink as I recalled the 'me' who learned tennis several years ago.

"Then why did you quit it?"

I took another sip of my drink, half-knowing that most probably Marui would share this problem with the tennis regulars. I rolled up my sleeves, showing him the wound. Yukimura's eyes widened as he traced the scar with his hand, goosebumps appearing at where he touched.

"I was attacked...and the mastermind was a close friend I met from a tennis club too," I whispered as a tear escaped my eye. I didn't understand why I was revealing the entire incident to him? Why didn't I mind sharing the incident with him? Or why he made me feel so calm, so... at peace?

More importantly, I was frustrated at myself for remembering the 'me' who loved tennis. The 'me' who was supposed to be sealed in the depth of my heart. I broke down realising that I could never hate tennis.

Yukimura gently placed a towel on my head, staying by my side as I cried out my pent-up frustration and anger at what had occurred.

It took me a long time, but I calmed down, using the towel to wipe my tears. "A-ah...thanks for comforting me. Actually, just drop the honorifics-it's weird."

Yukimura smiles before standing, "Do you want to try to play tennis again? Marui...is really worried for you. The guy's tennis team would be waiting for you."

"Hmm...i really don't know. My tennis...might not even be good now." I sighed.

"Lei, give yourself a chance. Practice makes you better."

Yukimura walked me home, both of us in comfortable silence. I pushed my gates open, before turning to face him.

"Thank you for making me realise what I...lost. If you were my doctor, I probably would've been in tennis right now." I laughed, as he smiled looking pleased. He waved goodbye and was about to walk away when I shouted.

"Yukimura-senpai! By the way, that drawing really looks like you." I teased, before quickly running inside my house, not noticing the flustered expression on Yukimura's face.

I went into my room, opening the cupboard before taking out the well-hidden tennis bag. I stroked it gently, before opening, examining my racket.

'It's been long...could I really start again...?'

6/1/20