ℍ𝕚𝕕𝕕𝕖𝕟 𝕚𝕟 ℍ𝕚𝕤 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨

Chapter 13

Silence. That was the only thing you could hear for a while. It wasn't a comfortable silence that you would feel on a quiet walk along the beach. No. It was the silence that could suffocate you with how thick it felt.

No one made a comment. Not a sound was heard from anyone. Not even their breathing could be heard. No one knew how to respond. They felt heartbroken and upset, but what could they do? They knew the reason behind this. They knew that he had to recover; but for how long will they be apart? Will they even succeed without their captain? Thoughts alike were running through each and every one of their heads.

A sound or start. Anything at all! They wanted someone to start a conversation. They wanted this to be a prank; but this was not a prank. Not in the slightest. Finding that the tension and silence was irritating, Ryoma stepped forward and said, "You are coming back aren't you?"

Tezuka let out a relieved sigh and nodded. Ryoma then placed his racquet on his shoulder and continued sipping on his Ponta before continuing, "Then recover quick buchou."

Ryoma then walked away, grabbing a tennis ball dispenser on his way. He turned it on and continued his practice, not minding the odd looks from his sempais. They couldn't believe their eyes. Their kohai was the one to break the silence, and he didn't seem scared to do so. What a kid.

'He's grown so much. He is finally learning his own tennis...' Tezuka thought proudly.

Soon enough, everyone said a few words to Tezuka before going back to their practice. Tezuka was reluctant to leave, but he knew that he had to do it for the betterment of himself and his health.

Once they had finished their tennis practice, everyone packed up and said their goodbyes for the night before leaving to their respective homes. Meanwhile, Yoshika and Tezuka stayed back.

"Yoshi~san. Are you ready to go?" Tezuka asked. Yoshika looked up from her bag before giving him a smile.

"Yep!" she nodded. Tezuka held out his hand for Yoshika; a soft smile painted across his face. Yoshika happily accepted his help, putting her bag on her shoulder before pulling herself up from the floor.

Tezuka and Yoshika walked together out of the school, and began wandering around, doing a bit of window shopping, chatting, and just having a great time. Time passed by so quickly, it was already time for Yoshika to be getting home.

Tezuka walked Yoshika back to her place and she definitely appreciated it. When they made it to her apartment, Yoshika turned around to face her departing friend...

"I had a lot of fun Kunimitsu~kun," Yoshika gushed.

Tezuka smiled and agreed, "Me too. I hope we can do this again once I return from Germany..."

Yoshika's smile dimmed a bit, the painful heartbreak coming back to her. She shook her head and said, "No. We will do this when you come back. I promise you. Thanks for today and get home safely..."

Tezuka nodded and began walking back in the direction of his own home before he heard Yoshika call his name. He stopped in his tracks, turning back to see Yoshika's slightly red-tinted face.

"You need something?" Tezuka asked. Yoshika rubbed her arm before she leaned in to kiss him on the cheek.

"G-Good night!" Yoshika squeaked before running back into her apartment, leaving Tezuka frozen and stunned. His hand raised up to touch the cheek that Yoshika had pecked lightly. The warmth of her lips lingered on his cheek, making him crave and wonder about what that warmth would feel like on his own lips.

He began his little daydreams as he then walked home and began to think about these things. Eventually, he had gone home to see that dinner was ready. Tezuka's parents were definitely upset that he was leaving, but they had to make the most of their time with Kunimitsu.

He then walked into the Tezuka household, placing his bags down near the door's entrance. He went to sit at the table and his father look at him with an unusual glance.

"You need something father?" Tezuka asked curtly. Tezuka's father had seemed surprised at his son's awareness, seeing as he was very unaware in his previous dreaming state.

"W-Well, I wanted to ask about your school life..." his father began.

"What about it?" Tezuka replied.

"Well, I want to know... where were you and what was that girl to you?"