ℍ𝕚𝕕𝕕𝕖𝕟 𝕚𝕟 ℍ𝕚𝕤 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨

Chapter 15

Once Tezuka had left to Germany, nothing was the same. The team was mopey. Yoshika was trying her best to fill in Tezuka's shoes as she did promise that to him. It was harder than she expected though.

The others knew how much Yoshika struggled with trying to fill the captain's shoes, but they couldn't find the motivation to help her out. They were suffering, but they also couldn't help out someone who was suffering alone. They all shared their suffering, but Yoshika couldn't turn to any of the guys. She wanted to ask for help from Tezuka, but he was the reason she was suffering. All because he was recovering, not to mention that he might be distracted if she'd call him for this petty reason.

Yoshika knew the situation was not going to help the team win in the next 3 rounds. She decided to do something about it. Once it was time to start practice, Yoshika stood on top of a bench, making her a little taller than the boys.

"I have something for you boys!" Yoshika announced. This caught their attention, the boys swarming around Yoshika who was still standing on the bench.

"What is it Yoshika~san?" Fuji asked.

"I want to make a deal with you guys," Yoshika answered. This confused the boys. A deal? For what?

"What would it be?" Oishi asked curiously.

"If you guys win and get to the nationals," Yoshika started, "then I'll book us a flight to see Kunimitsu~kun in Germany."

This seemed to give the that motivation that they needed. Yoshika held her hand out and the boys began placing their hands above hers, a slight circle beginning to form.

"We will win!" Yoshika encouraged. The boys simultaneously nodded, a slight grunt heard from most of them.

"Seigaku!" Yoshika yelled.

"Will win!" The boys responded.

After that, the boys were more energized than before. Sometimes, they would even stay late to practice even more. Inui was working with Yoshika on many different training plans.

Meanwhile, Tezuka was in Germany going through rehabilitation. He was appreciative of their efforts to fix his arm, but he couldn't fully focus. His mind was constantly thinking about how the team was doing, or on how Yoshika was doing. He still remembers the promise she made him, but that would fly to the side as his mother's words would float around in his mind.

"You love her..." She said.

Shaking his head, he tried to focus on his stretches that he was presently doing with his trainer, Hannah, who was specialized in tennis and volleyball recovery. She was a former pro tennis player, not to mention one of the best in the country too. Tezuka could care less about her status though, all he could think about would be how he craved to play tennis with his friends and Yoshika once again....

Shaking his head, he tried to focus on his stretches that he was presently doing with his trainer, Hannah, who was specialized in tennis and volleyball recovery. Not to mention that she was a former pro tennis player. One of the best in the country too! He knew her reasons for leaving, but he felt they had not been valid enough for him to consider them really worth the abandonment of her past joy.

He looked at his phone. It was the temptation that has been nagging him for this whole absence in the team. He was practically one call away, but that wouldn't help. He wanted to be there with them. To see them in person. Not through data and digital devices.

'I will come back to you guys and finish what we started...'