To Love a Stoic Captain (Tezuka Love Story)

Chapter 24: Get Ready

Almost there everyone!

Disclaimer everything besides Yumi and her family belong to Takeshi Konomi. Happy reading.

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It has been a week since I met my biological family. To be honest, I felt relieved that I said everything that I bottled inside for 8 years. Mom and dad understood.

It was the afternoon. I was with Kunimitsu getting ready for the Intra-school Tournament that will decided the National Tournament regulars. He explained how it worked and I thought that it would be interesting. I would be responsible to writing the scores up after each match.

Next day...

Tournament started today and I saw a lot of excitement. I got to see Kunimitsu play against some of the other players. They didn't compare to him. Something was in Kunimitsu mind. I turned my head what he was interested in and it was Echizen. He told me that Echizen was to succeed him as Seigaku's pillar of support.

Kunimitsu and I walked around and saw Echizen with the two reporters. Kunimitsu wanted to see the paper in Echizen's hand. It was about Echizen competing in the U.S. Open. Echizen didn't have a clue about who would enter him in until he realized that his father must have entered him. Echizen was about to go home but, Kunimitsu stopped him. He had a game in the afternoon. "We'll deal with it after the match," he said. Echizen understood and left. Kunimitsu told the two reporters that he will explain the situation to the coach.

The next day, Echizen decided that he will go to America to compete in the U.S. Open that made Momoshiro angry. They had a match that lasted for a long time. Echizen won the match. Later on, Horio and the two other boys came over to Kunimitsu and I. They wanted him to write a message on a board for Echizen to take with him. Of course, Kunimitsu wrote his favorite line. He passed it to me. I wrote a message on the board. <Aim high. Grab your dreams. Keep forward. Achieve your goal in life.>

We met at he airport and each of us gave him a gift. I gave him a wristband that had the Seigaku colors on it. "Thank You, Hanai-sempai," Echizen said in Japanese. "You welcome, Echizen. Remember. You have a lot to do when you get back," I said in english. He nodded his head. Of course, some knew what I said.

The following days were tough as only the regulars are having matches against each other. The last match was between Kunimitsu and Fuji. Oishi said that Kunimitsu lost once in freshman year against Fuji. Before Oishi could say anything else, Kunimitsu and Fuji went inside he court. I couldn't believe their skills. I thought that they were beyond national level. I thought of pro level. Kunimitsu's serves would bend the fence. Everyone was shaking in their shoes. I couldn't keep my eyes off the match. In the end, Kunimitsu won. That meant Kunimitsu, Oishi, Inui, Eiji, Taka, Fuji, Kaidoh, and Momoshiro were going to represent Seigaku in nationals. I was so happy for them.

A few days later....

It was morning and my phone ranged. It was Kunimitsu. "Hello," I said. "Hello, Yumi, I have a favor to ask you," he said. "What is it?" I asked. "I need you to be at practice today for me," he said. "Why? Are you going somewhere?" I asked. He told me that Echizen was in town and wanted him to go to the street court near the train station. Coach would be there as well. "Ok. Please be careful," I said worried. "Don't worry, I will," he said. "Ok, bye. I love you," I said. "I love you too," he said and hung up.

I went to practice and the regulars wanted to know where Kunimitsu and coach was. I had to make up a lie but, it didn't last. The regulars ran to the street court while I kept the other players from missing practice. Later that night, Kunimitsu told me what happen over the phone.