Kunimitsu Tezuka-I lost you, but in the end, I earned much more from you

/Yuki/
I lost a friend because of a sport named Tennis. Both of us loved tennis a lot that we have the same goal. We aimed to be the best, the champion. Yet this was over. His time was placed on tennis as his priority. He had closed his eyes to me. I called for him, but he ignored. I learnt to hate him, Tezuka Kunimitsu.

I was staring out of the window, gazing at the sky. I did not want to see that face. He was sitting beside me, right beside me. We never talked to each other anymore. Even though sometimes, he did try to talk to me. I ignored him and walked off. I have not quit tennis, but I did not care what orders he gave me.

“Don’t let your guard off!” That was what he always said to his team. I hated those five words. Then, the bell rang. It was time for P.E. I hated this period because this was the time that I would spend my time with him, Kunimitsu Tezuka. I went to my locker and took my clothes. I went to the bathroom and changed.

All of us gathered at the Tennis courts and we were lined up. He was standing beside me. I looked away and focus on the teacher. I heaved an annoyed sigh. Then, our teacher came and asked us to play tennis and it was double plays. I did hope that I would get pick and to be with him.

“Ahh! Tezuka-kun, partner with me!!” A girl screamed.

“Tezzy, play with me!!” Another girl shrilled.

“Alright, quiet down. I’ll distribute you to your partners.” The teacher announced and it was a relieved to me, “Yuki, you’ll play with Tezuka. Yumiko’ll play with Mike. All four of you go to Block D to compete with each other.”

My heart sunk. I did not want to be with him. This was my worst day ever in life. I stood beside him and looked away. I ignored him and sat down at the side. I bought my knees to my chest. I did not want to see his face. I felt sad around him. I did not want to hold the racquet anymore. Then, I heard footsteps.

I lifted my head and it was Tezuka handing me a racquet. I looked down and stood. I walked past him and left the court. I told the teacher that I was not well, so I was excused, but I still sat down at the bench watching him was being clomped by his fan girls. I was crying because I really lost a best friend to this sport.

Ironically, it was our favorite one. My tears just could not stop. I hated him so much. Tezuka was looking towards me and in his heart, he felt strange and guilty for some reason. He never saw me this way before, not even after we have broke off our friendship.

It was starting to rain and the teacher cancelled the lesson. We all changed back to our uniforms. I slowly walked back to my class, but I was stopped by his fan girls.

“Don’t you dare take my Tezuka away!?” A girl with blonde hair screamed.

“Yeah, he’s mine!” Another girl with pony tail yelled.

“Take him if you want. I don’t care about him.” I answered and left without another word.

What I did not know was that Tezuka was standing in the corner listened to it. It hurts his heart so much. He wanted to confess to me, yet it was the sport that destroyed the friendship between the two of us. During lunch, I was eating all alone. Then, Fuji approached me.

“Hey Yuki, are you okay?” He asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine, don’t worry.” I faked a smile.

“I don’t think you are.” Fuji answered with concern while sitting next to me.

“I’m fine, Fuji. I just need some alone time.” I replied and walked away.

I went to the rooftop and sat down in a shade. It was still raining and I did not care if I was wet or not. I simply wanted to get away from Tezuka. I hated him so much that I was starting to hate my friends too. I did not want that to happen. Then, Eiji came.

“Nya… Yuki, don’t sit in the rain! You’ll going to be sick!” He grabbed my arm and brought me into shelter.

“Eiji, it’s ok. Nobody cared anyway…” I answered sadly.

“Yuki, you’ve changed a lot since you broke up the friendship with Tezuka…”

“I know and I don’t want to hear his name anymore. Please tell Coach Ryuzaki that I won’t be attending the training today.”

“Yuki…”

“I’m sorry, Eiji…”

Eiji was thinking that I have changed a lot since Tezuka… There was no way for mending it for me anymore. I did not want to see him or hear his voice. I just wanted to get away from him. I went back to the class and the teacher was surprised that I was wet from the rain.

She allowed me to go home early since I was looking quite sick. I took my bag and went home. The moment I stepped into my house, I sat on the couch and cried softly. I brought my knees to my chest and looked at the scars that I inflicted on myself. I hated it. Why must I face him every day?

/Tezuka/
I was looking at the empty table that I sat next to during classes. I felt empty without Yuki around. She did not even want to face me during classes. Both of us have gone through so much. I decided to visit her after training. After school, I went to the tennis courts and saw my teammates were there.

“Tezuka, Yuki is not coming for training today.” Eiji said.

I simply nodded and asked my teammates to run 30 laps around the courts. They did and I was keeping a constant time check. Yet, I could not stop myself thinking of Yuki. Coach Ryuzaki approached me and said something.

“Are you going to visit Yuki later on?”

“Yes.” I answered.

“Good, she’s been acting weird lately and I saw some scars on her hand as well.”

She cut herself? I was so dense that I did not even realize it. I was feeling so guilty now. I asked for an early leave for the training and Couch agreed to it. I quickly changed and went to Yuki’s house. She lived all alone in her house, except her brothers would visit her every now and then.

I arrived at her doorstep, yet I was hesitating to knock the door. I did not know why. I knocked on the door and waited for a reply.

/Yuki/
I was cutting myself when I heard someone knocked on the door. I cleaned up the mess and tidied up the room. I walked to the door and it was him. I looked down and trying to hold my tears back.

“What do you want?” I asked with an unwelcoming tone.

He remained silent and I stared to the floor. I took a step back into my house and going to close the door if he did not answer. I waited for 5 seconds and still he did not answer. I could not take it anymore and closed the door, but it was stopped as Tezuka placed his hand on the door.

“Yuki, I want to talk to you.” He answered.

I hesitated but I opened the door and led him inside my house. I sat at the couch and looked away from him. He sat beside me and there was an awkward silence.

“What do you want to talk about?” I asked and broke the silence.

“About the two of us.” Tezuka answered and I was shocked, yet did not turn to look at him.

“We’re over. I did tell you that.”

Tezuka remained silent. My tears were flowing but my fringes were covering my eyes. I felt I was being pulled and I was facing his chest. He held me tightly. I did not want this to happen. I hated it… I tried to struggle out, but Tezuka only embraced me even more.

I relaxed in his arms after a while. We were not friends anymore. He lifted my face and he saw that I was crying. I noticed that he saw the cuts and I covered my wrist. I did not want him to know about this.

“Leave me alone.” I muttered.

Tezuka did not budge and I really did not know what he wanted from me. I hated him so much. Then, he kissed me on the lips softly and gently. I was staring at him with widened eyes. What was he doing? I did not want his love. I admitted that my feelings were getting stronger towards him. I was depressed when he left me.

He parted his lips, but it was only a few inches from mine. He wiped away my tears with his thumb and I was still in dazed. I looked down at the floor with a light red past my face. Why was he doing this to me?

“Don’t let your guard down… I love you.” He whispered.

“Kunimitsu…” I went soft and embraced him closely.

He kissed me passionately and I knew something. I lost you, but in the end I earned much more from you.