#writing_for_a_cause

Sakuno walks slowly, her head hung low.  A few steps in front of her is Ryoma with Karupin trailing beside him.

They just came from a Tennis competition, and of course Ryoma won his matches.

She on the other hand, had to endure another set of hours hearing women whisper things behind her back.

“-a real tennis genius! Really handsome too!”

“Isn’t he dating that girl? Probably why he didn’t pursue a career in America.”

“He’s way out of her league.”

“Poor guy. She must be holding him back.”

Sakuno swallows the bitterness at the back of her throat.

She knows- god she knows- how Ryoma is way out of her league, how mind-boggling it is that a world-renowned tennis genius has chosen to date her.

She sometimes wants to ask him, “why me?”

But she’s afraid to do so. Because what if he only accepted her confession because he is used to her presence already? Because he didn’t want to rock the stable boat they were in, that he’d rather say yes to dating her than go through the emotional turmoil of having to kindly reject a friend.

She bites her lower lip, holding back the tears that threaten to spill.

“Sakuno,” Ryoma calls her clearly. She looks up and sees him standing a few steps in front of her.

His eyebrows knit in confusion before settling on a poker face everyone is used to.

He walks back towards her, raises her chin, looking deep into her eyes, before grunting and walking away again.

But this time, he grabs her hand.

They enter a park and has her sit on a bench while he walks towards a vendo machine.

Sakuno examines her hand that he just held, her short blunt nails and calloused fingers, perfect for holding a tennis racquet.

But not for sweet hand-holding.

“Here,” Ryoma hands her a Ponta, “drink this. You seem to be tired.”

“I’m okay,” she quietly says.

“You’re not,” Ryoma sighs, sitting beside her, “what is it this time?”

She shakes her head, not wanting to burden him with her own insecurities.

“Second place isn’t a bad result,” Ryoma tells her.

“what?” Sakuno looks up, confused.

“If that’s what got you so down,” Ryoma sips his Ponta, “placing second isn’t such a bad thing.”

Ryoma continues, ears getting a bit red as she looks at him silently, “Especially since you played so well. It’s just a matter of stamina really. Your opponent had at least two hours to rest. You had back to back matches.”

“How did you know I had back to back matches? Weren’t you playing too?” Sakuno asks.

“I, uh,” Ryoma’s ears turn a shade redder, “I asked Horio to watch your games. And Tomoka to take videos. I watched during the break time.”

“You watched my matches?”

“Of course, I did.” Ryoma sighs and looks at her, “You did well. We can work on your technique together. You are free this weekend, right?”

“Yes,” Sakuno blushes. Did he just ask her on a date?

“Oh, and here,” Ryoma hands her a single stem of carnation, its petals baby pink like the color dusting Sakuno’s cheeks. He probably picked it from the flower bed in the park but Sakuno didn’t care.

“Congratulations on winning 2nd place,” Ryoma says, cheeks equally as pink as hers.

“Thank you,” Sakuno whispers, “And congratulations too, Ryoma-kun.”

She touches the petals of the flower, feeling its soft surface, as if a gentle kiss on her fingers. And the more she looks at it, the lighter her breathing becomes.

Ryoma may not be the most expressive. He may not say “I love you” as much as other boyfriends do.

But it is in quiet moments like this when Sakuno feels his love the most.

It is in him looking back at her whenever they walk

In eventually matching her pace.

In him choosing to play tennis with her on weekends

when he could easily choose to play with other players in his league.

In him giving her his favorite drink, always having an extra one to offer her.

And in small acts of sweetness, making her smile when she needs it most.

And in him cheering for her, as much as she does for him.

He grunts and stands up, holding out his hand for her to take.

And she does so, a smile on her face this time.

It doesn’t matter if he’s out of her league.

What matters is that she’s always behind him to support him, and he always looks back, making sure she isn’t being left behind.

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