Chapter Ten
Cell phones are not allowed at the training base, so Yuzuru and Yukimura haven't spoken for a long time.
She swiped her finger across the photo of the two of them on the screen. In the photo, the boy had a smile on his face, a tennis racket slung across his shoulder, and sunlight danced on his hair.
I've grown accustomed to walking side-by-side with him on the way home from school, to the warm milk he offered, to his gentle goodnight before bed. Now, with the sudden emptiness of the time, even the wind carries a sense of melancholy.
Yuzuru sighed as he looked at his reddened eyes in the mirror, the voice in his heart growing clearer: Admit it, you already like him a lot.
To dispel this emptiness, Yuzuru buried himself in the busy work of preparing for exams and recording.
In the library, she left her draft paper by the window, and in the classroom, the light from the back row illuminated her profile as she took notes. In front of the microphone in the recording studio, she meticulously crafted each melody. The four points—home, the location, and these other places—became her armor against longing.
"Hanyu! We're going to Osaka for our school trip this year!" Yuko Sato bounced over, her ponytail sweeping across Hanyu's desk. "I heard their okonomiyaki is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and every bite is packed with filling!"
After a busy day, Yuzuru patted his empty stomach, his mouth watering at the thought of "delicious food," and a smile involuntarily crept up his lips: "I'll have to make sure I have enough room in my stomach so I can enjoy myself properly."
On the bus, Yuzuru pulled two homemade neck pillows from his bag. The soft cotton fabric hugged his neck, and the filling was soft and elastic. "I made these based on a long-distance travel guide. Want to try them?"
Sato Yuko's eyes lit up the moment she put the pillow on: "Wow, this is so comfortable! Yuzuru, you're so good at this, thank you!" During the bumpy car ride, the comfort provided by the neck pillow helped the two of them quickly drift off to sleep.
When they arrived at their guesthouse in Osaka, the setting sun was painting the river red. Yuzuru shared a room with Yuko Sato and Tomoko Nakamikaze. After putting down their luggage, Yuko Sato grabbed her and pulled her outside, saying, "Hurry, hurry, I can already smell the delicious food!"
Turning the corner, a brightly lit food street came into view. The sizzling sound of grilled skewers, the aroma of takoyaki, and the warm steam from oden mingled together, instantly captivating the two of them.
"Hanyu?" A familiar voice called out. Hanyu turned around and saw Mina Miyamoto standing in front of the takoyaki stall, waving at him. "Mina! You're here on a school trip to Osaka too?"
The two girls hugged with smiles, and after Yuzuru introduced Sato Yuko and Miyamoto Mina to each other, the three of them plunged into the sea of delicious food.
The takoyaki was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with chewy and bouncy octopus meat, a completely different taste from Kanagawa; the radish in the oden soaked up the broth, and one bite warmed my heart; there was also an unidentified fruit drink, sweet and refreshing, and I forgot to ask the owner about the ingredients after drinking it.
After a hearty meal, the three of them patted their round bellies and smiled at each other with satisfaction.
The class assembly in the evening was filled with laughter and joy. When it was Yuzuru's turn to spin the wheel game, everyone immediately cheered, "Truth or dare?" "Truth."
No sooner had Yuzuru finished speaking than someone eagerly asked, "Is Yukimura-kun's stamina exceptionally good?" Yuzuru's cheeks flushed, and he scratched his head guiltily, "Uh... it's alright." "Oh~"
The crowd teased, "Who would have thought that Yukimura, who's so good at competitions, actually has such average stamina?"
Yuzuru thought to himself: I've never experienced it, how would I know?
As night deepened and the laughter subsided, everyone returned to their rooms to rest. Just as dawn broke, Yuzuru woke up precisely on time—the morning exercise habit instilled in him by Yukimura was ingrained in his very being.
She tiptoed out of the room and sat under the eaves of the guesthouse. The morning air was fresh with the scent of grass and trees. Taking a deep breath, the fatigue of the past few days seemed to dissipate a little.
Suddenly, her phone vibrated in her pocket. Yuzuru's heart skipped a beat. She pulled out her phone, and the words "Yukimura" on the screen instantly brightened her eyes. She pressed the answer button, her voice trembling slightly, "Hello?"
"Ayu." A familiar soft laugh came from the other end of the phone, slightly hoarse. "I missed you so much. I begged the coach for a long time before I could get my phone back."
Yuzuru felt a lump in his throat, almost bursting into tears. His throat tightened, and he couldn't speak for a long time.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Yukimura's voice immediately turned serious.
"It's nothing," Yuzuru sniffed and muttered softly, "It's just... I miss you."
"Fool." Yukimura's voice softened. "I will strive to become stronger and return soon. Yu, wait for me."
The two talked about how much they missed each other over the phone, and only reluctantly hung up when the coach urged them to.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, falling on Yuzuru's upturned face, a warmth spreading through his heart and dispelling all his melancholy.
Over the next few days, Yuzuru and her classmates visited Shitennoji Temple, where the tranquility of the ancient temple cleansed their souls; they climbed Tsutenkaku Tower, where they had a panoramic view of Osaka, and the evening breeze was especially pleasant on their faces; at the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, she took a photo with a giant whale shark, and the huge yet gentle creature made her marvel.
As the short school trip came to an end and Yuzuru embarked on his journey home, his mood had already lightened considerably.
Back at school, Yuzuru threw himself into his studies with renewed energy. Renji Yanagi's well-organized and focused notes proved invaluable to him, prompting him to exclaim, "No wonder he's the tennis club's strategist!"
The unified examination arrived as scheduled, and Yuzuru's long-term efforts finally paid off, with his results ranking among the top.
She took the written exam for the University of Tokyo without stopping, passed the cutoff score and entered the interview stage. When the admission letter was handed to her, Yuzuru held the paper with tears in her eyes—it was proof of her hard work and a passport to the future.
Yuko Sato successfully received her acceptance letter from Waseda University, but Mina Miyamoto brought unexpected news.
“I’m going to study in Munich, Germany.” Miyamoto Mina looked at Yuzuru and suddenly smiled. “Also, Tezuka and I are together.”
"Huh?" Yuzuru's eyes widened in surprise, and he didn't react for a long time.
“When we took photos of the tennis club before, we exchanged contact information. After he went to Germany, we have never lost contact.”
Mina Miyamoto blushed slightly. "You know I'm not good at science and I lack confidence in getting into university. He patiently replied to my emails, guided my studies, and even compiled notes and sent them to me... That's how I fell for him. Later, when I said I wanted to go to university in Germany, he said, 'Go for it!' and helped me research a lot of information. The moment I found out I was accepted, I confessed my feelings, and he said yes."
“I like him, and I want to be with him.” Miyamoto Mina’s eyes were firm yet gentle.
Seeing his friend's happy face, Yuzuru couldn't help but shed tears. He reached out and hugged her, saying, "Mina, you must be happy!"
The graduation party was grand and lively, with a mix of sadness and joy in the air.
Everyone danced to their hearts' content, shared delicious desserts, and the girls surrounded the boys from the tennis club, vying for the second button that symbolized their feelings.
Sanada's hat was knocked off, and as he straightened his disheveled collar, he scolded with a stern face, "You're being far too lax!"
Yuzuru seized the opportunity to pick up his camera and capture this chaotic yet precious moment.
Stepping out of the bustling auditorium, at the school gate, a tall figure stood under a streetlamp, backlit, opening his arms to her with a gentle smile on his lips: "Yuzuru, I'm back."
Yuzuru's eyes lit up, all her longing and waiting bursting forth at that moment. She rushed over and threw herself into that familiar embrace, feeling the long-lost warmth and comfort.
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