Seasons of Chances and Love 3: Promised Love In Autumn

The Real Reason

CHAPTER 6

How was it possible that the confrontation at the Yumemiya estate only made everything worse? Well, the girls couldn't exactly say that Oishi was fine after he told everyone the plausible reason as to why Kana was avoiding him. In fact, he was... different. The worrying kind of different... which made it all worst in so many ways

As for Kazumi, she chose not to say anything about her discussion with Oishi in the study room two days ago. The problem that he had with Kana remained unsolved even after that discussion. While Kana chose to remain stubborn and avoided her best friend despite knowing that her actions hurt her so much. However, that hurt wasn't shown in her face at all. She was impassive—at least on the outside. Her eyes were blank as dead and cold as ice. It was a kind of front that Miyako had been famous with before the blonde girl's relationship with Fuji came about.

But Kana doesn't have a formal reason for this kind of front to be shown to Oishi at all. Yes, she was hurt but how could she go to as far as ignoring the boy she considered as both her friend and her true love? Just wishing and pretending that he shouldn't have existed in his life wouldn't do her anything good. She was just making everything worse than ever.

How long would she have to torture themselves like this? Why couldn't they just talk it ot so that everything would be cleared?

If only things were that easy... then maybe this would have never happened at all.

-x-x-

Fixing a love problem right now, however, wasn't on the Five Columns' priorities. Same goes to the boys' tennis team. For what reason? The Kantou Finals was already taking place. Though both the boys' team and the girls' team of Seigaku Tennis Club have different days scheduled for the tournaments to take place. And so, with that decided, it was learned that the girls' tennis team would have their tournaments first just a day before that of the boys' tennis team's tournaments. Well, only Tezuka and Fuji would be first years playing for the boys' team. But it was still an exciting tournament to watch as it was said that Sanada and Tezuka would battle each other in Singles 3. Fuji would be in Doubles 1 with a junior of the team. Captain versus captain would be the most anticipated match in the Kantou Finals—both for the boys' and the girls' tennis teams.

As for the girls' team, it was a good thing that Miyako managed to be able to play after her absence in the Kantou Tournament's semi-finals. Aika was the one who took her spot in Singles 2 during that time. Just like the boys' team, they would play Rikkaidai's Girls' Tennis Team. The rosters for Seigaku were: Doubles 2 would be Yamazaki-Hondou pair, Doubles 1 would be the two 3rd year regulars in which one of them was their vice captain Shiraoka Ginga, Singles 3 would be Kana, Singles 2 would be Miyako, and Singles 1 was Captain Asami Hirota's spot.

With that, it was no surprise that Oishi and the others were going to watch the game. One common reason was to support their school representatives. And the other was for Oishi to somehow find a chance to be able to talk to Kana, though the others didn't know that reason. Only the worrywart tennis player knew that.

The match between the Doubles 2 pairs of both Rikkaidai and Seigaku didn't go so easy. In fact, it was a totally close fight that Kazumi almost ran out of energy since her stamina was one problem. Hanako mostly did the sinker shots that surprised their opponents. In a way, she became in charge of the offense while Kazumi was on defense. But in the end, their effort came to a failure when the arbiter announced the game and match to Rikkaidai with the score of 7-6. What was weird, though, was the fact that the two Columns weren't too disappointed at all. The Rikkaidai's pair couldn't believe at that.

"How can you still smile like that even after losing this match to us?" one of the girls asked indignantly.

Kazumi and Hanako looked at each other, then to their opponents.

"Because you don't know what it's like to have fun despite the tough competition in tennis," Hanako said in a serious tone.

"The rule that you have in Rikkaidai—about your "winners only" policy—tends to make you forget what this game is really about. Not that I'm against it, but you won't be able to understand our feelings right now unless you're brave enough to break out of your norm," Kazumi added before she turned her back on them and proceeded to their coach's bench. The brunette bowed in front of Coach Nakayama, along with Hanako. "Forgive us for losing this match, Nakayama-sensei."

"Losing this match isn't that important, Kazumi-chan. I'm surprised that your heart hadn't easily gave out. Are you okay?"

Kazumi nodded. "Thanks to Hanako-chan, I am. She was the one who took care of all the hard shots for me. I guess she's even more tired than I am."

"Sheesh! You're talking as if I handled the game all by myself," Hanako complained. "And besides, that's what you call supporting a partner—especially in doubles. Our play styles complemented so much that it wasn't even that hard for me to do all that."

As the discussion between the two continued, Kana listened to each and every word that were said. Supporting a partner, huh? With that thought, she took a glance at one part of the court benches where the Seigaku boys sitting at and watching the match. Though no matter how hard she tried to prevent herself, her eyes landed on one particular person instinctively. But doing so only caused her to be surprised because of the fact that the person she was looking at right now was looking at her intently in return. Unconsciously, she back down at the sight of those green eyes staring at her intensely like that. She couldn't believe it...

But the other thing she couldn't believe was that she wasn't looking away and pretend that she didn't see him—that he didn't exist. What could have made her do that? She didn't look away. She let their gazes locked.

Their gazes... filled with yearning to be able to approach each other the same way again...

Filled with pain that caused them both to suffer like that...

Filled wih another emotion that—at that point—she didn't want to fully acknowledge that it was the truth.

A sad smile crossed her lips as she decided to continue watching the next match in Doubles 1. But her eyes felt as if they were stung by something as she averted her gaze to the person she was looking at earlier. Before, she didn't take notice of the pain it would bring to her. After all, she was already hurt to even feel more pain from her actions towards her childhood friend. A friend she decided to not exist in her life anymore.

How could it hurt so much like this? Has the severity of her decision finally took a toll on her and now she was able to feel the pain she chose to ignore before? To be honest, she couldn't tell at all.

Deciding to just further ignore her feelings just until she finished her match, she faced the tennis courts where the match for Doubles 1 was still ongoing. But her eyes widened at the sight of the scores on the scoreboard.

5-3, with Rikkaidai on the lead.

Even the famed tennis sss of the team Shiraoka Ginga couldn't do anything to at least win the match. Though she hated thinking about it, the result wouldn't change. And the outcome was already predictable. Her senpai and their vice-captain—Kana could see that they were already at their limits.

"I should've expected this," Captain Asami mumbled that Kana heard. With that, she faced her captain. But no words came out of her mouth—since Asami beat her to it—when the 2nd year captain spoke the words that further made her nervous. "I guess you'll be the one to turn the tables in the next match, Kana-chan."

"A-Asami-buchou... Isn't that a bit too much for you to tell me?"

The captain smiled gently without looking at her. "I know that. But you need to find your focus if you want to reach your goal—to be the number one in Japan when it comes to tennis." Asami faced her soon after. "I know I'll be placing a heavy burden on you for saying all this. But this is something I must do in order for you to find out the reason why I gave you the nickname 'Valkyrian Column' upon your ingression in the team. I didn't give you that title just for the heck of it. That's what I want you to remember from me."

The reason? If, indeed, she would turn the tables on the next match—her Singles 3 match, would she be able to finally figure out the reason why Captain Asami gave her the nickname "Valkyrian Column"? Yes, she knew her and her friends' nicknames weren't just for decoration or anything. All of it concealed a meaning so deep as a whole. The same goes for their individual nicknames.

As she pondered on that, she couldn't help frowning as words started to make sense to her.

Valkyrie... Why would Asami-buchou give me a nickname that compares with a Norse mythological character? But further thinking about it, why did her captain chose Valkyrie as part of Kana's Column name?

Valkyrie—one of the maidens serving the Norse God Odin and choosing the souls of the slain warriors in order to lead them to the halls of Odin, Valhalla... Wait a minute! Lead? The souls of the slain warriors? Like an angel? Like the ferryman Charon traversing the River Styx? Sighing heavily as she faced the courts once more, she saw the results of the Doubles 1 match. 7 games to 5—game and match to Rikkaidai's Doubles 1 players. Well, it was expected. But she couldn't think of a reason and relation of her nickname to her duty.

Duty...

Nickname...

Reason...

Relationship...

To lead...

No, it wasn't about leadership even though the word 'lead' was there. She could tell at least that. If Valkyries led the chosen souls of the slain warriors to Valhalla, then her Column name actually meant...

"Players for Singles 3, please proceed to the tennis courts..."

That voice from the speaker on top of a pole disrupted the flow of her thoughts and made her mind return to reality. Maybe she would think about the answer after the game.

"Kana-chan..."

The red-haired Column straightened up and turned to the one who spoke. It was Asami with her usual serious expression on her face.

"Is there something wrong, Asami-buchou?"

"Just concentrate on the match. As you go on, you'll be able to find the answer you're looking for. I know that."

"You'll be able to find the true reason..." Vice-captain Ginga added that made Kana change her attention from the captain to the other girl. "...why you were compared to a Valkyrie. This match will turn the tables of this tournament and make you know that reason."

Kana didn't know how to react to that. In the course of the match, she would find out the reason? How would that be possible? But this was Captain Hirota Asami she was talking about. And there was even Vice-captain Shiraoka Ginga to add to that. Those two ladies weren't chosen as captain and vice-captain of the tennis team for nothing.

And she chose to believe in them.

Kana's worth as a part of the team—she had to prove to them that she could show the result to them. She had to prove to them that she was worthy to become a regular of the girls' tennis team.

She had to do it... as the Valkyrian Column of Seigaku's Five Columns.

"I'll try not to fail you, Asami-buchou, Ginga-fukubuchou..."

-x-x-

"It's up to Miyuzaki-san now, huh?" Fuji commented as they watched Kana stepped into the tennis court with a very serious aura that none of them had ever seen or felt even in her previous games.

"It must be a heavy burden to her. The whole team will be expecting her to win because of this if they wanted to reach their goal to go to Nationals," Kawamura added.

"She'll win this match. I know it..." Oishi mumbled as he stared continuously at the unknowing Kana on the tennis court doing her warm-ups.

Kikumaru faced her doubles partner. "Nya... How sure are you about that, Oishi? The match hasn't even started yet."

"The probability of Miyuzaki-san winning this match—"

"—will be 120%. And it won't change... at least for now..." Oishi said with conviction, forcing Inui to stop his percentage prediction about Kana's match.

"How sure are you?" Inui only repeated Kikumaru's question earlier.

"Nya, Inui! I asked that first."

But no words came out of Oishi's mouth. At that point, the rest couldn't fathom what could he be thinking about. And to think he was so sure that Kana would turn the tables of that tournament and let Seigaku win all of their Singles matches. It was the only way for the girls' team to go to the Nationals. And Kana—as of the moment—was the only person who could make that possible.

Her Singles 3 match might act as a decision maker who would win and who would lose—just as how the Valkyries in the Norse mythology do their jobs. They were the ones to decide who would live and who would die.

You can do it, Kana. I know you can. I've known that all this time. You're one person who doesn't know how to fail...

And he knew, of all people, how true those words could be.

-x-x-

Winning a tennis match for a chance to attain victory had never been this hard to Kana. Or at least, that's what she thought as she continued to stare with a blank expression on her face at her opponent—a second year at Rikkaidai. But she knew that their chance to proceed to Nationals lies on her hands now. She must do whatever it takes to attain their goals.

"You're not normal, are you? For a first year like you to be a total robot in an instant, are you sure you weren't switched out with a robot when you were born?" her opponent taunted, but she didn't twitch from her position. Her stares remained blank.

Of course, she would be. She was an expert on that field already... at least on the tennis courts.

Kana smirked soon after—one that took most of them aback. It was a type of smirk that told them of what was about to come. No words came out of her mouth as she did so. She just proceeded to the baseline and waited for her opponent to deliver her first serve.

"One set match for Singles 3. Rikkaidai's Suzuki to serve," the arbiter called out.

And Kana waited for Suzuki to do so. But as she waited, her eyes widened a few seconds later. The sound of a ball hitting the ground loud and hard reached her ears. When she composed herself and looked around simply, she saw the ball stopped bouncing. A burn mark from the ball was seen on the wall, along with a dent. Probably from the force of the ball when it was hit.

So she can do that kind of serve?

"15-love!"

"Don't worry, freshman. I'll finish this as soon as possible so all of you can go home and cry to your mommy," Suzuki taunted with a sneer.

But that sneer soon faded when she saw the Valkyrian Column's face. She had never seen such blue eyes possessing so many emotions akin to determination and desire.

Desire to let the opponent shut her mouth ad eat her own taunting words.

No one knew that it was the ability that Kana had always excelled into. It was the ability to let her opponent self-destruct... using her tennis.

"I should be the one saying that to you, senpai..." Kana's words were starting to become venomous that it sent to those who heard her.

"P-putting a brave front, huh?" Well, Suzuki should be the one who needed to put up a brave front with this situation. "But I tell you right now, Valkyries aren't vengeful beings. It looks like you can't even live up to your name."

The name 'Valkyrian Column'... was just a small reason with how I play tennis. Because of my tennis, Ginga-fukubuchou had given me another title... in relation to my personal nickname. Kana could tell as much as that now.

"My Column name, to be honest, has only little to do with my tennis. Sorry to disappoint you but that name is only applicable to how I support my team given the fact that I'm still in first year."

Suzuki was taken aback by Kana's creepy yet calm way of saying those words. They were calm, yes. But they also held some sort of feeling that could make those who heard it regret they provoked her.

"Do you want to know what's the other nickname is? The one that made me known in the junior tennis circuit?" Kana was the one doing the taunting now that didn't even surprised her friends at all.

"Miyuzaki-chan's other nickname? What could that be, nya?"

"Saa... I think I've only known her as the Valkyrian Column. Other than that, I have no idea."

"Nya, Oishi. Do you know?" Kikumaru asked when he faced his friend who was still watching the match intently.

Oishi's face was serious but Tezuka could tell that he still heard Kikumaru's question. "Kana... is known to the junior tennis circuit as 'The Petrifier'."

Several eyes widened at the name Oishi mentioned.

"But isn't that nickname supposed to describe Yukimura's tennis?"

"You'll get to see the reason why she was given such a nickname," was the only thing Oishi said before he continued to pay attention to the match.

Gritting her teeth, Suzuki was starting to feel something she shouldn't. This first year was surely starting to get on her nerves. Well, if that would be the case, then so be it. She would give this irritating freshman a dose of her tennis wrath.

Suzuki did a bullet serve that Kana didn't hit. Or least she thought the freshman didn't because of its speed. The 3rd serve was faster than the first two. But much to their surprise, Kana hit it back with a force like no other. The shot was too heavy as Suzuki tried to hit it back and earn the third point. Because of that, Kana's opponent didn't anticipate the effect of that shot to her racket. The strings snapped, forcing her to drop her racket.

"30-15!"

Kana was nonchalantly looking at the stunned Suzuki.

"What kind of shot is that?" Kikumaru asked, wide-eyed.

"She added an incredible amount of topspin on that ball, letting it act like a drill of some sort."

"'Swallow Flier'... That's what she used to call that shot, but..."

Fuji faced Oishi who said that technique's name. "But what? And what do you mean 'used to'? Did the name changed?"

"She removed the name. That shot she did earlier was just one of her regular shots. A shot that doesn't deserve such a special name, she said."

As the conversation went on, Inui started scribbling down all the information he was hearing from it. of course, he was doing it in an incredible speed since he didn't want to waste time and those information, as well.

"This is where we'll see what kind of a tennis player Miyuzaki-san is," Tezuka said silently as he continued to watch the ongoing Singles 3 match.

The others did the same. And they were surprised at the result. 2 games to love. How did that happen?