Riku watches the trophies that were
put on display by his parents. On the farthest right side of the rows of gold trophies,
lies his father’s newest addition that his mother just scrubbed and displayed.
“Mama, mama,” the five year old
called his mother with such fervor and excitement, pulling at the end of her
shirt in an attempt to get her to listen to him. “Did Papa win another
tournament? Does this mean that Papa will come home?”
Rie sighed and crouched in front of
her son, stroking his head softly. “Papa will not come home yet, Riku. Please
wait for a little while more.”
“But last week Mama said the same
thing! Riku waited for two months to see Papa again, but Papa had not come
home!” he yelled and began to cry. Rie picked up the box that had previously held
the trophy when it came on the post from the floor and stroked a sobbing Riku’s
gold hair.
“That’s enough, Riku. Your Papa is
busy. He will come home soon, Mama promised,” she said and extended a pinky
towards Riku. His sobs began to lessen when he wrapped his own pinky around
hers. Even though Rie had successfully persuaded her son, she herself felt
worried. Will Kunimitsu really come home in the near future?
Like Riku had said, her husband had
not come home in two months. Rie understood that as a professional tennis
player, Kunimitsu is obligated to travel around the world and participate in
tournaments and competitions. But still, she wanted her husband to be at home
and watch their only child grow.
Rie threw the box into the trash
can, but Riku hurried to catch it before it can completely fall in. “Mama,
there is a letter.”
Rie glanced at the white envelope
that Riku clutched in his tiny hands. She smiled in his direction and took the
envelope, walking into her bedroom that feels empty recently without the
presence of her husband.
With trembling hands, Rie opened the
envelope and read the inside of the letter. Her eyes began to water and tear
drops wet her cheeks.
Rie,
How are you doing? How is Riku doing?
Is he fine and healthy? Sorry, I’ve been gone without sending any news back
home for two months and for missing Riku’s fifth birthday. I hope he doesn’t hate
this useless father of his. But I missed home and I missed Japan. England is a
nice place, but one’s own home is still the most comfortable. And that is why I’ve
decided to write this letter.
Atobe said that he always writes home
letters because his wife is happy when she receives them even though e-mail is
far easier and far more efficient.
I am now living with Yukimura and
Atobe in Atobe’s house in England. We all took part in the Wimbledon tournament
this time. As you have seen, I have won first place. Is the space in our house
enough to display all the trophies? Atobe mentioned that he wanted to send a
display case from Germany if we still need it.
Well, unfortunately, even though
Wimbledon is over, I have to take part in other tournaments that will be held
in Germany. Tomorrow, the three of us will be flying to Bonn with Atobe’s
private jet. That is why, I will still be in Europe for another three months.
Don’t worry. Ever since coming to
England two months ago, I’ve done a lot of thinking and after giving it lots of
thoughts, I have decided that after this tournament ends, I will retire from
the tennis world. Rie, I do not want you to blame yourself because of my
decision as I knew you would. This is my decision and I have thought it over
for the longest time. And in between tennis and my family, I still love my
family more. I know my decision is not wrong and I won’t regret it.
That’s why; just wait for a little
bit more. This time, I will come home and never leave you again.
Tezuka Kunimitsu
“Kunimitsu…” Rie called her husband’s
name with full of yearning and hugged the letter to her chest that is feeling
both stuffy and relieves at the same time. She felt something hard pressing
against her chest and searched inside the envelope. As it turns out, there
still another piece of paper and a gold locket in the shape of a tennis racket.
PS. The trophy that I sent home isn’t
the only trophy you’ll get. This locket is Riku’s birthday present. Because the
two of you are the trophy of my heart.
Rie opened the clasps of the locket
and began to smile. The photo inside that locket wasof the three of them.
“Trophy of my heart. Turns out,
Kunimitsu can also say those things.”
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