Disclaimer: My head ferociously hurts, so let’s cut the crap. I own nothing >_>;;
Author’s Beginning Notes: Belated Happy Birthday, Cindy-chan [EverStarDream11] (June 1)!! ^_^ I hope you’ll like this gift~!
I always wanted to write a one-shot like this, wherein Yukimura doubts the existence of God. I think it’s pretty ironic, considering that he’s the “Child of God”. Besides, Religion is also a touchy topic, so I didn't dare go any deeper. ^^ Anyways, I really enjoyed writing this…except for the fact that I have a major headache while doing so >.> So sorry for the unwanted grammar and spelling mistakes D:
Does God Exist?
Prince of Tennis: Yukimura Seiichi
One-shot
[~♥○♥○♥○♥~]
Dear God, thank you for sending me an angel.
[~♥○♥○♥○♥~]
Yukimura sat straight on his hospital bed with an aloof expression pasted on his face. How long has it actually been ever since he was admitted in Kanai General Hospital [1]? Perhaps it has been weeks, or maybe even months. To be honest, Yukimura Seiichi had no idea. Or maybe he just didn’t care, either, because for him, this place is a manifestation of hell. In hell, your soul will wander for all eternity, not feeling anything but pain and suffering. As much as he wanted to escape from this ‘hell’, he had no idea how. He had no idea where to start. He had no idea how long his disease will last. Thinking of all these things made him tired, and he eventually just gave up at the end. Much to his dismay, he could only sit, wait and hope for the day he’ll be out of this hell, although a part of him already doubts if such a thing like hope still exists in this world.
A small sigh escaped from his gentle lips as his blue orbs traveled its way towards the circular clock that was hanging on the room’s ivory wall. It’s fifteen minutes pass four, and usually, his nurse would serve him a light snack at around this time of the afternoon. But so far, no one from the staff has entered his room. Yukimura wondered why his nurse is late. Maybe she’s running some errands? Or maybe she’s absent? From the lateness of his nurse, his thoughts then shifted to Rikkai’s tennis team. What are they doing right now? Are they doing fine without their captain? What about the line-ups for the incoming Kanto matches? Is it being taken care of Sanada and Yanagi? Hopefully, his little sister Najika [2] is not causing them any trouble once again. Speaking of Najika, how is she? Is she doing fine with regards to her studies? Did she finally become a regular in the girls’ tennis team? A lot of questions are swirling inside his mind, and the more questions that appear, the more he longed to get out of this hellish hospital.
A few moments had passed when he heard a small knock on the door. Finally, his nurse has arrived.
“Please come in. It’s open.” Yukimura made sure there was small smile on his lips to ensure a kind greeting for the nurse, but to his surprise, a young girl (who is about his age) with long auburn hair and cheery citrine eyes was the one entered instead.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Yukimura-sama! Here’s your afternoon snack!” the girl proclaimed as she placed down the tray on a small cabinet beside the hospital’s bed. A huge caramel cupcake sprinkled with colorful candy-sprinkles was on top of it. From the cupcake, Yukimura’s gaze shifted towards the anonymous girl.
The girl, on the other hand, blinked at Yukimura.
“You’re Yukimura Seiichi-sama…right?”
He nodded.
“Sou ka!” she beamed. “Then that cupcake is for you. I hope you’ll find it delicious.”
He gave the cupcake another glance before finally asking, “Ano…I’m sorry if my question will sound rude, but who are you?”
“Ah, sumanai!” the girl exclaimed clumsily. She gave a lighthearted chuckle. “I’m Tenshiko Asuka [3]! Yoroshiku ne!”
“Tenshiko?” Yukimura confirmed when the name sounded familiar.
“Yup! I’m the daughter of the doctor who’s assigned to you, Tenshiko Akio-sensei, a.k.a., otosan.”
Yukimura continued to stare at the girl, making her feel a little bit awkward.
“The nurse who’s assigned to you got a flu and needed to stay at home for a couple of days, so my father allowed me to take her place. I know I’m not good at baking but…I hope you’ll like your snack…?” she chuckled nervously.
The Child of God gave a gentle look. And with a sweet smile, he softly grabbed his cupcake and started to eat it. “I think it’s delicious, Asuka-san.”
“Really?” she beamed. “I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you, God!”
Upon hearing a certain word, Yukimura’s expression drastically changed. His sweet smile vanished, and the gentle look of his blue orbs got cold.
“God?” he sharply repeated. It was as if he wanted to stab the word with a dagger. “I wonder if there really is a God.”
The girl paused, surprised by his sudden question. “What do you mean?”
Yukimura placed his cupcake back at the tray and gave the girl a glare. He clenched his hospital pajamas and gritted, “If such a thing really exists, then why do hardworking people have to suffer?” His voice is rising and getting fiercer, taking away Asuka’s ability to speak.
“No angel has ever smiled upon me,” he continued as bitterness also continued to drip on his every word. “Isn’t God supposed to be merciful?”
That’s right. If God is merciful, then why does he have to suffer like this? He used to live a happy life. He didn’t do anything wrong. Sure he may be a little harsh sometimes to his teammates, but everyone knows that he’s doing it for their own sake. Is it enough for God to actually give him this harsh punishment? This one heck of a disease called Gullaine-Barré? What happened to the so-called ‘merciful’ in that?
For a moment, Asuka didn’t answer. She began to ponder while gazing at the boy with a very thoughtful expression. And then, she suddenly gave him a sweet smile, catching him off-guard. Yukimura never expected that kind of answer.
“Well, if that’s how you feel, then why don’t you come with me?” she asked as she reached out for his hand.
“W-Wait. Where are we going?”
“Daijobu. We’re not going to go out of the hospital. Just trust me, okay?”
He could only nod.
[~♥○♥○♥○♥~]
“Asuka-san…what are we going to do here?”
Apparently, the girl had taken him up to the hospital’s vast rooftop and asked him to sit. Yukimura sat on a white bench, gazing at the blue sky above him. The cool afternoon air is refreshing, and he could feel like he’s flying.
“I want you to listen to me as I play,” Asuka answered with a smile as she got her violin from inside the case. She stood in front of the boy and made the necessary adjustments.
“You’re gonna play the violin?” Yukimura asked as he eagerly waited for the girl.
Her answer was a soft smile. She raised her hand and began to skate the violin’s stick unto its strings, producing a mesmeric yet humble melody. One after another, she continued to produce beautiful music, and Yukimura couldn’t help but be held captive by its dreamy enchantment. He closed his eyes as he let the music drift him away to another a world, a void world wherein that melody engulfs everything. It was simply too amazing, Yukimura thought, and he never wanted the music to stop playing. He wanted to listen to it—forever—because it brings him an unexplainable amount of tenderness and comfort. That’s why he was greatly disappointed when the girl suddenly stopped playing.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s finished.”
“…Finished?” he repeated, slightly twitching, not wanting to believe her answer.
“Yup.” Asuka sat beside him, and she placed down the violin on her lap. “After school, I go here at the hospital to wait for my dad. We always go home together, and I usually go here at the rooftop to practice my violin while waiting for him.” She softly plucked a string of a her violin. “Ne Yukimura-sama, you seemed to be very captivated by the music.”
Surprised, a small and sheepish blush formed on his cheeks. “Saa~ it’s because you’re a great violinist, Asuka-san.”
Nevertheless, the girl ignored his compliment. “Do you know the title of what I just played?”
“The title?”
“Hai.”
“I’m sorry, but no.”
“It’s Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria in excelsis Deo [4],” she informed, looking down at her violin like as if it’s the most interesting thing in the world. “It’s a sacred song that he composed, perhaps, for God.”
Yukimura didn’t answer.
“My dad is a Shintoist [5] while my mom is a Catholic [6], and I grew up with my father more,” she continued. “So I’m not also sure if God really does exist but I don’t think that’s an important matter at all. You said awhile ago that there’s “no angel that has ever smiled upon you”, right?” She looked up at him and kindheartedly smiled. “I think you said that because you’re just feeling alone and lonely.”
Again, he didn't answer for a moment. Yukimura then finally sighed, followed by a soft laugh. “Saa~ you got me, Asuka-san.”
She gave him a questioning look. “So I’m right after all?”
He looked at the girl with a gentle smile. “Who knows. Maybe I’m just really feeling lonely.” The look of his blue eyes got softer as he continued, “Ever since I was admitted here in the hospital, I have always been alone. Little children would always visit me in the morning, but they eventually have to leave on the early afternoon, and my friends can’t come here until school activities are over. So I’m just alone in my room most of the time.”
Asuka remained silent.
“Saa~ sumanai,” he chuckled. “I think I rambled too much.”
Tenshiko Asuka sighed as she held her violin. She stood up and released a huge smile. “Well, if things are really like that, then is it okay if I will visit you too, Yukimura-sama, and keep you company?”
Yukimura blinked at the girl. Honestly, this girl has never failed to surprise him with her unexpected answers. “It’s okay but…don’t you have school, Asuka-san?”
She paused. “Oh…I forgot.” Embarrassed, she stuck out her tongue and chuckled nervously. “Daijobu. It will work out somehow. One more thing! Just call me Asuka-chan.”
“And please call me Yukimura-kun, too,” he smiled.
“Okay, Yukimura-kun.”
Tenshiko Asuka stared at Yukimura Seiichi, and Yukimura Seiichi stared at Tenshiko Asuka. And then suddenly, they both released a lighthearted giggle.
“You know what Yukimura-kun, I’m actually excited!” she proclaimed while smiling sweetly at her new friend. “From now on, I’ll play you my violin, I’ll bake you cupcakes, we’ll tell stories, and—!! And!!” she squealed out of pure ecstasy.
The Child of God chuckled.
“Sorry,” the girl blushed. Her excited smile turned a bit sheepish. “I’m just really excited.”
He stared at Asuka, and the girl just continued to smile at him.
“Saa~ it’s not that, Asuka-chan,” Yukimura finally answered. He gave the girl a sweet smile. “I’m really glad…because just now, an angel has finally smiled upon me."
[1]= Apparently, Kanai General Hospital is the hospital Yuki-buchou stayed in according to the PoT Manga Volume 23.
[2]= Najika is an Original Character from my Drabble Collection for Sanada Geni-fukubuchou.
[3]= Tenshiko Asuka. Tenshi means “angel”. And I just added a “ko” to it because Tenshi Asuka just sounds a bit wrong in my opinion XD. “Asuka”, on the other hand, means “the smell of tomorrow”, which for me, symbolizes “hope”.
[4]= Antonio Vivaldi is one of the great classical composers of time, and “Gloria in excelcis Deo” (in English, it means “Glory to God in the highest”) was one of his compositions. At first, I was planning to go with Mozart’s “Gloria in excelsis Deo”, but since I couldn’t find a Violin sheet for it, I decided to go with Vivaldi’s. At least I know his Gloria can be played in the violin.
[5]= Shintoist is a person who practices Shintoism, one of the common religions in Japan.
[6]= Catholic is a person who’s an adherent of the Roman Catholic church.
Author’s Notes: Ugh…this came out shorter than what I had wanted and expected >.> I blame the merciless headache. Gomen Cindy-chan TT^TT *sulks*
