Deafening Silence ( prince of tennis) (#wattys2016)

27

Sanada Residence

Sanada Gen'emon knelt before the altar in his family's dojo in silent meditation, incense sticks burning and filling his nostrils with the calming scent of jasmine. The room was bare, wood walls, ceiling and floor, with sheathed katanas hanging on the walls and several paintings. Gen'emon liked it that way; barebones, only what was necessary, and nothing more.

He was an old man, nearing his seventies, with a thick white beard and moustache, white eyebrows, sharp brown eyes and aging features, completely bald, wearing the black robes befitting a proper Japanese monk. He knelt in complete silence contemplating his day.

His day had been very simplistic. He had risen early to meditate, practice kendo, feed his koi and then prepare his traditional Japanese breakfast with a cup of green tea. Gen'emon did not allow his daughter Masaki to make breakfast or any meal for him, because while he was bordering on seventy, he could still move and breathe without problem, and if there was no problem he saw no reason to be treated like there was. The rest of his day and been playing shogi, reading and then practicing his calligraphy before returning to the dojo for further practice and meditation.

It was during his meditation that he heard footsteps, and Gen'emon did not need to open his eyes to know that it was Genichiro returning from school. But there was also softer footsteps mixed into the sounds of Genichiro's own, and Gen'emon realised that his grandson had a guest with him. He supposed that was a good thing, since the only people that visited were his friends Yukimura and Yanagi, but this person's footsteps belonged to neither, so he assumed his grandson had made a friend.

He is getting too soft, he told himself.

He finished his meditation shortly afterwards, and stood up from his cushion before the altar and turned quickly to the door towards the house. If his grandson was home that meant it was time to feed the koi, and so Gen'emon entered the house to take the food he had stored in the kitchen cupboards.

He entered the living room, unsurprised to see his grandson knelt on a cushion before the dining table with a poster of some sort in front of him, probably completing homework. What he was surprised at however, was the deep sky blue hair of a small child, probably several years younger than Genichiro, knelt on a cushion next to him, writing in a notebook in what appeared to be English. Gen'emon had never seen this boy before and quickly came to the conclusion that he was here for reasons other than a friendly visit, because he had taught his grandson to never associate with people who had such a ridiculous hair colour.

Genichiro looked up and noticed him watching the two, and nodded his head politely.

"Grandfather" he greeted formally, and the other boy looked up, and Gen'emon noticed with distaste at how his hair was styled across his left eye, making him look even more ridiculous.

"I see you have brought a friend" he noted, and his grandson nodded once in response.

"Echizen is here to complete our group English project" he stated formally, with no unnecessary introductions or topics, just like Gen'emon had taught him. He turned to the blue-haired boy, faintly remembering the name 'Echizen'.

"Ah, Echizen. You are the mute child and Genichiro's English tutor, correct?" he asked, and despite his old eyes, he could detect the slightest irritation in his expression before it was gone, and Echizen nodded once. It was clear he did not like being labelled 'mute child', which Gen'emon understood, remembering his other grandchild who was deaf, and was referred to as 'the deaf kid' at his school before he moved away.

"In that case you may continue with your work" he said politely, before walking through the room and towards the door.

"Grandfather" came his grandson's voice again, and Gen'emon turned back to him.