Chapter 1

One day, Yukimitsu Yuire was walking home after her basketball training. It was almost nighttime. There wasn't anybody around at this time. She was humming her one of her favorites song while enjoying the peacefulness.

She wore a basketball jersey along with her regular jacket. Her shoulder was slung over with a bag that she put everything inside and on her left hand hold a basketball.

As she was walking around the corner, someone knocked her down. She fall and before she could had time to realize what had happened, the guy grabbed her bag and run away. Out of reflex, she quickly got up and chased after him.

"Argh!" Unbeknownst to her, she had accidentally twisted her ankle.

Gosh…! What a bad timing to have a twisted ankle. I never thought it could be this painful, but my bag…Ouch! This really did hurt much. Can I even reach home like this?

"Are you alright?"

She turned to the voice just to find a tall figure handing back her bag. Tezuka Kunimitsu…! She turned back to attend to her ankle not wanting to face him.

Why out of anybody and it has to be him? He must be thinking that I am weak now, just like those other girls. Wait! Maybe he can help at least.

He waited patiently for her answer.

"I am fine. Thanks for your help." No. I can do it myself.

She was biting her lips and trying with all her strength to stand up. After all, she was exhausted after her training. She was trying to use the wall for some support but failed. He quickly dropped the bags and held her, preventing her from hitting the ground.

The feeling of panic made her quickly strengthen herself and head up just in time to meet with Tezuka's, which is a big mistake. She found herself lost in his beautiful hazel eyes. Tezuka was not much better though. He had never been this close to a girl before, let alone a girl who is very pretty. He felt his heart racing and his cheeks turned warm. The same goes to Yukimitsu, her heart was beating so fast as if she could hear it in her ears.

Finally, they were back from their thoughts and came to realize that they were instead standing too close to each other. They quickly pulled away from each other and spun around. However, Yukimitsu's twisted ankle failed her.

"Ah!..." He quickly got hold of her arm.

"Can you walk?" He asked.

"I think…" She was trying to avoid his gaze.

"Let me see your ankle."

"I will be fine. It was not a big deal actually."

Tezuka just gave her a demanding glare and finally she obeyed. While taking off her socks, he found that it was more serious than he had expected. She probably did not treat her ankle when she first twisted it. And she said she can walk with this ankle?! What was she thinking about?

"We need to go to the clinic." He looked up to face her.

"But,…"

"I will take you there." She had wanted to decline his offer, but it was demanding tone that made her obey. She just can't seems to reject him when he was using that tone.

He kneeled down in front of her and carried her up in a bridal style. If she was blushing just now, she was blushing furiously now. Wh…what was he doing?!

"Ah…no! Put me down! Put me down."

He frowned a bit and put her down but still got hold of her just in case. What? Did I hurt her? Any other injuries? Or…

"I am sorry, Tezuka-senpai. But, it was just…" She blushed.

So, she was shy. Do you think you were any different? Well... But, I thought…never mind. I guess this should be better then.

He kneeled down again, this time with his back facing her. She hesitated a second but decided to obey. There is no way she could reject him in anyway. She had no other choice left.

---

After the doctor done his work, Yukimitsu was told not to play basketball at least a week or more. What?! A week or more? No. This cannot be. I am the captain and should lead the team. How am I going to do that if I cannot play? This…this can't be. They still have tournament. How can I be injure at time like this?!

Tezuka's voice brought her back to earth. "Thank you, doctor." She bowed a little to the doctor and exited.

With that, they leave the clinic and Tezuka carried her back to her house. However, she insisted on walking on her own. At last, Tezuka just hold her arm to support her, not trusting her to be able to walk properly to reach home.

At Yukimitsu's house, her big brother was worried and waiting impatiently in front of the door for his dear sister to return. Once he caught a sight of his sister's long platinum-blonde hair, he quickly rushed to the gate and opened it.

"What happened to ya? What happened to yer ankle?" He continued with lots of his questions.

"I am fine, nii-chan. I just twisted my ankle, that's all."

"You called this fine? No. This is not, it's definitely not fine with me. You will tell me what had happened."

"Alright, alright. But, can we at least talk inside? You know, my ankle…"

"Hm…and who is this?"

"He is-"

"Yer guy?"

"No! No, I mean…yea, no. He is Tezuka Kunimitsu, the president of the Student Council of our school. And Tezuka-senpai, this is my big brother, Yashiro."

"So, you found yerself a guy in the same school. Hm…"

Yashiro was observing Tezuka from head to toes. Tezuka tensed, clearly not feeling comfortable with the stare. However, Yashiro seems failed to notice it. Feeling the need to help him out…

"Onii-chan, what are you doing?"

"Hm…I'd say he is quite good-looking and he is as handsome as me. Not so bad for yer boyfriend."

"Onii-chan!!! He is not my boyfriend! Will you quit that? I am sorry, Tezuka-senpai."

She blushed a little. Tezuka just nodded at that, not knowing what to say.

"Oh and he is older than you. Just prefect for my chibi-hime. Oh wait! You are a high school student? I thought- " She slapped her forehead.

"Onii-chan! You…Ouch! My ankle…"

"Hold on there, hold on there. I will take you inside." Without waiting for her to respond, he carried her up, took her bag and basketball then went inside the house.

"Thank you for sending 'er home, boyfriend." Yashiro thanked.

Yukimitsu gave Tezuka a look saying 'gomenasai ne, Tezuka-senpai' before giving Yashiro a knocked on his head for saying Tezuka is her boyfriend again.

Before leaving, he heard Yukimitsu saying 'He's not my boyfriend'. He shrugged and went back home.

Yukimitsu was now sitting on her bed with Yashiro sitting beside her.

"How were ya ankle?" He asked while checking on her to if she has any other injuries.

"I assured you, it was not as bad as it looks."

"Hm…so, tell me." Finally satisfied that she had no other injuries, he sat facing her.

"Huh? Oh…well, I was on the way home when someone knocked me down and grabbed my bag then run away. I do not know how, but Tezuka-senpai somehow managed to get my bag back and took me to the clinic."

Took…yea, he did. But he carried me on his back. Anyhow, I was not lying though.

He frowned. "And?"

"And he kindly sent me back home just like what you saw."

"So?"

"So? What so?" She had no idea what he was asking about. Or she just do not want to answer it?

"Is he yer boyfriend of coz!"

"I told you…NO! N, O, no! Why can't you seem to understand?"

"Okay, maybe not. I never thought ya like this type of guy actually. But, ya did like him right?"

"What is wrong with that type of guy? Besides, I did not say I like him."

"No?" Yashiro went closer to look at her face. "There is nothing wrong with it. It just that I never thought of it. I thought you prefer someone who is more cheerful? Anyhow, I'd say he is not a bad choice though."

"So what?"

"Keep it up then, of course. Since you like him-"

"I did not say I like him." Blushed.

"No?" He went closer to her face and look into her metallic blue eyes. "Then tell me why are you blushing?"

"It's…it's hot inside here."

"Don't bluff. I haf on da air-con. And ya haf no fever."

"I…I…"

"Ow…come on! Ya won't die if ya admit it. Whatz wrong wif dat? Ya aren't dat shy are ya?"

"You…just promise me you will tell nobody and do nothing about it. Nothing will leave this room, okay?"

"Deal. Not a single word. I juz wanna know, dat's all."

"……" She gave him a suspicious look.

"Wat?! Ya dun trust yer big brother?"

"Well, I do not know. Anyhow, I don't plan on getting into a relationship, not after what had hap-" Yashiro patted and ruffed her head a bit, smiling. She was still thinking about that? Well, I guess she does have fear after all.

"I was never aware that yer reaching the age of falling in love. That is interesting. Maybe I can…" Evil grins.

"Hey! You promised."

"So, do ya wanna know what I thought of 'im?"

"What about it?"

"Do ya know how to spell approve?"

"Course I know. Why?"

"Spell it."

"A P P R O V E. Now what?"

"Now, he is only at the level of gaining two alphabets from the word. That is da ap-"

"I see. So, what about the others alphabets?"

"To add the –pro, it is based on his characteristic. And for da –ve, it is up to me to judge how much he loves you. If he qualify, then only I allowed my little chibi-hime to be with him."

"Man…you are going crazy. I am not dating any guy. So, leave that out. I need to do my homework now." She said while pushing him away.

"Hey, I am serious ya know. I would not allow anyone to hurt ya." His face suddenly turns serious.

"……" She just simply nodded.

"Good girl. Now, finish your homework quickly. I will bring the dinner up here."

"Thanks, nii-chan."

"Everything fer ya. Oh and yer not allow to move out of the bed."

"Okay, okay."

"I mean it."

"I know. I will be good. Now, go get the dinner ready. I am starving now and I need to get my homework done."

"Right." He gave him one last look before leaving for the kitchen.

Yukimitsu just sighed and opened her school bag. Her brother words seem to be playing repeatedly in her mind. But, yer like 'im. Am I? Well…I do not dislike him at least. And nii-chan like wise. He judged people very well. Oi, Yuire! Do your homework now. Right, I am not going to date any guy. Now, don't think about it anymore and concentrate on your study.

---

Right after Tezuka had reach home, he had quickly taken his bath and was working on his homework now. However, he found himself could hardly even concentrate on his work. His mind seems to be drifting to what he had encountered just now.

It was not that he had never seen her before. He had indeed always got to see her in school and spent some times with her whenever they had a student council meeting. Since she was the vice-president of the student council, he gets to spend time with her privately sometimes.

He admired her for her leadership, seriousness and was amazed at how well she can manage to build a close relationship with her teammates yet leaving some space out of it. Come to think about it, his teammates respect him more than to treat him like a friend. They always treat him like a captain whether off court or on court, maybe except a few of them.

She was different in this case. She gets along very well with her teammates. On the court, they treat her respectably as a captain. Off the court, she was a good friend. He had saw her laughing and playing happily with her friends. He somehow found himself envy her for that. Was it envy or jealous? You are just jealous she had never laugh like this in front of you. Shut up.

So what now? What am I thinking about? Why am I wasting my time? I should be finishing my homework. So why can't I focus? It is because of her. What about her? Your attention seems to be always on her when she is around. If not, you will be wondering where she could be. Really? I was? No. I am not. I have no time to think about this. I have to focus on my study and the up-coming tournament. You are falling in love with her. No, I-

His phone rang.

"Tezuka."

"Inui."

"Someone saw you with a gir-"

He shut it, knowing really well what Inui was going to say. He decided to take a rest from his work. It's not like he has been working on it though. He popped on his comfortable bed and sighed. Millions of thoughts run through his mind. Is it true…