Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. Konomi Takeshi does. I'm merely playing with them for the moment.

A/N: Ever since the 1st of December, I have been posting one fic/update a day over at my LJ, lumelle. These updates have been in series of five fics sharing a theme.

The first series of five was fics of the first five TeniPuri pairings I ever wrote.

Decisions

"…I guess that's it, then." A slightly breathless voice broke the silence of the nigh abandoned courts, previously only disturbed by the heavy breaths of two exhausted men.

"Yeah," came the reply after a slight pause, followed by a soft hiss of breath. "For now."

"For next year." A hand moved, just slightly, not to reach or hold but simply to move, just about the only movement its owner could manage at the moment. "Guess I should've known…"

"You're just too soft." It might have been a proper chuckle had they had more breath left. "That's why I was chosen instead."

"So you're saying that if I wasn't so nice, I'd make a much better captain than you." At the slight sound of protest, he managed a small laugh. "Calm down, Mamushi. I'm fine with it."

"Which is why you wanted this match right away." Another hiss, slightly softer now. Neither of them had the energy to get up just yet.

"…I'm fine with it now." A pause. "Really, I'm definitely just fine with it now. I mean… buchou was right, wasn't he? The captain has to be strict, and I'm not good at being strict, I'm really not good at it at all."

"That's pretty clear… Fsshuuu." Kaidou raised his head, now, only to let it fall down again. They'd certainly driven each other to their very limits… as usual. "You just aren't disciplined enough."

"There's a difference between being disciplined and yelling at kids, Kaidou." Momo chuckled a bit. "Not that you'd know that, would you?"

"I know enough." Kaidou's breath escaped in another soft hiss. "Someone's got to do the yelling, too, or they'll start slacking off."

"Yeah, yeah. That's why you were picked, isn't it? Nobody can scare kids into running faster than you."

Kaidou didn't bother to answer to that. For a moment they both lay completely silent, looking up to the sky. They were headed towards night, now, the sun low on the sky, the court cold under their backs as the heat of the match escaped their bodies into the chilling evening air. But then, it was autumn already. Of course it'd be getting colder.

"…I really am fine with it," he said finally. "It's your place, Mamushi. And I'll be supporting you, right? Making sure you don't scare everyone out of the club. I'll do my best, I'll definitely do my best."

"…I know you will." That was about as much of a compliment as either of them was ever going to give to the other.

Another moment passed in silence. Finally, Momo felt enough of his strength returning that he managed to push himself off the ground, looking over to his opponent. Kaidou still lay on the other side of the net, right where he had collapsed at the end of their match. Momo walked around the net, still rather too exhausted to jump over it.

"…Oi." He reached out a hand towards his opponent, his rival – his friend. "Get up."

"I don't need your help," hissed Kaidou. He grasped on Momo's hand nevertheless. The grip was sweaty but firm.

Momo pulled Kaidou up, never once thinking about letting go and making him fall. There was a time for such pranks, but this wasn't that time. Looking directly into his old rival's eyes, he smiled, smiled his best smile and meant it. "Let's make it Seigaku's best year ever," he said, his tone slightly softer than before. "Kaidou-buchou."

Kaidou paused for a second. "Yeah," he then said, nodding. "Let's make it our year."