Seiichi haf told me to go to the match but there was no way I could focus on tennis when he was headed for his surgery today. I did want to support the other Rikkaidai boys especially since their opponent was the pretty strong Seigaku team. And yet I hadn't even realised the first doubles match had already finished. I didn't catch anything that was happening. I was too busy worrying about Seiichi. "Sora." Only when I heard my name did I pay any attention to my surroundings. Sanada was standing right in front of me. "Oh." I looked up at my classmate. "Why don't you go?" "Huh?" A confused sound left my lips. "Your mind is at the hospital anyways, why don't you go?" He had seen right through me. I scratched the back of my head. "Sorry..." "We all want to be there, so just take our place, okay?" Sanada showed me a very rare, kind smile. I stood up and nodded. "Thank you," I returned his smile. "With you waiting on the other side, he'll make it through." I wasn't sure what Sanada meant by that exactly but I was too busy collecting my things so I could go anyways to give it much thought.

"Good luck," I said to the other Rikkaidai boys before I hurried off to get to the hospital. I should definitely be able to make it before Seiichi had to go into surgery.

"Miss, please don't run in the hospital!" A nurse called out to me but all I could think about was Seiichi. I reached for the doorknob to his room yet hesitated. What if I said the wrong thing? What if he didn't make it?

No. I shook those thoughts off. Seiichi would be a fine. He'd make it through surgery and get better. That's what I had to believe.

With my newfound resolve I opened the door and walked into the room. "Sora-chan?" Seiichi was sitting in his bed. "Hi," I smiled. I was relieved to see him. See him not worried. That made me worry less. If he was positive, he was going to make it through surgery just fine. "I thought you were going to the match?" Seiichi asked me. "I was," I nodded, "But Sanada sent me here since everyone else can't be." Seiichi smiled the gentle smile that I had grown to love. "Thank you." My heart skipped a beat. Seiichi patted the free space on his bed so I walked over and sat on the edge of his bed. I smiled as well, "Everyone is thinking about you." "How were they doing before you left?" It was just like him to worry more about his team than himself. Or maybe he just wanted to distract himself. "Uh..." But I had to realise that I had no idea. I didn't even remember how the first match ended. Seiichi chuckled, "It's alright. I know they're doing their best." I scratched the back of my head sheepishly, "Sorry." "No, I'm glad you're here." "Me too." I didn't even think about those words. It was the worst truth. There was nowhere I would rather be than by his side right now. I had realised a while ago that Seiichi was more than just a friend to me. Even if he didn't feel the same, all I wanted was to stay close to him.

"So, have the nurses been prodding you?" I changed the topic. It seemed like we both needed a distraction. He told me about how some of the younger kids had come by earlier to wish him luck. He was really well liked by them. I could understand that. Seiichi was the kindest person I knew. People were drawn to him. Just like I was when we first met.

"What are you laughing about?" Seiichi asked me. I hadn't even noticed that I had laughed out loud. "I was just thinking about how we first met," I answered smiling at the memory.

It was the first day of middle school. I was lost, carrying too many heavy books for my small frame. I could barely see over the top of the stack I was carrying when I tripped over my own feet crashing into the ground. Only it wasn't the ground I fell onto. It was a boy with blue hair and pale eyes. "I'm so sorry." I scramble off him and quickly tried to gather my books. "Are you alright?" The boy smiled at me with the most gentle smile. He got up and held his hand out to me. "Yes, thank you." I took his hand and he helped me back on my feet. The boy picked up a few of my books. "I'm Yukimura Seiichi," he had introduced himself. "Ah, I'm Sora," I quickly bowed my head. I heard him chuckle and looked up. "Nice to meet you, Sora-chan," he smiled brightly, "Where do you have to go? I'll help you."

Thinking back, I probably fell in love with him right then and there. I just didn't realise it. One of the books I had been carrying was my own, a book about tennis. Seiichi saw it and that's how our friendship started. I wasn't a very good player but I loved tennis so I ended up helping out at the boys club.

"You're still as clumsy now as you were back then," Seiichi chuckled. "Hey!" I exclaimed but had to laugh as well. He had a point.

Suddenly someone knocked at the door. "Yukimura-kun," a nurse came in, "It's time to get you prepped." Seiichi tensed up. It wasn't obvious, but I noticed. Instinctively I grabbed his hand. "It'll be okay," I smiled. Seiichi relaxed a little. "It'll still be a bit, so you can wait here I'd you'd like," the nurse said to me. "I'll wait here," I told Seiichi. He nodded and smiled.

As I watched him leave with the nurse, worry started to grow in me again. But I couldn't let myself give into it. Seiichi was worried enough. I needed to be positive for him.

It seemed like an eternity until Seiichi came back. I greeted him with a smile. "Sora-chan, I'm really glad you're here." His words were simple but they made heart skip a beat. However I could feel that he was starting to grow anxious. "And I'll be here when you come out again," I tried to reassure him, "Everyone will. You'll be okay." Seiichi smiled but it didn't quite reach his eyes. I took his hand again and gave it a small squeeze. It hurt my heart to know how worried he was. "Thank you, Sora-chan." I nodded, "I'll always be here." "That means a lot to me." We both smiled at each other. Seiichi wrapped his arms around me. I returned his embrace, hoping my positive thoughts would be able to ease his worried even just a little bit.

It felt like it has only been a second when there was another knock on the door. It was the same nurse. "It's time," she said. Seiichi was transferred onto a different bed. "Can I go with him?" I asked. "Of course, but only until we get to the surgical wing. I sighed, relieved that I would get a few more moment with Seiichi before his surgery. He took my hand. He showed me a genuine smile which I returned.

The whole way I didn't let go of his hand. Or he didn't let go of mine. It didn't matter.

"Buchou!" "Yukimura!" Everyone from the team except Sanada caught up with us just before we reached the surgery wing. "How did it go?" Seiichi asked his team. "Sanada is fighting now." "So you have to fight too." All of them gave him words of encouragement. Seiichi smiled. "We have to go now," the nurse said however and started pushing Seiichi's bed through the doors to the operating rooms. It was just a glimpse, but I could see worry on Seiichi's face as he left all of us behind. I had no idea what came over me next, but I caught one of the doors. "Seiichi!", I yelled after them. Seiichi looked back at me from further down the hall. "I love you!" I let the door fall shut before he could react.

Then I realised what I had just done and stumbled backwards onto the ground. Had I really just confessed my feelings to Seiichi right before he went into surgery? How could I have been do stupid?

"Sora..." I looked up to find everyone staring at me. Oh no. But it seemed no one knew what to say. I was relieved that they'd rather focus on the mini radio they'd brought to keep up with Sanada's game. Once again I was too preoccupied with worrying about Seiichi to pay any attention to it.

Only when someone punched the wall did I snap out of it. Sanada had lost. Which meant that Seigaku had won. But if Sanada had been fighting and lost... My worry went up another level.

But then a doctor in surgical clothes came through the door that Seiichi had vanished through. "You're here for Yukimura Seiichi, aren't you?" he asked us. "What happened?" I basically yelled at him. I could already feel tears burning in my eyes. The startled doctor took a step back. "The surgery went very well," he informed us, "Yukimura-kun will be in the recovery room for another hour or two until he wakes up." "So he's okay?" "Yes. He will make a full recovery." All the tension left my body. I collapsed in relief. Seiichi would be fine. "Sora-chan!" The others came rushing to my side. "Are you okay?" Even the doctor looked concerned. "I'm fine," I nodded. Except tears started falling from my eyes. Seiichi would be fine. That thought made me so happy. "Sora-chan..." I found myself in a group hug. Of course. Seiichi's teammates were just as relieved as I was.

Once Sanada arrived the others told him the good news. "That's a relief," he said, "But Yukimura is going to need his rest once he wakes up. We should let him." "What are you saying?" Bunta asked his vice captain. "Sora, why don't you stay here? We'll come visit Yukimura tomorrow." "Huh?" I looked up at him surprised. "That's a good idea, those two will need to talk," Yagyuu agreed. I felt the blood rush to my cheeks when I realised what he meant. I had confessed to Seiichi before he went into surgery. Honestly, I was scared of his reaction. But I also just really wanted to see him.

"Take good care of Yukimura." Those were the last words Sanada said to me before he and the rest of the team left.

All I could do now was wait for Seiichi to get back from the recovery room.

A noise suddenly startled me. It seemed I had fallen asleep while waiting for Seiichi to get back. And now he was. "Sora-chan." He had noticed I was awake. I was so relieved to see Seiichi looking okay. So relieved that I ran over and immediately he hugged him. "I'm so glad you're okay." Seiichi chuckled and wrapped his arms around me. "I'm glad you're still here, Sora-chan." That's when I remembered what I had said just before Seiichi went into surgery. I quickly pulled away. "Uh, about what I said, you know..." "Sora-chan," Seiichi stopped, "I believe that your words are what got me through this surgery." My eyes widened in surprise. Seiichi took my hand and pulled me closer again. "Knowing you'd be waiting. Knowing you feel the same I do. Knowing you'll always be by my side. That's what got me through." "Seiichi..." I didn't know what to say. Never in a million years did I think Seiichi could feel the same way I did. "Sora, let me say what you didn't let me say before," Seiichi looked straight into my eyes, his gaze even more gentle than I'd ever seen, "I love you too." My brain wasn't able to form a coherent thought. But I didn't have to. Seiichi pulled me closer and pressed his lips to mine ever so softly. The kiss only lasted a few seconds but that was more than enough to erupt millions of butterflies in my stomach. "Please stay with me," Seiichi whispered into my ear, his breath on my neck sending shivers down my spine. "I'll always be by your side." We smiled at each other.

I knew then that I had connected with my soulmate forever.