Disclaimer: I don't want to own Prince of Tennis. I don't have the talent to make it as fabulous as it is. I only try to feed my PoT withdrawal syndrome by writing.

P.S. Not really a Golden Pair piece, more of good old friendship. I'm a closet Eiji lover! Kind of a reflection piece for Eiji, inspired by OVA 4 – Kikumaru Alone.

The Unbreakable Promise

Eiji is loud and hyper, the epitome of happy-go-lucky. They think he doesn't hear them.

It's tiebreak already. Will Eiji-senpai last?

But he hears them anyway. The Golden Pair is history.

Eiji is at his physical limit already.

Behind those brave smiles, they hide - positive words and gentle tones only.

It's okay, Eiji-senpai. You did your best.

No it's not. It's not okay. It's never okay to lose. But he smiles and glomps his ochibi.

Eiji always had Oshi to cover for him.

His best wasn't enough to win. Is he not good enough?

Don't worry. We can always count on Tezuka-buchou.

Oshi was the dependable one - Seigaku's mother hen, and Eiji was never the leader. He trusted Oshi to watch his back. The red head always looked up to Oshi, to Fuji, to Tezuka and his favourite ochibi to bring them the ultimate victory.

'Nobody is perfect. Right, Oshi?' Eiji struggles to reason with his inner demon.

He turns to Oshi for understanding but found his partner busy fussing over others. As always, others before himself, Eiji feels an indignant rage rise in him.

If only Kikumaru had more stamina or had recovered faster. We could have won.

Loud and clear, as though he's not there, his weaknesses were thrown out in the open.

Eiji knows Oshi heard it but the vice-captain is strangely silent.

'You are not there yet,' his inner-demon confirms his worst fear and Eiji's smile fades a notch. But nobody notices, they are too busy fretting over the scores.

Tezuka wins the crucial match and Seigaku is the overall champ. Doubles One's failure was forgotten. But Eiji hasn't.

Silently, the acrobat promises, 'I'll master my fears and conquer my weaknesses.'

The awards ceremony was over in a flash. Everyone was getting ready to celebrate at Kawamura's. Yet Eiji cannot bring himself to be happy. Even his hair seemed to droop a little. He looked around to realize that he was the last one left.

'We haven't found it yet - the endless possibilities in our doubles game,' and he was determined to make it happen. Together as one, they will be the top doubles pair.

"Wait for me, Oshi" Eiji thought aloud.

"I will get better." He must.

"Wait for me," his voice barely a whisper as he hoists his bag across his shoulder.

"I don't want to be left behind," his head bent low as he trudges up the bleachers.

A familiar voice calls out to him. "Why would you be left behind?"

Eiji looks up, eyes disbelieving. "We're Seigaku's Golden Pair, right?"

Golden Pair. Always.

Sprinting up the steps, he glomps his best friend.

Silently, Eiji prays for forever.

Maybe forever and a day.

P.S. Just in case, to clear things up, Eiji didn't lose Singles 2 in OVA 4. Though he won in a manner I personally cannot accept. But a win is a win (: So who cares what I think? I just wondered how he felt when they had a losing streak.

Owari!

Eiji will like some reviews, send him some love please?

Cheers (: