Prologue

I had been anticipating this day so much that when it finally came, I welcomed it with a huge smile on my face as I woke up. And along with that goofy smile I had, a bright mood to accompany me to face the day ahead. I'm a cheerful person, I know and you might think that this is but a normal occurrence for me. But I tell you, today is an extremely special day and so I had to treat this as one. You want to know the reason why this day is a day unlike any else! Why today is the day Echizen comes home from his participation in the US Open!

Arrggh! I can't believe it! After not seeing him for about a month or so, I get to see him again! Don't you know that it almost drove me mad to not see him everyday? That it crushed me when I learned that he wouldn't be participating in the Nationals with us! That, that, that… Anyway, I just missed him so much!

Well, okay fine. It was not as if we never even get to talk to each other. There were the telephone calls and the e-mails. But it just wasn't the same you know? After getting used to his presence – hanging out at the burger joint, almost joined together at the hip during club activities and visiting the street courts on weekends – it was just disconcerting to realize day and again that he will not be around to see.

But I got by, thanks to Eiji-senpai who had become my burger buddy and to the National tournament for keeping me busy. Even Mamushi had sympathized with me. You could tell because he'd been bugging me more than usual. Well, let's just say that it's his own way for cheering me up. If it weren't for them, I might have wallowed in self pity.

You think that it might be extreme for me to feel such loneliness at Echizen's leaving. He was a friend yeah, but it shouldn't bring such impact on me, right? Well, the thing is… I love Echizen. As a friend and even more so. I realized this as he was having a crisis on the whole 'to go or not to go' episode of his.

I thought I was being my normal self. You know, me being a little 'all knowing' about Echizen's feelings - since I was his best friend and all. I took pride in the fact that I know Echizen inside and out. But the problem that arose was that I didn't think about it objectively. I just heard what I wanted to hear and understood what I wanted to understand.

I just took Echizen's confirmation of his not going to the US Open at face value. I didn't even stop and think that maybe he had something going on the back of his mind. But the old lady made me open my eyes after that horrible match between Echizen and me. She pointed out that Echizen was really bent on going to US Open but was held back by his responsibility as the Pillar of Seigaku.

I was deeply sorry for the way I had treated my best friend and so I went to look for him. I had planned on apologizing, but I ended up blaming him for not telling us so in the first place. But I think he got what I was trying to say. That I was bidding him good luck in the US Open and urging him to go for his dream.

I went home but I was still disturbed. Even though I had approved and urged Echizen to go, a part of me still wanted him to stay. And the firm conviction that I had displayed earlier in the day when I had claimed that if Echizen says he will stay, he will - confuses me. I suddenly realized as I was in my bed staring at the ceiling why I acted that way. I was convincing myself that he will stay because I know subconsciously that when Echizen leaves… It will affect me. Depress me even.

I ponder why. If Eiji-senpai were to leave, or maybe even Mamushi, I would be sad of course. They were my friends after all. But I'm certain that I wouldn't mope about it. I'd probably be sad for a day or two, miss them for sure, but I would move on. But when the prospect of Echizen leaving comes up, I get crushed.

And then in a sudden fit of epiphany, I knew. It's because I've developed feelings for Echizen. I wasn't sure when all of this started but I just knew. The days where I wake up just to anticipate hanging out with Echizen, being happy that I was the only one who could force a laugh out of Echizen, being the closest to him the most makes me feel like the richest man in the world… It all boils down to one thing. I've learned to love him.

I groaned to myself when I finally figured out my feelings. I really had the greatest timing in the world. I just have to realize this when Echizen was about to leave. I just can't waltz in and confess to Echizen about my feelings! I would probably, no, I would ruin Echizen focus on the upcoming matches he will have in the US Open. And I absolutely don't want to be a burden to him.

So I had decided that night, that I would let Echizen know when he comes back from participating in the US Open. And that day had finally come! I know I should be nervous about confessing as this might affect our friendship… But it was overshadowed by the fact that I was hideously happy and excited at the idea of seeing him again. I will get nervous and anxious when it comes down to it, but I'll worry about that later.

I took a deep, calming breath and proceeded to do my early morning ritual – brush my teeth, take a bath, fix my hair and all that blah. And just as I finished eating my breakfast the door bell rang. I said good bye to my mom and my sibs before I made the mad dash to answer the door. The Seigaku regulars greeted me warmly and we proceeded to go the airport where we promised to meet Echizen.

Me and the rest of the Seigaku regulars just arrived in time at the airport. Echizen's plane had just landed and we're just waiting for him to get his luggage and make his grand entrance. I swear the smile on my face must've been huge, because after awhile of so much smiling my cheek started to feel like they've been pinched hard. I looked around and saw that I was not the only one excited to see Echizen.

Eiji-senpai was bouncing on the balls of his feet, like he can't wait a moment more. Oishi-senpai was calming him down but he too was shooting quick glances at the arrival gate. Inui-senpai and Mamushi were talking amongst themselves but was obvious that they were distracted. Fuji-senpai was smiling a little weirder than usual as he chatted up to Tezuka-buchou and Taka-san, who were both looking steadfast at the arrival gate.

I was about to smile some more and was thinking about bouncing around like Eiji-senpai when said senpai shrieked loudly.

"OCHIBI! WAAAH, OVER HERE! OVER HERE!" He yelled excitedly as he ran forward a bit and started waving madly. The rest of the team stopped what they were doing and gave Echizen smiles and waves. I was about to join in the crazy frenzy when I stopped short.

Echizen, I noticed was pretty much the same since I last seen him. He still had the cap on, but I noticed that his hair was a bit longer and that he grew a couple inches taller. Echizen still had that lazy look on him, the one he always have when not playing tennis, but for the moment he had a small smile on his face, like he was truly happy to be back.

But that wasn't what got my attention. It was the fact that he turned around and motioned somebody to join him. When the guy got closer - I suddenly got the feeling that I've seen him before - Echizen grabbed his wrist, dragged him so that they were walking side by side and then held his hand. They were holding hands!

I was so intent on staring at their linked hands that I didn't notice that Echizen and that guy had closed in on us. When I came to, Eiji-senpai had Echizen in a hug and Fuji-senpai was patting Echizen's back. The guy had stood back and let the team have Echizen. I really wanted to give Echizen a hug too, but I was frozen to the spot.

"Oi, Momo! Why are you way back there! Won't you welcome Echizen!" Eiji-senpai said as he put a hand on his hips, glaring at me mockingly. I forcibly turned my attention from that guy and on to Echizen. My best friend was looking at me funny, but the happiness in his eyes was also unmistakable. My heart jumped at the thought that he missed me and that he was happy to see me.

"I'm back, Momo-senpai." He said in a soft voice. I smiled and came closer to him. When he was within my reach, I hugged him. I didn't want to let go. And it seemed like he didn't want to either. But then the guy, coughed. Echizen blinked as if he was woken up from a reverie and broke from the embrace. I frowned at that. As I was sulking I saw Eiji-senpai elbowing Fuji-senpai at the corner of my eye.

I gave them a glare and they behaved themselves. As if you could call it behaving. They stopped gossiping yes, but they were looking at me like I let something slip. It didn't help either that both had knowing smiles on their faces. Busted.

I pouted and turned my attention back at Echizen. He had that guy by the hand and was leading him towards us, probably for some introductions. I looked at the guy closely. He really was familiar. Like I already saw him… But I just can't place his face…

"Guys, remember Kevin Smith?" Echizen asked slowly. Oh, Kevin Smith! The brat that had been terrorizing the schools in search of Echizen! Grrrr… I haven't thought much of him before, but really! He's so, so dislikable! Why didn't I notice this before!

"He'll be a foreign exchange student at Seigaku." Echizen said as he spared a glance at Kevin. Kevin nodded. I looked at their once again intertwined hands as I vaguely hear Eiji-senpai welcome Kevin heartily by slapping his back. Echizen must've noticed where I was looking at because next thing he said was;

"And he's my boyfriend." I stopped thinking altogether. The happy day that I had been anticipating just turned into my worst nightmare.

t.b.c