A/N: Hi again! Thank you for your reviews and please continue! And please, please give me some constructive criticism, and remember to tell me if there's some OOCness going on! Thank you!

Disclaimer: I do not own POT. Period. Because if I did, the thrill pair would be real. And Yukimura and Akaya would be together. Gakuto and Oshitari too. Hmph. Besides, if I owned POT, I would be typing this in a mansion, not a hospital. I also don't own any of the songs I put in here-namely, "I'm Not That Girl."

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Walking briskly down the clean, sanitized walls of the hospital, Atobe gave quick glances at the other doors.

Patterns of doors painted blue, yellow, and green stared back at him; the hospital decided that they wanted some 'cheer' in the hallways and painted the originally white doors.

He sighed-which was already uncharacteristic enough for an Atobe-as he placed a firm hand on the brass doorknob to Meiko's room.

He was about to push open the door dramatically when he heard a faint melody from inside…someone was singing!

Damn; the nurses said to never let her sing. Once again, Atobe was about to rush in, but before that, the song came rushing in when he silently, but quickly opened the door.

"Hands touch…eyes meet
"Sudden silence, sudden heat
"Hearts leap in a giddy whirl
"He could be that boy
"But I'm not that girl…"

Atobe could only stare as Meiko stood by the wide open window, singing with her eyes closed and the light curtains billowing around her.

"Don't dream…too far
"Don't lose sight of who you are
"Don't remember that rush of joy
"He could be that boy
"I'm not that girl…"

Even though the lyrics were of sadness, the tennis captain could feel the happiness…the freedom, radiating from the girl.

"Ev'ry so often we long to steal
"To the land of what-might-have-been
"But that doesn't soften the ache we feel
"When reality sets back in

"Blithe smile, lithe limb
"She who's winsome, she wins him
"Gold hair with a gentle curl
"That's the girl he chose
"And Heaven knows
"I'm not that girl:

"Don't wish, don't start
"Wishing only wounds the heart
"I wasn't born for the rose and the pearl
"There's a girl I know
"He loves her so
"I'm not that girl…"

Slowly opening her eyes, Meiko turned around to face Atobe.

She gasped, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

"Ah-gomen ne! I didn't know you were here! Mou-you could have at least told me," Meiko pouted.

A pompous smirk adorned its usual place on Atobe's face once more.

"Ara? And why would Ore-sama do so and miss out on your little concert?"

"Eh?" Meiko's blush became more vibrant.

"Well…um…eto…"

Atobe gave a chuckle.

"Ore-sama didn't know it was you at first so he let it go, but you can't sing anymore, understood?"

Meiko's jaw dropped, a look of utter surprise taking over.

"Aahhh?! Doshite?! Do-shi-teee?!"

Meiko latched onto Atobe's arm, whining. She looked up, putting on her best 'kicked-dog-face.'

Atobe returned it with a 'holier-than-thou' face.

"Because Ore-sama said so. Now, get off Ore-sama's arm!"

Meiko drew in a puff of air, frowning.

"Fine. Che."

She whirled around, her frail back facing Atobe, arms crossed.

Atobe silently laughed.

"Hmm…oi-have you ever been to a tennis match?"

Meiko's face tilted to the side in newfound interest as she turned back around.

"Tennis…match? Iie…"

Atobe's smirked in triumph.

"Want to see one anytime soon?"

Meiko's eyes widened.

-

"Waah! Suge!"

Meiko strolled about the resting area of the tennis gardens, heading towards the vending machine.

The doctor had given her a release form for the weekend, so that she could come watch the match and be with her family. That morning, she was relieved to get out of her hospital gown and into her old clothes.

She picked out the outfit she last wore before going into the hospital; a pure white sundress, with a chain of topaz daisies on the waist, the ends coming together and hanging down after being pinned in by a larger daisy. A loose, light yellow cardigan was put on over it, with a small gold-colored purse hanging down from a long strap, placed over Meiko's shoulders.

Strapped heels clacked along the granite floor as she stopped in front of a vending machine.

Depositing a few coins, she pressed a dimly lit button. A can of soda popped out, and she grasped it before whirling around-to be met with three faces of angry girls. Girls dressed in the Hyotei Gakuen uniform.

"Eto…"

"Heh…so she's the little brat who hangs around Atobe-sama so much," one muttered.

"Eh? Atobe…sama?"

"That's right! How dare you, you little wench!" Another cried, pulling on a strand of Meiko's hair.

"Itai!"

"We'll make sure you never talk to him aga-"

"Saa, saa…what do we have here?"

Meiko opened her eyes and blinked as the hand holding her hair slowly lost its grasp.

The three girls had turned around to face the newcomers.

"Seigaku freaks!" One furiously whispered.

"We heard that," Meiko heard a monotone voice utter.

"You can't bully a girl, you can't," she heard another voice chide jokingly.

"We are girls!" One of the three screamed.

"Really? Because I couldn't tell."

"What did you say?!"

"Shut up and scram before I make you," Meiko heard a third voice hiss.

Yelping, the trio scrambled away down the stairs.

Meiko collapsed on the floor in a heap, exhausted.

"Ahh…its my first time outside in a long time, and already people are being so mean," she softly whined.

"Daijobu deska?"

Meiko looked up into the face of a smiling, chestnut-haired boy, extending a hand.

She took it, and he pulled her up.

"I-I'm fine! Arigatou-gozaimas!"

Meiko bowed and finally took a look at the eight boys in front of her.

A smirking boy stood in the front, his white cap slightly tipped down.

A bouncy redhead had his arms wrapped around the neck of another black-haired boy, who smiled worriedly at her.

Another, tall boy grinned foolishly at her, and the boy next to him had a green bandana around his head, leering at her.

A shy looking male smiled kindly at her, hand behind his head.

Two boys stood off to the side; a stoic looking one with his arms sternly crossed, and the other, a guy who looked a bit creepy behind his thick glasses.

"Did you know those girls?" the shy-looking boy asked her.

"No, I'm afraid not."

"Are you lost, by any chance?" the smiling boy asked her.

"Um…just a little. Do you know where court C is?"

"Court C? That's where Hyotei's having a match with some no name school," the boy with glasses mumbled.

"Hyotei! That's right-the team Atobe's in!"

"Atobe? You're here to see Atobe?!"

She began to receive strange looks from the eight boys-except from a certain three-the smiling boy, the creepy guy, and the stoic male.

"What could such an innocent, cute girl want with ATOBE?!" Momo whispered harshly to Ryoma.

"How am I supposed to know?"

"Saa, saa…since our opponents forfeit, we have time to watch a few matches before we leave, right?"

All heads turned to Fuji.

"You serious?"

"Of course."

-

Meiko watched with fascination as a certain Hyotei tennis captain proceeded to defeat his opponent-in less than fifteen minutes.

"Eh-Atobe put himself in singles two?"

"Heh…Monkey King's degrading himself just for a girl?"

"Ano…what's singles-two?"

Meiko received looks of shock, horror, and remorse. Frowning slightly in confusion, she tilted her head.

"Is something wrong?"

With a quick turn of their backs, the Seigaku regulars crouched down.

"Oi, oi-is she really Atobe's girlfriend?"

"We never said she was."

"Nya, Oishi She asked what singles-two was…singles-two!"

"Eto…maybe they're just good friends?

"Impossible!"

"But-"

"Saa, saa-the match is finished. Don't you want to see the target's reaction?"

'T-target…?'

"In any case, move aside, nya! I'm getting up!"

As Eiji sprang up, the rest of the regulars followed suit.

They were met with an interesting scene:

"Wah-she's even prettier in person!" Jiroh poked Meiko's arm with his index finger, eyes wide.

"Eh?" Meiko laughed.

"Its nice to meet you, Hiromi-san," Choutarou smiled and offered his hand to the girl.

"Un! Ah-you can call me Meiko!"

"Hehh…Kaito talked about you, you know," Gakuto grinned.

"Kaito? Ah-Kai-chan? What did he say?"

"He called you 'Nightingale-O-nee-san.' He said all the other kids did, too."

"Honto?!"

Oshitari sidled up to Atobe.

"Hmm…what have we got here? Atobe-don't tell me, you're-"

"Don't make assumptions, Oshitari. Ore-sama merely felt sorry for the girl. That is all."

The tensai rolled his eyes discreetly, a smirk slowly forming on his face.

"Whatever you say."

He was met by raised eyebrows.

Shrugging, Oshitari walked ahead to join the group of people surrounding Meiko.

'Oshitari…what's he thinking?'

"Atobe-kun!"

Atobe was snapped out of his thoughts when something pulled at his arm.

"Atobe-kun! I saw your match-it was so…so…so…brilliant!"

"Hora?"

"Un! I never saw something quite like it! It was so amazing!"

"Hehh…"

A thought passed through everyone's head-except for Meiko and Atobe.

'So that's why he likes her…'

Yes-the inevitable reason for Atobe's sudden interest in the girl was revealed. When one has a large ego, what does he most desire? Attention. To be revered. And if a person who admits it so freely-that she admires him, what would be his reaction?

Anyone could guess.

A resounding sigh filled the courts.

-

"Oi, Atobe. I have a question," Shishido stated.

Looking up from his book, Atobe waved a hand. He sunk deeper into his lavender chair, crossing his legs.

"That Meiko girl…what's so special about her?"

Heads looked up from current activities on the lush, carpeted floor.

"Ah-that's right. Why are you so nice to her? I mean-"

"Gakuto. No need to take things so seriously. I just felt sorry for her-that's all. Now, Ore-sama needs his beauty sleep. He shall be in the next room if you wish to bask in his glory."

"A-ah…"

Gakuto forced a lopsided smile and waved goodbye.

"I'm sure to try and hold back as much as possible, Atobe," Oshitari claimed as his smile tightened.

"Che. Whatever," Shishido waved his hand, not bothering to look up.

"Oyasumi," Choutarou smiled.

"Hai, buchou."

"Usu."

Jiroh yawned.

"Ah-Atobe, one more thing."

The teen turned from his spot at the doorway, eyebrows raised.

"What is it, Oshitari? If Ore-sama is even a minute late, his pores will start to expand. Hop to it!"

'P-pores…?'

"W-Well, you didn't forget that we have training camp next week, right?"

"Oshitari!" Atobe snapped.

"A-Aa?"

"You forget who Ore-sama is. Ore-sama is your captain. And as your captain, Ore-sama would never forget. Now then-if you're done, Ore-sama must tend to his flawless beauty."

With a huff, Atobe strode out the room-and once he was out of earshot, laughter boomed in the room.

"Pores?!"