Chapter 3

Sorry it took so long to post! I forgot my password for both my msn account and Fanfic account. Gomen~! But please enjoy ^^

-Tezuka's point-

"We will now have practice matches!" I announced as I got excited, "Fuji and Eji court A, Oishi and Momoshiro court B, Echizen and Inui prepare for matches in court C, Kaido and Kawamura Court D. Go!" Everyone was excited to have this rare opportunity to see matches against the regulars, not for the school rankings but just for practice.

"Hey! Why am I with Fuji? I'm gonna lose for sure now…" Eji giggled obviously joking.

"We'll see…" Fuji replied back with a chuckle, as they both got into place.

"Go easy on me sempai~!" Momo pleaded sweating bullets.

"Same goes for me." Oishi said with a huge grin on his face.

"It's you and me again sempai!" Echizen informed.

"this is interesting… Lets see how much you've improved" Inui adjusted his glasses.

"Everyone, start your game!" I gave out the final order.

"Ossu!" Everyone replied in unison.

*Game goes on*

I walked around looking at how everyone was doing. I tried to avoid Ryoma's court as much as possible, afraid that I wound never be able to keep my eyes off her.

"Game and the match, Echizen 6-4!" The instant the referee called out, I dashed over curious about the results.

"Mada mada dane sempai." Ryoma said while panting with a huge grin on her face.

"Really now…" Inui snickered,

"HE WON!!" a wave of first years gathered around Ryoma. I could only stare at her from outside the court.

"Hey, Echizen!" A sudden feeling of anger burst from within me. Horio leaped up and flung himself over her. For a second she looked stunned, but she looked annoyed once again. Without realizing I ran across the court and embraced Ryoma pushing Horio away. My unusual action silenced everyone in the court. All the games had stopped and all eyes were on us.

"ano… Sempai?" Ryoma muffled against my chest. Trying to look natural, I pushed Ryoma away from me gently. I looked down at my shoes trying to hide my blush.

"What? Am I the only one that's not allowed to hug?" I awkwardly laughed off. I turned around walking away. "Everyone, continue your match!" I ordered fiercely out of embarrassment.

I remembered how she flinched in my embrace. My chest stung as I once again felt useless.

"Buchou!" someone called out from behind me. When I looked back, I saw Horio, the last person I wanted to see, coming after me panting.

"What is it?" I asked glaring at him. When he flinched, I felt satisfaction.

"Um… I'm sorry for my rudeness… But could you possibly like Echizen?" I felt my expression get colder.

"I fail to see why I must answer that question." I childishly retorted back.

"If you don't like him… then please don't hug him." He mumbled loud enough for me to hear. I turned away from him, my chest throbbing with the same pain I had felt before.

"Who I hug, is non of your concern. And… 'HE' is nothing to me." With that, I walked away. Dammit! Why the hell did I say that?! When I walked passed the water fountain, I found Ryoma crouching down, hugging her legs tightly with her head between them. I flinched. 'She couldn't have… just… heard that… right?'

Ryoma's head suddenly shot up, and when she glanced around, our eyes met. There was tears welled up in her eyes, as he looked hurt.

"Ryoma…." I shamelessly reached out for her. But she just sat there… shocked… Her welled up tears streamed down. I reached out even further to have her slap my hands away and run off at the speed of light.

Sadness filled my eyes as all I could do was stare at her running off once again.

-Next Day-

"Everyone Gather!" I assembled everyone

"Cheers!" Everyone greeted.

"Momo, Kaido, Inui, Oishi, Eji, Fuji, Kawamura… Where is Echizen?" I asked casually.

"Well…" Momo hesitated. I have a bad feeling about this…

"Well?" I pressed.

"Um…" Momo glanced at Fuji, and Fuji nodded once. "Um… Echizen's dad called… to say… er…. That… Echizen is…" I held my breath "Transferring." My world shattered into pieces as the news sunk in.

"I… See…" was all I could manage to say. "Today will be free practice! Oishi, cover up for me!"

Startled, Oishi looked up

"Oi! Tezuka!" But it was too late. I dashed out of the courts 'Dammit' I thought to myself biting my lips. 'Why?!' For the first time in a long time, something warm trickled down my cheeks. I didn't wipe it away. I just continued to run. My legs felt like they were about to crack in half, but I continued on… 'Ryoma… Please wait just a little longer!' I begged to myself as her house slowly came into sight.