CAT CAUGHT MY HEART: DAY III—KIKUMARU EIJI

"Concentrate, Kisara!" Tezuka barked at the sideline as Kisara missed yet another ball from Oishi. "I know you can do better, you cannot lose concentration."

"Yes, Tezuka-sama." Kisara tried her best to focus, but all she felt like doing was crying. Tennis was getting harder and harder. It was not easy to keep up with the regulars. They work fast and furious, while she's always one step behind. Even though Kaidoh and the others had continued to give her various advices, she couldn't remember all of it. And if she did remember all of it, she would forget to apply it into the match.

"Take it easy, Kisara-chan." Fuji murmured softly from the other court. "Just focus on the ball and Oishi. Keep your mind on the game."

"Tell me what the color is, then aim it at the cone that is the same color." Oishi directed as he swung his racket. Kisara's focus zoned in on the tennis ball. What color is it?! What is color?

"Red!" She finally announced and hit the ball with full force. Tezuka frowned.

"Stop for a moment!" He ordered before walking onto the court. "Kisara, come here." Kisara walked over obediently. The captain picked up the ball she had just hit.

"What color is this?" He asked.

Kisara bit her lips, then said timidly, "…red?" The frown on Tezuka's brow grew even sterner.

"And this?" He held up another ball.

"…blue?" Kisara's voice was weak. Tezuka studied her, then pointed to a cone.

"And what color is that cone?"

"…y-yellow?" Tezuka was silent. Kisara was silent. Everyone was silent. The whole tennis court was full of silence. When Tezuka finally turned back, his expression was skeptical.

"Kisara…are you colorblind?"

"N-no," she stammered. "I'm sure I'm not. I can see perfectly well."

"I didn't say you were blind. I said colorblind." The other members came closer. "What is the color of…" Tezuka looked around, then spotted it on the bench. "…Inui's Special Vegetable Juice over there?"

"Tezuka, that's not fair!" Eiji protected. "No one here could tell what color that is!"

"I know! It's a murky greenish-brown!" Kisara crowed triumphantly. Thank goodness I've heard everyone complaining about its color.

"And what's the color of this?" Tezuka persisted as he held up a racket. Taka-san's racket…but what color was it?! Kisara racked through her whole brain, but to no avail.

"Gray." She said at last. Tezuka sighed.

"It's yellow, Kisara. So unless you're telling you don't know the names of the colors, you are colorblind."

"B-but—"

"We can still use her, couldn't we, Tezuka?" Fuji was the first to speak up. "Her sight is perfect, color wouldn't matter."

"Yeah!" Momo was quick to back Fuji up. "And besides, we need someone to fill in Ryoma's place. She's not bad. She's pretty good, isn't she, Kaidoh?"

Kaidoh turned away, but said curtly, "She's good."

"She ought to keep her around, Tezuka." Oishi placed a hand on his friend. "She doesn't necessarily have to play, but it would be wise to keep a backup around. In case something unexpected happens."

"I never said she shouldn't play." Tezuka turned around. "Keep practicing." Was all he said before walking off the court. Everyone stared after him.

"W-well," Oishi faltered. "You heard him. Back to practice, everyone."

Though she was grateful to still be on the team, and to be accepted, another hour and Kisara felt like she would rather be anything but a human. Or even more precise, a regular on the Seigaku tennis team.

How does Ryoma-kun put up with all these demands?

"You need to work harder, Kisara, or we might have no use for you at all." Tezuka said sternly as the training for the day ended. "You're doing well, but you could do even better. Not being able to see color has nothing to do with anything on the court."

"Yes, sir." Kisara said weakly. I'm so tired, I could just…cry.

"Oi, Kisara-chan, don't feel so bad!" Eiji hopped over on one foot. He slung an arm around her shoulders comfortingly. "You've been working too hard, you're still young." He studied her unhappy features, then lightened up, his face split into a large grin. He winked. "How about this, Kisara-chan. After I change, I'll take you to a special place. I promise it'll make you feel better!"

"Okay…" Kisara had no idea what she had trapped herself into.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

"C'mon, c'mon, it's right this way!!" Eiji impatiently dragged the young girl and pushed her into a shop. "I'm here again, mister. And this time, I brought a friend!" He called as he entered. Kisara fingered the ribbon that Taka-san had bought for her nervously and looked around, finally knowing where she is.

A petshop.

"Any new interesting animals today?" Eiji's voice was loud as he asked excitedly. The elderly man that apparently was the petshop owner replied with a smile, pointing toward the window.

"A new litter of kittens came in today, I found them on the steps to the backdoor of the shop. A cute bunch, they are." The owner nodded.

"Come on, Kisara-chan!" Eiji grinned and pranced toward the petshop window. "Let's take a lookie." He peered down toward the pen and his lips immediately cooed, "Oh, they are so cute!!"

"You can pick them up, if you're gentle." The man laughed and went back behind the cashier counter. Kisara wasn't sure if she wanted to see the kittens, it brings back memories from when she was younger. If Ryoma hasn't picked her that time…

She shook head and brushed her long silky hair from her hair, then tentatively walked toward the acrobatic tennis player. Eiji was already picking up different kitten and holding them to his face.

"Oh, this one just yawned. Lookie, Kisara-chan, that one is so cute, it looks like it's wearing four white boots! And that one! And this one! Ohh…they're so soft!!"

Kisara peeked into the pen, five shining-eye kitten peered up at her. Against her own will, her hand reached down and gently drew a kitten out. It was a charcoal striped, the one with matching white boots and gloves.

"Aren't they sweet?" Eiji bent over to look Kisara in the eye, his own deep blue eyes laughing. She nodded mutely, but before Eiji could comment, there was a loud noise outside the petshop. Kisara's sharp nose twitched, then turned to Eiji.

"Eiji-kun," she pointed outside and set the kitten back down. "I think it's Oishi-kun out there."

"What?" Eiji tilted his head and looked serious for a moment. Then, until he heard the screams of the girls, he relaxed and grinned, then sighed happily. "That's Oishi alright. He doesn't know how to handle his fans." He put the three kitties he had in his arm back down. "Coming, Kisara-chan?" He casually brushed a red lock from his eyes.

"In a minute." She promised. "I have to get something first."

"Okay! I'll be outside." He opened his wallet and handed her some money, and winked. "Spending money." He waved backwards as he walked out of the petshop. The screams immediately grew an octave higher.

"Look, it's the Golden Pair together!!"

"Can you please autograph my backpack!?"

"Oishi, I love you!"

"You stole my heart, Kikumaru-sama!"

Paying for a small package of kitty treats, Kisara exited the shop, only to be trampled by a mob of fan girls.

"Oh!" She looked startled, then searched about herself wildly for an escape. She disliked loud, unruly crowds. A hand yanked her behind an ornamental plant.

"Let's get out of here before Oishi makes a fool of himself in front of the second graders." Eiji whispered. With his other hand, he grabbed the back of his friend's shirt, then yelled, "Run for it, Oishi!"

They had left the group of girls far behind before Oishi realized who had rescued him.

"Eiji!" He looked amazed, then laughed. "You always seem to appear at the right time. How did you ever get near me?"

"Oh…" The redhead gave a sly wink. "I have my ways. All I did was gave a few girls the signature of Oishi Syuichiroh, signed—however—by Kikumaru Eiji."

"What?!?!?"

"Come on, I got you out of there safely, didn't I?"

They're best friends, Kisara listened with admiration as they ran. How nice… I wonder if Ryoma-kun has a best friend? Friendships are valuable. Especially Eiji-kun and Oishi-kun. They seem to complete each other.

I wonder if I complete Ryoma-kun…?