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Ohtori was sick. He'd picked up on it first thing that morning. The hot flush in his cheeks, slight sweat on his brow, and his glassy eyed gaze. When he asked, Ohtori had protested he was feeling fine. Not unexpected.

He'd walked him to his first class on the pretence of visiting Atobe at the student council room in the same direction. At lunch he feigned a headache and dragged his partner outside to a secluded area of the lawn. Under the tree he'd given Ohtori his 'spare water' and closed his eyes to rest. Knowing that Ohtori would rest as long as he was.

He'd thought at one moment during his half sleep that Ohtori might've whispered a quiet thank-you.

He'd done his best to keep Ohtori as well as possible during the day, so his irritation was understandable that things took such a downturn after the last bell.

'B-but I don't understand, Ohtori-sempai… Am I not t-thin enough?' She sobbed hysterically her voice high and strained.

'N-no,' Ohtori protested violently. 'T-that's not it at all,' he stumbled desperately as the tears began to fall.

Shishido stood only a few metres away, uncomfortably watching. When the girl had approached them and asked to talk to Ohtori privately, he was surprised to feel the younger boy grip his elbow to stop him from leaving. 'Ah, Shishido-sempai. Please wait… I won't be long,' he pleaded, the flush of his skin looking more pronounced.

He nodded. There wasn't much else he could do. He thought that the girl should be in the drama club. Her penchant for melodrama would've been a triumph at any school fair. It would've been laughable, if he couldn't see how clearly the situation was distressing Ohtori. Especially as his was already ill.

Shishido didn't consider the feelings of many people. His mother, Ohtori and Jirou were the only people he would curb his comments for. Jirou was only on the list because it was impossible to offend him and if you tried Atobe-buchou would be around to visit with you… he shuddered at the thought.

He'd actually thought Ohtori was doing really well, until he politely turned her down.

'I'm sorry… It all sounds very nice, but I'm afraid I can't date you.' Ohtori stumbled, looking around distractedly until their gaze met. He smiled encouragingly.

'B-but... I lost all this weight for you… I'm the vice president of your f-fan club. I-I love you, Ohtori-san,' she bowed so low, he thought she might topple over.

Maybe it was her strict regime of starvation, or maybe it was just hormones, but he thought she seemed a little unbalanced.

'Is their someone else?' she demanded.

'A-ah, no… not really,' he replied nervously.

'Then why not me?'

He caught Ohtori's gaze, in the brief connection he could feel his pleading. Maybe it was time for a rescue.

'T-the way you feel for me… ah, that's the way I feel for someone… not exactly,' Ohtori fumbled desperately.

He'd had enough and interrupted in his normal manner, rudely.

He tossed Ohtori's bag to him, it connected with a thump and he wrapped his arms around it. 'We're late, Ohtori,' he glared at the girl, glad to see she had the sense to flinch. 'Get to the courts. Tell Atobe I'll be along in a minute.'

The boy looked uncertain, his panicked gaze flicking back between him and the girl wiping her tears away. 'A-are you sure?' Ohtori stuttered already backing away. He just raised his eyebrows and Ohtori turned and ran towards the tennis courts.

He would give the girl one thing, she was no coward. Away from Ohtori's presence her demeanour changed subtly, steeling herself. She was ready to stand up to him, for the sake of her feelings. But it wasn't enough.

'Don't be so selfish,' he told her coldly.

'W-what?'

'You're hurting him.'

She turned to look at Ohtori's retreating figure, still running towards the tennis courts at a fast clip. 'B-but I love him,' she whispered.

'And he said he doesn't feel the same,' he replied harshly. 'Don't burden other's with your feelings, it only makes them feel bad. If you care, you'll leave it alone.' He didn't give her the opportunity to reply. There was nothing she could say that would excuse her in his mind.

His heart beat strangely fast as he ran towards the tennis courts, towards Ohtori. Had he gone too far, interfered too much? He came into the club house only a little short of breath and was immediately stuck with the strange atmosphere. Where was Ohtori? Why was everyone standing around?

Apparently Atobe agreed with his assessment and said so out loud. 'Why are you all standing around, get out on the courts and warm up. Shishido, stay for a moment.'

He dropped his bag to the bench wondering what had happened in the few minutes he'd been gone. He noticed that Mukahi threw him a hurt look and muttered something under his breath, but what ever it was he couldn't hear over the slam of his own heart beat.

Atobe turned to him after the door closed behind Oshitari. Only Jirou was left behind, asleep on the bench. He watched Atobe sit down on the bench beside Jirou's sleeping figure. His hand briefly brushing across the golden locks of his sleepy teammate.

He'd been on the tennis team for almost three years, but had only been alone with Atobe a few times. They all benefited from his commitment, emotional and financial, to the tennis club, but with the exception of perhaps Jirou, everyone on the tennis team found Atobe a little cold and intimidating.

'Ohtori says he isn't feeling well.'

'Ah, no. He's a bit flushed… maybe a fever,' he replied.

Atobe nodded, his hand once again dropping to Jirou's sleepy head. 'He seemed more than feverish… distressed.'

'Distressed?'

'Your game has been off—'

'I know,' he cut in quickly. Was Atobe considering separating them? He felt his stomach twist at the thought. 'We've been off, but we're training extra hours every week,' he assured his buchou.

Atobe nodded with a slight smirk. 'I know about your extra training, Shishido. I don't think Ohtori's distraction is an on court problem. So,' he stood up gracefully. 'Whatever it is, I expect you to work it out.'

'Because I'm his sempai…'

'No,' he said sharply his voice snapping like a whip. 'Because you are his doubles partner.' Atobe paused to take a breath, he gaze sliding over to the sleeping Jirou.

'It's a hard thing to play doubles, Shishido. You have to believe in your partner, to let the tennis ball pass you by and know that your partner will have it covered, to cover the pass when your partner misses it. It's a much bigger commitment than being kouhai and sempai. I gave you the opportunity to experience that with Ohtori.'

Atobe lent over the sleeping boy and gently shook his shoulder. Jirou yawned and smiled up at Atobe. 'Time for tennis?' Jirou questioned with a yawn.

Atobe nodded and pulled Jirou to his feet. 'Shishido, why don't you take Ohtori home. He's lying down in the first aid bay.'

Shishido nodded absently as he watched Jirou sling an arm casually around Atobe and babble cheerfully. He was sure no one would ever believe what he'd just witnessed.