I AM SO SORRY! Thank you for those who have patiently waited for an update (even though this is a really icky one, and I really don't like this chapter), but thanks for waiting! You may beat me later, I promise! T-T


Chapter Eight: In Which a Puzzle is Presented

*Fuji's POV*

I was in hell, I decided.

I don't know what had possessed me to kiss Himeno. It wasn't like we were friends, after all, and that was MUCH more than friends did. But what startled me even more was how she responded to me. For a moment there, she hadn't been prickly, short-tempered or sharp-tongued. She had been... gentle. And it surprised me.

But more, something... changed. I had always liked Himeno, no matter her feelings to me. She was amusing, and it was funny to see her angry. She got all red, and sometimes she even stomped her foot like a child! It was absolutely adorable. But now... it felt like something had clicked, and I didn't quite know what. It was frustrating, and my head hurt from trying to study it. Finally, I had given up.

"Ya know, your brain is going to break if you continue to think so hard." a cheerful voice said behind me. Jumping, I turned around to see Mikage standing there. I had been hovering by the living room window, absently looking out it. I had been so lost in thought that I hadn't even noticed Himeno's sister coming up behind me. "What's the matter?" she asked me, coming up to stand next to me.

I couldn't very well say that I had just made out with her sister, now could I? Even though she DID seem to be insistent on cementing Himeno's and mine "relationship." So, instead, I said, "Nothing, Mikage-san, just thinking that America is much different that Japan." Which was the truth. Sort of. Changing the subject hurriedly, I asked, "Where is Himeno?"

"Oh, she went outside to play tennis with Zach. It's the first time since the accident that she's played, so he's excited. Come see!" Mikage grabbed by arm and quite literally dragged me outside as my brain was still trying process what she had just said.

"Wait, Himeno can play tennis? And what accident?" I demanded as I followed (well, was FORCED to follow) Mikage. No wonder she knew so much about tennis, I realized, thinking back to the matches back home. She had actually played it – and to know so much, she had to be good.

...but she wasn't.

My eyes found the tawny-eyed girl almost immediately. The tennis courts were right behind her house, and she had set the net up a little bit lower than normal so that little Zach could play without losing all the time. And, frankly, it was HIMENO that seemed to be losing. She could barely hit the tennis ball over the net, and it barely went over. Even the coach's granddaughter could do better than this! I was about to roll my eyes and walk over and correct her – until I saw her face.

At first glance, she seemed fine. A little annoyed, perhaps, and definitely focused, but that was about it. But it was her eyes that caught my attention. They seemed... anguished, for lack of a better word. There was a certain pain in her eyes. And it wasn't just that – every time she moved, she seemed to be... backwards, though always caught herself. I looked over at Mikage, confused, to see her watching me with thoughtful, and sad, eyes.

"Last year, Himeno hurt her left wrist in a match. I don't know how, I wasn't there. But apparently, the injury was bad; she was told that she'd lose all use of her left hand if she played again." she explained quietly, watching as Zach laughed at Himeno's failures, obviously not noticing anything wrong. "Himeno was left handed, and it devastated her. She refused to play tennis, though she did try to learn right handed at first. But as you can see..."

"She's terrible." I finished for her. My eyes were fixed on the girl I teased so much. She laughed and clapped as her brother made a shot and scored, but she still seemed so... sad. But my mind was whirring. That just couldn't be right. How could an accident cause someone to losing all control in their hand? Something seemed sort of sketchy in this situation, but I didn't get a chance to question it, because Mikage spoke again.

"Apparently, the school was from Japan. She was furious at the person who hurt her, because apparently he was using some sketchy move that she didn't recognize." Another piece of the puzzle that was Himeno fell into place. No wonder she had hated the mention of tennis, especially in Japan! It made sense that she would protest being made manager, being so close to the thing that caused her so much pain.

"Onee-chan? Fuji-kun? What are you guys doing out here?" Snapping back into the present, I blinked to see Himeno running up to us. Her long haired had been tied in a pony-tail, and little whisps had escaped to frame her face. She was avoiding my eye, and I suddenly remembered what had gone on earlier, and had to fight to keep from blushing.

"Oh, I was just showing Shuusuke-kun around," Mikage lied glibly. I glanced at her, and she shook her head slightly. Why couldn't she just come out and say what we were talking about? I had SO many questions I wanted to ask her, but unfortunately, Mikage didn't seem to go for it. "Himeno, don't forget that we're running a dress rehearsal tonight. You and Shuusuke-kun need to be dressed up in uniform, okay?"

Himeno gave me a rather long-suffering look, and I had to smile. But she didn't complain, even though Mikage had told us six or seven times already. Instead, she only said, "Yes, onee-chan. We'll be there. I promise." She must REALLY love her sister... I'd be irritated by now.

Now, if only I could figure out a way to not get her irritated at me... and with that, a plan started to form...