Let's get on with this! As always, thanks for your support!

Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis. That is based somewhere in Japan, where I haven't been for a long time.

As Seigaku's initial pillar of support sank to his knees, the entire arena froze. It was at this point that people were realizing that yes, he really was injured.

And he'd just sacrificed his arm for a victory.

Those who were getting over their stupor were focusing in on the fallen captain. Those with eyes accomplished enough could see his fine trembling, a hand clutched at his left shoulder. It probably wasn't stemming any sort of flow, but perhaps the pithy comfort was helping him.

"TEZUKA!"

Even after all of those years spent mastering his posture, Ryoshi slipped for once, his surprise flitting onto his face. In this case, it was acceptable, and he could get away with it here, when no one was paying attention to him, but he needed to be careful. Tezuka wasn't as concerned about his shoulder as he seemed to be. Had he been caught…?

"Tezuka!" One…

"Tezuka-buchou!" Two…

"Hah, hah…" Three…

"Captain!" Four, Five… Six…

Six…

Six transgressors of the rules of a match. There would be some correcting of match etiquette after they were done here, since his team obviously didn't know how to behave themselves during a match.

"Don't come!" Six pairs of stomping feet came to a halt, three or for yards from their fallen leader, almost surrounding him, though they couldn't actually protect him from what had already long since past. "Turn back. The match hasn't ended yet." And their idol made to stand after his fall, once more.

Suddenly, whispers of retirement among the viewers surged up. How could anyone continue with such a handicap? Too many greats have vanished because they pushed themselves. Surely such a rising star wouldn't follow that deplorable way.

As for the on-field regulars, well, they weren't on field anymore. They'd been chased back to the bleachers. "If the captain retires, then we'll have two wins and two losses. If that's the case, I wonder what'd happen?"

"From what it looks like… It's impossible for him to play Atobe evenly now." The wounded player was making his way towards the side of the court. It was better in the long run if he resigned now. "It's fatal."

"Heh, and the one who should have beat Tezuka-san was me…"

Hyotei was gazing at their captain, for once silent and solemn. Their vibrance had been left to simmer in light of the sudden collapse of the opponent.

"As expected of Atobe… He aimed for that, right?"

Mukahi's response was a nod. "Whatever has happened, the tables have turned."

"But…" The second-year regular was frowning. "Atobe-buchou…" His partner, reliable as ever, picked up on what he was saying as he said it.

"Yeah, he… doesn't look the slightest bit happy…"

"Tezuka, it would be dangerous to continue playing. Plus," Here a side gesture attempted to force concern into the stoic faces of his superior. "With your arm's condition, your chance of winning is extremely low."

Almost in defiance, Tezuka began flexing his arm,and sent a glance over to the freshman at his side. The boy had yet to speak or look at him. He had at least been expecting the caustic reprimand that was standard of the younger teen.

"Captain! You're overdoing it!" AS if the second-year had any room to tell him that. HE was the one who went absent for no reason only a short while ago.

A firm hand gripped a lavender racket. "Tezuka, stop!" No such luck. "If you keep on, your arm will seriously…" His words weren't reaching not only his captain, but his friend. Well, they did say actions spoke louder than words.

Before he knew it, his vice-captain was obstructing his path. Though he wasn't trying to speak to him now, his eyes were saying volumes.

"Oishi." Was now really the time to make a scene? They were garnering the attention of the entire court

"Are you going to carry out that promise that you made to captain Yamato? The promise of opening a path for the club to go to the nationals?" The captain said nothing.

Eyes are funny things. If given the chance, they could give anyone a private view into anyone else's innermost world. As it were, an entire conversation was being held between the two authority of Seigaku. Eyes face each other, and they were unaware of every other pair in the area focused on them.

"I don't plan to lose at all."

I will win this game for sure.

"That's why we will all go to Nationals."

"If we don't give up, then we will find their weakness for sure."

Believe in our abilities!

Taka-san, may I borrow this racket please?

"Let's do it, Kaidoh."

I will bet everything on this one shot.

"We are going to Nationals." Internally, Oishi felt relieved. No, not that his friend was going to place himself under further stress, but that his resolve hadn't weakened. He was still the man that had promised to lead them all to Nationals, and he was dead set on doing it. What a selfishly selfless person.

"Then do it!"

"Hey, is Oishi-fuku-buchou seriously gonna let him play?" "Would a mom let her son do something like this?" "Someone call captain's parents!"

"SEIGAKU!" The entire club turned to face the newcomer. Taka-san was back! And he was waving the flag around. Not only did his wrist seem to be okay, but he had this cheeky grin as he gazed down at his team. "VICTORY! Fight, Fight, Se-i-gaku!"

"Kawamura, control yourself! You've just been to the doctors!"

It was at this point that the sleeping beast rose. "Just like how you've won against me, don't lose, okay?"

"I won't." It seemed that that was satisfying for the freshman. He began to walk off the court, much to his teammates confusion. Then it clicked, as he approached their previously absent coach.

"Thank you for being bench coach in my absence." She very nearly glared at the captain, who was being checked over by the referee. "Geez… How come we only have stubborn guys in our club? All who go for the sour of the moment." But I guess that's the proof of a real player, huh.

The regular walked off. "You flatter me too much."

"Idiot, I wasn't talking about you!"

"Echizen! If you're going to warm-up… I'll go with you."

"Sorry for the wait, Atobe, we'll finish this fight." There was no response, so the game continued.

It was greater than any were expecting. A game where one player should have had a major advantage shouldn't, logically, be so even, but Tezuka was holding his own against his opponent.

"Game to Hyotei's Atobe. Six games to six."

"That Atobe, he caught up, huh?"

"Yeah, now it'll be a tiebreak."

Odds were not in Seigaku's favor, but their stoic captain was holding strong anyways.

"Twelve point tie-break. Hyotei's Atobe to serve." The ball was tossed and struck across the net.

"One-zero. Seigaku's Tezuka leads."

That guy still…?!

"A return ace!" "Seigaku FIGHT!" "He's still trying!" "Keep it up, Captain!"

As Tezuka served the ball, there was the slightest of hesitations before it was hit. As expected, his shoulder is injured, huh? "What is this, Tezuka? What's this serve?"

"One all." Hyotei's side erupted in cheer.

"Two – One, Hyotei's Atobe leads."

"It's no use, with serves like that."

"Not able to control a service. That's fatal in a singles game."

"Even though it's a tiebreak, to lose control of serves after two shots."

"If you don't get the point as the receiver, then Tezuka is really at a disadvantage in this tie-break." All of their eyes were focused on the panting players.

"It must be painful, Tezuka. Even though he doesn't show it in his expressions, he's standing there suffering the pain…"

The tie-break continued, dead-even. Neither would give in, and thus made it difficult to pull. "Six-five, Hyotei's Atobe leads."

The king gazed at his opponent. I misjudged you, Tezuka. He admitted. I thought you were calmer and more manipulative. To think that I would see you like this… I didn't expect to see you so determined in a situation like this. To control the game up to this point… Just how many of such players are there out there?

Who would've thought… that you had such a reckless side to you? The determination that Tezuka has for Seigaku, I didn't see that. I have been overdoing it in this game, too. That's why I will do my best with each shot. No matter how long this tie-break lasts!

As Momoshiro and Echizen finished their warming up, the nearby court erupted into cheers. It was a race to get back there in, since it was likely that the match had ended.

It hadn't been anything near what they were anticipating. "Hey, Echizen, look."

On the court, the two were facing each other, throwing brilliant shots at the other side. The game had progressed far beyond what either of them had been hoping for. Their injured captain had taken it to a tie-break?!

"35-34, Seigaku's Tezuka's lead."

"35 all."

"36-35, Hyotei's Atobe's lead."

…

…

… What the hell was this? Who could play a game so uneven so remarkably. It wasn't an easy win for the other team, the one whose captain bore no afflictions. "C-captain."

"I can't believe this! I've… never seen a tie-break this long!"

"Neither wants to give up the two points… This is a serious match. It's no longer about technique anymore, but a battle of the psyche."

Tezuka, I was wrong about you. I thought you were calm, calculating, even harsh… I never, ever thought I would see you this passionate in a match. Even now Atobe was struglling to return the other teen's shots. There aren't many players in the world who can play at this level in this situation. Who would've imagined that we'd be playing in a match like this?

I couldn't read past the strong will that Tezuka had of Seigaku winning. This match is, without a doubt, mraningless to me. But I will put everything I have behind every ball I hit. No matter how long this tie-break continues!

"Tezuka…"

"37-36, Seigaku's Tezuka's lead."

"Tezuka shouldn't be able to lift his shoulder anymore, but…"

It turned out to be too much for the trio. "Then, why don't you stop it?" Little, young hands seized the jersey of his sempai and pulled. "Why do you allow him to go on? Oishi-sempai?" He could only continue watching; there wasn't any way he could answer. Not when he was so unsure of the answer himself. All he knew was that this match had to continue of Tezuka's terms.

"It's not just Tezuka." He finally said. "Atobe is reaching his limit, too. These two are using tennis to compete in a battle of wills." The entire court was silent, sans the two playing. Awe was thick in air, only surpassed in amount by the weight of this game. "Haven't you understood by watching those two?" It was with fire that he continued gazing at the two. "Nobody can stop this match." It seemed that that was all it took to calm him.

Onwards it continued. Memories of promises long past continued resurfacing. To win, to make it together, with his club, to Nationals, was why he was still there. The regulars of Seigaku knew it, too.

There isn't a bit of hesitation in Tezuka's play.

It was never about winning or losing. That's Tezuka's strength.

In reality, no one can play this long with an injured arm like his.

His will is the only thing keeping him on the court.

He's leading us by example, like it's common sense.

This is our captain.

This tie-break, it seemed as though it would never end. Ball after ball, stroke after stroke, he labored under the intensity of his arm.

Tezuka-kun.

I want you to become Seigaku's pillar of support.

Was he really suicidal?

Tezuka was prepared for his famous drop-shot. Atobe, saw it, and sprinted for the net. But even that wasn't enough. Without a split second to think about it, Hyotei's captain threw himself at the ball.

The ball made contact with the ground.

Ryoshi felt himself grow excited for the first time in a while. He got it!

The only bounced back after a feeble attempt to roll. It won't reverse!

Despite hitting it over the net, Tezuka still managed to hit it, via his second technique, the Tezuka-zone.

Right into the net.

"Game and Match. Hyotei's Atobe seven games to six." The entire park was silent. And on the court, Tezuka actually looked relieved. As though he hadn't just lost the match he'd given himself to.

Two hands met at the net. Atobe simply held his opponent's aloft. "That was the best match, Tezuka."

The crowd suddenly, finally exploded.

I have to say, this match was always one of my favorites. There are a couple things about it that I don't like, but it's one of the reasons I picked up tennis. Not that I'm any good. Hope you like it, and the next one will continue with original stuff.