Disclaimer: You know the routine. LOL

Chapter Nine

Changes

The hotel served the Hyoutei regulars a festive breakfast that will probably make them forget about their diet. Everyone seems enjoying the food that most of them eat more than one serving. Cassie was seated at the head of the table and opposite to her sat Atobe who was eating silently.

"So, how was your night with Atobe-buchou, hmm? Did you sleep well?" Miyabe asked Cassie with a playful smile on her lips. Cassie's chopstick slipped from her hands and made a sound which caught the attention of all regulars. She glared at her friend. "Why, don't glare at me, I'm just curious." Miyabe said and continued eating with a shrug but her teasing smile never left her lips.

Her thoughts wandered. She thought that Atobe was not really bad at all and they can get along without arguing. She decided that it is best not to argue with him all the time, maybe only if he will cross the line. She realized that she just hated his ego but not him

After their weekend getaway, something has changed with the way Atobe and Cassie was treating each other. They were not arguing anymore. Well, sometimes they do but not that much anymore. Unlike before, just seeing each other make them both feel irritated and they argue nonsensically but now they even smile and nod whenever they see each other. He even helped her in her tennis practice. She was now at ease talking to him casually and she even unconsciously told him about her worries, especially for their tennis game. It was the crucial stage for their team. They now have the ticket for the National Tournament after making it to the quarter finals of the Kantou Regional Tournament. They wanted to be the Regional Champion and to make that possible they must defeat Rikkai, a really strong team. She was sitting alone in the bleachers while watching her team mates practice.

"Mind if ore-sama joins you?" Cassie looked up at that familiar face.

"Not at all." She said with a shrug.

He sat beside her. "Ore-sama can see that you are very worried about your game the day after tomorrow."

"Yes of course, Rikkai is a really good team. How about you Atobe you seem not worried at all about your game tomorrow, your team is not practicing today," she asked him.

He smirked. "Today ore-sama told them to take a rest. Ore-sama is very confident that ore-sama's team will win tomorrow and be the Regional Tournament's champion and even the National Championship. "

She rolled her eyes. Here we go again. Just like the girls' team, the boys' team also made it to the quarter finals.

They were both silent for a while until Atobe spoke again. "Minami, no matter how nervous you are, never show it."

She stared at him. His face showed so much emotion she cannot figure out what it was. Was he worried about her? No, maybe he was worried about the team.

He continued. "You are a very gutsy lady as ore-sama knows you, where did all your guts go? You need guts now, more than before. You are the team captain. Your team is getting courage from you; if you feel nervous they will feel that too. Show them courage and pride. You must make them feel that the team will definitely make it with flying colors. Show them your spirit of being a good leader."

She just looked at him and what he said just hit her. Yes he was right. She's the team captain, she must show her team courage that a leader must possess. She smiled at him. "You are definitely right." She stood up. "Arigatou gozaimasu, Atobe." She walked towards the court and started to practice with her teammates. She ordered the regulars to double their practice today. Thanks to Atobe she was spirited again. She turned her back to where she left him. He was still there, sitting like a king as usual. She gave him a wide smile.

Kantou Regional Tournament Quarter finals

"Game and match Rikkaidai three games to one."

The game ended and they lost. Aya lost in singles two and Cassie was not able to play singles 1. Aya walked towards them.

"Gomen nasai minna-san," Aya bowed her head. Cassie saw that tears were falling from Aya's face but kept her head bowed down.

"Aya, it's alright you don't have to cry." She raised her sister's face and wiped away the tears. "You did very well. I know how hard it was for you to face your former team, especially your best friend. I'm proud of you sis." Aya kept crying. Rikkaidai was a really good opponent. Their team only won the doubles one with Hikari and Miyabe. They lost in doubles two, 6-4, in singles 3, also 6-4 and in singles 2, 7-5. She embraced her sister and kissed the top of her head. "Now fixed yourself, we will congratulate the winners."

All the regular players of both teams fall in line and bowed their head, respecting each others team. Cassie approached the Rikkai's team captain. "Congratulations Fuyumi-san," she reached her hand to Fuyumi Ringko, the Rikkaidai's captain.

"Arigatou Minami-san, it's too bad that we did not have the chance to face each other in the game," Fuyumi said with a hint of disappointment.

"Yes indeed, I was really looking forward to our match but it did not happen."

"But there's still the National tournament, we shall face each other and know who is better."

She smiled. "See you there. I won't hold back and give my best."

"Same here."

"And good luck to your match against Seigaku in the finals of the regional's tournament."

"Thanks." Fuyumi smiled at her.

The Kantou regional tournament ended with Seigaku as the champion. Cassie felt really depressed. She kept on thinking, if they won against Rikkai, will they defeat Seigaku and be the Regional's champion? Seigaku is also a very strong team but they were able to defeat them in the Prefectural tournament. If Aya won her match and she had a chance to play, will they be the champion? The boys' team also had the same fate. They did not win the championship but the difference was they were able to reach the finals but got defeated against Seigaku. Seigaku was really good.

It was already 8 o'clock pm but she stayed in their school's tennis court. She was in the bleachers, alone. She looked up at the sky; there are so many stars and the moon is very beautiful to look at. It seemed very close and yet so far. Is it the same as the championship title? No it's not! There's still the National tournament, I will make sure that we will be the champion. Our team will definitely reach that. We should double or even triple our practice.

"Why are you still here?" Atobe's face blocked her view. How did he do that? She did not feel his presence right away and before she knew it his face was so close to hers. "It's late."

She turned her face away from him and stood up. "Why do you care?" She crossed her arms against her chest and looked at him.

He was silent and just kept staring at her. He's getting weird.

"Atobe, have you gone mute?" she asked with a laugh.

"Ore-sama was just thinking of something."

"Something?" she frowned. "And what is that 'something'?"

He was silent again.

"I think I know that 'something'"

He was now wearing a playful smile. "You do?"

She nodded. "Mr. Walking ego is worried about the National Tournament! I thought that you are not like that because you're overflowing with confidence and ego!" She laughed.

Atobe smirked.

"I am right, that's it!"

Then he started laughing. It was the first time she saw him laugh. His laugh was really good to hear. She just found herself staring at him intently.

"Minami stop," he said after laughing.

"Stop what?"

"Staring at ore-sama or else ore-sama will melt."

"I'm not staring!" She denied. "You're so full of yourself, why would I stare at you?"

"Because you are mesmerized with ore-sama's charm."

"Charm? Oh crap you really are a walking ego." She just chuckled. Before, whenever he tell that to her she get irritated but now she even find it amusing. Amuse with his self-confidence. Me amuse to his ego? Since when?

"Okay back to ore-sama's question, why are you still here?"

"I just wanted to be alone, here"

"That's all?"

She nodded. "And while I was thinking alone, I realized that we should practice more in order to reach our goal, the National Championship. I realized how much I wanted the championship. How about you, what are you still doing here in the school?"

"Same reason as you. Ore-sama wanted to be alone, here."

They were silent for a few moments.

"Minami since the National tournament will be in one week, would you like to come with ore-sama's private island?"Atobe asked suddenly.

"Me? Come with you?" Like a date?

"Of course with the whole team for training camp with ore-sama's team."

"Oh." What am I thinking?

"What do you think?"

"Sounds good but we will be away for one week?"

"Yes and we should ask for the school director's approval to let us skip school for one week. For sure the director wouldn't reject ore-sama's request. "

"Okay." She smiled.

"It is settled then. Inform your team about it and we will leave the day after tomorrow."

"Yes your highness," she said with a chuckle.