Hello there. After a long hiatus, I bring you... a depressing chapter. Originally I didn't plan to insert this scene, but then I thought you might want to know Kenya's feelings better ^^a

Disclaimer: The Prince of Tennis, characters and schools belong to Konomi Takeshi. I only own the OCs and twisty plot.

Standard warning on grammatical errors and typos applies. Corrections are always welcome though!

Uh... handkerchief?

LovePinch

Part 4

Among the four cousins, Kenya and Kouki were the one who were the closest to each other. They got along really well, they had similar likings, and they never had a fight. He was sure that he was the one who knew her the best and that she was the one who understood him the best.

They were inseparable.

He thought nothing would change between them, but he was wrong.

It was around the time when they entered Shitenhouji middle school... When they met him, Shiraishi Kuranosuke.

Soon after Kenya joined the tennis club, he met a boy named Shiraishi. That boy was really friendly and nice to talk to. He was rather humble even though he was bright, skillful, and got a lot of praise from the coach. Kenya immediately took a liking on Shiraishi and he believed they could be good friend.

"Oshitari-kun's speed is really amazing."

"Is that so? I think you're also something. I'll never able to hit as accurately as you."

It was an afternoon on the third week of April. The two boys had just finished their duty to clean the courts and was about to go home. They were talking with full enthusiasm about their first time playing against each other.

And then she came.

"Kenya!"

The said boy immediately recognized the owner of the voice and turned around. "Kouki!" Shiraishi curiously looked at the direction where the voice came from and saw a girl who Kenya was waving to.

"Are you done with the club?" She asked as she approached them. "Let's go home together."

"Sure." Kenya replied in delight. He was happy that she waited for him. He then remembered that Shiraishi was also there and was about to introduce that new friend of him to her when suddenly the ash-blondehead greeted her.

"Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon, Shiraishi-kun." She replied timidly.

Kenya looked at them in confusion. "Huh? You already know each other?"

"Yes. We attend the same committee." Shiraishi explained.

"I see..."

At that time Kenya felt a strange tingling in his chest, but he ignored it because he thought it must be his imagination.

Kenya yawned as he lazily strolled in the corridor. He was really sleepy and the fact that next class would be History didn't help at all, thus he concluded that taking a nap in the infirmary would be the best option. Only thinking about the fluffy white bed, he opened the door.

He had never thought that he would see them there. Kouki and Shiraishi were in the infirmary room. They were chatting and they looked so happy.

"Oshitari-kun." Shiraishi greeted as soon as he saw Kenya standing by the door.

"Yo..." Kenya awkwardly replied. "What... are you two doing here?"

"Oh, we're in charge today." Shiraishi explained.

'Of course.' Kenya thought. Why would he find it strange?

"What about you? Why are you here, Kenya?" Kouki asked.

"I just... thinking of paying a visit." Kenya was taken aback by the sudden question thus he said whatever came to his mind.

"Don't tell me... You're planning to skip the class?" she frowned.

Well, he once had planned to... but somehow he didn't feel like doing it anymore.

"No, of course not," he denied. "I'm returning to class now." He didn't know why, but he wanted to leave that place as soon as possible.

It was that strange tingling again.

"You come!"

"Of course I do. It's your first official match." Kouki grinned at her blonde cousin. "Good luck!"

Kenya felt really happy that she came to support him in the newcomer's match. She even took a seat in a place where he could see her clearly. It wasn't a really big match and he was playing doubles, but her presence made he want to doing his best. He felt like he could bring forward 100%, no, 120% his ability in this game. He really wanted to make her proud.

But then he realized... In the middle of the game, he took a glance at her and saw that she wasn't looking at him.

It was his double partner. It was Shiraishi.

Again, he felt something on his chest, but it wasn't a tingling like earlier. It was a pain.

"Say, do you like Shiraishi?" It was a question that came out of the blue. She was paying a visit to his house. They were sitting in the living room and playing games when suddenly he asked such a question.

It wasn't like he didn't realize it; he just wanted to make sure.

"Ehh?" Kouki's face instantly turned red.

As soon as he saw this, he knew that, no matter how much he wanted to deny it, his intuition was right.

"Wh- Why do you think so?" She asked back while covering half of her face with a cushion.

"Well, you keep staring at him." He deadpaned.

"I- Is that really obvious?" Her face turned even redder.

He silently nodded.

"Really," she lowered the cushion and smiled sheepishly. "There's nothing I can hide from you."

He was the one who knew her the best. There had been a time when he had been really proud of it, but now... he wished he hadn't been.

"Why now? Why... her?" Kenya demanded. Up until now, the tennis club never had a manager. Shiraishi always declined every application for that position. However, just some weeks before the National Championships, the captain promoted his cousin into one.

"Beats me." Shiraishi murmured as he gazed to the sky. "Perhaps... it's because it is her."

Kenya saw Shiraishi's gaze softened.

He knew. He realized it long time ago, that his best friend also had a feeling toward Kouki. Shiraishi never told him about this, but he knew the ash-blonde would make his move soon after the tournaments ended.

Wasn't that great? It meant her first love would soon be reciprocated.

It was only a matter of time before she left him.

"Sorry." He said to the girl in his arms. "You can cry, you know…"

At first she denied, saying that she was okay, but then she finally broke and cried onto his chest.

"Nee, Kenya…"

"What?"

"Thank you."

It wasn't necessary. Keeping her company was, after all, the only thing he could do. It was his way to show her his love. It was okay if she only saw him as a brother. It was enough. From the beginning, he never expected she would return his love. He knew it was impossible.

He decided to support her love, even thought it shattered his heart into pieces.

He looked at the girl in slumber. She looked nothing like a sleeping beauty. She looked exhausted. Her face was miserable. Her nose was red. There were traces of tears left on her cheeks. Her long hair was messy. There were blue marks all over her skin.

He swept a strand of hair from her face and caressed her wet cheek.

Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you say anything for the entire two years?

Why?

Why didn't I realize it sooner? Why couldn't I see that you were in such pain?

Wasn't he the one who knew her the best?

He had thought that he had been the one.

"What have you done! You love her, don't you! Even so, why did you do that!" Kenya pulled his best friend's collar. His anger was uncontainable.

Out of all people, he had never expected that Shiraishi would be the one who hurt her. Why him?

"It's exactly because I love her." Shiraishi answered solemnly. He didn't even try to shake Kenya's hand off.

"Bullshit!" Kenya tightened his grip. "If you really love her, you ought to make her happy! Not the opposite!"

He had realized it long time ago, that Shiraishi was the only one who could make her happy.

Why him? Why it must be him?

Why can't it be me?

No matter how much Kenya wanted to make her happy, the one she needed wasn't him. It would never be him.

"So..." Kenya began as he looked at the newly-formed couple. "Why are you two here?"

"You see... It's all thank to you that now we can be together. And we want you to be the first one to know that we're going steady now." Kouki explained.

"Geez, you don't have to do that." He sighed.

"But it's true. We're really grateful." Shiraishi said.

"Stop that! It's embarrassing!" Kenya groaned, which made the two laughed. "Aah... it's so hot here! I'm leaving now. I don't want to interfere you love birds." He said while placing his hands behind his head.

"K- Kenya!" Kouki blushed.

Kenya grinned at her, but then his eyes landed at their hands, which were linked to each other and his brows involuntary furrowed. He quickly turned around because he didn't want them to see his face. It wasn't an impropriate face to be shown in front of the happy couple.

"Anyway, congrats." He said before his walked away.

Two most important persons in his live were now together. As a brother and a best man, he should be happy for them.

But why did his chest hurt so much, to the point he couldn't even breathe?

That night... the Speed Star cried his heart out.

Sorry if this's too emotional and cliche. I know Kenya is OOC here but...

Hope you like it. Please drop a review or two. I'll be really happy to hear your opinion. Concrits are always welcome!