"Let's see…where is it…" Kasumi knitted her brow as she stared at the back of a grocery receipt with Fuji-sempai's address hastily scribbled on the back. Being the flexible person he was, he didn't mind giving it to her, but Kasumi wasn't so great at directions, especially since she hadn't strayed far from the route from home to school before. Nevertheless, Kasumi walked in the Sunday sun alone.

In her thought, Kasumi bumped into someone. "Oof!" She stepped back, then looked up. It was a boy a bit older than her. He had wavy, blue, shoulder-length hair. A green headband covered his forehead. "Oh, sorry about that." She said, nodding her head slightly. "Ah, don't worry about it. I should've been looking at where I was going, too." He smiled and walked away from her.

Kasumi suddenly had an idea. Why not follow this person? Who knows, he may lad her closer to Fuji-sempai's address. She glanced behind her. Hw was already a good distance behind her as he turned a corner. "Yosh." She said to herself as she quietly strolled behind him.

The boy seemed a bit nervous, Kasumi noted. Although he appeared calm, his legs were stiff as he walked. But he knew where he was going, and Kasumi knew that she didn't. After a few blocks, he walked onto the front steps of a house. Kasumi quickly hid behind a nearby bush. The door opened. Kasumi's eyes widened as she saw Fuji-sempai. "How may I help you, Yukimura-san?" The boy smiled back. "Is your sister there?"

Then, a girl's head popped up over Fuji's shoulder. "I'm right here, Seiichi." She turned to Fuji-sempai. "Syuu-nii, why don't you invite him in? Come on…" she tugged his arm. The boy walked in, and the door shut behind him. Kasumi let out a breath. It really was her… "Kairi"…

"Hey, otou-shan?" Five-year-old Kasumi said as she grabbed her father's thick index finger as they walked down the unfamiliar streets of Tokyo. "Yes, Kasumi-chan?" He looked down at her. She waddled to keep up to him, her little pigtails shaking every step of the way. "Where are we going?" He smiled. She was a sharp kid. "We're going to an orphanage."

"What's an or-fan-idge?" Kasumi asked, hopping over a gutter as they crossed the street. "It's where kids go when they don't have their mommies and daddies." He calmly explained. Kasumi looked at the pavement as she thought hard to process the concept. "Is it like a nanny?" Kentarou let out a laugh. He then gracefully scooped up his daughter and carried her in a cradling position. "No, Kasumi-chan. An orphanage is a place, not a person."

They entered a building that had a run-down wooden door. "Welcome. You must be Shitoyaka Kentarou." The woman at the desk bowed her head. "We're more than grateful for having you here at our orphanage." Kasumi was gently put back on her feet. "Ah, please, there's no need for the formalities," he replied, "After all, these kids are all meant for better things."

Kasumi followed her father into a room down the hallway. A group of kids sat cross-legged on the rug, watching the two enter. Behind them were a bunch of people with big cameras and business wear. Kasumi hid behind Kentarou's leg. He patted her head, making her pigtails move once again. He then turned to the other children. "Hi, everyone. I'm Shitoyaka, Kentarou. I'm an international tennis player." He then flashed a smile. "Do any of you know me?"

After talking for a good hour, Kentarou sat at a table with a crowd of adults. "Why don't you talk to the other kids here while I do this, Kasumi-chan?" he had asked her. "Okay." Little Kasumi hopped off the chair next to her father and walked to the rug.

She sat down next to a girl with light blue hair. In fact, Kasumi was afraid she was some sort of ghost because it was very close to white. "Um, konnichiwah." She stuttered. The girl turned to her. Her eyes were a brilliant lavender color. "Konnichiwah." She said with a gentle voice.

Kasumi felt that the conversation died. But her dad had told her to talk to others, so she persisted. "My name is Shitoyaka, Kasumi. What's yours?" The girl tilted her head slightly and smiled gracefully. "I'm Kairi." Kasumi felt inferior in her presence.

"So, do you know anything about tennis?" she tried. The seemingly fragile girl nodded. "We don't get to watch TV that often here, but when we do, I enjoy watching it. Though," she laughed with a bit of sadness, "I can't say that I know how to play." "Ah, no, there's nothing to it, really!" Kasumi said. She didn't want her new acquaintance to be sad. "It's just running around with a racket hitting a ball. Anyone can play!"

"Alright, Kasumi-chan. Daddy's finished." Kentarou called out as he stood from the table. After glancing around, he found his daughter's pigtails amongst the children heads. "Kasumi-chan…" he called again. Kasumi turned around. He waved at her in a way that told her it was time to get going. Kasumi looked back at Kairi-chan. "I have to go now, Kairi-chan. Matta nee!" Kairi grinned widely. "Jyaa, 'Sumi-chan."

Kasumi exhaled shakily as she stood in front of the Fuji residence. "Alright, Kasumi, look calm… calm…" She steadied her breath then pressed the doorbell. Ding-dong. She heard footsteps. The doorknob quickly turned and the door swung open.

Sure enough, it was Kairi-chan, her friend she had met at that orphanage so many years ago. Her hair was longer than it was back then, but the shade of blue was unmistakable. Her lavender eyes widened with surprise and shock. Kasumi quickly noted that Kairi was much taller than herself.

"Konnichiwah." Kasumi said calmly, betraying her actual feelings at the moment. Kairi finally regained her posture. "What are you doing here?!" She exclaimed. Kasumi quietly said to herself, "Is that really a way to greet your childhood friend?" At that moment, Kasumi found herself wrapped in Kairi's arms. She really did get tall. Kairi was actually bending over to hug Kasumi.

Despite that, Kasumi said, "You haven't changed a bit" to her. After the impromptu embrace, Fuji peered over his sister's shoulder. "Ah, Kasumi-chan, welcome." The one in-between tilted her head backwards. "You know 'Sumi-chan, Syuu-nii?" Kasumi took this opportunity to walk past the door well, saying "Yes, apparently we are all familiar with each other." Her old friend grinned sheepishly. "No, we're not. You haven't met Seiichi yet." She then skipped away to the living room. Kasumi muttered "How to keep track of all these new people…"

Before she could finish her rambling, Kairi returned, dragging a teen with blue, shoulder-length hair. He was probably the same age as Fuji-sempai. Before Kasumi could ask, Kairi piped up, "Seiichi, 'Sumi-chan. 'Sumi-chan, Seiichi. And now I'm done." With that, she applauded at her work and smiled. "Seiichi" then gave Kasumi a kind look. He offered his hand to her. "Yukimura, Seiichi." Kasumi, relieved by the normality, took his hand and replied formally, "Shitoyaka, Kasumi. It's a pleasure."

At that, the bubbly one broke the silence. "Neh, 'Sumi-chan, why are you always so polite?" Kasumi, in a cold, calculated matter, retorted, "Kairi-chan, why are you so out of character today?" Kairi was caught off guard. "Out…of…oh." Kasumi felt a small wave of regret, but it vanished when she told herself that Kairi was acting a bit odd. Kairi put her hand to her head in thought. "I wonder…" she said to no one in particular before proceeding to climb up the stairs in a daze. The three tennis team players were left in the hallway in utter silence.

"Well," Kasumi exhaled, taking initiative in this rather uncomfortable atmosphere, "That was rather awkward…" Fuji moved his head slightly in agreeal. Yukimura let out a sigh. "Kairi, come down. We still have a date to go on, don't we?" Another boy's head popped up, looking down the stairs. "Kai-nee-san is in her room. I'll get her." He called back before disappearing as well. "Oh, boy." Kasumi sighed. This was going to be a long day. Fuji chuckled to himself.

After returning from that random leave, Kairi came down

Yukimura and Fuji walked behind the two girls who were talking quietly to eachother. Something about fighting and flipping people. Kairi's laugh suddenly broke through and Fuji asked her what was so funny. Kairi smiled, "'Sumi-chan was telling me about how she flipped that guy, you know uhmm…the one who curls his hair with his finger like a sissy?" Fuji laughed, "Oh really?" Then the both of them suddenly smiled darkly, "Perfect blackmail material…" Kasumi tilted her head in a questioning manner before continuing to walk. The two girls went back to their conversation and the boys to their silence. Not long after the group ventured into the zoo. There was a new petting zoo opening and they were going to visit. "I wonder what animals are going to be there…" Kasumi murmured to herself. Suddenly she found herself walking into Kairi's still form. Kasumi peered around Kairi's form to see a boy that resembled a skater boy in some ways. He had his arm around another girl, about Kasumi's height. Judging from Kairi's reaction Kasumi knew that this boy had done something to hurt her friend. "Shitoyaka-san," Kasumi turned to Yukimura, "that's the boy who…let's just say he isn't exactly on Kairi's list of respected people anymore." Kasumi turned back to Kairi, "Kairi-chan, I think I've found a perfect subject for demonstrating purposes for what I was talking to you about earlier." Kairi glanced at Kasumi, confused for a moment, and then her eyes lit up and a slow smile spread across her face, "Really 'Sumi-chan?" Kasumi nodded.

~Ren's POV~

While I was walking through the petting zoo with Yuuki – I have no idea why she wanted to come here anyway – I noticed Kairi standing off to the side with a bunch of people. I recognized one as her brother and the other as the captain of Rikkai's tennis team, but I couldn't recall having ever met the last one. It was a girl who I noticed happened to be walking straight at me with Kairi not far behind. As she got closer I glanced over her and noted that she wasn't that bad looking. I took my arm off of Yuuki and greeted the girl. "Why hello." She didn't reply, instead she held out a hand. I raised an eyebrow but grabbed her hand anyway. She turned her head and smiled at Kairi, "Okay Kairi-chan? And then you.." The girl placed her other hand on my upper arm and I blanked, what was she—

BAM

~Normal POV~

Kasumi felt her inner sadist overjoyed as Ren flew in a perfect arc to the ground. With a grotesque squishing sound, he landed in a pig pen that was almost perfectly set up there. "Uhgnn," he grunted painfully. Yuuki squeaked, covering her mouth and nose with her hands. After examining his situation – and laughing uncontrollably on the inside – Kairi offered her hand to Ren. Dizzy and incapable of reasonable thought, the poor soul accepted her gesture, tightening his fingers around her palm. With a grin of malice, Kairi called over to her childhood friend, "Like this?" She turned so that Ren's arm was now over her shoulder, his arm twisted very unnaturally. Fear emulated from his frightened eyes, but that would not save him from his imminent fate. Ren went face-first into another brown pile in the pigpen. The pigs squealed with curiosity and started to sniff at him. After struggling with the oink-ing pink animals, he stood up. A mound of "dirt" slid off of his shirt. "That's not quite how I did it but it works just as well." Kasumi let out her laughter. Then she walked to where the stained boy stood and said, "I hope you think twice before messing with my friends again."

~Author's note~

Wow, usually I update during the summer, right? Well here's a treat: because it's Valentine's Day on the SAME day as Lunar New Year, I thought I should UPDATE! WOAH!

(Serichu, I managed to make this thing 4 pages long. Not bad, eh?)