The game went on for a long time... The cheering had died down.

He doesn't only want to defeat Kunimitsu in a game, he wants to destroy him.

"This game is going to be bad." I suddenly heard Fuji say.

I was glad I wasn't the only one to notice it. Atobe had many chances, but he purposefully didn't take it. It was obvious. This guy was a horrible person...

"It's taking longer than normal..." I said. "But that's his plan, isn't it?"

Fuji couldn't say it, but we knew...

"What?" Everyone else was alarmed. They didn't see it. Only Inui, Fuji, and I knew what was going on.

"That dirty..." One of the juniors said. "He's going to win by destroying the captain's arm."

"The worst thing is... he can't do anything about it. Atobe and Kunimitsu are very skilled, but Atobe will do anything in order to win the way he wants." I said. I sat down and watched the game. It was painful to watch. Kunimitsu is pushing it too far... He doesn't looked moved by anything that was happening. He had to know too.

"Eimi." Eiji sat down with me.

"Kunimitsu... he has to know." I told him. "He is going along with Atobe's game..."

Everyone else was quiet. They couldn't believe what was happening.

"Are you sure?" Eiji asked me.

"Positive..." Maybe there was more to Kunimitsu. There was something I didn't know. My heart was racing. Atobe is going to test Kunimitsu's limits and he is going to allow him to...

Even if we were in the lead, the match can still go to anyone. It was like we were neck and neck in a never-ending race... The only way this will end is if someone drops.

I noticed, around the court, there were people from other schools watching this game as well. It was understandable, this game has been going on for a long time. The others would be over by now. But, this was also the game to watch. The game that couldn't be missed.

I had to admit myself, that even if this was taking a toll on my heart, this game was incredible. You could tell that Kunimitsu had incredible skills. He was on a league that most people could never reach...

I could finally see it. Kunimitsu is reaching his limit.

We were in the lead, with a score of 6-5. If Kunimitsu just gets this last one...

But... when he just needed one more point. He was ready to serve, but his arm... he couldn't raise it to serve properly. He let go of his racquet.

"Kunimitsu!" I yelled. Seeing him... his face. Seeing his pain. It made me just want to jump and run to him. But, I couldn't... I knew he wouldn't want me to.

"Tezuka." I heard a voice next to me say. It was Oishi...

"Captain!" I heard another voice. Soon, I saw Momo jump over the wall in front of me.

"Momo! STOP!" I yelled after him! The others were about to jump out and run after him, but I grabbed the closest people to me, which were Eiji and Oishi. "Stop, now!"

"Don't come near me!" Kunimitsu yelled as the others were getting close to him. "The match is not over yet."

The others protested and tried to make him quit, but they soon walked back. They knew it was hopeless. Kunimitsu picked up his racquet as if nothing happened.

"Eimi... If you run to him, maybe he will stop." Eiji told me.

"No... he won't..." I said. "Nothing can stop him now. Only pain will stop him." I said, I wasn't even aware of what I was saying. But, I was speaking the truth.

Before he began to serve again, he looked at me. I wanted to smile... I wanted to change my expression. But, I didn't even know what expression was on my face.

And soon, it went to a tie and the rally went on and on.

Everyone on both sides were cheering, everyone on our side was hoping for the best. It hurt me to watch this game, but I was still hoping that he'd win and this would be all over... The worst thing is, he was in pain and he wasn't showing it.

I wonder what its like to be like that, to be able to fight through everything.

The tie was going on into the thirties. I was in a loop. I felt like I was watching the same thing over and over. One would get a point, the other would match it. He was doing this, even through pain. I could never do this. I was envious because I knew I could never have the strength to do this. I could never have the passion for tennis like he did. He hopes that I find something that I am passionate about...

The game seemed to go by slowly, as if I were reading every though and see every muscle move.

"Stop." I said. I wanted to yell, but my voice wasn't able to react.

Kunimitsu was being an idiot for once in his life and being reckless like he usually is. I put my arms on the edge of the stands. "Kunimitsu! Please stop!" I started tearing up.

I felt an arm around me. I looked over to see Eiji.

"He's being an idiot, Eiji! His arm..." I said through tears.

He wouldn't say anything. He knew that Kunimitsu wouldn't stop fighting. He was trying to be a good brother and an understanding team mate. He hugged me as the tears fell.

"Why...?" I couldn't bring myself to complete a question.

"He's our captain." he replied.

Soon, it seemed like Atobe was pretty much done. Kunimtsu was too... it might have been chance or just not enough juice left. But, he lost...the ball didn't make it over the net.

"Game and match..."

And it was silent. No one expected his outcome, everyone knew that, at that point, it could have gone to anyone. After they shook hands everyone was in a uproar.

I jumped over the wall and ran to him. I felt no one behind me. He was sitting at the bench, taking a sip from his water bottle.

"Kunimitsu..." I sat down next to him.

"I never wanted to make you cry..." Kunimitsu said as he looked at me, trying to fight the pain to give me a smile. With his right hand he wiped away my tears. "I'm sorry, Eimi. I heard you calling my name, but I thought I could keep fighting and end it."

"You're an idiot..."

He smirked.

I only teared up more with how he was reacting to this.

"I know... I let my guard down."

"You didn't tell me..." I said, trying not to sound as disappointed as I was. "Why did you keep it a secret from me that your elbow was hurting?"

"I didn't want to worry you..." he said. "And it was a mistake..." he said. It surprised me that he admitted his faults at a time like this.

"Why did you do it? You played a long game, knowing that's what he was going for. Why didn't you just end it? What were you trying to prove?"

"I'm the pillar of support for the team..." He said. "As the captain, I will show everyone to get stronger, so we can all make it to our goal. Show my determination so they can make it to the..."

"Nationals..." I finished for him. Eiji mentions it to me all the time. Their one goal was to make it to the nationals. Through Kunimitsu's strength, they could do it. But they relied on him a lot. That's what it takes to lead... "So you sacrificed everything. Showed the team what true strength is." He also showed me what true strength is.

"Are you mad at me?"

"No..." I quickly said. I didn't even think about it, but I wasn't. "If I ran to you... Would you have stopped?"

"I don't know..." He said. "I honestly don't know."

I felt more tears... I tried to breathe in, but I felt like I was drowning. My nose was clogged from crying so much. Kunimitsu out an arm around me and pulled me to him.

Kunimitsu met me in the park, our park. "Will you wait for me?" he asked as he held my hand.

"What is this all of a sudden?" I asked. But I knew, his arm needed to be healed. After the game, we went to the hospital...

"I'm going to a rehabilitation center in Germany."

I felt another tug at my heart... I don't know if it could take much more. I wanted to pull my hand away. What was going on? After all this time with reconnecting, he's the one going away.

"Eimi?"

I'm speechless. I didn't know what to do.

"I don't expect you to wait for me... I don't want you wasting your life by waiting."

I looked up at him, he looked truly upset, torn with what he wanted me to say and what I should say. But I was being torn apart too. I don't know if I could take this. We already separated once... and I changed so much and I can't revert to how I was.

"Eimi, are you going to answer."

"Why don't you tell me what you want me to say?" I started to cry. "I'm scared that when you disappear you'll change... Or maybe I will and..."

He hugged me. "I keep making you cry..." He patted my head. "I'm horrible."

I was prepared to let him go when he was figuring out if he wanted to go to Germany to play. Why is this so different? I was shaking. I don't know why to think, say, or do. This decision was to leave is already made up. The only decision being made was mine: do I wait or not?

"Eimi... I love you. If you don't want to wait, I'll come back and get you to fall in love with me again."

I stood up. "Go... To Germany. I'll be here." I forced a smile through my tears. "Just don't keep me waiting forever. While you're there healing, consider staying there and being a pro there. If you have the abilities and talents, I am sticking to my word. I won't be in your way... I'll be your pillar remember?"

He looked at me surprised, but smiled at me. "You're going to be strong for me?"

"Of course, I got to try to be equally strong as you." I smiled.

"Eimi..." he pulled me down, into his lap and as I sat down on his lap for the second time he hugged me. "You're the best girlfriend for this broken man..." Even in his "broken" state, he was so strong...