I DISCLAIM THE FOLLOWING: I DON'T OWN PRINCE OF TENNIS. THANK YOU.

Despite the many hospital visits Sanada made every single day that week, it did not at all stop Yukimura's new cold attitude towards him.

Sanada didn't know what to do. It looked like he had pushed Yukimura too far this time so the bluenette had given up all hope with him. But Sanada was not ready to just accept that. He continued visiting, doing whatever he could to get Yukimura's back to his usual self.

Sanada had brought a whole box of donuts on Tuesday, only for Yukimura to scorn at him and turn his head away.

On Thursday, Sanada suggested they go play a game of tennis on the roof. Yukimura replied by saying he would get more of a thrill by playing against a wall.

On Saturday, the last day before Yukimura would be leaving the hospital for good, Sanada had even gone as far as bringing him congratulation flowers. He thought he had seen Yukimura's gaze soften for a second, but then the bluenette was nothing more than cool stone, turning him away and saying he had an appointment with one of the doctors. Now that Yukimura could walk, and even run, he often used it to his advantage to physically get away from Sanada.

Sanada had been left in the empty hospital room, feeling more depressed than ever. And the surroundings certainly didn't help his mood.

He didn't know what else he could do. He hadn't known that being ignored like that would hurt so much. It had never hurt in the past, back when they were enemies. Yet now, it stung constantly. Sanada understood that Yukimura did need to focus on fully recovering, and he knew that the bluenette had been very hurt by his rejection… but even so, Sanada was pushing for forgiveness. Even if Sanada could not return his captain's feelings, Yanagi was right in saying that it really would be a shame if they went back to hating each other.

Sanada couldn't see why they couldn't quite simply be friends, or at least respectable acquaintances. The thought of going back to being heated enemies made him feel oddly empty.

Yes, he couldn't deny just how close they had become over the course of the last few months. No doubt Yukimura was hurting from this separation as well, Sanada thought. He couldn't deny the fact that they did feel something for each other; like some sort of connection, a bond of understanding. He felt close to Yukimura so all this isolation was awful to experience.

He couldn't stand to have Yukimura's icy eyes staring down at him with cold indifference. It wasn't right. Just the thought of not seeing Yukimura's usual smile again made him try even harder to get Yukimura back.

But the harder he tried to get closer, the more Yukimura pulled away.

Sanada woke up on Monday morning with that on his mind, feeling like he didn't sleep properly again. The sun wasn't up yet, but Sanada was used to waking up this early. He got up from his bed and silently padded to the dojo in the backyard where he would commence his morning meditation until it was time for school.

Today… Yukimura was coming to school today, Sanada remembered. Sanada would no longer be in charge of the tennis team. Instead, he would have to give way and take orders from the captain. It would feel odd to be taking orders now instead of giving them.

He would have more time at home now after practice. He would no longer be visiting Yukimura in the hospital after school. The only time they would see each other was during practice. His mediation did not empty his mind at all, the thoughts floating around his head until it was time to go.

He quickly got ready for school after breakfast. Sanada made a mental note to watch out for Yukimura during practice. While the bluenette was pretty much recovered, he was still not completely back to his full strength. If ever Yukimura had a fainting spell or a loss of stamina, then Sanada knew he had to be there to make sure the captain wasn't injured.

And so the entire morning practice constituted of Sanada casting a cautious look over Yukimura. To the untrained eye, it would seem as if Yukimura was fully recovered. Yukimura re-assumed the role of captain as if he had never taken a hiatus, and the rest of the team welcomed him by performing at their best. Yukimura ran the same number of laps and did as many push-ups as the rest of the regulars.

Despite Sanada's good intentions, his performance dropped as he was busy looking out for his captain. Yukimura shouted at him for losing his footing during a practice game and made him run extra laps.

The sun was higher up in the sky by the time practice ended. Yukimura barked out orders at the first years to pick up all the balls and the nets. Sanada took the opportunity to rush to Yukimura's side before the captain had the chance to avoid him again.

"Yukimura, wait a second." called Sanada. He held out his hand to grab Yukimura's arm, but then decided against it.

Yukimura frowned. "What is it? I hope you are here to give me a decent excuse as to why your footwork was this dreadful today."

"No… I just want to ask you if you are feeling okay. It's only your first day back. Don't push yourself too much." said Sanada.

"My opponents in the Nationals won't go easy on me simply because I had a surgery. Stop worrying about idiotic things and focus on your game before I get Yagyuu to take your place." snapped Yukimura, walking back to the locker rooms.

Sanada sighed. A part of him had been hoping that Yukimura's mood towards him would have lightened up considerably since his hospital release, especially now that he was back on the courts. But Yukimura did not look happy at all to be playing tennis again.

Sanada followed his captain to the locker room and proceeded to change back into his school uniform for the day.

"Hey Niou-senpai?"

"Yeah?"

"About captain and vice-captain…" said Akaya. "I thought Yukimura-senpai was the one who liked Sanada-senpai."

Niou tilted his head slightly, looking at the sight before him. The whole team was together on the school roof eating their lunch in the scorching heat. In the past, it had only been Yukimura, Akaya and Niou who ate there together. But since most of them had a boyfriend now, they were joined by Yanagi and Yagyuu, who were currently discussing homework together. The strange addition was Sanada, who had only begun eating lunch with them two days after Yukimura had returned to school. Jackal and Marui was also there for some unknown reasons; perhaps they just did not want to be left out.

"You're right, brat." said Niou, chewing on his Rikkai bun. Niou knew what Akaya meant. Yukimura liked Sanada, but looking at the way they had been interacting over the last few days seemed to say the total opposite. Yukimura had been the one who flirted with Sanada in the past, but now it appeared to be Sanada who was constantly vying for the captain's attention.

"Then why is captain being so mean to vice-captain?" asked Akaya.

Niou shrugged. "Maybe captain's playing hard to get?" he suggested. "But yeah, the roles are oddly reversed now." Despite Sanada often trying to talk to Yukimura, the bluenette only responded in a cold manner, often ignoring him completely. Sanada looked rather pitiful.

Today, Sanada was mostly keeping to himself as he ate his own lunch. He wasn't even talking to Yanagi and was being a total loner.

Yukimura sat a noticeable distance away from the vice-captain and laughed at something Marui had said.

Now that Akaya had mentioned it, Niou was beginning to get curious as well. The trickster moved forward and then plopped himself down in the empty spot next to Yukimura.

"Hey, captain?" Niou whispered so that no one else, especially not Sanada would here them.

"Hmm?" Yukimura turned, wondering what Niou wanted.

"Did Sanada do something to make you angry?"

Yukimura scowled. "I have nothing to say to him."

"Shame. He looks really piteous." said Niou. "It's kinda weird though… seeing Sanada trying to make you happy. Usually you're the one trying to talk to him. Did you get tired of waiting for him to return your feelings?"

"Sanada does return my feelings." said Yukimura, casting a glance in Sanada's direction. "And his attitude lately reflects this perfectly."

"What do you mean?"

"If Sanada did not like me, then he would have no reason to be sticking around like this. He would have left a long time ago the moment I told him to stop visiting me in the hospital." said Yukimura. "The fact that he is not only staying, but trying this desperately to get me to forgive him reinforces that fact."

Niou was thoughtful for a moment. "…I guess that's true. But if you keep on treating him so coldly, he'll leave for good. You might be hurting him."

"I hope I am hurting him, because it's hurting me as well to act this way." replied Yukimura. "It's a chance I'll need to take. I've given him more than enough of my patience at this point."

"Well…" Niou stood up, brushing dirt off his pants. "Good luck with that. In the meantime, I'll be making out with my boyfriend, since I actually have one." Yukimura shot him a dirty look and tried to trip the trickster. Niou grinned. "Aww, don't be jealous, captain. I sure your rock will come around someday."

Niou walked in Yagyuu's direction, passing behind Sanada and giving him a swift kick on the side on the way there. Sanada yelled at him for the random kick. Niou stuck his tongue out at Sanada, telling the stern vice-captain that he deserved it.

"Tarundoru! Twenty extra laps at practice, Niou!" Sanada shouted.

"Oh shut up!" Niou yelled back, seating himself close to Yagyuu. "You're the one acting like an obsessed girl trying to get the attention of a guy she likes."

Akaya looked confused from where he sat, wondering what on earth was going on. But if this meant that Yukimura and Sanada were enemies again, then Akaya was excited about getting to prank and laugh at Sanada just like the good old times.

Yagyuu and Yanagi were no longer engaged in a conversation, thanks to Niou who had sat down beside his boyfriend and immediately began kissing Yagyuu in broad daylight. The data master didn't seem fazed at all by Niou's sudden interruption. He turned back to his lunch and resumed eating.

Akaya edged closer to Yanagi.

"Yanagi-senpai, I don't get it. Are captain Yukimura and vice-captain Sanada having a fight? Can I kick Sanada-senpai too then?" asked Akaya.

"Akaya, you must never kick people, regardless of the reason. And no, they aren't fighting." said Yanagi.

"Then what's going on?"

"I believe Yukimura has reached the end of his patience and is angry at Genichirou." said Yanagi. "As for Genichirou, he's just an idiot."

That didn't help Akaya understand anything at all, but he still grinned widely and pointed at Sanada.

"Ha! Hey Sanada-senpai, Yanagi-senpai just called you an idiot!" shouted Akaya to the moping Sanada in the corner.

Sanada did not look amused. "Shut up and quit lying, Akaya! Twenty laps at practice!"

"But it's true!" whined Akaya.

"It will be fifty laps if you keep this up!" said Sanada. As if his best friend Yanagi would ever say something like that about him. Akaya grumbled and cuddled up to Yanagi's side instead of retorting again. Sanada sighed in frustration. He was really not in the mood for this today.

His gaze went straight to Yukimura, as it commonly did nowadays. Yukimura caught him staring and turned his head away, resuming his conversation with Marui.

Yukimura had not been taking it easy at all. Sanada had heard team members complaining that Yukimura's training regime was not any better than the vice-captain's since they were both slave drivers. Sanada had caught Yukimura looking pale, his breathing more laboured in several instances. But whenever Sanada showed concern, Yukimura would merely scorn him away.

And right now, as Sanada stared intensely at Yukimura's face, he could definitely spot that something was wrong. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of Yukimura's face. The bluenette was laughing with Marui, but it seemed forced, as if he was hiding something. It was no wonder why. They were outside at noon in the scalding heat without shade. The sun was beating down on them harshly and they were already very tired. It was Friday and the whole week had been nothing short of exhausting with the taxing practices. Yukimura was probably exhausted after such an intensive week. He had been bedridden for months and wasn't used to this sort of lifestyle anymore. Yukimura should be taking it easy, slowly resuming his usual schedule instead of going straight into it full-on.

Yukimura stood up, smiling and saying something about needed to use the bathroom. He slowly padded towards the door. Only Sanada seemed to notice how Yukimura was swaying slightly as he walked. Everyone else on the team was busy with their partners to care about Yukimura going to the washroom.

Even if Sanada had told himself to leave Yukimura alone, he couldn't do that right now. He grabbed his water bottle and followed Yukimura, mumbling that he would be right back.

Instead of finding Yukimura in the washroom, Sanada found him hunched against the wall close to the stairs, breathing heavily.

Yukimura heard the footsteps approaching. After months of listening to Sanada's steps approaching his hospital room, he had no trouble knowing who was following him.

"What do you want, Sanada?" said Yukimura without turning around. He tried sounding angry, but his voice only came out as weak.

Sanada said nothing, holding out his water bottle to Yukimura. Yukimura's head twitched to the side, looking at it.

"Drink. You need to keep hydrated, especially in this heat." said Sanada.

Yukimura considered it for a second but then shook his head. "Keep your water. There's a fountain just down the stairs."

"Fine. If you'd rather faint from a heatstroke on the way or fall down the stairs and injure yourself, then be my guest." said Sanada. "I'd love to see you play tennis with a broken arm."

"I'm fine." Yukimura snapped. "I don't need your constant mothering. Yes, I'm a little dizzy. But it will pass."

"Mothering?" Sanada sounded insulted. "Yukimura, you are the one constantly acting in a way that leaves me no choice but to look out for you. You are past the point of stubbornness; now you are just being stupid and putting yourself at risk. If I don't worry, then who will be there to stop you from fainting of exhaustion?"

"Why do you even care?" Yukimura said. "I never asked you to worry about me."

"It's not a choice." said Sanada. "I can't help but worry."

"Just leave me alone. You've done enough as it is. You have no reason to continue this mindless worrying simply because you have some feeling of obligation as a vice-captain to look out for the captain." said Yukimura.

"I'm worrying because I care about you, Yukimura!" shouted Sanada.

Yukimura made a choked noise and his wide-eyed gaze finally rose to meet Sanada's brown eyes. A pause thickened between them. In other circumstance, Sanada might have been relieved to finally have Yukimura looking at him without the look of cold isolation. But Sanada was momentarily mortified when he realized what he had just said and what he had practically admitted to.

Even if a light flush rose to his cheeks, Sanada was not about to back down now. He stood tall, meeting Yukimura's gaze right back with solid determination.

He shoved the water bottle to Yukimura's chest. The bluenette took it in his fragile grip.

"Drink." Sanada said again. "Vice-captain's orders."

Yukimura took one brief look at the bottle. There was already some water missing. Sanada must have drunk some earlier. Sanada's lips had touched the rim of this bottle, Yukimura thought absentmindedly.

"Take your time to feel better. When you feel up to it, go rest in the classroom or in the infirmary until you are better." said Sanada. "I'll give the team an excuse, so don't worry about it. This strong heat isn't good for you. You'll need your strength for practice this afternoon."

Yukimura was about to say thank you, but it died on his lips. It was only when Sanada turned around to leave that Yukimura gave a grateful smile in his direction, one that the capped teen did not see.

Yukimura's smile didn't loosen even when Sanada had left to go back on the roof. The bluenette replayed what had happened in his head, recalling the slightest details such as Sanada's tone when he said he cared about him and the blush that had tainted his cheeks afterwards. Yukimura unscrewed the top of Sanada's bottle and drank. The water felt like heaven to his parched throat. He hadn't realized just how thirsty he was until now. He ended up drinking the whole thing.

When Yukimura's vertigo subdued enough, he slowly made his way back to his classroom and rested his head on his desk. Despite how angry he was supposed to be acting towards his vice-captain, he couldn't help the feeling of giddiness rising inside of him.

He hoped Sanada didn't actually want his water bottle back because Yukimura had no intention of giving it back.

Author's Rant:

I am in a foul mood today because my car got totalled thanks to an old lady. Ugh. My poor car. Some people really need to learn how to drive. Really, when you are crashing into parked cars, I think there is a problem.

Merry Christmas to me. I get to spend money I don't have on a new bumper. D;

But despite all that, I enjoyed writing this chapter a lot. It made me a little happier.