Disclaimer: I do not own POT

Eiji Kikumaru – Thank you for your support

"Eiji, you need to think about this! Your stamina is really bad, I am telling you, if you do not change, you will never EVER get to beat Mukahi Gakuto at this point."

Eiji bit his lip. For the first time, the bubbly and happy go lucky smile was not present on his face. He was bitter. He had just lost another game to Mukahi Gakuto… again. Truth to be told, he already knew that his stamina was holding him back. He had tried everything he could to bring it up! Eiji was beyond frustrated with his body.

"Eiji! Come back here! I'm not done with you."

Ryuuzaki sensei called out to him, but Eiji has heard enough. Enough! He had enough. He did what he had to do. He ran. Like a coward. Everyone else was progressing and improving their stamina or their weak points. Ochibi has just managed to overcome his latest challenge as well.

"…haah…. Haah…"

Eiji felt his lungs heave as his body drenched with sweat. He ran but he did not run out of the school. Instead he was in the back of the school. Covered in sweat and panting like a loser. Eiji gritted his teeth and slammed his fist into the ground where he had collapsed.

"Why NYA!"

Eiji could only cry out in anguish. His body was weak. If only he had better stamina, if only he could improve himself like his team or like Oishi so that he can best help his teammate. Why can't he? Everyone else could. So why couldn't he?

"Kikumaru-senpai?"

A soft voice called out and Eiji thought to himself, can he look any more pathetic than he already did? On the ground, on his knees and punching the life out of the sandy grounds he lay on. Weak. Helpless. Useless.

"…"

Eiji felt like if only he shut his eyes and ears maybe he would disappear into thin air and that no one would think otherwise. Everyone will continue to make their way forward anyway.

"Kikumaru-senpai…?"

Again that soft voice calls him, and he lost his temper for the first time in front of a girl.

"Go away! Leave my pathetic self be!"

"!"

That seemed to stop the person at their tracks. He thought to himself, good! Stay away. But he hadn't counted on his words not stopping. They were like water gushing out of a tap and apparently tear ducts were open too.

"No matter how hard I try, I am not going to improve my stamina! Ryuuzaki sensei is right. If I were to continue this way, I will never get better. I will forever be stuck in this endless cycle of winning where stamina is not important and losing when stamina comes into play! I hate this! I hate my body!"

Eiji's fists continue to pound onto the ground.

"Kikumaru-senpai! I…"

"It's no use! No matter how many times I try! I do everything I can! I! JUST! CAN'T! DO! IT!"

Every word a pounding goes into his fists. But he was just so angry with himself because he had let this happen. He had spent too long trying to take it easy and have fun, as well as think about what kind of mischief he could get up to… now he pays for it dearly. Had he been more like Oishi or more like Ochibi, he would've done better!

Suddenly right before his fists could pound the ground again, two dainty hands stopped him and lifted it up with all their might. Eiji looked up in shock to realize he was looking at Sakuno's wide fearful eyes.

"KIKUMARU-SENPAI!"

Her usual meek and soft voice echoed like a loud gunshot in an empty room. So loud and clear and so unlike Sakuno, he froze in shock. She was panting from that outburst and her hands not releasing his said with so much determination

"You are… Doing your best! You… help Tomoka and I be brave and cheer for the people we care about! You… can do it!"

Eiji was surprised indeed. She had often been so meek and shy, but her voice cut straight through his heart as he listened to her.

"Like you support…supported me… I will support… support you! You ca…can change Kikumaru-senpai! That is why my grandmother… is scolding….scolding you. That…that is why Oishi believes in… in you. We…we know you…you can do it."

"But I've done everything I could!"

Eiji felt like he was whinging with such a sentence, but her words of comfort continued to stream into his ears, whether he wanted to hear them or not, he heard them loud and clear.

"n…No! You…you haven't! You… you look…terrified… when …when you feel like you are about to hit 0 for stamina…"

Eiji's eyes widened in surprise. How did she know? Every time he feels his lungs burning or changes in his body and he knows it is a sign to stop. She was right… he was so scared of collapsing from exhaustion that he never pushes further than where he believes his limits are.

"You… you need to push…push beyond…"

Eiji knew where she was going and what she was suggesting. He felt embarrassed that she had to be the one to tell him. He should've noticed it. He should've known. But he didn't or rather he was not ready to admit it… he whispered.

"I'm…scared."

Eiji could feel her grip tighten as she said with determination.

"You don't have to fac….face it alone… You have…u…us!"

Eiji would hate to say it, but after all that, his heart felt lighter. He felt more cantered when she said that. She told him. She told him that he was not alone. She was right. He had forgotten so easily. He had his team. They were moving forwards yes, but they would not leave him behind if he needed them to help him. Eiji felt a slight bubbling in his throat, was it laughter or sobs? Eiji did not know, but then he gurgled it out as laughter.

"Thank you Sakuno…"

Eiji felt the storm within him calm a little. Sakuno helped him up and she was the one who rushed him to the infirmary. She sat with him while he whinged about the small pains on his fists. She listened to him and smiled at him.

Sakuno went with Eiji up to Ryuuzaki sensei. He was terrified but he had to do this… he looked at Sakuno who mouthed

"You can do it!"

Eiji felt slightly more supported and apologized to Ryuuzaki sensei.

"Don't beat yourself up. It is weakness but you can overcome it!"

Eiji sat down with Ryuuzaki to work on a plan and then every morning earlier, he would come out to start his stamina training. Sakuno went to every single one of those practices. Eiji realized it was not improving as quickly as he wanted. He still struggled to past the threshold. He was not sure if he could. What if his lungs collapse? What if his body fails him?

"Have faith Kikumaru senpai!"

Sakuno's voice continued to encourage him. After a few days, Sakuno then asked

"Have you…a…asked…for help f…from…Oishi?"

Eiji had often asked Oishi to look after him, but… training him with stamina? Maybe he is a good fit… maybe he isn't. But Sakuno was right about one thing. He definitely needs a second opinion.

"Maybe I need to ask Buchou, nya!"

Sakuno nodded and again she accompanied him to see Tezuka. Tezuka was in the club room at that point, inspecting the equipment when Eiji bowed his head to Tezuka and asked.

"Fine. But you need to prepare yourself. I am going to really push you. So don't let your guard down."

Eiji looked at Sakuno and beamed.

"Yes Buchou nya!"

Every day for the past 2 months, Sakuno unwaveringly helped. She supported him and Eiji was very grateful as he felt himself improve. At some point, Tezuka had also assigned Ryoma to help challenge Eiji as Ryoma is not biased and would not take their training lightly. Eiji felt that the training was hard, but at the same time, he could feel himself improving.

"Okay! Gather up!"

Tezuka called out to all the team members and Eiji gathered like everyone else as Tezuka announced to everyone that there is to be a friendly match against Hyoutei in 2 weeks. Eiji who was feeling more and more confident, felt like his motivation fell flat again. A deep gripping fear questioned himself. What will happen if he meets Mukahi Gakuto again and this time he will not meet everyone's expectations?

"Kikumaru senpai!"

Eiji looked up from under his tree. He noted that Ryoma and Sakuno were making their way towards him. Ryoma was dressed and ready to help Eiji and Sakuno his natural supporter was here too. Eiji grew more pensive as he was feeling the burden of expectation.

"What's…what's wrong?"

Sakuno asked, and Eiji muttered in a low voice

"What…what if I let you all down? My stamina might still not be enough."

Sakuno sat and listened and Ryoma remained silent but he occasionally swings his racquet back and forth with the slight swishing sounds.

"You…you won't let…let us down… we…we are there…for you… not…not you are… there for..for us…"

Eiji looked a little perplexed when Ryoma stated

"Chiz, she means that you should only think about doing your best for yourself."

Ryoma was definitely blunt and then he said

"If you are not going to train, I am going to go train myself."

With that, he marched off. Sakuno continued to stay and Eiji felt a great sense of comfort being around her. But Ryoma and Sakuno were right. He was supposed to be doing the best for himself. That helped. But then… what if he doesn't feel the best yet?

"Sakuno-chan, what if I am not doing my best yet?"

It was because she had been there so often, he felt brave enough to admit this. Sakuno smiled at him patiently and unwaveringly she answered]

"We…we never are. We…we will always be improving… our be…best… today…might not…be…be our best tomorrow… it's about… doing what…we already…can today…"

Sakuno was right. He walked back and saw Tezuka looking at the charts and then when he noted Eiji came back he said

"Eiji, you need to practice. Treat this game as a learning experience to see what else you can improve on."

Tezuka was like Ryoma in many ways, blunt but it seems that they both care for him and Eiji felt a sense of support and when he noted Oishi was smiling at him and nodding, he felt the support from them too.

The friendly game ended. Mukahi Gakuto won again. But this time Eiji was able to focus and note where he was lacking. Instead of giving up… Eiji heard Sakuno and Tomoka cheering for him and he felt the support of his teammates behind him. He also remembered the kind words. He just has to try his best now and evaluate what he can improve.

Sakuno came up to him with a smile on her face and Eiji looked at her and grinned

"I did it!"

Sakuno smiled back at him when Mukahi Gakuto came up and he seemed sulky. Was it Eiji or did Eiji notice Mukahi's eyes darting towards Sakuno and said

"You've improved."

"Yes! I have a very strong supporter."

Eiji said with a slight playful note in his voice, he could see the look on Mukahi's face when Eiji said that. He chuckled a little. So even Mukahi Gakuto has his own problems! \

"I look forward to seeing you in the next tournament."

"We'll see who wins then!"

Eiji was motivated. He knew he had improved and he knew as long as he had his teammates and Sakuno supporting him… people who believed in him… he will improve and continue to improve. Just as Mukahi Gakuto was walking away did Eiji cry out

"Oh a tip for you Mukahi Gakuto! You better give up on that person! They already belong to someone else!"

Eiji relished at the look of indignation from Mukahi Gakuto. Mukahi does not study at Seigaku and through these past few gruelling months, while Sakuno had been looking after Eiji, he already could see and guess… Sakuno and that person had a rather special relationship.

But that is a story for another time. Eiji just wanted the chance to thank her for all those times she supported him. And that was what he appreciated the most.

"WHAT?!"

Momoshiro spluttered out the water from his mouth as he shot a knowing look at the Seigaku team members and he said

"Sakuno is dating someone? Is it…"

Momoshiro's eyes travelled up towards the two figures standing at this point but no one said a word in response.

"Eiji! Spill! Who is it?!"

Momoshiro attempted to shake the senses out of Eiji but Jackal pulled him back and shook his head sadly and said

"He's too far gone anyway. Maybe we wait until later."

Momoshiro dropped his hands onto his lap and said

"Yeah… now isn't the time… I really hope both Ryuuzaki Sensei and Sakuno is okay."

"We have to have faith."

Jackal kindly reminded Momoshiro.

"…Okay… well then I guess its Renji Yanagi's turn?"

Renji Yanagi looked up and said

"Where should I even start?"

-To be continued –

Snowrider14 signing off