AUTHOR'S NOTE: Oh wow, it feels like a million years I did not update this. Sorry my lovely readers and followers, I was caught up with my other stories. Now I found back my plotline for this baby, I will update weekly again. Hopefully, I'm like writing three stories at a time so bare with me hehe.

Thank you so much for the reviews! Love you loads!

Enjoy reading!

Chapter 7: Bonds broken and unbroken

Another day in school begins in Seido High School. Erika strolls down the corridor, checking through her chairman file. She glances at the notes scribbled by her and Takashima. At times, she wishes her teacher stops drawing faces at every note as though Erika needs inspiration. Maybe she appears stressed whenever she receives the file from the teacher. She understands her teacher's kindness but it is embarrassing if all she writes back is less than two words.

Erika can be horrible in relationships.

Thank goodness Megumi is easy to befriend with. It is lucky of her that Megumi does not change much over the year when they were separated.

Talking about her orange friend, she remembers Megumi is already at the courts, taking advantage of the extra time before the late morning assembly. She is going to practice twice as hard this week. The Fall tournament is coming and the coach is going to hold a selection process next week for the participating regular team. Erika hopes that the tennis team will consider picking a first-year to enter the tournament. Erika is excited to watch Megumi in the tournament.

Although it is only been a year, Erika misses watching Megumi in action. Erika admires Megumi's brute strength whenever she hits the ball with her racket. The fact that Megumi always fixes a smile on her face in every game, it makes the game inspiring. Playing doubles with her is even more exciting that you do not want the game to stop.

Memories back in middle school come playing in her mind.

"Ri-chan!"

Erika freezes immediately when two arms plunge on her from behind. She swiftly turns and smacks the file on the head.

"Itte!" Eijun yelps, rubbing his bruise. "What was that for?!"

Erika gasps, hugging the file. "Ei-chan! I'm sorry! You just scared me!"

"So cruel! Here I was, trying to surprise you. And what did I get? A hit on my head. This is unforgivable!"

"Ei-chan," Erika squeezes, in the verge to cry.

"You can make it right again!" Eijun smirks and points his bruise at her. "Kiss my head."

A flush of red crosses her cheek, eliciting her to slap his head instead.

"Oi!" Eijun wails in pain but is quick enough to grab Erika from leaving.

He hugs her by the neck, pressing the sides of their heads closely. Erika cringes, "What are you doing?! We're in school!"

"Come on, Ri-chan. There is something I need to tell you. And since that Elmo is not with you, I can finally have some alone time with you!" Eijun giggles.

"Idiot," Erika chuckles too. "We are having a late assembly today. And I don't really have much to do before it starts."

"Great! That is what I want to hear! Come on!" Eijun gives her a last squeeze before grabbing her hand and pulling her into a sprint.

"Ei-chan! Slow down! We can't run in the corridors."

The Sawamura twins dash down the hallway, descending the stairs and turning right at a corner. Their sprint soon ends at somewhere far from the main building. Eijun slows down as they approach tree that stands tall in the middle of a vast field. There is a fence of bricks surrounding it, about three inches tall. Erika figures what kind of tree it is and when she captures the sight of pink buds, she knows it is cherry blossom tree.

Their hands gently detach from each other as the twins stand side by side, viewing the tree as a whole.

"Pretty," Erika comments involuntarily, her eyes glimmering by the scarce light passing through the trees.

Eijun smiles widely, giving her a glance of pride that he knows he will amaze her when he brings her here. Erika has always been a nature lover. Whenever Eijun plays baseball with his friends back home, in a field a few metres away from their house, Erika will find a spot at one of the trees and read her books. During the night, they both climb the tree for an enthralling view of the diamonds in the sky. Growing up in the countryside allows the twins to take advantage of exploring and discovering whatever Mother Earth has to offer.

A gust of wind blows, shaking the canopy gently and some leaves sway to the ground. Erika realises she has been staring at it for too long that she nearly forgets her twin brother is with her. When he moves, Erika flinches, watching his every step towards the tree.

"Ei-chan," Erika sounds worried. "Don't climb it. It looks old and their branches are weak. It's dangerous."

"That's not why I bring you here, silly," Eijun chuckles before crouching before the tree. "I want to plant my dreams with this tree."

"Eh?" Erika cocks her head to the side, confused.

Eijun retrieves a baseball from his pocket and turns it inside his grip, as though looking at it for the last time. He places the ball at where the roots split into two, tucking it nicely so it will not roll off. Eijun straightens up to his stand and gazes at the tree.

"Ri-chan," Eijun speaks, the wind blowing and carrying his words lightly. "I have been running around the field ever since we came here. Every morning, I will make an effort to wake up and force my slack body to work. Plus the training menus Chris-senpai has givel n me, I think I have grown a few muscles and some flexibility in them. But I still cannot see myself any close to the mound."

Erika clasps her file tightly, eyes casting down. She knows best how Eijun is feeling right now.

Eijun places both hands behind his head. "But what I always see is this tree right here. Look at your left. It's the baseball field."

Erika turns her head, soaking in the view of the dried mud land within the towering wired fence. If she imagines herself inside the field, she can picture a small tree stood at the summit of the hill in which they are standing right now. It will be a good distraction when the tree is bloomed with pink flowers.

"I can't help remembering Akagi team again," Eijun snickers, but Erika can hear a sniffle hidden in it, "I promise them that I will be the ace of this team and bring them to the nationals. After being here for a month, I realised that it is such a huge promise I made without thinking hard enough. I realised, Ri-chan, I cannot fulfill this promise very soon. Maybe if I'm lucky, I deserve a chance in my final year."

Vivid shock widens Erika's eyes. "Are you giving up now, Ei-chan?"

"Not really. Just postponing my promise."

A slap of her file hits his head tearing the silence with his cry of pain. While he holds his vibrating head, he drops to a squatting position.

"Grandpa will be so mad at you!" Erika hisses, unable to withstand her anger anymore. "This is so unlike you. If it is because of the catcher you are assigned with, it is just a plain excuse! I should have brought something heavy and hit you! Are you really Ei-chan? Are you my twin brother who never stops babbling about baseball to me?!"

"Yesterday, Furuya..." Eijun voices softly, so fragile that the wind can shatter him. "He made his debut."

Erika hears the sadness in his voice. His rival has gotten ahead of him. She also remembers Furuya inviting her to watch him play yesterday but she refused. She only wants to watch Eijun's games.

"Were you there, Ei-chan?"

"Yeah. Haruichii told me to come so that I see how the opponent team plays. But I found the experience very disturbing that I cannot concentrate on the opponent. Furuya was being hailed by everyone. Even Chris-senpai does."

Eijun recounts the moment when Chris appeared behind him during the game. "He said that as long as Furuya is in the team, I will always be a reserve. His pitches can scare his opponent, something I cannot do."

"That's not true, Ei-chan!" Erika comes closer to him, gripping his shoulder. "If you develop your pitches, you can be as scary as Furuya."

"It's no use," Eijun shivers under her hand. "The catcher I'm given is a slacker."

"Ei-chan..."

"He goes back early in every practice. He obviously gave up in getting into the first string. He's just a soulless player! I... I don't know what to do anymore, Ri-chan!"

Abruptly, Eijun turns and hugs Erika tightly, hiding his face on her shoulder. The file in her hand falls on the ground. Eijun may always appear confident and strong minded but only with his twin sister can he show his weak and crumbling side. He can easily let loose all the masks he wears to hide his sadness and simply break down with Erika's shoulders to cry on.

The brunette pats his head and returns him a tighter hug. This is why Erika is here. She wants to be there whenever Eijun strays from his path or lingers in the negative part of his mind for too long. He can be stupid for the most trivial things but before he makes a stupid mistake on what really matters to him, Erika will correct it. She will guide him back.

"Ei-chan," Erika speaks, patting his back to calm him down. "It's been really hard on you. I understand."

"Ri-chan, gomen."

"Don't be. There is nothing to apologise. I just want you to know that even if everyone does not believe that you can be ace of Seido team, I do."

Eijun sucks a long breath before pulling away from her, his head still bowing low.

"It is just a matter of time, right, Ei-chan?" Erika smiles reassuringly. "I'll wait for that day. I'm sure all our friends back home will wait too. But you must not give up, Ei-chan. You must take every chance you can get and strive for success."

"But Ri-chan..."

"I believe you will find someone who can teach you and guide you. He will make out the best of you. Your pitches will be more feared than Furuya's! Just imagine, the batter's stunned face and the crispy sound the ball makes when it hits the catcher's mitt! You have to be patient, Ei-chan! Just like how I will wait for you to come on that mound, you have to wait for that person to appear in your life and develop your crazy pitches!"

"Crazy pitches?" Eijun pouts, pressing his arm over his eyes. "You finally called it crazy!"

Erika pulls his arm off his face but Eijun resists her. "Come on. Stop crying. Ei-chan's a crybaby."

Eijun wipes his face with his cuffs and blows a loud breath. He chuckles a small one as soon as Erika pinches his cheek. He feels alot better getting it out of his chest. Erika never disappoints him whenever he needs some cheering up. Eijun picks up the file that she drops and a mischievous glint crosses his eyes.

He hits her lightly on her head. "I'm not a crybaby!"

"Mo..." Erika pouts, rubbing her head and she snatches her file back.

Once again, Eijun clings an arm over her shoulder, side-hugging. "Ne, Ri-chan."

"What, Ei-chan?"

"If I become ace sooner than expected, can I ask something from you?"

"Oh," Erika hums, smirking. "Okay. What is it that you want from me?"

Eijun tilts both of them and he points at the right of the tree. The tennis courts are spread widely from a far distance, sounds of racket hitting and balls flying to the fence can be heard loudly and they are as though amplified the more Erika stares at them.

"Return to tennis again," Eijun smiles. "My baseball here wants a tennis ball for company."

Erika looks at the baseball sitting among the roots of the tree. Her lips twist into a frown. She should have known Eijun will bring that matter up.

"Well," Erika sighs and hits the file on his chest. "You have three years from now. You better hurry."

Eijun hisses behind a smile. "Ehhh? Didn't you say you will wait for me?"

"I can't possibly join tennis club in my third year, right?"

"Cruel! Ri-chan's cruel!"

The twins laugh whole-heartedly.

Curiosity kills the cat, one may say.

Kuramochi does not think it is that harmful to simply take a quick look. As he is informed about the late assembly today, he thought he could spend some time working on his batting skills. Yesterday's game is still fresh in muscles. When he peers above the hill at the tennis courts for the girls' team, he cannot get his mind off it.

Still in his school uniform, with his bat resting on his shoulder, he sneaks in like camouflaging is one of his traits. His hair happens to blend him with the bushes. He stoops low, eyeing on the girls in their short tennis skirts.

This is live show, guys.

He better not nosebleeds.

Surprisingly, the number of girls that are on the court are lesser than he imagined. It is probably an impromptu training. Some are practicing with the tennis ball machine while some trains on their swings and sprints. Their routine exercise is not that different from the baseball team.

Even if Kuramochi wants to call it a voluntary practice, he is not very confident about it. There are two girls in one court that look really serious in their swings. The tennis ball machine could have shivered in fear when the girl plans to hit its toss. The sight of those two girls are breathtaking, the intensity they bring into their swings are deadly such that the wind literally blows a long distance right to his face.

He can only figure that they are the third years, almost a professional. Kuramochi does not want to mess that bunch of girls. Hell, he does not want to be anywhere near them. After all, he is here to see Erika playing.

That brunette is so sweet and small, that she being a tennis player is unbelievable. Probably she has sly tricks that compensate her petite frame just like Ryosuke. It will be exciting to see Erika play. Unfortunately, he cannot find any brunette that looks like her. She could have tied her hair into a ponytail or a bun or pigtails even. Yet most of them does not seem to possess the hair length like Erika's.

A tennis ball flies out of the fence, shoots through the bushes. Kuramochi cringes, afraid of being discovered so he runs away from the bushes and attempts to flee.

"Oi! Pervert!"

Kuramochi stiffens, as the yell acknowledges his presence. A tennis ball reaches him, but due to his swift instincts, he dodges it and falls to the ground. He whimpers in pain, rubbing his back.

"How dare you peek on us?!"

Kuramochi notices the girl is within his reach. The racket rams against him yet his bat comes to the rescue, as he braces himself with the bat forward, protecting his face. "Sorry! I was just looking for a friend!"

The racket and bat press on like a tug of war. "Ha?! Wait a minute. I know you!"

Kuramochi opens one eye and captures under the gleaming sunlight the sight of beautiful orange hair.

"Itou-san?" Kuramochi says her name. "You're Erika's best friend."

Megumi presses the racket harder. "Who said you can call her by her name?!"

"They are twins, Itou-san! They have same surname. It'll be confusing if I don't call her by her name."

"Just tell me why are you here? Did that megane pervert send you here?! To spy on me?!" Megumi scoffs.

"No, no. I come here by myself," Kuramochi stutters. "I was actually here for Erika- I mean, Sawamura's sister."

"So you're part of his pervert circle of friends too!"

"No, no! I'm here to watch her play! I swear! Nothing more than that!"

Megumi loosens alittle. "What?"

Kuramochi notices her surprise. "Miyuki, the glasses guy, is really interested in her but like a sportmanship kinda thing. Miyuki has the knack to recognise talent when he sees one. And he saw it in her. I was trying to figure if what he thinks is true. It will be nice to see a reliable Sawamura when it comes to skills. She must be an amazing tennis player."

"She was," Megumi finally releases her racket off Kuramochi's bat and faces away.

"She was?" Kuramochi brings down his bat and beetles his brows. "You mean she don't play anymore. But I thought she's in the team with you."

Megumi sighs heavily. "That is what I wish to happen. She is stubborn and secretive about it. And I'm not someone who likes to force things on her."

"The irony. You gave me insane force a moment ago," the senior smirks alittle only to stiffen the next moment when Megumi glares at him. "I mean, you are an incredible tennis player too."

Megumi tears her glare off him and faces away, intending to leave him behind. "Go away. There is no chance for you to see her play."

"Why did she quit?"

"Who knows."

"Does her brother know?"

"As far as I know, I won't be surprised if they keep it a secret from me. They both are incredibly close," Megumi states and looks at her racket, measuring it in her hands. "Even if I pester Eijun to tell me, he wouldn't tell me. He treasures Eri-chan's secrets more than anything."

"Maybe that idiot does not really know," Kuramochi giggles lightly. "What if I try to get some information from him? He's my roommate and junior too."

Megumi has her eyes brightened. "Really? You can do that?"

"Yeah," Kuramochi extends a large smile, his cheeks fighting to blush. "You can count on me. I too want to know what happened."

"Why?" Megumi wonders, looking confused. "Don't tell me you fell for her."

"No, no, no. Don't get me wrong," Kuramochi chuckles. "I just think that I understand that feeling."

Megumi furrows her brows as Kuramochi gives her a white smile.

"That feeling when you want to play the game with your friends. I always like that feeling."

The greenhaired boy cannot help reminisce of his own friends back home. He used to play baseball with his friends or that was what they called themselves to be. Although they betrayed him, he does not think it will be a bad idea if he has the chance to play a game or two with them again.

It is always fun when we play with friends.

His sentiment towards the issue gets to Megumi as she stretches a crooked smile. "In other words, you are helping me."

"Is that a problem?" Kuramochi stares hard at her.

"No," Megumi chuckles. "Let's make it a deal. If you help me get information, I will not mention you coming here to anyone. Agreed?"

Kuramochi clasps both his hands together. "Ah, that's a brilliant deal. Please don't let my coach hear this. I'll be doomed."

"Baseball sure sounds scary. Well, my coach is pregnant but she is still here with us," Megumi shares.

Kuramachi laughs loudly. "Isn't pregnant lady more scary? She definitely has the temper like a starving gorilla."

"I know right! She just told me to run around the fence just because I don't want to bun my hair."

"Sick!"

Those two crack up laughing, already getting along real fine. Megumi hits her racket on Kuramochi's bat like an oath to be made between them.

"I'll wait for your info, Chameleon."

Kuramochi blinks. "Eh? My name is Kuramochi."

"Don't care!" Megumi laughs as she jogs away. "Your hair is like the court floor. So I'm gonna call you that!"

Kuramochi turns away, feeling his cheeks flush red. His heart starts thumping rapidly. That seems to be longest time he spoke to a girl and he has to admit he is quite comfortable with her.

"I guess I should find a good nickname for her too," Kuramochi giggles and walks away.

Ahh, that idiot made him burst in anger. How can that idiot be so insensitive with his words?

Telling Chris-senpai to just quit the team? That he has no place in the team anymore?

Just because Eijun cannot get along with Chris-senpai, he thinks he can be a better judge in whose skills and spirit deserved to be in Seido team.

Ahhh, Miyuki can still feel the sheer force he mustered to slam Sawamura against the wall.

It was clearly the wrong time to borrow the scorebook. He wouldn't have get himself in such situation. He could have just left everything to Takashima to handle. Nonetheless, Sawamura's heartless words just triggered him.

If only Sawamura knows, Chris is the one who has not even given up once, despite the injury in his shoulder. He is supposed to be Miyuki's rival but Miyuki obtains the position of first string catcher without competition. Chris forfeits that position, a strict command from his father. If it is not for his injury, Sawamura would have known better that Chris is much more experienced and talented than Miyuki.

Now that the incident had happened, in which Miyuki finally showed his dark colours, he is regretting. Getting fuss up about something like this always leave a bad taste in his mouth. It is just not his character to simply rely on emotion and decide with it. Seldom he gets angry and rather he shoots a discouraging comeback instead.

Ahhh, this is just bad.

Of all people, he shows his dark side to the brother of the girl he admires.

The brisk walk he takes from the room to the hallway eventually slows down. Miyuki rubs the back of his head, thinking of the possibility that the idiot will complain about Miyuki to Erika. He will definitely warn his sister to not meddle with Miyuki again.

Knowing them being twins, Erika will not disobey his brother.

Ahhh, just when he earns some trust from her, he ruins it himself.

A small voice in his head then says that he should always put his team first before anything else. If he apologises, he will make it look like he is never seriously protecting his mates.

That also means he might really lose Erika's trust. Forever.

Ahhh, he hates it.

Turning about a corridor, he plans to reside somewhere at the benches near the canteen. Lessons were over a while ago and since it is rest day after their game yesterday, Miyuki has some spare time. Furuya is probably still in the training grounds, polishing his fielding skills. Maybe after reading the scorebook, he will go for a few throws and bat swings before retiring for the night.

The school building looks pretty empty at that hour. Some students are loitering around. He recognises some photography club members as well as the cheerleaders. They always shoot a smile at him but at the moment, he cannot even force a tug on his lips.

His chest is still burning.

You know when you seldom get angry, frustration bottling up, just one spark is all you need to explode. Bits of fire still dwell in the remains.

Instead of responding to them, Miyuki pretends to be engrossed with his phone. The canteen is within reach and he will be there in no matter of time.

"Thank you for your hard work," a familiar voice soothes his ear and he looks up from his phone.

Erika is bowing at three girls, probably her classmates. She then turns towards Miyuki.

A hard lump grows in his throat. He cannot meet her now, after what he has done to her brother. The news probably reaches her already.

Avoid, avoid, avoid.

Miyuki returns gluing his eyes on his phone. He passes by her.

"Good afternoon, Miyuki-senpai."

He ignores her. Bluntly. Passing her by like she does not exist.

This should be good for the both of them. As long as Miyuki and Sawamura have not settled the problem between themselves, he should leave her alone.

Damn, his chest is not burning anymore. It is hurting.

His emotions are a mess. He deserves a time alone.

Spotted an empty bench, Miyuki quickens his walk and takes a seat. The first thing he does is slamming his forehead on the table, following by the book to cover his face.

He wants to evaporate. Disappear into another world. Just for an hour or so.

"Excuse me."

Miyuki hears someone from above the book. He peeks and sees a can of cold coffee standing in front of him. He removes the book and stares at the drink, wondering whether it just spoke to him.

"Miyuki-senpai?"

He looks at his right, caramel eyes dawning on him. "You?"

A smile slips through her lips. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Miyuki looks away, leafing the pages of the scorebook.

"Please accept the cold coffee, Miyuki-senpai. It's not that sweet and alittle caffeine always gives alittle joy whenever you're feeling down. So, hopefully it cheers you up."

Yabe. This is dangerous.

She is sending heatwaves up to his cheeks.

She remembers that he don't fancy sweets when he bought her Pocky. Now she is treating him a drink he enjoys in anytime of day. Her kindness is remarkable, making him look like the bad guy again.

Noticing Miyuki's silence, Erika steps back. "I won't disturb you anymore. I'll take my leave."

She bows a cute small one and moves away. Her hand is quickly gripped by Miyuki, stopping her from leaving.

"I didn't mean to ignore you."

Miyuki is mentally slapping himself. Instead of apologising, he makes her remember what he just did. Erika twists her hand off his grip and looks at his eyes behind those glasses.

"It's okay," Erika grins. "You must have many things in your mind. I'm not offended."

Is she an angel? Why must she be that idiot's sister?

"Can you spare a moment for me?" Miyuki looks at her firmly.

Erika is carrying her school bag, preparing to return home. She contemplates for a moment, exchanging looks at Miyuki and the floor.

"I hate to say this," Miyuki inhales deeply and claps his both hands at her. "Please, Erika-chan."

"Why do you say it if you hate it?" Erika has one side of her lips curled up.

"I need you."

Erika blinks hard at him.

"To hear me rant," Miyuki suddenly finds his signature smirk.

A chuckle escapes her. "My attention span on rant can last up to two minutes only."

"Two minutes is better than nothing."

Again, his smooth talking is prevailing. Erika sighs and finally takes her seat across him.

Miyuki puts aside the scorebook and locks his eyes on her. "I have two minutes so if your phone rings, ignore it."

"But-"

"Just two out of 288 minutes today. And I have to finish this coffee when it is still chilled."

"Meanie."

Erika giggles lightly behind her hand. Miyuki remains smiling.

Two minutes, it may be their last two minutes before Sawamura tears them apart.

It will be enough. Hopefully.

See ya next chappie! Love to hear a review from you!