CAT CAUGHT MY HEART: DAY II—KARAMURA TAKASHI

"The tennis team is now dismissed. Practice is over for today." Tezuka's words sent the boys cheering and running out the fence of the tennis court.

"Oi, Eiji, where are you off to today?" Oishi threw an arm around his best friend's shoulder. Eiji flashed him his usual happy smile that lit up his whole face.

"Oishi, they're selling a new brand of toothpaste today at the store. I want to try it out." He then wrinkled his nose and made a face. "My sister used up my old ones. Again."

"Taka-san, don't forget your racket." Fuji was just about to hand the quiet member of the team his racket, but thought better and put it in the tote before handing it to him. Takashi has the tendency to get too overconfident and challenging when his fingers close around the racket.

"Oh, thank you, Fuji." Taka-san took his racket. "You guys are all getting so good, I don't know how I could possibly keep up…"

"You're doing fine." Fuji knew this subdued attitude was much more preferred rather than his overconfidence. This was not on court, after all. "What are you going to do now? Why don't I walk with you? My sister can't pick me up today."

"Thanks, Fujiko-chan, but I'm not going straight home. I have something I need to do first."

"Kisara," Tezuka was saying. "You have improved, but we still need to continue working on the tennis skills. Just being agile is not enough."

"I'll try my best, Tezuka-sama." He nodded.

"Good."

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Since the afternoon was still young and Kisara didn't feel like returning to an empty house, she, with her rackets, wondered the streets, taking in all sorts of interesting events and fascinating people.

"Wow, I never knew it was like this outside of Ryoma-kun's house. This is so exciting!" Kisara's face shone with intrigue. Her eyes were bright and lively while her mouth formed an "O". But all of a sudden, her nose caught in familiar scent.

"Ah…?" She looked around for the owner of the scent. "Taka-san?" Her sharp nose led her toward the bashful teenager and found him standing in front of a quaint little gift shop, looking troubled.

"Taka-san?" She walked over and tapped him timidly. "What are you doing?" When he didn't answer, she looked over at he was looking at. It was a cute stuffed cat. She cocked her head and her blue eyes frowned. "Taka-san?"

"Wha—" Taka-san jumped, then looked down at the younger girl. "Oh, it's you, Kisara-chan." He scratched head as he blushed.

"What are you doing, Taka-san?" She asked innocently. "That's a really cute cat. You like cats?"

"Well…yes. But that's not the reason I'm looking at it." The boy looked uncomfortable.

"Why are you looking at it, then?" Taka-san swallowed hard and gave her a small smile as he looked around, then motioned her to come closer. Then he bent down and whispered,

"T-there's this girl and her cat is just like this cat. I'm thinking of buying this for her, b-but I don't know if she'll like it."

"Why won't she?" Kisara asked reasonably. "I like it." It sounded so matter-of-fact that Taka-san grinned.

"Yeah, all girls like stuffed animals. What am I afraid of?" He began to walk into the shop, but turned back. "Want to come along, Kisara-chan?" Kisara's face lit up with delight at his invitation.

"Yeah! I'm never been in a shop—I mean, this shop. But I've always wanted to." She added eagerly as she tagged along behind the tall boy. She was like a five-year-old as she wondered around the store while Taka-san asked for the kitty on display. He paid for the stuffed-cat and saw Kisara's round eyes as she eyed a cream-colored silk ribbon with a pair of silver bells hanging off it. Their tongues were the special part. Instead of being a regular piece of metal, there were two tongues under each ball. Each shaped like a tiny tennis ball and racket.

"Do you like that, Kisara-chan?" He watched her with fondness as he realized she wasn't just "Kisara," Echizen Ryoma's replacement. She's a little girl that likes little trinkets as well. Her naïve childishness brought out the big brother in his shy nature.

"I'll take that also." He indicated to the delicate silver trinket and paid the cashier for it. He turned around and handed the packet over to the shiny-eyed girl.

"Here. Thanks for helping me decide."

"Thank you, Taka-san!" And to his surprise, Kisara bounced over and threw her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly. "Thank you, you really are a nice person!"

"Hehe…" Flustered, he ran a hand through his hand and chuckled. "Thanks. W-would you like me to walk you home?"

"It's okay, Taka-san. I'm sure I'll find my own way home." She ran out the door and waved back wildly. "Thank you again, Taka-san!"

He smiled and waved, and just as he was about to walk the other way, he heard her voice saying from a distant,

"If you like that girl, Taka-san, you should really tell her. She has to like a nice person like you!"

With face as red as a tomato, he stared, speechless, as the girl skipped off into the darkness of the night.