Author's Note: Oh man, I'm updating this fic almost everyday. This is a new record!

Disclaimer: I do not own PoT/TnO

Chapter Three:

"Tezuka," Ryuzaki-sensei called out to the captain.

"Hai?" he questioned?

"You're acting different," Ryuzaki-sensei pointed out.

"It is nothing," Tezuka replied, making sure his mask was firmly in place.

"Zenkoku is approaching quickly," Ryuzaki-sensei said.

"It is," Tezuka said. "You need not worry, Sensei, the regulars will be ready."

"It is not the regulars I'm worried about. It's you."

"I assure you, everything is fine," Tezuka said. He walked back to the courts before the coach could say anything else.

'Tezuka, you are only fooling yourself,' Ryuzaki-sensei thought with a slight shake of her head.

When the other regulars saw Tezuka coming, they all scrambled back to playing, but Tezuka was at the end of his rope.

"Slacking off during practice? Fifty laps, now!" he shouted.

Many groans were heard from the team as everyone dropped their rackets and rushed to run the assigned laps. No one dared to look at Tezuka as they ran by their stoic captain. Everyone seemed to notice that he was on edge more than usual and thought it would be best just to leave him alone for a while.

Tezuka watched his team run around the courts. 'I am tense.' He thought. 'Perhaps the situation with Oishi has taken more of a toll than I admit.' It was true. Tezuka was constantly plagued by the image of Oishi in the hospital bed. He hadn't gone back to visit him yet because of all the schoolwork and trying to decide the ranking matches. Usually Oishi was there with him, helping him go over the charts, double-checking every fine detail, even though Tezuka rarely made mistakes. The important thing was Oishi had been there with him.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Tezuka sighed, hoping this would help alleviate some of the tension he was feeling. 'I must stay focused.' He thought. 'I will fulfill my promise to take Seigaku to Zenkoku. The promise Oishi made with me.'

"Tezuka," a voice called out to him.

"Hn,"

"Practice is over," Fuji's soft voice informed him.

"Everyone, be here promptly at seven tomorrow morning. Next practice will be even more strenuous. Dismissed!" Tezuka announced.

"Hai, Buchou!" the team chorused.

'It was like this the day Oishi…No! I must stay focused.' Tezuka reprimanded himself.

"Tezuka…"Fuji started to say.

"Be prompt tomorrow," Tezuka said, walking over to the clubhouse. Fuji followed.

"You can't keep running away," Fuji said, his solemn blue eyes opened to pierce at Tezuka.

"I do not know what you are talking about," Tezuka said, already knowing he couldn't hide anything from the tensai.

"You know perfectly well what I am referring to, Tezuka," Fuji said. "He…"

"I do wish to discuss this matter," Tezuka said, making his way into the clubhouse where he hoped the chatter of the players would drown out Fuji's comments.

Fuji stood looking at Tezuka retreat. He sighed and shook his head. "It is tearing him apart," he announced to the air.

As usual, Tezuka was the last one to leave. Routine, just like any other day. Except, this day, Ryuzaki-sensei requested to speak to the captain in her office.

'Unusual,' Tezuka thought. 'I am only called for important meetings.' He locked up the clubhouse and made his way to Ryuzaki-sensei's office.

"Tezuka," Ryuzaki-sensei greeted.

"Ryuzaki-sensei, you have called me here…" Tezuka asked.

"I received a call from Oishi's mother," Ryuzaki-sensei informed him.

Tezuka froze for a second. "Hn," he said, not trusting himself to say more. "Should I expect him back to practice soon?"

Ryuzaki-sensei's face paled a little. "That is what I would like to discuss with you," she said.

Tezuka permitted himself to raise an eyebrow. Somehow, his felt that the bad feeling he had in the pit of his stomach was about to intensify. He tried to steel himself against whatever Ryuzaki-sensei was going to say but nothing prepared him for…

"Oishi is not coming back to Seigaku,"

Tezuka visibly stiffened at the comment and even a bit of…anguish? was present in his eyes.

"He is not coming back?" Tezuka asked. "Are you certain?"

Ryuzaki-sensei nodded her head. "That is what I have been told," she said sympathetically. She knew Tezuka and Oishi supported each other through their roles as Buchou and Fukubuchou. Now that Oishi was gone…a new Fukubuchou had to be found.

The same thought was running through Tezuka's mind. 'A new Fukubuchou besides Oishi?' His mind couldn't see anyone else besides Oishi to be second-in-command. It simply wasn't true. Perhaps this was a cruel prank someone wished on him? "No, it cannot…replace Oishi?'

"Ryuzaki-sensei, I would like to speak to Oishi-san directly," Tezuka announced.

Ryuzaki-sensei shook her head. "Not possible," she said.

Tezuka stared at his coach. " 'Not possible'?" he echoed.

"Oishi and his parents don't live here anymore," Ryuzaki-sensei said. "Oishi's mother called me to tell me they moved. This is when I found out Oishi isn't coming back."

"Where?" Tezuka simply asked.

Ryuzaki-sensei shook her head again. "I did not ask," she said quietly.

Tezuka almost lost his composure. 'She did not request the information. Oishi is no longer within my reach.' Tezuka forced himself to calm down. "I see," he said, then he asked with a defeated voice. "Is there anything else you wished to discuss?"

"No, that is all,"

Tezuka turned to leave, his steps slow. Before he reached the door, a hand reached out to pat his shoulder.

"He will be fine," Ryuzaki-sensei said trying to reassure him.

"Aa," Tezuka said, then turned and walked out the door.


Oishi walked down the halls of his new school. He still couldn't believe his parents transferred him here.

Flashback

"Why?" Oishi said. "I was happy here right?"

"Shuuichiroh, listen," his mother said. "Your father and I think it would be better if you didn't live so far away from your school. Then you wouldn't have to walk those dangerous streets."

"I understand, mother," Oishi said. "I just…Tezuka-san, he did so much and to just leave would be rude."

"I will call the school and tell them that you said 'thank you,'" Oishi's mother said.

"I would like to tell him in person," Oishi said bravely.

"Shuuichiroh," hi father called.

"Hai?" he answered.

"Kunimitsu-kun will understand," he said.

Oishi drooped his head a little. He wasn't even permitted a 'good-bye' or a final 'thank-you.' They were moving the next day. All their things had been moved gradually and most of it was at their new house.

"Go to bed, son," his father directed.

End Flashback

This new school wasn't bad. It was near his house and near his father's work place. 'This must be the reason they wanted to move here.' Oishi thought. He tugged at the tie of his new uniform. It was so uncomfortable and he wasn't used to it yet, even though his mother had gotten the uniform three days ago.

'Perhaps I should try to forget my old life and start fresh here,' Oishi thought. A flash of Tezuka went through his head. "Tezuka-san?" he said out loud. He didn't notice where he was going until he bumped into someone.

"Oof," the person he bumped into grunted.

"Ah, I'm sorry," Oishi said, hurrying to bow in apology. The other person just grunted and dusted himself off.

"Just watch where you're going next—Oh Kami-sama, what are you doing here, Fukubuchou of Seigaku?"

Oishi just stared. "You know me?" he asked.

A/N: It's late. Sorry about the cliffy...;; I hope it was okay.

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