"Oishi! Hey lets try out the new formation today!" Eiji waved

"BURNING! WE SHALL TRASH THEM TODAY! COME ON!"

"Chances of us winning, 89.34."

"Hssssss"

The boys were very excited before their match. Chihiro was supervising them warming up and getting drinks for them.

"Don't worry. It wont get to singles one." Chihiro said softly.

Tezuka was slightly surprised; did she know what was going on?

"Don't be too harsh on yourself. Staying back to practice is alright, but take care of your injury."

"How did you know?"

"You are out of form, Tezuka. I can tell. You are having a check up soon right? I'll go with you."

She seemed to know everything…

"The joint is healing well, but I'm afraid you should abstain from using your favorite drop shot." The doctor said

The two of them walked out of the hospital, silence again.

"I told you." Was Chihiro's only comment

"Can you keep it from the rest?"

"You have someone motherly in your team remember?" she replied "Tezuka, take care of yourself, I don't want history to repeat itself. The team cant do without you, the pillar of support."

"You never seem to forget the past."

"If only I could. If only the past was not so painful." Chihiro looked up into the sky and sighed

"But you've gotten stronger, both in skills and emotionally. The team cant do without you too, I'm glad that you've changed."

"I've never heard you say anything like this. Everyone says Tezuka doesn't have emotions. I know the team can't do without me, just like how I cant do without you."

His eyes widened and his heart skipped abit.

The journey home seemed so short. They arrived at Chihiro's house and had to bid goodbye, leaving Tezuka with a question mark. A girl that he had always respected and admired, the confession was certainly a big shock to him.

"Tezuka, are you alright?" Oishi asked with concern.

Obviously he is not. The injury is going to get him anytime. He is training hard, perfecting his drop shot, but that, will only bring harm to his injured elbow. Just like Chihiro said, it was a painful memory.

The past was never pleasing. But Tezuka wanted a beautiful future, both for the team and for himself. Chihiro was one of his closest friends. The two of them might seem cold and strong, but they are both afraid to change the status. They do not want to think of extra things, other than just bringing the team to the national championship.

"You don't look yourself today." Fuji added in.

Chihiro continued her training and did her job, like nothing happened. The training ended with a twenty-laps run.

"Nyan! This is so tiring! Hey where's Chihiro? She promised to treat me to ice cream!"

"She's with Tezuka." Fuji smiled

"Not again? Why are the two of them forever so busy?"

Actually, this is the first time they are together not for anything to do with tennis.

"I've thought over what you had said. I thank you for that. If possible, I wont reject the idea. But I hope that it wont affect anything else."

"Cant you be more direct and less official?"

This is the first time Tezuka accepted a girl. Of course many "confessed" to him, in ways like giving him love letters everyday, shouting from the other end of the school and etcetera. He ignored all of them, that's why, he's at a loss of what to do. (he should take advice from that pretender guy who played kaidoh. I mean, he looks experienced)

Chihiro was nervous and flustered too. She had always been cool and stylish, forever the leader who wont fail. But somehow, she's always nervous in front of Tezuka.

The following Sunday, Chihiro forced Tezuka to go on a date with her, or else? I bet she can do anything that Inui+Fuji are capable of doing.

But she was troubled about what to plan, nothing seems to interest both of them except the club and tennis.

In the end, they decided to watch a tennis match, then a movie, then dinner and then hang out anywhere.

This was Tezuka's first date. It worked out quite fine, but perhaps a little too much silence, although they somehow can understand silence.

The two of them strolled along the beach slowly when they heard some noise behind.

"Ryuzaki! Long time no see! How are you and your kohai?" some gangsters came up and smirked

Chihiro took a step behind Tezuka.

"You'd better stop harassing her or else."

The gangsters were abit scared of the Tezuka glare but had to do their job. But in a few split seconds, they were all sprawling on the floor, finished by Tezuka.

"You made me do it on purpose right?" Tezuka asked sternly.

"I didn't ask you to fight." Chihiro just wanted to test his reaction by hiding behind him. Although she can fight, she wants to see, when Tezuka is not his usual self.

"Thanks so much for today. Lets keep it undisclosed."

Little did they expect, Momoshiro was watching the same tennis match and noticed them. He then followed them all the way to the dinner. News spread like fire.

Within a week, a new pair of perfect couple is born.

"