Disclaimer: Kiyokawa is mine, everything else is not. You really don't want to sue me anyway. You won't get much.

Tezuka lay awake in bed the night before the match with Atobe's words ringing in his head. "How is Kiyokawa doing? That is, if she hasn't decided you're not worth the effort yet." He wasn't entirely sure why he had let those words sink so deep under his skin. Kiyokawa had already expressed her dislike for Atobe, yet he still saw him as a threat.

"Will you just admit you like her? It's no use pretending you don't. Everyone else sees it but you." Tezuka's conscience told him. He rolled over and stared blankly at his ceiling. While the road to Nationals was his main priority, his thoughts had been drifting to Kiyokawa the past couple of nights.

Sighing, he whispered, "Okay, maybe a little."

Kiyokawa left the house before her brother awoke the following morning to escape his taunting. Daisuke had been relentless since his brief meeting of Tezuka, and she really didn't feel like hearing it on the morning when she was going to be spending practically the whole day with him and the rest of the team. Upon arriving, she realized she had left a little too early. She saw no sign of anyone from Seigaku among the increasing numbers of Hyotei uniforms. When the team finally showed up, Kikumaru nearly tackled her. "Wai! You're here again! Huh? Where's Oishi?" He scanned the crowd.

As the registration deadline drew nearer, there was still no sign of Oishi. Momo, having recently lost his Regular position to Inui, offered to look for him. He returned a short while later, panting and out of breath. "Oishi's in the hospital. He hurt his wrist while helping a pregnant woman that went into labor. He can't play."

Sumire Ryuzaki frowned, thinking. "Momoshiro, Kikumaru, you're playing doubles two. Momo, go get Oishi's uniform. Hurry! We haven't got much time before we're disqualified."

Kiyo looked at Kikumaru after Momo ran off. He looked nervous. "It'll be ok." She assured, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I hope so...nya."

Momo returned with mere seconds to spare before registration closed. Heaving a silent sigh of relief, Kiyo headed toward the bleachers. As she drew closer, the chants of "Hyotei" grew louder. When she reached them, her mouth fell open slightly. "There's so many of them." She said quietly.

"Hyotei Tennis Club has over 200 members. They've saved their true regulars for us."

Kiyo jumped slightly when Tezuka spoke, having not heard him walk up behind her. "True regulars? What do you mean?"

"In Hyotei, you have to win to keep your position. If you lose, someone the coach deems more worthy takes your position. They didn't use their best players in their last match, so they're using them against us."

"So that means you'll be facing their captain if it goes that far?"

Tezuka nodded, glaring at the opposing team's bench. Following his gaze, her eyes fell upon Atobe Keigo, soaking up all the attention he was receiving. Kiyo scowled, disgusted at his arrogance. "We should probably catch up with everyone else." She said.

The matches between Seigaku and Hyotei were far more intense than the previous matches against Yamabuki. Once Momo and Kikumaru adapted to each other they pulled of a spectacular win; influenced slightly by the arrival of Oishi. However, due to Inui's computer-like brain and brutal honesty, the Inui/Kaidoh pair lost their match. Singles one pitted powerhouse against powerhouse as Kawamura squared off against Kabaji. But due to both players exerting themselves to the point where neither of them could continue playing, it resulted in a no game. Coach Ryuzaki took the two boys to the hospital and Echizen assumed the role of bench coach as Fuji took the court. Kiyo liked Fuji a lot, but he was scary when he played. His opponent however, did not look the least bit scared, but rather groggy, as if he had just been woken up. Fuji defeated him quite easily, even after his opponent woke up halfway through the match. The boy wasn't even angry that he had been defeated by the prodigy; he thought it was one of the coolest things in the world. With singles two finished and Seigaku leading with two wins, it was time for the captains to face each other. "Echizen!" Tezuka bellowed. "Warm up with me." The freshman grumbled a reply, obviously perturbed that he was an alternate, grabbed his racket and followed the captain.

"It's a rare thing for Tezuka to ask to be warmed up." Fuji said, watching the pair head for an empty court.

Kiyo turned to Fuji. "Maybe this match has some sort of special meaning to him. Or he just wants to shut that arrogant Atobe up." She said, smiling. Fuji gave a small laugh.

"Hmm? Where's Ryoma-kun?" A nervous Sakuno scanned the crowd. "I-I'll go find him."

Kiyo smiled. She had to admit Sakuno was adorable with her admiration for Ryoma; she was so worried about him that she couldn't sit still, though she wasn't quite as verbal about it as her extroverted friend Tomoka. Excusing herself to get some juice, Kiyo headed up the bleachers. Halfway to the vending machines, she caught sight of two long brown pigtails; their owner with her face nearly pressed into the chain link of the fence. Walking over, she stopped and said, "They're good aren't they?"

Sakuno jumped as if she'd been caught stealing. "K-Kiyokawa-senpai." She stammered. "I didn't know where Ryoma-kun went so I went to go find him" She finished in a small voice, her face turning scarlet.

Kiyo smiled. "It's alright. They need people like us; people who support them no matter if they win or lose. It's all part of the game right?" She looked up and caught Tezuka's eye briefly. She couldn't be totally sure, but she thought she saw a smirk form on Echizen's face after he snuck a brief glance at Sakuno. "We should probably be heading back. The match is going to start soon." Sakuno nodded.

As the two girls walked back, Kiyo remembered why she had gotten up in the first place. "I almost forgot. I'm getting a juice. Would you like one?" Kiyo asked.

"No thanks. I'm fine. I'll see you in the seats then." Sakuno hurried off.

Kiyo walked over to the vending machine and put her money in. While she was deciding, she felt a presence behind her. "That was rather touching Kiyo-chan." A voice purred in her ear.

Turning around, she came face to face with Atobe. "And just what was touching?" She asked.

"What you said to that girl. About having people that support you no matter what. I was moved."

"So you were spying on me."

Atobe looked taken aback at her accusation. "Spying? I was merely drawn to your beauty my dear; something Tezuka fails to see, despite all the times he undeservingly looks at you."

Kiyo narrowed her eyes. "Don't talk about him like that."

Atobe grinned. "Do you actually think you have a chance with him? Why not take a chance with someone beautiful like myself? I can give you everything you desire...and more." He placed his hand under her chin and stroked her cheek with his thumb.

Smacking his hand away, she snarled, "I have to go. And you do too. The match is about to begin."

Atobe placed his hands on either side of her shoulders, pinning her against the vending machine. "They can't start without the star player now can they? How about a kiss for good luck?" He cooed.

Kiyo tried to get loose, but his grip on her was stronger than it looked. Peering over his shoulder, hoping to find someone that could help her, she saw Tezuka standing there; his eyes boring into the back of Atobe's head. He looked furious. "ATOBE!"

AN: Oooh cliffhanger. Sorry this took so long, but school is starting back up again and I had to move into my apartment and whatnot. I'll try to get the next chapter up ASAP, but until then, enjoy!