A/N: Just a little one, to keep the story flowing.

Yuki laughed. "How about pairing up the rookie for Doubles? Or putting him on reserve? He's very cocky."

"Kirihara isn't bad, though," Sanada pointed out. "He's entitled to be cocky."

"Kind of like that boy from the Junior Invitational Camp last year- Atobe Keigo? Remember when he played us in the Kantou tournament? He was only a second-year, but still had his whole school cheering his name." Yuki laughed. That had been quite a show, and seeing as he had been relegated to Doubles for that game, he had rather enjoyed seeing his own senpai crushed by Atobe.

Sanada nodded curtly. "Are we keeping the usual lineup?"

Yuki sighed. Sanada was so serious sometimes. "I don't think so. Hey, wanna play doubles with Akaya?"

"Jackal would be a better choice," Sanada argued.

"Done.' Yuki filled it in. "I know that Marui would like to play Singles, and later on, he may not be able to. I'll give it to him now.

"You're the captain," Sanada said doubtfully. They both knew the importance of showing a strong front for the first game.

"I have faith in Marui. He has conquered his stamina problem, and he's good enough to take on most players, let alone Kishimoto," Yuki told him confidently. "I'll put you with Yanagi for Doubles One, Yagyuu will play Singles Two, and I'll play Singles One, hmm?"

"Not a bad lineup," Sanada acknowledged, getting up to go. "Ja."

"Sayonara!" Yuki called after his friend's retreating form. Sanada was so cold sometimes, and acted too serious for even an adult. Last year, they had nicknamed him "Coach" and nearly everyone still called him that. Even when he had lost his first public game to one Tezuka Kunimitsu, he hadn't shown an emotion. Yuki worried about him sometimes.

Yuki himself was not at all serious. He would mask acerbic remarks with a quiet and composed voice, and a smile always danced in his eyes. Life was good and fun, and he saw no reason not to enjoy it.

Especially not now, his last year in middle school. He was class president and editor of the yearbook. Not only that, he was well liked, popular, and had snatched the captain position in Rikkaidai with a charisma that had never failed. Life had never been better. Aside from the occasional headache…