Title: Monkey Wrench (part 2)
Author: shy-hinata
Rating: G
Summary: Ann heads to the boy's team courts to find a date to the dance
Warnings: Written from Kippei's POV
Disclaimer: I don't own PoT

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Tachibana Kippei, buchou of the Fudomine boy's tennis team, here. Practice is just about to end when my sister Ann arrives. Judging from the look on her face, she needs a favour, and I wonder if that Atobe has been bothering her again. I wasn't really sure what to make of things when Shinji first told me about it. As much as I don't want to admit it, I tend to think that Shinji babbles a little, and lets his thoughts run away on him a bit. But then Ann traded her phone with me, and what else do I receive but a message from Atobe, with an apology no less. Makes me wonder what he did, but since Ann didn't want to talk about it, I didn't press her. I dismiss my players before making a bee-line for her, wondering if I should have sent Atobe a sterner message.

"Ann. Is everything alright?"

"Yup! Can you just let Kamio-kun know that I want to talk to him when he's done changing? I didn't manage to catch him before he rushed off to the dressing rooms."

I arch my eyebrow questioningly, wondering if this has anything to do with that ridiculous dance coming up. Ann had told me that she wanted to go, but I don't recall her ever saying anything about a date at that time, and trust me when I say I would have made it my business to find out about that. Most of the guys in the school, not to mention anywhere in Kantou, are hardly good enough for my little sister. But now that everyone has to have a date to go? Truth is, I was hoping that she wouldn't notice, and for a while it seemed like I might have gotten lucky.

"….uhh…" I sigh to myself. If the dance really is what this is about, I suppose Kamio isn't a bad choice. I mean, even I can tell he's had a crush on her since junior high. Plus I know him already so that makes things somewhat easier. But only somewhat. Isn't there a rule out there somewhere that says that little sisters aren't allowed to date unless their older brother says it's okay?

But then she gives me this look that just screams 'PLEASE, aniki?', and I can't help but smile at her and nod. "Want me to wait for you to go home?" I have a feeling I already know the answer to this question, but I'm compelled to ask it anyway.

"Nah, it's okay." Ann's answer is right on cue. "I'm thinking of stopping at the street courts afterwards anyway."

"Suit yourself. Don't be too late."

I head off for the dressing rooms, where I think I'm going to need to have a word or two with my vice-captain...

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Ann's late getting home, and I can't help but worry a little. Is she out with Kamio right now? Hopefully that talk I had with him sank in, and he's not doing anything stupid like trying to get a kiss, or something equally idiotic.

SNAP

Whoops. I can't believe I just broke my pencil.

CLICK

I can hear the sound of the front door opening, and Ann's muffled voice saying 'I'm home'. Mom and Dad aren't home yet, busy as usual with work, so I head downstairs to greet her. As I'm coming down the stairs, I ask:

"So, did you get to talk to Kamio?"

But one look at her face makes me realize that was the totally wrong question to ask. She looks disappointed and a touch angry, and I can feel my blood start to boil as I wonder what the hell Kamio did to her. But for now, I push those feelings down in favour of guiding Ann into the kitchen and pouring her some juice. I sit down next to her at the kitchen table and just wait for her to talk. This is just what we've always done when we needed to vent.

"Am I a pain or something, aniki? Or not fun to be around?"

And that is definitely the last thing I expected to come from Ann. I look at her, not bothering to hide my frown.

"What on earth makes you say that?"

"I just thought that Kamio would totally agree to go with me to the dance. I mean, we're pals, right? But when I asked him, he gave me some crap about not being good enough, started pacing nervously, muttering something about tennis club, and just not making any sense."

Uh oh. Maybe Kamio took what I had to say to him a bit too much to heart.

"I mean, if he didn't want to go with me, he could've just said so. He didn't need to make up any lame stories. Sheesh." I watch as Ann picks up her glass and downs the whole thing in one go. Why do I get the feeling that when she's legal, she's going to be giving everyone a run for their money when she hits the bars? I can't help but cringe on the inside at that thought because no matter what, Ann will forever be my baby sister.

But back to the problem at hand. Kamio unexpectedly turned down the opportunity to take Ann to the dance. What. A. Moron. Then again, I can't help but feel a bit to blame for Ann's current predicament.

"Uh…do you want me to talk to Kamio?"

Maybe I can get him to change his mind, and undo some of the damage that I've done. But Ann's eyes go totally wide and she shakes her head vehemently.

"No way. I don't want him to take me just because his buchou told him to. That would just be wrong."

I feel a stab of guilt at her comment seeing as 'his buchou' is probably the reason why he's not going with her in the first place. I make a promise to myself that this will be the last time I meddle in these sorts of things. Ann's old enough to know what it is she wants, and I should trust her enough to let her go for it. After all, look at what sticking my nose where it's not needed has gotten her already.

"Anou…aniki?"

I shake myself out of my thoughts to look at her, nodding for her to continue.

"Umm…well…wanna go with me to the dance? I mean, we just need to get in, right? And then you can hang out with your friends, or whatever you want. I just really wanted to go…"

Oh crap. This whole thing is probably my fault. But…

"Umm…actually…"

I can feel her eyes glued on me, but I can't seem to look back at her.

"I would definitely take you, except I'm already going with someone else. I agreed to go with Nishima-san since we have to go for student council."

Watching her shoulders drop like that is just awful. As if the whole ordeal with Kamio wasn't enough, I have to go and spoil her chances of going to the party at all.

"Oh. Okay. No problem, aniki. I'll figure something out. Don't worry."

And she gives me that small smile of hers, and I can't help but give her a hug.

"Sorry, Ann."

I can feel her shrug even while my arms are around her. Yes, I am definitely done meddling with Ann's personal life. It'll only cause her grief if I keep doing it.