'Fujiko! So glad to see you here so early!' he rushed forward, hugged Fuji and squeezed the breath out of him. It was nothing unusual.

'You didn't need to do that….'

'Ne? I just miss you! We haven't met in a long time!'

'That's true…'

'What's happened to the court? It looks… different'

'Nya! Fujiko! We did it! Before you came. It was Momo's idea…… To get the court decorated for today!'

'I see…….'

The two good friends soon sat down and started talking about their lives since they last met each other. There were many things to talk about. Soon the other regulars started to arrive.

'Tezuka buchou! You are here early! Great to see you!' shouted Momoshiro from one end of the court to the other, where Tezuka was standing.

'fsuuu…. You didn't need to be so loud! Tezuka buchou is always early.'

'I can be loud if I want to! Mamushi'

'fsuuuuu! You are damaging my ear drums'

'Momoshiro, Kaido, 10 laps'

'H-hai Tezuka buchou……'

'Ne Tezuka, why are you still giving them laps? Don't forget, we have left Seigaku already.'

'Un'

'But fujiko! The both of them are still listening to Tezuka buchou'

'Hai! Any way, they deserve to run.'

Soon, there was silence at the court again. But not for long. In the distance, someone shouted 'BURNING!!!!"

'Kawamura!!!' said Kikumaru excitedly.

'I rushed here! Thankfully I'm not late! How's everyone? Looks like the court has been decorated. And there's food too. I have brought some sushi for everyone here! I suppose you all miss kawamura sushi?'

Before the rest could reply, another person came up from behind.

'Probability of the court being decorated in 45 minutes, 100%. Probability that I will not be late, 100%'

'Inui! How are you? Still on your data collecting?' said Fuji with his usual smile.

'Apparently, yes.'

'Senpai-tachi! Since not all of us are here and I'm sure you want to catch up with each other, let's sit down and talk first before really starting the party!'

'Hai!!'

The Seigaku regulars had a fun time talking and laughing together again. However, as the time passed, Kikumaru started to feel very worried. Where was Oishi? And why is he taking so long to come to Seigaku? Has he forgotten? Or did he not receive the invitation?

'I think I will be going to look for Oishi. Its 10.10 already and he usually is not late. I'll come back soon.'

'Eiji sempai, maybe you should just wait here!!!' said Momoshiro.

But it was too late. Kikumaru didn't hear. He just rushed off out of the school gates. He could only think of one place that Oishi would go… The green container.

Kikumaru soon reached the green container. There was no sign of any one being there. Kikumaru felt disappointed. He really wanted to see Oishi again and he was sure that Oishi would want to see him too. So where was Oishi? Kikumaru walked round the green container. He came to the spot where he had drawn the smiley face. A smile started to form on his own face when he saw that there was something on the floor. His marker. The same marker that he had left behind a few days back.

Kikumaru picked up the marker and turned it. He saw that there was something new written on it. Instead of the usual 'Kikumaru Eiji', it wrote 'Kikumaru Eiji and Oishi Shuichiro=golden pair'.

Kikumaru wondered if Oishi had left it there on purpose or if he had dropped it. Still, Kikumaru started to feel worried about Oishi again. He decided to go to Oishi's house to see if Oishi had overslept, even though the possibility of that was little to none.

He knocked on Oishi's front door. His mother came to the door.

'Konichiwa! Where is Oishi??'

'Oishi? He went out just now. Said something about having a party to go to.'

'Hai! Arigato!'

'So that means….. Oishi did get the letter about the Seigaku party. Since he had already left, he may be in Seigaku right now' thought Kikumaru.

At the same time that Kikumaru knocked on Oishi's house door, Oishi himself entered Seigaku and walked to the tennis courts. He was excited about meeting the team again. And most of all, meeting Eiji.

'Sorry! I am late. Is everyone here already?'

'Oishi!' cried the regulars.

'Oishi! Kikumaru sempai was here just now. He went to look for you.'

'Oh…. Before I came here, I wanted to go somewhere…. Sorry!'

'So that's why you were late! Well, I expect Kikumaru will be back soon. Then we can really start the party.'

'Hai!!!!!'