I sighed as classes finished, packing my stuff up as soon as they had and headed out to the tennis courts. Despite it being the first day of school sign ups were starting for the tennis club.

I pushed by a crowd of people and got in line to sign up. I soon got to the front and saw two people I recognized seated at a table, Jackal Kuwahara and Yagyu Hiroshi. I stepped up to Yagyu as soon as the person with him was done. I sat in the seat across from him and started to fill out a form, "Konnichiwa."

He greeted back, "Konnichiwa."

We sat in awkward silence, excluding the chatter of the crowd and the scratching of the pen against the paper.

I finished filling out the form and handed it to the senior. He took it with a nod and pointed me to the right, "The men's locker room is over there, please change and come back to court F which should be the far one behind us," he looked down at my paper before saying, "Kirigaya-kun."

I nodded and got up and started to leave, before hesitating, "Should I bring my racket?"

The Gentlemen shook his head, "No, Kirigaya-kun."

I nodded and bowed slightly in thanks and left to the locker room.

I stepped onto my assigned court with black shorts that went until my knees, a plain gray t-shirt, and black tennis shoes.

A few more people piled onto the court until one last person came in with a yellow and black jersey hanging on his shoulders with a matching shirt and white shorts, his blue hair moving slightly with the wind, "Welcome minna-san," the velvety voice rang through the air, "I am Yukimura Seiichi, the captain of the team."

People stood around awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

The second year smiled, "I will be running you through some tests to determine if you are all fit enough to be on the team. If you fail these tests, you will be kicked off the team, got it?" his pleasant voice suddenly turning very icy at his last few words.

"Hai!" we answered back in frightened unison.

He nodded, "Thirty laps around the courts, you have thirty minutes, go!"

We all started to run and I carefully paced myself so that I would last through all the exercises that Yukimura Seiichi would throw our way, but to also avoid drawing too much attention to myself.

Ten people out of the forty people dropped out after the thirty laps.

After five minutes of planks, five people dropped out.

After 50 squats, ten more people dropped out.

After 25 situps and pushups, five people dropped out.

And after 10 sets of suicides, seven more people dropped out.

I, along with two other people, one a second year and the other a third, stood on the court breathing heavily, trying to regain our breath.

The captain smiled and nodded, "Congratulations, you've made it."

I praised the demon coach grandmother I had that made me raise my stamina and strength so much over the years.

The captain started to walk towards the door, "Go get some water and then go back to the table where you signed in at, they'll tell you more information."

The captain passed both the second year and the third year but stopped next to me, "Pretty impressive, Kirigaya Mamoru, especially with those weights."

I faltered at the comment before letting out a huffed laugh as the Child of God continued to walk past me. I took my wrist weights off and shoved them into my pockets, feeling dead on my feet as I walked towards the tables from before.

I was the first of my court to arrive at the table, my senpai were dead tired but I was quickly recovering. At the table however, was the trickster of the team.

I walked up to it and was greeted by an impressed whistle coming from the silver haired teen, "So you're the first year that survived Buchou's torment?"

I raised an eyebrow, "Is that a problem?"

He shrugged, "Hard to say, people might see you as some kind of rat that will ruin some people's chances of becoming a regular." He gave me a mischievous smirk, "Well you never know."

"Niou-kun, please."

I turned to see the familiar purple haired teen, "Oh, Kirigaya-kun, did you pass the tests?"

I nodded and the Gentlemen had a short conversation with the trickster that sent him away before he handed me a packet, "This is all the information for the tennis club, please do read the information and follow the rules, Kirigaya-kun."

I nodded in response.

The teen across from me spoke again, "We seem to be done for today, but we meet again after school tomorrow to choose regulars, so please feel free to leave now."

"Arigato gozaimasu, senpai." I stated before turning my back and leaving.

I took one step before hearing a cry of pain.

I looked back and saw a match going on, a match between Kirihara Akaya and Sanada Genichirou.

I watched over the match with interest, ignoring the trickster and the Gentlemen behind me looking with me.

Kirihara was utterly destroyed by the three demons.

I went back to the locker room and got changed and exited it with all my stuff in hand. I turned the corner but was met with three familiar people.

I stepped back, trying not to bump into them, "Gomenasai, senpai."

They looked me over with no reaction before the captain smiled, "Kirigaya Mamoru-kun, its alright."

I nodded in mute thanks and started to leave.

"Hold it."

I turned back at the stern voice of Sanada Genichirou, "Hai?"

He glared at me, "You… you are familiar."

I furrowed my brow as I looked him in the eye, "I am afraid I do not know what you are talking about."

The data master muttered something to the two and the stern teen let me off with a dismissive motion.

I bowed slightly and started to head home.

"Hey, Kirigaya right?"

I turned and saw Kirihara, Marui, and Jackal walking behind me on the sidewalk, "Hai, what is it?"

The redhead smiled, "You're pretty impressive kid, doing all those tests by buchou and passing with all those weights on!" he paused as if he was thinking, "I've got it, come get sweets with us, of course I will be paying… says Jackal."

"What?!" cried the brazilian.

A smirk crawled onto my face as the two argued. I turned to my fellow first year, "Kirihara right?"

He nodded enthusiastically, "Kirihara Akaya desu!"

"Kirigaya Mamoru is my name, nice to meet you, Kirihara."

He smiled, "Just call me Akaya."

There sprouted a beautiful friendship.

Akaya is a precious child that must be protected at all costs.