Early in the morning, the regulars arrived at the tennis grounds. Surprisingly, Marui and Akaya got there early. One of them, Hiroshi, was the last to arrive but nonetheless, did not arrive late, seemed a bit put out and yawned a bit once in a while. After a minute's announcement from Seiichi about the upcoming tournament, they started practicing. "Oi Hiroshi," Niou called as he chased the ball and hit it using a backhand. "It's unlikely of you to be yawning, you know."

Hiroshi hit the ball back and replied, "It's because of my dear sister."

"Mi-chan?" Niou said, looking slightly interested. "What did she do this time, huh?"

"Do I have to tell you?" he said indifferently, his eyes showing mere monotony.

"Yeah because we're friends." The trickster said nonchalantly. They continued to play for the next 10 minutes until their time ran out. As they walked out of the court, he said to him, "Spill it, megane."

Hiroshi stared at him for quite a while and let out a small sigh. Taking out a small towel from his sports bag and wiped some sweat from his face, he said bluntly, "She wanted to study at Hyotei."

Niou, who was drinking water casually, choked a bit and gawked at his teammate. "She what?"

"Who wanted to study at Hyotei?" the junior ace questioned, beside him was the data specialist who just listened carefully since they were nearest to them and just overheard them talk.

"Mi-chan. She wanted to study at that rich bastard's school." Niou said. He turned his attention back to Hiroshi and questioned, "Care to explain this weird phenomenon?"

"She got an email from Sugiyama-san that she's studying at Hyotei and my dear sister decided that she wanted to study there." The gentleman explained.

"Ai-chan's back from America? Since when?" Akaya asked rather loudly, wanting for a certain regular with a cap to hear.

"I don't know the details yet but I'll ask Hitomi about it, if you want." Hiroshi said.

"What are you talking there?" Seiichi asked them as he approached them, walking beside him was Sanada.

"Mi-chan's wanted to study at Hyotei because Ai-chan's back from the U.S." Akaya said quickly before Niou could say anything else.

"Ai-san returned?" Seiichi repeated. "It's been two years since we last see her, right? Ne Genichirou?" he smiled at the fukubuchou, who blushed a bit. The Rikkai buchou chuckled after seeing it and said, "If your sister wants to study there, why not? It'll be good for her." He said.

"And why would it be good for her? She might become one of those mindless rich-ass students who think about jewelry and that shit." Niou said spitefully since he treated Hiroshi's younger sister as his own.

"Because if you noticed, she's being bombarded by the female student community to become their 'bridge' since she's close to us." Renji said simply, earning nods from Sanada and Seiichi. "And I, too, agree with Yukimura on this one."

"Hey what are you guys doing there? You seemed to be talking something important." Jackal called them as he and Marui walked together to them.

"Nothing much, really. We were only talking about Mi-chan studying at Hyotei." Niou told him.

"Is it because Ai-san's back from America?" the brazilian asked.

"Hey how did you know about that?" Niou and Akaya questioned him.

"Because I got an email from her few days ago that she's going back here in Japan." He answered simply. "She wanted to surprise you guys, though." He added.

"Ah is that so?" Niou said thoughtfully.

As they talked, Marui didn't join them and stayed silent. He was deep in thought again and as he looked around to waste time, his gaze landed on his captain, Seiichi. His stared deepened and he remembered what he saw and it caused him to feel the irritating tightness in his chest again. He knew that he shouldn't be jumping to conclusions but the very thought of it made him even more doubtful about his captain's words. "Oi Bunta, are you listening?" Jackal called for the third time as he tapped his shoulder to get his attention.

He blinked once and looked at his teammate who seemed to be worried about him. Putting up a smile, he said apologetically, "Ah sorry Jackal, I was thinking about some things."

"What? You? Thinking about things?" Niou repeated incredulously. "Did you eat something bad or what?" he sneered.

A vein appeared on the volley specialist's head and yelled, "What are you saying, Niou? That I can't think?"

"Pretty much, yeah." Niou nodded, earning a snicker from Akaya.

"That's it, you're going to get your ass kicked!" Marui lunged at Niou who was already in combat stance. Akaya cheered.

"Oi oi, stop acting like kids, you two." Jackal said sternly but the two regulars didn't listen to him.

Sanada stepped in and was about to say something when Marui's hand swatted his hat from his head and Niou unintentionally stepped on it. The fukubuchou stared at his cap and shot a hard glare at the two and yelled, "230 laps around the court! Both of you now!"

The two stopped on cue and started running, blackmailing each other instead. Yagyuu shook his head lightly and muttered, "And to think that they're my teammates." (A/N: if you're wondering who's Hitomi, she's the younger sister of Hiroshi who appeared in my first POT fanfic, Unique. Ai is also from the first fanfic, Unique. )

In Kaori's room, the blind girl and her maid were inside where Ami was busy rearranging some of the furniture when the phone rang. She placed the vase that Marui made for Kaori on the table and quickly reached for the phone. "Ogawa's residence, who is this?" Ami said.

"It's me, Bunta." The volley specialist replied. "Is Kaori-chan awake?"

"Yes, she is." She answered.

"Ami-neesan, who called?" Kaori asked.

"It's Bunta-san," The maid replied as she handed the phone to her.

As soon as she received it, she answered, "Bunta-kun?"

"Oi Kaori-chan, what's up?" he greeted.

"I'm fine, thanks for asking. Is there something wrong?" she answered.

"Why asking that kind of question?" he asked her.

"I'm not sure but it feels like you're depressed. I don't know. Am I right?" she reluctantly told him.

Then, she heard him laugh from the other line. "Really? You think so? No, I'm not depressed or anything. How about you? What's happening over there?"

"Nothing much, if I remember it. Kannon-niisan's still the same." She recalled.

"Oh really? Nothing to tell me?" he insisted.

"Umm…eto," she thought. "Seiichi-san gave me a gift few days ago…" she said timidly.

"Seiichi?" he repeated. Since when did Kaori-chan call Mura-buchou by his first name? "He gave you a gift? What kind of gift?" he asked yet again.

"I haven't opened it yet." Kaori replied. "You can come over here and we'll open it together if you like." She suggested.

Marui had the urge to say yes and go to her house but stopped himself. "It's your present, Kaori-chan so you should open it yourself." He said happily. "When you open it, just tell me if you have the time, ne?"

She nodded. "Okay. I'll tell you, then."

"I'll see you in five days' time. Ja." He said before he hung up.

After they talked, she put the phone down and thought deeply. I'm not sure but…something's really bothering Bunta-kun. I hope it won't affect his concentration for the upcoming tournament.

"Okay everyone, practice is over! You may all go now!" Sanada shouted.

The members and the regulars heard him and stopped, walking back to the club room and changed back to their uniforms. Marui and Jackal was the last to enter the room, the self-proclaimed genius panting slightly as he wiped some of his sweat with the use of his towel. He had been practicing very hard for the upcoming tournament, even if their upcoming opponents were not as strong as Hyotei or Seigaku. Entering the room, he took out a plastic bottle of water and drank everything to satisfy his thirst. "You've been working hard, Bunta." Jackal commented as he removed his shirt.

The redhead nodded determinedly. "Of course. Even if our first opponents aren't that strong, we should defeat them because we're the strongest of the all Japan."

"Huh, you sound admirable for a moment, diabetes." Niou smirked as he got out from the changing room, already wearing his school uniform. "Usually you would faint but…"

"But what, Niou?" he repeated, his eyes narrowing.

"Oh nothing, really." He said finally, an evil smirk plastered on his mischievous face.

Marui had the urge to strangle him like any other day but stopped himself yet again. "Whatever." He stood up, took his school uniform from his sports bag and entered one of the changing rooms. After a couple of minutes, he finally got out and picked up his bag, stuffing his dirty tennis uniform inside. "I'll be going now."

"Oi where are you going?" Jackal called.

"Somewhere." He said hastily as he went out of the club room.

The two regulars stared at the doorway. "He seemed like he's in a hurry, Puri." Niou said suddenly.

The brazilian nodded. "Yeah. Something must've happened." Then, the two of them heard a crash and yell from one of the changing rooms.

"WHY IS MY UNIFORM COVERED IN RED ANTS AND SYRUP?!" a familiar voice bellowed as he yelped in pain.

Jackal stared at Niou who was whistling innocently. "You did that, didn't you Niou?" he said sternly. "Why do you keep on doing pranks on people? Be it teachers or students?" he asked.

Niou tsked. "I wouldn't be called the trickster if I don't do those things, right?" he said proudly.

The brazilian shook his head.

Panting heavily because of running continuously and because of his stamina issues, he finally arrived at Kaori's house. He pressed the doorbell and waited for someone to arrive. In a short time, the door finally opened but unexpectedly, the one who opened the door was Seiichi. The two regulars stared at each other until Seiichi spoke. "Ah Bunta, you came to see Kaori-san, right?" he said gently.

The self-proclaimed stopped gawking at him and nodded quickly. "Y-yeah. So where is she?"

"She's in the living room, I believe." He answered. "I'll see you tomorrow, Bunta." He gave him a subtle smile and walked away.

Marui watched him go and the irritating tightness in his chest was felt again. He was more doubtful than before. Then, he heard Ami's voice called him. "Bunta-san, you're here to visit Kaori-san again." She said with a smile.

"That's right." He nodded. "Where is she, Ami-neesan?" he asked her.

"Oh she's still in the living room right after Yukimura-san left." She told him.

For some odd reason, hearing his captain's name made his eyes twitch slightly but ignored it completely. Entering the household, he walked inside until he arrived inside the living room where he saw his close friend sitting alone, holding something. "Kaori-chan!" he called energetically.

She looked up and said audibly, "Bunta-kun?" she wondered.

He bounced towards her and sat beside on her left side. "You're right." He smirked. "So, I just saw Mura-buchou coming out from here. Did he want something from you?"

"Well, he just visited me. And I just opened the present he gave me." She told him. "It's really nice of him." She added.

"So, is that the one he gave you?" he asked, staring at the object his friend was holding.

She nodded. The object she held was a book filled with flowers on each page that were pressed and preserved. "He said he owned this own for a long time and he added that he doesn't mind giving it to me."

"Ah…I see." He reluctantly answered, his chest tightened yet again. "I told you he's a really good person!" he said with a grin.

"I…" she started.

"Eh?'

"…wanted to give him something in return." She said finally, a small tinge of pink appeared on her cheeks. "I want to thank him for giving me something as special as the one he gave me." She told him.

Marui was speechless. He can't say anything from that point because if he did, he had a lingering feeling that his friend will be out of reach anymore. "Why…?" he whispered. "I mean, I'm sure Yukimura doesn't mind if he didn't receive anything from you."

"Because he's really kind to me and I feel comfortable when I'm with him. Just like you." She said softly. "I don't want to abuse his kindness for me."

Hearing that answer, he slowly stood up.

"Bunta-kun?" Kaori called, looking slightly surprised. "Are you going already?"

"Ah. I'll see you again next week, Kaori-chan." He said monotonously as he walked away from her.

She nodded. "Okay. I'll wait for you." She said cheerfully.

He felt a fleeting moment of happiness when he heard those words as soon he left the room and quickly bid to Ami who just nodded and opened the door for him. Out from the house, he decided to run again until he finally reached an old temple. Catching his breath, he tried to fight off the strange emotions he's been feeling lately. He punched the nearest tree, feeling his hand in slight pain but ignored it completely. "Don't let this get to you." He said to himself but he remembered what she said to him lately.

"Because he's really kind to me and I feel comfortable when I'm with him…"

He cursed himself. "Damnit." Why am I feeling so jealous? Yukimura-buchou was only visiting, that's all. There's nothing wrong with it. Nothing. "I'm going insane here." He said as he ran his fingers through his hair.

Seiichi walked inside the neighbourhood towards his house, thinking about his visit to his regular's best friend, Kaori. He didn't understand why he visited and talked to her since he hardly knew her but at the back of his mind and heart, he felt as if he knew her for a very long time. He thought that it was because he kept on seeing her in his dreams few months ago but he assumed otherwise. Arriving at the doorstep of his house, he took out a set of keys from his bag and opened the door with it.

"I'm home." He said with a smile as he entered and saw his mother.

"Ah Seiichi-kun, welcome back. Dinner's almost ready." His mother smiled gently to him as she arranged the plates with the help of the other maids.

"Let me help you," he said as he put his bag down.

"No dear, take a bath first." She shook her head and pointed upstairs to his room.

Seiichi sighed. "Hai." He picked up his bag again and went upstairs where he was greeted by his younger sister, Reiko.

"Niichan!" she greeted as she hugged him around his waist. "You arrived late." She commented.

"Ah. I visited someone." He said simply.

"Was it a girl?" the young girl piped up.

"What makes you think that I visited a girl?" he mused.

"Because you smell like flowers!" she told him. "Though you also smell of sweat." She added with a toothy grin.

Seiichi chuckled. "Is that so? Well, I'll go clean myself first, Rei-chan." He said.

"Okay!" she finally let go of him. "I'll help mommy!" and with that, she went downstairs.

Sighing slightly, he entered his room and went inside his personal bathroom where he took a quick shower. Finished, he changed to his casual clothes and went downstairs where all of the members except his father were already there seated. He took a seat beside his younger sister and picked up his chopsticks. "Ittadakimasu." He muttered as he started eating.

A couple of days after, the tournament began. Obviously, Rikkai Dai team didn't have any mercy at their opponents and won all of their matches within a few minutes. Winning victoriously as always, they decided to eat somewhere nice since they have the time and there, they decided to eat at a sushi restaurant, courtesy of Niou and Akaya. After they ordered, they talked about some things. Seiichi was in a deep conversation with Sanada and Renji whereas Niou teased Akaya and Jackal stopping them light quarrel. And as for Hiroshi, he was reading a book and not bothering stopping Niou and his antics.

Marui, on the other hand, sat numbly on the corner of the table, thoughts drifting off again. He was still unsure whether to trust his instincts or believe in his buchou's words but having heard Kaori and seeing Seiichi being with her twice, it made him really jealous even if he didn't quite understand why.

"Marui?" Renji called him.

"Huh?" the volley specialist replied, looking somewhat dazed.

The data specialist sighed. "The food's going to be gone if you're not going to eat anything." He said as he took a small bite from his share.

"EHHHHHHH?!" he reacted. He saw that Niou was devouring almost everything he can reach, so was Akaya. The trickster was about to take the salmon sushi but he took it with the speed of light and swallowed it whole.

"Hey you! That was supposed to be mine!" The trickster growled, throwing death glares at him.

"Like I care." Marui snorted as he ate a couple of more that were within his reach.

After eating, the team split up and walked to places they wanted to. Marui decided to go home and rest and since he lived somehow nearby with Seiichi, both of them walked together. They didn't talk that much and when they reached the playgrounds, the redhead spoke up. "Buchou," he called, his voice not as lively as before.

Seiichi stopped walking and turned back to look at his teammate. "What is it, Bunta?" he responded.

"What do you think about Kaori-chan?" he suddenly asked.

The Rikkai buchou simply stared at him, unsure to what he's going to answer. "If you ask me, she's a kind person and has a sweet personality---"

"That's not the answer I'm expecting." He said.

Seiichi didn't say anything for a moment and knew from that point on what his teammate was referring to. "You're mistaken---"

"Then why are you visiting her?" he questioned him. "Don't tell me there's no reason behind it."

"Bunta---"

"Seiichi," he called him yet again, this time serious. "I don't want you to visit her any longer." Seiichi was surprised by what Marui just said. "I don't care what you're thinking about visiting her or anything but I'm telling you this once, don't go near her."

"It's not what you think---"

"I love Kaori-chan, you get it?!" he shouted. "I know her more than you did and I've been with her longer and that's why…"

"Listen to me first---"

"I'm not letting you take her away from me."

Ohhh that's unsettling. Hey sorry guys for the late update. Been very busy even during holiday vacations.

So…he finally told him that he's in love with Kaori. What's going to happen next? Will Kaori know about this? How about Seiichi since he had no feelings for the blind girl except friendship? Will something good bloom out of this? Hmmm…you'll just have to find out, won't you?

Bwahahahahaha ah well it can't be helped. Please Review for me guys!