Thank you very much for everyone who gave their comments and suggestions.

This story may not have continued if not for you guys. (=^.^=).

Disclaimer: I wish I own the characters of Prince of Tennis… oh well, that's not going to happen lol!.

Niou knew the look that green-haired boy was giving her a moment ago – and he does not like it.

"Me? Going out with… Ryoma?"

"Ryoma? You're already in first name basis?" Niou raised an eyebrow.

"Really senpai, you're imagining things. We're just friends." Sae started running leaving Niou and the others behind. She needed to get away from Niou fast, otherwise he will not stop interrogating her.

Niou believe what the girl told him. But what he is concerned about is that how the others see her. What if the others do not see her the way she sees them? What if they see her more than a friend or more than a sister? Sae may be good in tennis but she is a bit slow when it comes to that kind of thing, which gives him the more reason to protect her from the others that may hurt her. Though, he may not be the only one that feels the same way but his teammates as well.

"What a handful," Niou whispered before his eyes trailed back to Echizen. His eyes narrowed when he found him looking at Sae's direction.

"Hey," a hand tapped Niou's shoulder. When he turned his head, Marui poked his cheek, "let's go."

Echizen watched as Sae's figure became smaller in a distance. Although they are in the same place, they have not talked to each other since this morning. What's more, several people are getting too familiar with her all of a sudden. A feeling of uneasiness swell inside him at that thought.

"Since when did I get used of getting her attention?" Echizen mentally slapped himself.

"Hey, you're Echizen right?" the silver-haired regular of Rikkai Dai called Echizen's attention. Echizen just look at him and did not utter a word. "Why won't you answer me?"

"What do you want?" Echizen answered nonchalantly.

"Stay away from Sae, you hear me?" Niou pointed his finger at Ryoma.

"What will you do if I don't want to?" Echizen do not seem to be bothered by Niou's threat, "you can't just say something like that to anyone anyway."

Niou backed away at Ryoma's answer

"Niou, let's go," Marui pulled Niou's shoulder away from Echizen. But before he left, he sent a deathly glare at Echizen who answered him in the same manner.

Sae arrived at the manse longer than she anticipated. When she got there, she found everyone gathered at the tennis courts at the back. She was surprised to see all the courts occupied as matches are being held all at the same time.

"What's happening?" the girl asked the person closest to her as she stood with the others on the courtside.

"Those who arrived first were called to play a one set match against each other," Kawamura said meekly.

"The arrangement depends on the first to arrive here," Yanagi added.

"Ah, so the first person will have to play with the second. And the third will be paired with the fourth and so on?"

"That's right," Yanagi answered, "this is more of a test of stamina."

"Game, set, match, Tezuka, six games to three." Horio's voice rang from Court A. Sae's eyes trailed to direction of the voice and she saw Tezuka walked out of the court followed by Yagyuu. When Tezuka's eyes met Sae's, worry can be reflected in her eyes.

"Yagyuu-senpai is not an opponent he can easily beat without straining his arm. Coach Ryuzaki must know about it but how can she let him play?" Sae thought as she started walking towards the Seigaku captain.

"Ichinomiya, Kawamura, get in the court!" Coach Ryuzaki shouted in their direction. Sae stopped when she heard her name being called.

Kawamura arrived a little while before Sae did. The two looked at each other before they proceeded in the court. Kawamura smiled faintly at her but his timid attitude disappeared when he held his racket.

"Come on, baby!" Kawamura shouted before he started walking towards the court. Sae laughed weakly. She still cannot get use at his usual behaviour every time he held a racket. Sae still preferred the shy senpai.

"40-love"

"What is she doing? She has been using the Snake Shot since the game started," Momo spoke.

"Don't you think she's doing it a little differently?" Oishi asked.

"Eh? I don't see anything unusual on it," Momo scratched his head as he thought about it.

"Oishi's right. Look at where all the shots landed."

Momo watched the game closely figuring out what Fuji is pertaining to.

"60-love. Ichinomiya, one game to love."

Tha ball landed right behind Kawamura's foot. Momo's eyes widen when the ball bounced further away from Kawamura in an irregular direction.

The next game was Sae's service game, however, the ball became invisible as it crossed the net over the opponent's court and became visible again as it bounced near the baseline.

"How did –" Kawamura looked back when he heard the sound of the ball behind him. He did not see it coming.

Yukimura smiled when he saw Sae's shot.

"She got better than the last time I've seen her play," Yagyuu commented.

"Eh? Sae's playing?" Akaya, who just came out from his match, said as he walked towards his teammates his eyes on the court.

"How's your match?"

"Piece of cake. That snake guy is nothing."

"At his current level, Kawamura will not be able to beat Sae," Inui commented when he arrived at the gathered group at the courtside – a notebook and a pen are already prepared in his hands.

"She's that strong?" Momo asked.

"Haven't you noticed? She's only been using Snake Shots since the start of the match but Kawamura cannot return any of those shots."

"60-love. Ichinomiya, five games to love," Horio shouted after the fifth game.

Kawamura is already breathing hard. He felt as if Sae can read his next move two steps ahead before he can even execute them.

The sixth game was Sae's service game but unlike the first games, she served the ball in a normal speed. Kawamura found his chance to return the ball in the opponent's court; however, he was surprised when the ball went past him.

"15-love."

"Did you see that!?"

"Hadoukyuu."

"But how?"

"You haven't seen half of what she can do yet," Kirihara's cocky voice was suddenly heard from behind, "she may be a clumsy at times but tennis is a different story."

"Game, set, match, Ichinomiya, six games to love."

Kawamura stared silently at his racket. He has not move an inch from where he stood after the announcement of the result of the match. Who would have thought that Sae will use his own technique against him?

"Um, senpai?"

Kawamura came to his senses and looked at the girl in front of him.

"Ah, that was a good game! Congratulations!" Kawamura laughed.

Sae feel pained looking at her senpai. She looked at the ground before she spoke.

"Senpai, you don't have to force to smile if you don't feel like it," Sae sighed and looked at him, "I'm sorry for using Hadoukyuu against you but, I only want to see how you will beat your own move."

"Beat my own move?"

"Hadoukyuu has a lot of potential to improve. Try to figure it out. If you can do that, challenge me to a match. I'll be happy to accept it." Sae smiled at him and offered her hand.

Kawamura laugh a little before he took her hand.

"I did not expect to hear something like that from my kouhai."

Sae blushed.

"I'm still the team's assistant manager. Of course I want to see you improve."

After the Kawamura and Sae left the court, the girl approached someone she's been worried about since their match began.

"Captain…" Sae began but she could not seem to continue what she wanted to say. Her eyes gave her away as she look sadly at his injured arm. Tezuka felt a something pricked in his chest when he look at the girl's expression.

"Stop worrying too much," Tezuka uttered without looking at her.

"But –"

"I'm fine."

"Even if you say that, this training will only go to waste if it will only worsen your injury."

Sae then felt a hand ruffled her hair.

"You don't have to worry. We didn't get serious in the game after all."

"Yagyuu-senpai."

"Come, let's watch Niou and Marui's match," Yagyuu walked towards court C. Sae glanced at Tezuka before she followed Yagyuu. Unconsciously, Tezuka held his injured arm.

That night, everyone gathered in the dining hall. The prizes from the afternoon activity were given to the members.

It was a tiring day but almost everyone was as enthusiastic as they were before the activity.

"What kind of drink is this?"Marui asked curiously as he stared at a cup of green liquid in his hand. He soon turned blue when he tried to smell it.

"Yagyuu-senpai, that looks delicious," Sae's eyes sparkled while looking at the large bento in front of Yagyuu, who was seated beside her. She sighed when she looked at the humble food served to her.

"You can have some if you like."

"Really!?"

Sae immediately reached for the egg roll but it disappeared even before her chopsticks touched it.

"Hmm, it's tasty," Kirihara exclaimed after he swallowed the egg roll.

"Hey, that's mine!" the girl called at Kirihara, who was seated on the other side of Yagyuu, but Kirihara pretended that he didn't hear her.

"Senpai –" Sae stopped talking and chewed whatever food was shoved in her mouth.

"How's that?" Niou asked.

"It's good. What's that?"

"Curry. Here, have another. Say ahh," Niou shoved another spoonful in Sae's mouth. But as he did, his eye's looked at Echizen with a taunting expression. Niou smirked when his and Echizen's eyes met.

Echizen's eyebrows furrowed while watching Niou's doings. He knew Niou was purposely showing him how he close he is with Sae for whatever reason.

Echizen returned his attention to his food but, he found one of his burger steaks gone. His eyes rolled to his side where Momo is seated.

"Momo-senpai?"

"What?" Momo looked at him innocently, "I didn't eat your burger."

"Who asked about burger?"

"Oops," Momo covered his mouth when he realized what he just said.

"What a glutton," Kaido said loud enough to be heard by Momo.

"What did you say Mamushi!?" Momo turned his attention to Kaido.

"Why don't you just admit it!?"

"Come on guys. This is not the time for that," Kawamura, who was seated between the two, tried to stop Momo and Kaido.

"They sure are energetic after an exhausting day, right Tezuka?" Fuji asked the person seated next to him as he watched several people eating cheerfully. But the captain did not seem to hear him. Fuji looked at him but his smile faded when he realized that Tezuka's attention was fixed on a certain girl seated across them. The girl, on the other hand, was busily laughing with the Rikkai Dai regular with a silver hair.

"So it's like that," Fuji thought to himself. He is not sure if Tezuka realized it yet but their captain is wearing the same expression as Echizen when he looks at their assistant manager.

What Fuji saw did not escape the keen eyes of Niou.

"Hn? So that Echizen is not the only one after all," Niou thought.

"Excuse me," Sanada stood up from his seat, his plate already empty. Everyone stopped what they are doing as their gaze followed him as he walked away.

"Ah, I'm so full," Sae held her tummy as she spoke. She, together with Niou, Marui and Kirihara, are walking back to their rooms. But then, she noticed Marui turning blue. "Marui-senpai? Are you alright?"

"Ugh, I don't feel so good."

"Must be the green tea," Kirihara said with his hand under his chin.

"I better get to bed now. I'll see you tomorrow," Marui entered his and Kirihara's room when they passed by.

"I guess I'll be staying with him, just in case," Kirihara said before he entered the room after Marui.

Niou and Sae started walking to the direction of Sae's room.

"Hey," Niou broke the silence, "you've been with Seigaku for a few months now, right?"

"Yes," Sae answered with a nod.

"So… who do you like best among them?"

"Eh!?" Sae was caught off guard by the question.

"Well, if I asked the same question and let you choose in the Rikkai Dai regulars, I already know that you will answer Yukimura-buchou. That's obvious. I bet everyone in the team will answer the same. I'm just curious what will be your answer if the same question applies to Seigaku."

Sae stopped on her track and studied Niou's face.

"What?" Niou looked surprise. Sae laughed a little.

"You look serious. It doesn't suit you," Sae smiled wider.

"Hey, stop that," Niou sounded a bit irritated, "just answer the question already."

"Why did you suddenly asked that?"

"Um, just curious."

"Then I don't need to answer that just to satisfy your curiosity."

"Oh, come on."

"Maybe you're planning something," Sae look suspisciously at Niou, "spit it out senpai."

Niou sighed.

"Fine. If you don't want to answer it, then don't." Niou started walking away.

"Eh? Senpai, don't be angry," Sae ran after her senpai, "okay fine. I'll answer your question."

Niou stopped on his track. A wide smile crept on his face as his back is still facing Sae.

"That pretend-to-be-angry move still works on her? She never learns," Niou laughed to himself.

"Hmm, who I like best you say?" Sae closed her eyes and thought for a moment. Her placed her hand under her chin. Niou waited patiently for her answer.

After a while…

"Senpai…"

"Yes?"

"I'm can't choose."

"You just need to pick one."

"Even if you say that, I still can't choose. All of them have been very kind to me. It will be unfair if I choose one."

Niou sighed, "You still have not realized it yet, have you?"

"Realized what?"

"Nothing. Just forget what I said," Niou started walking.

"Senpai, what are you talking about?"

Sae's voice disappeared in the hallway as she ran after Niou. Unknown to her, several pairs of curious ears were listening to their conversation earlier.

"Who she likes best, huh?" Momo appeared from the corner.

"That could have been a good data," Inui pushed his glasses.

"Nyaa, now I'm curious," Kikumaru crossed his arms as he thought.

"Fsshhh."

"Aren't you curious too Echizen?" Momo asked as Echizen continued to walk past them. Echizen just shrugged his shoulder.

"Interesting," Fuji whispered as he leaned on the door of his room while listening to the conversation.

Tomoka's loud voice died down when Sae entered the room. Awkward silence fill the air as Sae walked towards her bed on the other side of the room.

"Tomoka…" Sakuno called her friend as the latter glared at the new comer.

"I still don't agree about her on being on the other team even if it's just temporary. If I knew better, she could have told them the weaknesses of our regulars."

"I could never do that."

"I suddenly feel sleepy now. Good night," Tomoka covered herself with a blanket.

Sakuno sighed as she looked at her friend whom she knew was pretending to be asleep.

"I apologize on Tomoka's behalf," Sakuno turned to Sae.

"Please don't. You and Tomoka have nothing to apologize about." Sae yawn after finishing her sentence, "I'll be going to sleep now. Good night, Sakuno, Tomoka." Sae instantly fell asleep after closing her eyes.

It was wee hours of the day. Kaido suddenly woke up from a dream he could not remember. His attention was caught by Momo who was soundly asleep on the bed next to his. Kaido got up and walked downstairs to the kitchen to get a glass of water. The hallway outside the room was dark but Kaido did not bother to open the lights. The little amount of moonlight that passed through the windows gave enough illumination to prevent Kaido from bumping the furniture and to see the stairs. Kaido walked as quietly as he could to avoid the others from waking up.

In the kitchen, Kaido easily spotted the location of the drinking glass. He felt refresh after the cold water ran through his throat. As he was pouring another round in the glass, he felt a presence of someone behind standing him. He froze.

"This couldn't be the spirit of the person lying in the tombstone Momo was talking about earlier," he thought.

Flashback

Momo suddenly opened the door with a bang.

"Mamushi, listen to this. When we tour around the area, we saw a large stone that shaped like a tombstone. We tried to look for the name of the owner there but the name was already erased. The caretaker said that it belonged to previous owner of the land. According to him, sometimes, they see a lady, dressed in white, roaming near the stone. I'll be careful if I were you especially at night."

End of flashback

Bullets of sweat are starting to form on his forehead when the presence did not seem to disappear after some time. Slowly, he turned. He was shocked to see someone… or something… dressed in white and has no face.

"Ahh!" Kaido screamed and fell to the floor.

"Kaido-senpai, it's me," the lights turned on. In front of Kaido is Sae who removed the hood of her jacket from her head.

"Sae?"

"Sorry to scare you. I just came to get some water."

Sae helped her senpai to stand up.

"Why are you dressed like that? Are you going somewhere?" was what Kaido wanted to asked but he stayed quiet, embarrassed of what happened. His eyes followed the girl as she gets her own glass.

"I just finished jogging," Sae said before drinking the glass of water in her hand.

"At this hour?"

The girl nodded, "I usually do this every day. I'm used to it."

"Hey, what happened here? I heard someone screamed," Coach Ryuzaki asked with eyes wide open. She scanned through the kitchen trying to figure out what happened. Behind her were Oishi, Fuji, Tezuka, Sanada and Yanagi.

A flush of red appeared on Kaido's face. He remained silent.

"I'm very sorry. I thought I saw a mouse somewhere here earlier. Kaido-senpai helped me looked for it."

Kaido was surprised at the girl's words.

"But I thought it was a man's voice screaming," Sumire thought for a second.

"It was really me. My voice is just hoarse today that's all," Sae tried to convince the coach.

"Coach, we might as well let it go. They seem fine. We still need some rest. It's still too early in the morning anyway." Fuji spoke.

"You're right," Sumire turned her attention to Sae, "refrain from doing this again. Yawn. Everyone go back to sleep."

That's all for now

Comments and suggestions are very welcome

(=^.^=)