Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of PoT

Yawn

Momo opened his mouth wide as he yawned. The freshman trio served as alarm clock that morning to wake up everyone especially for those who sleep like a rock. Momo turned around and saw Kaido's bed neatly arranged. Several footsteps were heard past the door. Though reluctant, his curiosity took over him, and he lazily stood by the door. He reached for the first person who passed by.

"Oi, what's the fuss all about?"

"Momo-senpai," the girl with braided hair looked at him with surprised eyes, "Yukimura-senpai… he suddenly fell unconscious."

"Yukimura-senpai?"

As if answering Momo, the sound of siren became louder as it drove closer to the manse.

Everyone gathered outside the manse as Yukimura was being brought inside the ambulance.

"I deeply apologize if we have to withdraw from the remaining days of the training camp," Sanada bowed to Coach Ryuzaki.

"Things became out of hand. It's nobody's fault. In behalf of the team, we hope to see Yukimura get well soon."

"Thank you very much," Sanada stood up, "we have to go now."

Sae climbed to the ambulance but a hand pulled her away.

"Niou-sempai?"

"Sorry kiddo, but you have to stay here."

"But Yukimura-senpai…" the girl bit her lips and clenched her fist, not able to continue what she was about to say. She's scared of the idea of what might happen to Yukimura.

"He'll be fine. You worry too much," Niou tried to be as cheerful as he could but the girl's expression did not change.

As Sae saw Sanada, she ran to him as the latter walked towards the ambulance.

"Sanada-senpai, please, let me go with you," the girl held Sanada's hand as she begged for his approval.

Sanada's eyes looked at Niou. Niou shook his head slowly when their eyes met. Sanada returned his gaze to the girl. He bent down to her level before he spoke.

"Sanada-senpai… please…"

"Sae, listen," Sanada sighed, "Yukimura doesn't want to see you worry over him especially if it is about his condition. You did good not letting him know how worried you are about his health. He will be sad if you show him that face of yours right now." Sanada placed his cap to the girl's head and let the visor cover her face, "just return this when you're ready to smile for him."

Sanada walked past Sae. The girl remained standing from her position.

"Hey, we'll contact you immediately once he wakes up," Niou's hand patted the girl's back.

The girl simply nodded without looking at him.

The ambulance left swiftly and in a few moments, the sound of the siren faded in a distance.

Momo slowly approached the girl.

"Hey, are you alright?" Momo asked as the girl remained facing the direction where the ambulance headed.

"I'm fine," Sae faced him wearing a smile on her face. Her smile looked normal but something in it seemed off.

"Sae…"

"Let's go senpai. I'm quite hungry."

"But…"

Suddenly Momo's stomach growled loudly. The girl laughed upon hearing the sound.

"See, your stomach agreed with me."

Momo blushed.

The two walked back inside the manse.

"Coach, what are we going to do now?" Oishi asked.

"What are you saying? Of course, we'll continue training. We'll finish the training camp and go back tomorrow. This is a good place to train. We'll just make a few adjustments with the schedule. For now, just enjoy your time," Sumire turned to Tezuka, "Tezuka, we have to talk."

Coach Ryuzaki started walking back inside but she realized that the captain was not following her. When she looked at him, he was just staring at the direction where Momo and Sae went moments ago.

"Tezuka?"

As if he just woken up, he regain himself and turned to the coach. Sumire sighed at Tezuka's reaction.

"It's not like you to space out like that. If you worry about her, let her know. She needs someone beside her now," the coach said loud enough for only Tezuka to hear.

Tezuka did not say a word and continued staring at the coach. Sumire laugh a little guessing what Tezuka was thinking. "I'm not blind not to see what you boys have been up to all this time."

Tezuka was confused at what Sumire told him but his face does not show any change of emotion.

"Watch out!"

Sae returned to her senses but it was too late.

Smack

A tennis ball just flew directly to her head.

"Waah! Sorry!" Momo ran towards the girl.

"I'm fine. Please continue practicing."

"Nyaa! You're bleeding!" Kikumaru exclaimed as bright red liquid flowed from Sae's head to her cheeks down to her chin. The girl sat on the bench nearby.

"Sakuno, get the medicine kit!" Caoch Ryuzaki called out to her granddaughter. She then turned to the injured girl, "Sae, what are you doing spacing out like that!?"

"Sorry."

Sumire cleaned and mended the wound. After that a icepack was placed on her head.

"Good thing it's not deep."

"Thanks coach," Sae stood up.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm going to help with the training."

"No, you don't," someone blocked her way and pushed her to sit on the bench.

"Momo-senpai?"

"Just be a good girl and stay there for a while," Momo grinned at her.

"To think you can say something right today."

"What was that Mamushi!?"

"Listen to Momo. It will be bad if you will injure yourself again today. You've been spacing out a lot since this morning."

"Eiji!" Oishi called out to Kikumaru to stop him from saying anything more.

"What? Did I say something –" Kikumaru saw Sae looked gloomier, "Nyaa! Sae, I didn't mean it like that!"

"What Eiji is trying to say… um… you should rest. That's right, you should rest otherwise your wound will open, right Eiji?"

"Y–yes. Yes, that's right," Kikumaru laughed weakly.

Sae smiled at how the two struggled for words.

"I understand it quite well. Thank you for the concern. I'll just take a rest then."

Oishi and Kikumaru felt relieved seeing the girl believed what they said. Little they did know that Sae realized how she was affected by that morning's incident.

Sae walked away from the courts, back to the manse. But instead of her room, she went outside and strolled through the woods. She wanted to breathe some fresh air to get her head together.

Sae looked at her phone expectantly but it did not receive a single call since that morning. As she continued to stare at her phone, she sat under a tree, hugging her legs while she rested her head on her knees.

The moments passed by quietly. Cool breeze blew from time to time in contrast of the warm surroundings. The rustling of the leaves and the chirping of the birds served as a lullaby as a girl drifted herself to sleep under the shade of a tree.

Flashback

"Michi-kun, move faster," the young girl pulled the boy to the nearby tennis court.

"I told you not to call me that!" the boy protested as he let the little girl drag him along.

"Eh? But your name is so long and it suits you very well."

"It's not. You're just being too lazy and the name is too girly."

The girl smiled sheepishly at the boy.

"Ah, we're here," the girl's emerald eyes shone brightly as she stared at the tennis court in front of them.

"Good thing no one's using it today."

"Show me that move again," the girl pulled the boy inside the court. The boy granted the girl's wish. He swung his racket and the ball bounced to the other side of the court. It was just a simple serve but the girl was really amazed every time he made the ball go over the net which was still taller than her.

"You try," the boy offered the racket to the girl.

"Can I?"

The girl held the racket and hit the ball clumsily. The ball bounced low and rolled to the ground. She tried several times but it always came to the same result.

"Try to relax. Raise your arm a little higher. Lessen the force on the ball."

The boy adjusted the grip of the girl. The girl tried again following the boy's directions. This time, the ball went over the net.

"Did you see that!? I did it!" The girl jumped for joy.

"Not bad."

"Eh? Is that all you have to say?" The girl pouted.

The boy tried to hide his laughter when he saw the girl's reaction. The boy patted the girl's head.

"You did well."

The girl wore a huge smile after hearing his praise. The boy smiled with her but his reaction became dark.

"What is it?"

"We need to go now."

The boy suddenly grabbed her hand and ran away from the tennis court.

"Eh? But I want to play more."

"They're here," the boy answered without turning to her.

"They? You mean those nasty boys from the other day?"

The girl did not hear the boy answer. He just continued running. As for her, she quietly followed him. She cannot see his face. Only his back was facing her as they continue to run.

End of flashback

The next event became blurry in Sae's dream as something soft and warm brushed through her lips. She thought she was still dreaming but the sensation seemed real. Her mind was still processing what was happening when the feeling on her lips suddenly disappeared. She forced her eyes to open but the rays of the sun blinded her. When she was able to see properly, she saw no one around.

"Is it just a dream?" the girl thought to herself.

Sae fingers touched her lips. The warm feeling was still there. She felt her face became hot as she thought of the possibility of it being real.

"But who would do such a thing?"

The girl's thought was distracted by the sound of her phone. She immediately put the phone near her ear.

"Niou-senpai?" Sae called the first name that popped to her head.

"Niou… senpai?"

"Dad?" her voice sounded a little disappointed.

"Did I call on a wrong time? Did something happen?"

"No, I'm fine," Sae said it like she was more of convincing herself than her dad.

"You don't sound fine to me. If I remember correctly, Niou was your teammate back in Rikkai Dai," a sigh was heard on the other line, "let me guess, this has something to do with that boy Yukimura, right? The last time I heard you like that was when you found out about his illness."

Sae smiled weakly. She cannot keep anything from her dad after all.

"You are sharp as ever."

"That's because I'm your dad, though that might not be the case anymore."

"Hey, you are still my father, and you will always remain as my father as far as I'm concern."

"How are they treating you?"

"They are good people. They have been very kind to me."

"And your dad, I mean your real father, how is he?"

"He's a funny man and a really good tennis player like they say. The first time I played with him years back, I really thought he was a good-for-nothing player but now, I know I still can't beat him at my current level."

"Now you know where you got your tennis skills."

The girl stayed silent.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

"Does he know about me?"

"You didn't ask him?"

"I'm afraid to ask."

A long pause was heard.

"I don't think he knows."

"I see."

"So, how is Yukimura?" the person on the other line changed the subject.

Sae remained silent for a moment.

"I… still don't know. He collapsed this morning and Niou-sempai hasn't said anything yet about his condition." She's trying not to break down.

"You want me to go there?"

"No Dad. I'm fine really. I'm just worried about him."

"You like him that much?"

"Dad! You know it's not like that!"

Her Dad's laughter was heard on the other line.

"I know. I know. Relax, I'm just joking."

"This is no time for jokes."

"At least I know you are still your old self."

Sae realized what his just said. He was just distracting her somehow.

"Thanks Dad."

"Hn? I haven't done anything."

"You know what I mean."

Their conversation continued for some time. They tried to catch up from the last time they talked together.

"…just give me a call if you need anything."

"Yes Dad. Take care."

The beeping sound was heard on the other line before Sae put it back to her pocket.

She felt a little better after hearing her Dad but it still haven't erased the worry she's been feeling ever since this morning.

Fuji was looking through a picture on his phone. It was a photograph which he took yesterday before that Rikkai Dai regular confronted him. It was a picture of a girl peacefully sleeping on her bed. That was the closest shot he got of her so far.

"Fujiko, what's that? You've been staring at your phone for quiet some time. What's in there?"

Kikumaru tried to grab Fuji's phone but the Fuji was able to close it before Kikumaru can see it.

"Nyaa? That's not fair."

"You wouldn't like it anyway."

"It's a picture of a girl right? I saw it once this morning."

"Is that right Fuji?" Inui joined the conversation, "are you seeing someone now… for real?"

Fuji only smiled his usual smile before he walked away. He does not need to answer them anyway.

Echizen knew what Kikumaru was talking about. He saw it too and he was sure that it was Sae's face he saw on that picture.

Tomoka and Sakuno were busily preparing dinner back in the kitchen.

"Um, can I help with anything?"

"Sae, what happened to your head?" Sakuno asked looking worried.

"This?" referring to the wound on her head, "I was just careless that a ball hit me. Nothing serious. So, what can I do to help?"

"Sae," Tomoka approached her with averted eyes, "I'm sorry about what happened with Yukimura-senpai. I also want to apologize for what I said to you yesterday."

"Let's just forget about it," Sae held Tomoka's shoulder, "for now, let's just cook something good for those guys."

The girls busied themselves in the kitchen as they continue telling various stories.

"Sakuno, you like Ryoma, right?" Sae asked as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

The plate Sakuno was washing almost slipped from her hands.

"W–why did you sudden ask?" Sakuno blushed.

"Nothing really. But I can help you if you like."

"Eh? But I did not say I like him."

"But you do like him, right?"

"Just admit it Sakuno. You're very obvious, you know," Tomoka joined in the conversation.

Sakuno's face became bright red.

"Hmm, that smells good. What's for dinner?" Horio's loud voice was heard from the kitchen door. Behind him were Katsuo and Kato.

"How long have you been there?" Tomoka asked with a surprise look.

"Eh? What are you being so angry about? We just came in."

"You didn't hear anything, right?"

"Is there something we shouldn't hear?"

The other freshmen watched as the bickering continued between the two.

Sae kept staring at her phone. It was already bedtime but she did not receive a single call from any member of the Rikkai Dai regulars. Sakuno and Tomoka were already sleeping soundly but she cannot sleep even a wink.

Sae walked out of the room with her racket on hand.

The silence of the night was disturbed by the sound of a tennis ball as it buried itself to a trunk of tree by its rapid rotation. The hollow made by the ball was now a few centimetres deep but the girl continued hitting the same spot using the same move. Sae stared blankly at the tree as she prepared to hit another ball. She came to her senses when a hand suddenly held her hand with the racket.

"If you continue using that move over and over again, it might break your arm."

"C-Captain," Sae gave Tezuka a surprised look. She did not expect anyone to be awake at that time of the night.

Sae felt the exhaustion getting into her from what she was doing and realized that she had been playing from almost two hours now. She slowly walked towards the tree and started picking up the tennis balls on the grass. Tezuka did the same.

When they are done, Sae sat on the grass beside the tree. Tezuka stared at the sunken part of the tree that Sae did before he sat beside the girl.

"I'm sorry Captain. I don't think I did my job properly today. I let my emotions affect me very much although I told you before that it won't happen again."

Sae buried her face on her knees.

"It's normal to worry for a friend. The team understands it very well so don't worry about it."

"Thanks."

A calming silence came between them.

Sae knew their captain is a person with a few words but being near him like this gave her a relaxing feeling. Tezuka's eyes were closed feeling the blowing wind. Slowly, Sae lifted her eyes from her knees and peeked at Tezuka's profile. Sae somehow felt that she cannot take her eyes off the Seigaku captain as she continued to stare at him.

Thump thump

The girl placed her hand to her chest hoping to calm her pounding heart. Sae buried her face again on her knees to hide her flush.

"Senpai?"

"Hn?" Tezuka answered without looking at her.

"Have you ever liked someone?"

Tezuka turned to her but his expression remained the same.

"Liked… someone?"

"Ah, sorry. I just blurted it out. You don't have to answer it."

"Why do you ask?"

"Well, I just want to know what kind of girl you would actually like."

"Maybe I do."

"You do? Tell me, do I know her?"

Tezuka did not answer.

"Captain, don't be like that. Say something," Sae shook his arm as if waking him up.

Tezuka looked at her with piercing gaze. She took it as a sign that Tezuka was starting getting irritated at her. Sae stopped what she was doing and sat again on the grass, hugging her knees.

"Sorry."

"Do you really want to know?"

"Yes, I do –" The girl immediately turned her head only to be greeted by Tezuka's face, merely an inch close to her nose.

Sae felt that her heart would drop at that very moment as she continued to stare at Tezuka's eyes at close proximity.

[Ringtone ringing]

Their attention diverted to Sae's phone. Sae stood up and pulled her phone next to her ear.

"Hello?"

"Hey, kiddo, sorry to wake you up."

"Niou-senpai!"

"Hey, not too loud," Niou had to pull away the phone from his ear after hearing the girl squeal his name.

"Sorry. How's Yukimura-senpai?"

"He just woke up."

"Really?" Sae breathed a sigh of relief, "that's great."

"Sae, sorry to have made you worry."

Sae knew the voice very well.

"Yukimura-senpai. I'm so glad to hear your voice," tears formed at the corners of her eyes.

Tezuka watched as Sae continued to talk to Yukimura on the phone. He was pleased to see her back to her cheerful self again but he did not feel too happy to see her talking fondly to Yukimura.

"Captain! Yukimura-senpai is fine now!" Sae held Tezuka's hand as she jumped for joy.

Sae realized what she was doing and dropped his hands.

"I-I need to go to bed now. Thanks for keeping me company."

After walking a few meters, Sae turned around, "oh, and tell me who the girl you like next time."

Sae smiled at Tezuka before she ran back to the manse.

The team arrived at the train station to wait for the train that will take them back to Tokyo.

"Coach, everyone, I will be taking a different train back. Please be careful on your trip."

"Eh? Where are you going?"

"I will be visiting Yukimura-senpai at the hospital."

"But it will be dangerous for you to go by yourself."

"I will go with her."

"Tezuka?"

"Captain?"

"We need to give our regards to Yukimura and the Rikkai Dai team after what happened."

"Then I'll go t– hmph" Ryoma words were cut off as a hand covered his mouth.

"Go ahead you two," Momo smiled at Tezuka while his hand stopped Ryoma from speaking any further.

"Take care, okay?" Inui blocked Ryoma from the view to not let them see him being held by Momo.

When Sae and Tezuka were already gone, Momo let Ryoma go.

"What was that!?"

"Sshhh, can't you see? There must be something going on between those two."

"I don't get what you are trying to say."

"This is the first time I saw Tezuka cared for a girl," Inui answered, "and we need to see the proof of Momo's suspicion first hand." Light reflected in Inui's glasses after saying those words.

"Don't you think you're overreacting?" Ryoma asked in irritated tone.

"Nyaa, I'll go too."

"Fssh."

"Saa, I'll go too."

"Let's all go then."

"Oh no you don't." Sumire blocked the way the Seigaku regulars were going to.

"Eh? But coach –"

"No buts. If you don't have anything better to do than meddle into other people's business, you might as well go home and practice."

Sumire couldn't help but sigh as she watched her team board the train.

That's all… for now

(=^.^=)