Ryoma grabbed her wrist and pulled her up off the bed.

"Hey! I never tried to rip your arm out of it's socket!"

"Sorry."

Ryoma dragged her out into the hallway.

"Where the hell are you taking me?!"

"Hold your bell."

"Why?"

"My dad might hear it."
"Alright..."

She held her bell, silencing it.

"You're still grabbing my wrist y'know. Either you're doing it on purpose, or you're stronger than you think."

"Sorry."

"Where the hell are you taking me?!"

"Somewhere that my dad won't think to find us."

Sayomi's eyes widened and she blushed.

"What...the f-"
"Don't swear."

"I wasn't going to say it..." she muttered.

"Yes you were." he smirked.

Ryoma dragged her into the storage closet and turned on the light. Karupin was happily taking a nap.

"Aww, what a cute cat!"

"Want to hold him?"
"Can I?!"

He picked up Karupin and handed him to Sayomi. He pawed at Sayomi's neck.

"What's he doing?"
"I think he likes your bell. Which reminds me, take that thing off."

"What?!"
"It's got a bell, my dad could hear it."

"Then I'll hold-wait a second!"
"Hm?"
"What the hell are you going to do?!"
"Stop yelling, you're too loud."

"What are you going to do?!" she hissed.

"Don't worry, Karupin won't tell..."

"But that doesn't answer my question!"

Ryoma leaned in close.

"Oh my God."
"What?"
"I've got a feeling we're going to be making out in about two seconds."

"You've got the right feeling."

She mewed softly, Karupin responding with a mew of his own, still pawing at Sayomi's neck.

"It's just too bad this all has to be a secret..." she thought.

"And by the way, Sayomi."
"What's the matter?"
"I'm telling Eiji-senpai what you said."

"Ryoma-kun, that's mean!"
"But if I don't tell him, won't it be awkward when I try to set you up?"
"Eh?!"
"See? I can be nice."

"You'd really do that for me? But...what if he doesn't like me back or makes fun of me?"
"You can't let that stop you. You've got to take chances. You wouldn't be here right now if you didn't take a chance a few days ago. You risked cutting off your hair for a date with me, remember. So why not take a risk for Eiji-senpai? From what you're saying, you like him at least as much as you like me, if not more."

"That was rather insightful. Are you sure you're Ryoma Echizen?" she giggled.

"All I'm saying is take a chance."
"Okay...just don't mention my name."
"Fine."

When Sayomi left, it was still early, so she decided to head over to the tennis courts for a few minutes. By the time she left, it was already 6.

"He's really going to try to set me up with Eiji-senapi..."

"Sayomi-chan, there you are! Coming back from the tennis courts a bit late don't you think?"
"I lost track of time. Why, were you looking for me?"
"Yes, I was just at your house, your mom said you weren't home yet!"

"Oh, sorry Kome-chan, I didn't realize I was the late. What did you want?"
"You'll never guess what I just heard!"
"What?"
"Well, Eiji-senpai, you know, the red haired regular, he was at the tennis courts today and he told Oishi-senpai, you know, the co-captain, 'I saw this amazing little girl play. Er, not really little, probably in middle school. Anyway, I was about to leave when I saw her. She had this acrobatic style of playing, sort of like mine. Doing flips and dives with that long ponytail of hers whipping around everywhere. My guess is that it was probably like, knee legnth. And the most amazing thing is: she was hitting the wall in the exact same place every time! I know I'm being kind of lame acting like this over some middle scooler, but I'm telling you, she was amazing!' and I think he might have been talking about you!"

"That could be anyone. And where do you hear these things?!"

"Middle schooler, acrobatic style of playing, knee legnth hair, it sounds like you to me!"

"What? You're insane, I still think it could be anyone."

"If you don't want to beleive me, that's fine. I just wanted to tell you."

Kome and Sayomi walked off, heading home for the evening. She remembered what Kome said.

"Could it really have been me?" she thought.

The next morning, Ryoma did as he promised and talked to Eiji.

"Hey, Eiji-senpai, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Okay, about what?"
"Mind if I set you up with someone who likes you?"

"Uh...I guess not...Who're you setting me up with?"
"She asked me not to use her name in case you declined."
"How old is she?"
"In my class."

"Eh...I-"

Eiji caught a glimpse of Sayomi and Kome. That day, she had her hair in a ponytail, rather than leaving it down.

"That's her."
"What?"
"That's the girl I saw at the tennis courts yesterday."

Ryoma looked over at the two.

"Who? Sayomi or..uh...Kome?"

"The one with her hair in the ponytail. Wait, you know them?!"

"They're both in my class."

"Could you introduce us? I'd do anything to meet her!"

Ryoma reluctantly agreed, thinking Eiji was overreacting. Eiji took a deep breath and stood before them nonchalantly.

"Hey."
"Sayomi-chan, that's Eiji-senapi!" Kome whispered.

"I'm aware of that."

"This is Eiji Kikumaru. And that's Sayomi and...uh..."
"Kome."

"Yeah, Kome."

"Kome-chan, Sayomi-sama."
"Wait, wait, wait! Sama? I'm 2 years younger than you and you're calling me sama?"

"Oh, let me explain that. You see, I saw you pracicing at the tennis courts yesterday and you're just so amazing!"

Kome elbowed Sayomi in the rib as an "I told you so" gesture.

"Um...I'd feel more comfortable if you called me chan. Being called sama by someone 2 years older than me is really weird..."

"Whatever you say, Sayomi-chan!"

"Ryoma-kun, he's freaking me out." she whispered.

"Tone it down, Eiji-senpai." he whispered.

"Got it." he whispered back.

"So...we'll be back in a few minutes."

Ryoma pulled Eiji away from the girls.

"About that favour you owe me."
"You introduced me to my idol, I'll do anything you want!"

"Uh...your idol?"
"She's so amazing!"
"Uh...yeah. I'm setting you up with Sayomi."

"What, really?!"

"Yes."

"Oh wow. You're the best, O'Chibi!"

Eiji hugged Ryoma tightly. Meanwhile, Sayomi was still talking to Kome and she decided to let her hair out.

"Oh man, she's even prettier with her hair down!"

Ryoma walked away, leaving Eiji to stare at Sayomi.

"Kome-chan." Sayomi whispered.

"Hm?"
"Eiji-senpai is freaking me out!"

Eiji noticed Ryoma's absence. He chased after him.

"O'Chibi, wait, wait!"
"What?"
"When do I get to go out with Sayomi-sama?"
"Um...tomorrow?"
"Echizen, how can I ever thank you?!"

"I dunno. I did what I was asked to do, so I don't really care."

"You did me two gigantic favours just now, I'll do anything you want. After that, I feel like I owe you my life!"

"Uh...I'll think of something."
"Remember O'Chibi, I owe you big time!"