She and Ryoma headed over to the tennis courts to practice for a bit. As they and the other freshman practiced, the regulars showed up, Tezuka leading the pack.

"Woah...is that really Captain Tezuka?"
"Yup."
"I've been told he's 14. Is he really only 14?"
"You'd think I'd remember something like that."

"Is he?"
"Go ask him."

"But I can't!"

"Why not?"
"Because he sorta scares me..."

"So get over it."

He pushed her toward Tezuka. She bumped into him as she tried to regain her balance.

"I'm so sorry, Tezuka-senapi!"
"Be more careful next time."

"Um...C-could I ask you something?"
"What?"

He turned around to look at her, his icy glare like daggers.

"I um...I was just wondering..."
"If you've got something to ask, then just ask."

"Y-you're only 14, right?"

"Yes. Is that all?"

"Um...yes, that's it."
"By the way, not many people can realize that I'm only 14 upon first seeing me, so I commend you on that, Sayomi."

"Th-thank you, Tezuka-senapi!"

He nodded as she walked back over to Ryoma, and continued to watch over the courts.

"What happened?"
"He's only 14...he doesn't look like it..."

"You'd think I'd have known that..."

"Oh shut up! You pushed me into him!"

"Well if I didn't, you wouldn't know."

"Then...thanks I guess..."

"Anyway, I'd better go practice. See ya later."

"I'll go pick up stray balls with the other freshman."

She thought back on what Tezuka said to her.

"I commend you on that, Sayomi."

It repeated over and over in her head.

"Tezuka-senpai...knows my name..."

"Hey, Saomi-chan! Wanna go shopping?" Kome called.

"I'll be right there!"

Sayomi snuck over to the change rooms and out to where Kome was waiting.

"I hope no one notices I'm gone..."

"Don't worry, since the regulars will be practicing, all the freshman will be doing is picking up the stray balls."

"Either way, I don't want to get in any trouble. If I do, you're to blame."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I saw you talking to Captain Tezuka. What were you talking about?"

"He looks a lot older than he actually is..."
"How old is he?"
"14."
"He's only 14?!"
"Yeah."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah."

"Oh wow."

"So why are we going to the mall?"
"I need something to wear for my date."

"A date? Who with?"

"This is really embarassing..."

"You can tell me."
"It's Horio."

"Ew...Horio?"
"Yes..."

Kome hung her head in shame.

"You wanna explain why you're going out with Horio?"

"Well he asked me out...and...well...you know I can't say no to people!"

"Whatever. Where are you going?"
"Well Horio said it'd be a double date with me and him and you and Ryoma."
"Wait, wait, wait! No one told me I'd be going on a double date with Ryoma!"

"Oh...I thought he told you..."

"Anyway, where are we going?"

"The school dance."

"We're having a school dance?"

"Don't you ever read the builliten board?!"

"No, not often. To be honest, I'm not totally sure where it is."

"Well anyway, I want to get you an outfit too. Maybe a cute dress."

"A dress?! No!"
"Come on, please? For me?"

She sighed in exasperation.

"Can't I just wear some sparkly jeans or something?"

"Oh fine, ruin all my fun. Well at least I'm going to wear a skirt."

When they arrived at the mall, Kome insisted on going to the high end stores with the most expensive clothes.

"Kome, why are we here? We could just as easily go to a discount store and get the same thing for a lot less."

"You can spend your money however you want. I'm spending mine at the high end boutiques."

"You don't actually need to get me anything. I'll see what I've got in my closet."

"Oh, be quiet. I'm getting you some designer jeans and you're going to wear them."

"Just don't blame me when you go broke."

Kome looked around the store for the best looking dress. She found a spaghetti strap dress with a knee legnth tiered skirt. The straps were black, the top being silver and sparkly. Each layer of the skirt was either black or silver and sparkly. Sayomi looked at the price tag.

"This dress is $100!"
"And it's gorgeous!"

"But are you even going to wear it after...whenever the dance is?"

"Yes!"
"When are you ever going to get a chance to wear something like that?"

"Well even if I don't wear it after tomorrow, I'll just keep it so I can say I have a dress that's worth $100."

While Sayomi and Kome argued, the other freshman were still picking up balls for the regulars.

"Hey Echizen, we're friends, right?"

"...I guess."

"So could you do me a favor?"
"...I guess."

"Could you come on a double date with me?"

"Who am I going with?"

"Sayomi."
"Is she aware of it?"
"I'll tell her soon."

"Who are you going with?"
"Kome."

"Where are we going?"
"To the school dance."
"We have a school dance?"

"Yeah, it's tomorrow."

"So why are we going out with Sayomi and her best friend?"

Horio pulled Ryoma off the the side and lowered his voice to a whisper.

"Listen, I really like Sayomi, okay?"
"And?"
"Well if I'm with her best friend, she'll get jelous and start liking me, right?"

"...Right..."

"If you do this for me, I'll never ask for any favors again."

"And if I do this for you, will you shut up?"
"Yes!"
"Fine."

"Thank you so much!"

"I've got to stop doing favors for people..."