Niou darted a look at Yukimura who was sitting three rows ahead to his right, and then to Sanada who was a row ahead to his left. He thought it was nothing. At first. But he's Niou Masaharu. And his sharp skills in observation just couldn't dismiss his captain and vice-captain's cryptic looks and meaningful sideway glances to each other every now and then.

He's not particularly fond of psychoanalyzing human behavior. Unless it's tennis-related, he'd rather shut off his sharp attention to those minor but meaningful gestures. But his two teammates were not just random strangers. They were his friends, despite being distant at times. And he just couldn't set aside his curiosity.

Not especially after he saw Sanada blush when Yukimura caught him staring at his direction.

Niou smiled, his trickster side suddenly emerging from the sidelines. A blushing Sanada? He'll gladly do the honor to extract more of that reaction.

Yukimura glared. That type of glare he would throw at the team on those rare moments when he's pissed and in the mood to order some rigorous day training ten times the ordinary.

Only thing is, he's now directing it no other than Niou Masaharu. The same Niou who has tricked him to coming inside the club room for some sort of serious emergency that only, he, the captain can resolve. He should've known better. He should've been more cautious knowing that emergency, help and Niou are words that are not meant to be together.

If not for the fact that his mind is currently clouded by some welcome distractions – namely Sanada Genichirou, he would've immediately realized that there's no way for Niou to be on that place at this time of the day. But he didn't.

And now standing in front of him was his friend, who's brilliantly doing a good job in making him furious.

"What is this, a joke?"

"Nah..I don't do that stuff," Niou said with a grin, unmindful of Yukimura's dagger glares thrown at him. You could say he's immune.

Niou had just demanded Yukimura of the real nature of his relationship to the Seigaku captain. Of course he has the right to be furious. What bothered the blue-haired captain is that photo on Niou's phone of him and Tezuka. Of course it didn't mean anything. It happened a few days after his release at the hospital. Tezuka called him and asked if he's free, he said yes and they met. Still, the fact that the trickster had that meant that he was following him or Tezuka. And it feels creepy.

"If you're planning to use that as a blackmail material, then you're severely underestimating Sanada," Yukimura said in confidence. "..and frankly, I didn't know you'd steep so low as blackmailing someone. ME of all people."

"Hey relax, no one's blackmailing anybody here. I'm just curious," Niou said, eyeing the photo on his phone "…you two looked rather…..sweet in this picture."

Yukimura's glare sharpened. But before he could voice anything, his phone rang as if on cue. He ignored it but he found Niou urging him to take the call. He brought out his phone and looked at the caller ID. He blinked in confusion before answering it.

"Kunimitsu, hey…What's up?"

There was silence on the other line.

"Kunimi-"

"So you both have each other's phone number," came the reply from the other line and Yukimura could swear that he looked shocked at the moment judging from the grin that suddenly flashed on Niou's face, apparently not used to seeing his captain caught off guard.

They weren't close and the times they exchanged words could be counted by a single hand. Still, Yukimura knew the voice from the other line all too well. "Fuji…hey I-"

"Niou's got nothing to do with this," the tennis genius cut him off, and once again, Yukimura stabbed his teammate with a glare, which the other just received with a smile.

"I'm sorry Fuji, I don't follow."

"I sent him the photo. Inui took it. Thought I'd be interested so he sent it to me,"

Yukimura frowned. Somehow, he now sees what this is all about and where it's going. "I see. But Fuji…if you're worried about me and Tezuka…we're friends. That's it."

He heard Fuji hummed in agreement, but Yukimura knew better. "But you see.." Fuji started "…Tezuka-buchou lied to me." Yukimura heard the sarcasm on the tone, and immediately remembered how he addressed Tezuka on his first name when he answered the call.

"Fuji-"

"He said he was out fishing with his grandfather when this photo is taken. Plus he insisted he doesn't have your number," a pause.. "True there wasn't any Yukimura in his phonebook, but there's S."

Yukimura started to feel annoyed, "So what are you trying to say?"

"S is not Syusuke. It's not my number. I just dialed it a moment ago and…hello there."

Yukimura snapped his eyes shut, trying his best not to sound sarcastic and keeping his cool. "Fuji..are you jealous?"

"Should I be?"

"Tezuka is a good man. You really think he's onto me while dating you? I'm sorry but that's just rude. You got to put a little trust on him."

Fuji sighed. "I do trust him. But I don't trust you."

"Is that a threat?"

"Do you feel threatened?"

Yukimura has had enough and something on his expression might have changed for Niou actually stepped back a little, suddenly making himself busy with his phone. "I don't know what your deal is, and I don't want to get involved. But if you want to go on ranting with your relationship issues then go talk to someone who shares your sentimentalism because I don't, " he was barely holding his own annoyance but he has to say it, "..and Fuji, stop giving Kunimitsu more headaches than what he already has."

And then he ended the call.

Yukimura allowed few moments of silence pass before facing Niou who was now on a safe distance in case he starts going on a rampage.

"I don't need to tell you to delete that photo, do I?"

Niou stared at him with a blank expression.

"Or would you want me to do it and destroy your phone for good?"

Yukimura was pretty sure that Tezuka would learn about his and Fuji's confrontation earlier. What he didn't expect though was for the Seigaku captain to actually come over. At school. After tennis practice.

'I'm at the front gate. I'll wait for you so take your time.' That was the text message he received ten minutes ago and instead of meeting the whole team for the final daily briefing and evaluation, he left the job to Renji and immediately changed. He didn't even notice the other's curious glances as well as Sanada's worried look as he left the clubroom –obviously in a hurry.

"Kunimitsu!" he called out, waving a hand at Tezuka who was conveniently leaning against the concrete wall. His co-tennis captain looked up and greeted him with one of his rare smiles. "You should've told me you're coming."

Tezuka adjusted his glasses, "I wasn't planning to but…about earlier…"

"It's okay. I understand. Besides…you shouldn't have lied to him about it. It rouses suspicion actually."

Tezuka nodded.

"So are you walking me home?"

"No, I'm sorry…I really just dropped by. My mother's visiting a friend just around this block. I'm coming to fetch her."

Yukimura nodded.

"But.." Tezuka pulled something from his pocket, and held out Yukimura's hand, "…here.."

The Rikkaidai captain stared at the white hair band on his hand, and then to Tezuka.

"You don't have to wear that. I… just though white's gorgeous with dark blue."

Yukimura let out a soft giggle, "Really now.." He was supposed to tease Tezuka for being so cheesy and stuff when he saw him looking at something over his shoulders. He followed his co-captain's line of sight and turn around.

That's when he saw Sanada standing few meters away from them, emotion unreadable, but eyes fixed at Tezuka. He doesn't know telepathy but he's pretty sure what kind of thoughts are now running on Sanada's mind.

"Hey Sana-"

But before he can call him out, his vice-captain turn around leaving them both stunned. Yukimura turned to Tezuka.

"I'll have to talk to him."

Tezuka just nodded, reading the rest of the story on Yukimura's face. He wasn't asking the other if they were dating. That part seemed obvious by now. Yet something on his co-captain's face worried him. He can't point it out.

"Sei-"

"I'll call you," Yukimura said with a weak smile before running back to follow Sanada.

OWARI

SY: I just have this feeling that Tezuka and Yukimura will be very good friends. Yes they don't have much interaction in the series, but still…