"Eimi, was I cool on the court, or what? Today? Yesterday? And even the day before that?" Eiji asked me.

I smiled. "Of course you were, Eiji. I'm scared all the girls at school will try to go after you and I won't get to spend time with my brother anymore."

"You should be more worried about the girls after Tezuka. I saw some of the girls looking at you as Tezuka walked over to talk to you. I bet they were like 'what does she got that I don't?'" She said in the best girl voice he had. Eiji looked like a cat as he said it too, a cat about to pounce on his prey. I loved it when he acted like a cat. It's like he did it to make me laugh.

I just gave him this weird look. "I don't think it's like that for Tezuka. And all the girls can waste their time being jealous. If they don't do anything about it, then it is their loss."

"You're so cool sometimes, Eimi!" Eiji said in amazement as a reply to what I said about the girls. "You aren't just saying that I was cool right? I remember you looked over towards the captains court when he played instead of watching me!"

"I could barely see his match with all the fan girls gathered around. They probably screamed more when the referee was calling out 'love' because they know nothing about tennis. They probably thought 'love' was referencing them."

Eiji laughed then he quickly changed his mood. "Eimi, are you happy with what's been going on recently?"

"Hm?" I looked down at my path. "I'm more entertained than happy. Tezuka is hiding something from me, and I need to know what he wants with me, why did he want me to be a manager? I just want to know that."

"Eimi… I'm just glad that you are smiling more." He smiled at me. Just then, my phone rang.

"By the way, when did he get my number…" I referred to the guy that appeared on my caller ID as I showed my phone to Eiji. It was Tezuka again.

"Uh… I gave it to him." Eiji laughed, trying to look guilty.

"Of course you did…" I kind of debated on ignoring the call because it was so sudden and anything could happen, but I ended up answering it. "Tezuka? Do you need something?"

"Are you busy tomorrow?" Tezuka asked me quickly. Eiji put his face next to mine, hoping he would hear the conversation.

"No…?" I was a little hesitant to answer. I felt as if he was going to make me do something related to the team or make me run again... The worst he could do would be forcing me to run laps. We didn't have school, nor did we have practice, so I was confused with what he wanted.

"I'll meet you at your house at eight then. You still live in the same house right?" I jumped, surprised at what he was saying. I shoved Eiji away.

"Yeah, but wh-"

"See you then." The phone clicked, and then beeped, signalling the end of the call.

For the first time, he was really rude to me… "He hung up on me…" I said slightly irritated.

"So what does he want?" Eiji was beyond anxious. I think he was more surprised than me for once. "I heard something about a house!"

"He wants me to meet up with him tomorrow."

"What? Could it be a date?" Eiji was nudging me. "My little sister is going on a date!" He twirled around like a ballerina.

"It's kind of disturbing that you are more excited about a date than I am, especially since it's for me. It's also weird because you think I am going on a date. He didn't say anything that would relate to a date."

"Well, if it is, do you have clothes?"

"I guess… if I don't I'll just borrow some from big-sis. She has a lot of nice clothes." I tried not to get the idea of a date in my head. I didn't want to get excited for something that wasn't going to happen.

"Just be happy that you are going to spend time with him again, especially since he asked you to be a manager as well. It's weird if you aren't happy." He said the last few words in a mocking tone.

I gave him a look. "We'll just have to see tomorrow."

The next morning I awoke from my log slumber, I picked up my phone for a few minutes. My brain processed the information slowly… My phone said "7:54." My body knew it was a weekend, so I was about to drop my phone and go back to sleep. After my brain processed the time completely, I shot out of bed.

"Eiji!" I screamed. Eiji was right outside of the room, just coming back from brushing his teeth. "You have to keep him busy while I get ready!" I jumped off my bunk to the floor, making sure I landed just right to not hurt myself. I ran to the bathroom. "Tezuka is coming in six minutes. Please, keep him busy for me."

"Rodger!" He said and saluted me. He headed straight down.

I don't know why I was freaking out so much. It was the laps… he might actually make me do laps this time. I have to save myself… I was hurrying myself to finish my shower just in time so he wouldn't be too mad at me. The problem with long hair was how I took care of it to keep it healthy… I felt like I was about to rip my own hair out as I followed the directions on the bottle. Just as Eiji likes to brush his teeth, I enjoy shampooing my hair. It's weird normally, but it's also a weird twin-thing.

I heard the door bell ring as I was rinsing my hair. However, the more I tried to rush myself, the more I had to keep putting my hair under water to completely wash out the shampoo and conditioner. "Done!" I was about to grab a towel… but when I reached out. There was nothing there. I stood there in the air-conditioned air. This was fantastic…I felt myself on the verge of tears. I could already feel my skin bubbling up with goosebumps. How could I forget in my hurried stupor?! I stepped out of the shower. I heard someone heading up stairs. "Eiji?"

"Yes." He answered joyfully.

I held my hair with one hand to keep it from dripping all over the floor. I opened the door with the other. I clearly wasn't thinking. My state of mind was set to family mode, where no one ever came to visit me and my family would be the only people in the house. I really didn't give myself time to think clearly… I stood there with a pair of dark brown eyes behind shiny, clean, but foggy glasses stared down at me. The eyes weren't this familiar serious-look. It was slightly embarrassed, and he tried to look away, but his boy-impulse probably kicked in. I lived with a brother in the same room as me… I was clearly aware of how boys acted and reacted to situations...

"Uh…" Was the only thing my mind could come up with. "Towel please… now would be a good time." I told Eiji. Then I quickly shut the door. That had to be the most awkward situation I had with him. Tezuka saw my wet naked body! What is going on?! I felt my whole body blush, replacing the goosebumps with mind-numbing heat. No, thi can't be happening... Even if a family member saw me naked, I would be embarrassed. Why now?!

I heard Eiji chuckling outside the door that burst into this gigantic laughter. I completely forgot about everything… I was so embarrassed. I didn't feel like leaving the bathroom. I just shrunk toward the floor and sat there. The door opened slightly. Eiji threw a towel on me and gave me clothes that my sisters picked out. "Don't worry… he… um… I can't lie to you. He clearly saw something, but I assure you he won't be mad at you for getting ready late."

"Tell him to leave…" I said. "That was completely embarrassing! I'm not leaving this bathroom. I rather die now..."

"Eimi, don't worry!" He said trying to calm me down. "He's not going to be mad at you for…" He wanted to laugh but he tried his best to stop himself.

"Eiji… I get it… you won't leave me alone about this if I make him go back now." I got up and took the clothes from him. "Just… continue with whatever you were doing." I sighed. "He was wearing normal clothes right? Not anything tennis-related right?"

"You couldn't see what he was wearing? You were staring at him for a bit while you were-" Eiji said while laughing.

"Get out…"

"Regular clothes." He quickly sang before I shut the door on him, but I could clearly hear his laugh teasing me, even when his voice drifted off I could still hear it in my head.

I just sucked up the events that happened in the last few minutes and just let it go… no turning back now. I clearly need a waiting period of thinking after I wake up… I changed into what my sisters picked out. Of course, they picked out an outfit that was perfect for me: white knee high socks, a jean skirt, a light-blue tank top, with a white jacket over it. I fixed my hair up with a blue ribbon I kept on the counter. I sighed. I felt like I was about to go on a walk of shame… which was most likely the correct term for what I was about to do. It just felt like it.

I walked down stairs to hear my family laughing. The laughing made me really hesitant. I couldn't bring myself to go in the living room. I wonder if Eiji told everyone else about the event that took place just a few minutes before. My hand was on the door handle for a long time, my hand started to sweat all over the handle. There was no use just standing there, although a part of me wanted to just leave, I opened the door to find my family sitting around the living room, they were just talking to Tezuka.

Tezuka looked at me and I could barely look at him. He was wearing a black blazer over a white shirt with dark jeans. He made me feel under dressed. Although, you couldn't expect him to wear anything less than what he was wearing... I feel like he doesn't have anything more normal than what he is wearing.

"Oh, Eimi." My mom said. "You look wonderful." She smiled. "Well, we can't keep you two waiting for your date."

"Mom… it's…"

"Go on now." She practically pushed us out the door. "See you later! Don't come home too late."

The first thing I said had to be said. "Just a little note, if you decide to talk about what happened just a few minutes ago, then feel free to hit me in the head till I forget what happened."

"I didn't see anything…" He looked away as he said it, not wanting to give me a straight answer.

"I'm being serious… I know you looked right at me!" I said. He didn't say anything. "So why did you call me out?"

"Remember, I said we should catch up."

He was being very suspicious. My thoughts are some-what put to rest, though. "Well, we aren't going to catch up if you are going to be silent most of the way." He just looked at me, the look was normal, but his normal stare was still a little scary. "I won't play tennis anymore. I'll help train a few regulars, and that is all I will do."

"It's not like you to give up."

I stopped walking; he seemed to notice that I stopped trailing behind him. "Don't act like you know me, Tezuka." I realized that I was just being cruel. In my shame, I could only bow my head. "I'm sorry…"

"No, don't be." I didn't know where he was taking me, but we didn't say anything the rest of the way. I couldn't help to think that it was my fault. I kept trying to tell myself that this was the kind of person he is now, but it never helped.

We ended up on a train toward Tokyo, where he took me to an amusement park. I wasn't expecting him to take me here at all. "What's wrong?" Tezuka asked me.

"Are you sure you want to come here?" I asked.

He nodded. When I looked at Tezuka, I think museums, old-time castles, and the likes. I didn't expect this kind of place. I stood there; I remember when I came here with my brothers and sisters when Eiji and I were little, right before middle school. I took in the atmosphere. I tried to convince myself to lighten up, he took me here and I've been mean to him the whole time.

"Eimi." Tezuka called.

I walked toward him. We walked around before we decided to go on the big roller coaster there. I looked at Tezuka. "Are you nervous?" I joked.

He just gave me a look as if he was saying, "Are you kidding?"

The ride took off with great speed, and before I knew it, I was screaming my head off. The thrill of going fast and feeling the wind in my face was exhilarating. We went on a few other rides, some of them I wanted to ride just for fun (because they were kid rides and I wanted to test his patience), and then it was time to eat. Well, I was just drinking. I took a seat away from people while Tezuka was getting something for himself.

"Are you having fun?" He asked me as he brought me a piece of strawberry shortcake, placing it in front of me.

"I didn't want anything…" I said a little surprised.

"Do you not like strawberries anymore?"

"I…" It was surely hard to avoid the delicious wonder in front of me. "I do…" He handed me a fork. I immediately took it and dived the fork into the soft cake. It was better than I expected. I didn't expect him to remember anything about me… that I was addicted to strawberries.

"So, are you having fun?"

"Yeah. I haven't been here since…" My mind began to trail off.

"Since…?"

"No… I can't tell you." I said, trying not to show any emotion. "Let's just say before middle school started."

"In other words, after you practically disappeared." I was surprised he had said something so bold immediately to me. It stunned me.

I just stared at him surprised, like a rabbit in front of a hungry fox. I just tried my best to look down. "Tezuka…" I felt myself losing voice, losing energy. "…please… not now." I put down the fork. I was suddenly not interested in my delicious treat in front of me. "I'll just tell you, for now, I can't play tennis anymore because of my wrist and ankle." I was hoping that the information I provided him would satisfy his hungry mind. "Let's take this one at a time…"

"My left shoulder…" He started to say, I couldn't help but look right up at him. "...Is injured, and because of this I can't play as well as I used to." He was so serious, he looked right at me. His voice was calm as he told me everything. "I was cocky, like our young team member now. Due to my personality back then, an upperclassman purposely injured me. I was going to quit, but the captain at that time convinced me to stay. I want to do the same or you." He seemed so unnatural right now, but he was trying to help me. I could see it. It felt so weird, our stories were almost alike.

I began spilling out what was in my mind. "In the last couple of months before elementary school ended, as you know, I was beginning to be called the Tennis Princess. I began to take that name and I took it too likely. I rubbed it in someone's face as I beat him in tennis. Around the same time, I was taking care of a kitten at a park…" Remembering everything and recalling everything made me shake. I took deep breaths to avoid crying in front of him.

"and one day, the same kid…" The tears began running despite my fight. "The kid was hurting him… he taunted him, like how I taunted him. He finally had enough of me. He tried hitting him with a tennis ball, he missed a few times, but he began to get tired of playing around he was about to hit him with his racket. I got there to stop him. He beat me up with his racket several times until he got tired. I looked at the kitten, he was hurt so bad. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't move anything. My wrist hurt so much, and I couldn't walk. I laid there for a second… then I crawled. Yes, I crawled…"

As I said everything, it felt like I was looking at everything happening in front of me. "I crawled toward him, and took him in my hand. I tried to get up to take him to a vet… but as soon as I got the strength to get up… he stopped breathing…" I wiped away my tears. "I didn't want to play anymore after that… my idiocy caused a poor soul to die…" He just looked at me for a second. He was a bit apologetic, and a loss for words. "I remember Eiji found me in the park crying. He carried me home and my parents took me to the hospital. The next day, we buried the kitten. I wouldn't speak to anyone about what happened. Eiji sat at home with me while I cried all day, I missed a few weeks of school. Then my mom just home schooled me and my brother for the rest of the school year until it was time for middle school."

I wiped the rest of my tears away. He still didn't say anything.

"So now you know what happened to me around the time I 'disappeared.'" We just sat there for a minute. I ate the rest of the short cake.

Tezuka suddenly stood up. "Come." Was all he said, and he extended a hand to me.

I could only take it. We headed out of the amusement park and to a store. The whole day was just a whole bunch of surprised after another. I waited outside, as he instructed me, while he got something in the store. Within a few minutes he came outside to meet me. "It doesn't have to be tennis, but I want you to find something. I want to know that girl I knew three years ago again." He handed me a plastic bag.

Inside it was a stuffed animal, it was a little kitten. I didn't know exactly what he wanted from me right now, but I gladly accepted it. Tezuka's shoulder, my wrist and ankle… one day we will heal and live to our full potential… In some messed up perspective, this was all meant to be.