The team was able to win districts. The team had a day of relaxation before going back to training for metro. After yesterday, I began to take my job seriously. I could hear the girls in my class talking as Tezuka walked up to my desk. "Eimi, do you want to go somewhere after school?" He asked.

I sat there looking at him, dumbfounded. "Sure." I finally said. He usually texted me if he wanted to go somewhere. "Where do you want to go?"

"You'll see." Then he walked back to his desk. Half of the girls in my class looked at me in amazement, the other half glared at me. I just sat there waiting for the teacher to come in class. Even though I was proven wrong before I tried not to think much of it. It could be anything.

I walked with Tezuka out of class and went to the shoping district of town. He still didn't make his intentions very clear. "Tezuka?" I tried to get his attention as we walked to a simple ramen shop. "Was there something you wanted?"

"Have you been feeling well since yesterday?"

He could only be talking about the quick game he had with Kagawa. "Of course, I actually feel better. I don't think I could ever thank you enough, I am just relieved it's all over. I'm just glad he didn't hurt you…"

"I was more worried about you since he tried to hurt you again…"

He looked the same as before, on our last date. He looked concerned and sad. "Tezuka… thank you for everything." We immediately stopped talking as the waitress took our order. The whole scene was awkward… this whole relationship was just off. Mostly due to the fact that there seemed to be no real intention to go further than friends, even if everyone sees us as more.

"Why do you still call me that?"

"What? 'Tezuka?' That's your name. Would you rather have me call you captain?" I joked. "Captain Tezuka." I laughed as I tried it out. "That would have sounded so weird to me back then…" Tezuka just sat there. He looked like he was about to say something, but the waitress came back with our food, allowing for silence to continue. When she went away, I figured I should talk. "You ask me to hang out with you a lot… I should just be grateful that you want to, but…" I kind of dreaded the next few words. It had to be asked. I didn't know why I was going to ask it in the first place. It made me feel ungrateful. "Where is this going? I hate to be glared at by the girls in class for no reason..."

He didn't say anything, he just ate. Then he sighed, I think it was the first time he ever sighed in front of me. He really did look troubled. He began rummaging through his bag and took out a plastic container. Inside it was a flower tiara. "Do you remember the time when we were kids? We spent our times in the park." My dream… it came back to me. The time at the park was also one of the last times I spent with Tezuka as a young girl. "This is going to seem out of place for me. In fact, this whole situation is completely out of place for me, but I'm not a child anymore, Eimi."

We both just sat there. Both of our ramen slowly became soggy and cold. I was surprised at the object that was lying before me. He actually made it and he made it for me. I took out the tiara from the container. It was perfect, just as perfect as it was back then, in my dream, and in my memories. "Just to get this straight…" I put on the tiara. "You love me, don't you?"

That night, Eiji and I talked before falling asleep. I told him everything that happened after school. I don't think I ever sounded so happy. The tiara stayed on pinned to the wall, overlooking my bed. "So, Eimi, you are happy right?"

"Of course, Eiji."

He was silent for a bit. "I have to tell you something."

I became worried. Eiji sounded serious. He climbed on the ladder and sat there. "I asked Tezuka to talk to you." I just looked at him, and I tried to process what he was trying to tell me. "It's not like I was forcing him to do what he has done for you!" He started panicking, even though I said nothing. "I promise… whatever he feels for you is real. I just told him to talk to you first… to make you happy." He looked upset and he looked sorry. "I just wanted to see you smile, and I couldn't do anything as your big brother. I remember that you used to spend time with him more than you spent time with me when we were younger, so I had to talk to him. I didn't know what else to do!" He looked at me. "Are you mad?"

I stared at him for a second. I didn't say anything, and that made him nervous. I felt like I was slowly killing him with silence. "I love you, Eiji. I'm not mad… if his feelings are true, and you just gave him the push he needed, then I'm just ecstatic that I have a wonderful brother…"

He began to light up and he smiled. "I'm so relieved! I thought you would be mad!" He jumped down the ladder and fell on his bed. "But… if he ever hurts you. I'll hurt him…"

I laughed. "I know, Eiji."

I took my manager job seriously, but it was hard for a day like today. Everyone's life was on the line today. I remember when Eiji drank the last Inui-death-juice; he had stomach problems for days. Today another challenge was presented to the regulars… the first victim was Kaido. The other manager was mysterious and crazy, he reminded me of an evil genius. That juice could have anything in it.

Depending on a person's play style, the regular team was put against each other in order to survive. When Kaido drank the juice he couldn't even make it to the water fountain.

"Eiji! Help me." I demanded. We carried Kaido to the side line and forced him to drink water. It was difficult because he was practically unconscious. "Eiji, please be careful…" I was worried, and I didn't know if I could carry him home by myself.

"He seems dead…" Eiji was surely terrified.

"Eiji… don't worry." I tried to help him somehow. "I'll take care of you... I owe you for the other day, and for everything." I smiled.

"Eimi! You're the best sister in the world!" He hugged me. Then another victim came out of the courts and into, what seemed like, a coma. "Oishi! Wake up!" We pulled Oishi next to Kaido. He was completely the same.

I could see that Eiji was terrified now.

"Eiji, you have to focus. If you lose concentration you will lose."

Eiji breathed in hard. I was scared for Eiji too; the attackers seemed to have an easier time. Eiji would have to defend his court…

I saw that Captain Tezuka and Fuji were now head to head. I knew Tezuka would do anything to not drink that wretched drink. Surely enough, Tezuka ended the match quickly. At least I had one person I didn't have to worry about.

Kaido seemed to wake up. "What happened…?" I just gave him his water bottle.

"Just thank god you are alive." I told him.

Fuji started walking over toward us. Inui was standing there, holding the bottle of juice in one hand and a glass in the other.

"You sure got that over with quick." Eiji said,

"Yeah, I wanted to drink that stuff again." Fuji boldly said.

That guy was surely crazy, or had taste buds like no other. I haven't tasted it yet, but from what Eiji told me about the drink… it was like drinking acid.

Inui started pouring… but all that came out was a clear liquid. At first, I thought it was this strange liquid that turned green after a while, but I looked at the label.

"Oh… no." Then I looked at Tezuka who was taking a sip of Inui's bottle. "Tezuka, wait!" It was too late though. He drank some of it. I took Tezuka's bottle out of Inui's hand anyway and rushed over to him. Everyone was surprised that the juice didn't affect him, but I saw that his arm was shaking. He was trying to hold it in. I gave him the correct bottle. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah…" He quickly drank his own water bottle.

"You know, you don't have to lie to me."

When I was talking to Tezuka, Inui seemed to pull out another drink. This time it was brown in color and it looked deadlier.

The next match was with Eiji and Ryoma. I crossed my fingers and watched carefully.

Tezuka took hold of my shoulder and his hand was shaking. He griped my shoulder a little. I felt sorry for him for once; he tried to look strong for his team. I wanted him to just relax, but he couldn't. He was showing me a sign of weakness, I felt bad for him for feeling horrible, but I was also happy because no one else would be able to see him this way.

This was a fact… and only proven by yesterday.

"Drink more water. I told him. It will go away soon."

Eiji looked serious, and with his acrobatic play he seemed like he was having fun and that he had it in the bag, but Echizen was able to return quickly.

"He only needs one more…" I felt bad that I was against the young regular member, but family came first. Even though Eiji started at the net, Eiji was able to return the last ball and save himself from weeks of stomach aches. "Good job, Eiji. I'm proud of you."

"I'm just glad I didn't have to drink anything… but your big brother was able to hold his own!" He laughed and acted like he was so tough. I just let him be, he deserved it for surviving.

I finished up my duties as a manager by checking on everyone who was unfortunate enough to fall victim to poison.

"Eimi." Tezuka called out to me. I was cleaning up and putting back equipment into the club room.

"Are you feeling worse, Tezuka?"

"I won't be." He said. "When will you call me by my first name?"

I was surprised… this is probably what he meant the other day. I felt stupid because I shrugged off his concern with a joke, I blindly interrupted his feelings. "If it makes you happy…" I put down the stuff I was holding and closed the door. I took in a deep breath. "I'm glad you like me, Kunimitsu." I smiled and hugged him. "Thank you, for everything…"

He didn't know what to do at first, he seemed stunned. For once he was taken by surprise. Eventually, he hugged me back.