Tensions were high in the tennis courts. It is the first round of Prefecturals with two powerhouse teams facing each other for an elimination bracket. It doesn't make it any better when Oishi shows up with an injured wrist and asks Momoshiro to sub in last minute for him. Things are tense on the Seigaku side, so you quietly take a seat in the stands in the back and try to stay far away.

The Hyotei tennis team arrives as one giant mob. You see Atobe lead them onto their side of the stands. His eyes look into the stands and you swear he spots you somehow. He gives you a chilling smile that makes you shiver a little before leading the rest of his team over to the bench.

You knew the games would be close, but it doesn't stop your heart from pounding with every point scored by each team. Before you know it, it is time for S1, and Atobe and Tezuka enter the courts opposite to each other.

The Hyotei stands go wild. The tennis team is chanting. The girls are squealing. Atobe is staring down Tezuka, smirking, while the latter just returns his gaze.

The game starts and you know Atobe is playing with his insight. You can tell because his shots are exactly where you would have put them, and he is flawless with his precision. When he hits the racket out of Tezuka's hand with the first rally, you aren't surprised, but your heart does sink for Tezuka.

You also notice Tezuka starts the game very early with his Tezuka zone. You realize Tezuka is not here to play games either. However, as soon as his zone activates, you see his shoulder flare up with your insight.

You freeze. You know that if you can see it, then Atobe can too. Even though all of Atobe's shots are redirected out of Tezuka's weak spots and straight into the Tezuka zone, you see the former smirk.

"You arm hurts, doesn't it?" Atobe smirks at Tezuka, and even you can hear it in the stands.

"You're wrong – it's his elbow!" Oishi shouts from the sideline, clearly haven risen to the bait.

The team freezes. You freeze. Tezuka pauses. You don't know how many people knew – truly knew – about the extent of his injury.

Atobe's smirk widens. "His elbow, you say?" he glances at you.

Tezuka follows his gaze and briefly glances at you as well. You know that Tezuka now knows you hadn't told Atobe about his elbow, but you can tell he is still upset with you. Your only saving grace right now that both you and Atobe know that it is not Tezuka's elbow that is the weak link – it is his shoulder.

The referee calls for the next serve, and you sit back down. Your eyes widen when you follow the game – you can see Tezuka's shoulder as a glaring weakness and you're sure Atobe does as well. You can't tell how much longer Tezuka has with that injury, but you know that he's on a short timer. You know Tezuka is taking points right now and the morale on the Seigaku side is high, but you can't stop seeing the blaring weakness that is his shoulder.

It happens on the match point. Tezuka goes to serve and you see it at that exact moment, just seconds before it actually happens. You jump up, ready to shout something, but your voice gets drowned out by the exclamations by everyone else when the ball simply just … drops.

The entire Seigaku team rises up and starts running to him.

"Get back," Tezuka shouts, and they all freeze. "The match isn't over yet."

Your heart drops. This looks so familiar. Your last game flashes back before your eyes. You are furious. How could Atobe? He was putting Tezuka's entire tennis career at stake here.

How could he … after he knew about what happened to me? You see red and feel the anger ripple through you.

You see Tezuka glance into the stands and he makes eye contact with you.

"Stop," you whisper. You know there's no way he can hear you, but you know you are crying. You cannot have him risk his tennis career on this single moment.

He holds your gaze for a second. You can sense his determination. National champions, he had promised you. He turns back to the game.

Tezuka does end up losing. Even injured, he puts up a good fight, but Atobe takes the final match point in the tiebreaker. Tezuka silently exits the courts as the Hyotei side breaks into a deafening cheer. Echizen and a second-year from Hyotei step onto the court for the tie-breaking game.

You don't remember much of the last game. You know you're supposed to be taking notes – it is literally your job – but you spend the entirety of the match fuming at Atobe. As soon as the match ends, even though Seigaku wins, you march out of the stands.

You don't know what your plan was. You see the Hytei team walking like a pack, led by Atobe in the front, and immediately storm over to them. You stop in front of Atobe, feeling the anger again bubble to the surface.

"What the hell?" you shove him. Atobe's eyes widen and the Hyotei team behind him stops in surprise as well. "What were you thinking?" you demand.

"Hey!" the man you recognize as Shishido steps in front of Atobe. "Who the hell are you?"

Atobe snaps his fingers dismissively at Shishido and the brown-haired man backs off. "Follow Yuushi," he tells the team, his eyes never leaving yours. "I'll meet you on campus."

The dark-haired tensai gives you two another once-over before he nods, leading the team forward and around the corner.

"Answer me, Atobe," you shove him again, and you're surprised he lets you. "How could you?"

"I don't know what you mean," he answers you cooly. There is none of the softness or generosity you've previously seen surround him. "I told you I would destroy Tezuka."

"I told you about my injury," you are sure some tears have pooled over and you angrily brush them aside so you can stay focused. "How could you do that to Tezuka? What kind of a monster are you? You told me you played tennis to lift people to their true potential. Was that a lie too?"

Atobe blinks and narrows his eyes. You notice how striking his dark blue eyes truly are in these circumstances and it makes you shudder again. "I think you're the mistaken one," his expression gives nothing away. "All you could focus on with your insight was his shoulder that entire match. You can't see it."

You freeze. "See what?" you ask quietly.

"You're his weakness," Atobe's eyes focus and you know he's turned his insight back on. "All of you. You can't see past his shoulder injury. If he wants to play at the professional level, he will need to learn what his limits are without you all coddling him."

Your eyes widen. You had been so blinded by his shoulder that you hadn't bothered considering that you weren't looking at Tezuka's weakness, but rather his own perception of his weakness.

"You almost destroyed his entire tennis career to show him that," you whisper.

Atobe smirks. "What he does with this is on him now," he flips his hair. "You've been blinded by your own feelings for that man. That's how you missed this. Hate me if you will. I've heard people don't enjoy having their weaknesses pointed out to them."

The way he echoes your initial words back to you stings like a slap in the face. You turn away and he walks by you without a second glance.

You hear that Oishi takes Tezuka to the doctor's office straight from the match.

"How is the shoulder?" you text Oishi.

"You should ask him yourself," Oishi responds, and if it anyone else, it would have stung. Instead, the man continues. "He wants to see you, Michi."

You heart stops. "Where?"

Oishi texts you a meeting spot and you run there. It is a local park that is not far from the tennis courts. When you arrive, it is just Tezuka who is waiting patiently for you, leaning casually against a tree. If you hadn't known, you wouldn't have been able to tell he had just had a devastating injury.

You stop in front of him and his eyes widen to see you. You're sure you look like a mess. You clear your throat. "How is your shoulder?" you ask hoarsely.

"They don't know," Tezuka grimaces. "A lot of inflammation but nothing is obviously torn. No surgery."

You let out a breath. Okay, that was something. Your gaze drops to his left shoulder. "It hurts, doesn't it?" you ask softly.

"It does," he affirms and you take a few steps closer. You gently brush your hand over his shoulder and he flinches slightly.

"Sorry," you freeze and are about to jerk your hand back but he catches your wrist with his right hand.

He is just looking at you and you find yourself getting lost in his eyes. You cannot remember the last time he's looked at you like this.

"I need to apologize," you croak out hoarsely.

He shakes his head. "Tomorrow," he tells you quietly. He lets go of your wrist and his right hand comes behind your head as he steps closer. He brings you in until your head is resting against his right shoulder and you feel him take a deep breath.

You nod and let him hold you.

You take a really long time to think about Atobe's words.

You were blinded by your feelings for him.

It hurts, but he is right. Granted, Atobe had grown up with this insight, but you could see the same thing as what he saw. You should have recognized what you were seeing.

It's how you find yourself in the tennis team clubhouse long after the rest of the regulars have left, waiting for Tezuka. He is having a meeting to Ryuzaki-sensei – likely to discuss the future of his shoulder. When he exits the room, his eyes widen and you can see he is surprised to see you waiting.

"Is this a good time?" you ask him quietly.

He pauses but nods hesitantly. You take a letter out from your bag. Tezuka glances down as you hand it to him. He gives you a confused look.

"It's my resignation letter," you tell him and his eyes widen. You give him a small smile, but even that hurts too much. "You hired me to help the team with my insights, but Atobe's right. I … like you, Tezuka and I let my feelings get in the way. I didn't properly warn you about your shoulder. I cost you your game, your shoulder, and almost our entire match against Hyotei for my mistake," you bow. "I'm sorry."

"Michi," Tezuka sighs. "Stand up," you jerk back up to make eye contact with him. His glasses flash so you cannot read his expression. "Is this what you really want?"

Your lip trembles but you promised yourself that you wouldn't cry. "I think it's best for the team," you tell him.

Tezuka's glasses flash again. "Before I accept this, I need you to know something," he places your letter on a nearby shelf. "I still intend to keep my promise to you. I will lead this team to become National champions."

Your eyes widen.

"Ryuzaki-sensei recommended a rehab facility in Germany that specializes in tennis injuries. I'll be there for a few weeks – maybe months – but I'll come back to lead this team through Nationals. I hope that you'll be by my side when that happens."

You feel your throat tighten and you cannot find the right words. He is still watching you patiently, waiting for your response.

"Are you sure?" you ask him softly.

Tezuka's eyes soften. "I'm sure," he affirms.

You give a weak laugh because you can see that this was the initial determination in his eyes that drew you to both him and his team. "Okay," you take a deep breath. "I'll stay."

Tezuka relaxes and you can see a hint of a smile on his lips. "Good," he hands your letter back to you. "I'll see you at practice tomorrow."

Tezuka leaves after a quick goodbye party thrown by Oishi a few days later. The team collectively sends him off at the airport that morning. You feel little out of place – you are close to Tezuka, but this was his team.

Michi is part of my team, Atobe, Tezuka declared the other day.

You watch each player go up to say their goodbyes to their captain. Oishi just finishes and takes a step back. Tezuka's eyes lift to meet yours in the back.

You step forward and open your mouth, but nothing comes out.

"Don't let your guard down," Tezuka instead tells you.

You nod numbly and glance down at the ground, a little embarrassed to be still searching for the right words at a moment like this.

"Take care of them," Tezuka's voice is soft and gentle. You cannot remember the last time you've heard him like this. You also cannot imagine the last time this man has had more to say on anything in the world than you.

"I will," you give him a wobbly smile. "Take care of yourself," you want to reach up and brush some of his bangs away so you can see his expression better but stop yourself.

"Aah," Tezuka nods. They announce the final boarding call for his flight and Tezuka glances behind him at the gate. He turns to start heading over.

"And -" Tezuka turns back slightly as you take a step forward to grab his sleeve. "When you come back, I want to show you my tennis."

His expression softens. "I look forward to it," he responds quietly. You let go of his sleeve and watch him get in line to board the plane.

He turns just before getting to the gate and his gaze sweeps across all of you. You try to give him your brightest smile and swallow your urge to cry. He gives you all one final nod before heading into the gate.