The following day, Keigo was bored, waiting for his final class to finish. He paid no attention to the teacher's lecture. All he wanted to do was go play tennis. He looked sideways and noticed Jiroh sitting next to him.

As always, he was resting his head in his arms on the desk sound asleep. After countless efforts, the teachers finally gave up on trying to keep him awake. None of the teachers ever knew that Jiroh was actually quite the energetic person so long as there was somebody to interest him. If there was no skilled or interesting person around however, he spent his time sleeping. They had heard that he played tennis and was quite the star at it, but nobody could believe it.

It was this strange quirk that had first interested Keigo. He witnessed Jiroh's skill first hand and knew it was perfect for his team. Anything and however else he spent his time was up to him. He then began to think about the other members he had deemed worthy of belonging to his team. There was the prodigy, Yuushi, and the athletic Gakuto and continued to go down the list of all the others. He finally came to Kabaji. He still did not fully grasp what went on in the younger boy's mind; if anything went on at all. Looking out the window, Keigo noticed said tennis player walking slowly towards the tennis courts.

"Guess he got a head start…Lucky him…" Keigo was still sidetracked when the teacher noticed his daydreaming and called on him.

"Atobe, what is the answer?"

"'x' cubed, 'y' to the fifth." He immediately answered.

"That is correct." The teacher turned back to the chalkboard almost in a discouraged manner. Keigo smirked at the poor attempt to catch him off guard. The bell soon rang and he eagerly stood up and stretched.

"Ore-sama's brilliance is brighter than the sun itself. I'm so good; I can daydream and still answer everything correctly." The other students giggled at his infamous confidence and started walking out of the room. He reached over and ruffled Jiroh's hair.

"Jiroh, wake up. Time for tennis." The sleeping boy cracked open an eye.

"'Kay…" His answer was quickly muffled by a yawn. He slowly began to gather his things. At this rate, tennis practice would be over by the time they reached the tennis courts. Keigo then had an idea as to hurry Jiroh along.

"If you hurry up, I'm sure Coach Sakaki would let us play a quick game of tennis." His ploy worked. Jiroh immediately had his things gathered and was tugging at Keigo's sleeve like a little child.

"C'mon, hurry up!" Jiroh moved to the doorway followed closely by Keigo.

Outside of the classroom, Jiroh made a bolt for the end of the hallway. Keigo about burst out laughing as the tennis coach, Tarou Sakaki, was coming out of the music room and was about trampled by Jiroh. He held his clipboard in one hand and with the other grabbed Jiroh by the collar of his shirt. Jiroh was still pretty much trying to run. The tennis coach sighed and had to practically lift the hyperactive boy off the ground to get him to hold still.

"Jiroh, what have I said about running in the hallways?" He asked calmly. The boy stopped squirming for a moment and answered.

"Not to run in the hallways." The tennis coach nodded.

"And what were you doing in the hallway?"

"Running."

"Precisely." Coach Sakaki stared down at the young tennis player looking up at him innocently. He shook his head. "Now go to practice at a normal pace."

"Okay!" Jiroh responded happily. Coach Sakaki slowly gave Jiroh footing on the ground and even slower, he let go of the boy's collar. The minute he released his grip, Jiroh was off as though the conversation never happened.

"What suddenly motivated him?" He asked as Keigo walked up beside him.

"Would Jiroh and I be able to play a little match today?" The tennis coach sighed.

"Fine…If I said 'no' he'd probably die from disappointment and/or heart failure…" He then turned around and started walking down the hallway. "Try and persuade Jiroh to listen as the regulars and sub-regulars are announced. After everybody is organized, you and Jiroh may have a match. You may go." Keigo nodded and headed toward the tennis courts.

At practice consisted mainly of announcing who had made regulars and explaining the tennis season. Keigo did not pay too much attention since he already knew he made the cut and was at a high position. Jiroh, Yuushi, and Gakuto made the cut along with a couple of other second and third years. Afterwards, tennis practice was uneventful. The regulars began their practice while all the others did theirs. As promised, Keigo played a match with Jiroh. Even though he knew he was better than Jiroh, Keigo still could not let his guard down. After a while Keigo was victorious but that did not faze the other boy in the least bit.

"Hey, hey, Yuushi! Did you see that! Did you!" Jiroh was happily asking Yuushi.

"Yes I did…Now, let go of me!" Jiroh was practically hanging off Yuushi's arm who was currently attempting to pry the other boy off. Keigo sighed amused.

"Oh yeah…We are definitely going to be a great team…"

Practice finally ended and Keigo was in the process of gathering his belongings when he could not find his jacket.

"Where is it? …Maybe I left it somewhere…" He was about to head outside when he turned around and ran into a large object.

"What in the world? … Oh, Kabaji, it's you…Don't startle me like that."

"Usu." Kabaji responded. After standing there a moment Keigo noticed he his jacket.

"Ah, so you found my jacket."

"Usu." He handed Keigo his jacket and continued to stand there watching him.

"Thanks…" He said slowly. Sure enough, he received the same response.

"Usu." It seemed to be the only answer the larger boy was capable of giving. To make sure, Keigo decided to perform an experiment to prove himself right.

"I suppose your great ability to mimic any style comes from your simple ways." He looked straight at Kabaji who responded,

"Usu?" Keigo stared. Kabaji even asked questions with word, "Usu."

"Well, anyways, thanks." Keigo confirmed his theory and was about to head out when he remembered how Kabaji would just stand there. "How about you go home now?"

"Usu." The said simultaneously. Keigo chuckled while Kabaji followed him outside with confusion as to what was so entertaining. Stepping outside, Keigo stretched and began to walk home. "See ya, Kabaji."

"Usu." Keigo began to chuckle again. Pushing his encounter with Kabaji aside, Keigo began to think about the coming tennis season. It was not for a little while until he noticed footsteps fairly close behind. He had a feeling someone was watching him. He paused and so did the mystery footsteps. Looking over his shoulder he saw Kabaji standing behind him a few feet back and a little bit to the side. He just stood there staring back at Keigo.

"Huh…" Keigo shrugged his shoulders and began to walk again. He walked a little while longer, listening this time for the footsteps right behind him. He stopped once more and again, Kabaji stopped as well in the exact place and the exact distance.

"Is there a specific reason you're following me? I don't blame you for wanting to follow me, but isn't that the station to take you home?"

"Usu." Kabaji answered. He continued to stand there for a while staring at Keigo, but eventually turned around and walked toward the station slowly. Keigo guessed that Kabaji wanted to stay with him some more and felt a little sympathy as the latter seemed almost dejected.

"Well, I suppose he does follow me around…" Keigo thought. "I guess he doesn't exactly have too many friends. Hmm, I don't know if I could say I had friends. Sure, I have tons of adoring fans, and Yuushi and the others respect me, but beyond tennis, there isn't that much." He continued to reason with himself while watching Kabaji slowly walk towards the station. It was then that he decided.

"Hey, Kabaji!" He called out. The other boy responde exactly how he always did.

"Usu?"

"If you're not doing anything, why don't you come over to my house?" My family is gone so I get the house all to myself."

It was faint, barely noticeable, but Kabaji smiled and seemed to perk up a bit too. Keigo was actually glad on the inside that Kabaji really did want to stay with him.

"It might be nice to have somebody around." He thought to himself. Keigo smirked when he heard the answer.

"Usu." Just that single syllable was enough. Nothing more was needed to be said. Keigo turned around and once again began to walk home. Without turning back, he knew Kabaji was right behind.

"I think you'll like my dog. Actually, you two seem pretty similar. Both of you are huge and both answer with a single sound."

Kabaji nodded, "Usu."

So they continued to walk towards Keigo's home, while Keigo was telling Kabaji whatever came to his mind while the other just listened silently, happy that somebody treated him like a reguar person. From then on out, the two were rarely seen apart. Kabaji continued to follow Keigo while Keigo continued to rise in the ranks of the tennis club. At long last, the new year came and with that, a new tennis season and a new captain. Keigo achieved his goal of being the captain and the best.