I made it just in time for the best part. My childhood friend was playing his match of tennis next and was getting ready to go onto the court. The golden pair, I thought, Oishi and Eiji. I guess Eiji joined the tennis club like he said he would. No doubt they'd win.

It was only 2 matches into the game when things started to go wrong. The other team was attacking only Eiji and it was wearing him down. It surprised me; usually Eiji is more persistent and focused than this.

I took a closer look at the ball as it headed towards Eiji. That's it! The other guy was putting some sort of spin on it to make it look like there was more than one ball. Eiji is probably focusing on all the balls even though they aren't there. If I, a tennis amateur, was having a hard time with it Eiji was probably seeing even more.

I heard a couple of kids talking about it. My theory was right- wait is that little kid on the team? He's my age! Wow! Cool! Oh right Eiji is having a hard time.

Eiji started to spin his racket around his wrist and catching it again. His will to not lose against the multiple balls was still there. And with a partner like Oishi backing him up Eiji won't lose.

And just to prove my theory right, the opponent took a chance to hit the ball as Eiji stumbled. I saw Eiji grinned as the ball went by. Oishi was there to hit the ball back; Eiji trusted his partner to get it and he did.

The ball lobbed right over their heads and landed in the open area behind them. Oishi is good, I thought.

"That's the moon volley?" the mean guy that's been attacking Eiji wondered, "He aimed for the spot right inside the line."

"Nope," Eiji corrected between his panting, "Oishi wasn't aiming for just inside the line."

"What?" The mean guy asked.

"He aimed right on the line." Eiji proclaimed with pride towards his friend and partner. It almost made me laugh. He was really tired but he was still cocky. Same Kikumaru Eiji I knew.

It was now the Golden Pair's turn to trap the other team. Eiji would lead them on and Oishi would catch it and Moon Volley it back. They quickly tied it all up. They took a moment to strategize.

When they went back to the game, Eiji placed himself on the centerline in front of the net. I didn't know what they were planning but they definitely psyched out the other team. After a couple times with whatever formation the Golden Pair were doing the big mean guy lost it. His return ball hit the net so he just let out a scream then…just walked back to his spot like nothing happened.

I stared wide-eyed and shivered. Guys like that gave me the shivers but I had my reasons. Not only did the guy freak out then but he ended up yelling at his partner for pointing it out it was a doubles match. Uh…can you say 'duh'?

Whoever the other guy was he seemed used to doubles. He ended up getting the ball past Seigaku but luckily…it was out. Down side was that they figured out their weak point. And that earned the match, which brings the score to 3-2, Seigaku losing.

They had to change courts, which means a break time. Good for Eiji because it looked like he needed it. I decided to go get a juice to help fight off the heat and maybe I'd get an extra for Eiji when he was done. He was going to need a little cooling down.

I jogged off to find a vending machine. The first one I found didn't have the flavor of juice I wanted so I looked for another. Finally I found one that had my favorite kind. It was a little more expensive but that was okay. I reached into the sleeve of my modernized kimono top and pulled out a little money pouch. I took out some coins and put them into machine. I made my choice and out popped two pomegranate juices.

As a knelt down to pull the cans out of the hole I remembered the first time Eiji had pomegranate juice. Pomegranates aren't common in Japan so the canned juices are more rare and more expensive. When we were younger, Eiji's allowance didn't cover it…especially since he spent it on other things. One day I was just finishing off my own can when I came up. He had asked me what I was drinking and when I told him he cocked his head like a cute little kitty. I told him what a pomegranate was and then bought him a can.

At first he wouldn't take the can. I had to convince him by saying how much it was and, after having already had my own, I bought it for him and it would be bad if it went to waste. He finally had tried it and realized just how good it was. It was something we past on to Oishi too. So on hot days we would sit in the shade drinking pomegranate juice (that I usually ened up buying).

When I came back to the court, the other team was winning the match. With one more point they'd win the game. Eiji was…he wasn't moving. He was just standing there like he fell asleep standing up. What are you doing, Eiji-kun? Poor Oishi was having to play two against one. The mean guy smashed the ball back to Oishi's side but it didn't look like he was going to make it in time. I shut my eyes and shook my head; I subconsciously hoped I was imagining things from the heat. When I opened my eyes Eiji moved. He leaped for the ball and returned it earn a point for them. Eiji was back in the game.

"I finished recharging." He said to Oishi. I smacked my hand against my forehead. Recharging…that's so like him. While everyone is all stressed about the game he acts so care-free.

The game was all Seigaku from that point; it was having a psychological effect on the other team. The other guy, not the mean one, served but faulted twice giving a point to Seigaku. But after a volley started things got interesting. The mean guy took one of the balls and returned it as a blurry one. I shouldn't have worried about Eiji like I did because he just closed his eyes and ducked under the ball to pass it off to Oishi. I giggled when he stuck his tongue out at the other player.

My attention then went to Oishi who was dragging his racket on the ground. The other team knew that's how Oishi starts his moon volley so they stepped back. That's when I knew…they'd been trained to think that. And just like I thought Oishi hit it as a drop volley instead. They fell for it! The match goes to Seigaku! 6 to 6, just one more match and they win. I wonder if Eiji-kun can make it that long.

The game moved to tie break. Oishi served and the first point thanks to that to the funny formation. Then another point with the "Kikumaru Beam". That made me smile. Seigaku got the first three points. If they keep this up they'll win. They must have really psyched out the other team.

I shook my head and told myself not to get my hopes up. It's my luck to get the opposite of what I hope for if I hope to much. When I straitened my head again I watched the volley. The other team slipped in one of their returns. It's a chance ball! Perfect! I jumped in anticipation as I watched Eiji go for the ball. He was almost there when his fatigue caught up with him again for a moment and he tripped. I gasped out loud and covered my mouth with both my hands. I should have known he was okay but it still made my nerves jump.

Eiji got back on his feet and the game started again. As I watched the ball go back and forth, something vibrated in my pocket. I jumped because I was so intent on the game. I pulled my phone from my pocket and looked at the number.

After a frown replaced the excitement on my face I answered. "Hai?"

"Yuirko! Where are you?" my mother demanded with that bitter and hateful tone she always uses when she speaks to me.

"I just went for a walk, mama." I said as politely and prestigious as I could. I hoped she would miss the slip up I did in not calling her mother.

There was silence before she spoke. She must be trying not to yell which means she caught the slip. "You're going to be late if you don't get back her now. You have to get cleaned and ready."

"Ready for what?"

There was an exasperated sigh from the other end. "You never listen. I already told you. Now get back here…NOW!" Click.

I sighed. She didn't tell. I keep track of what my family tells me because I'll get in trouble if I don't but sometimes they forget to tell me and claim they did. I pulled a marker out of my sleeve and popped the top. Grabbing Eiji's drink I bought him, I tilted it and drew on the bottom. Then I capped the marker, put it back in my sleeve and walked over to the other Seigaku tennis players. I walked up to a boy with glasses and a serious face and a smiling boy. Both had light hair.

"Sumimasen." I said loud enough for them to hear. They both looked at me but I focused on the one smiling. "You're on the team with Kikimaru-san, right?"

"You're cute," the smiling boy said politely. He didn't say it in a flirty way but as a genuine compliment. "Yes we are. What can we do for you?"

"Could you give this to him?" I lifted the juice. "I was going to give it to him after the game but I need to get going."

The smiling boy took it. "And who should I say it's from?"

I smiled widely and answered slyly "He'll know…trust me." I bowed. "Arigato gozaimasu." I straitened then sprinted off towards the family estate.

Eiji leaned on me as we made our way off the court. Eiji looked up at our other teammates. "My battery just ran out." he said softly after a laugh.

"Good work." Tezuka said.

"Sorry guys," I said in my usual laidback way, "I'll leave the rest to you."

"We understand." Fuji replied and Tezuka nodded in agreement.

As Eiji and I sat to rest, Fuji came up to us. "Eiji." He said getting Eiji's attention. "A girl came by and asked me to give this to you." Fuji handed Eiji a juice can. For a moment Eiji looked at it with the face of a curious cat. I smiled.

"A girl?" Momoshiro questioned as he looked around Fuji. "Eiji you never told me you had a girlfriend."

"Eh?" Eiji's eyes widened even as tired as he was. "I don't." he lifted his hand lazily to take the can from Fuji.

Momoshiro blinked for a moment then looked at Fuji. "So what did she look like? Was she cute?"

Fuji smiled and nodded. "She was cute." He answered and handed Eiji the drink. "But she seemed a little younger than us. And it was strange…she had blonde hair but it didn't look natural. She was well dressed and not in a uniform."

"Did she have blue eyes?" I asked. Most blondes are foreigners and some have blue eyes but Eiji and I used to know someone who fit the description. We had given up hope we'd see her again…though now I admit I had some hope.

Fuji thought about it for a moment. "I think they were blue-green."

I looked over at Eiji as he lifted his juice can. It was then that I noticed it was a less popular flavor, pomegranate. Eiji blinked as he looked up at the can. "Yuri-chan…is back." He said.