Being the manager of the Seigaku boys tennis club meant knowing what was going on at all times – with at least most of the players.  Thus, it wasn’t surprising that when Oishi was panicked about the Kantou finals, and was trying very hard to be the captain Tezuka would have been, Ayame noticed.

She doubted anyone else noticed, except maybe coach Ryuzaki and Fuji.  Both of them had rather good insight.  She doubted even Inui, with his suburb observational skills could tell what was really upsetting Oishi.  It really wasn’t the finals.

What were really upsetting him were his feelings of inadequacy.  He obviously felt inferior in Tezuka’s absence, that he wasn’t captain material; that he was screwing it up, that he didn’t have enough control over the team. 

While it was true that the regulars took more liberties with him, it certainly wasn’t true that he was inferior to Tezuka in anyway.  He was different, and she was going to tell him that.

“Ne, Oishi-kun?”

Oishi turned from his fretting at the fence to face the smaller female manager.  “Yes?”

“May I speak with you?”

He was fretting even as she asked the question, she could see it in his eyes; the doubts and the fears, the worry over Kikumaru who was currently on the court facing three opponents.  She smiled at him gently, waving him over to a few feet away so they could have some semblance of privacy.

He followed, eyes flickering back to the court.  “What do you need, Ame-chan?”

Shifting back and forth from foot to foot, her hands behind her back, Ayame looked up at him, a warm expression on her face.  “You’ve been stopping to ask all the regulars about their concerns, but no one has bothered to ask you about yours.  So… please tell me your concerns, Oishi-kun.”

Oishi was taken aback – not just by her forthrightness, but also by her compassion.  She could see right through him, right to the core of him that doubted himself so greatly.  He could see it in her eyes, the way they stared back up at him, filled with support and admiration, and of course concern.  It shocked him.  “You could tell?”

She giggled.  “Of course.  Like you, I strive to make sure this team is taken care of.  You’re not really worried about finals are you Oishi-kun?  You’re worried that you won’t live up to Tezuka’s image.”

She read him so easily, like she had known him all his life, not simply the couple of months that she actually had.  His mouth fell open in surprise, and a blush spread across his cheeks.  It was a bit unnerving to know that someone could read you really well.  “Ahh…” He looked down, rubbing the back of his head.  “I haven’t been trusting in them and in the team… I’m not fit to be the substitute captain.”

“That’s not true,” she replied gently, stepping forward and catching his hand with hers.  “What you doubt is yourself.  The team trusts you, and so do I.  You’re a wonderful captain Oishi, you just have a different style than Tezuka.  You shouldn’t compare yourself to him.  You are who you are.”

He blushed even more at the contact, glad that her cheeks were tinged with pink as well.  “I don’t think-”

“Oishi!  Hurry up, hurry up!”  Kikumaru called. 

“You see, they are calling for you,” Ayame continued, looking around him to see the other seven regular members lined up on the court watching them.  “Why don’t you let them decide?”

“Ahh….”

“The next match will be a 7 on 1…”

Coach Ryuzaki appeared beside Ayame and both watched the action on the court.  “You see through them well.”  She said lightly, her eyes not moving from Oishi’s scrambling figure.

Ayame blushed, laughing a bit and pushing back her bangs in a nervous way.  “I-I guess…”

“By looking out for the welfare of the entire team, he has become a true captain.”  Ryuzaki went on, finally glancing at the girl beside her.  “You were right to tell him what you did.”

“Th-thank you.  I thought so too.”

xxxxxxx

As the sun neared the horizon, Ayame walked slowly through the gates of Seishun Gakuen, humming absently to herself.  Her thoughts were varied and chaotic, ranging from the nights dinner plans, to what homework was due tomorrow, to strategies to beat Rikkaidai. 

So lost in her thoughts was she, that she failed to hear the first two or three hails that were yelled out behind her.  It was only when one sounded directly behind her that she noticed, and it caused her to jump a bit, coming to as stop.

“Ame-chan!”

“Oishi-kun?”

Oishi came to a stop beside her, his breath barely irregular.  “Is everything all right?  I called you, but you didn’t answer.”

Ayame laughed in embarrassment, clutching her school bag tightly in front of her.  “I’m sorry, I was thinking.  Sometimes I zone out.”

He laughed as well; a kind laugh meant to sooth her embarrassment.  “I think we all do that from time to time.  It’s understandable.”

There was a pause, vaguely awkward where neither said anything.  Ayame wondered why he had flagged her down in the first place… generally he walked home with Inui or Kikumaru.  “Um… was there something you needed Oishi-kun?”

“Huh? Oh!”  He grimaced, rubbing the back of his head for the second time that day.  “Looks like it’s my turn to apologize.”

She waved him off, smiling.  “It’s all right.  What did you need?”

“Well…” he started, looking embarrassed and just a touch shy.  “I never got a chance to thank you… for earlier.”  He looked at her then, seriousness reflecting in his eyes.  “What you said meant a lot.  Thanks for seeing what I couldn’t see.”

She blushed, suddenly unsure how to act around him.  How did one react to being thanked for something like supporting them emotionally?  “Y-you’re welcome,” she replied, trying to smile.  “I’m glad I could help.”

There was another pause, and this time it was more than just vaguely awkward.  It was fully awkward, as the two teenagers hedged around each other, unsure of what to say.  They continued that way for some time, merely walking side-by-side, stealing glances every now and then.  To an outsider it would have been as comical as it was cute.

Suddenly, it was if something dawned on Oishi, and he came to a stop, a brave and stubborn look crossing his face.  “Ame-chan,” he said looking at her with a determined expression.  “Would you like to go get something to eat?”

Ayame blinked, tilting her head.  “Right now?”

“Yes,” then it was as if the gravity of his words had sunk in and his face turned bright red and he began to stammer.  “Well… that is… if you want to.  If you’re busy, I understand!  I only thought…”

Ayame blinked some more, her face reddening as well.  “…like a date?”  She couldn’t help it, though she wanted to die after asking the question.  She couldn’t believe she had that kind of nerve…

“Um…” Oishi struggled, obviously unprepared for the situation he had gotten himself into.  “…if you want?”

She shuffled, looking down, and wishing her face didn’t resemble a tomato.  “O-okay.”

“I will understand if you don’t want to-” he stopped mid-sentence and stared at her shuffling form.  “Okay?  Then… you want to?”

Ayame nodded, finally finding the courage to look up and smile at him.  “You can tell me all your concerns.”

Noting the teasing quality to her nervous voice, Oishi laughed his own nervous laugh.  “Only if you tell me yours!”

“It’s a deal.”