"Don't disturb your mistress' sleep."Eriol ordered the Daidouji mansion's maids.

"Yes sir."they replied politely.

"And call me whenever you encounter a problem."

"Will do,Sir."

Eriol closed the door of Tomoyo's bedroom and headed out of the mansion.He must go home now.His piles of unfinished theses were waiting for him.

He was the youngest scholar of the university.Accelerated a couple of times in high school,he went to college at age 15.He was respected by everyone in the academe.

He could have pursued his college education in London,if not for Mrs.Daidouji's request for him to stay for a while and look after her daughter.He was quite shocked by how much the woman trusted him,enough for her to put her only daughter's welfare in his hands,but he knew it was partly due to Tomoyo's closeness to him.

One year later after he promised that he would take care of the little princess,he still had not regretted the decision.

His fondness for the basketball-loving lass was growing stronger every passing day.He dote on her wittiness and carefree spirit,and her hero worship to him.

Tomoyo Daidouji is part of his system already.He couldn't imagine his day without her genki spirit.

He smiled when he remembered his last birthday.Tomoyo gave him a beautifully-wrapped gift and asked him to pose in front of her cam while he opens the gift.

She captured on film him as he excitedly pulled out a woman's brassiere from the box.

It was humiliating,certainly,but he considered it as the best gift he ever received in his whole life,especially when a giggling Tomoyo explained what her gift means.

"That is a metaphor of you,Big bro.The one closest to my heart."



The next day...

"Big bro!!!!!!"

Eriol looked up from his reaction paper draft and saw Tomoyo barge into his classroom,ignoring the bewildered and amused looks his classmates were giving her.

"Big bro,I need your help!"Tomoyo placed her math notebook on top of his legal pad.

"W-Well,most certainly,but can't it wait until later?Our Trigo teacher will arrive in two minutes."

She opened her book."Pleeeeeeaaaaassseee??Just 3 problems."

He peeked at her notes."This is easy."

"Exactly my thoughts."Tomoyo went behind him and massaged his shoulders encouraginly."Do these for me,ok?"

He could feel everyone's gazes at them."S-Sure,Kiddo."

After he finished the problems,Tomoyo gave him a quick kiss on the cheek."Thanks.We'll practice my drives later,ok?"

Everyone in the room laughed after the lass left.

"She plays basketball."he explained.

Everyone laughed some more.

Their professor arrived."Mr.Hiragizawa,I thought you were an only child."

He smiled awkwardly.



"Don't ever pull that stunt again!"Eriol scolded as he slid off his coat.

Tomoyo took out the ball and dribbled it."My teacher's going to put me in academic probation if I don't get a good grade on that homework."

He loosened his tie.He never liked basketball.He was the type of guy who would rather watch it in the comfort of his living room than play it.He could not understand the logic of 10 players running and killing each other for one ball when they can always go and buy another one in a shop.

On the contrary,Tomoyo's other half is that sport.Ever since it was taught in sixth grade,she began to take the sport seriously.She said that she loved all the hussle plays,time pressures and sprints.

Truly,opposite poles attract.

"Give me a good jump shot,Daidouji."He stood under the hoop.

She nodded and aimed for the basket.The ball bulleted into the hoop pefectly.

"Basket counted!"he yelled."Your shooting is getting sharper."

"Er,Big Bro.."She sighed.

He frowned."Hey,what's wrong?"

"Um,I need your help.I couldn't practice well because this.uh,thing keeps on bothering me."she began.

"Then tell me,what's your problem?"he asked.

"Our prom is in two weeks,and.."

"You don't have anything to wear?"he guessed.

She nodded."That,and no one wants to be my escort."She sat down the floor."The guys learned about what I did to Miruyuki when he was pesting me for a date awhile ago."

"And what exactly did you do,young lady?"

"I punched him."

He laughed."Serves him right."

"Hah!you think that's funny?Now no one wants to be my escort!"she wailed.

"No problem."said Eriol,sitting beside her."I'll be your escort."

"Really?"Her eyes widened."Really,really,really??"

"Yes,yes and yes,young lady."He wrapped a brotherly arm around her."After all,I'm still in your age bracket."

"Right!"She embraced him."Thanks!You just saved my life!"

"Hey,that's my job!"he helped her up."Now how about if you go for a three-pointer?"

She laughed."Yes!"

continue