Yuri slammed a book on the table. At the sound, the chattering of the other Battlefront members quickly ceased. They settled into their seats, and stared at their leader in leaden anticipation.

Yuri huffed, brushing back her hair as she gazed out at them. Her eyes narrowed. "So… Once more, we have lost to Angel."

Ooyama gulped.

"S'not really fair," Fukimaki muttered. "She had the whole school baseball team."

"I had a lot of fun, though," Matsushita said cheerfully.

"Enough!" Yuri hissed. She clicked the projector on behind her. "As I said previously, failure in Operation: Thrash Angel to pieces through sportsmen ship will result in severe punishments."

Everyone gulped with Ooyama.

Yuri smiled as the screen behind her finished loading. The words Operation: High Tension flashed on the screen.

Um… Otanashi thought. I don't really like where this is going. But when he looked around, his fellows shared his confusion.

"Uh, Yurippe?" Takamatsu spoke up. "None of us have ever heard of this operation."

Their leader laughed sweetly. "Of course. I just made it up, for this, special, situation. For the next 24 hours, the lot of you must be happy in the extreme, in everything that you do! You must become the ideal students, totally energized in your commitment to embrace school ideals."

Slides of clip art flashed behind Yuri, of stick figures studying in class, playing on sports fields, and skipping down hallways. Yuri's eye twitched. "While studying, eating, and playing, you must be at the pinnacle of excitement. For the next 24 hours, you are not allowed to calm down."

The Battlefront gazed back at her with the gaping mouths of fish.

"But, but," Takamatsu finally managed. "We'll get obliterated! If we do this, if we become the ideal, perfect students this place wants us to be, Angel will win! We'll disappear!"

"Dazed and confused, man," TK moaned.

"This is so stupid," Shiina muttered.

Hinata's head sunk into his hands as he groaned. His fellows gazed at him in confusion. "No," he said finally. "No, we won't be obliterated. Yuri's asking us to feign excitement constantly, that's not contentment, that painful! It's torture!"

Otanashi stood up. "What kind of operation is this?" he accused.

Yuri bounced an eyebrow. "Oh, calm down," she berated. "It could be a lot worse, you know. And besides, genius that I am, your punishment shall serve an additional purpose.

"In fact, Operation: High Tension is one of our most diabolical anti-Angel plots yet. For as Takamatsu said, during the course of this experiment, you will appear to fulfill all the criteria for passing on. It will seem to Angel that we have become obedient to God's will. However, none of us will disappear!

"Angel will become confused. 'Oh my dear stars,' she will worry. 'What in the heavens could be going on? My master's plot isn't working!' Our enemy will become disoriented, at our advantage."

Yuri's eyes gleamed. "She will seek instructions. And so, Angel will return to her Master. And, we shall follow her. We shall follow her right to God."

"Whoa…" came the collective gasp.

To God, Otanashi wondered. He tried to imagine what God would look like, and couldn't manage anything more than a colossal, bearded figure, towering over the Battlefront.

"Now that you all understand, I hope you will fulfill this mission with the best of your efforts. However, to give you enough motivation, to ensure success… If this operation does not succeed, you will be subject to an even more creative punishment. You will each be given a Special Gift.

All around Otanashi, faces turned pale at the mention.

"The operation starts now, and will continue until 11:00 Am, tomorrow. Operation, start!" And at the declaration, a giant countdown clock appeared on the screen behind Yuri. 24:00:00. 23:59:59.

They stared at it for a second, transfixed. Yuri cleared her throat.

"Uh-Hinata! Wanna have a wrestling throw down?" Yui asked nervously. "I've got some moves I wanna slam on you!"

Hinata sprung up with her. "No, I don't! Hey, Otanashi are you ready! There's only one way young boys can exist in the ecstasy of youth! Come on, let's go down to the fields, and play… BASEBALL!"

"Um."

"Fine!" Yui sang, unabashed. "I'll just go hang out with GirlDeMo, and compose a killer love song!" She flew out the door.

Noda hastily sprung up. "WAIT A MOMENT! You can't play baseball by just throwing the ball around. Let me in, so I can hit it!

Hinata snapped around to face him, and observed him with a painful grin. "…Great Idea. You do like hitting things!"

"That's why I asked to join!"

"Hold on!" Matsushita the fifth hoped over the couch to join them. "You guys are going to need an outfielder!"

"County myself in as well!" Takamatsu. "You shall need my superior intellect for this venture to succeed!"

"All right," Hinata roared happily. "Come on everyone. Let's go play some BASEBALL!"

They hustled out, Otanashi trailing uncertainly.

Silence descended on the war room.

"Takayama, you are excused from this exercise," Yuri spoke suddenly. "I need you working full time on figuring out that 'Angel Player' program."

Takayama looked physically relieved. "Oh, thank Bill gates. Being five years old once was bad enough." He happily tucked into his laptop.

Yuri looked out from behind her desk at those who remained. "Well? What shall the rest of you stellar students be up to?"

Ooyama swallowed heavily; he and Fukimaki exchanged frantic glances.

"Uh… Hey! Ooyama, why don't we hop down to the cafeteria, and partake of the fine cuisine this excellent school has to offer?" Fukimaki spoke through clenched teeth.

"Yes!" Ooyama cried. "There's nothing youth like better then a good meal! TK, won't you come with us!"

He flipped them double peace sings, and started moonwalking towards the exit.

"Shiina, do you…" Ooyama started, and frowned. "Oh. She's already gone."

"BUT THAT'S OKAY!" Fukimaki broke in franticly. "Because we're off to eat!" And they sprinted out.

Yuri was left alone. Folding her hands together, she began a low chuckle.

"Great," Yusa sighed from the radio. "This is going to be a fun one."

Pushing each other around, laughing loudly, and singing awful ditties, Otanashi and the others meandered down to Gym Storage room.

"The joys of school life," Takamatsu exulted as they piled Matsushita up with mitts.

"The thrill of the open air!" Noda cried, swinging his bat over his head as they reached the grounds.

"Truly it is youth," Hinata agreed as they neared the fields. "Don't you agree, Otanashi!"

"Sure?"

"Excellent! In that case, prepare to-"

"Where are you boys going?" a soft voice called. They whirled around, true panic bubbling up. Angel stood feet away, regarding them softly.

Hinata found his voice. "WE'RE GOING TO PLAY SANDLOT BASEBALL! It truly is the epitome of our youth!"

She frowned. "Youth?"

Hinata beamed. "Yes, youth!"

"I've trained for years, to perfect my youth," Matsushita cried.

"My mind is stretched to its breaking point over the joys of youth!" Takamatsu claimed.

"I'm ready to enjoy school life," Noda agreed, a dangerous glint in his eye.

"But second period is about to start," Angel said quietly.

Hinata collapsed to his knees; you could feel the gusts of hot air blowing out of the group.

"Second… period?"

He suddenly straightened up, the unnatural smile returning to him. "NEVER FEAR! Studying is part of the natural, beautiful youth!"

"You are actually going to attend class?"

"Of course," Matsushita grinned. "Studying is all I've ever cared about!"

"My mind hungers for expansion!" Takamatsu gasped.

"Listening to my teachers is all I desire," Noda agreed.

The four of them continued in this fashion, excitement rising until Hinata tackled Takamatsu and they collapsed into a tussling dog pile, alive with the chant: "Stu-dy-ing! Stu-dy-ing!"

Angel blinked.

I'm not sure how I'm going to get through this, Otanashi thought to himself, trying not to meet Angel's gaze.

,