Just watched the Opener for CLANNAD After Story, and I swear that it's any CLANNAD fan's wetdream. Honestly. Though it slams Nagisa into the face of anyone who still has hope for Tomoya being with another girl, it also allows Kyou, Kotomi, and Tomoyo's roles in the After Story to shine. Yes, Kotomi and Tomoyo kind of disappeared during After Story, but I trust that Kyoto Animation will help bring those two wonderful girls into the life of Ushio and Tomoya... Tomoya will need both of them if what happened in the Visual Novel's bad end comes true...

Show Courage!

As the Drama Club regrouped the next day, Youhei was the first to walk to the blackboard (or is it greenboard?) with his arms crossed. With a smirk, he went and picked up a piece of chalk and a ruler, then wrote on the board:

"Battle Tactics."

Nagisa suddenly let out a shocked squeal. "Sunohara, we can't!"

But Kyou put her hand on Nagisa's shoulder. "Let him say what he has to first."

With a smile, Youhei continued writing.

"Mission: Operation Dramatize.

Goal: To Recruit Toshio Koumura as Teacher/Advisor.

Terms: Rival Team "Choir Club" must be convinced to share Koumura by any means necessary."

With that he placed the piece of chalk down, and smacked the blackboard with the ruler where the word "battle" was (or whichever word comes first in the Japanese translation for the phrase 'battle tactics,' since I don't know Japanese.)

"Men! Today we will make sure that the Drama Club will not be defeated again! Last year, our predecessors, the former Drama Club, were forced to disband due to terrible circumstances that we cannot mention. Only by learning from their mistakes can we live to avenge them. General Nagisa, I leave you with the details of how we will conduct this operation." With that, Youhei gave Nagisa a military salute and went to a seat.

Kyou stared at Youhei for a few seconds, and back to Tomoya. "Did he have a little too much coffee this morning?"

"No idea." Tomoya shrugged his shoulders.

Nagisa stepped to the front of the room. "Um... We tried talking to them, but they wouldn't listen."

Youhei spoke again. "Which is why we must use a different strategy. Diplomacy isn't the only way to solve problems."

Kyou's eyebrow twitched, and she opened her mouth. "Youhei! You've been playing too much Command and Conquer or something. Honestly, we aren't in a barracks, you know!"

"Um... He... He doesn't have a laptop, and neither do I..." Tomoya gave an embarrassed smile.

"Oh... Um... You're missing out!" She smirked at Sunohara. "Ahahaha... Don't mind me..."

"Sis's been playing too many games lately..." Ryou mumbled to Kotomi, who kept her blank stare. She was thinking about something else, as usual.

"... So... So what can we do?" Nagisa blinked, noticing that everyone was going off topic.

"Huh... Sunohara, come here for a sec." Tomoya waved him over, and the two men huddled together in a corner of the room.

"What are you two doing?!" Kyou crossed her arms.

"It's nothing, honest!" Youhei called back, but Tomoya pulled him closer to him.

"Alright, remember how Yukine had a bunch of charms and such?" Tomoya whispered in Youhei's ear.

"Yeah."

"And how Ryou's fortune telling always fails?"

"Yeah..."

"You think there could be a charm to help us right now?"

"Um..."

"What?"

"Okazaki, are you going crazy?"

"Why?"

"What could a charm do for us now?"

"It's better than just sitting here and saying whatever nonsense that pops in our heads, right?"

"Well..."

"Tomoya, Youhei, what are you two talking about over there?" Kyou groaned.

"It's nothing at all, Kyou!"

"Nothing my foot! You've been blabbering on for a good five minutes over there."

"You're just exaggerating things and you know it." Youhei sighed.

"Well, you're leaving most of the room out of your little chat in that corner, so I have to make everyone hear it. Why should we trust that you two aren't plotting something?!" Kyou snarled.

"Because we're not!"

"Whatever... We'll be back in a few. You guys come up with more ideas 'till then." And with that Tomoya dragged Youhei out of the room.


"Oh, Okazaki, Sunohara, it's been a while." Yukine smiled when the two entered the reference room.

"That's right, Yukine. Have you been doing well?" Sunohara beamed while Tomoya facepalmed.

"I haven't been having many people visit lately... So, what's up?"

"Um... I'm doing alright..." Youhei scratched the back of his head.

Tomoya got straight to the point. "Yukine, do you still have that book of charms?"

"Oh, right here." She walked over to a shelf and pulled it out.

"Well, do you know of a charm that can predict outcomes for a situation?"

"Okazaki, aren't we..." Youhei spoke, startled by Tomoya's bluntness.

"Well, it's not in this charm book, but I do have an old fortune telling book that uses the zodiac." Yukine smiled.

"Hmn... Hey, Sunohara, why don't you try it?" Tomoya smirked.

"Why don't you?!" Youhei growled back.

"Fuji..."

"I'll do it..." Youhei sighed, though now he looked hopeful.


"So... Your lucky color is orange, and your lucky word is basketball..." Yukine mumbled as she read the book.

"Orange... Basketball... Okazaki, wouldn't this be your cup of tea?" Youhei turned to Tomoya.

Tomoya shrugged his shoulders. "But it's your fortune."

"Wait, there's more." Yukine raised her hand to get their attention. "You are a very caring person, but people don't see it easily... If you show how you truly care about them, these people will be touched..."

At this point Youhei jumped up. "That's it! Why didn't I see this earlier?

"See what?" Tomoya raised his eyebrow, but Yukine continued.

"... By being persistent and brave, by challenging what seems impossible, others will be touched by that courage."

Youhei smirked. "I get it..."

"Huh?" Tomoya blinked.

"Okazaki, I'm going to be gone for a while... Tell Kyou not to worry. Thanks a bunch, Yukine. I owe you one." Youhei smiled, bowed, and ran off.

"What could he be thinking? Oh, well..." Tomoya sighed.


"Hmn? Tomoya? Where's Youhei? Wasn't he with you?" Kyou asked the moment Tomoya entered the Drama Clubroom.

"He ran off somewhere. I have no idea what he's doing."

"Eh? Didn't he tell you?"

"Not at all..."

"Huh..." Kyou looked concerned.

Behind her back, Tomoya smirked. Oh, yeah, he could really blackmail those two.

"But Tomoya, we, um, need to think of a way to convince the Choir club. With Youhei gone, we'll need to think of a plan with one less person..." Nagisa mumbled.

"Right..." Tomoya sighed.

"I'll... I'll be back in a second." And with that Kyou left the room.

"Make that two people..." Tomoya groaned. This was going to be a long day.


Thud... Thud... Thud...

The sound of a basketball bouncing against the pavement was the only sound Kyou heard as she finally reached the school's field.

"I haven't seen him anywhere else... He isn't in his dorm, and he wasn't at the cafeteria, or anywhere else where people would normally hang out... So he's got to be here, but why?" She thought to herself as she walked ahead.

And, sure enough, there was Youhei, with a basketball in hand, about to make a shot.

She crossed her arms and decided to watch him before saying anything.

"C'mon..." She heard him mumble. "I have to get this right..."

And he jumped and shot...

And it went in.

"Whew..." Youhei smiled.

"Youhei." She spoke his name, and he suddenly fell on the ground.

"Wha-? Kyou?"

"The other Drama Club members are smashing their heads together thinking of a plan to help us convince the Choir Club to stand down, and yet you're here playing basketball?" She crossed her arms and glared at him.

"Um..." Youhei smiled, his face turning red out of embarrassment.

"So?"

"You wouldn't understand..."

"No, I don't... But you can tell me so that I will, right?" She calmed down a little. Accusing him wouldn't help any, after all.


Kyou and Youhei did not return to the Drama Clubroom that day, and when Tomoya met Youhei the next morning at Sunohara's dorm...

"So where were you yesterday?" Tomoya smirked. Something must have happened between the two of them.

Youhei shivered a little. "Um, well, you see..."

Tomoya raised an eyebrow. Did Kyou try to cut it off, or what?

"Tomoya... Um..."

"Yeah?"

"Well, get your P.E. Clothes ready, alright?

"Huh?"

"Yeah... I'll explain myself more in detail in the afternoon."

"Alright, then..." And with that Tomoya left Youhei in the dorm while he headed to class.


Sure enough, Kyou and shortly afterwards Youhei entered the Drama Club room in their P.E. uniforms, and Youhei was carrying a basketball.

"Tomoya! I thought Youhei told you to get your uniform ready." Kyou greeted Tomoya the moment she saw him, since he was wearing his normal school uniform.

"He did, but... What's going on?" Tomoya spoke, his eyes wide in surprise.

Kyou narrowed her eyes and decided to ignore him. Turning to Nagisa, she spoke. "Nagisa, Youhei made the perfect plan for us to convince the Drama Club!"

"Hmn? What kind of plan is it?" Nagisa asked, curious.

"We've already told them our terms. Basically we're playing a basketball game against the Basketball Team themselves. If we win, the Choir club has to take note of our spirit and agree to share Koumura. If we lose... Well... We have to basically be the technical staff and all that for the Choir club in the rest of their performances for this year."

"Which means it's either win or lose, have you thought about that?" Tomoya sighed.

"I have, that's why I made Youhei go through a bunch of training."

"Then what makes you think I'm better than a trained Sunohara? You know that I can't raise my right arm!"

"I know that, but you're more in shape than Youhei is... Also, you can serve as a decoy while Youhei and I score again and again!"

"I don't know whether to laugh at that or cry..." Youhei groaned to himself.

"Denied. I'm not going to go through such a stupid plan." Tomoya shook his head.

"What? But Nagisa's counting on you!" Kyou protested.

"No. Nagisa, do you support this?"

Nagisa smiled. "We've tried talking to them, and we've failed all the time. I don't see why we can't use this strategy and see if it works..."

"But if we lose..."

"I have confidence in Youhei and Kyou. They won't fail us."

"Nagisa, if Tomoya isn't man enough to go on the field with Youhei and I, then can I represent you and him as leader of the Drama Club's Basketball team?" Kyou asked with a smirk.

"And I'm always a lower rank, huh?" Youhei sighed.

"Well, you're the Vice President... Tomoya's just the Deputy President. You already represent us if I'm not there..." Nagisa mumbled.

"Great! It's settled, then. Youhei, let's go!" Kyou smiled as she headed for the door.

"Wait! Kyou, there's only two of us!" Youhei called.

"We're getting Tomoyo involved."

"Why would she, of all people, help us?"

"Why wouldn't she? I'm a Class Rep. I know a bit about what the Student Council is doing, and recently they have few headaches to worry about. Tomoyo can easily sacrifice a day for us."

"... If you say so..." Youhei shivered. This would not be a good game for him...


"I'm sorry... But I don't really have time for games..." Tomoyo shook her head when Kyou and Youhei tried talking with her.

"Think about it this way, Tomoyo. If you win, people will think even more highly of you." Youhei offered.

"To gain popularity by using such ulterior motives is wrong..." Tomoyo replied with a frown.

"Well... Tomoyo, you must have it really hard as Student Council President..." Kyou spoke.

"And?"

"Well, I'm a Class Rep, so I understand what you have to go through to a degree. You have to deal with a bunch of idiots like him every day, right?" Kyou pointed at Youhei with her thumb.

"Well, yes..." Tomoyo nodded.

"Why me?..." Youhei groaned.

Kyou and Tomoyo ignored him. "So, if that's the case, don't you want to have some fun for a little while and forget about all that stress?" Kyou smiled, hoping for the answer she wanted to hear.

"Well... True... But I would be neglecting my duties." Tomoyo nodded, but stroked her chin in worry.

"Tomoyo, everyone knows that you are very diligent, and your fellow Student Council Members are more than qualified to handle one day without you guiding them... I should hope... You'll be fine. C'mon, play a game of basketball with us!"

"You're right. They could handle a day without me just fine... Very well, I'll join you."

"Excellent! Get your clothes on now."

"You mean right now?"

"Yep, we're going to have a practice session. Youhei!"

"Huh?" Youhei looked over at Kyou.

"We've got Tomoyo with us. Now we'll have to practice as a team if we want to win!"

And with that the three ran off to the basketball court.


BAM!

"Youhei! Pay attention to the ball!" Kyou yelled when Sunohara got hit in the face from Tomoyo's pass to him, again...

"Don't be a pervert!" Tomoyo added with a snarl.

"... Why me?" He groaned again as he got up.


Night began to fall, and soon the basketball court was covered in darkness.

"I should be heading out... When is the match, exactly?" Tomoyo asked.

"Two days from now, around 4 PM. We had a good practice today, and I'm sure we'll win!" Kyou smiled.

"... As long as Sunohara doesn't do something stupid." Tomoyo sighed.

"Even if he did, we'd be able to make up for it, I'm sure." Kyou looked away, a little embarrassed at Youhei's blunder earlier.

"..." Youhei was completely speechless.


The next day, as the Drama Club gathered together before the basketball match, Tomoya groaned aloud.

"I can only hope that you won't cause both Kyou and Tomoyo to lose, Sunohara."

"Why is it that all of you pick on me so much? Morale is an important thing to have, and without it people can't perform that well. Why not support me instead of putting me down?" Sunohara groaned just as loudly.

"Well..." Kyou mumbled, a little moved by his wailing.

"Well, history says that you have messed up countless times, so it's safest if we see history's patterns and make sure that it won't repeat itself. By insulting you, we try to make you get angry, and in sports if a person is angry they'll perform better since they want to win to make themselves feel better." Tomoya smirked.

"Yes, but history has also shown that armies without morale or a sense of 'team spirit' are easily crushed since members of the unit don't trust or support one another! Right now you're ganging up on me, and how can I be so certain that you won't try to slam me in the back with a basketball just to make sure that I'm not trying to slack off?!" Youhei growled back.

"Well, I'm not playing." Tomoya sneered.

"But you're a cheerleader!"

"What?"

"That's right. You're our second cheerleader. Nagisa's our main one, after all."

"You take that back!" Tomoya clenched a hand into a fist.

"Now, now, stop being childish, both of you." Kyou sighed as she came in-between them.

"Kyou, not getting violent but actually stopping a fight? That's unheard of..." Youhei thought.

"You're right, Youhei, we are a team. So if you do your best, and not make a bunch of stupid mistakes, then it's our job to support each other as a team. Tomoya, you are on the sidelines rooting for us, so you can't insult any of us when we're on the field. Instead, cheer for us, no matter what happens."

"Fine..." Tomoya sighed.

"Kyou..." Youhei's eyes started to water.


The big day came...

The basketball team captain triumphantly leaned against the side of the basketball pole.

"So you Drama Club members seriously think you can give us a good match? Give me a break!" He let out a laugh.

Kyou, Youhei, and Tomoyo stood, all three fully ready to show the Drama Club's athletic prowess.

"Hmph, wipe that smile off your face when you still can." Kyou smirked.

"Well, I expect a good match from the three of you challengers. Don't disappoint us." The basketball team captain smirked right back. "You three!" He called to three first years in basketball uniforms. "Go and accept their challenge on behalf of the basketball team!"

"We're facing three rookies? Do they think so little of us?" Youhei raised an eyebrow.

"No matter what, let's win this and force them to reconsider." Tomoyo shook her head.

"Alright, both of you. Cut the chit-chat. We have a game to win!" Kyou sneered as she readied herself.


Ryou and Kotomi cheered the three of them on from the sidelines...

And so was Nagisa...

But Tomoya could only stare at her.

"Nagisa... To think we've gone this far... Now the Drama Club's allied with the Student Council President, and our second in command is making challenges with powerful people. To think that you used to be so shy and that no one knew you..." Tomoya mumbled.


"Damn, I've been cut off... Sunohara!" Tomoyo threw the ball to him.

Catching it, Youhei dodged the enemy player who tried to block him. "Hiyaah!" He shot...

And scored...

"Whew! Who's the best, huh?"

"Youhei, stop letting your guard down! We're only beating them by four!" Kyou yelled at him.

"Um... Right..."


"Amazing... For them to hold out for so long..." Sugisaka mumbled.

"I guess the Drama Club's as passionate about what they do as we are." Nishina smiled.


"Sister! Youhei! Tomoyo! Do your best!" Ryou cheered.

"Make us all proud!" Kotomi added excitedly.

"Hang in there!" Nagisa added.

"Don't ruin our chances of victory, Sunohara!" Tomoya chuckled loudly.

"Damn you...!" Youhei growled.

"Shut it, Tomoya! We don't need that right now!" Kyou added.

"Kyou..." Youhei raised an eyebrow in surprise, but she ignored it. Catching a pass from Tomoyo, Kyou shot and scored.

"That was a three pointer... Our team may win this one yet..." Kotomi mumbled.


Soon enough, the score was 16 to 10.

"We're at the halfway point... This cannot continue... If we lose here, we'll lose the match." The basketball captain thought.

"That's it! Member change!" And with that the Basketball team switched their rookies with their regulars.

"Youhei! Will you be alright?" Kyou called to him.

"Don't worry about me!" Youhei laughed, though she saw him pant a little.

"Kyou, will you be fine?" Tomoyo asked. "I know that I can handle this."

"Hmph, you don't need to ask me, Tomoyo. This is a cinch. All we have to do is maintain our lead. So let's do this!" Kyou sneered as she readied herself.


One shot later, the score was at 16 to 13.

"So quick!" Youhei gasped.

"Shut it! We have to win this!" Kyou yelled at him.

"Don't let one setback break our team! We can only win if we're together on this!" Tomoyo reminded both of them.


And so, slowly, the basketball team caught up with them.

"We're at 18 to 19..." Youhei gasped.

"Kyou!" Tomoyo passed the ball over to their captain.

"Youhei!" Kyou passed it over to him.

As the basketball members cut him off, and as the other basketball member who was blocking Tomoyo ran over to him to steal the ball, Youhei smirked. "Tomoyo!" He threw the ball to her.

Tomoyo gulped, and as the basketball member quickly ran towards him, she jumped and shot...

The ball hit the board, and made a dent in it as it ricocheted back.

Youhei quickly jumped and caught the ball, and as the basketball player tried to block him, he gulped and threw it...

"We only have a few seconds left!" Nagisa shouted frantically.

The ball glided towards the net, and went in...

With that, the whistle was blown.

"20 to 19, Drama Club wins." The referee announced.

For a second, Youhei could only stare at the basket. How the heck was he able to get it in at that moment? That was a mystery that only fate could answer.

Tomoyo gave him a smile as she walked back to the sidelines, where the rest of the Drama Club was watching. Kyou, well, she walked over to the Choir club.

"See? In the Drama Club even our worst member can pull off something as great as that. Can you do the same?" She smirked.

"Well... Let us share Koumura." Nishina smiled, while Sugisaka was forced to bow her head. The Choir club lost their bet.

"Wow, for once you actually pulled off a victory." Tomoya smirked.

"Yes, the idiot proved to be useful." Tomoyo gave a light smile too.

"Even when I do succeed, you still make fun of me! GAH!" Youhei screamed.

And with that, the Drama Club was finally victorious...