"Swing with your entire body."

Swish!

"Activate your hips more with that strike."

Slice!

"Remember the footwork I showed you."

Woosh!

I lazed in the shade of the tennis court as Totsuka ran around desperately trying to implement my advice to him. Yuigahama and Yukinoshita were training with him and dragged me along after my slip-up. What the actual hell was I thinking? The advice I had received from the ex-professional tennis coach at Shuuchin coupled with a night of reading about exercise kinesthesiology when I had gotten bored had just come spewing out of my mouth.

It was more an accident of negligence than a legitimate attempt to seem intelligent or knowledgeable. My second plan had been to send him away each day with a crumb of advice for him to work on, then, do that again, and again, without ever having to leave the relative comfort of my chair.

That plan had fallen through faster than I ever could have anticipated as Yuigahama and Totsuka practically dragged me down to the courts to coach after that little tidbit of advice. They both seemed to believe that I held shaman-like advice on athletics after one easy-to-notice observation.

That's how I ended up here, lying on the ground watching two girls, and a boy, who looks like a girl, playing tennis together.

Admittedly, the view wasn't bad, and the fact that I could make Totsuka run to the vending machine to get me a cold beverage didn't hurt either. Though my peace was soon interrupted by Totsuka falling and skinning his knees.

While the two girls looked over him, I stood up and strode off the court, "I'm going to grab the first aid kit. Look after him while I'm gone."

This behavior accomplishes multiple things, first, it allows me to stretch my legs because they were kind of falling asleep. Second, it depicts me as helpful and nice making it harder for Yukinoshita to insult me using that line of attack again. Finally, it'll make Totsuka feel somewhat indebted to me, due to the principle of reciprocity, potentially earning me the rest of the day off.

I strolled along the corridors and entered the club room. I dug through the various supplies before turning around and walking back. While ambled back I looked out the second-floor window and saw the beginning of a stand-off.

Yukinoshita and Miura were facing off like boxers in a pre-fight staredown. Hayama had his hands raised in a placating gesture likely trying to defuse the situation before it escalated. Yui was doing likewise, while the rest of the clique observed passively. Totsuka looked relatively awkward and was fidgeting with his hands.

I maintained my pace and mulled over what I knew about the parties involved. The issue was that I didn't really know much, I knew a fair amount about how they interact with each other. I also hold no leverage over any party in the situation. I don't even know if I want to help. If the clique gets to have the tennis court, my peace will be disturbed by their noise; and if they don't, then, Totsuka will interrupt me more often with questions relating to tennis.

I was still debating the pros and cons of the situation as I crossed the athletic field to reach the tennis court. There, I saw that the situation was still about the same. Yukinoshita stood posture stiff and defensive, she looked extremely irritated.

Hayama had a stupid grin on his face and his speech was nothing but stupid platitudes. "I think it would be more fun if we all played together."

I reached about fifteen meters in proximity and made my presence known, "Hey, what's going on?" Good, a neutral statement, a neutral tone, and a neutral expression. My behavior was unlikely to elicit aggression and how various parties explained the situation would provide information to me.

When multiple people began talking at the same time I raised my hand and spoke firmly, "Stop! One at a time. Yuigahama, you go first." I could rely on her for a mostly unbiased account of what had occurred and she would likely be my most helpful resource.

She blushed slightly at being put on the spot and stammered as she began. "Uh, w-well, they" She gestured to Yumiko and the rest of the 'popular' clique. "wanted to use the court, but Yukinon didn't want to let them. Then, everyone started arguing, and then you showed up."

"You, next." I pointed at Miura, who looked taken aback at being talked to that way. After a few seconds without a response, I sighed. "I don't have all day. So say something or leave."

She and Hayama, and the rest of their underlings, bristled at the way I spoke to her. "Hey, you can't, like, speak to me that way. Like, who even are you?"

Okay, I guess she's trying to turn this back on me. "I'm no one in particular, I'm just trying to figure out what the hell happened. But, since nothing you've said so far appears to be telling me what I want to know, I suppose I'll ask someone else."

I turned, "Yukinoshita, why didn't you want to share the court?" I spoke while tossing the first aid kit over to Totsuka.

"Because it would detract from our efforts to train Totsuka."

I responded, "Okay, that's fair."

Before I could continue, Hayama cut me off. "Why don't we just ask Totsuka what he wants to do. So, Totsuka is it okay for us to share the court?"

Oh, this prick, putting the burden of choice on Totsuka, is an easy way to get someone to agree. It's subtly asking, do you want to be unlikable and exclusionary or not. Before this, I really had no skin in the game. Now, though I can't believe I'm saying this, Yukinoshita and I are allies

"That's a loaded question and you know it, just screw off, so he can finish practicing." What an impeccable level of elegance I have achieved. If my teachers at Shuuchin could see me now they would be so proud.

Hayama's facade broke for a moment and he frowned. Despite his displeasure, he put his hand back to try and mollify his underlings. "Well, that's not very nice Hikitani." What a goddamn prick, mispronouncing my name. "How about we play a set of mixed doubles. If you win we leave and if we win then we'll share the court."

Hmmm, he has been glancing repeatedly at Yukinoshita. Likely, indicating they know each other in some capacity. He probably plans to exploit her poor stamina to force Yuigahama an inexperienced player to play after a few games. Yukinoshita is the best of the other three players on my side, what a dirty trick.

"We've wasted enough time as it is. We'll play one game. Me and Yukinoshita vs whichever two you want to send forth." I stated, a note of finality in my tone.

"Well, I don't think that a single ga-" Hayama tried to protest with a strained smile. Seriously dude just stop

I interrupted before he could finish whatever useless drivel he was about to spew, "We're already doing a favor by indulging you at all, so accept the terms or leave." I pointed towards the door in the fence.

Wordlessly, he stepped back, he and Miura readying themselves to play. I should probably stop needling him, as fun as it can be.

Yukinoshita passed me a racket as we readied ourselves to play as well. I tossed a ball over to the blondes' side. "Go first, as the guests it's only fair, you can pick serve or receive."

I missed this challenge of wits. By calling them guests I insinuated they were intruding upon us. Miura didn't seem to pick it up, dumb bitch. But Hayama did and he was struggling more and more to hold up his smile. Yukinoshita cleared her throat in the way one does when they are trying to disguise laughter.

"We'll serve." was Hayama's terse reply.

After a moment's respite while the onlookers watched with bated breath the game began.

Hayama served first, a powerful serve aimed at my team's weakspot. I saw the trajectory before the ball was hit, and shuttled over without particular haste. I flicked the ball low and sideways, making it hard for that dumb bi- I mean Miura to do anything. It bounced twice.

"Fifteen - love," Totsuka called out while Miura grabbed the ball.

Another serve, another mid-air interception.

"Thirty - love," Totsuka's voice cried out.

The next one was purposefully put as far away from me as possible and was easily returned by Yukinoshita. Miura missed it and Hayama barely popped it back over the net. I smacked it down, far away from them both, the ball impacting the floor and then flying over the fence. Another easy point.

No one even bothered to announce it, forty - love.

Miura was served and again it was picked up by Yukinoshita. They countered each other and hit it multiple times. Right after the Blonde had made a daring off-balance return, the ravenette charged in. I recognized that look in her eyes. After you finish toying with the prey when it's time to go in for the kill. She sliced it and Miura raced after it.

The dumb blonde would have slammed into the fence if not for Hayama's interference. He saved her and received cheers and congratulations from the clique disregarding me and Yukinoshita's flawless victory.

I felt a tap on my shoulder as Yukinoshita stood behind me. Panting slightly.

She hesitated, then spoke, "You played well, you are very proficient."

Her paltry poor compliment made me laugh, "Thanks, you're very proficient yourself."

We watched together as the clique filed out of our tennis court. Despite myself, I think that I really did have fun today.

Who would've thought?

(A/N): Thanks for all the feedback and I am also looking for beta readers to help review my work before I post it. Please PM me if you're interested.