Chapter 24
"Today you will be paired up and go against each other in a game," announced Inui to the regulars.
"What's the game?" asked Kiyoko curiously.
"Each player here is categorized into two groups," said Inui, "Attack and Defense according to your styles. For example, Eiji's style is Acrobatic Play so he would be categorized into Defense. Today every Attack player will go against a Defense player and vice versa. Attack players will take half court and Defense will take full court. If an Attack player can score a point out of five balls, he is the winner. If a Defense player can defend their court after five balls then they are the winner. The loser will drink Inui's Special Golden Remix." Everyone gasped.
"Eh?!" exclaimed Yuki hiding behind Fuji, "I don't want to drink that stuff again!"
"Demo, Yuki-chan," said Fuji with a smile, "Inui's drink is delicious." Yuki turned green.
"Fuji," said Yuki, "Just thinking about it makes me want to vomit."
"Here is the line-up!" shouted Tezuka over the complaints the regulars were making, "First is Takashi in Attack and Kaidoh in Defense." Kaidoh's face was full of determination for he did not want to drink that horrible stuff again. Takashi's face was fearful before he took a hold of his racket.
"Burning! Bring it on Snake Boy!" said Takashi to the scowling Kaidoh. The match started and Takashi was hurling 200 km speed balls at Kaidoh. They were at the fourth ball when Kaidoh did Boomerang Snake.
"Out!" said the make shift ref.
"Hehe," said Takashi at Kaidoh as he went for the drink. He drank it in one swallow and made his way back to a seat. Everyone watched him to see if he would choke. Kaidoh had his eyes closed and he was clutching at his racket tightly as he turned first blue then green before running to the water fountains with a hiss but he never made it.
"Kaidoh-senpai!" cried out the first years in surprise as he collapsed just outside the gate.
"Oishi, Defense! Momo, Defense!" The two went up to the court. Momo wore a confident grin.
"Gomen, Oishi-senpai," said Momo, "But I won't be drinking that stuff today."
"Neither will I Momo," said Oishi as the two got into the court.
"Take that Senpai!" said Momo hitting a strong serve at Oishi.
"Sorry Momo but that's not good enough," said Oishi returning the ball.
"Sugoi! No wonder Oishi-senpai is the Vice-Captain," said Kachiro.
"Dunk Smash!" said Momo jumping up for the kill. The tennis ball hurtled down to the other end of the court behind a surprised Oishi. He grinned with his eyes closed.
"Momo," said Oishi, "You have gotten stronger." Just then Inui popped up next to Oishi with his juice. His glasses were glinting as he wore a smile on his face. Oishi grimaced before swallowing the drink.
"Ah!" shouted Oishi running in Kaidoh's direction. He collapsed right next to Kaidoh.
"Fuji, Defense! I am attack," said Tezuka getting on the court. The match didn't even last a second.
"You didn't hold back," commented Fuji to Tezuka.
"Of course," said Tezuka walking out of the court.
"That's our captain!" said Horio proudly.
"Aw," said Momo just appearing with the first years, "It would have been fun to see our captain drink Inui's juice."
"Momo-chan!" reprimanded Kiyoko though a small smile played on her lips.
"Fuji-chan," said Yuki walking side by side with him, "Do you want me to get you some water?"
"Iie Yuki-chan," said Fuji cheerfully, "Why would I need that? Inui's juice is delicious."
"How about I arrange your funeral?" asked Yuki stopping to look after Fuji. He stood in front of Inui who took one of the water bottles. To his surprise, clear water flowed out.
"Huh?" asked Kiyoko, "What happened to your juice Inui?" Everyone looked over at Tezuka who was drinking in a water bottle marked Inui. Tezuka looked back at the Seigaku team when he was done drinking.
"What's everyone looking at?" asked Tezuka, "Get back on schedule!"
"Oh," whined Momo, "No reaction at all. Oh well." Everybody went back to their positions except for Rei. She was the only one who noticed Tezuka gripping his water bottle like it was the end of the world. She giggled.
"I guess he really is human," said Rei before taking her seat again.
"Next, Kiyoko Defense! Echizen Attack!"
"Nani?!" exclaimed Yuki looking at the determined looks of both Ryoma and Kiyoko. Eiji laughed.
"Ochibi-chan and Kiyoko are going against each other?" asked Eiji, "This'll be hilarious. Haha!"
"Demo, Eiji," objected Fuji, "That only leaves you and Yuki-chan."
"Eiji," said Yuki her eyes taking on a darker shade, "I'm not going to drink that juice again." Fuji laughed at Eiji quivering in chibi form in the background.
"Gomen Ryoma," said Kiyoko on the court, "No way will I drink that stuff."
"Too bad Kiyoko," said Ryoma plucking at his racket strings with his fingers. The match began and Ryoma served.
"Twister Serve!" said Kiyoko with a grin as she returned the ball with ease, "I guess you really don't want to drink that stuff, ne Ryoma? Demo, you'll have to do better than that! Ball number 2!" She smashed the ball on his side of the court. Ryoma returned putting in more force than before.
"Mada Mada Dane," said Ryoma as he feinted a super fast return and did a volley.
"Echizen wins!" said Horio. Kiyoko was surprised but she smiled.
"I'm going to have to play a match against him soon," said Kiyoko, "He's getting stronger. I can't wait for our match."
"Kiyoko," said Inui in an eerie voice. He stood next to her with a glass of his juice by his side. Kiyoko pretended to cry in the background but it didn't work. She drank reluctantly.
"Eww!" cried Kiyoko pushing the empty glass away from her. She suddenly started before she collapsed on the floor.
"Kiyoko!" exclaimed Yuki and Rei coming to her.
"Wa-ter," said Kiyoko in a raspy voice in a zhombie like voice. Ryoma, Rei, and Yuki sweatdropped before walking away from Kiyoko muttering "Baka".
"Eiji Defense! Yuki Attack!" called Tezuka. Yuki walked to the court with a determined look on her face.
"I won't lose," said Yuki determinedly. She clutched her racket loosely in her hands as she closed her eyes in concentration. Her eyes seemed a darker shade a green with flecks of an amber to gold in them.
"She looks serious now," commented Rei to Kiyoko. She looked down at the girl and sweatdropped. "You're still pulling the zombie act?!" Ryoma sat next to her with his hat covering his eyes as he pretended not to know Kiyoko.
"Hurricane Serve!" exclaimed Horio, "Eiji-senpai might not be able to return it if the ball just rolls off the court the moment of impact!"
"Take that Yuki-chan!" said Eiji as he returned the ball before it reached the bottom. Yuki returned, her hair flying. Eiji somersaulted to get the second ball.
"Ugh," said Yuki as she returned ball 3. Eiji returned while doing a handstand in the middle.
"Eiji-senpai's got the best Acrobatic Defense!" praised Kachiro.
"There!" said Yuki triumphantly returning the ball in a lob so that Eiji wouldn't reach, "Huh? Eiji-chan, aren't you going to return the ball?" Yuki was now confused for Eiji was laughing and not even bothering to return the ball.
"It's already the fifth ball," said Eiji, "I win!"
"No!" exclaimed Yuki as she sulkily drank Inui's drink while pinching her nose.
"Haha Yuki-chan," said Eiji teasingly. Yuki served an Ace serve to Eiji's head in response. Everyone laughed when Eiji was sprawled on the floor with swirls for eyes and a large bump on his head.
"Today you will be paired up and go against each other in a game," announced Inui to the regulars.
"What's the game?" asked Kiyoko curiously.
"Each player here is categorized into two groups," said Inui, "Attack and Defense according to your styles. For example, Eiji's style is Acrobatic Play so he would be categorized into Defense. Today every Attack player will go against a Defense player and vice versa. Attack players will take half court and Defense will take full court. If an Attack player can score a point out of five balls, he is the winner. If a Defense player can defend their court after five balls then they are the winner. The loser will drink Inui's Special Golden Remix." Everyone gasped.
"Eh?!" exclaimed Yuki hiding behind Fuji, "I don't want to drink that stuff again!"
"Demo, Yuki-chan," said Fuji with a smile, "Inui's drink is delicious." Yuki turned green.
"Fuji," said Yuki, "Just thinking about it makes me want to vomit."
"Here is the line-up!" shouted Tezuka over the complaints the regulars were making, "First is Takashi in Attack and Kaidoh in Defense." Kaidoh's face was full of determination for he did not want to drink that horrible stuff again. Takashi's face was fearful before he took a hold of his racket.
"Burning! Bring it on Snake Boy!" said Takashi to the scowling Kaidoh. The match started and Takashi was hurling 200 km speed balls at Kaidoh. They were at the fourth ball when Kaidoh did Boomerang Snake.
"Out!" said the make shift ref.
"Hehe," said Takashi at Kaidoh as he went for the drink. He drank it in one swallow and made his way back to a seat. Everyone watched him to see if he would choke. Kaidoh had his eyes closed and he was clutching at his racket tightly as he turned first blue then green before running to the water fountains with a hiss but he never made it.
"Kaidoh-senpai!" cried out the first years in surprise as he collapsed just outside the gate.
"Oishi, Defense! Momo, Defense!" The two went up to the court. Momo wore a confident grin.
"Gomen, Oishi-senpai," said Momo, "But I won't be drinking that stuff today."
"Neither will I Momo," said Oishi as the two got into the court.
"Take that Senpai!" said Momo hitting a strong serve at Oishi.
"Sorry Momo but that's not good enough," said Oishi returning the ball.
"Sugoi! No wonder Oishi-senpai is the Vice-Captain," said Kachiro.
"Dunk Smash!" said Momo jumping up for the kill. The tennis ball hurtled down to the other end of the court behind a surprised Oishi. He grinned with his eyes closed.
"Momo," said Oishi, "You have gotten stronger." Just then Inui popped up next to Oishi with his juice. His glasses were glinting as he wore a smile on his face. Oishi grimaced before swallowing the drink.
"Ah!" shouted Oishi running in Kaidoh's direction. He collapsed right next to Kaidoh.
"Fuji, Defense! I am attack," said Tezuka getting on the court. The match didn't even last a second.
"You didn't hold back," commented Fuji to Tezuka.
"Of course," said Tezuka walking out of the court.
"That's our captain!" said Horio proudly.
"Aw," said Momo just appearing with the first years, "It would have been fun to see our captain drink Inui's juice."
"Momo-chan!" reprimanded Kiyoko though a small smile played on her lips.
"Fuji-chan," said Yuki walking side by side with him, "Do you want me to get you some water?"
"Iie Yuki-chan," said Fuji cheerfully, "Why would I need that? Inui's juice is delicious."
"How about I arrange your funeral?" asked Yuki stopping to look after Fuji. He stood in front of Inui who took one of the water bottles. To his surprise, clear water flowed out.
"Huh?" asked Kiyoko, "What happened to your juice Inui?" Everyone looked over at Tezuka who was drinking in a water bottle marked Inui. Tezuka looked back at the Seigaku team when he was done drinking.
"What's everyone looking at?" asked Tezuka, "Get back on schedule!"
"Oh," whined Momo, "No reaction at all. Oh well." Everybody went back to their positions except for Rei. She was the only one who noticed Tezuka gripping his water bottle like it was the end of the world. She giggled.
"I guess he really is human," said Rei before taking her seat again.
"Next, Kiyoko Defense! Echizen Attack!"
"Nani?!" exclaimed Yuki looking at the determined looks of both Ryoma and Kiyoko. Eiji laughed.
"Ochibi-chan and Kiyoko are going against each other?" asked Eiji, "This'll be hilarious. Haha!"
"Demo, Eiji," objected Fuji, "That only leaves you and Yuki-chan."
"Eiji," said Yuki her eyes taking on a darker shade, "I'm not going to drink that juice again." Fuji laughed at Eiji quivering in chibi form in the background.
"Gomen Ryoma," said Kiyoko on the court, "No way will I drink that stuff."
"Too bad Kiyoko," said Ryoma plucking at his racket strings with his fingers. The match began and Ryoma served.
"Twister Serve!" said Kiyoko with a grin as she returned the ball with ease, "I guess you really don't want to drink that stuff, ne Ryoma? Demo, you'll have to do better than that! Ball number 2!" She smashed the ball on his side of the court. Ryoma returned putting in more force than before.
"Mada Mada Dane," said Ryoma as he feinted a super fast return and did a volley.
"Echizen wins!" said Horio. Kiyoko was surprised but she smiled.
"I'm going to have to play a match against him soon," said Kiyoko, "He's getting stronger. I can't wait for our match."
"Kiyoko," said Inui in an eerie voice. He stood next to her with a glass of his juice by his side. Kiyoko pretended to cry in the background but it didn't work. She drank reluctantly.
"Eww!" cried Kiyoko pushing the empty glass away from her. She suddenly started before she collapsed on the floor.
"Kiyoko!" exclaimed Yuki and Rei coming to her.
"Wa-ter," said Kiyoko in a raspy voice in a zhombie like voice. Ryoma, Rei, and Yuki sweatdropped before walking away from Kiyoko muttering "Baka".
"Eiji Defense! Yuki Attack!" called Tezuka. Yuki walked to the court with a determined look on her face.
"I won't lose," said Yuki determinedly. She clutched her racket loosely in her hands as she closed her eyes in concentration. Her eyes seemed a darker shade a green with flecks of an amber to gold in them.
"She looks serious now," commented Rei to Kiyoko. She looked down at the girl and sweatdropped. "You're still pulling the zombie act?!" Ryoma sat next to her with his hat covering his eyes as he pretended not to know Kiyoko.
"Hurricane Serve!" exclaimed Horio, "Eiji-senpai might not be able to return it if the ball just rolls off the court the moment of impact!"
"Take that Yuki-chan!" said Eiji as he returned the ball before it reached the bottom. Yuki returned, her hair flying. Eiji somersaulted to get the second ball.
"Ugh," said Yuki as she returned ball 3. Eiji returned while doing a handstand in the middle.
"Eiji-senpai's got the best Acrobatic Defense!" praised Kachiro.
"There!" said Yuki triumphantly returning the ball in a lob so that Eiji wouldn't reach, "Huh? Eiji-chan, aren't you going to return the ball?" Yuki was now confused for Eiji was laughing and not even bothering to return the ball.
"It's already the fifth ball," said Eiji, "I win!"
"No!" exclaimed Yuki as she sulkily drank Inui's drink while pinching her nose.
"Haha Yuki-chan," said Eiji teasingly. Yuki served an Ace serve to Eiji's head in response. Everyone laughed when Eiji was sprawled on the floor with swirls for eyes and a large bump on his head.
