A Gentlemen's Wager, Chapter 3
Disclaimer: Still not mine, thank the gods.
Inui always felt suspicious when Fuji approached him. It wasn't that he didn't like the tensai. On the contrary, he had a great deal of respect for anyone who played tennis with a style that sneaky. Besides, Fuji was polite and an overall nice person 95 percent of the time. Still, Inui found him unnerving. 30 percent of this anxiety originated in Fuji's immunity to every juice Inui had invented (though he was working on a promising vinegar-based mix), but 67 percent of the suspicion stemmed from the fact that Inui was completely unable to predict Fuji's moves, on or off the court. Fuji defied data, and Inui was suspicious of anything that defied data. The remaining 3 percent came from Fuji's wrists which, according to the laws of physics, should not be able to supply the power he had shown them capable of.
Also, Inui had enough data on Tezuka to realize that if he upset Fuji, there was a 98 percent chance he would be off the regulars, and he would not go through that again.
"Inui, may I have a word with you?" Fuji asked after practice. He smiled beatifically down at the manager who was adjusting his own ankle weights.
"Kaidoh and I are meeting for a cool down run. Will it take long?" Inui asked, standing up and adjusting his glasses.
"Actually, I was hoping you'd accompany me on a cool down run. I need to pay a visit to Hyotei, and Eiji's busy with Oishi tonight. Would you care to join me?"
"Hyotei?" Inui attempted to scrutinize the tensai's face. A visit to Hyotei by Fuji had a 64 percent chance of being a vengeance visit and a 36 percent chance of being a precursor to a vengeance visit. "If you need any data on them, I can let you borrow some of my analyses. Atobe's is 28 percent incomplete, but the rest of the team is rounded out."
"Actually, Tezuka has asked me to speak to Atobe personally, but I thought you might like to join me. If you're busy tonight, I could delay it till tomorrow," Fuji offered.
"Tezuka asked you to speak to Atobe?" Fuji nodded, face serene. There was a 57 percent chance Fuji was lying. That smile always affected Inui's calculations, though. Best to speak to Tezuka about this before agreeing to any of the tensai's plans. "As I said, Kaidoh and I are continuing our doubles training. I will need to speak with him first."
"Of course, though if it's doubles information you need, you really should come with me."
Inui raised an eyebrow over his glasses. "Oh?"
"Mn," Fuji's smile curved 8 percent upward. "The pair who beat you during the qualifiers ... your data on them must be somewhat incomplete. They would be a good study for you and Kaidoh."
"Is that so?"
"They're a young combination as well, though similar in style to the two of you. Even in age. It's a shame Shishido will be graduating next year. Have you considered if you'll be continuing doubles in high school?"
Fuji said the question breezily, though Inui was almost certain (88 percent) that Fuji knew he had recently been considering this. Of course Inui knew his ...relationship with Kaidoh would be challenged when he graduated. He was still analyzing the different options.
"It would be good data for you," Fuji continued, shrugging. "Speak to Tezuka first, if you like. But I hope you'll come." And with that Fuji glided over to the clubhouse.
Good data. While there was a 75 percent chance Fuji was right, Inui decided not to proceed until speaking with Tezuka. He would not get involved in any tensai manipulations unless he was at least 96 percent certain of Fuji's desired outcomes.