The day of the finals match dawned grey and cold.

Fuji Syusuke arrived at the courts in a foul temper. Echizen hadn't listened to a word he'd said, largely because it was Fuji who said it. Now, the freshman was about to be pummeled by Sanada. His only chance was that Seigaku swept up in doubles and never got to singles one. The tensai did at least hope they made it to singles two; he could really use some righteous fury about now.

Echizen Ryoma was avoiding Fuji-senpai, who appeared in a foul temper. He took his Ponta to a quiet corner behind Oishi-senpai where he hoped he could prepare for his match in relative safety. What was to prepare anyway? It was just tennis.

Inui Sadaharu found he could hardly keep his eyes open. He'd stayed up half the night studying his old notes on Renji, postponing a training match with Kaidoh to do so. He knew the action was detrimental to both his health and his personal life, but he hadn't been able to help it. Surely, the answer to his current anxiety was buried in an old notebook or backed up on a floppy disk. There had to be a solution; he just couldn't find it.

Kaidoh Kaoru hissed to himself away from the rest of Seigaku. He was not speaking to Inui-senpai who had canceled the last two training matches he'd previously begged Kaidoh to hold. Kaidoh would continue not speaking to Inui-senpai until the analyst ceased his obsession with childhood doubles partners.

Atobe Keigo deigned not to attend the Seigaku vs. Rikkaidai match. In the first place, he had a manicure at eleven. In the second place, he was not anxious to witness the failure of what should have been the shining moment in his plan's execution. No amount of money could buy Sanada's cooperation, and he was going to be even more in Fuji's bad graces than before. He made a mental note to look into tightening security.

Akutagawa Jirou slept in. Of those affected by the wager, he was the only one who enjoyed napping while listening to the pleasant broadcaster on the late night weather channel and thus the only one prepared for the freak miniature monsoon that dropped on Tokyo about an hour before the match began.

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Tezuka was hesitant to call Fuji that afternoon for several reasons. To begin with, his roaming charges to call from Germany were insane. Secondly, it was late in Japan, and with the Rikkai matches tomorrow, Fuji should be asleep. But primarily, Tezuka hadn't received a photo series in several weeks, which meant Fuji thought he could hide something. Tezuka also knew Seigaku had played Hyotei during the training camp-- a set up for tensai plots if there ever had been one. He'd considered asking Atobe when he spoke to him about Echizen's match, but that would likely lead to further snide innuendoes, and frankly, Atobe had been acting weird enough.

True, Tezuka had his doubts about sending Echizen in singles one, but it was the only way he could think of to make the freshman stretch his skills. Sanada would push him much further than Tezuka could with an injured arm. To win, Echizen's very style would have to evolve, and that would benefit everyone. If he lost, Seigaku would still go to Nationals, and Echizen would realize he wasn't yet the greatest tennis star in the world. Echizen really ought to learn that.

He expected Atobe to make a similar comment about Seigaku's newest prodigy, but Atobe seemed almost pleased with the draw their match had ended in. He went so far as to surreptitiously compliment Echizen's improvements since their last game, though still maintaining he would have won in a tie break. The conversation was dropped there as Tezuka and Atobe did not discuss tie breaks.

Then Atobe made a cryptic comment about sending Tezuka a gift to help him recover faster and hung up. He didn't mention Fuji trying to kill him or even that Fuji had played at all. Something was amiss, and as buchou he had a right to know what. He dialed the number.

"Tezuka," Syusuke answered. At the happiness in that bright voice, Tezuka momentarily forgot exactly how much listening to it cost. "This is a surprise. How are you?"

"Improving." It was Tezuka's standard answer to this question as it masked exactly how slow said improvements were. His physician told him his arm was improving at a stable rate, but he should be able to do better than stable. "Is it too late to call?"

"It's eight-o-clock here, Tezuka."

"The Rikkai match was rescheduled for tomorrow. You should be resting."

"Then you shouldn't be calling, but I'll forgive you this time," Fuji said, his satisfied smile carrying naturally across the continents. "What's so urgent that you'd take such a risk?"

"You played Hyotei yesterday."

"Saa, of course. Tezuka, I barely spoke to Atobe. He did make some comment about us being saved by the rain, but we were both very busy with our own matches. Plus he had to deal with Kaidoh giving one of his players a concussion."

"What?"

"Mn. He and Inui have been in a bit of a fight. I think the Rikkai match is stressing them out. It's really no good for anyone who has to associate with them. You ought to speak to Inui about his doubles game."

"No."

"But he listens to you, and he doesn't trust me. Besides, it would be for the good of the team."

Tezuka sighed inwardly. Fuji wanted it, which meant he would pester Tezuka about it until the buchou gave in. He did not want to discuss relationships with Inui. He barely discussed them with Fuji, so it was better just to change the subject as fast as possible. "We'll see. Anything else I should be aware of?"

Fuji thought for a moment. "Oishi's wrist is still a little sprained, but he's insisting on playing doubles one anyway. Eiji's worried about him but doesn't want Oishi to worry because Eiji's worried, etcetera, etcetera. I'm working on that as much as I can. Momoshiro's catching up in accuracy, though he really ought to stop naming his own moves. Oh, and Yamato-buchou says hello."

"Just hello?"

"Actually, his exact words were 'tell him hi and twenty laps for shirking his duties as captain by fleeing the country.'"

"Ah." That sounded more like his old captain.

"Are you going to run them?" Syusuke sounded incredibly amused at the idea.

"Probably," Tezuka shrugged. After a year under Yamato's leadership, it was habit. "And Echizen's match?"

A moment of silence before Syusuke answered. Echizen had long been something of a sore subject between Seigaku's two strongest players. Fuji understood Tezuka needed to secure Seigaku's future success, but that didn't make him much happier about how much of Tezuka's time the process took. "Atobe didn't play him as hard as he played you, but Echizen did all right. He has a new trick that makes him look something like a very angry flying squirrel."

"He's young. He'll learn." Aesthetic tennis took more time to master... well, for everyone but Fuji. Tezuka had always appreciated the tensai's attention to keeping the game elegant.

Fuji sighed. "It can distract the opponent, I suppose."

"As long as he wins. Is he going to win?"

"Perhaps." Fuji contemplated the idea. "The match's date moving was somewhat fortuitous."

Tezuka frowned. "Why?"
"Secret. I'll tell you when we win."

"Now it's when we win."

"The assemble training worked very well. If we can forgo further injuries, we stand a chance at avoiding Sanada altogether."
"Speaking of which, be very careful playing Kirihara."

Tezuka could see Syusuke tilting his head like a child warned to look both ways before crossing an empty country road. "Hai, Buchou."

"I'm serious." He would be very displeased if Fuji was injured seeking vengeance for Tachibana of all people.

"As am I. I'll be fine, but I should probably let you off the phone. At this rate you could fly home for the same cost as your bill, and you still have to call Inui."

"Fuji, Inui can deal with his own problems," Tezuka grumbled, rubbing his eyes. This bend in the conversation was starting to give him a headache.

"And while he does, Kaidoh will continue to cause severe head trauma to anyone in a hundred foot radius of a Boomerang Snake. And Seigaku is out a doubles two."

Fuji was right about that, anyway. When he'd accepted his job as captain, he hadn't realized that meant mediating through his team's melodrama as well. Couldn't anybody just play tennis? "I will tell him to get his game in order."

"Thank you. Hopefully that will suffice." He could feel Syusuke's victorious smirk through the phone. It would have been annoying if it was anyone but Fuji. As is, Tezuka had grown moderately accustomed to that particular smile. He'd need to figure out Fuji's game with Atobe soon to counter the tensai's win on this matter. Syusuke continued. "And I put the pictures from training in the mail this morning if you wanted a more thorough recap."

Tezuka spent another few seconds (probably costing at least 500 yen), debating whether or not to ask his next question. He wouldn't have another chance to do so for awhile though. "Are there any pictures from your match?"

He could feel Syusuke beaming across the line. "No. Why? Did you forget what I look like?"

"I believe you know perfectly well that's not true."

"Then you shouldn't need one yet."

So Fuji wanted him to embarrass himself by asking for a photo. No. He was done with tensai manipulations for the day.

"Don't worry; I have a nice surprise planned," Fuji added.

"Those concepts do not work in combination."

Fuji responded with another unnervingly knowing chuckle. "Hurry back, Tezuka."

"Ah. Be careful in the match."'

"I will. Ja." Fuji hung up.

Well that had been an exceptionally long and expensive conversation to learn nothing about Fuji's plans. Still, Atobe had been well enough to speak on the phone, Echizen was continuing to improve, and one concussion during assemble training wasn't the worst injury sustained in a Seigaku practice session. He would have to speak with Inui about his doubles partner, though. This was going to redefine the meaning of awkward.

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"Oy, Atobe? Why do we have to practice here?" Shishido groaned not for the first time that day. Jirou did agree that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the Hyotei courts, which had nicer showers and didn't require a bus ride to get to. The public arena they were playing at today, while the scene of most junior high tourneys, did lack many of the academy's amenities. However, he wasn't dumb enough to whine about it in front of the captain.

"Ore-sama has explained himself enough," Atobe answered. "If you dislike the courts so much, why don't you observe the grounds. Say fifteen laps?"

Shishido rolled his eyes, still grumbling as he started off on his laps.

"Ohtori."

"Hai, Buchou!" the second year snapped up to attention.

"Your backhand is sloppy. Fifteen laps," Atobe ordered.

"H-hai, Buchou." Ohtori tore after his doubles partner.

Meanwhile, Atobe relaxed onto the bench next to Jirou to observe the rest of the team at practice. "Will that shut him up for a while?" he asked. Atobe always knew when Jirou was really asleep and when he was just dozing and observing the world around him.

Jirou yawned. "For a while. Don't expect them to come back too soon, though."

Atobe rolled his eyes.

"Why are we really here?"

"Ore-sama told you. If Kanto hosts, this is where Nationals will be held. And Kanto will be hosting. We ought to be familiar with the courts."

Jirou stretched, rolling on the bench so no one else could see him talk. It also allowed him to use his backpack to support the bruise on his head. Man, that match with Kaidoh-kun had been sugoi. "And the fact that we're not in Nationals ..."

"We're getting back in, Jirou. Do not doubt ore-sama's power."

Or his parents' bank account, Jirou added mentally. "But why are we practicing here today. Weren't the regional finals supposed to be here?"

"Today was the most convenient for ore-sama," Atobe smirked, tossing his hair for effect. "The tournament can be held just as easily tomorrow."

Jirou shifted again to be able to watch Atobe's eyes. "So the bet's gonna be tomorrow too."

"Yes."

"And you're going to win?"

"Of course."

"And Fuji-kun will stop being mad at you?"

"He better."

"And this has to do with moving our practice here because ..."

"Jirou, ore-sama cannot give away all the surprises yet. Just watch the show."

Jirou had one very strong suspicion as to what the reason for the move was, and it had nothing to do with Hyotei's inevitable return to the National stage. Still, Atobe wanted the effect of surprising everyone, so he decided to leave the issue until tomorrow. Instead, he tried to say "hai," but the word became lost in an expansive yawn. He stretched out more, using the move as an excuse to inch closer to Atobe. The buchou let one hand trail absently through Jirou's curls. Tennis practice was nice when Atobe was in a good enough mood to let Jirou sleep through it.

The last thing the volley specialist heard before drifting off was Atobe shout, "Shishido, Ohtori, that lap took twice as long as it should have. Your next one had best be faster or ore-sama will be adding more."

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A/N: Wow. Long one today. You know, getting Tezuka to talk is a real pain. I don't know how Fuji deals with him. Really big thanks to Whisper and Microgirl for talking me through that scene until Buchou sounded like Buchou. And another cookie to all my reviewers. I'm glad people are enjoying!