Real men play doubles
District Preliminaries – Seigaku vs. Gyokurin
"I hate the wait," said Shimizu as he strode back and forth in front of the rest of Gyokurin.
"You're so impatient Shimizu," said their captain, Nakano, picking at a loose thread on his jersey.
"Ah come on! They went to the nationals! I'm freaking out here!" cried Shimizu throwing his arms in the air.
"Calm down, we're good, we at least stand a chance" Kageyama laughed, clapping his hand on his double partners shoulder.
"Please god, don't give me the golden pair, anything but them, two complete idiots will do me just fine, just not the golden pair" sobbed Shimizu raising his hands to the ceiling of the abandoned warehouse. Surrounding onlookers looked at him strangly and the captain pulled Shimizu to the floor.
"shut up will you, act confident, we can do this, look at Izumi and Fukawa, they're not freaking out, just chill" indicated Nakano, jerking a head at the two doubles players that were stood with their backs leaning against the warehouse wall.
There was a bang and the noise echoed about the large expanse of space causing Shimizu to let out a sqeek.
"You didn't need to slam it that hard Kaido" said a sarcastic voice from the doorway.
"Fshuuuu, shut up" hissed another voice and a large group of people trapsed into the building. Nine of them dressed in the official regular jackets of seishun gakuen.
"They're here" whispered Nakano, looking at the boy who was leading the entourage. The boys face was set in a stern expression and he held himself high as he passed the clipboard over to the man sitting behind the makeshift reception desk.
" I'd like to register the eight regulars of seishun academy junior high school" said the captain gruffly.
"eep, Kunimitsu" squealed Shimizu, grabbing his doubles partner and hiding behind him.
"You're useless" said Nakano rising to his feet and walking towards Seigaku's team captain. He offered him a hand. "Kunimitsu, good luck to you and your team"
Kunimitsu took the offered hand and shook it, "the same to you Nakano," he turned to the team. "Warm up, the fight begins in five minutes"
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"So who is Gyokurin? I've never heard of them." Asked Horio as he held the punch bag to his stomach.
"They are not all that well known but they have some good doubles players, it's Izumi and Fukawa you should look out for, they've played together for three years now." Answered Inui, tapping absentmindedly on the top of his closed laptop.
"We can take them" said Momo forcefully as he delivered a punch to the bag Horio was holding, causing the little freshmen to stumble backwards a few centimetres. "Sorry"
"Don't … worry … sempai" said Horio breathlessly.
"Momo, I don't think you and Ryoma should have applied to play doubles, let me and Fuji do it" Said Taka worriedly, as he watched Momo warming up.
" Too late now, and we can do it just fine" declared Momo, walking away towards the corner dedicated to their equipment and belongings.
" Do you really think they can do this?" asked Katsuo to Kachiro, they watched as Oishi turned to Eiji who passed him the towel without a word, apparently looking for something.
"Eiji" the small boy looked to Oishi who passed him the water bottle.
"They're perfectly in sync, no wonder they're known as the golden pair" cheered Kachiro, " We may actually win this …" they both turned to see Momo and Ryoma not far off.
"Ryoma could you grab that for me" said Momo distractedly.
"What's 'that'?" Ryoma answered back.
"The towel underneath your butt!"
"… Or maybe not" sighed Katsuo
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"Number 2 doubles, Seishun: Takeshi Momoshiro, Ryoma Echizen pair. Gyokurin: Izumi and Fukawa pair." Called the announcer to the teams as they lined up facing one another. There was a small round of applause. "The team that wins three out of five fights will advance, since this is Seishun's Academy's first round even if it's decided early all five fights will be fought. All fights will consist of one set."
"You guys have never played doubles before, It's so obvious" sneered Izumi as he shook Momo's hand. Fukawa smirked as he clasped Ryoma's hand. The two seigaku regulars looked at them darkly before turning away. "If it were singles I'm sure you'd win"
"Yeah, most likely …" said Ryoma, tipping his cap.
"You wha-" snarled Izumi, glaring at the back of Ryoma's head.
" … But it seems twice more fun to beat you guys at your own game" laughed Momo.
"Don't think doubles can be taken lightly. From what we've seen you have no teamwork what so ever. This will be our easy win," shouted Izumi, walking to his starting spot and dropping into a fighting stance.
"Whatever, all right Ryoma, remember "A-Un". Inhale, exhale?" declared Momo, thumping Echizen on the back.
"You're on," mumbled Ryoma.
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"A-Un?"
"What's that? Ever heard of that Sadaharu?" questioned Eiji, hoping up and down next to the data man.
"No" was the simple reply.
" First set match! Gyokurin's serve"
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"I'll make you regret getting out of bed this morning!" yelled Izumi running towards Momo, sneering as Fukawa dashed at Ryoma.
"Don't screw up, Ryoma"
"Right back at ya!" Said Ryoma as he lowered his body, preparing for the attack that didn't come, as Fukawa changed his course and headed straight for Momo instead, who was exchanging blow for blow with Izumi and was too distracted to see the other boy approach him from the behind. Momo turned as he dodged yet another strike from Izumi but his face connected with Fukawa's fist, sending the 8th grader staggering back into Izumi who kneed him in the spine. Momo's knee's buckled but he stayed standing.
" A-" Cried Momo as he regained his balance, Izumi and Fukawa looked at him for a moment, confused at the strange noise he had just made when Fukawa went hurtling backwards and a cry of "Un-" filled the air. Izumi looked behind him to see Ryoma grabbing Fukawa by the collar and punching him straight in the face. Izumi turned his focus back to Momo who kneed him in the gut.
"15 love" Called the announcers voice over the sudden cheers. The two Gyokurin doubles players got shakily back to their feet, Fukawa wiping the blood from his mouth and Izumi holding his stomach. They looked over at their Seigaku opponents, who had already prepared themselves for the next attack. Izumi and Fukawa nodded at each other before beginning the attack again; this time they focused their strikes on Ryoma who quickly leapt from foot to foot in an attempt to avoid them.
"A-" Ryoma said, making the same noise that Momo had made just moments before, Izumi and Fukawa looked over their shoulders.
"Un-" Came Momo's voice from out of now where and his elbow connected with Izumi's face skilfully. Fukawa moved out of the way of Momo's kick and feel straight into Ryoma who had a fist raised and ready.
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"Ah, so that's what they're doing" Mumbled Inui, his eyes solely focused on his laptop screen and his head giving the occasional nod as if he knew what they had been doing all along.
"What are they doing, Sadaharu?" Asked Fuji, giving Inui a slight grin as if he also knew what was going on.
"Would someone tell us what is going on?" Horio asked as he looked from Inui to Fuji in hopes of understanding the nodding and the smiling.
"It's quite simple really," Inui explained, " As they have never played doubles before it seems they have come up with their own way of communicating, either though they make really weird sounds when they do"
"Yeah but the question is how long will a technique like that work without the other team catching on?" Oishi said as he helped Eiji stretch his back.
"Not long" Tezuka replied from his seat on the bench, not taking his eyes off the fight in front of him.
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"Seishun point, two games to love, Gyokurin to serve" The announcers voice updated the crowd of the score and the fight resumed.
Izumi and Fukawa began their assault once more on Momo who had his arms raised his defence and was blocking the onslaught of blows. Izumi and Fukawa seemed like they were waiting for something.
"A-" Momo's voice sounded from behind his arms, Izumi and Fukawa smirked and both turned quickly, arms out and ran towards Ryoma who skidded to a halt as the out stretched arms connected with his shoulders sending the younger boy backwards. Momo darted towards them but once more Izumi and Fukawa turned and bought a leg each into Momo's chest, Momo doubled over, his face showing obvious signs of pain.
"15 love, Gyokurin's serve"
"You were right, it seems like they only know how to cover each others backs not play together as a team, this is going to be the easiest win we've ever had" Smirked Fukawa as he looked over at Momo and Ryoma who were in a heated 'discussion' about what had just happened.
"It was your fault!" Snapped Momo as he jabbed Ryoma hard in the chest with his finger.
"I blame you" Replied Ryoma coolly as he roughly shoved Momo's finger away.
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"This could be a problem" Stated Fuji as he looked at the bickering pair with slight interest. Tezuka placed his head in his hands and muttered something abut them being a 'pair of morons'.
"Oi! You two stop fighting and let's continue with the match!" Shouted the umpire of the match, glaring at the two ever so slightly. "Resume"
Izumi and Fukawa exchanged a smile before they both dove forwards only to stop a few yards away with puzzled expressions on their faces. Momo and Ryoma had just run straight into each other as they attempted to tackle their opponents, only to go for the same person.
"You idiot, stay out of my way" growled Momo, flicking Ryoma in the head and storming back into position.
"Fault!" called the umpire. "Still 2 games all, Gyokurin still to serve"
"Sheesh" sighed Ryoma, scowling at Izumi and Fukawa who were laughing. " You know what, I don't want to fight with you anymore" announced Ryoma, turning to Momo.
"At last we agree on something" hailed Momo, throwing his bruised hands into the air.
"So we're agreed, I'll take one and you take one, don't get in each other's way and don't hit each other?" summed up Ryoma, offering his hand to Momo who shook it grinning. They turned back to their opponents who were looking confused but shook themselves when the announcer called out.
"Begin!"
Izumi and Fukawa ran forwards and to their surprise both Momo and Ryoma stood still, watching them closely. When Fukawa started to change course Ryoma ran up to meet him and engaged him in an exchange of heavy blows while Momo took on Izumi, driving him back and putting a distance between the two doubles players.
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"Oooooh, I get it, they're playing singles!" cried Kachiro happily, looking to Inui for confirmation.
"Basically" came the monotonous reply.
"Hoi hoi, playing to their strengths, interesting strategy" said Eiji delightedly. Watching as Fukawa and Izumi desperately tried to re-group but being kept back by the two seishun singles geniuses.
"AGH!" yelled Momo as he jumped into the air, giving Izumi only enough to time to breath two words under his breath, Dunk smash, Before Momo's forearm collided with a sickening crunch to Izumi's face, causing the player to crumple to the floor in blinding pain and a spray of blood.
"Like a bird in flight" breathed Inui, his mouth twitching as Ryoma and Momo high fived. " What a surprise"
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Gah, they're thrashing us, what? What can we do? They're too strong when they play alone, they don't have to cover each others backs, if only we could get back together, attack just one then we'd be safe. YOSH! Let's do it!
"Fukawa" yelled Izumi, his mind made up as he ducked under Momo's arm and ran at Ryoma, who's back was towards him. "Together!"
"Wait Izumi, that's – " cried Fukawa, stopping to watch his partner run at them.
"A – " called Ryoma and he rolled sideways out of Izumi's path. Izumi collided with his doubles partner and they stumbled backwards. Turning just in time to see Momo let fly his right fist into Izumi's face and his left fist into Fukawa's. They both fell with cries of pain and the announcer raised his arms.
"Match and set! Match to Seigaku, 6 matches to 2"
"How? Come on, I mean they suck at doubles" wailed Izumi, holding an already bloodied towel to his nose.
"Isn't it obvious?" asked Ryoma, looking at them with a smug expression on his face.
"Real men play doubles" stated Momo, smirking as he walked away, a towel around his neck.
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"You dorks!" Yelled Ryuzaki-Sensei angrily, pinching the two boys cheeks viciously.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow" they chorused in pain.
"You're just lucky you won, now sit down and be good!" She pointed to a spot on the floor and Ryoma and Momo reluctantly fell to their knees, sulking.
"I'm never playing doubles again," whispered Ryoma, his head bowed.
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"Match and set! Match to seigaku, 6 games to love"
"Woah, that was so quick, seishun's golden pair are real doubles fighters" cheered various members of the audience.
"Well, didn't want them to think that's – " laughed Oishi
" - Seishun's double fighting" finished Eiji. They both walked up to where Ryoma and Momo were still kneeling and Eiji patted Ryoma on the head. " Guess dinners on you two, neh, Ochibi?"
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"Kaido, you're up"
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"Taka relax, here take this, the source of your energy" glorified Oishi as he chucked a kendo stick towards Taka, who caught it.
"Oh thanks Shuichiro"
"He he, clown" laughed his opponent.
"ALL RIGHT! BURNING!!! BRING IT ON!" bellowed Taka swinging the kendo stick violently in front of him.
"He turns into mister Hyde the moment he touches a weapon … scary" cowered Kachiro, watching fearfully as Taka ran full pelt at his opponent, weapon held high in the air, screaming.
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"Match and set. Match to Seishun, six games to love." Fuji turned and walked away from his unconscious opponent, smiling blissfully; as if unaware he had just knocked someone out cold.
" They – they don't have a single weak link, they pulverised us … squished us like tiny bugs, trod all over – " rambled Shizumi.
"Shizumi, we get the point," Nakano snapped.
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"Looks like Ryoma's band from the next match and Momo the match after, that's what you get for getting on the coach's bad side" grinned Fuji as he and Tezuka left the building to allow the next set of matches to be prepared.
"You enjoy this too much," sighed Tezuka heavily.
" So you were the ones who were fighting, should have known it would have been the legendary Seigaku by all the cheering going on." Both Fuji and Tezuka turned to the new arrival. A boy in Kakinoki junior high fighting gear strode up to them, sneering. "By the way Kunimitsu, I've heard you didn't play in the Gyokurin fight. No, maybe you couldn't play."
"Let's go Shusuke," said Tezuka, ignoring the boy as if he wasn't even there.
"Wait!" said the boy diving forwards, "let me see your arm, I bet you're – " his fingers wrapped themselves around Tezukas upper arm and Tezuka turned on him.
"Let. Go" he snarled, yanking his arm from the boys grip. He and Fuji walked away leaving the boy blinking stupidly.
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Seishun Gakuen went on to win against Mizunohuchi Junior High with three straight wins, despite having Ryoma Echizen on the bench. Whilst they advanced to the finals, at the other semi-finals fight that followed immediately after their first fight against Gyokurin …
" I can't believe it," whispered the audience, a stunned silence settling over the crowd and the fighters. "Kakinoki, a seeded school was swept"
"This wasn't the master plan, not to Fudomine Junior high, they weren't supposed to be this strong, no, loosing to a no name school like them …" panicked the Captain of the team.
"No name?" Growled a tall boy, his black jacket hanging loosely on him, the words 'Fudomine' stitched into the back. "I'll show you no name!" and he swung the metal pipe that was still clutched in his hand towards the cowering boys face.
"STOP SHINJI" bellowed a voice and the pipe came to a stop just next to the kneeling boys right ear. "Don't make any trouble, let's go"
"Yes Kippei" mumbled Shinji as he walked away throwing the metal pipe to the floor with a ringing clang.
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Another chapter for you lovely people! We hope you enjoyed it, this one involved lots of fighting :D but you have no idea how hard it was to translate the 'A-Un' method into a fighting sequence. If you're confused on how it works send a P/M or review and we'll explain it either by reply or put it on our profile :D R&R!