Strutting around the change rooms with just a towel around his waist, Hiroyuki struggled to come up with an appropriate training regime to prepare his team for the upcoming National Tournament. The Area Tournament had been a breeze with all matches not getting past Singles Three except for the last few but Hiroyuki knew that they wouldn't have it as easy this time around. The southern areas especially around the Kantou and Osaka Districts were tough competition with several top-level players. He couldn't have his team get lax and lose right away. That just wouldn't do.

He scowled at the though of losing, it being at the top of his ever-changing "Things I Hate" list. Losing however was one of the few that never budged.

Hiroyuki was interrupted from his half-naked musing when another boy entered the change room, suddenly understanding why everyone else had warned him against going into the change rooms. Despite how popular his captain was, no one liked to be near him when he was in his thinking moods. A thinking Hiroyuki equaled a slightly unstable one. Thinking was best left to those with brains larger than meatballs but Hiroyuki never did listen well to advise…

Shinoda Takumi snickered quietly at his thoughts. Lucky for him and his health, his captain would never know what went through his head. If he did, Shinoda probably wouldn't exist anymore.

"Oi, Hiroyuki! If you want to show off do it outside where people will appreciate it." He jerked his thumb towards the girl's change rooms where a gaggle of them could be seen chatting excitedly. "You're scaring all the guys away."

The two stared each other down, both of their eyebrows rising upwards as they tried to intimidate the other. After a few more moments they both blinked simultaneously, both vowing to beat each other the next time around though currently neither had managed to do so.

Quickly the two regular members changed, Hiroyuki dashing off into the bathrooms to quickly preen before exposing himself to the world. Impatiently, Shinoda waited…and waited. Finally he snapped.

"What could you possibly be doing in there? It's been five minutes already! You're getting more like a girl everyday. I swear, if you weren't my captain and good at tennis, I would've punched you by now!"

He smirked in satisfaction as a muted thud and a moan came from the bathroom where Hiroyuki was trying to tame a frustratingly unruly curl that kept spring straight out to the side.

In the bathroom in front of the mirror, Hiroyuki narrowed his eyes in annoyance. 'Jeez. I spend five minutes in the bathroom and am labeled a girl. What has the world come to?'

'Probably totally forgot that I was even here. Stupid self-absorbed prick.' Shinoda thought good-naturedly, running a slightly exasperated hand through his own styled brown hair.

When Hiroyuki emerged, hand held to his forehead his smirk just widened.

"What? No apology for me?" Hiroyuki glared balefully up at his friend, one of the few people who were taller than his impressive height.

Shinoda just tossed him his tennis bag, which he caught deftly, swinging it over his shoulder as they exited the room. "Of course not. Who do you think I am?"

Hiroyuki just mumbled something unintelligible under his breath, winking flirtatiously at a passing group of girls.

"Flirt," Shinoda teased as he also smiled charmingly at them.

"As if you can talk. Most of the time I'm the one having to console poor damsels from the distress you cause."

Shinoda just grinned innocently, successfully slithering out of replying. He waved enthusiastically at another boy who was loitering near the school gates. "Hey look, there's Gibas. YO GIBAS!"

The boy waved back and greeted them when they came closer, leisurely bouncing a tennis ball up on his racket.

"How's it going?" The shorter boy craned his neck upwards, cursing his teammate's height.

"Not too bad. Why are you still here?" Hiroyuki looked curiously at him. Practice had ended a while ago and Gibas had been one of the first to leave if he remembered correctly.

"My sister is supposed to meet me here." Gibas pulled his black cap lower over his eyes as he kicked at the ground in embarrassment at being caught waiting for his annoying sister.

"Ahhh…sisters," Shinoda sighed in understanding as he slung an arm around his shoulders, almost causing Gibas to lose his rhythm and drop his ball. "I understand what you're feeling man. If you ever want to exchange revenge tactics you know where to find me…"

He winked conspiratorially, calling out random tips as Hiroyuki dragged his immature friend away. Sometimes, no-most of the time, Hiroyuki could barely believe that Shinoda was one year above him. Just thinking about it was bizarre.

"See you tomorrow morning Gibas!" He called back over his shoulder, making sure to keep a tight grip upon Shinoda, lest he try to corrupt him again.

However, Shinoda being Shinoda found a way around it, quickly yelling out his suggestions before his captain could drag him out of earshot.

"Remember Gibas, they hate it when you put dye in the shampoo! Try it one day!"

"I can't believe you're older than me…"