Chapter 11

The luck of the draw, a date and a game of will

As the Kantou tournament drew near, so did two other things. The first was the fact that the draw to figure out who the next opponent would be was this coming Monday, so the tournament would start the weekend after. The second was that as incredible as Alex was at not letting her crush be known to anyone; especially Syusuke, it was becoming a little difficult to keep hidden than she thought. It wasn't so much as acting normal when he or everyone else was around, but staying normal even when they weren't there. Alex thought at first it was only Tezuka who figured it out, but soon she realized she was a lot more transparent than she thought.

"Alex… Alex… A-lex" Kaho tried saying to me, but apparently she had checked out. "Alex!" and she proceeded to lightly punched me in the arm.

"Ouch!" Alex yelped. "What the hell was that for?"

"I've been calling your name for the past ten minutes." Kaho said. "You like spaced out completely… and it isn't really the first time."

"Really…?"

"What's going on with you? Sometimes I wonder which Alex I'm going to talk to… the one I know, or the one who seems to be somewhere far away."

"I-I…"

"And you know the funniest thing. I always find far off Alex when I've just seen her around or talking to Syusuke. Wanna talk about that?"

"I kind of like him" she admitted, knowing very well that she probably knew it by now.

"Does he know that?"

"No… and he won't know it either."

"What? Why?"

"He and I are friends, and I don't think that he wants any more than that… I have it on good authority that he doesn't really date"

"Alex…" she started but I interrupted.

"It's fine. It's a crush… it'll go away on its own."

"And if it doesn't?"

"It was my choice then"

After that, there wasn't anything much to talk about, and she just let it drop. The rest of the day passed by as the past few days had. Alex acted as normal as possible, and was extra careful not to "daydream" again. After class she decided that tennis practice was out of the question, so she went over to my parent's restaurant, to help out, and maybe cover a waitress shift. Alex knew they didn't really need the help, but they appreciated it any time she did help.

Alex knew she was avoiding people by not being at the practice. She was always there, they were her friends, and they usually hanged out after practice, or even if it was just her and Syusuke, it would be weird that she wasn't there, and that none of them would know why. That's probably the reason why Syusuke showed up around six, when in the weirdest cosmic chance of all time, Alex was going back home. He was about to go in, when she opened the door to go out. She was pretty sure we only stood there for about 10 seconds before he said something, but let's face it, it always seems like a lot longer.

"You weren't there, and since nobody knew why, or where you were, I kind of worried a little" he said, and took a step back.

Alex walked out, and we fell into step together. "I just… I felt like being alone for a while"

"Would you like…" he started but I interrupted.

"I'm fine, it's nothing to talk about"

"… me to walk you home?" he finished.

You know that uncomfortable silence, where it's impossible to think of something to say, and it just becomes a lull in the conversation. But, like Syusuke, he didn't seem to find it a problem.

"We found out" he said after about half a block.

"What?"

"We play against Hyotei in that initial match for the Kantou tournament"

"They're a good team, right?"

"One of the best"

"Are you worried?"

"No. At least not about the game."

"What about?"

"You"

Alex didn't say anything, she didn't even know what to say. The fact that this day was the day, that everything she hoped no one would notice, everyone did notice.

"You just seem off… different." He continued carefully. "Like you are worried about something."

"I'm ok." Alex said, putting on my best smile. "Just daydreaming a lot. You're probably rubbing off on me"

"Yeah, maybe" he said, and then on his own way to veer off the conversation. "I was going to the park tomorrow after class, I was wondering if you wanted to come with me?"

"Yeah sure" Alex said.

They kept talking about other things, and she knew that going to the park was going to be difficult, but she also knew that not going, would make him worry more.

Soon enough Alex was home, and he was dropping her off, and then walking under the streetlight and out of sight.

The next day everything was normal, and easy. After class, all team practices had been cancelled because the tournament the next day. Tezuka, Oishi and Coach Ryusaki as usual, decided to stay longer and discuss possible formations, and game strategy. Kaidoh went for his usual run, Echizen left with the freshmen, whom cajoled Eiji into buying them burgers. Momo on the other hand, though not playing the next day was on his own way quite fast. Alex waited for Syusuke for a moment as he got something from his first class.

They went to their café for something to drink, and then stopped by her place so Alex could get something more comfortable for the park, while he changed in the downstairs bathroom to his running clothes. They left, and headed on a walk to the park, and everything was completely fine, and at first at the park, she managed to keep up with him. Given the next hour, Alex was trailing behind a little.

"Need a minute?" he asked smiling and trying to keep from laughing.

"Shut up! I'm not used to this" Alex said a little complain-y.

"Exercise?" he asked back a little incredulously.

"Hey!"

"Let's just walk the rest of the way" he said smiling

"Where?"

"Saa… the tennis courts"

"I thought Tezuka forbade all regulars from playing tennis today" Alex said with a smirk

"He might have said something about that" he said sheepishly. "I might have not payed any attention at all."

The tennis courts at the park were near one of the park exits, but when we got there we found such a sight. First, Yuuta, and the weird talkative doubles guy from St. Rudolph, were standing aside, apparently looking on a weirdly funny scene. Kamio and Momo were arguing loudly, while Anne Tachibana was looking on; apparently, she had gone on a date with Momo, but Momo didn't think of it as a date, and Kamio was upset about that, and he had been there just because he saw Anne, and there was also the issue of the departing Hyotei players, who had teased Momo; and Inui, Eiji, Oishi, Echizen and the freshmen, had been spying on what was Momo's date, and Ibu had come with Kamio, and Inui was trying to get Kamio there, and then Yuuta and his buddy had been running nearby too, and Kaho had just arrived from a call from Oishi, which Alex teased her about for a while when they talked later that night. It was a fun day, which distracted everyone from the match the next day, and made sure for some reason, that none of them played a game of tennis the day before.

The next morning Kaho picked up Alex and they went together to the tournament site. When they got there, they heard the first surprise. Oishi was missing.

Alex, Eiji, and Kaho were standing together talking while Syusuke was standing next to Alex, not really participating in the conversation.

"I just want to know is he is ok" Kaho said looking around.

"You're not the only one" Eiji said looking to the entrance again.

"He'll be here soon, or he will make sure he knows where we are" Alex said and then noticed that Syusuke was looking at Kawamura who was at a pay phone. "What's going on?"

"Saa… I think Kawamura is talking to Oishi" he said, and then Kawamura walked back to the group.

"Oishi is at the hospital, he is apparently he is helping a pregnant lady until her husband gets to the hospital" Kawamura said.

"Totally a lie" Echizen said with a smirk

"Only you would think of using that as an excuse" Momo said a little reproachfully

"Oishi is way too mature for that, he is probably telling the truth" Tezuka said. "We need a doppelganger to register the team"

Accordingly one of the three freshmen then became the new Oishi while the team registered, and Momo was on his way to fill in for Oishi at the hospital, and get him back to the tournament, who knew then how things would turn out.

As Momo came back, and Oishi had called ahead, we knew he had injured his hand, and that Momo would play with Eiji. That game was won, in the most spectacular of manners. Eiji rallied and played in a way beyond his usual place, taking Oishi's role, and allowed Momo to play as offensively as he could. We lost the next game, as Inui and Kaidoh didn't manage a win. Kawamura and his opponent Kabaji both had to forfeit the game because they overexerted themselves. Coach Ryusaki decided to take them both to the hospital to get checked out, and Ryoma, who until then had been a reserve, now took up place as seating coach. Syusuke was up against Jirou, a guy who had beaten Yuuta in 15 minutes.

Syusuke had picked up Kawamura's racket, and was standing on the court waiting for his opponent, whom had been sleeping and was being roused up. The match then began. Syusuke's first action, an underhanded serve. It surprised everyone when it happened, both teammates and rivals, but then it really surprised everyone, when the shot disappeared after impact on the ground, making Jirou strike on a return.

"Inui… what was that?" Oishi asked mouth gaping. The only not outwardly surprised player was Tezuka.

"I don't know" Inui answered.

The guy on the other side of the court was now wide awake, and ready to play, but the disappearing serve was nothing he could play against. Mr. Inoue, finally enlightened all of us… at least a little.

"A cut serve." He said, mostly to Shiba and Sakuno who were standing nearby. "It cuts the ball on one side, making go in the opposite direction."

"But cut serves generally don't disappear" Ms. Shiba said.

"Normal cut serves don't disappear. But Fuji adds a spinning ball to this serve, which very well can make it 'disappear.' To think there is a player like this in high school level" Mr. Inoue finished.

Syusuke won his service game in straight Aces and then they had to switch courts. Then the Seigaku team and supporters were surprised. Jirou was playing a serve and volley game, that had quite the strong volley, which Inoue compared to Pete Sampras. Syusuke had the right mind to attack his weak moving foot, but Jirou could twist his wrist so well, that the volley would come out. Syusuke lost, and the game was tied at 1-1, but now Syusuke served, and hit the ball low, to Jirou's weak foot, and far back, not allowing Jirou to move forward to the net. Winning his serve it was again time to change courts. Echizen held out a water bottle to Syusuke, and they had a small conversation.

"Echizen… you've seen my Higuma Otoshi, and Tsubame Gaeshi right?" Syusuke asked

Ryoma merely nodded, and looked on.

"I think I'm going to show you my last Triple Counter, that I do." Syusuke said smiling. "Hakugei"

Ryoma looked on, not able to hide his surprise and admiration. Alex also noted that Yuuta was now standing close to the court, and looking at his brother. Then we heard it.

"I have to put some distance between us" He said looking at Ryoma, and then towards Alex. "You catch up fast."

Alex was a little shocked when their eyes met. His were open, they were clear, they were enchanting. Syusuke turned around to get back to her match and reveal the last counter, from which the conversation between the regulars, none of them had seen.

The game began again with Jirou's serve, which was faster, and also allowed him to get to the net quicker. Then came Syusuke's return. It seemed like a weak backslice, something returnable, but then as it neared the net, it rose up in the air as a lob. It seemed like it was going to go out, but then it dropped straight as a rock, and upon impact on the ground, the backslice was so strong it came back all the way to the service court.

The fact that the entire court (except Tezuka) had mouth gaping, and an indomitable silence ensued should tell you how amazing the shot was. Inui explained what Syusuke did to us, and told us why the ball rose up: wind.

"He can use the little breeze we are feeling as a part of his triple counter?" Eiji and Momo asked surprised.

The match didn't take very long after that. Syusuke won, and let's face it, we all saw a side of the tensai's incredible ability. As the player walked to center court to shake hands, we caught something Shishido said.

"I can't believe it. Seigaku's Fuji Syusuke" he said. "What's with that guy?"

At center court, we caught on the end of something else. Syusuke admitted to someone stronger, and looked at Tezuka, and then at Atobe. They went their separate ways, and Syusuke came towards us. At that moment, Tezuka asked Echizen to get his racket, and to help him warm up. Syusuke was still in the court, drying up and drinking water. Alex was standing nearby, but not directly in front. The team talked, and then soon enough, Tezuka came back, and Echizen took his place in the court coach's chair. Syusuke hoped the side, and took a seat for a few minutes, and Alex sat down next to him for a few seconds before the next match begun.

"Do you need anything?" she asked.

"I'm fine" he said, his smile back in place.

"Great match"

"Saa… thank you Alex-chan"

It was then when attention went to the court. Tezuka and Atobe were looking at each other from different ends of the court, and ready to start their match. They both unleashed their techniques; the Tezuka zone, and Zero-Shiki Drop Shot; and Atobe's Rondo Towards Destruction; but the last game signaled something that stopped hearts everywhere. Tezuka was serving the match game, and he was up 40-0 when the unthinkable happened: he fell to his knees, and clutched his shoulder.

The entire regular team hoped the edge, and entered the court immediately to help him, until his resounding voice halted them in their steps. He took a few minutes for himself, and gathered his strength, and then stood to tell the ref, that the match could restart. Kawamura arrived at that point, and the regulars, the freshmen trio, Inuoe and Shiba, Alex and Kaho, all stood on the edge watching. Echizen and Momo departed for a moment, presumably to warm up, and everyone gathered for the rest of the match.

With Tezuka's serve handicapped by the injury, Atobe brought the score to 6-6 and into tie break. Every single pair of eyes was amazed at Tezuka's determination, and his courageous effort. Alex didn't truly understand.

"Why does he keep it up? What if his injury gets worse?" Alex asked to no one in particular.

"To him it doesn't matter" Inui said.

"It's about getting the team to Nationals… it's all he wants" Oishi added.

Alex looked back at the game, before Syusuke's voice made her turn her face towards him.

"It hurts doesn't it, Tezuka?" he said, his eyes open, serious, penetrating. "Even though he doesn't show it in his expressions, he stands there suffering tremendous pain."

"Make him stop Oishi senpai!" Kachiro said to his fukubuchou (Vice Captain).

Everyone there knew that Tezuka couldn't be stopped now. The game went on, until the last Zero-Shiki drop shot was not enough, and Tezuka lost at 79-77 in the tiebreak. Atobe raised Tezuka's right arm in the center of the court in acknowledgement of what he had done, that Atobe wasn't the player that won the match, they both did, they fought with everything until the very end.

The overall match score was tied at 2-2, and a no game; so the substitutes would play. The Hyotei player Hiyoshi was impressive, but Ryoma was something else. He was playing at a pace that left Syusuke eyes open in unlikely and complete surprise and astonishment. To think that he could play like this so young. A match won by resounding pace and the Drive B, game Seigaku a victory over Hyotei, that was bitter—sweet.