Apologies for the error update! it was a REPEAT O_O

Here's the correct chapter: Regular matches.

Thank you to all my kind reviewers who informed me. It is hard juggling 3 stories. X.x but I'll gambattee! =D

The minute school ended, Horio grabbed Echizen and dragged him to the courts, Katsuo and kachiro were right at their heels.

The excitement was self-explanatory - the 2nd session of the ranking matches. And the first match of the 2nd set was a regular match. Inui vs Arai. Even though none of the freshmen liked Arai very much, but his skills were nevertheless acknowledged. He was probably one of the stronger third years.

"I wonder what kind of tennis Inui senpai plays…" Kachiro mumbled to himself.

The freshmen had yet to see the regulars in a match. Practice yes but matches no. Hardly even pratice matches because they would be too busy doing physical training or too fatigued to move. Either way, the first regular match promises a lot of excitement.

And the added bonus was: there was no physical training in the afternoon. Why? Cos Oishi was involved in his ranking matches too! That was a source of much glee to the freshmen.

"Hm. Inui-senpai doesn't look very imposing. It's really intriguing isn't it?" Katsuo replied. 'For him to be in the regulars…"

The four of them were already on the ground floor and making their beeline towards the tennis courts.

Ryoma knew what kind of tennis Inui-senpai played, he had saw him play Kaidoh that very fateful Sunday afternoon.

Data tennis.

Ryoma knew data tennis was possible in theory and had faced a data tennis player during his younger days. But that was when the player was a child, whatever data and whatever mental processing was at a rather insignificant level when it was matched with strength, especially Ryoma's strength then. But Inui's data tennis was not something to be undermined.

When the four of them reached the courts, it was already bustling with activity. The first matches had yet to start but everyone was already warming up or chatting with excited voices.

Ryoma slipped off from the group that dragged him down and wandered around the courts. He's main interest was the 2nd and 4th matches of the afternoon session: Fuji's matches. And also those of the other regulars.

The first matches had only Inui on the courts against a non-regular Arai.

The 2nd matches were much more interesting. Momoshiro, Eiji and Fuji would all be playing but against non-regulars.

The 3rd matches were the most exciting for the whole club because Tezuka buchou would be playing against Kaidoh. Inui would be going against Momoshiro.

The 4th matches line up was Fuji against Eiji. Kawamura against no-regular. Oishi against Kenji.

As Ryoma wandered around alone, his legs somehow taking him to the bench he had once laid and rested as tennis manager. On it now sat Inui.

As Ryoma watched him from afar, Inui was totally engrossed and absorbed into his notebook. Ryoma's eyes could spy the title: Arai Masashi.

Hmm… So Inui's doing the final revision on Arai.

The intensity of focus in Inui's eyes were startling. As Ryoma neared Inui, Inui made no move to suggest that he was aware of Echizen. In his mouth, he was mumbling undiscernable words.

Ryoma walked by him silently. He didn't want to disturb Inui's attention.

Maybe Inui's match did have something worth looking at… Ryoma thought to himself as he continued on.

The time came for the rest match. Inui's match proved to be the most popular amongst the first matches. A small crowd gathered at Court B.

"best of 1 set match - Arai to serve.' the umpire called.

"Today, is the day. I'm going to get into the regulars. This year's block, I'm only facing two regulars: Inui and Momoshiro. They aren't the worst competitors. I'm not so sure about Momoshiro but Inui' data tennis… I will beat them." Arai muttered to himself as he posed for a serve.

If you think you have all my data… you're going to be mistake. I've purposely hid some tricks up my sleeves…. Arai smirked confidently to himself.

Ryoma stood with the rest of the freshmen, namely Horio and gang at one side of the court. To his right were the group of regulars standing together in a bunch. To his left were another group of spectators, mix of second years and third years, but mostly those together in the same block as arai.

'hARh!' bellowed Arai as he released his serve. "Take that, CANNONBALL!" He shouted triumphantly as the ball lauched itself from Arai's racket.

His face of glee turned to shock and surprise when he saw Inui already in position the minute he released the serve and returned his 'cannonball' with a return ace to a difficult corner on his side of the court.

Arai's mouth dropped open. Was it a fluke? No. That was impossible. Inui had known his serve, the course and the way to return. No way Inui read all of that in one serve and thought of all that on the spot.

Inui stood from his standby position and pushed his glasses up.

'So it's called cannonball?' He said coolly. "That's a good serve."

"DON"T MESS WITH ME." Arai snapped and posed for another cannonball serve.

The ball was heavy, hard and has high spin on it. A high standard serve definitely but by the actions and looks of Inui, he had already completely analyzed it and broken it down.

The shock and disbelief on Arai's face was as clear as day as Inui returned yet another return ace.

The game just went downhill for Arai from there. He never really quite recovered from the initial shock. Ryoma left in the second service game of Arai and the score was already 2-0. the outcome was clear.

"WHY?!" Arai furiously thought to himself. His shock has turned to anger and fury. How DID INUI KNOW!?

At matchpoint, 30-15, Inui explained. "Amai (naïve). Don't undermine my intel resources and data tennis If you truly want to train a secret serve, do it outside school! How many courts do you think our school have and what are chances I will walk by one of them?"

Inui was leaving the campus late one night. He had just completely his advanced Japanese History extra lesson and was about to head home when he coincidently walked by the tennis courts. Arai and his gang was on the courts.

"how's that? My new serve!" Arai was saying loudly.

"It's good" "Heavy! Hard to return!"

"I knew it. With this, I can definitely get into regulars this year!" Arai laughed loudly to himself.

"If you really want to train in secret, do it outside!" Inui said as he ended the match with a service ace.

And thus, the first regular match ended with 6-2, Inui's victory.

"Bored?" Fuji asked Ryoma as he found him, napping on top of the roof. Ryoma opened one of his eyes blearily to make out the features of Fuji.

"Mah na." Ryoma grunted as he shifted his positions sideways and continue his nap. He really liked afternoon naps and since joining the tennis club, he hardly had them anymore.

"Hmm…" Fuji said as he sat down beside Ryoma.

"Too bad you can't play in the selection matches this time round… It's really a pity. I really wanted to play you in a match…" Fuji said as he looked to the blue sky that covered them.

Ryoma said nothing back. His face unreadable.

"Well, there's still the second round of selection matches later this year. I'm sure you'll get a chance then." Fuji said.

The two fell into silence.

Truthfully, Ryoma was pretty pissed at not being able to play. He was contemplating the thoughts of going to the street courts again later tonight but he didn't want to meet Momoshiro-senpai again at the courts… Well, it can't be that lucky right?

"Fuji-senpai, what about your matches?" Ryoma asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

"My matches?"

"You have two this afternoon right?" Ryoma said as he pushed himself up. With Fuji around, there is no chance Ryoma would be going back to nap again.

"All done." came Fuji's easy reply.

"WHA.." Ryoma was about to be shocked but decided it was nothing so much surprising. He had played Fuji in a single game and he had a feeling that his strength was much more than the other regulars. He too wanted to play Fuji in a serious match.

"6-0. 6-2. Eiji's improved quite some." Fuji answered Ryoma's unasked question. "but for Eiji to beat me, it's still too early." Fuji smiled.

"Che. Whatever. Oh how was buchou's match?" Ryoma asked. He suddenly looked at his watch and realized it was way later than he had thought it was. Had he been napping that long?

"Tezuka's match with Kaidoh? Completely one-sided 6-0. Although Kaidoh did come close once with a score of 40-40 but Tezuka ended it with his zero-shiki drop shot." Fuji said.

"Zero-shiki drop shot?" Ryoma asked, suddenly curious.

"Oh you haven't seen him play yet. You might find this interesting." Fuji said.

"Right. I'll watch him the next time I guess… if I remember." Ryoma answered as he stood up, dusted himself and made his way to the door.

As the door shut with a loud clang as Ryoma exited, Fuji smiled to himself, eyes closed. "If you remember ne…" He said to no one in particular and the wind carried his voice away.

That's all and thank you!

Shiroi Mi