(I don't own Prince of Tennis!)

Chapter 11 – Data against Data

Getting up slowly, Tezuka managed to clear his head after yesterday only to frown when the clock showed nine thirty. The Seigaku captain was sure that he had trained himself to wake up at five thirty but there was also a pounding headache that he had to worry about. Everything around him was at least a hundred times intensified and Tezuka couldn't even get his balance properly. Leaning against the wall for support, Tezuka found his way to the bathroom. "How long have I been out…?"

Quietly berating himself for being so careless, Tezuka took a quick shower which somewhat eased the headache. "How did I get to my room? I can only see fragments and images…"

After a five minute shower, Tezuka got his usual tennis clothes on and headed out towards the cafeteria. There, he saw Seigaku in one table while Hyotei in another. "Good morning."

Oishi looked a bit startled. "Oh Tezuka, are you okay now?"

Tezuka nodded stiffly while trying to reassert the fragments. "Ah, did anything happen?"

"W-well," Oishi couldn't lie to his own best friend; this was something Tezuka should be concerned about especially when the captain did it on random impulse. "Nothing happened, really but, maybe you should just get something to eat."

Tezuka knew that Oishi was trying to say something but was terrified. "Oishi, what happened yesterday?"

Before the vice captain could say anything, Kikumaru stood up. "I'll go get buchou's breakfast!"

Momoshiro immediately followed the suit. "Don't go without me, Eiji-senpai! I'll go help you get it!"

Tezuka walked past the two panicking Seigaku regulars. "It's alright," –though the bespectacled captain noticed people giving him strange looks, "I can go get it myself."

Oishi, bitterly looking down, sighed in defeat. "Do you think Tezuka will remember what happened yesterday?"

Echizen shrugged nonchalantly. "We're doomed if buchou does find out."

Fuji smiled mischievously while watching Tezuka stay completely clueless. "Somehow, I want to doubt that."

Inui began scribbling in his notebook. "There's a ninety percent chance that none of us will tell buchou but a one hundred percent chance that someone from outside will be the one."

Kikumaru came back while clinging onto his doubles partner. "Nyah, it might be Gakuto! I gotta stop him-!"

Momoshiro punched his hand. "I bet it's gonna be Atobe. The guy would do anything to piss off buchou."

Echizen smirked at his panicking senpai-tachi. "I bet it's none of the above."

Fuji shrugged with his usual angelic smile. "I'd say it's one of the Hyotei female regulars. Do you think they're going to let Tezuka's little act slip especially the one who was affected was their captain?"

The regulars exchanged glances with one another. "No, I don't think so."

"Actually," Kawamura began distributing the sushi, "I think it would be more the vice captain that will say something. I mean – you could see how Kobayagi-san is when she snaps at Atobe-san every time."

Sparing a glance, the Seigaku regulars saw Ayane poking at Shizuru who seemed to be normal despite yesterday. "Buchou, did you sleep well? You look like nothing happened yesterday."

"I sleep better when my step mothers are not around," Shizuru admitted meekly, "often, waking up at three 'o clock in the morning is an absolute must."

Rin shuddered at the thought. "Yeesh, your family is married to a bunch of wacks who don't get life, kuwee~."

"I agree with Rin-senpai," Mai shoved more food in. "But, putting that aside – that incident yesterday, buchou wasn't that your very first kiss?"

Shizuru blushed furiously but covered it up immediately. "Mai, please don't ask questions like that."

Rin grinned creepily at her captain. "Come on, buchou was it really your first kiss?"

"Guys," Shizuru pinched the bridge of her nose, "the alcohol was the one that disrupted his brain. I'm sure that he doesn't remember and it's better off that way."

Ayane smirked when she saw Oshitari glaring at his food. "I don't think your senpai is going to live it down, Kurenai-buchou."

Shizuru sighed at her bespectacled senpai. "I'll try talking to him. I'm sure Oshitari-senpai will let go of the issue, somehow."

"I don't think it's just him." Ayane pointed at one half of the Silver Pair. "I think the other one's been scowling at the guy ever since."

Shizuru, sighing when she saw Shishido's scowling face, didn't want to bring up the topic anymore. "Guys, I think it's best that whatever happened in that room; stays in that room."

"Aww," Kiyone shoved a spoonful of vegetables into her mouth. "But that could've been Shizu-nee's first kiss!"

The captain shook away the nagging feeling. "Getsugan, continue eating your food."

Ayane nudged the younger girl. "Yeah, don't talk with your mouth full."

Isane glancing at the Hyotei Regulars once in awhile tapped Shizuru on the hand. "Hey, do you think they're actually going to get revenge on Seigaku?"

"Get revenge on them for what?" Shizuru took a sip from her apple juice.

Hitomi brought out a calculator. "There's a ninety percent chance that Atobe will not let Oishi-san live and neither will Oshitari be able to let Tezuka-san go."

"I don't think Hiyoshi's going to like staying with them either," Momo forked another fish ball from her plate. "The Enbu guy looked like he wanted to stab Momoshiro and Kaidoh when Kiyo-chibi was talking to them. The place had just dropped several degrees because of all three of them."

Ayane folded her arms in annoyance. "What's the mole diva's problem this time?"

"He's jealous," Haruka shrugged while glancing at the Hyotei boys. "Atobe probably has feelings for you and won't admit it. His arrogance won't let him."

Ayane stared at one of the twin dragons incredulously. "Are you insane? What makes you think Atobe would like someone like me? That man's so self-absorbed he forgets who's who!"

Haruka had a wily smirk. "Face it; you two are dancing in circles. How long have you been yelling at each other anyway?"

Kiyone clapped her hands. "Yay, I'm gonna have a daddy after this!"

Ayane rolled her eyes. "Come on, this only started during elementary school!"

Hitomi counted with a business like smile. "So, it has been three years…"

Ayane, slamming the table, stormed off. "Shut up, I don't want to hear any of this!"

Shizuru shook her head, watching her vice captain storm off. "Guys, that was appalling. Couldn't you have toned it down a little?"

Kiyone wailed while flailing her arms in the air. "But it's true! Yane-chan always fights with him and they've been quarreling like a..."

Haruka raised an eyebrow at the smaller girl. "You mean like a married couple?"

"Yeah, yeah," Kiyone grinned cheekily at the others until the Shinigami picked up the spoon and shoved it into the smaller girl's mouth.

Momo shook her head while pointing at the smaller girl's plate. "You're the only one not done, start eating."

After breakfast, the teams went their separate ways. The Hyotei Girls stayed away from the guys as far as possible, not wanting a repeat from yesterday's incident. "Kobayagi, I think I have to add more weights so that your power will increase. You can't keep playing at the same power level every time."

Ayane, hauling over a few weights, strapped them on to her arms and legs. "Alright," –turning to the smaller girl, "get ready, Kiyone!"

The smaller girl whimpered. "I'm gonna die! You know – this won't look good on my obituary. Cause of death: being smashed by a tennis ball in the head."

"Stop making things sound so exaggerated," Ayane pouted at her doubles partner. "I won't kill you, you know."

Isane on the other hand began targeting the lines on the court. Each of her services made a mark on the line. "This is it – sniper mark!"

"Your accuracy has now increased by thirty five percent," Hitomi began scribbling. "At this rate, you'll be able to do your sniper serve with your eyes closed by the end of the month."

Momo fired another forehand towards Haruka. "Hit me with your best shot!"

Doing another Dragon's Tail, Haruka forced the Sanada female back. "Alright, don't expect me to go easy on you, Momo!"

Rin on the other hand was doing laps with Mai. "So, do you think buchou's going to get affected by the kiss?"

"As far as I'm concerned," Mai continued to increase her pace while watching her captain request a match with Momo and Haruka as a doubles pair. "She's not going to be disturbed by it on the outside. But you know; it has always been complicated for buchou to be a normal girl. With the way her step mothers treat her, Shizuru has learned to cloak her emotions so well that it's not easy to predict."

Rin nodded weakly. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Say – you wanna have a match against Seigaku?"

"You're challenging the guys or the girls?" Mai raised an eyebrow.

Shrugging, the black haired acrobat increased her pace. "Well, Kiku-chan sounded like he wanted a good match."

Mai, thinking about it for a moment, tried to assess the situation. If she got the Hyotei girls to play against the Seigaku girls, sure they would know what they're going against but it was most likely that the latters won't agree. If Hyotei girls played against the guys, what were the Hyotei male regulars going to think? It was hard juggling between the two; if things weren't much different between the two schools, Mai wouldn't have a hard time asking any of the schools to help train with them.

"Maybe we should ask the guys," Mai glanced at her teammates. "Who cares about what Atobe thinks?"

"No one," Rin laughed at Mai's concept. "Anyway, yay - I get to play with Kiku-chan! But, what about buchou?"

Mai nodded confidently. "I'm sure she won't let a little peck stop her from becoming the best player in Japan."

"You might want to rephrase that a little," Rin pointed at Shizuru who was a little more spaced out, "our captain looks like she's still stuck in that world."

Shizuru, sending a top spin back towards Momo, began to think about what had happened yesterday. Pressing her fingers on her lips, Shizuru felt her body tense up at the mere thought of it.

Tennis games were more my thing but… why can't I keep calm anymore?

"Buchou, watch out!" Haruka fired another backhand towards her captain.

Slapping it flimsily, Shizuru was forced to bring herself to the net while Momo brought down her Sui smash. "Buchou, I don't think you should be spacing out…!"

Shizuru, recalling some of the moves, threw herself back to deflect another smash again. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm getting a little distracted today."

Feeling the ball whiz past her, Haruka had to stop herself from trembling. "You know if you need to see a shrink, you can always come to us."

"I don't need a shrink," Shizuru's stated flatly. "I'm just fine thank you."

Ayane saw Shizuru go for a jump smash. "Do you think that Tezuka-san will remember what he did to her that night?"

"It was just a simple kiss, Yane-Yane. I don't see the problem in that," Kiyone backhanded the ball towards the vice captain.

Ayane frowned at the smaller sandy haired girl. "Kiyo-chibi, I don't think you would say that if it was buchou's first kiss."

"Wait," Kiyone's eyes widened, "you mean – Shizu-nee got her first kiss stolen by Statue-san?"

Slapping her forehead, the vice captain let out a sigh. "Yeah but most likely, both of them would just pretend it never happened."

Isane sent down another hard service. "Well, maybe it's time that Shizuru-chan learned a thing or two about guys."

"You're not the best person to ask, Isane-senpai," Ayane sighed in defeat.

Hitomi continued scribbling while placing a few things into a blender. "Mangoes have an excellent source of vitamin C… hm… I need something with L-Carnitine in it…"

The three girls stared at the manager as if she had grown three heads. Hitomi then began putting in not only mangoes but pineapples too. "Wow, for once, she's actually making something edible!"

"It's a miracle," Isane stared agape, "she's not going to poison us!"

Ayane looked up into the sky. "Hooray! I will make a generous offering to kami-sama today!"

Kiyone whooped with joy. "Wow, kami-sama must've made her change bodies with someone who's tasted worse!"

Hitomi, overhearing them, made sure she snuck in a couple of more things. "They also need some DHA in their minds so that they may play better."

While jogging, the black haired acrobat spotted Kikumaru and Gakuto getting into their petty rivalries again. "I am much better than you, Kikumaru! You can count on that!"

"That's where you're wrong, nyah," Kikumaru was about to grab hold of Gakuto's collar until Oishi restrained him.

Gakuto glared at the red haired acrobat even further. "I don't know what Shimohi sees in you even giving you the nickname 'Kiku-chan'! That's so disgusting! I swear –I'd rather have Ohtori date her! At least he has more sense in his head than you!"

Kikumaru knew where this was going. "Oooh~, Mukahi's in love with Rin-chan~!"

Gakuto, flushing as red as Kikumaru's hair, pulled a fist back. "You're asking for it, cat boy!"

Kikumaru glared at Gakuto. "Try me, nyah!"

Oishi tried to calm both acrobats. "Guys, don't make so much commotion here."

"Guys, that's enough!" Rin crushed the wiring on the fence.

An awkward silence filled the air while Rin was glaring at the two of them. "I gave him the nickname 'Kiku-chan' because I thought it was cute! As for you, you conceited coconut head, stay out of my life and business! Things I do are none of your damn business!"

Mai tugged Rin's regulars' jacket. "Shimohi-senpai, let's go. I don't think you should get involved in their testosterone fights anyway."

"To think I thought you've changed," Rin's fists clenched, turning visibly white. "Come on, Mai, we're leaving."

The red head obediently followed her senpai leaving the two acrobats completely abashed. "Eiji, maybe you should explain it to Shimohi -san."

Kikumaru couldn't help but feel bad for Rin's outburst. The red haired acrobat didn't mean what he said; it was all because of Gakuto in his opinion which is why Rin was angry. "Nyah, wait up, Rin-chan!"

Watching Kikumaru run off, Gakuto couldn't help but feel bitter. Sure, it was often that he would fight with Rin but then again – the reason they became so bitter was because of Valentine's Day. He rejected her chocolates and even threw them away in a trash can which Ohtori recovered and returned it to him again.

"Man, I'm an idiot. What should I do now?"

0000000000000000000000000000

"Shimohi-senpai," Ayane watched her slam the wired gates, "are you alright? You're as red as a tomato! Are you getting a heat stroke?"

Rin grabbed her racquet and got unto the court. "Haru-chan, please help me…"

Haruka knew what that statement meant. "I'll take it from here, guys. It's no big deal. I think Gakuto did something stupid again as always."

"Rin-chan, I'm so sorry, nyah~!" A loud voice wailed from behind.

Not having much time to react, Rin found herself glomped by Seigaku's acrobat. "Kiku-ch- I mean – Kikumaru-san, what are you doing here?"

Upon hearing the formality, the red head pouted. "Mou~, call me 'Kiku-chan' again, unyah~!"

Seeing his pouting face, Rin tried her best to withhold her tongue. "Ehh, you guys were acting like some guys on beer!"

Kikumaru didn't let go of Rin. "Please, nyah~!"

Mai shook her head. "Wow, this guy is really desperate."

Isane stopped her service for a moment. "Guys, what in the world is going on?"

"There's a ninety percent chance that Rin will forgive him even if he doesn't beg." Hitomi began scribbling down. "His kitty face always does the trick on people."

Hitomi was never wrong when it came to keeping track of people's behaviour; fair enough, Rin melted immediately. "Kiku-chan, you're unfair!"

Exchanging glances with Shizuru, Mai tapped Kikumaru on the shoulder. "Hey, do you think your captain would agree to training with us?"

Kikumaru recalled what had happened yesterday. "Are you sure your buchou won't get funny flashbacks nyah?"

"Thank you for being concerned," Shizuru forced out a smile, "I'll be fine though."

Ayane saw Oishi coming in. "Eiji, you're not supposed to glomp people like that when you're apologizing!"

"It's okay," Rin waved her hands dismissively, "I'm fine with it, kuwee~."

Kikumaru yelped in surprised. "Wow, you have your own unique sound too?"

Nodding vigorously, Rin cheekily chirped. "That's right, kuwee~!"

"I thought she was pissed a moment ago," Kiyone whispered to her doubles partner.

Ayane nodded weakly. "Yeah, that's what I thought too."

Rin and Kikumaru got along famously while Haruka and Oishi began discussing on How to Handle Acrobats 101. Ayane on the other hand was trying to maintain the order of the place while Kikumaru excitedly called the other regulars over. "Wow, I didn't know you guys were the type to pick fights," Momoshiro yawned, "you sure you guys will be alright?"

Smirking arrogantly, Momo put her racquet on her shoulder. "You should watch who you're addressing, baka momoshiri."

Kaidoh began snickering while Momoshiro fumed up. "Hey, you watch it! I bet I can send you flying with my Jack Knife!"

"I'd like to see you try," Momo sneered at the black haired dunk smash user.

Fuji had his usual angelic smile. "Saa~, I didn't know you guys were this adventurous. So, how are we going to do this?"

Shizuru gave out the instructions. "The usual way we prepare: we discuss and then, those who are about to play: step on the court."

"Mada mada dane, Kurenai," Echizen tipped his cap up a little. "Think you can keep up?"

Shizuru didn't allow herself to be intimidated by him. "I'm sure I can. I pick up things very easily after all, Echizen-san."

So, the two teams split up while doing their assignments. "So, what are we starting with first? Singles Three or do we start off with Doubles Two?"

"I think we should have a new pair enter the court. Doubles Two: Yamaguchi-Uchiha pair, Doubles One: Kobayagi-Getsugan pair, Singles Three: Sanada, Singles Two: Nagisaki and I will take Singles One as always. Are there any objections?" Shizuru eyed her teammates. "I think you've been itching to play haven't you, Yamaguchi-senpai?"

The blonde girl tipped her glasses a little. "Indeed, this would be a nice opportunity to gather some data. After all, they are the ones who helped the girls' team become formidable."

"Buchou, are you sure Isane-senpai can play? Remember what the Sunamyou girl did to her?" Ayane shuddered at the thought.

Isane waved her hands dismissively. "I'm fine! I just had a few bruises here and there! She did nothing special at all!"

Mai shook her head in disbelief. "Somehow, I want to doubt that. You still have difficulty in doing your Sniper Mark; I don't think it's a good idea…"

Rin jumped up and down like a child. "I can play in Isa-chan's place!"

"Better yet," Shizuru began thinking things through, "if I remember right – Atobe-senpai did mention that their tensai is also a doubles player. So, the only one who could cut him off now would be either Mai or Momo-senpai. Other than that, there's also Kawamura-san we have to be careful of. He hits harder than Kabaji-kun, or so they say…"

Ayane punched her fist into the air. "Leave that guy to me! His shots will be nothing after I'm through with him!"

"That's the problem: he can play singles and you can't," Shizuru put off bluntly. "I can handle his shots but I'll be flying back a few times. The thing is – who can handle Tezuka-san?"

Everyone became silent after that; Tezuka wasn't an ordinary player after all. If he could match up to Rikkai Dai's Sanada then, there was something that made him really powerful then. "Don't forget: we still have to worry about that Echizen brat. From what I remember, he plays either Singles Three or Singles One. There's a ninety five percent chance that Kawamura-san will be in doubles. After all, they only have two doubles pair players: Oishi-Kikumaru or the 'Golden Pair' as dubbed and Fuji-Kawamura pair. I don't think they can afford to test a new one right now."

"Actually, that's what they want us to think." Mai looked at their hand gestures. "It looks like the other crazy data person's going to be playing this time."

Kiyone exchanged glances with Shizuru who had closed her eyes. "What now, buchou?"

"Yamaguchi-Hikifumi pair will be in Doubles Two," Shizuru bit into her lip, "every key combination I come up with is either too weak against Kawamura-san's shots or will leave out Fuji-san. There's also Tezuka-san but I have that base covered. I don't know who's going to handle Echizen but whoever it will be, play your heart out."

Momo shrugged. "I guess that will be me then. So, Mai-chan will play Singles or what?"

"I think it's better if we stick to the Twin Dragon Pair and the Waltz Pair for doubles," Hitomi began assessing everything in a notebook. "If we take out Mai-chan or Shizuru-buchou from the Singles alley then, we would most likely lose in an instant. These guys are not the usual levels we play."

Shizuru shook her head. "No, stick to the roster I just gave: Doubles Two: Yamaguchi-senpai and Uchiha-senpai, Doubles One: Kobayagi-Getsugan, Singles three: Momo -senpai, Singles two: Mai and Singles one is mine. We need to be more flexible when in case one member goes missing. Yamaguchi -senpai, what are our chances of winning?"

"Very low actually," Hitomi stared agape; no matter how many times she ran her calculation, same answer every time. "We have a forty percent chance rate against them. We usually stay at the nineties, buchou. So, are you sure we can take them?"

Shizuru curled her hand into a fist. "Well, just give it your all. We give them a fight that they will never forget."

On the other side, Seigaku were having a run down with their assignments to make sure they wouldn't forget anyone. "Saa~, so how will we do our groupings hm?"

Momoshiro glared at the other Momo. "Geez, that girl pisses me off! I want to take her down!"

Echizen popped open his Ponta. "I'm Singles Three."

There were no questions asked about Echizen's decision while Tezuka gave them their assignments. "Fuji, you're Singles Two."

The tensai gave off his usual smile. "Of course, what about the doubles though?"

Oishi nodded. "Eiji and I will take Doubles One like always."

Kikumaru latched unto his doubles partner. "Nyah~, that's right, aibou!"

Inui exchanged glances with the Boomerang Snake user. "Kaidoh and I will take Doubles Two if, that's alright."

"It's best we try out different pairs," Tezuka began trying to anticipate what Shizuru's set up would be. "That way, we would be more flexible when the time calls for it."

Kawamura shrugged. "Well, I'll be reserve in this one then."

Momoshiro sulked a little. "Man, I wanted to take down that other girl!"

"You don't even know her name, Momo -senpai," Echizen snickered a little.

Momoshiro was ready to strangle Echizen for his cockiness. "Why I oughta…!"

Tezuka passed a stony gaze to the two. "Echizen, Momoshiro, enough."

"Gomen," the two stood away from each other.

Oishi looked at the Hyotei girls begin their plan. "They're a lot stronger than they look, Tezuka."

Tezuka, passing a fleeting glance, couldn't help but remember his game against the female captain. She was not your average player and Shizuru, if he remembered right could play on Souma Fuuka's level without breaking down as fast as anyone would. Their unofficial game awhile ago forced their limits out and it was a great way to test to see how far their game would last. Fair enough, it lasted more than two hours straight. Shizuru had something that made her spirit admirable and that's what made her teammates follow her without question. "Yudan sezu ni ikou, minna."

Going unto the court, the two teams managed to find an arbiter who was willing to umpire the match. "Doubles Two, report to the court! Doubles Two match between Seishun Gakuen's Inui-Kaidoh pair versus Hyotei's Yamaguchi-Uchiha pair, game start!"

Isane, standing meekly next to a business-like Hitomi, whimpered at the sight of Kaidoh. "He's scary…"

"Just maintain your cool, Isane-chan," Hitomi walked towards Inui with a handshake. "Let's make this a good game, hm?"

"Thirty percent," Inui stiffly shook her hand.

Hitomi had her usual business smile. "'Thirty percent chance that you will manage to win against us', was the thing you wanted to say right?"

Inui, stunned by Hitomi's quick assumption, turned away while leading Kaidoh towards the net line. "She seems to know a few things, Kaidoh."

"Fsssh," Kaidoh passed another glare to the shivering third year next to Hitomi.

Isane on the other hand clung onto Hitomi while hiding behind her. "That guy is scary; please don't put me on net line!"

"I'm not planning to, Isane-chan," Hitomi pat the lanky girl on the head, "though I wanted to face the data man on the baseline area, it's a better idea that you take the baseline for now."

Nodding uneasily, Isane wobbly took the baseline while Hitomi crouched at the net with a cold calculating stare. "Even a serpent has an algorithm that makes it predictable."

Kaidoh shivered at her intense gaze. "Kaidoh," the junior turned to his senpai, "don't get rattled."

Nodding, Kaidoh saw Inui's serve whiz past him and Isane return it with ease. Volleying it over the net, Kaidoh sent it between Hitomi's legs. "There was a ninety percent chance you would do that," the data girl smiled eerily while Isane began firing it right back at Inui.

The data man seeing how fast and dead on her calculations were countered with the same thing. "Attempt to cross court: eighty percent," Inui sent it back with a forehand.

Hitomi, knowing how well data tennis worked, already had found a plan to knock down Inui. "Isane, go for a linear pair!"

"Aw man, I'm not good in geometry," Isane fired it right down the line causing Kaidoh to bend down in order to get the ball.

Sensing a lob, Hitomi jumped into the air. "Possibility of a smash: one hundred percent."

The ball ascended into the air because of the snake's weak return. Hitomi slammed her racquet causing the smash to descend right in front of Kaidoh bouncing high up into the air and landing behind Inui on the baseline, "Love – fifteen!"

Kaidoh stared at the ball that was bouncing behind Inui. "Senpai, she got us. How did she…?"

Inui tilted his glasses up a little. "I know; it was all purely data, Kaidoh. Don't need to worry about it."

Hitomi turned to Isane with a business-like smile. "It seems like they're falling into it now. Don't pull up just yet, Isane-chan."

Nodding weakly, Isane moved towards the net while Inui this time began his service. To Isane, staring at a second year who hisses like a snake was not a good thing. She wanted to keep her cool but Kaidoh's stare intimidated her beyond everything else. "Hitomi-chan, please tell me that he's about to serve."

"There's a ninety percent chance that he's doing that to scare you," Hitomi ruefully looked at a shivering Isane. "You might have to stand there for awhile."

Isane stared aghast at the data girl. "Waaah, but this guy is so scary!"

Firing his service immediately, Inui sent his usual high speed serve right in the middle. "It's Inui-senpai's Sonic Serve!" One of the trio exclaimed while staring in shock.

Hitomi had a pleasant smile on her face. "Hmmm, his Sonic Serve only clocks around 190 km/hr so, I don't think that should be a problem for me. This guy won't have enough time to recover at all."

Firing back a forehand cross court, Hitomi forgot to expect Kaidoh in the equation. Stretching far out, Kaidoh returned her forehand with his famous move. "Boomerang Snake," the trio jumped up all together again.

Hitomi cocked her head to the side after switching places. "You shouldn't worry about me so much. When it comes to baseline," Kaidoh's eyes widened when Isane returned his Snake with ease, "Isane-chan has full mastery of that part of the court. People call her the 'baseline battler' or what we like to dub as the 'Sniper'."

Kaidoh gave Isane another forehand. "Fsssh, I'll break her defense then!"

If there was one thing Isane hated, it was having a repeat of her old games. "I won't let down my team, not the same way I let them down against Shitenhouji and Yugetsu Chuu!"

Another forehand flew cross court while Inui fired it back with a backhand. "Thirty percent chance of poach," the data man moved forward to counter Hitomi.

Hitomi deflected with her racquet. "Chance of him rushing to the net: ninety nine percent…!"

Soon, the two data masters broke out into a volley match. The speed of the volley increased continuously to the point the ball could no longer be seen. "Your speed has increased by thirty percent…"

"Your accuracy," Hitomi had a smile while she aimed a smash at his legs, "has decreased by 0.5 percent. Is something bothering you, Inui-san?"

Inui couldn't help but also be startled by her sharp eyes. For a girl, he had never met someone (asides from Yanagi) this keen on observation let alone someone who could point out smaller details in a matter of seconds, "Love –thirty!"

Fuji's eyes revealed a seam of cerulean. "This has never happened before. Inui being beaten by his own style of tennis and by a girl, that's pretty humiliating."

Kikumaru jumped onto Oishi's back. "Nyah~, that's true! Inui's always the one scaring us but now…"

"The one scared now," Momo had a very small smile, "is your data master right? Hitomi has always been known to do these kinds of things."

Another forehand shot flew past Kaidoh while Inui sent back an exploding backhand towards the baseliner. "Eighty percent chance for her to go linear…"

Isane, as expected, fired a linear shot heading towards Kaidoh. "Chance for Boomerang Snake: one hundred percent."

Kaidoh, firing a Boomerang Snake, lunged forward towards the net. "Fsssh…"

Hitomi drew back a little while watching the ball. "Chance of return…fifty percent…"

Clashing with the ball, Hitomi felt her racquet strings bend from the impact. "This ball seems a little heavy… perhaps…"

Before she could say anything else, her racquet flew out of her hand and nearly smacked Isane in the face, "Fifteen all!"

"Fsssh," Kaidoh took a breather while Inui picked up the ball again. "This is something new…"

Inui had an eerie smile. "Yamaguchi-Uchiha pair works well against control type pairs. Kaidoh, we have to switch strategy and don't use your Boomerang Snake as much."

Isane shivered at Inui's eerie smile. "Eep, Hitomi-chan, how can you not be freaked out by his smile?"

Hitomi turned to her with a business-like smile. "That's because I smile like that too."

Shivering again, Isane focused on the baseline at the other side. Now that they were switching strategy, the black haired female squinted a little while visualizing where she should target. Watching Kaidoh swing from side to side, Isane bounced a little while getting herself ready to receive Inui's service. "For Hyotei, all for one and one for all…"

Hearing his service crack of his racquet, Isane stepped back to backhand it back right onto the singles line. Kaidoh lunged for the ball and sent a short Snake towards Hitomi who returned it with a volley towards Inui. "Wow, these two are really giving Mamushi and Inui-senpai a run for their money."

Echizen had a light smirk. "Well, it's their fault for underestimating them."

Fuji watched the ball fly back and forth. "Saa~, I think they're not their best weapons yet."

Kikumaru stared at the smiling genius. "What do you mean, Fujiko?"

"I think," Fuji looked at the four other girls on the bench, "the younger ones are the people we should be afraid of. The captain looks dainty but the two have a high level of respect for her and their vice captain doesn't look like small fry either. For all you know, their smallest could be exactly like Echizen."

Oishi found Mai leaning against the wall while chewing on an oatmeal bar. "The red haired girl doesn't look kind either. She has a dangerous aura around her, Fuji."

"Wait a minute," Kawamura pointed at Isane's wrists, "are those weights…she's wearing?"

Tezuka on the other hand could not peel his eyes off Shizuru who had a pleasant smile on her face. It was like she knew that Isane had experience in doubles while Kaidoh was almost a complete sucker in doubles play. Inui and Hitomi were more the playmakers of this match but Isane had synchronized almost immediately with Hitomi while Kaidoh still waited for Inui's orders. Watching the silver haired girl snatch another point from Kaidoh, Tezuka was left wondering. "How did she get that kind of information? How did she know that Inui and Kaidoh had never worked as a doubles pair before?"

"I don't think she knew," Fuji remarked offhandedly, "let's say that Isane and Hitomi might have experience as doubles players and partners. Other than that, Kurenai-san wouldn't have known that Kaidoh and Inui never played doubles together."

Isane, jumping high into the air, sent another smash right in between Inui's legs, "Fifteen – forty!"

Kaidoh though a little startled, made his way towards the net line again. "I'm sorry, Inui-senpai."

"It's alright, Kaidoh," Inui had a smile, "the data has…"

Hitomi cut him off abruptly. "The data has been collected…wasn't it?"

Inui stared at her aghast while Hitomi brushed her hair back. "As data masters, we have to make sure we know how to make data and kill data. There is such a thing as false data am I right? A Q-Test is often used but in a tennis match, there is too much data and too many variables. But, knowing how to do confidence interval, that ability alone changes many things. "

Kaidoh didn't like the sound of Hitomi's voice. "Inui-senpai, is what she's saying true?"

"Kaidoh, it is true but," Inui tilted his glasses, "that doesn't mean that Yamaguchi Hitomi has the answers to everything."

Watching the next service, Hitomi darted towards the ball with a backhand. "It seems like you guys are going to get pummelled here. You didn't collect the correct data after all."

Inui didn't look intimidated but Kaidoh felt weird every time he came across the Hyotei senior. The girl's strikes were fast and accurate; it took almost all his stamina just to bend down and send it back. Then, Kaidoh only realized now what Hitomi had been doing in the first place. "Inui-senpai, she's forcing out all our…!"

"I know," The data man did another forehand towards Hitomi," when the ball is too low, I'll be the one to get it. We'll take turns; that should be able to conserve our stamina."

Hitomi nodded at Isane who swung her racquet with a powerful backhand which cracked right on the baseline. "Game, Yamaguchi-Uchiha pair: one game to love!"

Breathing heavily, Kaidoh put his racquet on his shoulder while Isane twirled her racquet a little. "Fsssh…"

Isane, terrified by snakes, ran towards Hitomi and hid behind her. "Hitomi-chan…"

"It's alright," Hitomi knew that the lanky girl was not very fond of reptiles or the sort. "He's only doing that because I'm about to make him piss in his pants."

Kaidoh glared at the Hyotei girl while Hitomi picked up the ball. "I believe it's my service now. Isane-chan, I know you hate the net…"

Isane waved her hand dismissively. "Ah, don't worry about me, Hitomi-chan! I'll be just…"

However, the lanky girl's thoughts changed when she saw Inui in front of her. "Waaah, Hitomi-chan, I'm sorry! I'm going to ask you to please hurry up!"

Hitomi's eyes squinted a little while seeing Kaidoh at the receiving area and Inui at the net. "Alright, I know what to do…"

Isane felt her body tremble but she understood why. "Moujuu Aura, you're activating it now?"

"These people," Hitomi hissed, "are pissing me off right now. Kaidoh Kaoru, he's someone you should watch out for Isane. Be careful of his Boomerang Snake."

Inui nodded to Kaidoh who took his place at the baseline and the service whizzed past him. "What in the world…?"

Momoshiro's eyes widened. "Did the ball just vanish for a moment?"

Fuji's eyes opened immediately. "It went by so fast that Kaidoh didn't have enough time to react."

Kikumaru rubbed his eyes. "I thought I saw a huge cannonball going at Kaidoh, nyah~!"

Inui managed to analyse it. "By serving it hard and also hitting it with the frame, your service's speed increased two fold and also with the Moujuu Aura, you make the shot a lot more unreturnable."

"Fast thinking," Hitomi had a business smile. "I guess you aren't called Seigaku's data man for nothing. But then again, Isane won't be easily intimidated by Kaidoh-san though she is most terrified by snakes. Preferably, I think you should give up because Isane hasn't started her service game yet. Once the service starts, I wish you good luck to both of you."

Inui didn't know why but Hitomi's service flew by and this time, he returned it with a forehand. "There is a ninety percent chance that her forehand shot will aim straight at Kaidoh," Inui smiled when it did exactly as he predicted.

Kaidoh did another Boomerang Snake while Isane easily returned it. With a small smile, Isane quickly returned the ball which dashed past Inui. Having no time to react, Inui was forced to lob in which Hitomi smashed it down but Kaidoh was far back enough to wait for the ball to return to waist level. Isane attacked the baseline again while Hitomi went for the net. "Wow, for a first time pair – they're not doing so badly," Mai watched the ball fly back and forth.

Ayane popped her knuckles. "Well, I wanna play soon! Yamaguchi-senpai is taking forever!"

Kiyone jumped on Momo. "Mou~, when will Isa-Isa be done with these guys?"

"Actually," Haruka folded her arms, "she's taking forever. Come on, Hitomi, Isane, finish them off!"

Hitomi halted for a moment. "As much as I want to finish this quickly, it's going to be hard."

Isane looked at Kaidoh, who kept a serious face and looked like he wanted to kill her. "Hitomi-chan, please fire the next service when you're ready."

Firing another shot, Hitomi had an eerie glint in her eye. "I call this… the Ghastly Service…"

The moment the ball was about to come in contact with Inui's racquet, the ball disappeared but a large gust of wind swept past him and he later found the ball behind him, "Thirty – love!"

Kaidoh looked at his senpai. "We're not going to let them have another, right?"

"I already have a counter measure for it, Kaidoh," Inui tilted his glasses, "you have to be on the receiving end though. There will be a ninety nine percent chance of a return if you're the one receiving the service."

Kaidoh, walking towards the baseline, had no other choice but to trust his data obsessed partner. "Alright," Kaidoh lowered his stance while watching Hitomi bounce the ball.

"Because of an abrupt clip," Fuji watched Hitomi twist the ball into the air, "and a spinning ball, the service vanishes because of the high amount of force put into the ball. The speed and the spin also contribute to its fast travelling and also 'disappearance'."

Echizen lowered his cap with a smirk. "Mada mada dane, Yamaguchi-san…"

"It's just like ochibi to figure out stuff like this," Kikumaru bounced over to the freshman and began hugging him. "He's so kawaii~."

Echizen began gasping for air. "Eiji-senpai, I… can't… breathe…!"

Oishi ran over to his doubles partner. "Eiji, don't choke Echizen like that!"

Tezuka on the other hand kept his eyes on the play. Hitomi was surpassing Inui as if she was always ten steps ahead of him. Kaidoh and Isane were only following orders but it was quite obvious to tell: the lanky girl had more experience than the junior and his Boomerang Snake didn't seem to intimidate her at all. The only thing that made the girl scared was his face which was perfectly normal for anyone. However, his mind was also focused on how not to prolong the game so badly because Shizuru wasn't exactly what you call easy. That game back at the courts made a few flashbacks and even that day before when Sanada lost to him.

Flashback

"Damn it," a younger Sanada slammed the ground with his fist. "H-how did you… you weren't even in the tournament!"

Ten year old Tezuka stood there with his expressionless face while walking away from the court. He just wanted to have a small game which turned into an intense match. "Sanada," a serene voice echoed from behind the fallen boy. "Stand up; you're going to get dirty."

Sanada turned around and found a younger Yukimura talking to him. "Who is this guy?"

The first runner-up didn't say anything until Yukimura pulled out his racquet. "For you to beat Sanada, that's quite a surprise. I hope you don't mind playing a game with me…"

Without any words, the two began an intense rally in the first round. "For him to match up to Yukimura," Sanada felt his heart drop, "this guy's no joke."

Yukimura fired another forehand aiming straight for Tezuka's left side until the boy fired it back with another forehand more powerful than the last. The exchanges between them were intense and Sanada could only gape at the powerful shots which would usually come from Middle School or even High School players. "This rally's been going on for five minutes now…"

Tezuka fired a forehand aiming straight for Yukimura's backhand. "Who are you…?"

"I'm Yukimura Seiichi," the boy responded with a pleasant smile. "I don't think I even know your name. Who are you?"

Hitting back with a powerful backhand, the bespectacled boy returned back to the baseline. "Tezuka Kunimitsu."

"You're interesting," Yukimura remarked offhandedly, "not many people can push me this far. Usually, they collapse and get traumatized for life."

Sanada watched the boy's expression remain unchanged. He couldn't believe that this was happening and it took him all his willpower to play against Yukimura. "Tezuka Kunimitsu, I wonder where he's from. He doesn't look like a Kanagawa Daiichi student; where's he from?"

Then, finally, Yukimura hit a cord ball which Tezuka wasn't fast enough to react to, "Fifteen – love…"

Tezuka was breathing heavily while Yukimura looked like he hasn't even broken a sweat. "You're not bad; not many people were able to rally with me for five minutes straight."

A ball landed inside of the tennis court all of a sudden making all three guys stare at it queerly. "Where did this come from?"

"I-I'm sorry," a small voice came from the corner.

The three boys found a short haired brunette twiddling with her thumbs. "I'm sorry if I disrupted anything…"

"You didn't," Yukimura had a pleasant smile, "don't worry, we won't bite. Sanada might though…"

Sanada shook his head at the bluenette. "Yukimura…"

Grabbing the ball immediately, the girl bowed repeatedly. "I'm sorry for disturbing anything…!"

"It's alright," Yukimura sighed; she was so polite and shy, "why don't you join us since you look very lonely? Tennis is meant for a lot of people anyway."

Inching towards them, the girl pulled out her racquet. "Is it okay, if I ask for a game?"

Yukimura motioned to Sanada. "Since Gen-chan here doesn't have a partner, I don't see why you two shouldn't have a match. I have to continue mine with Tezuka-kun."

Nodding uneasily, Sanada grabbed his racquet and the smaller girl went to the other end of the court. "What's your name by the way?"

"K-Kurenai," the girl fumbled with her racquet, "Kurenai Shizuru…"

Sanada shook his head and began his service which happened to be a very strong one. However, unlike her usual shyness, the girl now had a faint smile on her face. "Sayonara…"

The ball deftly cracked off her racquet flying at least a quarter of an inch over the net and right in between Sanada's legs. "What in the world was…?"

Yukimura saw exactly what had happened. "Impressive…"

Tezuka remained silent but noticed a total shift in demeanor. "What did you say your name was?"

"Kurenai Shizuru," her auburn eyes had a different look to them now, "I'm sorry, did I hit it too low?"

Sanada now, was in no mood to get humiliated by two people in one day. First it was Tezuka Kunimitsu with a game of 6-0 and 6-1 and now this girl was making a fool out of him. "No, I think I'm the one slacking. Don't fall back… that was only a lucky shot."

Yukimura held back Sanada. "Wait, I want to see something. Tezuka-kun, why don't you play against Kurenai-san?"

Tezuka, taking Sanada's place, began his service hard. "Don't let your guard down…"

Shizuru's eyes were fast; by taking a step back, she gave him a top spin that was supposedly hard to do. "Wow, it actually returned to me," a faint smile appeared on her face.

Now this was getting serious, what kind of girl just shows up to formerly be a shy and timid girl to somehow become so powerful deep down? All three boys stared aghast at her for a moment while she began fixing her hair. "She's pretty interesting, don't you think, Gen-chan?"

Sanada and Tezuka exchanged glances for a moment when the bespectacled boy fired another service again. Shizuru backhanded it while Tezuka did a forehand while the girl was fast enough to top spin it across the net. "His shots are really heavy…"

Tezuka winced at her shots. "Her shots are really accurate; it's actually getting complicated to aim somewhere."

Yukimura nudged Sanada. "Do you want to know why I made her play against him?"

Sanada glanced at Yukimura whose serene smile disappeared. "It's because if Tezuka-kun, loses to Kurenai-chan here and now – then, you won't be able to lift an arm or leg against her."

The game continued with Tezuka scoring another point by using a smash, "Fifteen-all!"

Seeing another forehand fly to the corner, Tezuka fired a powerful backhand towards her, "Thirty – Fifteen!"

Yukimura watched Shizuru sail into the air to do another smash. "What's your name by the way?"

"Tezuka Kunimitsu," the bespectacled boy squinted at the girl a little. "Why?"

Shizuru spun with a drop shot coming right in front of the net. "I know you're going to become a great player. You've got potential to beat those in Middle School."

Tezuka was not very used to getting compliments that specific from a girl. "Ah, thank you."

"Game, Tezuka: one game to love!" Shizuru stretched her arms a little. "You know – let's play until three games. I have a time limit out here."

Tezuka prepared himself to receive the serve. "Ah."

Shizuru's serve may have not been strong but it was fast. It would have passed Tezuka if he had not moved back quickly and backhanded it. Shizuru dashed towards one end and began attacking the corners accurately and Tezuka forced her towards the net. However, Shizuru, pretending to miss the ball, backhanded it to Tezuka's left side, "Fifteen – love!"

Tezuka did another forehand that slipped past her, "Fifteen all!"

Shizuru did a top spin shot that Tezuka couldn't reach again, "Thirty – fifteen!"

Tezuka on the other hand repaid her with a forehand top spin, "Thirty all!"

Sanada watched the game continue while trying to follow the ball. "These two are insane… I haven't seen anyone else play like this except Yukimura and myself…"

Flashback End

Tezuka recalled every point in that game. He remembered seeing that lanky shy girl with a red and black racquet whip Sanada's butt in an instant. She wasn't ordinary; he himself knew that but Tezuka didn't expect that she would enroll in Hyotei and steam roll every team that was put up against her. "Hitomi Yamaguchi," Inui began mumbling, "third year data master of Hyotei Gakuen. Also widely known as the Chemist and Manager of Hyotei's Team, you're in class 3-5 and your classmates are Taki Haginosuke and Atobe Keigo."

"So, you know some things about me," Hitomi smiled widely, "I'm sure you know that you're classmates with Kawamura Takashi and also, you're quite afraid of I don't know…gokiburi?"

Inui would have dropped his jaw if he weren't playing. "Now, that is simply absurd…"

Isane had a small smile on her face. "Well, there is a ninety percent chance that you're lying about that."

Kaidoh looked at Inui who stared at Isane for a moment. "Wait, I thought…"

Hitomi had a small smile. "Did you think that Isane's only ability is to do a very powerful service? You better rethink your assumptions and clarify your data because…"

From the silver haired lanky girl, Isane's form changed into Hitomi. "Well, now's the time to change that thirty percent to a hundred percent defeat for both of you."

Ayane's eyes widened. "I've never seen that before! What is that?"

"A new technique Isane-senpai came up with when Ferero-senpai was about to graduate," Shizuru watched Isane take the match into her own hands. "Ever since Ferero-senpai left, Isane-senpai knew about her low confidence and instead of boosting it, she learned how to bring people down. This is Isane's ability – the Illusion ability."

"This is no ordinary run the mill illusion," Fuji watched Isane completely take on Hitomi's form, "that's almost like copying the real thing."

Mai glanced at Shizuru. "But you told me that her illusion only works if…"

"If it's someone she has played against," Shizuru glanced at the court again, "she can turn into me, you or even Kobayagi. The people she's played against are the only images she can use."

Kiyone concluded. "That means she can turn into Sunamyou Shina?"

"Yes," Shizuru gripped her skirt tightly, "Isane-senpai's ability is that of Niou but while he can copy anyone, hers is limited to those whom she's played against."

Inui had his usual smile. "I knew that she can do that. It's just that I never took it into account since her volleying skills leave much to be desired…"

Isane fired another baseline shot. "There was a ninety nine percent chance that you knew about it and took it to account, it's just that you never took it seriously and you're afraid to admit it."

Kaidoh fired another snake shot. "She's really becoming like her doubles partner!"

Isane rushing towards the net and knocking it down with one smash, proved to be a lot more lethal now. "Well, it took me time but… there is an eighty percent chance that your junior partner will be terrified by what I'm going to change into next."

Hitomi looked at Isane. "Isane, go slow on the transformation – it's going to exhaust you both ways…"

"I know," Isane put her racquet on her shoulder, "but I worked too hard for this, time to see what this illusion can really do."

"Game, Yamaguchi-Uchiha pair: two games to love!" The arbiter couldn't believe that Kaidoh and Inui were losing to them.

Kaidoh picked up the ball while Inui motioned to him. "Don't get too rattled, I know you're a little jittered by Uchiha Isane's optical illusions but push that to the back of your head."

Nodding, Kaidoh served again but this time – Isane changed into someone else. "Each path has its own way and this is my own…"

Shizuru froze at the sound of Isane's voice. "N-Naomi…buchou, is that you?"

Haruka rubbed her eyes. "I'm not seeing things, it is Naomi-buchou!"

Lowering her stance into that of a fencer, Isane taunted. "Come, Kaidoh…!"

Hitomi, while playing, continued to collect data. "Isane is one of the most unpredictable asides from Shizuru-buchou and Mai-chan. She has progressed so much since her last year and has shown much promise. Isane might be able to match up to at least Seigaku's trickster as well…"

"Doubles has always been Isane's field," Momo smirked at the once lanky girl, "she's hopeless in Singles but in doubles – it's like she's in her own turf. Those two guys are done for."

Haruka leaned against the fence lazily. "They challenged the Illusion pair a little too early – a thousand years too early."

Rin jumped over the wired fence. "Do you think that Isane's going to become a better Singles player soon?"

"I think she will," Ayane had a bright smile, "it's not as if she's going to stay forever hung up on that loss against Yugetsu Chuu's Sunamyou Shina."

Kiyone punched the air. "Go, go, Isa-senpai!"

Isane fired another shot cross court towards Inui. "Don't fall back…!"

Kaidoh had never faced Naomi but now, everyone was starting to see first hand what the former captain of Hyotei could do. Shizuru remembered how powerful the captain used to be before Souma Fuuka came. Also, words from the former captain echoed in her mind.

"Lead Hyotei to its true glory and do not forsake your teammates. You have the potential; you are queen of Hyotei."

Shizuru could not forget her captain's words before she had graduated. So far, the current captain had led her team through the Tokyo Prefectural as if it were nothing and now, they were facing against people who earned Atobe's respect. "Inui-san and Kaidoh-san, they're not bad for a makeshift doubles pair. Yamaguchi-senpai and Uchiha-senpai are also makeshift but they've played a couple of rallies against each other. Still, it's amazing that a pair conjured only now can give Yamaguchi-senpai and Uchiha-senpai a run for their money."

This time, Isane was high up in the air while she gave them a ground-breaking smash, "Love – fifteen!"

Hitomi this time poached at the net and got past Inui with a backhand volley, "Love – thirty!"

Kaidoh couldn't believe that these girls were playing this hard. Actually, he had played against the Seigaku girls once but none of them were even strong or confident enough to return his Boomerang Snake. Isane was probably the very first person to do so and Hitomi was the first one to contradict his senpai's data, "Love – forty!" Another forehand zipped past him.

Momoshiro's jaw dropped. "I'll never let Mamushi live it down! He's gonna get clobbered by a girl!"

The moment Kaidoh heard this; he let out a low hiss. "You're going down, baka peach!"

Momoshiro nearly fell down in fits of laughter. "Mamushi's gonna get beaten by a girl," he made a sing song out of it.

Kaidoh, out of pure frustration, fired a Boomerang Snake towards Isane and when the girl tried to block it, her racquet was knocked out of her hand. "Ouch, that hurt…"

Hitomi began memorizing data. "Kaidoh gets pissed off when he is near Momoshiro; his power also increases by ten percent in doing so."

"Really," Isane stared at her doubles partner, "is that even…?"

Hitomi explained to her partner. "Emotional outbursts have an effect on one's strength and mentality. It could either break them or make them. Though Isane, perhaps you should change into someone you haven't played against before…"

"I can't change into Momoshiro!" Isane gaped aghast.

Hitomi sighed. "I figured as much, you're a fast absorber but you can't change into those you haven't played against yet."

Another forehand flew past Inui, "Game, Yamaguchi-Uchiha pair: three games to love!"

Hitomi looked at the score board. "Prepare to lose this game – Isane's going to be serving."

Picking up the ball, Isane looked at the baseline and service box. "Here it comes…!"

With a well-placed mark, Isane fired it right on the middle of the service box, "Fifteen – love!"

Kaidoh stared at how accurate her shot was and this time, it was Inui's turn to receive. "Isane's accuracy is very well done and not to mention that her power is not average."

Isane fired another shot right at the sideline, "Thirty – love!"

Inui couldn't believe it; that girl was targeting the corners and Hitomi reasoned out. "You know – she's known as a 'Sniper' because of her ability to change and aim with excellent precision and speed."

In two services, Isane gained the next game easily. "Game, Yamaguchi-Uchiha pair: four games to love!"

Kaidoh and Inui went up to each other. "We need a better plan; these two know what we're going to do next."

"In all fairness," Kaidoh looked at the lanky girl transform back to her normal self, "that girl's actually scary all by herself."

Inui reassessed his data. "I've run down through all the data and figured out a counter strategy. We have to mentally break one of them."

"But how are we going to do that?" Kaidoh didn't know where this was getting to.

Inui looked at the other end of the court. "Let's start with…Yamaguchi Hitomi."

"You mean the curly haired blonde with glasses?" Kaidoh looked at her giving orders to Isane.

Inui nodded before returning to the front lines. "Let's go, Kaidoh."

Hitomi, standing at the net line while Isane was going to receive, noticed a shift in their strategy. Hitomi watched the rally between them but the moment she was about to volley, Inui this time was the one in front of her. "Hello, Yamaguchi-san."

Hitomi ignored the eerie smile. "Hello, Inui-san, ready to lose?"

However, that was not the case. "Ninety percent chance that you were going to say that."

"Hm, what are you…?" Before she could say anything, Inui volleyed right next to her ear causing her to keel back. "Wait, isn't that my…?"

"Fifteen – love," Inui had his usual creepy smile. "The Sonic Volley, am I right?"

Hitomi, not used to having her own attack done against her, nearly keeled over. "Hitomi," Isane caught her before she hit the floor.

Shizuru stood up while Ayane was about to rush to the court. "Kobayagi, please sit down."

"But, Yamaguchi-senpai," Ayane was silenced by her captain while taking her seat.

Hitomi shivered slightly. "But how… how did you…?"

"Data never lies," Inui slyly smirked at Hitomi. "I know all your moves, Yamaguchi Hitomi."

Isane saw the fear in the data girl's eyes. This was a first time for her and the only one who could volley as fast as she could was Getsugan Kiyone. "Hitomi, it's gonna be okay… you're going to be alright. He just happened to react like that on the spot."

Inui knew that he was about to break her. "Yes, I knew exactly how to do it. In fact, it's almost like Akutagawa Jirou's Magic Volley isn't it?"

Hitomi stared at the court for a moment while Isane pulled her away from the net. "Hitomi-chan, please listen to me…"

"He's right," Hitomi violently trembled for the first time, "this is the first time… that my own technique… it was used against me and…"

Isane, gently letting off Hitomi at the side, knew that she would be the receiver at this point. "It seems to me that you guys planned this from the start."

Inui walked towards the baseline while feeling a sudden drop in temperature. "I'm going to make you pay, four eyes." Isane walked towards the receiver's end.

Inui, knowing that she was afraid of the net, fired a weak service towards her. However, Isane, without thinking, charged the net and fired something new: the Boomerang Snake. "That's…"

Everyone stared in awe while Isane's emerald orbs flickered angrily. "You have some nerve to scare Hitomi-chan like that."

Inui and Kaidoh didn't seem the least bit intimidated at first but soon, Isane's style developed drastically at that point. "I was saving this for the Seigaku girls but," her once black hair changed into brown, "you leave me no choice."

Ayane's eyes widened. "Buchou, she changed into…"

"She changed into Kurenai-buchou," Haruka stared aghast.

Isane (now Shizuru) had a faint smile on her face. "You see, my kohai is very good in breaking people even when she doesn't want it. But she and I have the same principle – hurt someone close to us and they pay double the damage they've done. So, come at me, Inui, Kaidoh!"

The two stared in awe while Fuji was even more amused. "Wow, she's played against her captain before."

"I may not be able to completely be her," Isane smiled bitterly, "but I can mimic her in a lot of things!"

Watching his service crack off, Isane reacted immediately and gave them less chance to move. Hitomi on the other hand was completely traumatized at one side of the court while Isane had to play Singles against two people on the rules of doubles. "Why? Why did this happen? I took account of the game in every step of the way and yet, I didn't even see this coming."

Inui burst one of his shots right behind Isane, "Thirty – love!"

Kaidoh out powered Isane with his Boomerang Snake, "Forty – love!"

Isane, controlling her breathing, turned to look at Hitomi who stared aimlessly at the sky. "Hitomi-chan…"

A cord ball got past Isane, scoring Kaidoh and Inui their first game. "Game, Inui-Kaidoh pair: one game to four!"

Fuji had his usual smile. "Now, the counter attack begins…"

Isane, despite knowing that she could not copy her kohai in terms of skill, kept on playing. She remembered that Shizuru could take on a doubles pair solo but, it took a chunk out of her stamina. Despite copying her, Isane kept playing like she normally did but infusing some of her captain's style into it. Recalling all those practice rallies with her captain, Isane fired another forehand towards them only to see a cord ball once again land on her side, "Love – fifteen!"

Kaidoh fired another Boomerang Snake past Isane, "Love – thirty!"

Inui did another hard smash right in between Isane's legs, "Love – forty!"

Isane tried a drop shot only to have it rebound. "Game, Inui-Kaidoh: two games to four!"

Kiyone watched Isane play as Shizuru on the court. "This is terrible, Yamaguchi-senpai is frozen!"

Haruka gripped the wired fence tightly. "Hitomi, get your butt up!"

Rin jumped up and down. "Come on; you can do it, kuwee~!"

Feeling the ball crack off her racquet, Isane knew she had to play and bide time. "I know you're shocked, Hitomi-chan. But, please understand that there are many other players who will do this too."

Hitomi on the other hand watched her partner taking a beating. They had taken two consecutive games from them already and now, Isane was taking a pounding. With Kaidoh serving, things got even more complicated because Isane could no longer feel her legs. "What am I supposed to do? They'll just keep using my own attacks against me and Isane's afraid of the net."

After several rallies consisting of Inui and Kaidoh scoring, Isane was forced to drop the third game. "Game, Inui-Kaidoh: three games to four!"

"Isane-senpai knows what it's like to have her own technique used against her," Mai bit her lip, "I've seen Isane-senpai fall and rise again. As far as I'm concerned, she's the one with the most experience."

Rin had a small smile. "Come on, Isane-chan, you can do it!"

Isane fired another shot back until she found a Boomerang Snake heading towards her again. "Darn, I won't be able to…!"

Then, there was a loud crack and the ball created a mark before embedding itself amongst the overgrowth on the wall. "Hi-Hitomi-chan, are you okay…?"

"I've had enough of this," a red aura enveloped the data master again, "Isane, change back to you. We're taking these guys out."

Mai whistled. "Whoops, someone woke up at the wrong side of the court today."

"They're dead," Ayane shook her head, "Yamaguchi-senpai, please don't kill them!"

Hitomi looked at Isane's tomato red face while glaring at the two. "It's payback time for you two. Sit this one out."

"No," Isane wiped the sweat pouring down her face, "It's okay, I'm alright..."

Beginning with her service, Hitomi did her Ghastly Serves to shock Kaidoh. "It's just one more game, Isane!"

"You bet," Isane fired a smash towards the data master.

Fuji eyed the two girls. "I didn't know Yamaguchi-chan would recover this fast."

"I'd say," Kawamura watched Isane hit another forehand pile driver. "I've never seen girls play this hard before."

Tezuka watched Shizuru who nervously twitched at the sight of both of them. This match was at first a disaster for her team and then, it changed for the better. Hitomi and Isane progressed unbelievably fast and managed to knock down Kaidoh and Inui. Both doubles pairs were makeshifts and they were playing extremely well despite the conditions. "Not too bad, for Hyotei…"

Hitomi fired another forehand towards Kaidoh, "Love – fifteen!"

Kaidoh fired a Boomerang Snake which went out. "Out, love – thirty!"

Inui backhanded a shot past Isane, "Fifteen – thirty!"

Hitomi jumped up high into the air with a smash, "Fifteen – forty!"

"This is the last shot, Isane," Hitomi put her hands together, "jump as high as you can!"

Using Hitomi as a stepping stool, Isane jumped up with a backhand smash. "This is the end…!"

The smash came in between Kaidoh and Inui causing a loud explosion between the two. "Game and match, Yamaguchi-Uchiha pair: six games to four!"

-Sorry for the late update! I know this isn't one of my best chapters but please review!