(I don't own Prince of Tennis!)
Chapter 20 – Unreadable
Hitomi noticed Keika pick up the ball and go for her service. The racquet size truly bewildered her; why exactly was the racquet designed like that? Tilting her glasses up, Hitomi observed also the way Keika stood, how she looked into her opponent's eyes and also how she moved. Grinning more business-like, Hitomi bent down to receive Keika's service.
"Not bad," Hitomi squinted to see the specifications of Keiko's racquet. "Your racquet has a tight tension making it harder for most people to spin. However, if done properly, the ball would have a delayed spin causing the player to be awfully confused on where the ball will land."
Keika smiled serenely while tossing the ball up in the air. "Here I go!"
Zooming past the net, Hitomi slammed it with a hard backhand while Keiko lobbed it towards the data master again. Sensing a trap, Hitomi slapped it down gently over the net causing Keiko to run after it. The two began going for an intense baseline match while the ball started vanishing upon speed. The fifth shot however, Hitomi didn't run after it anymore.
"Net, love – fifteen," Keiko shrugged at where her shot had landed.
"That's Hitomi's Data Tennis," Momo smirked while leaning against the fence. "The only thing is that she doesn't murmur while smacking it back and forth."
However, Hyotei's Mastermind thought differently as she faced St. Rudolph's tensai.
Something doesn't seem right; she didn't seem to mind despite her first shot hitting the net. Is Kyouza-san playing with me? No – that can't be it. I'm sure she knows a thing or two about my style of tennis. However, my data says that Kyouza-san doesn't go easy on people whether they're weak or strong so, what's the deal?
"Care to share your thoughts with me," a serene voice cut through Hitomi's thoughts, "Hyotei no Issei?"
Hitomi shook herself out of the daze. "Oh – it's nothing. I was just pondering over some of my data."
"Really," Keika tossed the ball up into the air. "Just hope that your data is right about me."
Though Hitomi didn't know the meaning of that, she engaged into another rally with Keika. The two aimed for corners, forced each other to the front and went all the way to the baseline again. Sweat poured down Keika's face while Hitomi's eyes watched the ball fly back and forth between them. Sliding to the other side, Hitomi rallied it to the left corner while Keika volleyed it with a snap of her wrist. Hitomi ran forward again scoring with the Sonic Volley.
"Love – thirty," Hitomi glanced at the tensai before returning to the baseline.
"You're not even trying, are you?" Hitomi noted to the tensai as Keika continued bouncing the ball. "What exactly are you doing?"
Keika stopped bouncing the ball only to grin foxily at her. "Oh, you'll see soon."
That often spelt bad news whenever someone said that with a foxy grin.
Hitomi lowered her stance while Keika continued to bounce the ball. Nothing came from the tensai and most of the time, Hitomi knew how to anticipate attacks by just looking at the gestures but this girl seemed to show nothing out of the ordinary. Her data showed no unique mannerism that Keika had, it was as if…
"You're trying to find something that will give you a signal, aren't you?" Keika smiled sweetly at Hitomi.
Hitomi smiled her usual business smile, considering she was already used to how Shizuru would smile. "Isn't that the normal instinct of every tennis player?"
"Not naturally," Keika tossed the ball in the air. "I just hope you'll show me something new after."
The ball zoomed past the net while Hitomi returned it with a forehand. Keika backhanded the ball right down the line while Hitomi forehanded it to the other corner. Constantly, their shots went to the corners of the singles line until Keika lobbed it up into the air. Hitomi took a few steps back while smashing it straight down.
"Game, Yamaguchi: one game to love," Hitomi picked up the ball while getting ready to serve.
Keika's style showed nothing extraordinary at all. Hitomi didn't mind but it simply pissed her off to realize that Keika disguised everything so well. Her shots were flat and occasional top spins, her footwork showed no extreme speed like Hyotei's tensai and buchou but Keika managed to keep up. Seeing another ball flatly pass over, Hitomi forehanded the ball straight to the baseline while reassuring herself the next point.
"There's a ninety percent chance that she won't be able to," Hitomi stopped mid thought while her eyes widened.
Keika received the shot and sliced it hard with a backhand. "This move should be recognizable to you."
"Love – fifteen," the shot zoomed past Hitomi landing right on the baseline.
Hitomi glanced at the mark it made while Keika adjusted the strings on her racquet. The tensai didn't show it awhile ago and only chose to bring it out after Hitomi broke her service game. That's odd, Hyotei's mastermind thought. Most people wouldn't want to give up their service game since they hold control over the point. It would give the person a sense of relaxation when she would get her service game done. But why is it she sacrificed her first service game?
"You're probably wondering why I dropped my service game," Keika rebuked her thoughts without difficulty. "Most people wonder about that during their game against me anyway."
Hitomi raised an eyebrow while Keika raised her racquet to point at the score board. "The score when we're done – will be six-four with me winning the game of course."
Smirking with her usual business smile, Hitomi lowered her position while watching Keika's eyes. "There's a twenty percent chance you'll win."
The match started again and this time, Hitomi released her aura causing the ball to explode harder than normal. A red aura surrounded her almost immediately causing Keika to slightly flinch at Hitomi's glaring glasses. However, her shots came back with a lot more strength but Hitomi didn't even flinch as it pressed against the racquet strings. The data girl volleyed it across causing a loud explosion to erupt on one end.
"Fifteen – all," Hitomi picked up the ball and got ready for her service.
"Moujuu Aura," Keika watched the red aura surround Hitomi. "It's an interesting style for a data master."
Hitomi nodded stiffly before serving a fast one towards the middle of the service court. Keika slid over to receive with a forehand while watching Hitomi send another cross court shot. Despite the heaviness of Hitomi's shots, Keika sniggered at the sight. Sweat poured down Hitomi's face and Keika fired another drop shot forcing Hitomi to move forward towards the net.
The Moujuu Aura's running her down, Keika gleefully cackled in her mind. As soon as her stamina runs out, it would be game over for her.
On the other side, Rikkai Dai won against their opponent very easily as Ai dabbed her face with a towel. Winning against Yamabuki didn't matter to the regulars but rather, Ai knew that some were waiting for a good match from Jyosei Shounan, Seishun Gakuen and most of all – Hyotei Gakuen. Ai watched her Regulars slump lazily on the benches after thanking Yamabuki for a good match though; the Rikkai Dai players weren't exactly thrilled.
"You guys can't just slump like that," Ai slapped her face dragging it down a bit.
"Well, unless there's a better opponent," a black haired girl licked her chops while flicking her bell necklace. "We're just going to get bored."
"Um, um, well," an auburn haired girl twiddled with her thumbs. "I'm looking forward to playing with Seishun Gakuen or Hyotei Gakuen, desu."
The black haired girl punched her. "Stop using 'desu', you idiot!"
"Gomenasai desu," the auburn girl began to cry.
"Shut the fuck up and stop showing people you're such a whiny," the black haired girl stopped mid sentence when Ai appeared in front of her.
"I dare you to finish that sentence," Ai glared at the girl. "Stop hurting Torinaka, Inuzuka."
Clucking her tongue and licking her lips, the black haired girl glared even harder. "Bring it on, buchou!"
Ai sighed while looking at Yui and her Singles Three player. Rikkai Dai consisted mostly of seniors (herself included) plus two juniors – one who opponents often underestimated and the other became part of Rikkai's Wild Tiger Pair to counter Hyotei's Twin Dragon Pair. Running her hand through her hair, Ai glanced at her team members while looking through the roster for Seishun Gakuen and Hyotei Gakuen. Blinking a few times, Ai showed the paper to her data master.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Ai raised an eyebrow at her data master, Amane Kira.
Tossing her straight brown hair back, Kira showed Ai her notebook. "Why should we put you in Singles One if Kurenai-san might end up in Singles Two to go for a straight win?"
"Do you think she would go to Singles Two? That position belongs to Nagisaki," Ai recalled seeing Mai play that the first time she met her.
"Kurenai-san might have second thoughts in being Singles One considering you're one of the Angels as well," Kira began scribbling down.
How she became much better than her younger brother is beyond me, Ai shook her head when she remembered Amane Hikaru hitting on her using lame puns. Luckily, Inuzuka wasn't there otherwise – consider him a dead man. Ai laughed fondly at the memory and glanced at the Rikkai Dai regulars who were simply lazing around.
"Miaka," Ai turned to the black haired girl with the bell necklace. "Would you like to play Singles Two tomorrow?"
"I thought that belonged to cry baby Yui over here," Miaka put off bluntly while Yui began twiddling with her thumbs again.
Ai shook her head while smacking the girl at the back of her head. "Baka," Ai huffed nonchalantly. "Will you stop teasing her?"
Yui clung on to Ai. "Mura-buchou, Inuzuka-senpai is teasing me again!"
"Shut the fuck up, bitch," Miaka snorted while leaning against the bench again.
Ai slapped her head while XiaoLi bounced towards her. "Hey Mura-buchou, what do you think of our new formation? Is there anything we need to improve on?"
"Not really," Ai waved her hand absentmindedly. "Actually, why don't you ask Kira-chan? She might know a few things you guys might need to improve on."
XiaoLi bounced over to Kira who shook her head disbelievingly at her captain. Ai murmured an apology before glancing at the roster again. She knew that there couldn't be openings left recalling that Rikkai Dai would be dominating the B-Block easily and she would have to face Jyosei Shounan, Seigaku and Hyotei later on. Shaking her head, Ai stared at her other members as XiaoLi began pestering her doubles partner, Yumika Tora.
"Mou~ Tora-chan, are we going to watch Hyotei or Seigaku today?" XiaoLi bounced up excitedly. "I've always wanted to see Rin-sama play!"
Brushing back her fuchsia red hair, Tora rolled her eyes at the smaller girl; she couldn't believe that Rin became her idol. "Well, if you want to see Rin play so much then go watch Hyotei!"
"Yumika," Ai warningly glanced at her. "Would you like to go with her?"
Paling a bit, Tora sighed while dragging a very excited XiaoLi with her. "I'll take her, buchou."
Ai watched the senior drag of the other junior as she looked at the scores. Glancing back at the regulars, Ai wasn't sure whether or not to tell them how badly Hyotei would beat them if they kept up that kind of performance. Though the scores were usually 6-0, Ai turned away from the scores while curling her fists.
Hyotei would have finished us in all 6-0, Ai bit into her lip while glaring at the score board.
"Buchou, the board would have been dead by now," another girl took out her headsets to listen to music. "You don't need to glare at it until holes appear."
Ai ruefully smiled at their predicament. What were they going to do now?
After all, Hyotei has been blazing through tournaments ever since Kotetsu Naomi and Kurenai Shizuru appeared.
"Game, Kyouza: one game all," Hitomi's knees buckled while sweat poured down profusely on her face.
Hitomi watched Keika smile naturally and her eyes sealed themselves shut. Noticing that face, the data master couldn't help but remember someone from Seigaku having that same expression. Recomposing her demeanour, Hitomi tilted her glasses while reassessing the situation.
Alright, Keika has one game and I have one. Apparently, she analysed my style in the first game and predicted my path of attack on my service game. It's a mental breaking strategy wherein you give the opponent a feeling of confidence that they are in the lead and only need five more games. Her style is somewhat similar to Mai-chan's but hers seems to have little effect on me now. Maybe after playing against Mai a lot, I've grown a natural tolerance to it.
Keika noticed Hitomi sweating a lot and knew that she was about to hit her limit. Apparently, the Moujuu Aura drained Hitomi faster than expected and what surprised her was that Hitomi still could maintain her consistency. She noticed that Hitomi's pupils soon dilated and smirked.
"What's the matter? Can't keep up anymore?" Keika folded her arms waiting for a sharp retort.
Hitomi raised her head, relaxing a bit more. "Ah, I think I can keep this up until three hours."
Isane recalled the data master showing her a technique. "That's Hitomi-chan's COOL mode. After using the Moujuu Aura, Hitomi-chan uses that technique to conserve and replenish her stamina."
Haruka stared at the taller senior. "You're telling me she's just going to stand there like Kikumaru?"
"Of course not," Momo saw Hitomi take a position. "Though it's very similar to the Moujuu Aura, the effects are in reverse. Instead of increasing her power, the Moujuu Aura's power is concentrated on Hitomi's recovery rate and bodily functions as she plays. There's a catch though," Momo watched Keika serve.
Hitomi's shot barely rose over the net, "Fifteen – love!"
"Drastic change in power," Shizuru noted while watching Hitomi receive the next serve with a volley instead. "Her power drops down to a point she can't return from the baseline. However, it doesn't really matter. After all – Yamaguchi is quite the counterpuncher after all."
"Fifteen – all," Hitomi volleyed quickly and smashing it right at Keika's feet.
Keika dashed towards the left as she somehow split into three!?
Hitomi shook her head but they were still there. Impossible, she thought while Keika started showing not just three but five of herself. She's that fast?!
Keika volleyed again and Hitomi knew that ending this early would at least stop her from getting dizzy. Volleying faster than before, Hitomi lunged forward for the chance scoring the next volley.
"Fifteen – thirty," Hitomi managed to gasp for air before lunging in again.
Keika ran for the ball while trying to send it to the baseline but Hitomi kept her at the net. No matter how outstretched her shots were – Hitomi returned them with the same flat speed style and Keika tried top spinning her but Hitomi volleyed it over before it bounced.
"Eighty percent chance of a net," Hitomi stopped at the line when the ball smacked the top but crossed over anyway.
"Thirty – all," Hitomi stared wide eyed while Keika placed her racquet on her shoulder.
Keika twirled her hair a bit. "It seems like your data was a bit off, ne?"
Hitomi didn't look the least bit fazed but her mouth ran dry when she saw the ball roll towards her. However, the Mastermind quickly fixed her glasses before taking the line again and shutting down the COOL mode. Her eyes became clear again and her curly blonde hair fell flat against her face.
"I didn't consider your racquet at first but now," Hitomi lowered her position. "Now I know what to look for."
Inui and the others glanced at Hitomi's different style. From exploding shots accurately, it became tricking her opponent and encasing her into a box. Keika began running left and right while Hitomi didn't break a sweat anymore. Inui couldn't help but not peel his eyes off her seeing that Hitomi, despite being a nerd, actually had quite the body.
What I'm thinking is completely illogical, ii data, Inui tilted his glasses and raised his notebook higher to conceal the blush.
Kikumaru happened to steal Inui's notebook. "Nyah~, Inui's blushing! It's the end of the world!"
Everyone's head swivelled to his direction wherein Inui decided to hold up a pitcher of neon orange and green juice with pink dots. "Would you like to try out my latest drink?"
Oishi held his barf, Tezuka twitched and everyone else shouted bluntly.
"NO THANKS!"
Hitomi kept the ball in play for as long as she didn't need to leave the baseline. Keika sent more cord balls again and again to force Hitomi to the front. Ignoring the sweat trickling into her eyes, Hitomi dashed towards the net and slammed it back to the baseline corner.
"Thirty – forty," Hitomi took a breather before returning to the game.
Taking a sip of her own concoction, Hitomi grabbed a towel soon after as she hung it over her head.
"That was a great game," Isane pat her on the back. "She's practically falling deeper into your Data Tennis."
Momo folded her arms while glancing at one side. "I doubt it though."
"Why's that?" Isane turned to Momo while the female Sanada pointed at the captain and the tensai of St. Rudolph.
"I think they were just toying around with her," Momo pointed out while watching Keika run her hair through a towel.
Inui out of nowhere appeared in front of Hitomi. "Her racquet is very similar to this person's racquet…"
Taking the notebook, Hitomi skimmed over the data. "You mean – Chiba's Aoi Kentarou?"
"Instead of having a normal racquet," Inui pointed to his racquet specs. "His racquet is hexagonal; hers is just something with additional two sides. The level of control is directly proportionate to the sides of the racquet therefore…"
"The more sides, the more control the player has," Hitomi murmured before patting Inui on the back. "Thanks, I needed that."
Inui felt his cheeks heat up but forced them back the moment he saw Kikumaru teasingly loom above him and Momoshiro smirking.
"We have blackmail," the two hyperactive regulars dashed away from Inui before he could give them his evil concoction.
Fuji laughed softly while nudging Tezuka. "Saa~, it looks like almost all of us are getting entranced."
Tezuka didn't reply at first. "Aa," –he shifted his gaze momentarily at the second year captain.
"It seems like you're already a hopeless case," Fuji opened his eyes which could even send shivers down Tezuka's spine.
Tezuka ignored Fuji's gaze. "Fuji, concentrate on watching the game."
However, his look didn't go unnoticed by Fuuka who couldn't help but feel jealous. She had known Tezuka ever since he was small and even when they started Middle School. How she remembered? It was her who made a big change to the female tennis club. Most of the regulars were fan girls and she even made her own set of regulars to crush the formers. After that, Kaori took her rightful place as captain and she as vice captain.
"I told you she was a hussy," Vera folded her arms, growling sideways at Shizuru.
"She's not," Fuuka exhaled sharply. "She's just…just…"
She's just so much better than you?
Fuuka didn't want to admit that; she only went as far as saying that Shizuru had potential but not saying that the girl could exceed her. Tennis was one thing; getting Tezuka's recognition was another. However, there was one question that really bugged her.
Was Kurenai even trying to gain his attention? She already has Atobe for crying out loud!
Her thoughts were sharply cut off when Hitomi scored the second game.
"Game, Yamaguchi: two games to one! Change court," Hitomi began moving to the other side.
Keika slid a comment towards her. "I'm amazed that you discovered how my racquet works."
"Its data I got from a friend of mine," Hitomi's glasses glinted. "Besides, your style isn't that hard to decipher."
Keika smirked while moving on to the baseline. It's the data girl's serve now; let's see what she has in store.
Hitomi tossed the ball and hit with an explosive aura. Keika parried it but felt her wrist strain while Hitomi smirked.
"Ninety three percent that it will hit the net," Hitomi stopped at the baseline.
"Fifteen – love," fair enough, her data proved true as it fell on the ground rolling back towards Keika.
The tensai smirked at the data master when she saw the ball roll back towards her. "Alright, time to pull out all the stops."
When the next serve came, Keika saw the red aura surrounding it. She's using the Moujuu Aura instantaneously to explode her services. However, that doesn't mean I can't return it.
Keika began glowing with a rainbow colour and caught the ball immediately. With double the strength, Keika sent it back towards Hitomi who forced out the Moujuu Aura again. Shots echoed throughout the court and many of the people's eyes were just widening with shock. Inui began scribbling down and muttering "ii data" while the others could only wonder where that power came from. Shizuru and Tezuka recognized the technique right away.
That couldn't have been, Shizuru's eyes widened slightly. There are only a few who can pull that off…
Tezuka's lips twitched a bit as the ball's return exploded every time it was returned. Only Oishi, Yamato-buchou and he knew about this part of the Muga no Kyouchi but he didn't expect it to be in this part of the tournament. The two captains glanced at each other and it's as if one look said it all.
It's the Hyakuren Jitoku no Kiwami.
Finally, Hitomi's racquet was blown off her hands, giving Keika the point.
"Fifteen – all," Hitomi sighed to herself before returning to the baseline.
Keika lowered her gaze at Hitomi. "So, do you have an idea what this is?"
"Actually," Hitomi flatly stated while tilting her glasses up. "I do. This technique is what they call one of the gates of the Muga no Kyouchi right?"
Keika paled a bit as the Mastermind continued. "This is the Hyakuren Jitoku no Kiwami – instead of distributing the experience into the muscles, the power is concentrated at a single part. The side effect is that it lessens the exhaustion and gives the user ease in returning a heavy shot double its original power. You're not the only one able to use it; there are several: Shitenhouji's Amakusa Natsuki, Hyotei Gakuen's Kurenai Shizuru, Seigaku's Souma Fuuka and Shibuya Rangiku, Rikkai Dai's Inuzuka Miaka and Jyosei Shounan's Tachiwara Miho and Hoshimura Florence."
Keika shrugged. "Well, just because they have it doesn't mean they're the greatest."
Hitomi tilted her glasses while tossing back her long curly blonde hair. "Oh, your meaning of 'greatest' is quite shallow, don't you think so?"
"Really," Keika smirked. "Pray do tell and enlighten."
Hitomi activated the Moujuu Aura before resuming her stance. "You'll find out on how wrong your definition is. If you can't even score a point properly against me, I don't think Kurenai-chan would even need to lift a finger against you."
Keika returned it back double the strength until instead of blowing it up, Hitomi lightly tapped the ball forcing Keika to miss the shot.
"Thirty – fifteen," Keika struggled to move but felt heavy on the legs.
"Because of the Muga's explosive power gathering at your arms," Hitomi noted while her glasses glinted. "Your legs become heavy and every other part loses its ability to move. That's why there was a combination move with that technique. Did you think I couldn't neutralize the power of that shot?"
Keika noticed Hitomi tilting her glasses yet again. "There's a seventy eight percent chance that your little prediction would be more in my favour."
"Really," she smiled serenely again. "I wonder how true your data is."
The serve cracked off again and Keika lunged for the shot while Hitomi reactivated the Moujuu Aura, exploding her shot across the court. Watching Keika's eyes, Hitomi slid to the other side while backhanding the shot right back at Keika. The tensai amazed everyone with a backhand that went straight for the corner but Hitomi's data tennis prevented her from taking the glory. Hitomi knew what was going to happen next every time and when the fifth shot came, she stopped.
"Net, Forty – fifteen," Hitomi smirked while Keika inhaled deeply at the situation.
Currently, I am up against Hyotei's Mastermind Yamaguchi Hitomi, Keika breathed in sharply. Fighting against data forced her to break into large buckets of sweat and she felt her knees buckle down. Taking a different angle at things, Keika watched the next service crack as she flicked up into a lob.
Hitomi moved a little farther back. "I'm not going to fall prey to your Higuma Otoshi."
Ho, so she knows about that as well, Keika smirked while she watched the ball come down. However, that isn't my only counter…
Seeing the ball zoom past the net, Keika turned her racquet upside down and smacked it hard, creating a delayed reaction.
"Forty – thirty," Hitomi watched the ball jump over her head.
Hmm, interesting, Hitomi smirked while she served again much faster which gained her the next point.
"Game, Yamaguchi: three games to one!"
Hitomi fixed her glasses while gazing intently at Keika as she got ready to serve. The said girl smirked while she served with her racquet upside down causing a delayed reaction and Hitomi missed by a far gap. Staring in shock, Hitomi stopped herself from sliding far.
"Fifteen – love," Hitomi began calculating the pathway of the ball as she started taking steps back.
I can't move too fast otherwise I'll miss the ball. However if it's done otherwise, she'll fire it too far where in it's impossible to return. There has to be a way how to send it back without falling over, Hitomi pursed her lips while looking at the way Keika held her racquet. She's not just a control master but a reverse orthodox. What is this world getting into anyway?
Keika served with her reverse style but Hitomi tried predicting. "Eighty percent chance that it's going to spin!"
Unfortunately, the ball shot straight up and fell behind her, causing Hitomi to freeze in her tracks.
"Thirty – love," the game soon started to become one sided.
Fuuka glanced at Shizuru. "So, you don't mind if she loses?"
"Yamaguchi-senpai's data wouldn't fail her," Shizuru quietly watched Hitomi take her place at the receiving end. "She's just analysing the next shot. Yamaguchi-senpai would never falter when it comes to geometric calculations and physics, not when it's her favourite subject."
Hitomi watched the next ball fly and with a smirk, she dashed towards it and returned it. "There was a sixty percent chance of it being a flat shot."
Snorting in annoyance, Keika dashed madly for the next shot until Hitomi volleyed it fast enough towards the corner.
"Thirty – fifteen," Hitomi smirked while pointing her racquet at Keika.
"My data never lies," Hitomi grinned evilly. "I didn't know about your reverse style though. But I've heard about a few players who do that."
Mai watched Keika flip her racquet several times. "A reverse style shows a totally different timing especially when it comes to impact. The person using a reverse style can delay it for more than two seconds at the most and hit it when the opponent is already far away from the desired direction. The technique she just did… how come I remember seeing it somewhere?"
"That's the Viking Horn," Momo watched Hitomi play against the reverse orthodox player. "It's a technique that puts a huge impact on the ball while she delays the technique. There was someone from Higa Chuu that had this technique. Mai, you saw through it didn't you?"
"It was some girl from Higa Chuu," Mai noted quietly while recalling her freshmen years. "Hikifumi-senpai played Singles against her remember?"
Haruka knew what they were talking about and it wasn't odd that they were talking about it. She knew the technique so well because of what had happened. After Osakada-senpai had to pair up with a helpless Sanada Momo, Haruka forced herself to play Singles in order to keep Hyotei in the tournament.
"That's where my Dragon's Retaliation came from," Haruka smiled inwardly to herself.
Hitomi saw the next shot coming and fired it with a forehand. Keika, sliding over, knocked the next shot as a cord ball forcing Hitomi to come forward. The volley intensified with each return, some soft and some hard. As the two started volleying faster and faster, Kiyone's eyes widened at how fast they were volleying.
"Wow," Kiyone couldn't help but gape at what she was seeing.
Ayane shook her head disbelievingly. "Wow, I didn't know senpai could volley at that speed."
"Of course she can," Rin jumped unto Haruka's back. "She just rarely shows it."
"I wanna volley like that," Kiyone sighed while Shizuru ruffled the younger girl's hair.
"I'm sure you'll be able to," Shizuru smiled kindly at the smaller girl as Keika snatched the next point from Hitomi.
"Game, Kyouza: two games to three!"
Hitomi adjusted her racquet strings while watching the ball bounce towards her. It was her serve now and the data master couldn't help but smirk. Keika countered her Moujuu Aura on the first turn and not most girls do that. They usually end up cowering in fear except a few exceptionally talented ones like Nagisaki Mai and Kurenai Shizuru. Kotetsu Naomi was another but she only took in consideration the main players in Kantou Regionals. Hitomi bounced the ball up and down before looking back at Keika who didn't seem fazed by the Moujuu Aura. Smirking, Hitomi tossed the ball up and hit a very different serve.
Spinning around weirdly, the ball curled around like a spring and landed right on the cross of the service box. Keika tried to return it but the ball zipped past her cheek landing right behind her.
"Fifteen – love," Hitomi smirked while pointing the racquet at her.
"Ninety percent says you can't return it," Hitomi pushed up her glasses. "After all, this belonged to a famous player now didn't it?"
Everyone gaped at the new service and Mai recognized it right away. "It's Echizen's Twist Serve but less lethal, interesting."
Hitomi fired another Twist Serve but Keika moved back far enough to return the shot. The two began an intense rally again and Keika slipped from one side to another without losing stamina. Hitomi could feel buckets of sweat pouring down her face already and she hadn't used anything draining. Breathing in sharply, Hitomi continued hitting the shots towards the corners and Keika began sliding left and right without breaking much of a sweat.
"Your movement's slowing down," Keika smirked while backhanding the ball. "Is there something wrong today?"
Hitomi felt her knees suddenly buckle down as she fell on one knee but still able to return another shot.
I shouldn't be buckling down like this, Hitomi recalled all the training she did. There was an eighty percent chance that the heat could be this bad. The data master of Hyotei continued rallying no matter how weak and heavy her arms felt. She recalled the times playing with her senpai in the blazing sun and stormy nights; supposedly, this was nothing. However, the heat blazed on causing Hitomi to blur in sight and miss the target from a very large margin.
"Out, fifteen all," Hitomi rubbed her eyes to see that she had hit the other bleachers.
Shizuru covered her eyes from the blazing sun. "At the most, senpai would only last another two hours."
Mai winced at the heat. "Hopefully, she wins the match and we can all go home!"
"It's not that hot," Hiyoshi snorted at the tensai. "You're just such a pampered brat."
"Please," Mai rolled her eyes. "Enlighten me, O Great Baka-Waka."
The two bickered again while most of the Hyotei regulars were wondering whether or not they would become an "item". Shizuru however kept her eyes on the game as Hitomi finally took the next point from the opponent. The second year captain couldn't help but smile at Hitomi's performance although she would have preferred if Hitomi figured out the racquet by herself rather than having Inui help her.
"She's doing well," Shizuru smiled while murmuring softly. "I'm sure she would be able to play both Singles and Doubles in the Nationals. Though, I hope she can play against Seigaku without sweating like a pig on the court. The heat's actually terrifying."
Soon, the clouds started getting thicker and thicker until thunder cracked when Hitomi sent the ball over.
"Forty – fifteen," Hitomi breathed hard while Keika readied herself for the next serve.
"I'm surprised that we're going to be playing in a storm now," Keika held out her hand. "This should be interesting."
Tossing the ball up, Hitomi fired it towards the lines again with Keika returning with solid flat returns. She knew that Keika would try something more complicated as the Hyakuren Jitoku no Kiwami made its appearance again together with a technique that had shown itself recently.
The Tsubame Gaeshi rolled straight towards Hitomi, forcing her to miss the shot.
"Forty – thirty," Hitomi tilted her glasses up while returning to the baseline.
I'm surprised that she brought out Fuji-san's technique. Not many people can replicate that move, let alone understand the concept. I know how to return it but not at that kind of speed. By using my top spin, Kyouza combined it with the Hyakuren Jitoku no Kiwami and the Tsubame Gaeshi in order to triple the return power. Now, that is a tensai style strategy, Hitomi grinned business-like at the outcome. Things are finally getting interesting to collect more data.
Keika noticed that soon, Hitomi's shots became deeper and deeper to the point of touching the exact intersection of two lines. The data master stared the next shot down as she performed the Sonic Volley right over the net.
"Game, Yamaguchi: four games to two!"
Hitomi breathed in slowly before taking another serve. Kyouza-san is taking the match quite well despite the pressure she must be feeling, Hitomi fired another backhand at her. Well, I'm amazed that she isn't freaking out but what exactly is she planning to do now?
"A tensai always has something planned up her sleeve," Keika smirked before slicing the ball as it promptly smacked the top of the net.
Darn, a cord ball, Hitomi rushed forward to return the shot back at Keika. The shots are becoming more and more complicated and the percentages are fluctuating. This is quite the match. Her racquet lowers at least five centimetres before she does the Tsubame Gaeshi. However, there are many times that she looks like that it's just going to be a cord ball. The structure of the racquet plays with the level of control therefore giving her more spin every time. Quite the tensai we have here, I wonder who designed her racquet…
"My grandfather did," Keika smiled serenely again. "Though, he kinda chose to teach in Rokkaku rather than St. Rudolph."
Tensai are the hardest to predict. Make sure you get all your data right, Hitomi dashed to the other end to make sure she could return the next reverse shot.
It's amazing how she could perform Tsubame Gaeshi with her racquet in reverse, Hitomi continued watching the ball zoom back and forth between them. Another Viking Horn came her way and Hitomi decided to stay in one place before it finally fired. The moment it cracked off, Hitomi dashed right away only forcibly lob it into the air. Keika smirked when the next shot was going to fire straight at her.
"You know, it's sad," Keika continued smiling. "You're going to force your captain to play."
"Not necessarily," Hitomi fired the ball with a forehand. "There is a seventy two percent chance that I will still win."
"Oh, your odds have decreased now?" Keika giggled softly. "Would you like to explain to me why?"
"Data would never lie to me," Hitomi spoke out of the blue. "So, it's quite simple; why should I give you the secret of my tennis to you?"
Keika shrugged while running towards the next shot. Hitomi started making a fool out of her as another shot soared over the net simply towards the corner.
"Love – fifteen," Keika smirked before preparing another serve.
It's always fun to toy with people sometimes; Keika fired a fast curve ball causing Hitomi to promptly miss the shot. Her data is what they deem 'perfect' but, there is no such thing as a perfect set of data. Data has at least a small percentage of flaws in it and I will show her now what that means…!
"Maa~, I don't see what the problem is," Keika fired another curve ball towards her. "Why can't you return it now?"
Hitomi let the ball zip past her again. She was catching up and the ball would zoom so much differently. That's definitely not the Habu, Hitomi remembered Madoka using it against the Uchiha-Nagisaki pair. The shot would have been more lethal and if this is only her twenty percent level of control then, there is something definitely wrong. I need more data…
Soon, Keika's moves became more and more unpredictable like a lob that landed exactly on the corner of the Singles Line.
"Fifteen all," Keika brushed her hair back before returning back to the baseline.
Hitomi breathed in sharply as the next shot zoomed over the net. She sent a volley towards Keika but her forehand zoomed right past her and landed right on the service box intersection.
"Thirty – fifteen," Hitomi snapped her head back at where Keika was standing as the tensai got ready for her next shot.
Otohime smirked while watching the match turn back in Hitomi's favour. There was something the data master had forgotten to consider and even though the data wouldn't lie, Otohime knew something that Hitomi had forgotten to take down.
Keika never uses her real style unless it's someone she knows she can't defeat.
Keika lobbed the next shot while Hitomi got ready to smash. However, the moment she smashed, Hitomi found the ball returning as a lob and dropping dead lock on the corner of the singles line.
"Forty – fifteen," Hitomi swivelled her head towards the direction of where the ball landed.
Keika scored another smash, bringing the control back to her.
"Game, Kyouza: three games to four!"
"She's catching up pretty fast, isn't she?" Cynthia lazily leaned against the bench. "Yamaguchi's got no chance against her now."
Madoka watched Keika forehand it fast only to have it returned by Hitomi's Sonic Volley. "Well, it's not too bad considering that Yamaguchi Hitomi is also a Zenkoku-calibre player."
"Wow, she's hitting so fast," Ume jumped up and down cheekily. "I can't believe her shots are flying faster than ever!"
"This data master's different, her data can be contorted in different ways and still work," Madoka noticed while Hitomi began shooting deep again. "I wonder how she does all those calculations in a single sitting without losing her concentration."
Hitomi's shot missed as Keika smirked after performing a super spin. "Not bad but you still have a lot more to work on."
Breathing heavily, Hitomi did her best to keep the consistency of her shots but with the sun blazing down, it seemed impossible. Her eye lids were drooping but she knew that the only way to win was through stamina. Keika wasn't too far behind and soon, sweat too began pouring all over her face. The data master stared down at the tensai as the next shot made its way through.
"Thirty – love," Keika tossed her hair back with a smirk towards Hitomi.
"Forty – love," another top spin broke through Hitomi's defences.
Kiyone gripped the handle bar. "What's senpai doing? She's throwing the game!"
"She's collecting data I think," Ayane tried to pacify the younger girl.
Momo winced at the situation. Hitomi never lost this badly to someone at the same time – the girl's data was barely wrong. Secondly, Keika never reached National Calibre level like they did and she was playing Hitomi down as if she were nothing. The rally ensued with Hitomi going on the defensive and Keika firing left and right, forcing the data girl to run. With her eyes widening, Momo watched Hitomi crash unto the ground soundly while the ball rolled past her.
"Game, Kyouza: four games all!"
"She's catching up," Haruka bit her lip while watching. "Hitomi, you better find a strategy or so God help us…"
Beginning with her service, Hitomi backhanded cross court while Keika did a top spin drop shot. Forced to move forward, Hitomi engaged into another volley and Keika began top spinning in all different angles. Hitomi watched the ball fly in different directions as Keika began to move more sluggish. Her feet dragged themselves while Hitomi noticed her vision was beginning to blur. The heat hit them harder as both their knees began to buckle down. Keika began breathing harder as Hitomi's volleys began slowing down.
"Hitomi only has thirty minutes after she completely collapses," Momo checked her watch before looking at the sun. "Man, the heat hasn't died out yet."
Inui held out a pitcher of neon green liquid. "Perhaps, my Energy Rejuvenator Hyper Remix 3.5 might be able to help her."
"Honestly, I think that will just kill her," Haruka raised an eyebrow at the bespectacled data master of Seigaku.
Hitomi forehanded the next shot across the court, landing right on the singles corner.
"Fifteen – love," Hitomi regulated her breathing before she started losing control of her limbs.
All of a sudden, Keika let go off her racquet, hearing a loud clattering on the floor. Her body trembled while sweat poured down her face and her eyes were slowly dulling. Hitomi could feel the whole world closing in on her. No matter how much she tried to stand, the world just started getting darker. However, Hitomi recalled the days when she first started her data tennis.
Flashback
"Hey, Hitomi," a taller girl called out to the smaller first year Yamaguchi Hitomi. "I hear you're working on a style of tennis?"
The smaller blonde girl nodded while she looked at an ever smiling senpai of hers extended her hand. "Shall we take a look at the tennis courts? Usually, the street tennis courts have good sources of inspiration there. For all you know, you might make up your own tennis without even knowing."
Flashback End
There's so much that still needs to be perfected. If I faint here, where does my effort go? Hitomi shook away the daze as she got ready to serve again. Tossing the ball up, she watched Keika steady herself for the next serve. She watched Keika's right side twitch visibly and Hitomi smiled at the outcome. The heat turned the tables in her favour.
"Thirty – love," the serve cracked off right in the middle when Keika relied on her right side to spring sideways.
"Doesn't that move require absolute balance?" Haruka turned to Rin who poked Mai.
"This step is known as the Carioca Step, sometimes even dancers use it but this requires good balance because you need to cross your legs," Mai remembered trying to do it. "I managed to do it only once but the one who could really do it was Midoriyama-senpai. That's why she and Momo-senpai made such a good team."
"Both of us had balance and martial arts oriented styles," Momo smiled ruefully before watching the next two serves score.
"Game, Yamaguchi: five games to four!"
Inui watched Hitomi's curly long blonde hair bounce and for some strange reason, he couldn't peel his eyes off her. Tilting his glasses, Inui tried to distract himself from other "pointless" thoughts.
Yamaguchi Hitomi, Inui began scribbling. Age: 14, Birthday is on April 15, 1992 and often times, spends her birthday quietly. Using techniques such as Sonic Volley and Ghastly Serve, Hitomi confuses her opponents with multiple calculations. Her doubles partner is often times – Uchiha Isane. Hitomi, once a Chemistry club student, was recruited by Kotetsu Naomi also known as Espada Naomi. She has beautiful curly blonde, wait, what am I saying!?
"Nyah, Inui looks so interested in Hitomi-chan, nyah," Kikumaru peeked from behind Oishi.
Tilting his glasses to conceal his blush, Inui coughed a bit to throw them off. "It's just the heat unless you want some juice Kikumaru…"
Oh yes, being the manager had its quirks.
Momoshiro noted as Keika jumped up high for the serve. "Wait a minute; I've seen that serve somewhere!"
Hitomi watched the ball descend with astounding speed. Smirking, she ran towards it and caught the serve though it was spinning heavily on her racquet.
"There was a ninety percent chance that you would use that serve," Hitomi smirked while returning it with a fast forehand. "That's the Kouho isn't it?"
"I knew it," Momoshiro jumped excitedly. "It's Sengoku's Tiger Cannon! But seriously, I didn't know she could do that!"
The ball flew over but Keika managed to repel it back easily with a backhand. Hitomi dashed to the side with a powerful forehand zooming towards the other side while Keika managed to run it down and lob it as a drop shot. Seeing it coming down, Hitomi prepared for a smash until she noticed a certain rotation in the ball.
"It won't go over," Hitomi tossed her blonde hair back. "Not with that weak spin you just gave me."
Fair enough, the shot didn't go over. It simply slid down the net and rolled limply towards Keika.
"Love – fifteen," Keika sighed before preparing for another Kouho.
As the Kouho flew over, Hitomi ran towards it for a volley while Keika sliced it straight down for an under spin. Anticipating the next shot, Hitomi sent it over easy with a top spin while Keika added more spin to the previous shot. Hitomi saw the ball bounce awkwardly towards her and slammed it hard over the net by a few inches.
The lower I can do it, the better, the data master watched Keika split step to hit the ball while Hitomi began rallying normally. Watching Keika's footwork change drastically, Hitomi recalled the data about Split Step almost immediately. After all, if there was someone who could give her good data on that it was their very own dancing genius Nagisaki Mai.
"The Split Step may reduce your reaction time down to a mere decimal but that doesn't mean it's impossible to catch," Hitomi slammed the ball across. "The Split Step, depending on your size, would only cut one third of your normal reaction time thus making some changes to the percentages."
"It's still quite an achievement," Keika smiled before backhanding it over. "Don't you think so?"
"I think it's rather useless," Hitomi smirked before smiling all business-like. "After all, data doesn't lie and from my calculations, ninety nine percent says that your Split Step will not even score you a single point."
"Oh," Keika showed no intimidation. "Okay then, let's test that theory."
From the Split Step, Keika revealed the Carioca step thus making a different change to her style. She knew that Hitomi already knew how to deal with both steps but that didn't mean she knew how to deal with her per say. Keika's eyes flashed a bit when she saw Hitomi darting to another side.
"We're back to the reverse style now are we?" Keika mumbled before firing another shot. "You couldn't return this one before!"
The shot was badly delayed scoring another point from Hitomi, "Fifteen – all!"
Shizuru watched Hitomi pass the ball back and forth as the shots became more delayed. However, the thing was that Keika wasn't exerting that much effort as if the game didn't matter to her. The next shot was scored by her Viking Horn followed by Hitomi's Sonic Volley.
Atobe on the other hand had dragged Ayane all the way to a badminton court. The said vice captain didn't even understand but Atobe knew that she wasn't going to listen even if he did explain it to her. However, the king of Hyotei Gakuen knew that if there was one way to make her listen to him: it was to beat her in her own game. Handing her a thin racquet, Atobe nodded to her.
"So, shall we have a game?" Atobe smirked while tossing his hair back.
Ayane stared quizzically. "You don't play badminton, you moron."
"Well," Atobe got on to one side. "Ore-sama thinks you should go on that side of the court and start."
Snatching the racquet, Ayane began with a light service followed by Atobe flicking his wrist and sending the shot over. Ayane knew that footwork wasn't her strong point but she managed to send hard shots that had Atobe sprinting left and right. If she can't run that fast then, Atobe would have to do all the running.
He's surprisingly good for someone who's played tennis more than badminton, Ayane noted before slamming the next shot in.
Atobe gave her the Hamutsu e no Rondo quite easily followed by a few fast shots. Though he felt this was ridiculous, Atobe recalled the conversation with Shizuru and what she knew about Ayane.
If there is one thing about Kobayagi, the only way to make her submit to you is to beat her at her own game.
Atobe didn't like breaking Ayane's pride (secretly thinking that her pride was what made her so beautiful in the first place) but he had to make her submit somehow. Atobe recalled trying everything and nothing seemed to work. Oishi wasn't even breaking a sweat over it and they were laughing together already. Marui also seemed to be competition and Atobe couldn't help but growl at each of their images in his mind.
Oh how nice would it be if I could just shut them up.
That sentence repeated itself again and again in his head. Atobe didn't want to kick them out of the scene but they were being too friendly with Ayane already. The vice captain practically didn't care whether or not Atobe had feelings for him. Before he could continue with that trail of thought, Devil Atobe and Angel Atobe appeared on his shoulder, arguing.
Come on, what's ore-sama's problem? Just knock the racquet out a few times.
Ore-sama earns her with respect, not with humiliation, Keigo.
Who gives a crap about respect? Just beat the hell out of her and use it in a bet!
Ayane's probably like that becauseore-sama's ego sometimes is a bit too big.
What do you mean "too big"? We have every right to be arrogant! Ore-sama no bigi ni yoina!
Arn~, ore-sama shouldn't think that way.After all, Ayane is a bit fragile and delicate.
Delicate my ass, she's Hercules.
Atobe couldn't believe that he had two of these consciences peeking over his shoulder while he played against Ayane. The score was even since they both agreed to a fifteen point match. However, Atobe then remembered that he hadn't informed Ayane about the bet. So, with a smirk, Atobe fired the shuttle cock straight down.
"Wait," Atobe returned to the receiving end. "Before we continue, let's make a bet."
Ayane smirked while twirling her racquet. "Bring it on but I'm not answering to your whims because I'm going to win!"
How sure are you, Ayane? Atobe smirked to himself while the Devil Atobe was beside himself with glee. The King of Hyotei quickly smashed the ball straight down forcing her to lob the shot again. Atobe knew one thing and that was in badminton, there were rarely any rallies. Seeing the ball high enough, Atobe jumped up while targeting her wrist.
Take her down, ore-sama!
"ORE-SAMA NO BIGI NI YOINA," Atobe smirked and smashed the shuttle cock against her wrist causing her to wince a bit and fumble. He only needed to do it once though in tennis it was better off being done twice. Seeing the points add up, Ayane was just three points away from winning the bet.
"Darn," Ayane scowled before throwing her racquet into her bag. "Alright, name your price, mole diva."
Atobe contemplated on it for a moment, watching her anxious face break into a cold sweat.
She's so cute when she's anxious.
"Ore-sama," Atobe scratched his chin a bit, smirking. "Ore-sama wants you to be his girlfriend for a month which means, no interacting with Seigaku or Rikkai Dai."
"Wha," Ayane stared at him agape. She prayed that Atobe said wrong.
You're dead sister; he said the words you regret.
Ayane's eyes widened with horror while she processed everything in her head. Atobe didn't just say what she thinks he just said and the king of Hyotei didn't have a joking face either. His icy blue eyes glinted with all the firmness and seriousness in that decision alone. Ayane, trembling a bit, bit her lip until she realized that the buchou of Hyotei wasn't joking.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS!? NO WAY IN HELL," Ayane backed off before shaking her head in disgust. "There's no way in hell that will make me your girlfriend!"
"Ore-sama won the bet didn't he?" Atobe furrowed his brows at the first year. "So, since he won – you will have to obey ore-sama."
Ayane clenched her fists. "What the hell is that!? You should have at least informed me!"
"Ore-sama did inform you," Atobe shrugged, smirking. "Ore-sama thinks that you just didn't hear it and decided to abruptly cut him off."
Ayane, inwardly growling at herself, decided to stick to her word and honour the bet. "Fine," –she growled. "But only for a week."
"A month," Atobe corrected while smirking at the gaping vice captain. "You will do whatever a real girlfriend does, including the calls and making the bento."
"But you have five star chefs," Ayane spluttered. "What do you need me for?"
"Ore-sama sometimes needs a break from luxury food," Atobe smirked before walking out. "So, shall we go, Ayane?"
Ayane, muttering a string of curses, followed behind Atobe while sweetly smiling. "Yes I'm coming, Atobe."
"It's Keigo," Atobe teased her a bit. "As ore-sama's girlfriend, you should be calling him 'Keigo'."
"Game and match, Yamaguchi: six games to four!"
Hitomi, breathing heavily, dragged her feet to the bench before opening her water jug. She smiled inwardly after collecting all that valuable data about Kyouza Keika but now, what bugged her was: why was Inui looking at her so intently while scribbling on his notebook?
In collecting data, you shouldn't get distracted by other things; Hitomi smirked at Seigaku's data man who in turn hid his face in the notebook again.
Haruka stared at the neon green liquid. "For crying out loud, how do you digest that stuff?"
"It's vegetable juice. I'm sure it won't kill me," Hitomi inhaled sharply after closing her water jug.
"It was a good match although," Sakaki shaded his eyes from the glaring sun. "Next time, bring a cap to cover your eyes otherwise your glasses will be glaring at everyone."
"It worked to my advantage though," Hitomi shrugged while opening her notebook. "Though, I'm pretty sure that there was only a 56.89 percent chance of it being this blazing."
Kiyone wiped away her sweat. "Well, what do you expect? It's El Niño!"
"What?" All the regulars stared at her agape.
"It's what people call extreme heat at a certain point in summer climate," Shizuru rolled up her sleeves. "That's what happens after a lot of global warming."
"Speaking of which," Rin snickered while watching a furious Ayane stomp towards them. "I think someone just got spazzed by the global warming."
Ayane, burning with rage, hissed while pointing at Atobe. "That idiot…! Rrrr," Ayane slammed the wall with her fist.
Kiyone looked at both sides of her ears. "I think there's steam coming out of each side."
"ARGH, ATOBE KEIGO," Ayane screamed into the sky. "I HATE YOU!"
Atobe however had a sense of satisfaction while starting to think of ways how to get Ayane to fall over. However, the match then didn't proceed as the score was announced.
"Game, Hyotei Gakuen: three games to one!"
The whole Hyotei student body cheered and roared loudly while the girls' team met with the other side while bowing to one another.
"Thank you for the match!" Both teams chorused at one another.
Seigaku's female captain however, snorted a bit after seeing that Shizuru won't play anymore since St. Rudolph was now in a ridiculous situation. Fuuka watched Shizuru coach the others while glancing back at her own team. Shibuya Rangiku watched the members chatter with each other excitedly while she eyed Sanada Momo.
Hm, Fuuka watched the members start discussing about the next line-up. I didn't know Kurenai was this strict. Shibuya can hold her end but what about Ryuuzaki? This is her first year here and she practically has Vera commanding her on what to do. Kiyone and Ayane function like a single human and that's why they've won. Sanada's been evolving and so has the Dragon Pair but why, why?
Why can't I evolve?
Fuuka's fist clenched when she saw the next game come up.
Hyotei Gakuen vs. Taishaku Fuzoku Chuu
Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku Chuu vs. Ramusen Gakuen
Jyosei Shounan vs. Kasumi Daiyon
Seishun Gakuen vs. Rokkaku Chuu
Hyotei Gakuen's dominating that fast, Fuuka turned away with a snort. I'll beat you this time, just you wait.
Watching Fuuka walk away, Fuji tapped Tezuka. "Saa~, how ironic – both Seigaku and Hyotei have the same rivalry."
"Aa," Tezuka smiled a bit when he saw the sun glint off Shizuru's reddish brown hair (that's the colour of my hair really).
Fuji opened his eyes while watching Tezuka's eyes focus on Hyotei's captain. He knew that this affection towards Shizuru was growing a lot stronger than Tezuka ever imagined but, the captain remained completely dense. Well, both captains didn't seem to know a thing or two about it.
Perhaps, a little push should do the trick, Fuji smiled sinisterly and followed behind the other Seigaku members.
-That's chapter 20! Please review!