Crazy Love

Chapter 10: Fudoumine

All of the Seigaku team is now gathered together, awaiting the announcement of their next opponent. Horio, Mizuno, and Katou then come running to them.

"What's up with them?" Akia asks.

"Ah, we asked them to go check on the game to see who we'll be facing," Momoshiro answers.

Akia pouts while remembering how she walked away from the match because of the girl who pissed her off.

"So, who are we meeting in the finals?" Oishi asks the three freshmen.

"Fudoumine Junior High!" Katou replies.

"Fudoumine Junior High," Kawamura repeats, not believing what he just heard, "the same one that had to withdraw last year?"

"Huh?" The three freshmen exclaim.

"Withdraw?" Akia asks, wanting some clarifications.

"Apparently it was because of an incident involving violence," Fuji answers her with his usual smile.

"How can you smile while saying that?" Akia giggles.

"How can I not smile when answering our cute manager?" Fuji says, with the same expression.

"C-Cute...?" Akia whispers as she feels her face get hotter.

Eiji frowns at the sight and elbows Fuji in his side.

"Ah...!" Fuji interjects at the sudden blow. "I guess someone is not happy about what I said."

"Oi, Fuji!" Eiji screams at him, trying to shut him up.

All Fuji does is chuckle, since he's been aware of Eiji and Akia's feelings towards each other. He knows how annoyed Eiji gets when another guy gets close to Akia, and he just loved to tease him.

Inui then also arrives, holding his tennis notebook.

"I went to scout out Fudoumine's match," he informs everyone.

"Why did that girl only bother me then?" Akia grumbles.

"What girl?" Momoshiro asks.

"No one! It makes angry just to think about it..."

Inui explains to everyone how Fudoumine is completely different from last year. He tells them how everyone on the team are new members, except for their captain.

"The key factor of their success is the masterful leadership of their captain Tachibana Kippei," Inui continues, "also, the six unknown second year members beat Kakinoki in straight sets."

After his explanation, everyone becomes silent until Fuji is the one to break that silence.

"The final... doesn't seem like it'll be easy."

"But if it's Seigaku, there should be no problem against a beginner!" Horio interjects. "We'll crush them and win the tournament."

"Hey... Horio-kun..." Mizuno puts his hand on Horio's shoulder and tries to get his attention.

"It's okay, let me talk!" Horio shrugs off Mizuno's hand. "Seigaku can't lose to unseeded, unknown players."

"Hey, listen to me." Mizuno puts his hand once more on Horio's shoulder with a more forceful tone.

Horio shrugs him off again. "What is it? You're being annoying!"

He then turns around to face Mizuno and give him a piece of his mind, only to finally realize why he was trying to get his attention.