Disclaimer: Only won the OCs ;D.

PARTS IN ITALIC ARE EXTRACTS FROM INUI'S NOTES!!!

Integration

If there was ever a fearsome sight, so terrible as to inspire horror and sorrow in all of Seigaku, that sight was Sadaharu Inui about to test a new theory, be it liquid or not. Yet, the real threat of that person was only fully understood by the Seigaku Boys Tennis Team, consisting of merely an urban legend to the rest of school. So, the girls weren't really concerned about how he would conduct the first integrated train.

Smash: On how to strike a face and Inui's most terrible assignment!

Day 1

Teams defined:

Singles 1: Tezuka Kunimitsu and Murasaki Ren

Singles 2: Fuji Syusuke and Shiratori Masumi

Singles 3: Echizen Ryoma and Jukodo Madoka

Singles 3: Kawamura Takashi and Ono Yuka

Doubles 1A: Kikumaru Eiji and Eguchi Ayumi

Doubles 1B: Oishi Syuichirou and Arishima Jun

Doubles 2A: Kaidou Kaoru and Mifune Eri

Doubles 2B: Momoshiro Takeshi and Yanagimoto Shizuka

Inui, after re-reading the teams definitions, closed his notebook and smiled pleasantly at the rather large group before him. Although expressions ranged from indifferent to utter discontentment, all seemed joy to himself. Here was an urgent problem, demanding great sacrifices so that the objective (that is, a strong team) could be achieved. Of course, the sacrifice part had none to do with him.

Hence the sadistic smile.

"Oi! Stop smiling like that and say what we have to do already!" Momoshiro exploded (both in temper and cold sweat), no longer being able to hold his anxiousness. Shizuka stole a rather uneasy glance at her partner, politely folding her hands in front of her.

"Patience, my friend..." Inui answered, his smile broadening. "As far as singles go, I'll ask only that you do your usual practice together with your partner. For now." He added, noticing the intense relief that emanated from the singles boys. "However, for doubles..."

Inui watched, enjoying the anxious looks and imagining the moment when the girls indifferent expressions would change. That change of attitude, he thought, was essential to determine their personalities and predict how the relationship between the pairs would go.

"For doubles, I shall bring out...The ropes!"

Arishima Jun: Was not surprised. Probably thought this was a natural course of action, a crash-lesson on the new partners.

Yanagimoto Shizuka: Seemed uneasy. Perhaps worried that Momoshiro's weight and height, plus loud behavior, would be dangerous to her small build.

P.S: Worried proved correct.

Mifune Eri: Excited. Excited at the new challenge or being tied up to Kaidou?

Note to self: Research on female crushing.

Eguchi Ayumi: Jaw dropped. Then, expression darkened. From dropping jaw to Jaws.

"Jun-chan, this is ridiculous!"

"Oh, c'mon, we had to do the same thing when we were paired up together." Jun replied patiently. Ayumi looked at her in desperation.

"But I don't mind you! He's my sworn nemesis!"

"Oi, oi...Don't go around calling perfectly fine people 'nemesis', Ayu-chan." Jun sighed, patting the other girl's head. "Now, let's go join them like normal, professional tennis players."

Ayumi pouted, crossing her arms tightly. Even though she didn't like Eiji, Jun had brought up, without really making it explicit, the sore spot of the girl's team. Whereas the boys team received plenty of attention and were hauled as heroes by the students, the girls were greatly unknown, despite their good results. Even financial support was on way different levels. The girl didn't like the integration idea, but no one could deny it was the best chance to even out the teams, both in the supporting and financial aspect.

So, Ayumi approached Eiji reluctantly, following Jun's lead as the tall girl greeted Oishi on her usual, mellow behavior. Eiji offered her an uncertain smile, but Ayumi ignored it. Slumping, the boy watched as Inui handed each pair a long rope and inwardly groaned. When it came to their turn, the dark-haired boy's grin grew considerably wicked.

"Here, tie them up around your ankle."

Impressions on first day of doubles training:

D-2B: Momoshiro/Yanagimoto: Great difference in speed, partly due to leg length. Yanagimoto has better precision in her shots, but her shy disposition still has to find balance with Momoshiro's personality.

D-2A:Kaidou/Mifune: Problems in leadership. Both have strong tempers and Mifune's carefree nature clashes with Kaidou. (Suspicion that she was excited by being tied to Kaidou increased).

D-1B: Oishi/Arishima: Best results. Oishi's precision, plus Arishima's strength, complemented each other well, although there's room for improvement.

D-1A: Eiji/Eguchi: Catastrophic. Eiji's acrobatics ended up by dragging Eguchi down to the ground. She showed great protectiveness over her manicure, since realizing the fall made her break one nail compelled her to smack Eiji with her racket.

Integration

"Does it still hurt?"

"Yes. Is it still swollen?"

"Only a little." Oishi replied uneasily, hoping Eiji would buy it.

"It feels like I'm growing a second head."

'Looks like it, too' Oishi thought, examining the other boy's cheek.

"Mou, I knew that girl was evil!" Eiji groaned angrily, kicking a peeble.

"Well...Did you really have to jump that far? You know she isn't used to playing with you."

"But did she have to hit me?!"

"No, no..." Oishi sighed, then smiled comfortingly. "But, hey, training is over! We can go home and rest!"

"Yeah, yeah..." Eiji shrugged, crestfallen. No matter what anyone said, he couldn't get his spirits up. How could he rest knowing that tomorrow, after school, he would have another round against Eguchi-of-a-Thousand-Glares? "Y'know what bugs me the most? I can't remember doing anything to get on her bad side!"

"Hmm...When was the first time you spoke to her?"

"I guess during the first year. We have been always in the same class, ever since high school began. She was normal then, but one day she just turned vicious." The burgundy-haired boy answered, scratching his nose. "Looking back, her attitude towards me has actually improved over the years, but it turned bad again with this integration thing."

Oishi smiled, "Maybe she's in love with you."

"OI! Don't even joke about something scary like that!" Eiji shouted in shock, halting. "I'd rather drink Inui's juice!" He completed, while Oishi laughed.

"Don't worry too much, Eiji. Tomorrow will be better, I'm sure."

Integration

Eiji stretched, a broad smile on his face, as he walked to school. The sky was completely blue, without any clouds, making the sun the only round, white-hot 'imperfection'. When the wind blew by, leafs would twirl down from the tall trees lining the way to the school's main building. It was just the kind of day he found invigorating, making Eiji feel good beyond normal. "Hey, Fuji!" He shouted and waved, seeing the other boy a little ahead turn in acknowledgement. "Morning!"

"Good morning." The tensai replied with his usual smile. "How are you feeling?"

"Awesome!" Eiji grinned, adjusting the bag where he carried his training stuff. "How was your train yesterday?"

"Oh, it'll get better. From what I hear, it probably went more smoothly than yours."

For the first time that day, Eiji frowned. "I'll say." He grunted, automatically touching his cheek. "Who knew Eguchi could hit like this with such thin arms?"

"Look at it from the bright side: At least you know she's not going to drop her racket."

"Ha ha, I'm so relieved." Eiji replied ironically as they entered the classroom. His eyes went over to Ayumi's desk. Although her things were already there, the girl was nowhere to be seen.

"Hey, Fuji! Kikumaru! Is it really true you guys are training together with the girls now?" Makoto Honda, another classmate, asked the duo as they sat down. Refusing to deal any longer about the only subject that could cloud his mood at that point, Eiji let Fuji deal with the answer.

"Yes, Honda-kun."

"Wow! Does Eguchi really play? How does she manage, with all that production?"

"Oh, she manages it just fine." Eiji replied, despite himself, unable to fully hide the annoyance from his voice. Makoto blinked at him, unused by the cheerful boy's mood.

"Are you the one she's playing with?"

"Yeah. Fuji's playing with Shiratori Masumi." Eiji said, trying to divert the topic from him again.

"Oh! Shiratori-san! She looks like a model!" Makoto grinned mischievously, while Fuji chuckled and replied he hadn't really been paying attention to that. "Oi, Kikumaru! Is that why you're so bummed? Don't be so greedy, Eguchi's not bad either!" Makoto teased, not noticing how Eiji's expression darkened.

"Not too bad, you say?" Eiji grinned darkly.

"Yeah...I mean, she's more pretty than, y'know, breath-taking, but hey! She's fun."

Fuji, who had been listening to that exchange while minding the door, suddenly turned to the ticking bomb Eiji had turned into but, as rarely as that happened, wasn't fast enough.

"That Ayumi Eguchi is the ugliest girl I've ever seen! And she can't keep up with me to save her life!" Eiji said loudly, scoffing.

Integration

"Nice print, idiot."

Eiji ignored Ayumi's 'greeting' as she walked to the other side of the court, focusing instead on his warm-up. His cheek still tingled from her earlier slap and Makoto's uneasy and desperate attempt to lighten up the mood with his little 'Wow! Eguchi could just stop using a racket and slap back the balls!' only made matters worse.

"Is her hand-"

"Still printed in red all over your face? Yeah." Oishi answered Eiji's whispered question. "Why would you say something like that knowing she could walk in any minute?"

"I don't know what got over me." Eiji pouted miserably, "I never say stuff like that."

Oishi sighed. "Just forget it. Let's have a good practice today!" He smiled, trying to cheer his friend up. Eiji's smile was weak, but it was already a beginning. Leaving his former pair to finish his warm-up, the vice-captain went over to Jun. "Hey, Jun."

The girl looked down at him and grinned "Yo, Oishi. What's up?"

"Is Ayumi still mad at Eiji?"

"About this morning or mad in general?"

Oishi sweat-dropped. "This morning".

"Nah, I don't think so." The girl answered, stretching her arms. "Listen, I know she's been acting pretty lame. She knows it, too. She just doesn't like him, and I guess it'll take some getting-used time before she's more pleasant, y'know? Some girls are freaky like that."

"Right." Oishi nodded, staring at Ayumi. She was whispering something in Sakuno's ear, giggling when the later blushed furiously. Curious, he watched as Ayumi made an encouraging, eager face and Sakuno nodded, slowly making her way to Ryoma.

"N-Ne...R-Ryoma-kun?"

The boy turned his golden eyes inquisitively to the stuttering girl, who seemed to make a great personal effort before adding:

"C-Can you help me warm-up?"

Ryoma stared at her, ignoring her fidgeting. "Sure." He shrugged, proceeding to help Sakuno as if he were helping Horio or something. Oishi sweat-dropped, marveled by Ryoma's innocence. He noticed Ayumi shaking her head in the background, half-dismayed, half-amused.

"See?" Jun said, "She's not that bad."

Integration

"Gather up, everyone!" Inui called, after the uneventful practice (mostly because it had been more of a physical prep one than game playing) was over. "This was a good practice, but it's not over yet."

"Eh?! What are you talking about, senpai?" Momoshiro asked, voicing most of their thoughts.

"Basically, there's still ways to go as far as knowing your partner goes." Inui replied, smiling. "Since that kind of knowledge comes only from interaction, communication and since we also don't have that much time to do such things as we would like to...I have homework to all of you. Of course, this has already been discussed with coaches and both captains." He paused, but the worry from both teams turned them speechless.

"Well, this is it: Each person will spend this weekend with his or hers pair. Saturday is the day for one of them to do whatever they like, and Sunday is for the other one to choose. I'll interview each pair and ask for proof."

"So, basically..." Masumi Shiratori asked quietly, "You're telling us to go on dates?"

"Only if you choose to look at it that way." Inui replied, smiling brightly.

Eiji groaned, stealing a glance at Ayumi. This time, however, the girl was too shocked to glare at him.

~End of Chapter Three~

Chapter Four Preview:

"Oishi, what is this place?!"

"I think we're underdressed." Oishi answered stiffly, watching as Ayumi and Jun made their way toward them.

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