Notes: The omake includes some Shishido/Ohtori, so if you object to that, I'd suggest ignoring it entirely.

OMAKE: Meanwhile, at Hyotei

"You were turned down by a girl?" Mukahi asked gleefully.

"Don't worry about it," Oshitari said. "It's not like it never happened before. It's happened to all of us."

"Not to me," Atobe said.

"You've never been turned down by anyone before?" Mukahi asked incredulously.

"No," Atobe said. "Right, Kabaji?"

Instead of the usual agreement, there was only silence in reply.

"Right, Kabaji?" Atobe repeated.

Kabaji watched him mutely. Then held up an index finger. "Once," he said.

"What?"

"Tachibana An," Kabaji added.

Atobe frowned. "Who?"

"Tachibana An. Sister of Tachibana Kippei. Goes to Fudomine. Pretty decent tennis player, too," Oshitari said.

"And smart enough to turn you down," Shishido said appreciatively. "Anyway, what's so special about this girl that turned you down this time to cause such a thoughtful mood?"

Atobe was silent for a while. "She kicked me in the shin," he finally confessed.

Shishido and Mukahi burst out laughing. Oshitari covered his mouth with his hand.

"She's got spirit," Atobe said defensively. "I like that!"

"What did you do to the girl anyway?" Hiyoshi asked.

"Nothing special. I just told her that I'd pick her up for a date at seven this Friday."

"You didn't think of asking her first? Should have known." Hiyoshi snorted, and headed out.

"Asking her..." Atobe repeated thoughtfully.

"Works every time," Ohtori confirmed. "Like this." He looked down at Shishido, whose head was in his lap, and knocked on his forehead. "Shishido-san, want to go out tonight for a movie?"

"Sure," Shishido said.

Ohtori beamed happily at him, and then turned to Atobe. "See?" he said

"You two," Atobe declared derisively, "are disgusting."

"Well," Shishido said, jumping up and reaching his hand out to pull up Ohtori as well. "At least we have dates." The two of them headed out of the locker room, hands still clasped together.

The rest of the troop soon followed, Atobe at the rear. "Asking, huh," he mumbled thoughtfully to himself, watching Shishido's and Ohtori's backs as they headed off.