Damn Akaya is such a mercurial character... I don't know whether to like him or slap him. >_<;;; Everyone is wondering how Fuji can play without sight and it's 4-4 Fuji. Ryuzaki-sensei comments that now, Fuji has surpassed Tezuka! This answers those "Who is stronger, Fuji or Tezuka?" debates on the forums... Though this is current Fuji compared to pre-injury Tezuka. The buchou might have gotten stronger in Kyuushuu. Fuji gets another game, 5-4. Akaya was like "dammit, how can I lose a second time." Now for the FLASHBACK.

Aka entered the champion school Rikkai with one ambition: to be the No. 1 of the No. 1 school. But his ambition was broken by the 3 geniuses (Rikkai Troika). The scene has Aka sprawling on the ground, panting while the Troika stands in the bg on the other side of the net.

First year Aka-chan yells "Dammit I'll definitely defeat/crush/finish you three! I'm No. 1!"

In response, Sanada calls him a moron, Renji doesn't say anything and of course Yukimura responds positively. XD; He's like "He's really a new addition to look forward to." And from that profile picture, I see NO Sememura. So I'm just going to take Sememura as a fluke...

Aka: /I want to defeat the 3 geniuses to become No. 1/

Well he has a negative version of genius... I can't see the katakana because the japanese version was too small but from the kanji, I think he's saying "damn geniuses" XD;;;

Aka thinks back to the match against Ryoma and he's determined to catch up to Ryoma so he can challenge the Troika again. Aka drags his racket on the ground to distract/confuse Fuji. Fuji thinks that Akaya's concentration/spirit is really something. He thinks that if he defeats Aka, he might be able to ascend to a higher level.

Due to Aka's renewed fervor, it's now 5-5 Kirihara. Then 6-5 Fuji. Renji mentions that Akaya's eyes are getting congestion. @_@ Technical term is hyperaemia. Chapter ends with both saying how they have to win.

Things revealed in this chapter:

1. (current)Fuji is stronger than (pre-injury)Tezuka
2. Akaya's ambition is to be the best and to defeat the Troika
3. Akaya is cuter now than when he was in first year

I hate how I have to keep rethinking Akaya's relationship with his senpai-tachi. >_<;;; 215 showed us that he has some sort of camaderie toward Renji or it could be that he hates Sanada's bitchslaps that he doesn't want Renji to go through with it too... but this chapter, I get the feeling that he somehow resents the Troika because they stand in his way of being No. 1. BUT I do like how the Troika responded to Aka's outburst. Sanada with annoyance, Yuki with amusement, and Renji with neutrality. Hmm I guess this chapter could give the YukiKiri/KiriYuki pairing plot bunnies...

Both Fuji and Akaya are bent on winning and neither is letting down... Wouldn't it be a slap in Seigaku fans' face if Akaya happen to win in the end? Oh well we'll see. :3