Impressions

She was a captain herself, the captain of the girls' tennis team, even. And somehow, she had managed to impress the Child of God.

The first time had been during her match with the captain of Seigaku.

He'd watched the sweat dripping front her forehead. The desperate look she wore when she fought to return shot after shot. How, even when she'd collapsed on the court, she'd picked herself up and got back into position. How, she'd still kept playing when she'd dislocated her playing arm.

He realized, she was strong.

The second time had been on a damp night, the aftermath of a day of rain, under the florescent glow of streetlights.

He had been walking along, thinking to himself about that day's homework, when he'd heard a scream. He looked around, and had eventually seen her, standing and facing up to three thugs, a little girl behind her. He'd thought to help her, he really did. But, then, she'd started talking, and he'd stopped—because he wanted to hear what she had to say.

Afterwards, he'd approached her.

"Did you know her? That girl?" he'd asked.

She shook her head and then smiled up at him. "Do I need to know someone to help them?"

And in that moment, he realized, she was compassionate.

Then, it had been during the girls' team's defeat at Nationals to Hyōtei.

He remembered he had look over to the courts. And she was standing there in front of her team, her hair sticking to her sweat-soaked face, detached yet so close. Her eyes had blazed with defiance and determination as she talked.

"We won't stay down," she said. "We're Rikkai Dai."

And Yukimura found that he couldn't find more inspiring words.

Strong, compassionate, inspiring, Yukimura thought as he watched her work, wondering if she would impress him a fourth time.

A/N: So, yeah, this is it. I know it just ended and stuff; however, worry not. The awesome Drops of Azure has written a fic based off of this told from the OC's POV. It's called A Step Behind and sheds more light on their relationship. You can see it here: s/10126065/1/A-Step-Behind

D'you see it? If not, just look it up if you want to read it.