A/N: Hope you like this chap! ^ ^

Disclaimer: I don't own POT

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"Eh? Amane-san why…?" Sakuno asked. She didn't want to forfeit. This was the nationals for crying out loud. She wanted to win.

"Sakuno-san, you twisted your ankle, didn't you?" Amane said. Her back was to Sakuno. Sakuno didn't answer. 'So Amane-san noticed…' Sakuno thought. When she got up, her ankle was stinging in pain so getting up was a bit hard to do. Sakuno could barley move from her spot and her ankle was shaking a bit from the pain.

"We can't go one any further." Amane said. She was worried about Sakuno. She is a part of their 'family' so it was natural to care for her.

"No." Sakuno spoke up. Everyone was surprised. All the girls looked at Sakuno who had on a determined face – one that made her seem like she could take up any challenge. They all have trained with this girl. She used to complain that the menu would be too hard. She would train hard despite it all. They knew she was strong but they never thought she would go this far just to continue playing.

Katou smiled at her. 'So she's got more courage.' Katou thought to herself. 'But you're going to need more than that to win Sakuno.' She added in her head.

"You can't go any further and even if we continue, you'd only be hurting your ankle more and then you won't be able to play." Amane tried to reason. Her words were true. Sakuno might risk really hurting her ankle and she may not even be able to practice later on.

"Amane-san, I've wanted to play more than anyone else. I've trained along with everyone else. I'm not going to back down not when I'm already this far." Sakuno whispered with determination in her tone.

Amane looked at Katou for an answer. She wanted to support Sakuno's decision but she also wanted Sakuno to stop. Katou looked at Sakuno and then nodded. Amane called for a time-out and then went to go talk to Katou.

"Captain Katou, Sakuno-san's ankle…" Amane began.

"I already know but Sakuno's right. It's her decision to continue. I have no say in whether or not she wants to play but I am the captain. I'm giving both of you guys ten minutes. If you don't finish within that time limit then you're forfeiting automatically, 'kay?" Katou looked stern at first but then softened into a smile at Amane and then she winked at Sakuno.

Sakuno smiled back at her. Amane stared at Katou and glanced back at Sakuno. She was really worried. 'If Sakuno-san is serious then I guess I'll have to help out…' Amane walked over to Sakuno.

"Sakuno-san, let's trade rackets." Amane suggested.

"Eh? Why?" Sakuno asked.

"Trust me on this."

"Okay."

Amane and Sakuno switched rackets. Sakuno almost didn't want to because that racket is special to her. She remembered when she first got it. That was a precious memory she would never forget as long as she had that racket.

"Be careful with it." Sakuno told Amane. Amane smiled. She knew how precocious the racket was to Sakuno. It was practically written all over her face. Amane did this for a reason. She knew of some sort of psychological plan. Since the racket she was holding is special to Sakuno, if Amane takes it away for a short time, then near the ending, Amane would give it back and Sakuno would feel more in charge. That was the plan.

"Don't worry. I'll take extra care of it so worry about how you are going to play with your ankle."

Sakuno already thought about it. She decided that she would stay on the baseline, right at the center, and not move from there unless it was absolutely necessary. They only needed to play one more game to win. Their opponent served. They were still aiming for Sakuno. Luckily, Sakuno was more prepared for this. She only slightly moved to return the ball.

Their opponents switched targets and then aimed a ball for Amane's face. Amane couldn't stop the ball but she could counter it. Amane hit the ball while lightly spinning it in the opposite direction. She did her famous timed drop shot. Their opponent couldn't reach it in time. They continued this until they stole two more points.

Amane switched rackets with Sakuno. She felt as though Sakuno should have her racket because she had a strange feeling that they would win the match if she returned it by this time.

"Che."

"Don't worry. Let's go for that girl again."

"You're right. She's injured."

"Yeah, if we take her out then it's an automatic default."

They were talking in foreign language so Neither Amane or Sakuno could understand what they were plotting. Amane did notice that they were snickering at her and Sakuno. 'Are they going after Sakuno-san again…well then, I'll just have to end this match quickly.' Amane smiled at Sakuno.

Sakuno also noticed her opponents' snicker. She wasn't going to lose and she somehow knew that Amane was going to defend her but Sakuno wouldn't back down. She was going to fight back.

Her opponents began to aim for Sakuno as their main target again. This time, Sakuno was ready for their shots and since she didn't have to move, she could hit the ball back without injuring her ankle further. Amane wanted to help Sakuno because she looked like she was in pain and Sakuno was in pain.

Just by standing in that same spot for too long and still add pressure to her foot and even if she shifted her weight to her good foot, the pressure would be too much. Her ankle was already throbbing and she didn't even move but she is still exerting pressure on her foot. She can't really lessen it or move around too much anyway.

They fought for the last point. It was 40 - 40 all. Amane needed to get the last point. She wanted to help Sakuno for her determination. Their opponent served and Amane quickly returned it. Her opponents didn't want to give up so easily. They dragged out the match by turning the last point into a rally.

'Just one more point!' all four girls thought in unison.

Sakuno was the most determined. 'Ryoma-kun…Ryoma-kun played 2nd singles against Shinji Ibu and won despite his eye injury so…I can win too even with my ankle throbbing in pain.' Sakuno thought. She looked at her red racket and instantly remembered the day when she saw Ryoma play against Shinji and won. She hugged her red racket while thinking of him. She smiled. She had a strong feeling that she would win.

'I can win. Watch over me Ryoma-kun.' Sakuno thought.

Amane missed the ball and it was heading towards Sakuno. Sakuno held her racket properly. Sakuno took a deep breath and ran. She then slides towards the net, jumps, and smashes the ball causing it to bounce into two consecutive arcs which form the shape of an uppercase 'B'.

"Drive B." Sakuno whispered.

"Whoa, total Echizen transformation!" Katou pointed out.

"What do you mean by that?" Sakamoto asked.

"Well, I always went to the matches that involved Seigaku because of Kunimitsu and I saw some of Echizen's matches. That shot is called Drive B. I never expected Sakuno to do that." Katou smiled.

"Game and match to Seigaku's Ryuzaki/Miharu pair, six games to three!" The umpire announced.

The whole team rushed to Sakuno and Amane's side. They congratulated them both. Their opponents shot death glares at them but eventually sat on the bench.

Sakuno immediately collapsed. Her ankle was hurting a lot and that slide didn't help at all. Her ankle was in even more pain and it hurt a lot. 'I still won. Thank you, Ryoma-kun.' She hugged her red racket and smiled.

The next match was being set up. This time it was Usio and Natsume paired up. Katou wondered if it was a mistake since those two weren't exactly on the best of terms. Natsume may have been an ex-Yankee and she has a short temper but she's okay to be around with.

Usio is the exact opposite. Usio had always been a beauty with an emotionless face but she wasn't snobbish yet you couldn't hang around her because of her cold stares. It was like putting fire and ice together but that's not why they didn't like each other.

"I would've preferred to play with Airi." Usio said.

"You're no fun to be with. Just don't drag me down, ice princess." Natsume countered.

Their opponents saw their little quarrel. They thought that it might be a very easy win and they were right since Natsume and Usio's bickering was very convincing. It showed that they were enemies rather than their opponent.

"At least I'm not a fool and a block head."

"What did you say!?"

"There's no point in saying anything to you especially when I might have to explain it over and over again."

"You! I'm going to beat these guys and then I'll play against you."

"Fine by me."

The two stood at the courts, ready to play. Maybe this decision wasn't so bad after all.

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A/N: Please leave a review. ^ ^