*Time skip- after school*
IZUMI POV
After changing into a Adidas white sleeveless tennis hoodie sweatshirt and black Nike shorts with neon green linings at the sides, I slip on my mint green tennis shoes and walk towards a wall near the tennis courts. I pull out my metallic blue and white Babolat AeroPro Drive Plus racquet and 3 tennis balls and start hitting against the wall. Gradually I increase the strength and speed of my shots while controlling the angle and applying gyro spins to my shots. After 15minutes of warm up, a light sheen of sweat covers my skin and I could feel my steady breathing rate.
I take a few gulps of water while walking an empty court where Kirihara-kun is stretching and waiting for me.
After some light stretching, re-tying my hair into a high ponytail and tightening my shoelaces, I advance into the court while exuding an air of confidence. 'Well, it's match time! Now is the time for me to shine! Let me show you why I'm titled as the Princesse Royale du Tennis in France!'
'Hmm which style should I use first? 1st 2nd or the last one? Or should I combine my styles? No no that would take up a lot of stamina. I guess I'll just use my 1st style to test his skill first.' I contemplate.
"Which? " I ask.
"Smooth"
I spin my racquet and let it clatter on the ground. "Service." I say.
"End."
Pok pok pok
I bounce the tennis ball before throwing it high up in the air. I slam my right arm down for an overhead serve and generating a massive amount of topspin. It flew past him and landed right on the corner of the service line before it shot out of the court.
His eyes widen by a fraction before he smirks. "Not bad for a girl." He taunts.
I end the first game with a series of accurate and power shots.
For the second game, he activates his one-foot split step and manages to secure his service game.
KIRIHARA POV
'Che. The girl is not bad. She has mastered her basics and refined her shots to be accurate and powerful. Lucky I didn't underestimate her. I learnt from my match with Echizen to never underestimate an opponent. Enough of playing, time to get serious.' I thought.
"Ne, can you please don't hold back anymore?" My opponent ask while pointing her racquet in my direction.
"Humph." I grunt and walk to the sides of the court. I detach my wrist weights and ankle weights and let it fall onto the ground with a loud clang.
IZUMI POV
It is my service game and the score is tied at 1-1. His shots are becoming more powerful after he releases his weights. 'I guess I'll have to level up.'
I detach the hidden weights from my socks and let it drop outside the court. 'Time to use my specialty. If I don't use it now, it wouldn't be effective later.'
I went into split step stance and switch the grip on my racquet to my left hand. "You're not the only one who can do one-foot split step. " I challenge him.
I change into my natural style of tennis, not the one that nii-sama trains me since young. I let my body relax and just focus on getting the ball over to his court. I increase the pace of the rhythm and execute a series of steps to glide me to the destination where the shots land. I twist my entire body to give additional spins to smash his power shots back to his side of the court.
The score is at 2-1 in my favour.
For the third game, I demonstrate a series of somersaults in the air, cartwheels and backflips to secure the third game. With perseverance, I manage to conquer the third game. The score is at 3-1 now. Nevertheless, the sweltering heat and the intensity of the acrobatics tennis take a toll on my stamina. My breathing is ragged and sweat is tricking down my forehead.
KIRIHARA POV
'This girl never cease to amaze me. Her acrobatics tennis take me by surprise. She does a couple of weird steps that makes her catch up to the ball no matter which corner I hit it to. I don't want to admit it, but this girl is pushing me back. '
I gaze across the net to analyse her movement. The perspiration on her skin seems to make her glow. She must be tired after all that strenuous exertions from landing from one end of the court to the other corner.
'This is the first time a girl pushes me back. I will not be beaten my a girl. My goal is to defeat the 'Big Three' of Rikkai. No one can stand in my way. I won't be defeated so easily by a mere girl.'
I could feel my adrenaline kicking in and my heart pumping wildly and erratically. The urge to win and conquer the match triggers the wild beast in me. My pupils dilate and I could feel my senses amplify. I have sharper hearing and sight now. Right now my mind is clouded and I cannot think rationally. It seems as though my inner demon has awaken. I have only one thought in mind.
'I will crush her.'
THIRD PERSON POV
Apparently the news of Kirihara challenging the new girl in class to a tennis match has spread like wildfire and tennis members, non-regulars included have gathered around the court to witness the spectacular match. At first they were doubtful of the girl, however after witnessing the Junior Ace of Rikkai being pushed back by the girl, they just look in awe and admiration at the girl. One particular thought keeps replaying in their mind. 'Who is she to be able to push Kirihara so far. '
The tennis regulars except for Yukimura, Sanada and Yagyuu have gathered at the court too. The Captain and Vice-Captain have been called to the Principal's office while Yagyuu has to attend a Student Council meeting.
Pop "Ne, anyone knows who she is?" A magenta hair colored guy asks while blowing his green apple flavored bubble gum.
"I only know that she is a new girl who transfer to Akaya's class." A tan Brazilian replies.
"Puri." Says a charming guy with blue eyes and silver hair tied in a rattail style. He has a beauty mark on his chin and he is looking intently at the ongoing match.
Yanagi appeared. "I believe that girl is Tezuka Kunizumi, a sophomore student, and yes, Tezuka Kunimitsu's imouto-chan. She won the French Open and Wimbledon in France last year and just came back to Japan. She's an all rounder and her tennis styles vary. The first level is complete mastery of the basics of tennis just like Shiraishi Kuranosuke of Shitenhoji. I believe Tezuka Kunimitsu forces her to train her shots to be accurate and her techniques in swinging to be flawless. That explains the fluidity of her movement on court. The second level would be a combination of acrobatics and gymnastics to maximize her potential in serve and volley. It gives her strength, balance, poise, flexibility to be dynamic on court. Her freestyle dance practices also enhance her endurance and motor fitness. These 2 prowess of hers allow her to win most of her matches. Although there is one last level which she rarely unlocks. There isn't enough information on the net. Maybe we might get a glimpse of her last technique if Kirihara manages to push her back."
Just on cue, Kirihara's eyes turn blood red and he licks his lips.
"I'm going to dye you red."
IZUMI POV
His devilish and demented expression sends shudders down my spine. 'Ah, this is the devil junior ace that Seichii-sama told me about. I'll have to keep my guard up. '
THIRD PERSON POV
After Kirihara activates his Bloodshot Mode, he unleashes a series of attacks on the girl with his Knuckle Serve. The girl stands no chance against his brutal assault. Despite her incredible fast reflexes to avoid getting hit at her vital joints like her knees and ankles, some shots manage to graze on her cheeks, arms, and legs. There were gasps of horror and whispers of concern towards the unfortunate girl who is the target of the devil's wrath.
IZUMI POV
'Damn. His speed, strength, and reflexes have increased by 40 percent. He caught up by 2 games easily with service aces and return aces. The score is tied at 3-all now.
'I won't be able to catch up if he scores another game from me. It has been a long time since I experience a challenging opponent. Time to activate my wolf eye.
I take a deep breaths and clear all my thoughts in my mind. I focus all my concentration on my eyesight. With keen vision and enhanced peripheral vision, I'm able to detect the gyro spin of the tennis ball accurately before it comes to me. I could either null the spin and effectively neutralize the power of the ball to throw the opponent off balance or I could add more spins to the ball to enhance the power of my return shots. By alternating between the 2 techniques, I manage to let him guess and send him running all over the court.
THIRD PERSON POV
Everyone is in awe at the display of skills and tenacity by the girl on the court. 'So this is her hidden talent.' mused the regulars.
IZUMI POV
Soon it is match point and I decided to grace my opponent with a glimpse of my supreme technique- the Illusionist. It's most effective when his concentration is at the lowest point. As he serves a fast and powerful cross-shot to me, I dash to where the ball is and swing with all the remnants of my strength. As the ball comes into contact with my racquet, I let the ball roll on my racquet strings as I control the direction of the spin, then with a slight flick of my wrist, I release the ball. It soars and lands on his side of the court like a normal shot but when it lands, it spins haphazardly in a hexagonal direction while on the ground. Just when it seems as though it is going to bounce up, the ball disappeared into thin air. 2 seconds later, a soft thud is heard as the ball lands gently on the baseline and rolls towards the centre of the court.
"Illusion silencieux." I whisper.
Game and match. 7-5 in my favour.
I let my racquet clatter on the ground. Suddenly I can feel all the soreness in my body and the strength in my body depleting at a rapid rate. I could feel my hoodie drenched with my sweat and my skin being hot and sticky. I force my legs to stand and trudge towards the net and over to Kirihara-kun's side of the court to shake hands with him. He seems to be in a daze as his eyes are unfocused.
"Good game Kirihara-kun. Thank you for the match. You're a strong opponent. I haven't have such a tough match in a long while." I give him a genuine smile.
KIRIHARA POV
I've expended my energy and my body is so worn out. It feels as though I have just sprinted a full marathon. I can't believe I lost even after I activate my Devil Mode. Wow she's really good. I guess I'll just have to train even harder and challenge her to another match. One more formidable opponent to defeat before I challenge the invincible Sannin Bakemonon! A rush of excitement surge through me.
I snap out of my trance when I realize she is walking towards me. A surge of warmth creeps into my heart as she gives me a bright smile and acknowledges me as a strong opponent. Upon closer inspection I realize the injuries that I inflicted on her. There are several gashes on her skin and fresh blood spilling out. Guilt seizes my heart and leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Hesitantly, I advert my gaze to her eyes.
"You're not angry with me? After I hurt you with the tennis ball?"
She seems to ponder for a while as she scrunches her eyebrow before she looks back at me. "No. Why will I be? It's my own fault that I didn't manage to avoid the shots. And I know you don't have reign over when you enter Bloodshot Mode right? It's not as if you aim the shots intentionally to injure me. Don't condemn yourself. I'm fine, really." She answers sincerely and gives me a reassuring smile.
I feel a huge weight being lifted from my shoulders after hearing her words. I rejoice and give her a small smile. "Let's be friendly rival from now on yeah?" A ripple of excitement ran through me at the prospect of a new friend and a tennis rival.
"Yeah." She responds with gusto too.
THIRD PERSON POV
Upon witnessing the girl's finishing move, the crowd breaks into an uproar and chatters excitedly.
The regulars are slack-jawed as they witness the technique, still disbelieving that a girl can execute such a high level technique with precision. Yanagi is the first to break out of his trance. He starts to scribble fervently on his notebook while muttering to himself.
"Ah I see. The last level is her enhanced perception of the gyro spins and use it to her advantage. The illusion techniques are derived from this ability too. I wonder how many illusion techniques she has created. No wonder she's known as the Princesse Royale du Tennis in France. With her level of expertise, she can dominate the court and annihilate her opponents with ease."
As everyone is occupied in their own thoughts, a frighteningly soft and familiar voice ring in the air and breaks everyone out of their trance.
"What is going on here?"
A/N: Please R&R! I hope you guys enjoy this fanfic. Pardon my grammar please. If anyone got any idea plot-base or any characters that you would like my OC to interact with, please feel free to write it in the review. I will try to include it. Thank you again for your support.(:
