Chapter 10: S3: Fuji Yuuta vs Akutagawa Jirou

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"Fuji Yuuta? Fuji-kun, I'm playing Yuuta-kun!" Jirou jeered.

" 'Yuuta-kun'? You know Yuuta?"

Jirou halted his jeering for a moment and stared at Fuji, "How could I not know him? He's your brother!"

"...Never mind..."

"Hyoutei, Hyoutei, Hyoutei, Hyoutei!"

"Seigaku! Fight-o! Fight-o! Fight-o! Fight-o!"

The bleachers roared as Fuji and Jirou arrived back on the courts. By the looks of it, Hyoutei had won. Coach Sakaki was talking to Shishido and Ohtori. Shishido looked unhappy of his win and still seemed unsatisfied. "Whoa! Ryou-kun and Choutarou-kun won! Can you believe it?!" Jirou grinned widely, arms leaped in the air, almost knocking Atobe over.

"Watch it Jirou," Atobe narrowed his eyebrows, "you're up next."

"Sorry." He said sheepishly. "Okay! I'm ready!"

Jirou leaped over the stands onto the tennis courts, eager to play against Yuuta. "I haven't played him for quite awhile..."

Yuuta stepped into the courts also, his ready-to-kill kind of expression on his face. His sharp eyes glared at Jirou as Jirou happily skipped around unaware of his stare. "Yo, Akutagawa-sempai, let's start already."

"All right, all right Yuu-ta-kun." And flashed a smile at him. Yuuta twitched at how carefree Jirou looked.

"Which?"

"Rough." The racket spun.

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"One game set, Akutagawa, to serve!" The referee announced as both players had gotten into position. Yuuta bent his knees ready to receive the ball as Jirou bounced the ball a few times and lifted the ball high up in the air, "Let's just see..." the ball came down and was hit over the net, "just how good you are now!"

Yuuta appeared right before the ball and hit it right back as Jirou approached the net. Jirou volleyed the ball down using his favorite net play.

"15-love!"

"I got the first point!"

The brown haired player only glared and walked over to the receiver's position. Jirou served again and was and stepped to approach the net but Yuuta thought otherwise. Yuuta's eyebrows narrowed even further, if it were possible and hit the ball far deep in the court, making Jirou unable to get closer to the net.

"15-all!"

Fuji paid close attention to the game. This was definitely not Yuuta's playing style. Even though they had only played out two points, he was able to tell that something was different. Yuuta's tennis is more aggressive and rough. This playing style however, though Yuuta's expression was still as combative as ever, it was a more beautiful style tennis. Calm and collected, graceful and gentle. It was like something he's seen before; it seemed so similar to something... It was...

Tezuka's style of playing.

Of course, it wasn't exactly the same. Yuuta still had ways to go before ever reaching Tezuka's level, or even close. No matter how much he loved his brother, he'd still have to say, he probably would never reach Tezuka.

"Game, Seigaku's Fuji; one game to love!" the referee announced.

Fuji snapped out of his thoughts and realized his brother just won Jirou's service game. Fuji watched as it was Yuuta's turn to serve. His serves were nearly pinpointed to each corner, sharp and concise.

"15-love!"

When...

"30-love!"

When did you get so good?

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Six games passed and the score was 4 games to 2; Seigaku in the lead. Jirou's smile was not as wide as before. His appearance looked serious. He almost looked like he was...smirking; which was pretty creepy for Jirou.

Jirou's service game flew pass so quickly if anyone blinked they would miss it. For some reason, Jirou was not trying to go up to the net anymore. Instead he played a strong defense, hitting the ball just as Yuuta was, deep into the courts. But suddenly, Jirou softly sliced the ball as close to the front of the net on Yuuta's side, causing it to bounce ever so slightly. It did not only bounce, it bounced backwards into the net.

Fuji was surprised. When Jirou and him practiced together, Jirou had never showed him this side of him.

Hyoutei's chanting started again, loud and strong.

"Hyoutei! Hyoutei! Hyoutei! Hyoutei! Hyoutei! Hyoutei!"

"15-love!"

The score climbed up to the tie-break; 6 games all.

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Reposted: April 29, 2007