Volleyball 2

Rei was tense as she entered the gym. Most of her day had been spent thinking of the match she was about to have. She hadn't been able to focus on her actual classes; the prospect of beating Minako at her own game kept fluttering through her thoughts. As PE drew closer, her thoughts slipped more often, to the point that she couldn't remember what had been covered. She wasn't even concerned about how much time she spent thinking of the blonde.

The idea of getting the upper hand in their… relationship excited Rei. Since that first class together, Minako had toyed with her. When Rei thought she was getting used to that, Minako had shown that she was capable of self-reflection, and consideration- that she wasn't someone out to get a reaction. At least, that that wasn't all she was.

But Rei was looking to take the initiative. If her team could beat Minako's, Rei was certain the other girl would be thrown off whatever other game she was playing. And when she was shaken, then Rei could… could… well, she hadn't actually thought that far ahead. But something would come to her, she was sure.

Warm-ups seemed to take longer than usual. Jogging didn't end. Each stretch was held for too long, and there were more calisthenics than usual. Rolling out and setting up the equipment dragged. But finally, Rei and her team faced Minako and her own. Minako caught her eye and waved excitedly. Rei scowled in return.

Each team took their positions. Minako took the back middle spot, to the left of the server. She would be last in the rotation to serve. Rei frowned. She had assumed Minako would want to serve first, to get her team off to a strong start. Something was wrong.

Rei's team served first. Rei was behind Makoto, who was in the row close to the net, on the left hand side. One of the boys was in the service spot. He called out the score, threw the ball into the air, and smacked it to the other side.

Minako immediately called for the ball, then shouted one of her teammate's names. She bounced the ball high and a teammate got under it. She called another name. The first teammate set the ball to the back row, and a second teammate hit the ball hard- right into Makoto's waiting hands. Rei's team cheered. They had scored first.

The ball was served again, and again Minako called for the ball. She continued to direct her team, and they managed to loft the ball over Makoto entirely. It was high and slow, and easily returned by Rei's teammates. Minako called on one of her teammates, and they volleyed again, trying to send it away from Makoto.

The teams managed to send the ball back and forth a few times before a misstep. One of Rei's teammates hit the ball at a bad angle, sending it flying across the room. Minako's team took the point, and service.

They served. It was a low shot, barely clearing the net, that Rei got under to hit to her front row. It was set, and Makoto jumped up to meet it. She sent it crashing down on the other side of the net. Rei's team cheered again, and rotated positions. Rei moved into the front row, and Makoto moved to her right, into the middle position. She glanced at Rei.

"We've gotta get a lot of points here," she said.

"Why's that?" Rei asked.

"We're going up to fifteen points with only six people. If Minako gets to serve, that might be it for us."

Rei frowned. "She's that good?"

Makoto nodded grimly. "It's her specialty."

Behind them a teammate served. Minako's team got under it, set it, and Makoto moved, jumped, and blocked the return. Another point. Another serve came, but, even with Minako directing her team, Makoto covered so much of the net from her position that any returns were forced away from her. They were forced to hit the ball into small margins, just in bounds to either side of the court. If the ball was lofted over Makoto, it was easily returned. Rei's team racked up four more points before an errant pass ended up out of bounds.

Makoto shook her head.

"Six to two isn't enough?" Rei asked.

"Maybe I can get a few more points when I serve," Makoto said uncertainly.

The game moved quickly from there. The teams traded points and serves, rotating when they did. When her team was up eight to four, Rei rotated to the last spot in the front row, and found Minako grinning at her thought the net.

"Hino," Minako greeted. Rei pursed her lips.

"Having fun?" Minako pushed.

Rei snorted. "No, but it's nice being on the winning side."

Behind Rei, Makoto served. Minako's team couldn't return it. Rei smirked.

The grin didn't leave Minako's face, but it did change, just a touch. Her eyes widened and her eyebrows drew up. Her teeth shone, white and sharp. Rei couldn't look away.

The rest of the game was a blur to Rei. She couldn't get Minako's eyes out of her head. When she tried to pass the ball, or follow it's trajectory on the other side of the net, she would instead see Minako, with that sharp grin, watching her. When she waited for the other team to serve, a flash of blue would draw her attention instead. A shiver ran down her spine, and she wondered how prey felt under the eyes of a predator.

When Minako's turn to serve came, her team was down nine points to twelve. Beside Rei, Makoto grumbled. Minako called the score, threw the ball up, swung her arm, and the ball disappeared, reappearing with a loud smack on the ground at Rei's feet. Rei blinked, and turned to Makoto.

"That was a serve?"

"I told you, it's her specialty."

Rei watched Minako serve again, closer this time. She could follow the ball, but the way it just cleared the net and dropped sharply afterwards made it hard to react to. Even Makoto had trouble with it, bouncing the serve up and over her head, instead of towards their team's front line as she usually did. They were in trouble

Minako's service continued. She aimed for different spots each time, and each time Rei's team failed to return it. She tied the score and kept going, until- "Fourteen twelve, game point."

It was served to Rei, hard and spinning fast. Rei got under it with both arms, and with a solid thunk, the ball sailed back over the net. Her team cheered at their first successful return, but the ball flew too high and too far, and landed out of bounds. Minako had scored six unanswered points, leading her team to victory.

Rei was gutted. A whistle from the teacher sent the teams moving to the next court, to face another team. The game started, but Rei couldn't get invested in it. Not after losing the way they had. Not after losing to Minako. After the first point, Makoto turned to her.

"Man we almost had it," she said.

"It didn't feel like it."

"All we needed was one good return," Makoto said. "Probably."

"Probably," Rei snorted. "Do you know how frustrating that is? How frustrating it is to lose to her?"

"Well, not really. But it does seem like she goes out of her way to give you a hard time."

"Thanks for noticing."

A serve interrupted their conversation. When the point was over Makoto turned to her again.

"You know, it's probably because of how you react to her."

"Are you saying it's my fault she's messing with me?"

"Uh, no?" Makoto looked flustered. "I mean, you rise to her challenges, right? Like today, you wanted to beat her, right?"

"So what?"

Another serve interrupted Makoto's answer. When it was over, Rei glared at Makoto, who appeared a little more composed.

"So she messes with people a lot, but she always comes back to you. I think because you can't help but respond. Every time"

Rei wished she could say she was surprised, but she couldn't. She was, however, annoyed.

"So I should just let her mess with me? Give up when she starts?" She asked.

"If you want her to leave you alone, yeah."

Rei turned away from Makoto, unhappy. She considered her words. She had known that reacting to Minako only fed into the other girl's actions, but she had never considered backing down. To do so would be tantamount to admitting defeat.

Of course, there was a certain logic there. Minako continued to approach her because her reactions appealed to the other girl. If she cut off those reactions, even Minako would learn to leave her alone. Surely she could sacrifice her pride one or two times for some peace and quiet. Rei breathed deeply. She would try it.

When class ended, she made her way to the locker room. Someone fell in beside her.

"Are you sure you don't want to join the team?"

Rei kept walking.

"I only ask because it looked like you were really into it."

They reached the locker room. Rei stayed quiet. From the corner of her eye she saw Minako frown.

"And that was the closest any team came to beating mine."

They stopped at Rei's locker. She started to get herself together, and Minako slowly started to move away. Rei pursed her lips. Minako looked ready to say something, but seemed to think better of it. She turned to go to her own locker.

Ignoring the other girl seemed to be working. Minako wasn't sure what to do, and had given up- for the moment, at least. All it had taken was some silence from Rei. Silence while Minako poked fun at her. And reminded Rei that she had lost again. And got in the last word.

"It's only because you're on the volleyball team."

Minako spun around and Rei cursed herself.

"What?"

There was no going back.

"You should win, if you're on the volleyball team. If we came that close to beating you, I have to wonder how good the school's team is."

A bright smile lit Minako's face. "Then you really should join. You've got a lot of potential, you could make us better."

"Pass," Rei said.

"Exactly."

Rei frowned at her.

"You know, that's what you would do. Pass. Get it?"

Rei gave her a long suffering look. "That was a stretch."

"I could help with that," Minako said. "Actually, it'd be my pleasure." She leered at Rei. Rei groaned.

"Get," she said sharply, pointing to Minako's locker. Minako winked and bounced away, leaving Rei wondering why she couldn't keep her big mouth closed.

A/N: It was a long wait between chapters. I had to rework my plan for this story, but I do have one, and I will finish it. I enjoy the premise, and writing it, but sometimes life catches up with me. That said, is a good way to keep you readers updated on my progress? I know how frustrating it can be when a story is left in the air, so a way to keep in touch would be good. Is there interest? Let me know.

Thanks