Whew! Finally finished. This is a pretty short chapter, I must say. But the next chapter will make up for it, I promise! I've been rather busy with school this week, so actually getting this up on time is an achievement. I wasn't really sure I could make it. But enough of my pointless rambling. Read on!
Chapter 11
Tensai, tensai, tell me why
You're impossible – no one can understand you, hard as they try
"Ohayou..." Shyoko yawned out a response to Eiji's cheery greeting. She remembered last night, and shuddered. Stupid Atobe and his stupid screaming... Really, he should audition for roles in horror movies. His screams were quite literally the stuff of nightmares.
She saw Fuji, and brightened, hurrying over to him. "Hey, Fuji!"
He smiled down at her.
"Did you talk to Atobe yesterday?"
The unexpected question wiped the smile off his face. So Atobe squealed... "Why?"
"Ah.. it's just that he was ranting at you the whole night long. He probably kept the whole neighbourhood awake last night. I couldn't really make out what he was saying, only your name and something about... juice?" A small frown creased her forehead, not seeing the connection between Fuji and juice.
"Oh, we just had a very nice and civilised little chat yesterday," Fuji smirked at the memory. "It was utterly enjoyable."
"Mm-hmm," Shyoko agreed, her attention completely diverted by Eiji's sudden come-from-the-back glomp.
"Practice is going to be longer today, nya!"
Shyoko turned. "Really?"
"Yep!" He nodded his head energetically, inwardly thankful that Fuji had returned to some semblance of normalcy. "Because of the Hyoutei game!"
Whoops. Big mistake.
Fuji's eyes flew open, twin azure orbs pinning him down for a moment. "Who's in the mixed doubles?"
"Oshitari Yuushi and Tamari Ouika." Inui popped up beside them, making Shyoko jump in fright and Eiji let out a startled "Nya!"
Fuji smiled. It should be pretty easy...
"We can't underestimate them. Oshitari is known as the tensai of Hyoutei," Here Shyoko looked shocked; indeed, she had never really considered the possibility that there could be other tensais other than Fuji anywhere remotely near Seigaku. "And Tamari is a very experienced doubles player, so you have to be careful of her."
Inui looked at both of them and smirked. "I'd say you've got your work cut out for you."
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"A heavy hitter?!" She could hardly believe her ears. This match was definitely going to be harder than the previous one. "But I'm not a power player!"
"Which is why you will have to use your speed and agility to full advantage during this match. Most power players are heavily built, and they require more energy to move."
"So you're asking me to keep her running until she tires."
"That's right," Inui confirmed. "Drain her energy completely, because Fuji will have his hands full with Oshitari."
As Shyoko turned to go, she was stopped by Inui. "And one more thing. Don't try to smash. Always remember that. Not even your Pinpoint Smash."
She was instantly intrigued. "Why?"
Inui's glasses glinted. "He can do Higuma Otoshi."
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Shyoko trudged home, mulling over the upcoming game. It was going to be a tough one, but how could they win if they couldn't smash?
"Saa, don't think so much, or you'll grow old fast." A well-known voice snapped her out of her reverie, and she snorted, more at the sentiment of the sentence than the speaker himself.
"But seriously, Fuji, how are we going to win this?"
He looked hard and long at her before relaxing into a wide smile, blue eyes twinkling merrily. "With each other."
She smiled, feeling some of the strain slipping away from her shoulders. "We'll do it!"
He intertwined his fingers with her, and added, "Together."
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It was English, and the class was struggling through "The Faraway Tree" by Enid Blyton. Some, like Eiji, were haltingly reading it out loud, while others simply mouthed the words silently. In short, class was grinding along as usual when suddenly Shyoko burst out, "I've got it!"
Every single head turned to look at her, the teacher's included.
"Whoops..."
The teacher let her off with a stern reprimand not to disturb the class peace again, and she nodded demurely, looking the very picture of innocence. At least, until the teacher's back was turned. The moment the teacher's eagle eyes were looking elsewhere, she poked Fuji.
"Hmm?"
"I've got it!" This was said in a whisper, so as not to attract the unwanted attention of a certain sensei sitting at the front of the class.
"Got what?" Fuji was not all-knowing, it seemed.
"Higuma Otoshi!"
The blank look on his face prompted her to explain further. "I've figured out how to seal Higuma Otoshi!"
Fuji didn't know whether to be overjoyed or to be heartbroken (metaphorically speaking) at this discovery. She had found a way to circumvent Higuma Otoshi?
"How?"
She furrowed her brow. "Well, if you put enough sidespin on the ball, theoretically it should bounce off the racquet out of the court, no?"
He stifled a small chuckle. "Unless you intend to superslice the ball in a clockwise direction, hitting the ball hard enough to neutralise the centripetal force, I'm afraid not."
"Exactly! That's it!"
"May I ask what 'that' is, Darika-san?" A sudden frigid voice coming from above made her look up, only to see the teacher's most unwelcome face.
"Aw, shucks!"
Needless to say, she was forced to spend the rest of the lesson in meek silence after being subjected to an earful of lecturing. The sight of Fuji laughing at her nearly set her off again, but she didn't want to incur the teacher's wrath for the third time. She sighed. Tennis would have to wait until lunch break, it seemed.
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"It can be done, I'm telling you!" Shyoko insisted.
Fuji merely looked amused. "What, superslicing the ball hard enough so the next surface it bounces off will cause it to go out?" His tone of light jest spoke volumes.
She turned to face him. "Look, do you want to win this match or not?"
His smile was the same smile he offered to everyone he met. "Saa, who knows?"
"FUJI!!!"
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"But as I was saying, it can be done – and I need you to help me do it."
He arched an elegant eyebrow. "How?"
"Meet me at the street courts after practice and I'll show you how."
And she walked away, leaving Fuji staring at her retreating back. As a sudden thought popped into his head, a slow smile began to form on his lips. Is that a date?
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So how was it? Review, ne?