Chapter 14: And The Winner Is...

Warning: I'm telling you, it's AU-ish. Some parts are not chronologically correct. Most of it is, but some are not. BTW, i wrote this story some months ago, I forgot part of my plot.. so... that's why i had to delete everything else. But the story will go on! sorry about reposts! I'll try to lengthen it in return

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"Net! Deuce!" The game stood at 6-5. It was no longer Fuji's match point and if Echizen won this game, they'd go on to a 12-point tie break. Echizen was aiming for this, it was the only way he could win.

"Fuji!" Someone yelled out, but Fuji didn't look to see who it was. He was knelt down on the ground, grasping his wrist. I think it's broken...Before, it was already sprained and playing with a sprained wrist had a high chance of breaking the bone. His racket lie at the fence behind, a small crack seen at the bottom of the grip. Echizen's serve was powerful enough to make that crack and loosen Fuji's grip on his racket.

"Fuji-kun, are you alright? Can you continue?" asked the referee.

"Yes, I'm alright. I can continue." Fuji walked towards the fence. He bent down to pick up his racket. The moment he moved his right hand as he picked it up he flinched and dropped it, grasping his wrist again.

"Referee, time out. Fuji, Come over here," Atobe said. As captain, he was responsible for his team. Fuji obeyed.

"Yes Atobe?"

"Let me see your wrist."

"I said I'm fi-"Atobe didn't wait for Fuji and took it before he could say anymore, "does this hurt?" He bent his wrist back a little. Fuji gave a distressed moan and quickly pulled back. "You're not fine. It's broken; you can't play with a broken wri-"

"I said I'm fine." Fuji interrupted. He wasn't going to let anyone stop this game, not the referee, not Atobe. He sauntered to the baseline for his racket and picked it up. "I'm going to play." Fuji pointed the racket to Echizen, held by his left hand, "Ready Echizen?"

The same smug smile appeared on his lips, "Of course."

--

Fuji lost the 12th game, making the tie-break. He was still getting used to playing with his left hand, unlike Echizen who has always used his right hand with lesser players. He had more experience. Serving was a little hard to do too, moving his hand hurt enough but if he could just ignore it until the end of the game, he would win. Technique was the only thing Fuji could rely on now. There was little power in his left hand, he wouldn't be able to pull off Tsubame Gaeshi fast enough for it to glide along the ground swiftly. Higuma Otoshi would only be helpful if Echizen smashed, so the last counter was what he had left. Hakugei... Hakugei! An idea sprouted in his mind.

I told myself I wouldn't use this again during this game but sometimes, it can't be helped, Fuji thought, as he dropped the ball for his disappearing under-serve and won all his service plays but took none of Echizen's. The score was 6 points to 5, Fuji to lead. He just needed one more point, one more and the match would be his. Echizen served and Fuji was determined to return it. He held the racket with his right hand for a two-handed hit. Echizen reciprocated.

Fuji swung and it hopped over Echizen's head, bounced and was heading towards Echizen and passing. Instantly, before the ball went over the net, Echizen pushed off the ground, charging to the ball, using his body weight to smash, his body almost hitting the net. Just as it looked like Echizen scored, the ball mysteriously landed again on Echizen's side of the court at the baseline. There was no way Echizen could reach it. Higuma Otoshi.

"Game and set! Hyoutei's Fuji!"

Fuji won.

Even with a handicap, he still won.

Echizen still has got ways to go.

--

Atobe Keigo, captain of Hyoutei Gakeun Tennis Club versus Tezuka Kunimitsu, captain of Seishun Gakuen Tennis Club, possible winner of this match: unknown. Fuji knew the outcome of the game, he knew it so well. Though it never happened in this world, Fuji knew it and it was part of his memory. But here, it might be different, it is different. Here, he was just like everyone else, wondering who will be the top and lead their school to the next round; Who will be the one to come out as the winner?

What about Tezuka's arm? Will he be alright? Fuji thoughts back to the time in his first year in middle school. He didn't join the tennis club until later in the school year when one person in the club sparked his interest. That person was only a freshman, just like he was, smaller and supposedly meeker than the upperclassmen. But he had the aura that could make everyone's head turn when he entered a room. He could earn anyone's respect. And that person was...

Fuji shook off his thoughts and focused on Atobe. It was his time; His time to show off his skills.

"Hyoutei! Hyoutei! Hyoutei! Hyoutei!" They chanted as Atobe stepped on to the court when he finished talking with Coach Sakaki. He leisurely walked to the front of the net as the chants continued. He rose his arm and pointed the upwards, the chant changed.

"Atobe! Atobe! Atobe! Atobe!" Girls giggled with glee, ecstatic that the Atobe-sama finally arrived. Gliding his arms down horizontally, the chant altered once more, "The winner will be Hyoutei! The winner will be Hyoutei! The winner will be Hyoutei! The winner will be Hyoutei!"

He rose his racket and pointed it to particularly nothing, "The winner will be Atobe! The winner will be Atobe! The winner will be Atobe! The winner will be Atobe!" More movement caused more shouting, "The winner will be Hyoutei! The winner will be Atobe! The winner will be Hyoutei! The winner will be Atobe! The winner will be Hyoutei! The winner will be Atobe! The winner will be Hyoutei! The winner will be...!"

And with a snap of his fingers, the noise ceased. He unzipped his jacket and threw it up in the air, "Ore da."

"The singles 1 match between Hyoutei Gakuen and Seishun Gakuen will now begin."