Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Prince of Tennis
...
...
Hari sighed as she stared up at the ceiling above her bed. It was another day. It was their first match soon and she would need to get up and get ready.
The nagging feeling in her gut was still there reminding her that they were yet another day closer to the ritual that would (hopefully) get rid of Him.
"Don't think about it," she whispered. "It's fine."
She rolled over in bed and looked out of the window a little annoyed that she hadn't bothered to close the curtains last night having looked at the moon until she fell asleep. Now though, the light shone easily into her room making it impossible to fall back asleep.
Hedwig flew through her window just as she sat up and Hari smiled a little as she watched her owl fly over to the perch and the water.
"Morning, Hedwig," Hari said. "Had a nice night?"
Hedwig hooted and she noticed the mice she dropped into the water making Hari wrinkle her nose a little.
"Good job, Hed," Hari said even if she wished Hedwig would stop bringing dead mice back with her.
She paused to give Hedwig an affectionate pat before she went to take a shower before the others got up.
"Morning," Hari said when Nanako entered the kitchen to make breakfast.
"Morning, Hari-chan," Nanako smiled, "just give me a moment and I'll have breakfast ready."
"You don't need to hurry on my account," Hari said. "I can wait."
Nanako gave her a smile and started to prepare breakfast while glancing over at Hari from time to time. Hari had her journal open and Nanako could tell she was thinking.
"Are you okay, Hari-chan?" Nanako asked.
Hari looked up, "oh, I'm fine. Just woke up early and didn't feel like lying in bed."
"You need your sleep, though," Nanako said concerned. "With the tennis matches and all…"
Hari just shrugged and looked back at the journal. She frowned a little as she stared at the latest entry.
Ron: I'm sorry. I know I messed up. I don't know what else to say, Hari. How can I fix it? I don't want to lose you.
The pain and anger still burned inside of her when she looked at it. The betrayal was still too fresh, but something inside of her softened. She knew he was sorry. He was always sorry.
But that didn't change that he had put them all at risk.
He knew what he was doing.
But he was a kid, and he made a mistake. Shouldn't she forgive him?
She frowned.
She didn't think she could forgive him. Not yet. Not…now.
A new entry appeared and she saw that it was Hermione this time. She briefly wondered how late it must be for her and felt a little worried that Hermione was pushing herself too hard.
Hermione: How are you, Hari? Ron gave me back the journal. I see he told you and I know you're upset. I get it, I really do. I'm upset too.
Hari: I don't know what to do, Hermione.
Hermione: I know. He really messed up this time.
Hari: How could he think about going to Dumbledore? He knew how I feel about him. He knew.
Hermione: He wasn't thinking.
Hari: That's not an excuse.
Hermione: I know.
Hari: How are you holding up?
Hermione: I'm struggling to be honest. I don't know what I'm doing here anymore.
Hari frowned as she read what Hermione wrote and felt a stab of worry for her best friend who was all alone at Hogwarts.
Hari: I'm sorry.
Hermione: It's not your fault, Hari. Don't blame yourself for this. I'm going to be fine.
Hari: I just wish you weren't so alone.
Hermione: The twins have been hanging around more. I think they try to help in their way, and I know they are worried about you. They would want to talk to you more through this journal too. And Neville as well, he often does his homework with me.
Hari: Good. They're not driving you insane with all their pranks? I'm glad you have Neville.
Hermione: Ha-ha. No, not yet at least. They're actually quite smart, you know. If only they spent the time they do on pranks at their schoolwork they would do really well.
Hari: I'm not surprised. They just know what they want and put their energy into that. I think they'll get far if they want to.
Hermione: Yeah… what are you up to now?
Hari: I'm watching Nanako making breakfast. She refuses to let me help… and then we have a game. Nationals have started now (yesterday).
Hermione: Oh! I forgot. Let me know how it goes, and good luck today! I need to get to sleep…
Hari: Thanks, and I will. Good night, Hermione.
...
"Thank you, Nanako," Hari said giving a small smile to the older girl.
"You're welcome, Hari-chan," Nanako smiled. "Are you ready for the match today?"
"Mm," Hari nodded. "Yeah. We'll win."
Nanako smiled, "Good. If I didn't have school I would be there to cheer you on."
"Thanks," Hari said. "Maybe another time."
"Definitely," Nanako said. "I always enjoy watching you play."
Hari smiled. "Good. How are your classes going?"
Nanako started to talk about her classes, and they chatted while Hari finished breakfast. When she finished Hari felt calmer and a little closer to Nanako. It wasn't that she didn't know her, because she did, but they never really had the chance to really talk. Hari realised this and felt a little bad about it.
Nanako was family, but in a way, Hari felt like she was in a different world. Maybe it was because she always seemed busy and when not at school enjoyed taking care of the house. Hari felt guilty for feeling like that and would need to try to change it.
She wanted to know Nanako better before…
No, she wasn't going down that path of thought. She shuddered.
...
"Losers! Losers! Losers!"
Hari rolled her eyes as the Higa fans or whatever they were chanted as they entered the court right before their match.
"Losers!"
"It's alright to cheer on their own team, but they're insulting the opponents before the match begins," Inoue commented.
"They have some bad manners," Shiba said.
Hari just shook her head.
"Maybe they don't believe their skills are good enough and need to try to bring us down beforehand," Hari said loudly. "Well, it will be easier for us then. Thank you!"
They stopped and glared at her, but Hari just arched a brow.
"Ah, you managed to shut them up," Ryoma commented amusedly. "And here I was looking forward to doing that."
Fuji chuckled and they could all feel some of the tension leave them as they continued to get ready. They ignored the looks they got from Higa.
Hari wondered if Higa really believed that the chanting of losers would be enough to distract them? Even Slytherin was better than that.
Nanjiro grinned and ruffled her hair as he stepped up next to her and gave her a proud look.
"Nicely said," he said.
She shrugged but smiled a little.
"Brat, you're the first one out," Nanjiro called.
"As Nanjiro said," Ryuzaki said, "Singles 1 is Echizen Ryoma."
Ryoma smiled and Hari nudged his shoulder.
"Show them what you got," Hari said.
"Of course," Ryoma said.
...
Hari sighed as she watched Ryoma do what Ryoma did best. Insult the other player enough so he reacted by reaching out to grab Ryoma and lifting him off the ground with one hand. She frowned a little, though, because she didn't like watching anyone grab her brother like that.
"What are you doing, bastard?!" Momoshiro yelled riled up.
He looked ready to jump over the fence and had a foot up at the top of the fence when the Captain from Higa spoke up.
"You better not, Tokyo-boy," Kite Eishirou said with a small smirk, "all of us here practice Okinawan martial arts."
"Huh," Momoshiro said. "We don't know how it'll go unless we try. Right, viper?"
"Bring it on," Kaido said.
Hari reached out and dragged Momoshiro back and he yelped a little.
"We're here to play tennis, not get into a fistfight," Hari said calmly and looked over at the Higa players. "I thought I already told you that they're trying to rile you up so you lose focus on the match. Prove we are better on the court and don't get down to their level. They are obviously scared of us since they try to act like kids and not show us what they got on the court."
Fuji laughed and Momoshiro grinned while the Higa players glared at her and she noticed Kai glared at her especially hard. She just shrugged and looked back at Ryoma who had taken his place at the line ready to serve.
...
Seigaku, Echizen Ryoma-kun vs Higa Middle School, Tanishi Kei-kun
...
Ryoma started with his usual twist serve much to the first-year trio's excitement, but their excitement fell quickly when Tanishi returned it with a step Hari never had seen before and she hummed thoughtfully as she looked at the Higa player.
"Did you see that, Tezuka?" Fuji asked.
"Yes, that's the Carioca Step," Tezuka said.
"What is that?" Hari asked looking over at them.
"It's a way to react quicker with wide steps," Fuji explained.
"It requires a good sense of balance," Tezuka added and glanced at her. "Did you notice the way he crossed his legs?"
Hari nodded, "yeah…so his balance is rather good despite how large he is."
"Seems like it;" Fuji said.
"Hm, so maybe he is more than just talk," Hari said.
...
"I'm going to attack you more aggressively now," Tanishi declared as Ryoma returned the ball again with what looked like another twist, but the ball never bounces and gives Ryoma the points.
...
15-0 –Seigaku
...
"Is that the Cool Drive?" Inoue asked making Hari look over at the journalist who was watching shocked.
"Cool Drive?" Shiba asked curiously.
Hari smiled a little but didn't say anything to answer them because it would be much more fun to see how they would react when they saw the true Cool Drive.
"Using Tanishi-kun's heavy shot inversely produces strong drive spin," Inui was saying making Hari blink and look over at him curious to see what he got from this shot. "As a result, the fuzzed surface of the ball adheres to the court surface and rolls without bouncing. This could be the principle behind it."
"That's a curious observation, Inui-senpai," Hari said at the same time Horio asked if that was even possible.
"It is merely my speculation," Inui answered.
"It's new, though," Kikumaru said looking at Ryoma. "It's amazing that our Ochibi has learned something like that so quickly, nya!"
"Yeah," Momoshiro grinned while Hari smiled and nodded.
...
Tanishi cursed as he looked over at Ryoma. He kept struggling to return any of the balls and felt how his frustration kept building.
"I have no choice but to go to the net," Tanishi said, "but there should be a way to return the ball. The Cool Drive isn't a big deal. Just wait and see! Don't underestimate Okinawan people!"
Hari rolled her eyes a little but didn't say anything even though she thought that it was Higa and their players who were underestimating them.
"Hey, don't get it wrong," Ryoma said calmly. "What I hit were all Drive C's. The rotation speed is less than half of my Cool Drive."
"What?" Tanishi frowned.
"The shot I'm going to show you now is the real Cool Drive," Ryoma said with his usual smirk.
Hari laughed when she saw the shocked expression on Tanishi (and his teammates) faces when Ryoma shifts his racket over to his left hand. They had obviously not realised that Ryoma could use both hands when serving the ball.
"Amusing every time," Hari commented to Fuji who smiled in agreement.
Ryoma served the ball and Tanishi returned it but Hari wasn't surprised by this now, and she could tell by the tension in Tanishi that he was expecting something. Hari looked at Ryoma and was a little surprised that he would show his new move so soon…but then Ryoma barely returns the ball with a simple (and a little weak) drop volley that drops right behind the net.
...
Game, Seigaku : 1 – 0
...
Hari blinked before she grinned and shook her head at her little brother who was so smug and great. She enjoyed the stunned silence before cheering started.
"He outwitted him with a drop volley!" Horio cheered along with Mizuno and Kachiro.
Yoshida smiled from where she was standing with Sakuno and Tomoka.
"Go for it, Ochibi!" Kikumaru cheered.
"How is the pillar of Seigaku's progression coming along?" Fuji asks Tezuka. "Isn't he reassuring?"
"It seems he's experiencing a lot, but the match has just begun," said Tezuka. "At the National Tournament, begin a little off-guard can be fatal."
"You're right," Fuji said.
"He still is amazing," Hari grinned.
"You're always proud of him," Fuji commented and Hari shrugged.
"Why shouldn't I be?" Hari asked. "He's my little brother!"
She looked over at where the other Higa players stood and they seemed to be a little rattled and she saw the concern in their eyes. She huffed, at least they seemed to realise that Ryoma was good.
Though, she noticed Kite looking calm and he was even smiling. She frowned a little.
...
It was Tanishi's turn to serve, and Hari had to admit that he jumped higher than she would have thought possible and ignored Horio's yell as she watched Tanishi serve the ball and how the ball shot quickly toward Ryoma who got ready to return it but his racket was shot straight out of his hands by the sheer force of the ball.
...
15-0 – Higa
...
"Fast," Ryoma said, "and heavy."
He was gripping his wrist making Hari look at him a little worried, but kept calm. Ryoma was looking over at Tanishi and Hari wondered what he was thinking.
"Fatal power serve!" Tanishi declared proudly. "Big Bang!"
"Fitting," Hari muttered. "It did seem like that."
"Mm," Fuji hummed.
"He'll keep his service game as long as he has that," Kite was saying.
"In other words, he won't lose this match," Kai commented.
Hari frowned as she picked up what they were saying.
...
Hari kept watching as Ryoma struggled with the Big Bang serves and she realised that this could quickly turn out to become a long match. She knew that as long as Ryoma kept winning his service games as well, then they would go into a tiebreak.
By then Ryoma would figure out a way to stop Tanishi's serve.
"He'll figure something out," Hari said even as Tanishi won this game. Though Ryoma had managed to keep holding his racket this time and the ball dropped in front of him all by attempting to use Drive B to return the ball.
...
Game, Higa Middle School: 1-1
...
Hari watched as Tanishi huffed and practically glared at Ryoma. He looked like he settled something with this, but Hari wasn't sure he had.
"He barely got it to drop in front of him," Kikumaru said, "never mind returning it."
"Does that mean that the power of that serve is that strong?" Kaido asked gruffly.
"I think it is a good thing that Ryo-chan managed to do that," Hari said making them look at her.
"What do you mean?" Momoshiro asked.
"Well, I know it means that Ryo-chan can't lose a service game either," Hari said glancing over at Inoue who had just said something like that, "but it gives him time to figure out something about the Big Bang. It is a good sign that he managed to keep a hold of his racket like that. It shows that it is possible to return it."
"As long as he keeps winning his service games," Horio said nervously.
"He will," Hari said with a shrug, "Ryo-chan isn't someone who gets impatient or nervous over something like this. I bet Higa is expecting Ryo-chan to feel the pressure of having to win his service game. I bet that's what normally happens, but Ryo-chan doesn't care. He enjoys the challenge."
"True," Fuji smiled.
...
They rally the ball back and forth quite a bit and she ignored the worried looks and talk among her friends as she kept watching. She didn't feel the same worry because Ryoma wasn't looking stressed.
She also noticed that Tanishi kept getting shocked when Ryoma managed to return the ball time after time no matter how he angled the ball. He tried to shoot the ball to the opposite end of the court from where Ryoma was heading but Ryoma managed to shift direction and reach the ball.
"A one-legged split-step?!" Tanishi exclaimed shocked as he watched Ryoma reach the ball but he pulled back and allowed the ball to pass him and it bounced on the outside.
...
15-0 – Seigaku.
...
"T-That kid keeps his cool," Tanishi commented.
"It seems that he doesn't feel any pressure just like you said, Hari-chan," Fuji said.
"Of course not!" Momoshiro said proudly, "that word isn't in his textbook!"
"You mean, 'in his dictionary', idiot," Kaido hissed.
"You…" Momoshiro glared.
...
It continued like this for the next games, each of them winning their service games and Hari wondered if Ryoma had figured out something about Tanishi's serves yet.
"It's tiebreak!" Horio exclaimed.
"Echizen has to figure out how to return the Big Bang!" Kachiro said worriedly. "Or else he'll lose!"
"The Big Bang is 100 % effective," Shiba was saying to Inoue but Hari heard her and frowned a little. It did look like the Big Bang was still as effective. Ryoma kept losing his hold on the racket and had even been knocked off his feet a few times.
"No way…" Hari said quietly as she stared at Ryoma who didn't look nervous. Could he…?
"Hari-chan?" Fuji asked noticing her smile. She just shook her head.
...
1-0 – Seigaku.
...
1-1 - Higa
...
5-5 – Seigaku.
...
Hari was more than convinced now that Ryoma had everyone fooled as he held his wrist after another Big Bang serve. She bit her lip to stop the smirk showing as she watched as everyone was either worrying over the effective serve or being smug over it and sure that Ryoma would lose.
"The Big Bang is great!" someone yelled from the Higa crowd. "Its power is not dropping off!"
Hari wanted to shut the random person off because she didn't want anyone else to realise the same thing as she did and she looked at Kite who blinked and then frown.
"Oh-uh," she muttered as she watched how the Higa Captain start to work it out.
"Hurry up," Hari muttered ignoring Fuji looking at her as she stared at Tanishi wishing he would go for his serve again.
"Be blown away, shorty!" Tanishi yelled.
"…be careful, Tanishi-kun!" Kite yelled, "the power of the Big Bang is already…"
But it was too late because Ryoma had reached the ball and even though it looked like a hard serve the power had diminished enough and he managed to return the ball much to Tanishi's horror.
...
6-5, Seigaku.
...
"Well done, Echizen!" Momoshiro cheered loudly.
"Finally," Horio said.
"…from the Big Bang," Kachiro added.
"…he got a return ace!" Mizuno finished.
It reminded Hari of the Weasley twins when they finished their sentences like that and she couldn't help the nostalgic feel she got just watching them.
She heard someone cheer shouting one more point over and over again but she didn't look over at them as she turned her attention back to Ryoma who looked as calm as would be as he pointed his racket toward Tanishi who still looked shocked. He looked like he couldn't believe what had just happened.
"Mada mada dane," Ryoma said.
...
Kai looked a little stunned as he stared at the court. "Oh my."
"That freshman let his racket be knocked away on purpose," Kite said surprised, "to make us believe that the power of the Big Bang wasn't dropping off, and he's been waiting for his chance to counter. You got too full of yourself, Tanishi-kun."
...
Nanjiro smirked as he watched Ryoma and had to admit that he was impressed. He kept growing as a tennis player and he couldn't wait to see just how far Ryoma could go. He watched as Ryoma got ready to serve hopefully for the last time.
He heard the other cheer and glanced over at Hari who looked excited and proud as she watched her brother play. She had looked much more like herself today and he was glad she managed to get lost in the game and forget everything else going on. He didn't like watching how she was pulled down by everything and there was nothing he could do to stop it from happening. So, to get to watch her as she enjoyed a tennis match was amazing.
"Go, Ryo-chan!" Hari called out. "You can do it!"
Ryoma served the ball and Tanishi returned it.
"Take the point back no matter what, Tanishi-kun!" Kite yelled.
Ryoma cam sliding forward and did his Drive B as he returned the ball once more, but Tanishi seemed to have that under control.
"That's not effective against me!" Tanishi yelled as he returned the ball that went high and Ryoma was already after it.
"Then what about this?" Ryoma asked as he jumped.
"There it is!" The first years yelled, "the Cool Drive!"
"If the ball doesn't bounce then I'll just return it before it hits the ground," Tanishi said.
Nanjiro smirked, that wouldn't work. He was aware that Hari was smirking as well knowing that Ryoma would win with this.
The ball hits Tanishi's racket hard and start to spin against the threads before it shots off toward Tanishi's face instead of back over the net, and hits Tanishi's right cheek making the boy lose his grip on the racket and fall to the ground. Flat on his back.
For a moment everyone is just watching in stunned silence before Ryoma shifts his position and looks down at Tanishi.
"That is the real Cool Drive," he said.
"Hey, shorty," Tanishi says as he sits back up, "don't get all confident just because you manage to beat me. The threat of Higa Middle School has just begun."
...
Game and match, Seigaku's Echizen, 7-6.
...
Hari cheered as she threw herself at her brother hugging him tightly as she grinned.
"You did it!" she said. "You were amazing, Ryo-chan!"
The others surrounded them quickly and ruffled Ryoma's hair and clapped his shoulder.
"You played well, Echizen!" Oishi said.
"You're on fire!" Momoshiro declared.
"Good! Good!"
"You did very well!"
Ryoma managed to get free (or mostly because Hari still kept her arm around his neck) as he looked up and met Tezuka's eyes who nodded to him. Hari bit back a grin at the pleased look Ryoma got seeing the gesture from Tezuka. She knew how much her brother cared about what Tezuka thought about his tennis.
"Brat," Nanjiro said. "It was passable."
Ryoma scoffed at him but Nanjiro reached out and ruffled his hair making Ryoma squirm to getaway.
"Cut it out, stupid Oyaji," Ryoma grumbled.
"Nicely done," Ryuzaki interrupted. "Double 2! Get ready!"
Fuji and Kawamura stepped up.
"We're ready!"
...
For the next match Hari had to work to keep her calm as they right from the start tried to hit Ryuzaki with a hardball, though luckily Kawamura managed to stop it. It was frustrating to have to stay still and just watch because she really hated this way to play tennis.
But she did notice that it was their coach, Saotome Harumi, who seemed to give the order to go for Ryuzaki. It made her feel even angrier knowing that a grown man told teens to play dirty. They had a choice in this, but a part of her did understand that it was more complicated than she first had assumed. Though, she still didn't like them.
Watching the game continue and even as Higa seemed to take control of the games with moves that gave them the advantage, Fuji and Kawamura never gave up and worked their way back into the game.
Hari had kept an eye on the Higa coach and saw how he became angrier and angrier as the game continued and she glanced at Nanjiro who was watching with a blank expression on his face. She knew he also was watching the Higa coach.
It seemed that their worry was needless since Hirakoba was getting more and more excited as the game went on, and Hari recognised the type. He was the kind that loved a challenge and wouldn't be able to stop himself from enjoying it and doing his best.
Hirakoba also seemed to be the only one so far that enjoyed a fair game and when Saotome gave the signal she knew meant to go for Ryuzaki again (she was ready to interfere if need be) he ignored him and continued to play (and a look at Saotome showed just how he took that).
In the end, Kawamura and Fuji won when Fuji revealed his fourth counter, and Kawamura could use his Hadoukyuus showing that they had overcome Higa's special moves. The end score was 7-5 in Seigaku's favour.
...
"Nicely done," Hari smiled at Fuji when he came back to them. "I knew you could do it."
Fuji smiled, "it was fun."
"And at least they stopped trying to hit the ball at Ryuzaki-sensei," Hari frowned.
"Mm," Fuji agreed.
Kawamura was smiling as he was surrounded by the others and Hari had to chuckle as he was telling them (again) that they won because of their support. Kawamura with and without his racket was very amusing.
...
"We will now proceed with Singles 2!" the referee called out making Hari look away from Fuji and toward the court.
"Hari-chan," Nanjiro said looking at her, "you ready?"
Hari nodded, "of course!"
She walked toward the court when Kai entered and she glanced over at him. She remembered Saeki and his pained expression as he was forced to stay back and play while the others rushed after their coach.
"Kai-kun," Kite said.
"I know. You can count on me," Kai said before he twirled his racket with an easy movement and pointed the handle toward Seigaku's side. "I'll reverse Seigaku's momentum."
Hari walked over to the fence where Horio, Kachiro and Mizuno were standing and put her hand on the top of the fence before jumping over and landing easily on the court below ignoring the gasps from the first years above her.
"Hari-chan!" they yelped.
She looked over at Kai and spun her racket around easily as she walked over to the line and smirked as she saw the slightly stunned expression on Kai's face before he hid it with a smirk.
"Singles 2," the referee called, "the match between Higa Middle School's Kai Yuujirou-kun and Seigaku's Echizen Hari-san will now begin."
Hari held out her hand for the regular handshake before the match and Kai took her hand after a moment of hesitation.
"Hm? So, I get the girl?" Kai asked. "I won't take it easy on you, girly."
Hari rolled her eyes, "I wouldn't want you to, kid."
Kai narrowed his eyes.
...
Start of game, Seigaku to serve!
...
Hari knew she had to start strong. She got ready to serve feeling everyone watching her, but ignored it as she let the ball bounce a couple of times. She looked up and saw Kai looking at her.
She tossed the ball up and served.
The ball went to Kai's right and he moved to return it and she knew he would return it with a high ball so she ran and then jumped up and smashed the ball at the right corner behind Kai who missed his chance to return it.
...
15-0 – Seigaku
...
"The Phoenix Rising!" Sakuno and Tomoka yelled.
"So early!" Mizuno said.
"She is serious," Ryoma smiled a little as he watched Hari.
...
Hari served again but this time she didn't use her curve serve knowing that she shouldn't use it too much at first. She expected it when Kai returned the ball and returned it again.
They kept rallying the ball back and forth both trying to find openings. So they kept running one way to the other and neither of them going to the net.
Kai frowned as he looked at her returning another ball. She was smart, and he could tell that she deliberately hit the ball side to side and never went for the net. This way he couldn't use the Shukuchi method.
"Hari-chan is doing well," Ryoma smiled.
"She is," Fuji agreed. "Saeki seems to have shared his experience with her last night, and she's able to use it against them. In singles, this is the way to block the Shukuchi method."
Kai smirked, "this way you are also locked down!"
Hari was at the left corner of her side of the court when Kai returned the ball toward the opposite corner making Hari change direction in a split step and use the momentum to gain speed as she rushed toward the ball. She didn't think as she threw herself forward with her racket out in front of her…
The ball hit her racket and she turned slightly in the air as she used her momentum to return the ball over the net and past a stunned looking Kai.
...
30-0 – Seigaku
...
Hari pushed herself up and got back to her feet as she turned to face Kai who was glaring at her.
She heard the cheering from her friends but didn't look away from Kai and she could also detect some uneasy chatter from the Higa side of the crowd.
"Amazing," Sakuno said.
"She's really doing this," Tomoka said. "Go, Hari-chan!"
...
Kite frowned as he looked at Hari. He had not expected her to reach the ball when Kai had managed to return it on the opposite side of where she had been. She was fast.
"Interesting," Hirakoba said. "I almost wish I was the one playing her…"
Hirakoba was leaning against the fence as he stared at the court and grinned.
"Lucky, Kai-kun," Hirakoba added.
...
"Don't get too comfortable," Kai smirked. "Just because you figured out how to stop one thing, doesn't mean you've won!"
Hari didn't answer as she bounced the ball. She tossed it up and hit a curveball and watched as it flew over the net and Kai reached it and returned it, and while she saw what he was doing she responded and ran for the net and returned the ball.
"Look at all the openings you left now!" Kai said as he hit the ball behind her, but Hari saw how he moved and the ball spun and was already after the ball and used a loose drop volley making the ball drop right behind the net.
"You're friends with that boy I played yesterday, aren't you?" Kai asked. "You like the losers?"
Hari pushed back the anger that threatened to overcome her as she stared at him. She knew what he wanted. He wanted her to lose focus, but she wouldn't. She'd prove it on the court. So, with difficulty, she turned and walked away.
...
Game, Seigaku: 1- 0.
...
He served the ball and she returned it making sure to hit the ball to the side so he couldn't use his special skill. She wanted to make him run more.
"You'll not win against me this way," Kai said. "I can run until tomorrow!"
She didn't answer as she hit the ball back and he ran after it.
"Let's make this a stamina test!" Kai said. "See if you can keep up, little girl."
Hari saw the ball, almost in slow motion, go a little higher than Kai had expected and changed direction in a quick movement and rushed toward the net and smashed the ball hard to the far corner and out of Kai's reach.
"We'll see about that," Hari said coldly.
He stared at her.
...
"He's rude," Sakuno said looking a little worried, "he's not very nice."
"He tries to make her angry," Yoshida said.
"Dirty," Tomoka scowled as she watched as they rallied the ball back and forth for what seemed like forever.
"I hope Hari-chan is alright," Sakuno said.
"Mm," Yoshida said. "She's keeping up and gaining points, so I'll say she's doing okay."
...
Game, Seigaku, 2-0.
...
Game, Seigaku, 3-0.
...
Game, Seigaku, 4-0.
...
"Hmm," Ryoma hummed as he watched his sister with a small smile. "I see."
"Echizen?" Momoshiro frowned.
"She has great stamina," Ryoma said. "That was something she could train when she was injured a while back, remember? Even if she couldn't do any tennis practice with us at the training camp before the Rikkai Dai match, she could run. So, she trained her stamina. I was a little worried she had lost it when she hurt her knee during the match against Kirihara, but she hasn't."
"I see," Kaido said. "She always was fast."
Ryoma nodded, "and she's flexible. I think she's picked up a thing or two from Kikumaru-senpai."
"I noticed, nya!" Kikumaru grinned. "She uses some of my acrobatic moves when he returns high balls."
...
"Four games to none!" Horio grinned. "This is practically won!"
"She's good!" Kachiro nodded.
"You shouldn't take a win before it is certain," Fuji commented. "Though, it looks good so far…"
"Um…yes," Horio and Kachiro said.
...
Hari felt her breath coming a little harder, but she wasn't feeling it yet. She frowned as she looked at Kai. He was breathing a little harder, but she knew she hadn't seen everything from him yet.
"Are you going to get serious some time today, or are you good with losing to me like this?" Hari called out.
Kai spun around and stared at her.
...
"Um, what does she mean?" Sakuno asked.
"Serious?" Kikumaru frowned.
"Eh?" Momoshiro blinked.
Tezuka watched with a blank expression on his face but he felt a little impressed by Hari's observation. He didn't think many of the others had realised this yet.
...
Kite frowned as he stared at Hari who was giving Kai an unimpressed look. Much like the look she'd given him all through the match. He hadn't been aware that Hari had seen through Kai like this, and it made the shift from Kai seem less impressive and took much of the surprise away.
Kite couldn't help but think that Hari won this part of the game, and felt a little worried about how Kai would get back from this.
...
Kai smirked and threw the racket that was in his right hand up in the air so it spun before catching it again with his left hand but held it in a reverse grip.
Hari watched impassively for a moment while her team looked a little surprised.
"I see," Hari said. "So you are a lefty."
...
Hari served the ball and he hit it back but there was something off about the way he hit the ball. She had to throw herself forward to reach the ball before it bounced off the court near the upper corner, but she hit the ball and returned it over the net.
She looked over and saw how he jumped high with his arms held out before landing where the ball was and reacting quickly, she realised that the rest of the court was open, so she moved to get back to where she had been. But while running she noticed that he hadn't hit the ball yet and the ball was almost past him.
She stopped abruptly as she felt her eyes widen as she realised what he was doing, and he thrust the racket upward toward the ball and she could almost see the air move with how hard he hit the ball and how quickly it all went.
"Viking Horn!" Kai yelled as he hit the ball and all Hari could do was watch how the ball curved to where she had been before she rushed to cover the room she had left but was unable to turn back in time to stop the ball.
...
15-0 - Higa.
...
"I can see your moves very well, Hari-chan," he said adding a mocking tone as he said her name.
Hari stared at him as she thought hard. He just hit the ball to the complete opposite way she had been going.
...
"What was that just now?" Momoshiro asked. "Is that an Okinawan technique?"
"In his case, he delays the timing of the strike by waiting until the very last moment," Fuji said. "As a result, he can hit the ball to the opposite side after the opponent begins moving."
"That reverse grip is tricky," Ryoma said looking at Hari who once more failed to return a ball after the Viking Horn.
...
Game, Higa Middle School, 4-2.
...
Hari let out a frustrated breath as Kai took his second game. She had to figure out how to stop his move. It was good, she would admit that. But there had to be a way to stop it! It just had to be.
She just had to find the right way…
...
Game, Higa Middle School, 4-3.
...
"Oh no…" Horio groaned. "It's too good a move to stop!"
"What can we do?" Kachiro asked worriedly.
Ryoma frowned, "she'll work something out."
"But will it be fast enough?" Momoshiro asked concerned.
...
Game, Higa Middle School, 4-4.
...
Hari stood still feeling hot and exhausted as she caught her breath. They were at a tie now, and if she didn't do something he would take the lead.
It simply couldn't happen.
But how could she do it?
"Oh, look! She's finally getting tired!" someone yelled.
"Kai-kun will crush her now!"
"Go Higa! Higa!"
She didn't pay the noise any attention as she looked over at Kai who looked smug.
"Hm," Hari finally said. "It seems like you're not all talk."
He scowled at her, "Oh? You'll not take another point in this game."
Hari shrugged, "is that so?"
...
She prepared to serve the ball and hit the ball with her slice serve and stood still much to the other's surprise.
"What is she doing?" Kikumaru asked.
"…" Ryoma frowned.
Kai prepared to use the Viking Horn and notice that she wasn't moving from her spot, but he didn't stop his movement as he hit the ball curving it to go the opposite way.
Hari stared intently at the ball as it hit Kai's racket and noticed how it moved and she ran and threw herself after the ball hitting it and it flew back over the net and dropped just on the other side.
...
15 – 0 –Seigaku.
...
Hari got up and turned to look at Kai who looked at her stunned.
"T-That was a lucky shot," he said.
Hari just dusted off her shorts and picked up a new ball and bounced it a couple of times.
...
"Eh?"
"Did…did she do that?"
"How?"
...
Hari did another slice serve and waited as Kai prepared to use his Viking Horn once more and once again he hit the ball to go to the opposite side and Hari reacted quickly and threw herself after the ball and felt it hit her racket, only this time it was too weak and it didn't go all the way over the net.
...
15-15 – Higa.
...
Hari frowned as she straightened up again and looked down at her racket. It hadn't been good enough this time…
"See, you just got lucky!" someone yelled.
"You can't return the Viking Horn!" another one yelled.
...
"Hm," Hirakoba said. "Interesting tactic."
"She's not going to be easy to stop," Chinen commented.
"Kai-kun might be in trouble," Tanishi huffed.
Kite frowned but didn't say anything as he stared at Hari. He didn't know many who could stop Kai's move at all. It would be interesting to see if she could keep it up or if it really had just been a lucky shot.
...
Hari hit the return after the Viking Horn once more and knew it would go over the net this time, and rolled back up on her feet in time to see Kai being at the net ready to return the ball. He was watching her as she waited for him to hit the ball before she thrust herself forward and held the racket out and managed to hit the ball with enough force to get it over the net.
...
30-15 –Seigaku.
...
"Go Hari!"
"Yes! You can do it!"
"Seigaku! Seigaku!"
"Hari-chan!"
"Amazing!"
...
Game, Seigaku, 5 – 4.
...
"She finally took a game!" Horio cheered.
"Just one more…" Kachiro cheered.
"…and she's won!" Mizuno finished.
"Now, look at that," Nanjiro smiled. "That's my girl."
"Good job," Ryuzaki smiled.
...
"She has motion vision," Kite frowned. "That must be how she can wait that long to move… Kai-kun's Viking Horn isn't effective against her anymore."
"I wish I were playing her," Hirakoba sighed. "Looks fun…"
He glanced toward their coach and saw that he looked pissed off. He signalled to Kai and Hirakoba scowled. He hated that.
...
"Oh no…" Fuji said. "Look at their coach…"
"Ryuzaki-sensei," Momoshiro and Kikumaru said worriedly.
...
Kai was already serving, and Hari felt her eyes widen as she realised what he had planned, and she rushed forward and threw herself, so she got in between the ball and Ryuzaki managing to hit the ball back, so it bounced straight past the Higa coach instead.
"O-out!" The referee called.
...
15-0 – Higa
...
"You idiotic little loser!" Hari hissed as she glared at Kai. "What are you trying to do?!"
"Eh? It was an accident," Kai said trying to look innocent.
"Like your teammates did earlier? Like yesterday?!" Hari snapped. "That's an awful lot of coincidences and accidents that are too much alike! You make me sick."
"Hari-chan," Ryuzaki said. "I'm fine."
Hari scowled at Kai who just smiled smugly.
"No thanks to them," Hari muttered and turned away from Kai and looked over at their coach who looked annoyed. "And you! Who do you think you are? A weak little man who doesn't know the honour of tennis! You are pathetic!"
"How dare…!" Saotome started and moved forward.
"Oi, oi," Nanjiro spoke up stepping in between Saotome and Hari. "What do you think you're doing? That's my daughter, and you will keep away from her."
"Then teach her some respect!" Saotome said.
"Hari-chan knows to respect those who earn it," Nanjiro smiled but there was a dark look in his eyes, "and you…are not one of them. Sit down and stop trying to use unfair tricks to win you the game."
...
Hari forced herself to inhale deeply before exhaling slowly trying to calm down. When she saw the ball move toward Ryuzaki she had snapped. It reminded her of seeing her coach on the ground and she had just reacted.
"You okay, Hari-chan?" Nanjiro asked quietly as he put a hand on her shoulder.
Hari nodded.
"Everything is okay," Nanjiro reassured her. "Just continue with the game. You have it in your corner now. They are getting frustrated."
Hari nodded again and smiled a little as she looked up and met his eyes. She felt herself calm down more and he squeezed her shoulder once before walking back to the side-line where he leaned against the fence.
...
Kai was watching her and wasn't sure why he felt a stab of regret go through him. He looked behind him and met Kite's eyes and saw the determination in his eyes and Kai remembered how hard they worked to get to where they were.
This was their chance.
They had to win. No matter what. They had pushed themselves harder than anyone to grow and to learn. They would win. They had to.
So, he pushed the small stab of regret away knowing that they would do anything they had to do to win the game. It didn't matter if it was dirty, if they won the game then it was worth it.
They were prepared to push the lines others set. It wasn't their fault that the other teams were too fair, or weak to do what was necessary to win.
...
"It's been a while," Fuji commented looking at Hari who returned another ball and he noticed that Kai had started to alternate between other shots and the Viking Horn now. Probably trying to make Hari (more) tired and push her more, though Hari was keeping up so far.
"She must be exhausted," Inui said. "She's run more than expected in a game."
"It's lasted for over two hours and a half," Kawamura said worriedly. "She's doing very well, though."
"Yes, she is," Oishi said.
...
30 – 15 – Seigaku.
...
"Yes!" Sakuno and Tomoka cheered. "Go, Hari! Fight!"
"You can do it, Hari-chan!"
"Seigaku, fight!"
...
Hari stared harshly at Kai who looked a little frustrated and she could tell he was feeling it as well. She felt tired and her muscles hurt, but she refused to give up. She would not lose to them.
There was no way she would accept that.
He served the ball and she ran and jumped up spreading her arms a little as she heard someone yelling;
"Phoenix rising!"
She smashed the ball toward the corner, but he was already making his way there and she landed and immediately shifted her body so she ran back and somehow managed to turn so she had her back to the net, but her racket was out in front of her as she threw herself forward and managed to hit the ball and get the angle right so she hit it back the way it came from and it dropped just over the net.
...
40 – 15 – Seigaku.
...
Kite was frowning as he watched. To see Kai's Viking Horn shut down like this… he could still use it, but she still had stamina and calm to read the movement and returned it most of the time.
"Kai-kun!"
"Come on, Kai-kun!"
"Higa, fight!"
"No…"
"He's going to lose," Hirakoba said.
"We've lost." Tanishi said.
...
"I won't let you!" Kai yelled serving the ball and scowled when she read where it would go and returned it. He put all his strength into the Viking Horn. She wasn't going to stop him from using it! It had never let him down yet!
He saw her wait and scowled as he hit the ball and she ran and then…she stopped and he blinked until he saw why…
"Out!" the referee yelled.
...
Game and match, Seigaku's Echizen, 6-4!
...
Hari let out a breath and fell back on the court smiling as she lifted her racket.
"You did it, Hari-chan!"
"We're through to the next round!"
She blinked when she saw Nanjiro looking down at her with a smile and it took a moment for her to realise that he was holding out a hand to help her up. She grabbed it and he pulled her back up to her feet.
"Thanks," she said.
"Well done," Nanjiro said.
Hari smiled pleased before looking over at the other side of the court where Kai was still standing looking stunned.
She walked to the net and waited for him to respond.
"What?" he sneered. "Want me to apologize?"
Hari tilted her head slightly as she looked at him, "Nah. You won't mean it. I don't care if you're sorry or not. You and your team are responsible for how you act and what you say."
"Then why are you here?" Kai asked.
"To say thank you for the match as decent athletes do," Hari said holding out her hand. "You have talent. It's just too bad that you waste it with playing such worthless tennis."
With that she lowered her hand and turned and walked off the court without looking back. She grinned when Ryoma was there, and she hugged him as the others came too in order to congratulate her for the win.
...
...
AN: What do you think? XD
Hope you like it! XD
Thank you for reading and your support! XD