4. Honey, this mirror isn't big enough for the two of us

Three had been a good number to start a revolution. Three as two plus one, when Sanada and Yukimura found in Yanagi an unexpected ally. The number increased week by week. Niou, whose play was discontinuous but totally unpredictable. Marui, the guy who didn't last two laps in a row, but seemed to have a brand new technique every time you played against him. Jackal, who was like a rubber wall who sent you back every ball you threw at him, and finally Yagyuu, dragged out from the golf club by Niou, with his shots as powerful and as precise as bullets. Seven of them from their year, and by the time Kirihara joined the club there was no need for revolution anymore. The club was theirs. They was a team.

Sanada glanced behind his shoulders. Beside him and his former teammates, only few other recruits were still running. A couple of players lasted less than ten laps. Most of the other didn't made at fifteen. Sanada's punishment usually included thirty or more laps, and if middle school's track was smaller than this one, they were all trained enough to do so.

Worst thing was, no-one seemed to even care about people not finishing their assigned laps. Back in their club, those ones would have only run laps for training until they'd get enough stamina to not collapse on the ground after five mere minutes.

He looked at Yukimura. The guy was running, a small darker ring around his collar the only sign of strain. They couldn't find a moment to talk after the match the day before. He didn't think Yukimura would have said a word anyway. He was always like flare hidden beyond the ashes. They're always burning, though you can't see them. Neither you can predict when they burst into flames. One thing sure: they will.

He could almost see the bright fire underneath his skin. It was totally different from the time he got defeated by that Echizen in National Finals. Why a defeat in the most important match of junior competition seemed so insignificant compared to a loss in a training match? Sanada stretched his lips. A king could afford to lose a camp battle, he told himself, but can't afford the loss of his own throne. That's what Yanagi would have said, at least.

The guy have said nothing about Morimura's play yet. He claimed he hadn't seen enough. At his words, Yukimura had grabbed his things and left the room. He defeated him. What did it mean Yanagi hadn't seen enough?

Sanada shook his head, and kept running. Had they even an idea to how to hold a practice session?

As if to answer him, the Captain whistled to call them.

They started to gather towards the bleachers. That Asou was there, and the Captain too. Only the new members seemed to be called.

«Second and third years will follow the schedule assigned for today», Asou explained, as the crowd reached the two of them. «First years and newcomers, please stay here while the Captain explains you the program for today».

Why me, Sanada read on Morimura's lips, while seniors and juniors left to join their assigned activity.

His respect for their new Captain got even lower. He always let that Asou to speak in his place. Was him at least able to make a decision by himself and force his club into it?

Yanagi always kept them informed about High School Tennis Club. Their priority had always been to focus on Middle School tournaments and competitions, but they liked to keep an eye open on their imminent future.

Rikkai High had a great reputation, Sanada recalled. Three-times National Champion in the last ten years, it had been runner-up the previous year, after winning both Kanagawa and Kantou Tournaments in straight sets. It didn't seem to be a club of losers. That Morimura surely wasn't one, after how he dominated against Yukimura the day before.

But a good player didn't necessary make a good Captain, Sanada knew that well.

The two of them were joined by a girl, who run towards the bleachers losing sheets every step she took.

Jackal picked them up for her, who kept walking unaware of her sowing.

We are in good hands indeed. He guessed the girl was the manager Yagyuu was talking about the day before. Things were always getting better.

Jackal gave the papers to Asou, she wasn't still realizing she had lost them. Morimura narrowed his eyes. What a circus.

Marui laughed from behind him.

«She seems a little bit dense, doesn't she?»

«You shouldn't judge people you don't know, Marui-kun», Yagyuu replied.

Pop.

Marui's decision to quit chewing didn't last much. Yanagi predicted three months. He didn't last two. Jackal came back, while the girl managed to gather her papers; Morimura finally decided to talk.

«You know tournaments season is approaching. Our tennis club is defending champion in Kanagawa Prefecture Preliminaries, which will start at the end of the month. I know everyone of you would like to have a chance to play. Our club custom had always had the newcomers following a basic training schedule until summer break». Matsui let the papers fall again. Asou sighed and picked them up from his feet. «And this will happen this year as well. However, it came to our attention that among you there are players who reached a high level in Junior High competition. So today we wanted to make an experiment». Morimura glanced at Asou, who nodded and took the floor.

«The ones who think to be ready for competition, please move to your right. The other please move to left».

Sanada took two steps right, without even thinking. No-one of his former teammates had a hesitation.

Along with them, ten or so other players took place in the competition group. The rest of the newcomers had moved to the left.

Morimura looked at them with half a smile. Maybe he did believe they were overestimating themselves. Good. Let him believe so.

This had never been their tactic. The name of the Big Three first, and of the Rikkai Dai Fuzoku then, had been a synonym of the top, of the enemy to defeat; the kings who held the crown of junior tennis circuit.

They never let the challengers underestimate them, but if this Captain wished to do so, it would only have been a further advantage for them.

«The ones who chose the left will be ball boys for today's practice. Tomorrow we will make a proper training schedule for all of you». Morimura looked at the ones to the right. «There are sixteen of you. Now I want you to sort yourself again.«The ones who think their level should be sorted as "highly advanced" in this club, take a step forward. If it is "advanced", stay where you are. If you think you can compete but your level is not good enough yet, don't be ashamed and take a step back. We just need to sort you according to your self-perceived level. There's no shame in having still lots of room to improve».

Sanada took a step forward, like everyone else in the group. As expected. This was ridiculous indeed. What did they want to achieve with such childish initiatives? Did they have so much time to waste? Morimura and Asou looked at each other, like they were unsure about what to do next.

He looked at Yukimura, but the guy seemed to have no reaction in front of this clear lack of leadership. He simply stared at the two players, expressionless, hands on the hips, waiting for instructions.

«Okay», Morimura scratched his hair. «Okay. So now sort yourself in...», he counted them», «four groups of four. Since you think you're all top-level, sort yourself as you like».

The circus went on and on.

Sanada joined Yukimura and Yanagi in one group. Yagyuu, Niou, Marui and Jackal had already sorted a group of their own.

The three of them were finally joined by a guy with round glasses Sanada didn't recall to have seen before. He greeted them with a nod and a large smile. Only Yanagi bothered to say hello.

They were given of further instructions. Two groups will play in court one, the others in court two. They would have played one group after the other. The matches would have been between groups, singles first, doubles were optional. Round robin, tie-break style. Two of them would have start, then another one could have challenged the winner, and so on.

What's the purpose of all this, someone asked.

Just play and don't think about it, Morimura answered. Just show what you can do.

Nothing more than exhibition matches, Sanada thought. He crossed his arms. He still was missing the point of all of this, or, better said, he understood their point, but also thought it was nonsense. What was the point of making them play totally random, without a method, without a purpose? If there were one, Sanada couldn't see it.

Sanada and his group remained in Court 1, while the rest of his former teammates moved to Court 2, just behind the fence. Morimura also moved there, while Asou and Matsui remained on the bleachers, waiting for the first group to decide the starters.

Sanada and the others moved towards the bleachers too. Yanagi pulled out his notepad from the pocket, just in case, he would've probably said.

Sanada sat down, and waited for the practice to begin. Useless or not, watching the play of their potential rivals wouldn't be a total waste of time in the end.

Or maybe yes.

«Their level is unsurprisingly low». And this guys evaluate themselves as a ten. «Self perception could be misled like few other things», Yanagi muttered, after the first tie-break match ended 7-4, with poorly played shots for both sides. «I could say that after seeing Seiichi's match yesterday they should have had a more clear idea of what this club call a ten. But maybe I've been too optimistic about people's perception of their own capacities. Seeing a good play and think "I can do it too" is one of the most common mistakes in the world».

Sanada didn't care. He was just disappointed. From his position he could see Court 2, where Yagyuu and Jackal were playing against each other, offering a completely different show. Someone gasped loudly after Yagyuu's Laser Beam, and even louder when Jackal managed to answer it.

A look on his back confirmed that Asou too was watching Court 2, while Matsui was still looking at the miserable play in front of her - three double faults in a row and the second contender lost in less than two minutes -, and according to her face she was totally aware of how pitiful it was.

Well, they'll see a very different show. It was their turn now.

Sanada looked at Yanagi and then at Yukimura, but the latter was no more sat next to him. He had already stood up and grabbed his racket, ready to play.

Sanada pressed his lips. He wasn't eager to play that Yukimura. He couldn't read Yanagi's mind, but he knew him well enough to understand he came to the same conclusions.

Yukimura wouldn't play for win today. He would have played to show everything he had. And talking about him, it meant a lot. Expecting him to hold back just a little would be a fake hope. Expecting him to play fair, well, it was in doubt too.

Sanada nodded at Yanagi. If someone should've to take the tsunami right in the face, with also a chance to survive, it was him. He stood up to join his friend in the challenge.

«I'll go».

Sanada turned back. The guy with glasses grabbed his racket and jumped down the bleachers, reaching Yukimura in two long steps.

«Don't think we ever introduced», he lend his hand out. «I'm Takahashi. Hey, no need, I know who you are. Everyone knows after yesterday. Let's have a good match, yeah?»

Yukimura nodded, shook his hand and offered him a smile. He didn't give a further reply. He grabbed his racket tightly, and reached the opposite side of the court.

«I let you serve», he said, like Morimura said to him the day before. «I choose this side».

«Okay, okay». Takahashi rolled the racket on his fingertip, a play Sanada always found useless and irritating. Tennis was not a circus.

«Won't you stop him, Genichirou?», Yanagi asked.

Sanada looked at the guy. «He seems pretty confident».

«Because he has seen Seiichi being defeated, yesterday». Yanagi looked at the two on the court. «It's another thing that deceives frequently. When a strong player is defeated by someone happened to play better», Sanada liked Yanagi's choice of words, more than he'd have liked "someone stronger", «it provokes the fake perception that the defeated one was somehow weaker, fallible. It makes people believe "i can beat them". Perception that is usually false».

Sanada nodded. «You're saying I should stop him because he's underestimating Yukimura and could get hurt?»

«I think it's too late for that now».

Sanada looked back at the court. The guy - Takahashi - had served first.

It was a weak serve, and Yukimura took his chance on it. He answered by backhand, right on the guy's feet, who screamed as the ball bounced behind his back. 0-1.

«Woah», the guy adjusted his glasses, looked at the ball. A ball boy threw it back to him. «Woah. Nice shot. Like. Woah». He bounced the ball, then threw it toward Yukimura, as a reward. «Seems like you're not kidding at all. Okay. Let's play, then».

Yukimura served on the baseline, on Takahashi's backhand. The guy demonstrated it wasn't his weak point at all, hitting the ball back to Yukimura, who answered with a crossed forehand. Takahashi hit it back. The rallied on the baseline until the guy saw a chance and came to the net to close the point with a well-placed volley. 1-1.

Maybe we were underestimating him. Or maybe not. Sanada hadn't watched enough to determine if it had been a lucky shot or a brilliant technique. Not everyone could easily win a point to Yukimura though. The Child of God, he was called back in Junior High. How many matches had he seen him playing without dropping a single point for the opponent? How many matches he had won to love, how many matches he had played without even bother to start playing?

It seemed to belong to another life. It was like they had lived in an illusion until now. Echizen had been the exception. He didn't altered the rule. But there, in their Kingdom, Yukimura already failed to win the crown. And now this guy popped out of nowhere destroyed the last glimpse of the myth of his invincibility. No-one can win against him. False. No-one can steal a single game from him. False. No-one can win a point agains him. Also false, false, false.

Without all of this, what remained, Sanada asked himself. He looked back at Yanagi. He was looking at the court, and didn't seem amused. He realized the gaze of Sanada on him.

«Genichirou. You better stop them now».

Sanada turned back toward the court. Yukimura had already served with an ace on the right tramline. Takahashi was serving again, an underhand serve Sanada himself would have taken as an insult. It was well placed, though. Yukimura's answer was weak, and Takahashi could easily close the point with a smash. 2-2.

«No». Sanada shook his head. «I can't protect him as if he was a child. He had to learn how to lose». They probably had underestimated how heated would have been competition in High School. They have been so naive, thinking that they would have only replied exactly what happened in Junior High. They've been careless.

«I've not asked you to stop them to protect Seiichi», Yanagi replied.

After two long rallies, Yukimura won the point with a lob, but Takahashi took back the mini-break with another volley.

He was a good player when it concerned to come to the net. Maybe better than Marui, maybe not. Yukimura didn't now him, nor his play, and this went to his advantage. And about Takahashi...

«He probably had observed Seiichi very well yesterday», Yanagi confirmed his thoughts, as the player changed courts. «The problem is what Seiichi didn't show yesterday».

Sanada had a light nod. Surely he didn't observe well enough. Did he notice how Morimura started to hit the most powerful shots he could, just to prevent Yukimura to drag him in a rally? Did he notice he rather lost points hitting the ball out or on the net than let Yukimura hit the ball back? It didn't seem so. And that was why Sanada was certain he would have lost. How quickly, he did not know.

Yukimura holds his next serve again with one well-placed backhand, after a rally that had seem like eternal. 3-4.

They've got all Asou's attention now. Matsui was whispering something in his ear, and the guy was nodding without take his eyes off the court. He didn't seem to have fun. Sanada clenched his fists. No-one was having fun, except for Takahashi.

«Woah. That was good, wasn't that?» He waved his racket like a banner. «I don't think I can do it twice. Hope I won't need to, yeah?»

He went to serve. He threw a ball up, and then moved to serve... and missed it. The ball rolled at his feet. Takahashi laughed.

«Oh, sorry, sorry. Clumsy me. Mom always told me». He grabbed back the ball, tossed it in the air. And missed it again. Double fault.

Takahashi didn't laugh. He looked at his hand, and then at the ball again. He went to bend and grab it, he stumbled on his feet.

«Sorry». Sanada barely heard his voice, so loud and cheerful just few seconds earlier. «Sorry».

He breathed hard, once, twice. Sanada forced himself to stay sit. He glanced back again, at Yanagi, who were watching impassible, at Asou, who had still his eyes stuck on the court.

Takahashi hit the ball. His first serve landed out of the left tramline.

The guy looked puzzled. How, he should be asking himself. I was sure it would have been in. His second serve didn't pass over the net, and fell back in his own court. Double-fault, 4-5.

It was Yukimura's turn to serve again. Takahashi took position on the baseline. He held the racket like it was an anchor. A very poor anchor against a Tsunami.

Yukimura served, and Takahashi hadn't been able to react. The serve was fast, hit the ground at his feet, and bounced through his legs.

«Ouch».

Takahashi's racket slip off his hand, he tripped and fell on his knees. «Shit». He rubbed his eyes with his right hand, the left arm the only thing that prevented him to fall face on the ground. He was panting hard. «What the...» The words died in his mouth. He opened his lips once again, and again, and again, like he was struggling for air, and spoke no more.

Yukimura didn't wait him to get up again. He knew he couldn't. He hadn't enough sense of touch anymore to get back on his feet.

He served without holding back. It was a kick serve, and missed the boy on the ground by two inches maybe. Someone held their breath. Someone screamed. The boy on the ground didn't react. Sanada knew why. He didn't see the ball coming. He didn't hear it. He didn't even feel the air moved by his passage.

It was 4-7. The tie-break was over. Yukimura won.

The court was as silent as a graveyard.

«Yukimura-kun». Asou's voice came from behind. «Please come here». The tone said it wasn't a request.

«We've been lucky it was only a tie-break». Yanagi said quietly. «I wouldn't have trusted to let him play in a longer match».

Sanada didn't reply. He didn't know what to think anymore. Yukimura did never overdo it. Yukimura knew what opponents required his full strength, and what did not. Sanada did't recall to have seen him act cruelly on a weaker opponent. But he had never played lightly, too. Sanada knew some players who felt guilty not letting their opponent win if not a game, at least a point; Yukimura weren't among them.

But few opponents he had met who had brought him using the Yips. Echizen. Yanagi. Sanada himself. He used it on that Shitenhouji's kid, but Sanada thought he was only showing off, a message not to the kid himself but to Seigaku. See what I can do. See who I am. He didn't want to harm, just to send a message. I am back.

With Morimura he'd needed to use it, but didn't have the chance. His opponent had been better than him in avoiding his tricks, and didn't fall in the trap. He may be an awful Captain, but indeed he was a good player. Sanada didn't remember one single player who had recognized Yukimura's intentions and prevented his techniques. Kudos for that.

Sanada wondered how many of them they would find from then on. How many people able to resist the Yips. How many people against whom his Fuurinkazan would be ineffective. How many people whose data would be impossible to gather. How many, how many, how many.

Never underestimate your opponent, Sanada thought. And it seemed like they did.

Was that the way for Yukimura to answer? Destroy every opponent he found on his path, from the weaker to the stronger? The Yukimura he knew would've never done that. But the Yukimura he knew was the Child of God, undefeated, sat on the top of the world, and he didn't need to be merciless. This one? He didn't know.

Yukimura walked towards Asou, with no hurry, his chin up. Takahashi was still on the ground; two ball boys had reached him, who was moaning wordless sounds. He wouldn't have been the first opponent Yukimura sent straight to the infirmary, though it had been so long since the last time.

Matsui jumped down the bleachers to reach them. Morimura had reached Asou, and was waiting next-to him for Yukimura to come. Neither of them seemed impressed. Quite contrary, Morimura seemed really pissed off.

The play on Court 2 had stopped too. Sanada realized all the courts were silent, as if Yukimura had used Yips on all of them to shut them up.

Yukimura went up to the stair and reached the two regulars in waiting. He was probably the only one who didn't seem nervous at all.

«Explain yourself», Morimura said as he reached them. He added nothing, just staring at him with his arms crossed.

«What do I need to explain, Captain?», Yukimura asked politely.

Sanada didn't recall the last time he heard him say "Captain" to someone else.

«We're a tennis club, Yukimura-kun. We play tennis», Morimura raised his tone. «We don't send our fellow club mates in the infirmary for a practice match. What were you thinking?»

Two ball-boys were helping Takahashi to stand up, though the guy didn't seem able to walk yet. Stumbling, they walked out of the courts, toward the school building and the infirmary, the manager following them.

«I played tennis», Yukimura replied. He didn't even blink. He stared back at Morimura.

«Is this the way you play tennis?», the Captain was angry and did nothing to hide it. «Really? So every time we had a practice match I need to call a doctor to take care of your opponents? Or maybe I have to put you playing only against the wall for all the year?»

Yukimura didn't let the Captain intimidate him. «Maybe I just need to play with stronger opponents».

This seemed to shut Morimura up. But only for a few seconds. Asou looked at him, and Morimura took a deep breath.

«This is not your amusement park», he finally said. He talked slowly, as he was preventing himself to yell. «We're not here to fulfill your needs. This practice matches weren't for you to show off. We...»

«I thought they were, really», Yukimura interrupted him. «You said so. Wasn't them to check our level, to observe our play?»

Asou coughed quietly, like he was sending a message to Morimura.

The Captain took another deep breath. «I've already told you to not interrupt me while I'm speaking. Don't make me say it a third time».

«I was correcting you, as you were saying something false», Yukimura replied. «This were exhibition matches, just for you to see what we ware capable of. Am I wrong?»

«Is this the only way you play tennis, Yukimura-kun?», Asou asked finally. «Knocking-out your opponent unconscious before the match ends?»

Of course it was not. Sanada shook his head. Yukimura didn't need to do that to win. But what was the impression they got? He tried the trick on Morimura, and failed, and then lost. He succeeded on Takahashi. And win, though he would've probably win even with his opponent still conscious.

«He played some well-placed points, but it was the best he could do», Yanagi said near Sanada's hear, as if he had read his mind. Sometimes Sanada really thought he could. «And he won that points just because Seiichi was too focused on trail him in a rally rather than get the point itself. It had been a match rotten since the beginning».

Sanada nodded. Yukimura lost this points for his own careless, but did he realize it? Was he ready to lose points in order to be able to use the Yips, or decided to use the Yips after losing the points? Sanada couldn't tell.

«What if it was?», Yukimura eventually asked. His tone was plain, but the challenge was subtended.

Morimura looked at Asou. Asou looked at Morimura. Both of them glanced at Yukimura.

«I fear you won't be allowed to play anymore. Not until you'll be able to learn fair play», Asou answered. He was definitely the diplomat of the two.

Why didn't Yukimura simply tell them this wasn't his only play style? What was he trying to achieve with that? If he wanted to make a positive impression, he clearly had failed.

He glanced at Yanagi, but his face was expressionless. He was following the chat, like everyone else around this court, his notepad still closed on his legs.

«What exactly did you find not fair in my game?», Yukimura asked politely, the challenge so clear between the lines.

Morimura looked like he would have gladly punch him in the face. «What do you find fair in knocking out your opponent and prevent him to play the match?», he asked finally. «What do you find fair in avoid playing? What's the point of even step on court if you don't want to play? What's more important than that?»

«Winning», Yukimura's answer was predictable as the first spring rain. «What's more important than that?»

Asou shook his head. Morimura snorted. «Oh, yeah, let me understand. Why don't you simply knock out your opponent in the locker rooms with a wood? You'll win even more easily that way, wouldn't you?»

Matsui chose that moment to come back.

«How's the guy?», Asou asked.

Morimura didn't parted his eyes from Yukimura, keeping glaring at him like he was a mosquito landed on his arm.

«He's dying», Matsui shrugged. «He asked me to call the police, the morgue, and Sleeping Kogoro. The nurse says he's okay, though. Just needs some rest».

«Is he dying or he is okay?»

Matsui shrugged. «Well, he had enough energy to keep complaining non-stop as soon as he's reached the infirmary, so I don't think his life is in a particular danger. I suggested him to switch to drama club, but he didn't appreciate».

«I guess so», Morimura cut it short. «So, what do you think we have to do with this one, here?», he pointed at Yukimura, who didn't even blink. «If you are the manager, you can express your opinion too».

Sanada did look at Morimura. The guy had his arms crossed, tapping his fingers on his upper sleeve. He was taking time, Sanada realized. He disapproved Yukimura and the way he played the match, and Sanada himself couldn't disagree with him. But still he recognized his potential. How couldn't him? The guy didn't seem an idiot, after all.

«I could, if I have a pale idea of what happened on that court», Matsui arched his eyebrows. «I mean, one minute I was writing a note, one moment later that guy collapsed on the ground out of nowhere. I thought wizards went to Hogwarts, not to Rikkai», she glanced at Yukimura. «And as far as I remember, magic was forbidden in Quidditch too».

What the hell was she talking about now? Yanagi grinned next to him.

«Nice metaphor», he said.

«Well, that was cool, Captain!», someone shouted from the crowd.

Morimura ignored them. The cheering grew louder.

«You'll stay in group A until the end of first term», Morimura eventually announced. «Group A means basic practice and ball chasing. After the end of the summer break, we may talk again about this».

After the end of the summer break. That would have meant no chance to play in prefectural, nor in Kantou Preliminaries. Not a condition Sanada himself would have accepted.

Yukimura nodded. «Then I see no reason for me to stay in this club».

Before Morimura could reply, Asou intercepted. «Joining the club is not compulsory, Yukimura-kun», he said, coldly.

Don't say something stupid, Sanada thought. Don't. Say. Something. Stupid.

«You may think there's no need for you to start again from the basics, but I would not be sure if I was in your shoes», Asou continued. «If this is your tennis, a restart would be more useful than you think».

«My tennis, as you called it, leaded me to the victory of two Nationals Championships in a row. I'm pretty sure I'll need no restart».

«After the summer break, you'll have a chance to prove that», Morimura cut it short. His gaze wandered around the courts, realizing everyone had stopped what they were doing to follow the debate.

Yukimura's very own soap opera became popular in Rikkai in just two days. No-one would have missed the updates.

«Everyone!», Morimura yelled. «Back to your practice. Now!», he clapped his hands. «Do you want to run laps until practice ends? No? Then don't let me find you wasting time again. Move!»

«I won't wait», Yukimura called the attention again. «I won't wait doing nothing until summer break», he repeated.

Yukimura wasn't contracting, he was declaring. There was no room for a debate, no room for further options. Only running laps and doing swing warming up during tournaments season? Just ridiculous.

Morimura didn't seem amused at all. He glanced around, making sure everyone was heading back to their duties. «You'll do what I will tell you to do», he said eventually. «And if you don't like that, well, like Asou said, joining the club is not compulsory».

«So maybe I should not». Yukimura dropped the bomb as if he didn't care.

Except that he did care.

How could him not? Sanada shook his head. He glanced at Yanagi, who was still following the dialogue without blinking an eye.

Morimura seemed to have reached the end of his patience. «You're excused, then. You can go. Be sure your locker will be emptied before you leave».

Asou turned to look at the Captain. «Morimura-kun...», he said, but the guy ignored him. «I think I've been clear enough, Yukimura-kun. If you intend to fix this attitude and do what you've been asked to do, as expected of everyone in this club, you're welcome to stay. If you intend to keep on saying you'll deserve some special treatment, I'm afraid to inform you that this club won't considered you part of it anymore. These are my last words on the matter».

Asou opened his mouth again, but didn't reply. Sanada looked at Yukimura. The guy remained silent from long seconds, and with him the rest of the court. Sanada didn't dare to breath.

«Well then». He couldn't see Yukimura's face, but his tone said he was smiling. Not happily, not at all. «Thank you for all you've done for me». He turned on his back, and went down from the bleachers.

What the... Sanada looked up at him, but Yukimura didn't even glance towards Sanada or Yanagi or anyone. Like he did the day he lost against Morimura, he walked towards the locker room, chin up, like the world was empty and meaningless around him. In his world of pride, only him exists.

And in that exact moment, his world was so filled with stupidity Sanada was amazed there was still room for anything else. He looked at Yanagi, who wore an admirable poker face. «I shall go and slap him some sense in his head».

He had never slapped Yukimura. He had never needed to slap Yukimura, more than dared. Niou mocked him once, saying that he wasn't brave enough to ever attempt to do that. But Yukimura had never disappointed him, had never behaved like a foolish little girl. There was a first time for everything.

«You better not», Yanagi answered. «Leave him alone for a while. Talking with Seiichi when he indulges in this kind of attitude will be more damaging than useless».

Leave him alone, the same thing he said after yesterday's match. Leave him alone to do what, to choke on his own pride? He would have never thought he would have seen this side of him before. He had known him for so long and he had never... Sanada shook his head, as he stood up to follow Yanagi on the court. Practice would go on. You are not finished yet, go back to your work, Morimura yelled from the bleachers.

He tapped the strings of his racket. Maybe the reason why Yukimura had never disappointed him was simply that he had never been in the position to become disappointing. Sanada had been so used to keep losing to Yukimura and keep watching people lose to him that had never questioned himself of what could have happened if that little variant in the equation would have changed.

Maybe Yukimura had just hit real life with his face, and the mask fell off, and the guy who give up his passion for the sake of his pride was everything that remained.

He hit back Yanagi's serve so hard he felt his forearm burning. He took a deep breathe to calm down. Thank God he had enough self control to prevent himself to go after Yukimura and slap him until his face became the same colour as his damn hair.


...


Aaaand we're done here.

I've been unsure about how to write this chapter for long, and I hope I didn't go out of character in the end. I always try to stay faithful to canon while I write the characters, but without forgetting that they're still fifteen-year old boys, though in the series they're often portrayed as more mature. This is how Yukimura met his bratty phase. I'm sorry. Okay I'm not.

Thank you for reading the chapter, feel free to leave any comment/feedback/insult you want. Okay, I'd rather have feedback than insults, rly.

See you ASAP.

Fanny.

Prince of Tennis belongs to Konomi Takeshi

[Honey, this mirror isn't big enough for the two of us - My Chemical Romance]