Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Prince of Tennis!
...
...
"Miss? Miss?"
Hari blearily opened her eyes to find a train conductor standing over her with a polite smile on his lined face. She jerked up slightly as she looked around herself.
"Eh?" Hari mumbled.
"We're at the end stop now, miss," the man said.
"End…station?" Hari repeated.
"Yes, miss, we're at Chiba station now," the man said. "You have to get off."
He continued down the train and she realised that she was one of the last people on the train and one more thing…Chiba. She had no idea where Chiba even was and now she was there?
"Maji de," Hari sighed as she grabbed her racket bag and got off the train. It was mildly busy with people buzzing around and she looked around trying to gather herself as she realised that she was lost.
Okay. She was seriously starting to consider that she might have a problem. Though, she would never admit that to Ryoma. Not a chance she would admit that to him. She stared at the large sign reading: CHIBA.
She had been downtown Tokyo meeting Hisakawa from Magical Child Service and worked out more about her homeschooling and how she was going to meet up with a tutor now and then for some part of the schedule. Then she was supposed to take a train back home and where she was going to meet Ryoma and Momoshiro for a fun day with tennis.
Only now she somehow found herself in Chiba. Chiba…ok, repeating it in her head wouldn't change the fact. She had to get back.
She was hopeless, Hari sighed to herself. How could she board the wrong train and not even notice it when the train conductor came to check the ticket? Wait, had he checked her ticket? She had been tired because she hadn't slept much the night before. So, she had fallen asleep against her efforts of staying awake. Had he just let her sleep? She couldn't remember…
So, now she had to find the ticket box and find out when the train back to Tokyo left.
...
Three hours, Hari mused. Three hours until the next train to Tokyo left and she was now stuck here for at least three hours. She really had bad luck. She was already bored where she sat on an uncomfortable plastic chair in the noisy waiting room. A small child was crying in the corner and a young couple argued in the other corner making Hari close to losing her mind. She was already tired and snappy because of her lack of sleep.
Finally, she'd had enough and grabbed her racket bag and left the waiting room and the station altogether. She felt the fresh air hit her as she moved outside and she felt slightly better. She would take a walk and clear her mind as she waited for the time to pass.
She walked and walked and noticed that the buildings grew farther apart as she did, and she looked around curiously. She had (obviously) never been here before and maybe this was a chance to look see more of Japan.
She noticed a tennis court and smiled to herself as she made her way over to it. It was empty so she put her bag down and pulled out her racket and tennis ball. She bounced the ball on the racket and smiled lightly.
Her mind went back to the last week when she had joined the girl's tennis team the first day after the tournament and she had been welcomed warmly enough, but…
...
-Flashback-
"Everyone! This is Echizen Hari," Yoshida Satomi introduced Hari to the team. "Please treat her well!"
Hari bowed to them as they yelled the appropriate: "Hai!"
"Echizen?" another girl asked leaning forward slightly, "any relation to Echizen Ryoma?"
"Hai," Hari deadpanned.
"How?" yet another girl asked.
"He's my brother," Hari said without explaining or commenting when she saw the doubtful looks they exchanged. They didn't need to know and Hari wasn't going to explain it when she didn't know them.
"Um, right," Yoshida said breaking the awkward silence that stretched. "Like I told you, I'm the Captain and that is Hashimoto Haruka, the vice-captain. Ueda Sora is the girl next to her and also one of the regulars."
Hari nodded and bowed her head to them since they were her seniors.
...
"So…don't you think Fuji is cute?"
"I know! His eyes are so amazing… did you see them last time?"
"…I really like Tezuka-Captain… he's so stern and mature!"
Hari glanced at the gushing girls and their rackets that still was lying unused on the ground. She sighed as she tightened her grip on her own racket and started to do the swing practice they had been told to do.
...
"Do you want to come to the mall with me today?" Ueda Sora asked.
"Mall? Yes!" Fukui grinned. "I really need a new skirt."
"You have a new date with your boyfriend?" Matsuoka asked joining in on the conversation.
"Hai! He's taking me to a new restaurant," Fukui squealed.
Hari ran past them and ignored the looks she received as she continued on her way around the courts on her own. She pushed herself harder as she passed another group of girls that was jogging while talking together.
...
"She's not very social, is she?" Yamamato Hanoko whispered to Yoshida.
"…" Yoshida said nothing but Hari could feel her eyes on her back, but she pretended that she couldn't hear what they were saying.
"I mean… she's always running or doing the exercises," Yamamato continued. "I mean, that is good but she could take the time to actually talk with us too. She's acting like she's too good for us or something."
"She's dedicated to tennis," Yoshida said.
"It's not like she'll be playing, though," Yamamato snorted. "She's not even a regular and just a new girl."
"Hey, she's good," Yoshida said a little sharply. "I would have liked it if more of you showed the same dedication to practice like she does."
"What…" Yamamato trailed off shocked.
Hari looked down at her shoes and leaned down to tie her shoelaces like she hadn't just overheard that conversation.
- End Flashback -
...
Well, it was really clear to Hari that they didn't share her interest or love for tennis. It was clear that most of them were in it because it got them closer to the boys. She was…disappointed. She would admit that Yoshida was slightly different and seemed to see that Hari was not really happy with how the team was and had actually taken the time to talk to her.
...
- Flashback -
"Ohayo, Echizen-san," Yoshida smiled when Hari entered the changing room. "You're here early."
"Ohayo, Yoshida-captain," Hari bowed politely to her. "So are you."
"I had a meeting with Ryuzaki-sensei," Yoshida smiled and sat down next to where Hari sat. "How are you settling in on the team, Echizen-san?"
Hari shrugged not wanting to say anything.
"Well, you're doing well," Yoshida said when it was clear Hari wasn't saying anything. "I'm impressed by the work you do, Echizen-san."
Hari glanced at her. "Thank you, Yoshida-captain."
"I know it must be disappointing for you," Yoshida suddenly said looking away from her. "The girls' team are good, but we're not like the boys. We work differently than them."
Hari nodded without saying anything.
"I hope you'll find a way to get along with them," Yoshida said before getting up and leaving the changing room.
-End Flashback-
...
She had tried, but found herself bored and not really fitting in with them when her lack of knowledge about muggle things and her wish to actually practice and get better at tennis became too visible. It wasn't that she didn't like the girls, but it was just harder for her to find something to bond over with them, so she kept to herself.
Even back at Hogwarts she had found it easier to relate to the boys for some reason. She just wasn't interested in what most girls seemed to be interested in. It wasn't that she looked down at them, it was just…she felt at loss on how to relate and act around them. When Lavender and Parvati gushed about the cute boys in their year or above them she just didn't understand the appeal and quickly lose interest in their conversation. Hermione was different from them and seemed more interested in books and learning so Hari had an easier time to relate to her, and…the troll incident also helped to build their friendship.
She didn't say that she wasn't friends with other girls at Hogwarts, because she was. Hari did like Ginny, Ron's little sister, well enough. Though the girl seemed to be unable to actually speak with her and the basilisk-thing had kind of made that even harder. But Hari would call the other girl a friend; she did remember Ginny standing up for her at Flourish and Blotts the bookshop at Diagon Alley back before her second year (Ginny's first year). If only she would be able to stop seeing the Girl-Who-Lived and see Hari she knew that Ginny could be a good friend.
She could talk with some of the girls from Hufflepuff, like Hannah Abbott and Susan Bones, but she wasn't sure she would categorize them as friends. She remembered a little too well how they had blamed her for the Chamber and turned on her over it. That wasn't what friends did.
And then there were the girls from the Quidditch team and Hari felt a bang of loneliness and hurt. She had always felt…on the outside of their friendship. Not to say that they hadn't been nice to her…well, besides the time in her first year when they all had been angry at her.
Pushing the depressing thoughts away she focused on the positive thing with her situation with the team right now and that was Sakuno. Sakuno would sometimes join Hari when she ran around the courts, more laps than the rest of the team would run, but the girl wasn't used to Hari's pace nor had her stamina so she would get tired quicker and fall behind. Though, Hari saw the effort and took notice of it making an effort to help Sakuno when she could, seeing the girl being genuinely interested in the sport.
She hadn't said anything to Ryoma about how she felt or how alone she was because the others noticed that she was not into their gossip. Not during practice at least. She had wanted to play games and get a challenge, but so far…no games or even a trace of a challenge. She hadn't told him because she didn't want to sound like she was complaining or look like she was expecting more than she should.
She hoped that it would change, but so far it didn't look too good.
...
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The sound of a tennis ball had him pausing on his way back from morning practice and on his way home. He glanced over at the normally abandoned court (most in the neighbourhood preferring to use the court by the school) and saw a most unusual sight.
A petite looking girl with auburn hair pulled back in a ponytail wearing a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt that was slightly loose was hitting a tennis ball against the wall without missing a beat. He stopped and watched her as she moved and saw the smile she let out as she managed to hit a particularly difficult ball and got back into rhythm.
"Okay," he heard her mutter. "Like Nanjiro does it… Muda da…"
The ball bounced over her and landed by his feet making him glance down at the yellow ball that looked rather ruffled and well used, before looking up to see a pair of green eyes hidden behind a pair of glasses.
"Anou," the girl said tilting her head slightly as she looked at him. "sumimasenga…"
She spoke Japanese? He had expected to have to talk English with her, but it looked like he wouldn't need to. That was a relief.
"Gomen," he smiled at her and picked up the ball before taking a step closer to her. "I couldn't help but stop and watch you… you looked really focused."
She smiled slightly and rubbed the back of her head sheepishly.
"Oh, well, I guess I was," she admitted. "Did you plan on using the court?"
He saw her look at his bag and knew she must think he was on his way to play. He shook his head.
"No, I was just on my way back from tennis practice," he admitted.
"Oh," she nodded and he tossed her the ball again making her smile at him as she caught it. "Thanks."
He nodded and couldn't help but wonder who she was. He hadn't seen her before.
"Do you attend a school nearby?" he asked curiously.
She looked slightly surprised that he was continuing the conversation, and he must admit that he felt rather surprised himself as well.
"No, I attend a school in Tokyo," she admitted and for some reason, she looked annoyed. But why would she look annoyed because of that? And what was she doing here then?
"Really? Are you here visiting or something?" he asked.
She shook her head and looked away before looking back at him and he was now sure she looked embarrassed.
"No, never been here before," she said. "I got…lost."
"Lost?" he repeated.
"Mm," she nodded solemnly, "but it wasn't my fault, honest! I just… got on the wrong train."
He stared at her before he laughed. He couldn't help it, but it was funny and she was scowling at him now so he better stop. He coughed trying to cover it, but she still scowled.
"Laugh it up," she grumbled, "but Ryo-chan will never let me forget it and will probably forbid me from taking the train by myself again."
He had no idea who this Ryo-chan was but he couldn't help but wonder if that might be the safest.
"Sorry," he smiled. "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Saeki Kojiro, yoroshiku!"
"Echizen Hari, yoroshiku!" Hari smiled back.
Well, Echizen was a Japanese name, he thought as he looked at her. Maybe one of her parents was Japanese? He didn't ask because it wasn't any of his business but he was curious.
...
Hari looked at the boy who had stopped to watch her and that was now looking at her curiously. His hair was a silver-white, but the bottom layer was black so probably some dye that made his hair the unique colour. She had to admit that it fit him pretty well.
"You said you were on your way back from tennis practice?" Hari asked to fill the silence.
"Hai," he smiled and she wondered what kind of a player he was. He looked gentle and pleasant, but that didn't have to mean anything when it came to tennis.
"Want to play a match?" Hari asked unable to hold back her curiosity and really wanted to play a match against someone. He looked surprised but he nodded and put down his bag before pulling out a wooden racket. It looked homemade.
"My coach made this," he said when he noticed her looking at it.
"It looks good," she commented.
Her racket was purple and special to her because it was Ryoma who had picked it out.
They both took their place on either side of the net and Hari won the serve. She looked over and saw him watching her with sharp eyes and her own narrowed slightly. He had talent.
She served the ball and he returned it but she managed to catch up to it with the help of her speed. She hit the ball and made it fall right over the net, but he was already there and returned the favour making her unable to reach it when the ball landed right by the net on her side.
She frowned slightly as she stared at the ball before looking up and saw his smiling face. She shook her head and smiled back.
She served again and they rallied for a little while before she managed to get a point.
She moved and once more she noticed that he seemed to know just how she would react and where the ball would land. She grimaced as she just barely missed the ball he returned.
"1-0 to me," he called.
"Yeah," she admitted. "But it's not over yet."
He smiled.
...
He won, but she did manage to get a couple of games near the end before he finally managed to get the final game he needed. Saeki looked at her feeling rather surprised as he did. He hadn't expected her to be that good, but she was. She wiped her forehead before she looked over at him and smiled.
"You're good," she said. "I was sure you would be, though that motion-thing you have is super annoying."
"Motion-thing?" he repeated amusedly.
"Yes, you know," she said making a vague movement with her hand. "Always being able to read my movement and how the ball will move. It's annoying."
He laughed and she tried to scowl but she smiled and chuckled herself.
"Well, you're not bad yourself," he said.
She smiled at him again and sat down on the bench and looked at the clock before her eyes went wide and she groaned.
"What?" he asked.
"I missed the train," she grumbled. "Argh, I'm so stupid."
"Oh, sorry…" he started to frown feeling bad that she had missed her train.
"It's not your fault," Hari told him quickly. "I forgot the time."
"When will the next one be here?" Saeki asked.
"In two hours," Hari said with a sigh. Just then her phone rang and she pulled it out and grimaced.
"Ouch," she muttered before she answered the phone. "Ryo-chan."
"Where are you?" Ryoma demanded. "We have been waiting for you, Hari."
"Ah, I forgot that I could call you," Hari said aware of Saeki watching her.
"You forgot," Ryoma sighed, "of course you did. Then where are you?"
"Um, well, I don't think I will join you playing tennis today," Hari said vaguely.
"Hari…" Ryoma warned. "Where are you?"
Hari didn't want to say it. She really didn't want to let Ryoma know she had gotten lost again. She saw Saeki look at her curiously.
"Well, about that," Hari coughed. "I swear it wasn't my fault."
"You're lost," Ryoma deadpanned. "Hari…"
"I know where I am," Hari pouted. "Well, now I do."
"Ok, so where are you? I will come and get you," Ryoma said.
"No, you don't need to do that," Hari protested, "I'll find my way home, Ryo-chan. Don't worry."
"That's not going to stop me from worrying," Ryoma said. "Where are you, Hari?"
Hari sighed and dumped down on a nearby bench with a pout.
"Chiba," she admitted knowing better than to lie or to avoid it anymore. Ryoma never let go if he suspected her not telling him something and she really didn't want to lie to him either.
"Chiba." Ryoma repeated. "Chiba. Seriously, Hari!"
"It's not my fault the train got mixed up and I fell asleep," Hari mumbled.
She could hear the sigh from the other end of the phone and grimaced.
"Then when are you coming home?" Ryoma asked. "Do you even know how to?"
"Of course I do," Hari said. "I'm sure I'll find the train station again."
"You left…" Ryoma groaned.
"Hey, I'm not totally useless, you know," Hari protested. "I'll see you tonight, Ryo-chan."
"Fine," he said.
...
"I can show you the way to the train station when you need to leave," Saeki said when she put her phone away.
"Honto?" Hari smiled.
"Hai," Saeki nodded and smiled at her like he found her amusing or maybe it was fascinating? Well, Hari didn't care as she grinned up at him. "But…who are Ryo-chan?"
"My little brother," Hari smiled as she said it. She loved being able to claim Ryoma as her little brother and knowing it was true in a legal way as well.
Saeki nodded and arched a brow when he heard her stomach grumble and she glanced down at her stomach with a small pout.
"Come on, I'll buy you some food," he laughed.
"You're my saviour," Hari declared and picked up her racket that was put back in her bag and stared at him with wide eyes waiting for him to lead the way.
...
"Are you on your schools' tennis team?" Hari asked.
"Yes, I'm Vice-Captain of Rokkaku Middle School," Saeki nodded as he swallowed his ramen. "What about you? What school do you attend in Tokyo?"
Hari looked down and ate more of her ramen before she glanced up at him again. She sighed.
"I attend Seigaku Middle School," she said.
He blinked at her and she saw that it meant something to him as he stared at her. She wasn't sure what though.
"Seigaku? Really?" He asked.
"Mm," she nodded. "Why?"
"I know someone who attends Seigaku," Saeki said. "My childhood friend plays tennis for their team."
"Oh? Who?" Hari asked curiously.
"Fuji Shusuke," Saeki said making her blink. "You know him?"
Hari shrugged, "I haven't been at the school for too long, but I know him. Ryo-chan is on the team with him."
"And are you on the tennis team?" Saeki asked.
"Yeah, the girls' team," Hari said not looking up at him.
Saeki frowned slightly as he took in the sudden depressed look on her and wondered why she suddenly looked like that.
"You don't look happy about that," he observed quietly.
"It's alright, I guess," Hari looked up at him with a disinterested look on her face, but her eyes revealed the pain she was trying to hide. "I just…had expected something else."
"Then why are you on the team?" Saeki asked.
Hari blinked at the question and took a moment to think about it. Why did she join the team?
"I want to be part of something like Ryo-chan is," Hari finally answered. "I watched Ryo-chan and the others play in the tournament and they won. They looked like they had fun and it was challenging for all of them. They all looked like they were part of something and relied on each other as they played. How they cheered each-others on and looked happy. I…I wanted that."
Saeki nodded in understanding, being a part of a team was something he really enjoyed as well.
...
"I think you're really good, Echizen-san," he said pausing on the platform next to the train that was going back to Tokyo. Hari paused and looked at him. "I hope you'll continue playing tennis and that you'll find your fun and happiness somewhere."
Hari smiled at him and nodded.
"I will," she said, "if it's not with the team then I could always play on street courts like I did today. I mean, I met you and got a chance to play someone as good as you this way, right?"
He chuckled.
"Also, I've been thinking," he said calming down. "I think you actually have the same talent as I do, or parts of it."
"Eh?" Hari blinked.
"The Motion Vision," he clarified. "I have thought about it, and I think it's possible that you actually have it as well. You have good eyes and you could tell the way I was going to move as well."
"Really?" Hari smiled.
He nodded.
"Could… could you teach me?" Hari asked nervously.
"You want me to teach you?" he asked surprised.
Hari nodded.
"But I live so far away from you," Saeki said.
"I could come and see you here sometimes," Hari shrugged, "but only if it won't be a bother to you. I don't want to burden you or anything….Ah, forget I asked."
She looked away suddenly embarrassed and bit down on her lower lip in annoyance at herself for letting the question slip out before she could stop herself.
"It's not a bother," he said making her look at him again. "I'd like to play with you again, Echizen-san."
Hari smiled relieved.
...
Hari stared at the door leading to the house that was now her home. It had gotten dark outside now and she was slightly apprehensive about entering the house and face her new family. Would they be angry at her? Would they tell her they didn't want her anymore?
Argh, she wasn't even sure where her nerves were coming from or why she suddenly was worrying about it, she hadn't really thought about it when she was in Chiba. It wasn't until she was on the train back that she had started to worry about Rinko and Nanjiro's reaction to her being gone the whole day and actually going to Chiba. She remembered Hermione telling her that her parents were really worried when she was home for the summer and if she didn't let them know where she was or when she was going to get back.
She opened the door as she took a deep breath and entered the house, it was almost completely silent but she could hear the soft noises from the television. She walked into the living room and saw that both Rinko and Nanjiro were there and both looked up when they heard her.
"Hari-chan," Nanjiro smiled a little but he didn't look like his usual self and that had her wanting to turn and leave.
"You're back," Rinko said getting up and walking over to her. "Are you ok?"
Hari looked down and nodded her head in confirmation. "Yes."
"That's good," Rinko said, "Ryoma said you had gotten lost."
Hari nodded.
"The entire day," Rinko continued.
Hari nodded again.
"He didn't tell us anymore," Nanjiro spoke up and Hari glanced over at him before looking back at the floor. "Where could you have gotten lost that took you so long to get back?"
"Ryo-chan didn't tell you?" Hari asked quietly barely able to look up at them.
"No, he didn't," Rinko said with a small frown, displeased.
"I took the wrong train and ended up in Chiba," Hari admitted.
Silence.
Hari forced herself to look up and saw the shocked and incredulous expressions, though Nanjiro looked almost ready to laugh at the same time looked worried. It made a very amusing expression if she had been calm enough to enjoy it.
"That I didn't expect," Rinko said. "Chiba."
"I know, I guess I was distracted enough when I was going to find my way back to the train to meet Ryo-chan and Momo-chan after my meeting with Hisakawa-san and got on the wrong train," Hari explained, "and I fell asleep and didn't wake until the conductor woke me up saying we were in Chiba."
She continued to tell them that she had gone for a walk while waiting for the train to go back to Tokyo and missed the next one and had to wait even longer. When she finished she looked down ashamed.
"Why didn't you call, Hari?" Rinko asked. "We would want to know."
"I forgot," Hari admitted. "I didn't really think about it. I'm sorry."
Rinko sighed and guided Hari over to the sofa and sat her down. She reached over and put her hand under Hari's chin and lifted it up forcing her to meet the older woman's eyes.
"I understand that you're not used to having someone home that worries about you, Hari," Rinko said, "but you do and if something happens we would want to know. We worry when you're not coming back when you said you would or when we say you have to be back."
Nanjiro nodded and put a hand on Hari's shoulder giving it a gentle squeeze.
Hari nodded, "I'm sorry."
"Are you hungry?" Rinko asked.
"No," Hari shook her head. "I'm just tired."
"Then go to bed for now and we'll talk later," Rinko said.
...
"Hari!" Ryoma entered her room and she looked up from her phone as she had just sent a text to Saeki telling him that she had gotten home safely (he seemed to think she might get lost again).
"Hi Ryo-chan," Hari smiled softly. "I'm sorry for worrying you."
"Hmph," he scoffed and sat down on the edge of her bed. "You're really hopeless, Hari."
Hari shrugged not really in the mood to come with her usual protests. She felt tired and relieved and guilty but she wasn't even sure why.
"So, did you and Momo-chan have a good day?" Hari asked to change the subject. She curled up in her bed with the covers over her lap as she sat leaned against the headboard.
"Well, it was interesting," Ryoma allowed.
"Oh?" she smiled slightly.
"There seems to be plenty of spies around and they were there spying on our practice earlier," Ryoma rolled his eyes.
Hari knew they had a morning practice even if it were Saturday and no school for them. That was why Ryoma hadn't come with her to the meeting (so that she wouldn't get lost on her way).
"What happened?" Hari asked.
Ryoma told her about his and Momoshiro being stalked by two boys from another school and how they had even followed them into a shoe-store and been discovered. Hari had to laugh as Ryoma explained how they had played doubles with them and won easily.
"Sounds like an eventful day," Hari said when he was finished. "I'm sorry I missed it."
"So, how was Chiba?" Ryoma asked.
"It was alright," Hari shrugged. "I played tennis while I waited. I even played against someone and while he won I managed to get a couple of games on him."
"Was he good?" Ryoma asked.
"Yeah," Hari nodded smiling slightly. "He is."
...
Hari groaned when she felt someone suddenly throw an arm around her neck and she scowled at Kikumaru who grinned at her. She had been walking through the halls of the school looking for Ryoma since it was lunch and both Momoshiro and Kaido had disappeared somewhere.
"Hari-chan!" Kikumaru chimed.
"Kikumaru-sempai," Hari said and tried to get lost only to have him hold on tighter. She was seriously starting to wonder if she would stop breathing soon as his arm was squeezing around her neck. "Need…air."
"Eiji!" Oishi sharp voice sounded. "She can't breathe!"
"Oh, sorry!" Kikumaru released her quickly and Hari coughed and rubbed her neck while glaring at him. "Are you okay?"
"Hmph," Hari scoffed. "So, why the sudden attack?"
"I wanted you to come and have lunch with us!" Kikumaru bounced looking like an excited child on Christmas Day.
"I was looking for Ryo-chan," Hari said.
"He's with us outside," Oishi smiled kindly at her.
"Alright," Hari said eying Kikumaru a little wary of a new attack.
They made their way through the school and Hari noticed Yoshida and Hashimoto from the girls' team watching her with pensive looks. She smiled briefly at them but didn't do anything else to greet them.
"Hari-chan is here!" Kikumaru declared loudly as they approached the lawn under a tree where Hari quickly saw the rest of the tennis regulars seated. It wasn't the first time she had joined them for lunch, but it was the first time Kikumaru or anyone besides Ryoma or Momoshiro had invited (dragged) her to it.
"Hari," Ryoma gave her a look.
"Ryo-chan, your friend is scary," Hari said as she fell down next to him and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Hai, hai," Ryoma sighed.
"Did you get home alright on Saturday, Hari-chan?" Momoshiro asked.
"Did you go somewhere, Hari-chan?" Kikumaru asked.
Hari scowled at Ryoma who gave her a bored look.
"Hey, don't look at me like that," Ryoma said, "you were supposed to meet both me and Momo-sempai, remember? He was with me when I called you."
Hari still scowled but shrugged.
"I got home fine," Hari looked at Momoshiro.
"Why aren't you answering me, Hari-chan?!" Kikumaru whined poking at her arm.
"I must admit that I am curious as well," Inui said pushing at his glasses with his notebook opened in his hands. "From my data, I would deduce that you got lost somewhere…"
"Saa," Fuji smiled with his eyes closed like normal. "Where did you get lost to now, Hari-chan?"
Even Tezuka looked slightly curious, or something, but he was looking at her as well so she guessed that meant he was curious. She hadn't met anyone before who was so difficult to read. Well, maybe Dumbledore but that was because he was barmy and eccentric and not because he hid behind a blank mask like Tezuka.
"Chiba," Momoshiro helpfully said when Hari didn't answer. She glared at him but he just smiled.
"Chiba?!"
Hari sighed and once more told her story and wondered why everyone was so obsessed with it.
"Saa, that's amusing," Fuji smiled.
"Are you coming to watch us practice today, Hari-chan?" Kikumaru asked when the lunch hour almost was over and Hari was getting back on her feet having enjoyed her lunch with Ryoma's friends. Maybe they could even be seen as her friends now too. Maybe.
"No, I can't," Hari said despite wanting to, but she had her own practice to go to. She ruffled Ryoma's hair (he swatted her hand away with a glare) and walked away with Kaido and Momoshiro on their way to their next class.
...
Hari stared at the practice match between Yoshida and Hashimoto and thought back on what Saeki had said. Did she really have that motion vision thing that he did? She tried to focus on Yoshida who was clearly the better of the two, and Hari tried to see her moves and predict how she would return the ball.
Hari had always been good at noticing small details that others normally overlooked. That was one of the reasons she was such a good seeker, that and her reflexes.
"Hari-sempai," Sakuno said stopping beside her.
"Hi Sakuno," Hari didn't look away from the match going on as she smiled when she correctly guessed where the ball would go.
Sakuno looked at Hari with a curious look but didn't say anything else. She could see that Hari was really focused on something, but she wasn't sure what it was she was trying to see as she stared at the match going on.
Hari sighed and rubbed her eyes tiredly and glanced at Sakuno who (much to her surprise) still was standing next to her. Hari blinked.
"Ah, did you want something, Sakuno-chan?" Hari asked.
"No, I…um, I didn't want… I just wanted to ask you if you would help me with my swings," Sakuno blushed.
"Sure," Hari said easily enough and grabbed her racket and turned away from the match. She had seen what she needed to and she wanted to play. "Come on."
They started to work on the swings and Hari gently and patiently corrected the other girls' stance and pace. The way Sakuno smiled and seemed to light up made Hari smile as she watched her, unaware of calculating eyes of her captain watching her as she had just finished her own match against Hashimoto.
...
"Satomi?" Yoshida glanced to her side to see her best friend Hashimoto Haruka watching her curiously. "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking that there's more to Echizen Hari than we see," Yoshida said.
"Oh?" Hashimoto said looking over at Hari who was helping Sakuno with her swings. "I don't really know. She's not really that open."
Yoshida glanced at her, "she's nice when you talk with her."
"I guess," Hashimoto said, "but she keeps mostly to herself, and during lunch, she's pulled with Fuji-chan and the others. I think some of the girls on the team are jealous."
Yoshida nodded, "I've heard their talk."
Hashimoto shrugged, "I don't really know, but I can understand them a little. She seems to fit better with the boys' team than with ours."
Yoshida sighed.
"What are you going to do, Satomi?" Hashimoto asked.
"I think I'll have to play a match with her and take it from there," Yoshida said.
"Really? She's not even one of the regulars," Hashimoto said, "you think she's ready to play against you? You're our best player, Satomi."
"I know, but I keep thinking that…I might not be," Yoshida admitted as she looked at Hari demonstrate a serve for Sakuno with sharp and precise moves and she could once more feel the talent lurking in Hari.
...
...
AN: What do you think? :)
Sorry, I'm too tired to really leave an author note today. I just wanted to post this before I go to sleep. But thank you for reading and supporting the story.
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Japanese words used:
Maji de - Seriously?
Muda da - It's useless
anou - say... err...well
sumimasenga - excuse me
gomen - sorry
Yoroshiku - Nice to meet you
Honto - Really
Hai - Yes
Ohayo - Good morning
Saa - filler
