Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Prince of Tennis!

...

...

Hari glanced at her phone and smiled as she read the latest text from Seiichi. He was coming to Tokyo again soon and he asked if she would meet him. She felt a burst of excitement go through her despite wondering why he was coming back so soon. He had after all just been here… was something wrong with his legs? Did he need to see the doctors that often?

She frowned worriedly and her hand tightened around the phone as she absentmindedly sidestepped a kid running straight in front of her yelling something about 'Akutsu-sempai!'

"Itee!" she yelped as she collided with something firm and stumbled back a little. Her hand went up to her head and rubbed it as she looked up to see who she had collided with this time. "I seriously have to stop colliding with people…" she muttered to herself as she saw that this time she had collided with an old man who was smiling down at her with his head tilted slightly to the side.

"Oh," he said airily, "looks like I collided with a young lady. Are you okay, miss?"

"I'm fine," Hari grumbled before she smiled apologetically, "I'm sorry, sir! I wasn't paying attention to where I was going… Did I hurt you?"

He just looked at her for a moment before he suddenly laughed.

"Oh, no," he said. "I'm perfectly fine…"

"Good," she said before she bowed politely, "I'm sorry again."

She could feel him watching her as she walked away with fast steps and wondered where to find her team. She had been a little late for their arrival for the xxth National Jr. High Tennis Championship – Tokyo District Location – semi-finals.

Of course, they had moved around and she had not been able to find it until now. She had lost sight of Ryoma when she had gotten the text from Seiichi and gotten distracted so that might have something to do with it.

"Hari-chan!" Horio and Kachiro both yelled making her blink as she turned to see the first year trio coming running toward her.

"Ah, it's you guys," she said. "Do you know where Ryo-chan is? He got lost."

"IT'S YOU WHO GOT LOST!" Horio yelled.

Hari pouted.

"I did not," she denied, mostly just to annoy them. "I knew where I was the whole time."

"YOU DID NOT!" Horio looked angry.

"Ma, ma," Kachiro interrupted nervously, "let's calm down, eh?"

"Yeah," Mizuno nodded. "Come on, let's go find the others."

...

Nanjiro flipped a page of his magazine and giggled as he saw the new image of Mai-chan but he soon frowned as his real trouble pressed on his mind.

He was sure that Hari was hiding something from him. She had been out two days ago and had been home later than Ryoma and wouldn't say who she had met. Just claimed that she had been 'out'.

No. There was something fishy going on there. She hadn't just been 'out'. She had met someone and he was very curious about who this someone was. His eyebrow twitched as he pictured her meeting a boy and the boy holding her hand…kissing her… his hands clenched and he heard the sound of paper being crushed.

"Oh! NO! My magazine!" He yelped and frantically tried to straighten the pages.

This was that unknown boy's fault! Nanjiro swore in his mind. He was the one who made Hari act all secretive and…a dark cloud manifested over his head as he pushed the magazine away knowing it was a lost cause… he would have to buy a new one.

"Oji-san," Nanako interrupted him and she sounded slightly exasperated as she looked at him. "Ryuzaki-sensei is on the phone for you."

"I'm busy," he whined.

"Doing what?" his niece asked.

"Figuring out Hari-chan!" Nanjiro declared making Nanako sigh.

"Well, I can't tell the coach that," she said, "so come and answer the phone."

He sighed and got up from the floor and made his way to the phone.

"Yes?" he pouted into the phone.

"You were watching one of those perverted magazines, weren't you?" Ryuzaki asked in a way of greeting.

"Ie! I was not!" Nanjiro denied with a scowl.

"Ah," she said and sounded amused, "they I guess you were fretting over Hari-chan, right?"

"I don't like the boys around her," Nanjiro whined. "Do you know which one she met?"

"She met a boy?" Ryuzaki asked. "Well, she meets them all at practice and I think she meets some for extra practice at times…"

"Ie!" Nanjiro despaired. "Can't you kick them out?"

"…"

"Well?"

"You do realise that this is originally the boys' team in tennis, right?" Ryuzaki's voice was dripping in sarcasm.

"You're no help," Nanjiro muttered.

"…" Ryuzaki sighed. "Anyway, I called about today's match."

"Oh?" Nanjiro said uninterestingly. "What about it?"

"It's two reasons, really," she said with a teasing tilt to her voice and he frowned knowing that tone very well.

"Nani?" he asked despite himself.

"Well, one is because of who we're playing today," Ryuzaki said.

"Like that would surprise me," Nanjiro said confidently.

"Is that so?" Ryuzaki asked amusedly. "Well, we're playing Banji's team today."

Nanjiro blinked and sat up straighter.

"What? Banji? What's that old fool still doing alive?!" Nanjiro exclaimed.

"Oh? So, you are surprised?" Ryuzaki asked.

Nanjiro scowled and got to his feet.

"What's the other reason you called?" he asked.

"Well…" Ryuzaki said.

Under five minutes later Nanjiro was off on his bike leaving an exasperated Nanako behind shaking her head and wishing Hari luck because she was sure he was leaving to spy on her.

...

Hari frowned when she heard the chatter going around about Fudomine and Tachibana. They were saying that he had forced his team to play even when injured and it was ridiculous! Tachibana would never; never do a thing like that.

People were stupid.

She ignored the weary looks she got from the first year trio as she glared at a group of students gossiping with relish as she passed by. She fisted her hands as she stopped herself from going over there and told them exactly what she thought.

Suddenly a familiar and unpleasant voice reached her from behind some trees.

"Your reputation just got trashed, Captain-san."

Hari narrowed her eyes and turned to follow it.

"Hari-chan…" Kachiro whined but she ignored him.

She soon saw Fudomine all together and in front of them was Akutsu who was standing up as he faced them. She also saw An there next to her brother.

"If it's too dangerous then you shouldn't have played in the first place," Akutsu said. "Baka."

"You bastard!" Kamio growled. "What the hell did you just say?!"

"Stop it, Kamio!" Tachibana put a hand on his shoulder to calm him down.

"Oh? You want to go at it?" Akutsu smirked and cracked his fingers menacingly. "Was losing at tennis not enough for you?"

"Was the prank not a lesson enough for you?" Hari interrupted whatever response he would have received for his mocking.

Akutsu spun around and narrowed his eyes as he stared at her.

"You!" He snapped.

"Me," she arched a brow. "I'm surprised. You haven't found me yet. I thought you had made it your personal mission to stalk me wherever I went?"

"Hari-chan," An said.

"Hey, An-chan!" Hari waved at her before her eyes turned back to Akutsu who was glaring at her.

"I knew you were behind the prank!" he growled.

Hari knew it was no more use in denying that she was behind it. She also knew that she shouldn't have said anything but the words were out of her mouth before she even knew it herself.

"You don't seem to have learned anything, though," Hari said, "maybe I need to…take it up a notch."

"You…!" Akutsu took a step closer to her and she arched a brow at him.

"Stay away from Hari-chan!" Kachiro yelled and ran around her to place himself between Hari and Akutsu even if he was shaking in fear.

Hari glanced down at him in surprise.

"Oh, you want to go up against me again?" Akutsu sneered. "It didn't go so well last time, did it, chibi?"

"Oi! Stay away from Hari-chan and Kachiro!" Horio and Mizuno yelled joining their friend.

Hari blinked again when the two joined Kachiro in front of her.

Akutsu glared at her but he didn't say anything.

"Calm down," Tachibana's calm voice interrupted and he shot Hari a curious look. "Hello, Echizen-san."

"Hey, Tachi-kun!" Hari waved.

"Tachi-kun?" Kamio and the others mouthed while Tachibana just arched a brow at her while An giggled behind her hand.

"Oh, so you come to save the losers from me?" Akutsu interrupted with a smirk.

"Tachi-kun doesn't need me or anyone else to save him," Hari shrugged casting a cold look at Akutsu. "He's more than capable to defend himself."

Tachibana smiled slightly as he looked at her.

"Come on," he said. "Let's go."

...

"Whatever," Akutsu grumbled as he turned to walk away but he shot Hari a glare as he fisted his hands. She had humiliated him and now she had practically admitted it!

He met her eyes and saw the cold green eyes glance over him before she looked away like he wasn't important and somehow that pissed him off even more. She shouldn't be able to just look away from him like that! Those eyes had been laughing at him earlier but now they were cold and indifferent. He was not used to being dismissed like that and she would learn that he wasn't someone she could so easily dismiss.

"Oi! Akutus-sempai!" Dan called and he growled at the younger boy but he just looked back at him with those wide awe-filled eyes. "You have to come back!"

"Shut up!" he snapped at the boy and kicked a rock making it fly violently ahead.

...

"You shouldn't provoke him like that, Hari-chan," Kachiro said nervously.

"Eh?" Hari blinked down at him. "Oh, don't worry about it."

She started to walk again just as her phone buzzed and she pulled it out and saw a new text from Seiichi. She felt a fluttering feeling in her stomach as she opened the text and smiled.

Good luck today. Let me know how your match goes and tell me if Akutsu gives you any more trouble. Seiichi.

He worried too much, she thought but the pleasure it gave her was undeniable but she ignored what it would mean. She smiled softly as she answered the text unaware of them having found the team and the suspicious looks she got from Ryoma when he took in the look on her face.

"Hari-chan!" Kikumaru exclaimed and jumped over to them and threw an arm around her shoulder. "You're finally here! We thought you had gotten lost again!"

"We found her for you, sempai," Horio said importantly.

"Good job," Momoshiro laughed as Hari pouted and shot him a glare.

"Yeah, yeah," she muttered, "give them a medal or something."

...

"Hey, Yoshida-san," Hari smiled at the manager. "Do you have the data for Ginka ready?"

"Hey, Hari-chan," Yoshida smiled back. "Yes, I have it here."

They chatted lightly as they made their way to the courts and noticed the green-clad team of Ginka already there looking fired up and confident, in a way that was very familiar to Hari. She snorted lightly. It was just the way they had looked the day she and Ryoma had played them…and they all knew how that turned out.

"EH?!"

Hari glanced to where the sound was coming from and saw the Ginka players stare at Ryoma with wide eyes and seemed to pale in sync – was that even possible? Huh. She hadn't known that.

"What…" one of them stuttered.

She shook her head as she continued to walk past them.

"No!" she heard someone yell. "I refuse!"

Hari glanced and saw them staring at her now and she smiled and waved at them making them stumble back. So, okay maybe she was being a bit mean. But it was so much fun and she still felt rather annoyed at them and the way they had tried to bully Sakuno.

"What's their problem?" Kikumaru wondered as he looked over at them curiously.

"Who knows," Oishi said but he did look a little worried. "I hope they're alright."

"You're such a worrywart, Oishi," Kikumaru teased.

Hari chuckled as she turned her attention back to Yoshida and listened to her analyse of Ginka and Hari felt like grimacing. Just why did Yoshida and Inui (she had heard him talk about it earlier) think that Ginka was so great?

"Don't worry, Yoshida-san," Hari said. "We can take them."

"You don't understand," Yoshida said, "the amount of training they do is making ours look like nothing! They were completely knocked out on the courts after one of their practices! Inui-san and I went to observe them one day and they all looked to be knocked out…"

Hari arched a brow.

"Oh," she said as she realised what day it was and she suddenly felt slightly guilty. "Um, would that be why Inui has pushed us so hard during the practices lately?"

"Of course," Yoshida nodded.

"Oh," Hari said again.

...

Hari stood next to Yoshida and Inui with the first years around them and she noticed Sakuno glance at her and then back at the opposing team. She had no doubt recognised them as well.

"Go Ryoma-sama!" Tomoka cheered.

"Good luck, Ryoma-kun!" Sakuno said with a blush.

The two teams were lined up and Hari could see the determination on her friends' faces as they looked at the Ginka team. Even Ginka looked fired up, so maybe they hadn't been that affected by recognizing Ryoma? Maybe….

"We forfeit! Our stomachs hurt!"

Hari blinked in surprise as they talked as one and all grabbed their stomach in an obviously fake way.

"Huh?"

"Eh?"

"Hah?"

She sighed as she watched them demonstratively walked off the court much to the rest of her team's confusion. Tomoka was cheering but Hari ignored her.

"I wonder what's up with them," Kawamura said as he picked up his bag again.

"They said they were sick," Oishi said with a worried frown, "I wonder if a virus is going around…"

"Oishi, you're too easily deceived," Kikumaru said, "they were faking it! But I don't know why…"

"I wonder," Ryuzaki said shaking her head in shock. "I never have experienced an entire team just forfeit like that before."

"Ano," Sakuno said and blushed when everyone turned to look at her.

"Did you want to say something, Sakuno?" Ryuzaki asked her granddaughter.

Sakuno looked at Hari and Ryoma who had ended up standing next to each other and both blinked when they saw her looking at them.

"Nani?" Ryoma asked.

"We have met them before…" Sakuno said quietly.

"Hmph," Ryoma snorted. "They're not worth remembering."

He scowled.

"Echizen," Ryuzaki frowned at him.

"What? They almost hurt Hari!" Ryoma scowled at her. "I'm not sorry!"

Hari sighed as again she was faced with protective stares and scowls.

"I was fine and they didn't hurt me at all," Hari rolled her eyes. "Ryo-chan was just overreacting."

"I was not," Ryoma said, "but we took care of them. We played and we won."

"I think that was the day you and Inui-sempai went to see them, Yoshida-san," Hari said glancing at the manager, "so, um, sorry for making you believe that they were better than they were?"

...

"You know Oyaji is rather suspicious of you," Ryoma said and glanced at Hari who was sitting next to him underneath the tree.

"Hm?" Hari blinked and glanced at him. "He is?"

"Yeah," Ryoma nodded, "he even asked me if you got a boyfriend."

Hari rolled her eyes and leaned back against the tree and stared up at the blue sky and the white clouds.

"I see," was all she said.

Ryoma frowned as he looked at her. She didn't reveal anything with that reaction, there was nothing that said that she did have a boyfriend but at the same time she didn't deny it either. So, did she have a boyfriend?

He took a sip of his Ponta as he considered his sister. She had a faraway look on her face and it was a look she had worn often as of late and he wondered… just what was she thinking about?

A noise to the side drew his attention and he saw a boy with dark blue hair and white t-shirt stumble around in a blind because of the green bandana that had fallen down over his eyes and instead of stopping like most would do the kid was still stumbling around yelling that he couldn't see. Before Ryoma could do anything the kid had stumbled over his outstretched leg and fallen to the ground with a crash.

Ryoma heard the snort next to him and knew that Hari had been drawn from her thoughts and was now looking at the boy.

"I can't see! It's all dark in front of me, what happened?" the boy was saying.

"Ne," Ryoma said. "Your bandana came down."

The boy stilled for a moment before he reached up and pushed the bandana up again.

"Ah, you're right," he said as he turned around. "Arigatou!"

Ryoma looked away from him and took a sip of his Ponta while Hari looked at the boy and noticed that he must be around Ryoma's age even if she would have thought he was younger at first glance. There was something innocent about him. She noticed that he was staring at Ryoma's jersey.

"Are you okay?" Hari asked and he yelped and looked at her like he hadn't noticed her there until now.

"Um," he blinked. "I'm fine! Thank you!"

She smiled and nodded.

"Are you students at Seigaku?" the boy asked looking between them.

"Yes," Ryoma said looking at him with a curious look in his eyes that also were confused.

"That's great!" the boy beamed at them. "I mean…You're going to cheer for 'that' guy, too?"

That guy? Hari arched a brow in curiosity.

"The freshman regular named Echizenya?"

Ryoma chocked on his Ponta while Hari burst out laughing ignoring the look Ryoma shot her.

"He's also a freshman and he's awesome!" the boy said enthusiastically. "I wanted to see him play with my own eyes!"

Hari glanced at Ryoma who looked a little stunned and before any of them could say anything the boy launched into a descriptive rant about Ryoma and how amazing he was to be playing even if he was short.

Hari smiled amused even as she also cooed (mentally of course) over how cute the boy was. The way his eyes lit up was just like an innocent little kid who had just gotten everything he wanted for Christmas!

"…thank you, but I have to go and find Akutsu-sempai now," the kid said and Hari almost grabbed him to hide him from the mean Yamabuki player. How could he say that so calmly? She shuddered.

"Ryoma-kun! Hari-chan!" Shiba called. "You both should go to the courts, you know!"

Hari nodded and got up while Ryoma did the same and put on his jacket. Hari noticed the stunned look on the boy's face as he stared at Ryoma. Had he just realised who he was? Hari smiled.

"So, height is all there is in tennis, huh?" Ryoma asked with a smirk.

"Go on, Ryo-chan," Hari said. "I'll catch up."

He gave her a disbelieving look but she ignored him as she grabbed the boy's arm and waved to the two journalists.

...

"Eh? Where are we going?" the boy asked.

"What's your name?" Hari asked ignoring the boy's question.

"Dan," he said confused. "Dan Taiichi."

"Nice to meet you, Dan-chan," Hari smiled and he blinked at her. "I'm Echizen Hari."

"E-Echizen?" he repeated surprised. "Then…"

"The boy was my little brother, Echizen Ryoma," Hari nodded. "I just wanted to let you know who he was. Seems like you like him."

"He…is amazing," Dan nodded and Hari held up a hand because while she always loved hearing others praise her little brother she didn't need to hear the same things all over again.

"Yes, he is," she agreed. "But… why do you think that you can't play tennis just because you're short, Dan-chan?"

"Well…" he frowned.

"It's not any of my business," Hari shrugged as she pushed her hands into her pockets and looked at the younger boy in front of her. "I just don't think you should limit yourself like that. Watch Ryo-chan's match and then make up your mind, Dan-chan. Height isn't everything."

Dan watched her leave stunned.

...

Nanjiro scowled as he was hiding behind a tree watching Hari talking to a boy with light brown hair that reached his chin and eyes closed. But they looked close and Hari was laughing. Laughing! He scowled.

He had been chased around by some policeman for too long and had only now found Hari and he was not pleased to see how close she seemed to the boys on the team.

Now, there! Just look at the boy who came and ruffled her hair like and smiled down at her with such a creepy smile. She swatted his hand away but smiled up at him. Wait…hadn't he seen him before? That was the kid who came almost every morning to pick her and Ryoma up before school, wasn't it?

Nanjiro watched as they looked over at the match going on, a doubles match by the look of it. From what he could tell they were having some trouble.

"Hari-san," a voice called and Nanjiro looked to see a stoic teen with glasses coming over to Hari and the others.

Nanjiro could not hear what was being said but he saw the stunned look on Hari's face and the flash of disappointment on the dark-haired kid's face before he smiled at Hari and ruffled her hair (again!) when the stoic one walked away.

Hari was left standing watching after him with a frown and Nanjiro scowled even harder because that boy dared leave Hari looking like that?! How dare he?!

"Oh, Nanjiro-san," Inoue said and Nanjiro jumped.

"Shh!" Nanjiro said reaching out to make sure he was silent and didn't give out his hiding spot.

"Why are you hiding behind a tree?" Inoue asked curiously and looked around spotting Hari and Ryoma with their team watching the game going on. "Oh, are you here for Ryoma-kun?"

"Ie," Nanjiro scoffed. "I'm not here for Ryoma-kun."

"Hari-chan, then?" Inoue asked.

"Hmph," Nanjiro folded his arms over his chest. "I'm only here for curiosity sake."

Inoue sighed slightly as he looked at the other man who was once more watching Seigaku or more likely Hari from behind the tree. He was frowning and muttered something under his breath that Inoue didn't catch.

...

Hari couldn't believe what Tezuka just had told her. It was too…unbelievable and, no she didn't even have words to describe it.

"You're going to play Singles 3, Hari-san," Tezuka said. "Ryuzaki-sensei wants you to start to warm up soon and make sure you do it thoroughly. You're playing Yamabuki's Sengoku Kiyosumi."

That was all he had said before he had returned to his spot watching Oishi and Kikumaru play their doubles match.

She was going to play? She was?!

But she wasn't even among the regulars! How could she even be allowed to play? And what about Momoshiro? She was sure he was the one who was supposed to be playing Singles 3. She didn't want to take his spot and she was sure he was better prepared for it than her…

"Momo-chan…" Hari glanced at him and found him smiling at her.

"You'll do great, Hari-chan!" he beamed.

"I…"

"Don't worry about it," he said and his smile softened like he knew what she was thinking. "It's a part of the game and Ryuzaki-sensei must have a reason for wanting you to play. I'm not upset at you, okay?"

He ruffled her hair and smiled making her smile back and nod.

"But, still…" she said and frowned, "I'm not prepared to play him. I don't really know much about him at all…"

"Inui-sempai can help you with that, I'm sure," Momoshiro said. "Go on, talk to him."

...

Hari had talked to Inui and was warming up now by doing some laps around the area accompanied by Fuji because he said she couldn't be trusted to not get lost. She had glared at him for that one but of course, he just smiled back.

Her mind focused on what was to come and go over the quick update she had received from Inui about Sengoku, the orange haired boy she had seen flirting with some girls earlier (and being shut down rather quickly as well). She could tell he was good even by just looking at him, and she felt a thrill of excitement go through her at the thought of going against him and testing her own skills.

But…it was a match that really mattered and what if she let them down?

She remembered losing against Hufflepuff in Quidditch earlier this year, she dismissed the fact that it was because of the Dementors, and the disappointed looks she got from everyone and the whispers that followed her.

"Calm down," Fuji said quietly and placed a hand on her arm. "You'll do fine. Just focus on your own play and you have your new move as well."

She glanced at him and smiled slightly letting him calm her down. She knew that getting herself worked up was not going to do her any good and that way she was going to lose.

And she was not going to lose! She was going to win! She could do it if she focused and pushed everything away. The nervousness she felt was not unfamiliar, she had felt it before her first Quidditch match and she had controlled it.

...

Oishi and Kikumaru won their doubles and cheered loudly even as they both looked exhausted and worn, but the smiles on their faces were wide and their eyes shone with a happy light.

"Hari-chan," Ryuzaki called and she turned to look at the coach who had stood up and was holding out a t-shirt for her. She saw it was the team t-shirt and she swallowed as she accepted it. "Change into that and come back."

Hari nodded and quickly made her way to change. Under ten minutes later she was back and saw the others standing there waiting for her. She felt new confidence wearing the team t-shirt and felt eyes on her as she walked toward her team.

"Looking good, Hari-chan," a voice said and she looked to see Ryoga standing there. "You'll knock him off the court."

"Ryoga-kun," Hari blinked, "what are you doing here?"

"I heard a rumour that you might be playing today," he said with a smile. "So I came to watch."

Hari frowned but shrugged it off.

"Arigatou," she said and he held up his hand for a high-five. She arched a brow but hit his hand with hers and smiled.

She walked the last few steps to her team and looked at Ryuzaki who nodded looking pleased with whatever it was she was looking for as she looked at her.

"Okay, good," she said.

"Um, coach?" Hari asked.

"Yes, Hari-chan?" she looked at her.

"Why do you want me to play?" she asked. "I never heard anything about it…"

"It was just an idea I had last night," Ryuzaki answered. "But I didn't make up my mind until now. Banji, the coach for Yamabuki, is a sly old man. I think that having you play against Sengoku is something they won't expect, so that's why."

Hari nodded in understanding.

"And I really want to beat that old man," Ryuzaki muttered making Hari smile amused.

...

"Oh, what a pretty lady," Sengoku beamed as he skipped over to her.

Hari arched a brow unimpressed.

"You will have tea with me later?" he asked slash ordered with a wide smile. "I just have to win this match first… I'm lucky, you know!"

"Oi! Step away from Hari-chan!" Kikumaru said and threw an arm around Hari's shoulders and glared at Sengoku.

"Mm? She's your girlfriend?" Sengoku asked depressed. "No! Please tell me it isn't so!"

Dramatic.

"She's not," Kikumaru scowled at him and pulled at Hari who was still remaining silent. "But she's my friend and I won't let a flirt like you annoy her!"

"Flirt?" he repeated in mock hurt but Hari saw the pensive look in his eyes as he looked at her.

"Oi!" Akutsu interrupted and stalked over to them. "Are you playing?!"

"Eh?" Sengoku blinked.

"So what if I am?" Hari asked indifferently.

"Then play me!" Akutsu said.

"No," Hari said, "I'm going to play Sengoku-san. That's the coach's order."

"Eh?" Sengoku said again this time a little louder as his wide eyes took in the team t-shirt that Hari was wearing. "You're playing me?!"

"Yes," she smiled cheekily at him. "I am."

"I'm telling you that you have to play me!" Akutsu growled. "It's time that I teach you how to show respect to your betters!"

"Calm down," Tezuka stepped in and turned his serious eyes at Akutsu. "You should step back and allow the players to prepare for their match, Akutsu-san."

There was nothing really menacing in the voice or words used but Akutsu stepped back and glared at Hari either way and stalked off to the fence and leaned against it while folding his arms over his chest.

"But, seriously!" Sengoku said as he shook himself out of the surprise (and was that slight fear in his eyes?) by Akutsu's behaviour. "You're my opponent?"

"Yes," Hari sighed. "Got a problem with that?"

"No," he smiled and suddenly she was sure she saw hearts in his eyes. "I'll prove to you through my tennis that I am serious and will take you out on a date afterwards!"

Hari sighed.

"No," she said turning away. She looked noticed the old man seated at the bench and realized that it was the man she had collided with earlier. He was watching her with a pensive look on his face but he smiled kindly when he saw her looking.

...

"I'll start," Sengoku said confidently.

"Oh?" Hari asked curiously as she spun the racket. "We'll see. Call a side."

"Rough," he said his blue eyes locked on her and a smirk on his lips.

Hari was curious about how he was so confident about this. She watched as the racket fell and sure enough it was rough.

"See? I'm Lucky Sengoku," he explained easily. "Though, I had hoped to be playing Echizen seeing that this is Singles 3 and he normally plays that, but…"

Hari snorted.

"Guess you have some luck," she said as she picked up her racket and turned to walk to the side. "Since I'm Echizen Hari."

He arched a brow.

"Hm. Really now…" he smiled. "Lucky."

Hari couldn't help that she found him amusing even if a bit annoying.

...

Hari frowned as she missed another one of his balls but she had been closer this time, she knew it. She gripped her racket tighter as she looked over at Sengoku who was looking confident and calm. Just as she expected him to look really.

40-0

She had to do something to change this. He was in the lead with 40-0 and even if it only was the first game she still didn't like it.

But she wasn't going to give up. She still had fight in her and she focused on him as he hit the ball and she saw it move like in slow motion and she reacted. She ran to the right and reached out just in time to reach the ball and returned it over the net.

Her eyes followed the ball and saw it connected to his racket and she moved knowing that the ball would go to her left now and she jumped and stretched with the racket out in front of her and managed to hit the ball and hit it back over the net as she crashed to the ground.

"Yes! Hari-chan!" she heard someone cheer.

40-15

She pushed herself back up to her feet and brushed off her hands as she did and looked over at Sengoku who was smiling but still looked a little pensive was he watched her.

"Hmm…"

...

Ryoga sighed as he noticed his father hidden behind a tree like a creeper but didn't turn to fully look at him nor look away from Hari who was playing her first official match.

She was fighting very well even if she was behind 4 games to 1. She had just taken her first game and looked more determined than anything else. She was nowhere near giving up.

"She should just give up," Ryoga heard someone mutter.

"Yeah, I don't know what the coach for Seigaku was thinking of putting her into the game…"

"Poor girl… and against someone like Sengoku. He's a talent!"

"So cruel…"

Ryoga snorted quietly as he listened to them. They didn't know anything. Hari would prove that she was playing for a reason. She already had shown that she had talent as well.

"Go Hari-chan!"

"Hari-chan!"

Ryoga smiled as he heard the freshmen from Seigaku cheer and he noticed the smile on Hari's face as well and the way she squared her shoulders even more.

"She's going for it now," Ryoma said as he came up next to him.

"Yeah," Ryoga nodded. "I look forward to watching her."

"How did you know that Hari was playing today?" Ryoma asked curiously.

"Nanako said that Oyaji had gone off to spy on Hari-chan," Ryoga rolled his eyes and heard Ryoma sigh next to him, "she also said that the coach had called and said something about a possibility for Hari-chan to play today."

"So Oyaji is somewhere around here?" Ryoma asked.

"He's hidden behind a tree over there," Ryoga motioned toward the hiding spot. "I'm sure he's spying and plotting intervention on every boy who's talked to Hari-chan today."

"Troublesome," Ryoma sighed even if his lips twitched a little. "Though, it's more amusing when it's Hari that's affected and not me."

Ryoga laughed.

"I feel for Hari-chan," Ryoga said. "If she ever gets a boyfriend…I don't know if he will survive…"

Ryoma chuckled and nodded in agreement just as Hari served and they watched as Sengoku missed the slice serve of hers.

"That's a good serve," Ryoga smiled.

"She's really gotten better at it," Ryoma agreed.

...

Ryoga watched as Hari glanced to the side and followed her eyes finding her looking at Fuji who smiled at her and nodded. Ryoga frowned slightly as he wondered what she had planned now and why Fuji seemed to know.

"Hm," Ryoma frowned next to him and Ryoga arched a brow.

"Nani?" he asked.

"I think…" but he trailed off and Ryoga gave up trying to figure it out.

Hari bounced the ball a couple of times before she tossed it up and performed her normal slice serve but only this time Ryoga could tell that she purposely made it so that the ball would hit closer to Sengoku… but why would she do that?

The ball was returned in a high curve and he realised that Hari had already reached the net and had jumped up in a way that resembled a bird, it was almost like he was seeing a bird and flames surround her, and with a backhand volley smash hit the ball in the place where Sengoku had left making him miss the ball.

Ryoga blinked and blinked again. Had she predicted where Sengoku would return the ball? And then followed up with the jump and backhand volley smash? Something that was very difficult to manage?

"She made it," Ryoma said and smiled sincerely at the girl on the court who looked pleased.

"What was that?" Ryoga asked.

"Her new move," Ryoma said.

...

"She did it," Fuji smiled.

"Eh? Fujiko-chan?" Kikumaru glanced at him.

"What move was that?" Kawamura asked. "I've never seen anything like it."

"It's her new move," Fuji explained sounding proud. "She has worked really hard on it."

"I see," Tezuka said but he smiled slightly as well. "Very good."

"Yes! Hari-chan!" Momoshiro cheered loudly and punched a hand into the air. "You can do it!"

...

"Wow," Minami Kentaro said as he stared at the girl playing Sengoku.

"That's….amazing," Higashikata said slightly awed.

"…what kind of move was that?" Dan blinked and looked up at Akutsu who grumbled and glared at the court despite feeling slightly impressed by the move.

"Hmmm… so that's why you had her play," Banda or Banji as he is more commonly known commented to himself as he glanced over at the other bench and to a pleased-looking Ryuzaki. "To have someone like her… Echizen Hari, huh? I wonder…"

...

Hari had gotten more into it now and watched Sengoku who was more determined now and not as happy-go-lucky anymore as he served his ball. She noticed how his arm moved and remembering Saeki's lessons let herself react without thinking too hard and used a backhand slice shot to return the ball giving the ball backspin.

He returned it and she changed her grip on the racket and hit the ball with a topspin forehand and the rally continued back and forth. Back and forth, until she managed to smash the ball behind him and out of the court.

It was tiring but fun. Hari smiled as she gripped the racket in her hand and felt the excitement run through her as she was finally catching up to him. It was only one point for her now and then she would be even.

...

"6-4! Seigaku, Echizen Hari win!" The referee called out over the stunned court.

Hari collapsed exhausted on the court but she was grinning widely. She had done it! She had won! She heard the cheers from the others but she had no energy to get up and look at them or join them in their cheering.

"Hari-chan!"

"Hari!" Ryoma smiled down at her and she grinned as he held out a hand for her to take. She grabbed it and let him pull her back to her feet. "Good game!"

She smiled and hugged him because he was her brother and she had just won her first official game. The happiness felt like it was going to burst out of her chest.

"Hari-chan!" a loud exclamation sounded and just as she pulled back from Ryoma she felt another body collide with hers and her air supply was starting to get short.

"Eiji! She can't breathe!" Oishi's frantic voice sounded in the background and soon Hari could breathe again and she gasped for air but still smiled.

"Awesome game, nya!" Kikumaru beamed.

"Good game, Hari-chan," Fuji smiled with his eyes closed, "and good move."

Hari just smiled and leaned against Ryoma who had taken the job to keep her upright when Kikumaru had pulled away (or dragged back by Oishi).

Hari pulled herself together to go and greet Sengoku like she was supposed to and saw the sad smile on his face but he had a note of respect in his eyes as he looked at her.

She shook his hand and he nodded at her.

"I'll win next time," he said.

"I look forward to playing you again, Sengoku-san," she answered.

...

"Good game, Hari-san," Tezuka said and even smiled (!) at her. "I was impressed by your new move."

"It was awesome!" Kikumaru said excitedly. "Does it have a name?"

Hari was now leaning against Fuji since Ryoma had to get ready for his game against Akutsu (who glared at her even harder now). She smiled tiredly.

"Um, yeah…" she said, "I call it the Phoenix Rising."

"Phoenix Rising?" Kikumaru repeated questioningly before he smiled. "I like it!"

"Me too," Momoshiro grinned.

...

...

AN: So, what do you think? :)

Hari played in her first official match! XD The new move of hers is inspired by an idea given to me by a wonderful reviewer called LeafyLuminary XD I will admit that I don't know too much about tennis and all the moves that are possible. I have researched it a while and tried to make the best of it with my understanding of the sport and some freedom in creative writing ;) There's a meaning with the move and name that will be explained more in further chapters as well.

I will try to have one more chapter ready before the new year. Thank you for reading and supporting the story so far, I really appreciate it! XD

Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates the holiday. I hope you have a wonderful time filled with happiness and laughter! :)

Japanese words used:
Itee - Ouch
Ma - filler
Oji-san - Unlce
Ie - No
Nani - What
Baka - Idiot
Chibi - Little
Sempai - upperclassman
Ano - filler
Oyaji - Old man /dad
Arigatou - Thank you