Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Prince of Tennis!
...
...
Keigo watched with an impassive expression as Tezuka won the last match against Higa. It was quite the match and Keigo flashed to their last match. It had been fun, though he still felt a little bad about the outcome. He looked over at where Hari was cheering with her brother and the rest of their team. He wished he'd been able to watch Hari's match, but they had finished too late for that. It would have been something to be able to see it.
But now they had a chance to play Seigaku once more and this time they would win. A glance toward his teammates showed the same determination as he felt, and he allowed a small smile to cross his lips.
He turned to walk away and ignored the girl coming up to him with a box (probably food). He didn't care for such things at the moment. He wanted to practice. He was barely aware of Oshitari apologizing to the girl as they all followed him.
...
Hari looked up and saw Keigo and his team leave making her smile a little before she followed her brother and the others to the now-empty seating areas behind the court. Inui had left to find Yoshida who had gone to watch some of the other matches.
"Wonder who we'll play next," Ryoma said.
"Yeah," Hari nodded and leaned her head against his shoulder. "I'm tired…"
She felt him laugh more than she heard him but didn't mind nor did he do anything to make her move. She allowed her eyes to drift close for a moment just feeling tired and content. She heard the others talking and laughing and she just let it wash over her. Like a warm bath.
One day closer to her potentially losing this. Losing…them.
No. Don't go there, she told herself as she leaned closer to her brother who seemed to notice and reached over and took one of her hands in his and squeezed it.
It calmed her down some and she held on letting him ground her to the present and focused on just listening to their voices.
"Everyone," Oishi called out making Hari open her eyes and straighten up, so she was sitting up beside Ryoma. "Congratulations on making it to the quarterfinals."
"Thank you, Oishi!" Kikumaru said proudly.
"We'll keep this pace until the finals," Momoshiro stated.
"You two there, it's too early to feel elated," Inui interrupted as he suddenly appeared behind them (and if Hari didn't know better, she would say he used magic to do it).
"Welcome back, Inui," Fuji said amused. "Yoshida."
Yoshida smiled and nodded.
"Please report the results of the other schools," Tezuka said.
"Yes," Inui nodded opening his notebook after a glance at Yoshida who remained quiet. "Yamabuki, led by Sengoku, won the first round against St. Icaria from Yamagata but lost the second round. As expected, it seems like the loss of Akutsu was big. The sensationalized teams like last year's champion, Rikkaidai, Shitenhouji from Osaka, and Nagoya from Aichi, have all won up until now."
Hari smiled a little hearing that Seiichi had won as well. Though she had expected that, but it was nice to hear anyway. She would ask him about his game when she met him later.
"And Fudomine…" Inui continued but was interrupted by Kikumaru and Momoshiro who noticed said team walking past them further away.
"New style on Tachibana," Momoshiro said.
"He seems different," Kikumaru said. "With the dyed hair…"
Hari smiled a little as she waved to Tachibana who glanced over at them and nodded back.
"Anyway," Inui said with a cough, "they won against last year's runner up, Makinofuji."
"Good," Hari smiled.
"They are something," Kikumaru agreed.
"And about the match between Shishigaku and Hyotei…" Inui said.
"The winner will be our next opponents, right?" Kaido asked.
"Then, who won the match, Inui?" Kikumaru asked eagerly leaning forward.
"Who do you think?" Inui returned blankly.
Hari smiled as she among the others said, "Hyotei."
Hari was one of few who smiled as Inui said, "bingo."
Most of the others looked dejected as they heard this.
"I thought so," Kikumaru said sadly.
"Mah, do we have to play against them again?" Momoshiro complained.
"They won by a large margin of 5-0 in both the first and the second rounds even though their opponent was Shishigaku," Yoshida spoke up. "And they're the strongest in Kyushu."
"Did you see their game?" Hari asked looking at Yoshida.
"Most of it," Yoshida said. "I knew we would meet one of them next."
"You were that sure we would win?" Hari smirked.
"Of course," Yoshida returned.
"It seems like the level of Hyotei is no longer the same as when we played them at the Kantor Tournament," Fuji commented.
"Of course not," Hari said ignoring the way most of them glanced over at an impassive Tezuka. "Keigo and the rest of his team probably hoped for this chance to face us again. It explains the determined look on Keigo's face earlier."
"Eh?"
"He and his team were here watching Tezuka's match;" Hari said. "I assume they wanted to come and check how we were doing when they finished their own games."
"Probably," Fuji agreed. "It should be interesting."
"We're already in a pinch in the second round of the national tournament!" Horio exclaimed panicked. "W-What should we do, Echizen?"
Ryoma gave him an unimpressed look.
"Don't see why you panic over that," Ryoma shrugged.
Hari smiled a little, "we'll handle it."
...
Hari frowned to herself as she rounded a corner and wondered how she had ended up lost. Again. She sighed as she looked down at the phone in her hand and grimaced.
Where are you? Thought we were going to meet? – Seiichi.
Hari looked around trying to figure out just where she was and how she had ended up so…not where she was supposed to be. Or at least she thought so…
Sorry. I'm on my way… - Hari.
She hurried to find her way back, but she wasn't sure because she had been lost in thought as she had said goodbye to the others and left to find Seiichi. Her phone rang and she sighed.
"You're lost," Seiichi said in greeting.
"Oi, why do you assume that?" Hari denied.
"Because it's you," Seiichi said.
"Meany," Hari pouted, and Seiichi laughed even as he sounded exasperated.
"Do you have any clue on where you are?" Seiichi asked.
"No…" Hari muttered. "I didn't think I left the tennis court area…I was just… thinking."
"Okay, then you should be close by," Seiichi said. "Stay where you are and I'll find you, okay?"
"Fine," Hari said feeling bad for making him look for her.
Hari put her phone down when someone ran into her making her fall.
"Ouch…" she groaned.
"Whops! Sorry! Sorry! Are you okay? Sorry!" A hyper voice said.
Hari had a feeling that she had experienced this before, though the voice was new and sounded hyper. He was still talking she realised as she looked up and saw a boy with red hair, she would almost call it maroon, and wide blackish-brown eyes staring at her.
"Sorry!" he said.
"I'm fine," Hari said and got to her feet again bursting herself off.
"You're Hari Potter!" the boy exclaimed making Hari still. "Wow! You really are! I can see the scar and…wow. I'm sorry! I'm Toyama Kintaro!"
Hari felt like her mind had stopped working all at once and everything she could hear was…
You're Hari Potter!
You're Hari Potter!
Over and over again.
A hand was suddenly waving in front of her eyes and she blinked as everything came rushing back and she took a step back.
"You okay? Oh no! I hurt the Hari Potter!" the boy, no Toyama Kintaro, cried dramatically.
"You…" Hari stopped and cleared her throat trying to push the panic away at the same time and the urge to run away. He knew who she was…she hadn't thought about being recognized here. Not in the muggle world.
"Oh, I'm a squib!" Toyama said cheerfully. "I don't mind, really. It's not that bad."
Hari blinked and shook her head, "well, then…I guess that's fine?"
He looked at her and smiled, "I can't believe I'm talking to Hari Potter. What are you doing here? This is so cool!"
Hari felt overwhelmed but tried to keep up.
"Ah, I…"
"Come!" he said and grabbed her hand and before she realised it she was pulled along with him and into what she realised was a stadium…how had she not seen that? But he stopped just as he reached the fence and she saw the tennis court down there.
...
"What?!" Kintaro exclaimed disappointment clear in his voice. "Why is no one playing tennis? This is strange…don't you think? I heard the National Tournament is being held here…"
Hari suddenly realised that he had a tennis racket sticking out (or the handle of one) of his backpack and that he must be a tennis player. She had not really noticed this before, but since she had been panicking over him knowing her name…a fresh wave of panic arrived and she felt her mouth go dry as she wondered what to do now…
This was a huge flaw in her plan.
In everyone's plane.
What was she supposed to do if someone recognised her? Should she use the panic button (not really a panic button, but charm…well, whatever) she had around her wrist? But wouldn't that just create trouble when he wasn't dangerous?
He…wasn't dangerous, was he?
He didn't seem dangerous…
"Of course, there's no one here," a familiar voice broke through her thoughts and she looked to the side and saw Ryoma sitting on a seat not far from where they were standing. He was now getting to his feet and gave her a concerned look before looking back at Kintaro with a frown. "This is the place for the finals."
Hari felt something settle inside of her as her brother walked up to them, but at the same time she wanted to get him away in case this was… was what?
She looked at Kintaro again and he looked so excited as he stared at Ryoma that she had a hard time picturing him as dangerous or anything like that… he just looked like an overexcitable kid really.
"What?!" Kintaro exclaimed loudly making Hari jump slightly. "The place of the final and the place for the other matches are different? I didn't know…"
Ryoma frowned at him once more before looking at Hari.
"Hari?" Ryoma sounded worried and she tried to smile though she was sure it came out more as a grimace. "What's going on? And who are you?"
Ryoma glared at Kintaro as he picked up on the tension in Hari and immediately guessed the reason and stepped closer. Kintaro didn't react to the hostility in Ryoma's voice as he looked from Ryoma to Hari.
"You know him?" Kintaro asked.
Hari swallowed and tried to push back everything and gain focus back on the situation at hand. She had to do something… before everything was ruined.
"He's my brother," Hari said.
"Brother?" Kintaro blinked.
"Yes," Hari said glancing at Ryoma. "Look, Toyama-san, I'm not Hari Potter anymore."
Ryoma inhaled sharply and tensed even more as he realised what was going on.
"Eh? You're not?" Kintaro blinked.
"Well, I am, I guess," Hari frowned. "But I changed my name when I was adopted. I don't… I don't want anyone to know… so, please… Can you not tell anyone you know my name from before?"
Hari knew that her friends, her team, knew that she was called Potter before she was adopted. But this was different. This was a boy who knew just who she was and the meaning behind her name.
Kintaro just blinked before he grinned again. He was doing that a lot, she noticed.
"Sure," Kintaro agreed.
Hari could only stare as he agreed so easily, and she noticed Ryoma also looking closely at Kintaro like he was looking for a lie.
"You…really?" Hari asked.
"Yeah!" Kintaro grinned. "It's not that big of a deal, you know. But isn't this the coolest place ever? I hope I can get a chance to play here! Oooh! That would be so much fun, don't you think?!"
Ryoma huffed but relaxed a little as he looked over at Hari who still looked stunned but felt a small spark of relief. Maybe everything wasn't ruined?
"You must be playing in the National Tournament as well, right?" Kintaro asked looking at Ryoma. "Since you know about the finals, right? I'm Toyama Kintaro! Nice to meet you! Nice to meet you!"
He was now jumping while waving his arms and Hari felt herself laugh as the stress and panic left her (at least for now). The look on Ryoma's face as he stared at Kintaro was too amusing and Hari knew he always struggled with overly hyper boys.
"Okay…" Ryoma said slowly.
"Ah, Toyama-san, this is my brother Echizen Ryoma, and I'm Echizen Hari," Hari introduced.
"Nice to meet you!" Kintaro said again.
...
Before Hari could say anything else or figure out what to do now she heard footsteps behind them and she spun around to see 8 boys coming toward them.
"Oh, it's you, Kintaro-san," Koishikawa said.
"Oh, everyone," Kintaro said as he turned to them and waved.
"You're late," Hitouji said.
"I'm sorry! I ran half the journey and was late," Kintaro said clapping his hands together and bowed a little.
"So, you really did run from Shizouka?" Konjiki asked.
"Don't worry. We won the first match easily without you," Ishida said.
Hari exchanged a look with Ryoma.
"Ah, Echizen-san," Shiraishi smiled. "I see you've met one of my teammates."
"You know her, Captain?" Kintaro asked.
"We've met," Shiraishi smiled before he introduced his team to her.
"Nice to meet you, I guess," Hari smiled a little. "I'm Echizen Hari, as he said. And this is my brother, Echizen Ryoma."
"Eh? The American?" Oshitari asked surprised.
Ryoma arched a brow but didn't say anything.
"Kin-chan, I'm sure this is the strong player from Kanto that my cousin told me about," Oshitari said.
"Eh? Koshimae?" Kintaro said.
Ryoma blinked while Hari bit back a laugh.
"Wait! You're Koshimae?" Kintaro bounced over to where Ryoma stood and grabbed his arms as he stared reverently at him.
"W-who is Koshimae?" Ryoma asked gruffly pushing Kintaro away. "And stop laughing, Hari."
"Sorry, Ryo-chan," Hari said still laughing. "But… I didn't know I've said your name wrong all these years…"
Ryoma glowered at her causing her to laugh even more.
"Not funny," Ryoma said.
"Eh? Koshimae?" Kintaro blinked.
"It's Echizen," Hari said helpfully deciding to make it easier on her brother. "Not Koshimae…"
"You need to get better at reading Kanji, Kintaro," Shiraishi said calmly though Hari saw the amusement in his eyes.
Kintaro frowned but nodded.
"So, how did you end up meeting?" Shiraishi asked looking at Hair and then at Kintaro.
"He ran into me and then pulled me in here to show me the court, I guess," Hari said before grimacing…"Oh…bugger."
She pulled out her phone and winced a little when she saw the missed text. Just then her phone rang and she knew it was Seiichi.
"Hey…" Hari said as she answered the phone.
"Where are you?" Seiichi asked. "I have no idea where to go…"
"Sorry," Hari said. "I got side-tracked… But I know where I am now."
"Hari-chan…" Seiichi sighed.
"I'm at the arena where the finals are going to be played," Hari said.
"Of course, you are," Seiichi said. "I'm on my way."
"I can go and meet you…" Hari started.
"No, you'll just get lost again," Seiichi said. "What side are you on?"
"East?" Hari said thoughtfully but then saw Shiraishi shake his head.
"West," Shiraishi said.
"Ah, no it's west," Hari said.
"You sure?"
"Shiraishi-san is," Hari said.
"He's there?"
"Yeah," Hari said. "Just met him and his team."
"Okay," Seiichi said. "I'll be right there."
Hari put her phone down.
"Yukimura?" Shiraishi guessed.
"Yeah," Hari said. "I was supposed to meet him, but…"
"You got lost?" Shiraishi said. "I heard something about how you always get lost."
"Not always," Hari pouted. "I'm not that bad…"
She glared at Ryoma who snorted.
...
Hari finally managed to meet Seiichi and left with him to eat like they had planned, though she felt a little on edge leaving and trusting that Kintaro wouldn't say something.
But what could she do?
"You should contact the auror or something to ask," Seiichi said when he managed to get her to tell him what was on her mind. They had just finished eating and was now just walking around.
"I…I just…what if they think I'm overreacting?" Hari asked worriedly. "I mean…he's a kid."
"Maybe, but I say better safe than sorry," Seiichi said. "If anything this shows that we don't have any plan on what to do if you are recognised like this."
Hari couldn't stop the warmth she felt as he said 'we' as if he included himself in this as well, and she realised (again) that she wasn't in this alone.
"Okay," she agreed. "I will contact her."
"Let's find a quiet place and you can do it now," Seiichi said and Hari nodded.
They found a quiet place in a park and Hari pulled out her phone and wondered why she had forgotten that Toyama had given her a number to call just in case.
"Hello?" Toyama answered after just a couple of seconds.
"Hey…um, it's Echizen Hari," Hari said feeling Seiichi squeeze the hand he was holding. Giving her support.
"Echizen-san," Toyama said. "Is everything alright?"
"Um…someone recognised me today," Hari said. "I don't know what to do about it. He's just a kid, or teenager, really. He said he wouldn't tell anyone, but… I don't know what to do."
Toyama was quiet for a moment.
"I see," she said. "There weren't any reports about this… Where are you?"
Hari told her and Toyama asked that she stay there and that she would join her there soon.
"She's on her way," Hari told Seiichi who smiled and pulled her into a hug.
Hari leaned against him and rested her head against his shoulder wondering what would happen now.
...
"Echizen-san," Toyama said as she stepped up to them and Hari blinked at how quickly she had arrived.
"Hey, thank you for coming," Hari said pulling away from Seiichi. "This is my boyfriend, Yukimura Seiichi."
"Nice to meet you, Yukimura-san," Toyama said not asking why he was there or how he knew. She probably was aware that he knew about magic."
"Hey, nice to meet you," Seiichi said politely.
"So, Echizen-san, tell me more about what happened today?" Toyama asked.
"Well…" Hari said and started to tell her about what happened and she noticed the arched brow at one point, but the older woman didn't interrupt her.
"You met Kintaro," Toyama said when she finished.
"You…" Hari paused and then blinked. "He's related to you…"
Of course… they shared the same last name. How could she not have made the connection before?
"He's my little brother," Toyama said. "I'll talk to him and make sure he understands that he can't say anything. I don't believe you need to worry; he is not really much in contact with the magical world."
"He's a squib, he told me," Hari nodded.
"Yes," Toyama said. "He enjoys tennis more than anything, and barely pays attention to anything else. He enjoyed reading about you when he was a kid, though. So, that's why he knows who you are."
Hari grimaced at the mention of the books about her but didn't say anything.
"Okay…" Hari said.
"I apologize," Toyama said. "I should have realised that there would be a chance for you two to meet and that he would recognise you."
Hari had wanted to ask why she hadn't said anything, but the apology made her bite back the words. She was too tired to go into it now and anyway…it was fine.
"It's fine," Hari said. "But…what should I do if something like this happens again?"
"Call me," Toyama said. "Even if you have to do it right then and there, call me and I'll come or send someone else."
"What if calling isn't possible?" Seiichi asked speaking up for the first time in a while.
"Use the charm," Toyama said. "If you think you're in danger."
"Okay," Hari nodded. "Thank you."
...
"That went fine," Seiichi said when Toyama left again.
"Mm," Hari said. "It worked out this time…"
"Hey," Seiichi said. "Everything will be okay. We'll get through this."
Hari looked at him and smiled as she leaned up and kissed him.
"I don't know what I'd do without you," she said when she pulled back and he smiled softly to her.
"I could say the same to you," he said.
Hari wasn't so sure about that but didn't say anything. She just leaned against him and wondered how she had ended up so lucky.
"So, Inui and Yoshida told me that your team won," Hari smiled. "How was it?"
"It was good," Seiichi smiled and pushed a strand of her hair out of her face.
"You played?" Hari wondered.
"Yes," Seiichi said with a smile that told Hari just how much it meant for him to have played again.
"I'm sorry I didn't get to see it," Hari said.
They talked more about their matches as they started to walk down to the river before Seiichi walked her home.
...
"Ready for another day and another match?" Ryoga grinned at her when Hari stumbled into the kitchen.
"Mm," Hari yawned. "It's too early."
Ryoga arched a brow, "it's not that early. You okay?"
"Just didn't sleep that well," Hari said. "I'll be fine as soon as I wake up more."
Ryoga nodded, "too bad I can't come and watch you today. I wanted to."
Hari smiled and nodded, "I know. It's okay."
Ryoga sighed, "they schedule these things so inconvenient."
"Yes, how dare they say you have to come to school?" Hari asked seriously making him laugh and ruffle her hair.
"Brat," he said.
"Oi! That's not me! That's Ryo-chan's title," Hari protested.
Ryoga just laughed as he left the kitchen having to leave for school and by the time Hari had finished eating and changed before the match, she felt more awake and ready for the day.
Hari put her phone in her bag after sending a text wishing Seiichi good luck on their match today. She wished they weren't playing at the same time because she wanted to go and watch him play. But since they were playing at the same time she couldn't very well do that.
"Annoying," Momoshiro sighed glancing over at where the Hyotei supporters were standing and chanting the same thing over and over again.
"Hyotei will be the winners! Seigaku will be the losers!"
"Hyotei! Hyotei! Hyotei!"
Not very original, Hari thought.
"Well, it's part of the game," Hari sighed, "though I don't like this any better than I liked when Higa did it. Though, at least Hyotei isn't as…offensive."
"True," Ryoma sighed.
"Oh! There you are!" Aoi called and Hari looked over to see Aoi and the rest of Rokkaku standing on the stairs next to the court. "Here we come as special Seigaku cheering supporters!"
Hari met Saeki's eyes and he smiled at her making her smile a little back. She heard Ryoma make a sound of surprise and when she glanced at him she could tell he was smiling a little as well.
Her smile widened when Ojii walked up to stand between Aoi and Saeki.
"Ojii is all right now," Aoi said. "Thank you. We came to pay our debt as we promised."
"Rokkaku," Momoshiro grinned.
"An encouraging alley came," Fuji said.
Just then Keigo and his team arrived at the court making everyone turn their attention to them and Hari couldn't help the flash of amusement. Keigo looked like he owned the place with the way he marched in and snapped his fingers calling for the match to start. Though she saw the determination in every one of them and knew that this match meant a lot to them, and it would not be easy.
"Ah, look at that," Hari said.
"Hari-chan?" Fuji turned to her.
"They are ready for a fight," Hari said.
"Well, so are we," Fuji promised.
"Hyotei! Hyotei! Hyotei!" Hyotei's side cheered.
"Seigaku! Seigaku! Seigaku!" Rokkaku cheered steadily back.
"We won against Hyotei last time we played," Ryuzaki said. "Do not take it for granted that we will win again today. They have known defeat and will put away their pride and everything to get their revenge."
"It's one way to say it," Nanjiro grinned. "Though, are you going to make it easy for them? They're good, you know that already. But so are you. You've worked hard to get ready for Nationals. They're not the only ones who have done that, and I do believe you have some tricks up your sleeves."
Hari could tell the others were excited by his speech and fired up. She stood back as they told Momoshiro to prepare for Singles 3.
...
Singles 3 : Momoshiro vs Oshitari 3-6 – Hyotei wins
...
Hari watched and cheered with the others as Momoshiro played Oshitari and even if Momoshiro lost in the end it was a good match.
"Sorry," Momoshiro said as he sat down and Hari helped to bandage his head.
"Seriously," Hari muttered. "You're as bad as Ryo-chan, Momo-chan."
Momoshiro smiled sheepishly.
"I had to play," he said.
"Yes, but you should at least let me stop the bleeding properly," Hari snapped. "You're stubborn."
"Says you," Momoshiro arched a brow at her, and she glared at him.
She had felt worried when he had gotten so into the game that he hadn't been watching where he was running and collided with a fence pole. He had insisted to keep playing and while Hari had tried to stop the bleeding before he continued it had still not been enough and half of his face was covered in blood.
"It still wasn't enough," Momoshiro sighed.
"It was a good game," Inui said. "You got one guy here fired up."
Kaido stepped up behind Inui and gave a searching look at Momoshiro before turning to enter the court without saying anything.
"Go get them," Hari nodded to Inui.
"Of course," Inui said.
...
Doubles 2 : Inui & Kaido vs Mukahi & Hiyoshi 7-5 – Seigaku wins
...
"Yes!"
"Seigaku!"
Hari cheered with the others as Inui and Kaido walked off the court and Hari bounced over to hug Kaido who blushed but didn't do anything to push her off.
"You did it!" Hari grinned. "I loved your new move! It was the best! I can't believe you never told me you were working on a new move, Ka-chan!"
Kaido smiled pleased and hugged her back making Hari smile wider.
"Good game," Tezuka said.
"You sure trapped them, Kaido-senpai," Ryoma smirked. "Just like you."
"And Inui-senpai with the new serve! Waterfall!" Mizuno gushed. "Amazing!"
Inui smiled as well and Hari (who had let go of Kaido) reached over and hugged him too pretending she didn't notice the surprised look on his face.
"Well done," Nanjiro smiled. "You handled it and made them believe they had it under control."
"Thank you," Inui said.
...
"So, they're 1-1 now," Saeki said looking at Hari who was smiling as she had let go of Inui and was back beside Fuji. He liked seeing her smile and be happy. He wondered if she would be up next or if maybe she would play in doubles 1. If she was going to play at all, of course.
"We will now begin the Singles 2 match," the referee called out.
"I wonder who will be playing Singles 2," Saeki said.
"Hari-chan?" Aoi guessed.
Saeki felt his eyes widen as he watched Tezuka enter the court and he wasn't the only one who was surprised. Everyone (besides Seigaku) looked stunned as they all assumed that Tezuka would be playing last.
"Tezuka will be playing Singles 2?!" Itsuki gasped leaning forward as if he would see differently if he got closer.
"What?" Kurobane sounded stunned.
...
Keigo ignored the surprised question from Oshitari as he watched Tezuka enter the court. He wasn't as surprised as the others at the sight of Tezuka preparing to play Singles 2. He knew they would do something to surprise them.
He looked over at Hari and wondered if she would perhaps be the one to play Singles 1, but he doubted it. He would like the chance to play her, but he had a feeling he would be stuck with her brother instead.
He hadn't talked to her yet, but he would. When they were done with the games.
But first, they had to get through Singles 2 and he knew Kabaji would do a good job against Tezuka.
...
"Who's going to play against Tezuka-Captain from Hyotei?" Mizuno asked.
"When Tezuka-Captain plays, the result will be the same no matter who plays against him," Horio said confidently.
Kabaji walked over and stood on the other side of the net watching Tezuka without betraying what he was thinking.
"Oh, it's just Kabaji," Horio said before laughing. "This match is ours."
Hari swatted his head slightly making Horio stop laughing and touch his head with one hand as he turned startled eyes to Hari who arched a brow at him.
"Kabaji is good," Hari said. "Do not underestimate him."
"But, Hari-chan…" Horio said.
"No," Hari frowned. "Just watch. Kabaji might surprise you. Cheer for Tezuka, but don't take anything for granted. If you do, then you might lose."
...
Singles 2 : Tezuka vs Kabaji – 7-6 – Seigaku wins
...
Hari pushed back her wet hair as she cheered with the others as Tezuka finally made the last game and won his match.
"We won," Kaido said.
"Now we're in the lead with 2-1," Momoshiro said. "We're one win away from the semi-finals."
"But the rest of the matches might not be held with all this rain," Kawamura worried.
"Seems like the referees are busy discussing it now," Fuji agreed a slightly worried tone in his voice.
Just then the speaker called out that they would postpone the match to the next day because of the rain.
"So…tomorrow," Hari said.
"Boring," Ryoma said making Hari smile a little.
...
Keigo sighed a little as he took in the disappointment from Shishido and Otori who both looked ready to play despite the rain.
"Let's go!" Keigo called and was glad Otori did the job of calming Shishido down. Keigo started to lead his team off the court and paused briefly beside Tezuka.
Keigo looked to see Hari standing by her brother and noticed that she seemed a little pale and felt a flash of worry for her.
"The winner will be us, Hyotei," Keigo said as he pushed back the worry he felt for Hari (for now). "I'll let you live until tomorrow."
Tezuka didn't say anything, but Keigo felt the response in the silence. A challenge accepted kind of response and he smiled.
"You're saved by the rain," Keigo said.
"I don't mind," Ryoma said. "Let's play. Or are you running…"
Keigo withheld a sigh as he reached out and pulls Ryoma's hat down into his face as he walked past him. Ignoring the indignant noise Ryoma made, though smiled a little when he heard Hari laugh a little.
"Don't pout, Ryo-chan;" he heard Hari say. "You knew he would do something like that."
"You're a cheeky rookie," Keigo called out with a laugh.
...
...
AN: What do you think? XD
Happy New Year! 3 Wish you all the best for 2022!
I'm not completely happy with this chapter, I couldn't get the flow right. But I got tired of trying to rewrite it and just decided that it was good enough... So, hope you like it. XD
Thank you for reading and for all of your support! XD I am almost done with the next chapter, so hopefully, it will be ready soon! XD
