Bildungsroman
Chapter eight
Hey, so I'm not going to write about most of the boys' matches except once or twice from Sakura's point of view, or maybe as references. At this point, I'm more interested in the mixed doubles, so I'm going to write more about that. Don't worry, Sakura's singles matches will be covered in detail... but later. When the schools are a little more interesting.
Also, I play fast and loose with physics here. Whatever. It's Prince of Tennis, it's expected.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, with no copyright infringement intended. I don't own PoT, which belongs to Takeshi Konomi.
"People sure are curious about mixed doubles, huh…" Kirihara drawled, dropped gracelessly onto one of the steps. "Ne, 'Mura-buchou, what are we doing at this dinky li'l match, anyway?"
"Don't be disrespectful, Akaya." Sanada rumbled. The boy made a face. "This isn't even Kanagawa, Sanada-fukubuchou!"
"We hadn't noticed." Niou deadpanned. Kirihara's scowl deepened further.
Yukimura chuckled breezily. "We can learn all sorts of things from all sorts of people, Akaya." He finally addressed the boy's question. "It's always good to observe."
"Attention please. The matches between Seishun Gakuen and St Ruldolph Gakuen mixed doubles will begin in 15 minutes on Court 4. All participants are requested to report to the venue. Thank you."
"Ah… this might be interesting." Niou chuckled. "Seigaku, huh? Ne, Sanada," His clever eyes slid to the stoic vice-captain. "Does this have anything to do with our recent guest?"
The boy in question merely scoffed at such a ridiculous suggestion. But he wasn't to be let off the hook just yet. "Yeah, Sanada, I can't believe you had a Seigaku girl over and didn't let us at her."
The speaker was a tall- extremely tall- girl with short red hair and violet eyes. Trailing her were three others.
Sanada scoffed again. "Yes, Ikeda, what a lot you would have gleaned from observing her sleep." He seemed to be surrounded by idiots today– excepting Yukimura, of course.
"You'd be surprised." One of the other girls grinned. Kobe was almost like a shark, Sanada reflected. She and Niou made a fine doubles pair – but off the court, they were a source of unbelievable headaches.
And as to the usefulness of watching sleeping people, not to mention the creepiness… That remark was best left unanswered.
"Eh? Kobe-senpai, Ikeda-senpai?" Kirihara mumbled grumpily. "Junko-chan too, huh… what's with all this fuss for a tiny li'l match? Even if it is Seigaku…"
"Shut it, brat." Marui popped a bubble, unconcerned with Akaya's offended pout. "It's starting."
"Doubles two between St Rudolph's Fuji-Chinen pair vs Seigaku's Momoshiro-Takada pair will now begin. Would both pairs please enter the court?"
"Momoshiro, hmm? And isn't that Fuji-san's little brother?"
"Yeah, yeah!" Kirihara seemed to perk up, despite it being a li'l match. "I remember him from last year! Small fry, small fry!"
"Akaya!"
"Ah! Sorry!"
Yukimura only chuckled lightly. Some things never changed– some people, too.
And that Momoshiro seemed like one of them. If there was any change, it was in the way his ability to read his opponents and control the flow had evolved. It seemed like his natural game now. He really was shaping up to be a formidable opponent, regardless of format.
Would he be on Atobe's level now? Yukimura wondered. No, not quite… but troublesome nonetheless.
One never really saw it coming with Momoshiro. He seemed like such a simple guy- jump, smash, power, and oozing friendliness to boot- that no one would really suspect him of being the gamemaker until it was too late.
Oshitari Yuushi and Mukahi Gakuto would speak from experience.
Even now, to the untrained eye, Takada seemed to be the one controlling everything. Until one looked closer: Momoshiro was the springboard for Takada's winners– and what winners they were. The two clearly had the makings of a power-hitting pair. Fuji Yuuta's racquet had been blown away once, his partner's twice. All courtesy Takada.
But the younger Fuji boy was clearly not going to give up just two games in. He still had his perfected Super Rising, and the twist kites that threw his opponents' timing off by a fraction of a second. And it looked like he had another weapon in his arsenal– that shot–
"Oh?" Yukimura raised an eyebrow. "He can use the Twist Spin?"
"He hasn't used it in competitions since his match with Echizen three years ago." Yanagi informed him "But it seems that he's confident in his ability to use it without injuring himself now. How interesting."
Interesting indeed. From the looks on the Seigaku pair's face, they had not expected this particular… twist.
Yukimura smiled to himself. Terrible.
"Fuji-senpai, isn't that…" Kaidoh ventured nervously. After all, visible eyes were rarely a good sign from the genius, particularly if Yuuta was involved.
"Yeah." Fuji's tone was steely. How could Yuuta be so irresponsible… or was it not his decision? He was easily led astray, after all…
Sakura let out a low whistle. "It's impressive." She nudged her partner. "Senpai, you said your brother was good, but he's really good. That's not an easy shot."
Oishi wanted to cover her mouth. "No," Fuji replied softly. "It isn't at all."
Tezuka glanced at Fuji. This wasn't good; Mizuki might need a stretcher when Yuuta's aniki was done with him. But really, to carry his protective instincts this far… Tezuka wondered if Yuuta was using the shot to make a point to his elder brother.
Would it work, though, if he, Tezuka, got the point, and Fuji didn't?
"Kagawa, Fuji." He barked. The two turned. "Warm up."
Fuji's lips tightened. He wanted to watch his brother's match in full, wanted to know the exact extent of Mizuki's ill-advised meddling, but challenging Tezuka was never a wise idea. He graced Tezuka with a curt nod before walking off in the direction of an empty court.
Sakura met Tezuka's eyes. He could see that she was clueless about the exact matter, but had definitely discerned the undertones. And they unsettled her. She picked up her racquet and jogged after Fuji.
"Game, Fuji-Chinen pair, one game to two! Change court!"
"What now, Momo-kun?" Takada wasn't unduly worried, but they needed a plan quickly. That Twist Spin shot had not been planned for… in fact, Momo had been sure that he wouldn't use it. And Chinen was no slouch either; she was faster than Yuuta, which made it hard to get a ball past her.
Momo picked at his chin. "Haa… this is interesting, isn't it?" He murmured. "Ne, Takada-chan, have you figured out your little weapon yet?"
She grimaced. "It's not perfect, but… it works. Eight times out of ten."
He poked her in the forehead. "Well, let's make it ten then!"
"Go, Momo-chan-senpai!" The freshman trio cheered. "Takada-senpai!"
Sakuno and Tomoka led the chant, pom-poms and all. "Seigakuuuuuu!"
"FIGHT-O! FIGHT-O! FIGHT-O!"
"It's a good atmosphere, isn't it, Tezuka?" Oishi commented. "Even if Yuuta-san using the Twist Spin is unexpected… Fuji isn't happy at all."
"Yuuta-san is old enough to know what he's doing." Tezuka replied. "It's time Fuji realised it."
On the court, it was Yuuta's serve. Takada lowered herself into the ready position, her veins humming.
He tossed the ball. Brought his racket down.
The ball flew across the court with the accuracy of a spear. Momo was able to step in and whip it back, straight at Chinen.
The moment her racquet connected, Takada moved.
Every single watcher drew in their breath as one.
She moved like liquid- not like water, nothing as common as that. Her movements were like tempered gold- even and smooth and perfectly balanced. Three steps to the left, in prime position for a backhand.
Instead, she raised her racquet for a forehand.
What is she doing?
Quick as lightning, she sliced her racquet in a diagonal arc- and took that final step to the left as the ball connected with the strings.
Yuuta moved forward, ready for the return. Except…
"The ball hasn't left her racquet yet!" Eiji yelped, jumping onto Oishi.
Indeed it hadn't. It still spun there, until Mikabi literally turned her entire body on her left heel, and whipped the racquet into a downwards follow-through.
Momo watched, heart in his mouth.
If this failed–!
The ball bounced right in front of Chinen. She raised her racquet.
The ball spun.
And spun.
And spun.
"What the fu–" "Akaya!"
Suddenly, the ball rocketed upwards- inches from Chinen's face.
She jerked away as though burnt.
The only sounds were of the little pok, pok, pok sounds as the ball bounced behind her.
And then silence.
"Love-fifteen!"
Whispers began to trickle in from all sides.
"Did you see that?"
"What was that shot just now?!"
"Huh, to think that kind of ability's been flying under the radar…" Niou whistled. "That's a hard one to top, eh?"
"Please." Ikeda snorted. "I can think of at least three ways to return that shot. St Rudolph isn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed."
He smirked at her. "I didn't mean for you, Ikeda-chan. We all know you're unbeatable."
She smirked in reply. "Damn straight." Although that Nomura really is something.
"Aha." Inui nodded. "Excellent data. Well done, Takada."
"Ne, Inui-senpai," Horio ventured. "What happened just now?"
The data master straightened his glasses. "A huge amount of sidespin, and I suspect she added another level of irregularity by spinning to the side as well. It creates an effect not unlike Kirihara Akaya's Kick Serve, only, perhaps, less dangerous. After all, Takada doesn't use it to harm, as Kirihara once did."
"Finally." Nomura spoke up at last. The captain was grinning. "She needs to get serious… and perhaps give that Momoshiro a good shake-up too."
"Oh, is Mikabi-chan done playing around?" They all turned to see Sakura and Fuji returning from the warm-up, both covered with a light sheen of sweat. Sakura dropped onto the bench and draped her jacket around her again. "This will be fun." She grinned up, sharp and bright, at her captain.
"Game and match, St Rudolph's Fuji-Chinen pair, seven games to five!"
Sakura was speechless. What the FUCK…
Well, it was pretty obvious, from the way Momoshiro had to practically carry Mikabi off the courts.
Stamina. Her stamina of all things.
They'd had St Rudolph up against a wall, 5-4. And then Mikabi had just–
"Collapsed." Yukimura mused. "What a shame."
"So lame, to lose from a winning position." Marui scoffed. "Even Momoshiro can't do much by himself if his partner can't reach the damn ball."
The girl seemed inconsolable. She was currently bent over, her hair disordered, face buried in her hands. Half the Seigaku team was gathered around her, and her captain- well, she looked like her captain- was massaging her shaking shoulders.
"Oi." Niou nudged Kirihara. "Look who it is."
Upon doing as he was told, the younger boy's eyes widened. "EH, IT'S THAT KAGAWA CHICK AND FUJI!"
"Akaya!"
"Sorry!"
Too late now; everyone had heard the brat's yell. Including the pair lacing up their shoes.
"Friends of yours, Sakura-chan?" Fuji enquired. He seemed to have relaxed a bit from earlier; his tone was mischievous.
"Getting them to babysit me was your idea, Fuji-senpai." She shot back, nodding at Kirihara and Co. "`Friends' is a bit much, though. He yanked my hair."
"Doesn't that mean he likes you, then?" Dear lord, when would the teasing stop? Sakura rolled her eyes. "We're sixteen, not six." She replied, stripping off her jacket and smoothing down her skirt, before lightly bouncing on the balls of her feet. Yeah, that sports bra had been a good choice.
"Doubles one between St Rudolph's Mizuki-Takahashi pair vs Seigaku's Fuji-Kagawa pair will now begin. Would both pairs please enter the court?"
Fuji-senpai's entire being seemed to still.
Okay, she didn't know what was really going on, but the vibes she was getting off her partner were not good.
The entire boys' team inhaled as one. It was not a good sound.
Sakura glanced back nervously and caught Tezuka-buchou's eye.
Definitely not good.
Even that sweet smile now seemed 50x scarier as he led the way onto the court.
Just what was this grudge again?!
The two pairs met at the net, and Sakura hadn't even extended her hand before Mizuki literally curled his hair around a finger and smirked.
"Ahhh, my Eternal Rival." Were capital letters supposed to be heard? "We meet on the court again… at last."
Sakura's eyebrows shot up. Takahashi looked slightly embarrassed.
Fuji-senpai said nothing.
"Have you no words for me, Fuji-kun?" Mizuki's voice was smarmy. But Sakura was more interested in the way he was staring at Fuji-senpai.
Eh.
"Ne, Fuji-senpai," She grinned saucily. "I think you've got a fan."
Said senpai's eyes were full of lethal innocence as he looked at her. "Really? I can't imagine who you're talking about, Sakura-chan."
….Eh?
Mizuki looked sour. "I am not his fan! He's my rival, my Eternal–"
"Let's have a good match." Takahashi interrupted, thrusting a hand out to Sakura. She shook, giving her a questioning look; Takahashi merely sighed with the air of someone who was so beyond done.
"Sure. Um… smooth or rough?" Sakura enquired. Fuji-senpai seemed far more interested in the trees around the courts, anyway.
"Rough." Takahashi replied. Sakura spun; it landed face-down. She shot the Rudolph girl a wry grin. "Rough it is."
"We'll take serve." Looks like it was up to them ladies to bring some sort of normalcy to this match. Heaven knew that the boys wouldn't.
"Well, Fuji-kun, it seems I am to serve first. I hope you're ready to–"
"Sakura-chan, I think I should see a doctor after this; I'm hearing strange voices."
"ARGH!"
Half the Seishun boys were cringing. "That Fuji… he's going to drive Mizuki's blood pressure up, nya…" Eiji whined.
Momo shuddered. "Man, Fuji-senpai can really hold a grudge." What if his senior was still biding his time over some slight that he, Momo, had committed back in Junior High? Aiiiiii, that was a scary thought!
"Kagawa's going to have her hands full managing that loose cannon." Nomura sighed. "Tezuka, you could've warned her."
The look she received was clearly Tezuka-speak for what, exactly, was I supposed to say?
"That Fuji-senpai's brain goes wonky around Mizuki-san." Echizen supplied, sipping his Ponta. The little ace exuded boredom like a cut plant. "Mada mada dane."
Both captains twitched.
"Such childish behaviour." Sanada scoffed. "How unsightly. I would have expected better of Fuji."
Yukimura sighed. "I do feel for those girls. It doesn't seem like a good atmosphere to play in." Kagawa seemed particularly rattled, he noted. Had her team neglected to fill her in? Rather irresponsible of you, Tezuka.
"One set match! St Rudolph's Mizuki to serve!"
Did Mizuki go through life with that oily smirk on his face? It certainly didn't slide off as he tossed the ball up and brought his racquet down.
"This match will end 6 games to 4, St Rudolph!" He called. "I know all your weaknesses!"
Kirihara snorted. "The last time he said that, Fuji took him for a ride. He shouldn't run his mouth."
The ball flew to the right court, where Sakura was ready and waiting. "Apparently, yours is your serve!" She called back, whacking it back to the centre line. Both Rudolph players lunged for it.
That was exactly on the line, Sanada noted, as Takahashi managed to avoid hitting her partner as she got her racquet to the ball. A fluke?
Fuji was waiting at the net. "Love- fifteen!"
Mizuki was already ready with the next serve. Pinpointed at Kagawa's feet.
It didn't work the first time. But when he tried again- sending a shot with perfect control right at her running feet- she stumbled, and the return went into the net.
"Fifteen-all!"
"Don't mind, Sakura-chan." Fuji tugged on her tight bun. "It's just one point."
"He knows my footwork is shoddy." She countered. "How does he know that?!"
Fuji shrugged. "Well, how doesn't matter. Get it better." The last part was no less than an order; she straightened up, and gave a short nod and a grin. "Yes, senpai."
St Rudolph closed out the game soon after. Sakura took a few tumbles, nearly twisting her ankle in the process.
"They're targeting her." Oishi sighed. "Mizuki isn't stupid enough to try and break Fuji; they're trying to break Sakura-chan instead."
A scoff from the bench made all of them look around. Mikabi had, it seemed, gotten over her crying fit. "They can try." She shook her head. "But Sakura-chan doesn't like being picked on."
They watched as the pairs crossed each other while changing courts.
"Your footwork is awkward, Kagawa Sakura." Mizuki gloated. "You're fast, but without adequate footwork, you can't expect to–"
"Dude, get your ass onto the court so we can kick it all the way to Chiba." Sakura snapped, brushing past him.
Takahashi covered her face as Mizuki spluttered.
"It's Sakura-chan's serve now." Mikabi grinned. Then she squinted. "What colour wristband is she wearing?"
"Huh?" Momo looked at his partner quizzically, but answered anyway. "It's black. Why?"
Mikabi shrugged, but didn't offer an explanation. "I guess she'll switch it if she needs to." She ignored Momo's dissatisfied whine in favour of watching Sakura line up to take the serve.
"Y'know what to do, senpai?" Sakura called, bouncing the ball a couple of times.
"Count on me, Sakura-chan." Was the serene reply.
Sakura took a moment.
Pok.
Breath.
Then she threw the ball up and brought her racquet down for her first serve in high school tennis.
BAM.
"That's out." Mizuki scoffed, relaxing. Sakura grinned. "Take another look."
"Fifteen-love!"
"What?" Mizuki stared at the referee, open-mouthed. "It couldn't possibly have been–!"
But when he walked over to check, there was a small black mark on the paint. Tiny, and on the very edge– but unquestionably in. He stalked back to his position, head whirling.
"Yo," Every eye swivelled around to Sakura. "The only time my ball goes out is if I want it to. Got it?" She pointed her racquet at Mizuki, a direct challenge.
He settled in his ready position. Challenge accepted.
"This is turning into quite the contest." Nomura murmured. "Given Kagawa's recent health, I'm not sure…"
Oishi nodded, concerned. "And to think only three games are up." No one has had an easy time scoring points… not even Fuji. I wonder what he's playing at.
The St Rudolph pair had continued targeting Sakura's weakness, with the result that the girl in question now sported some pretty raw patches on her arms, elbows and knees. The one on her calf, though, was all her:
Sakura flung herself wildly at the ball. It was exactly three inches further than Fuji-senpai's racquet could reach, but she could–!
Her calf scraped her ground, and she gritted her teeth as she kept the racquet steady.
"It's a drop!" Someone yelled. She heard the steady drum of running feet.
Pok. One bounce. She raised her head, her breathing ragged.
She saw, rather than heard, the second bounce of the ball. On the ground.
"Game, Seigaku! Three games to two! Change court!"
"She's so reckless…" Mikabi sighed. "We brought the first-aid kit, right?" She nudged Kazumi, who nodded, looking equally weary.
Sakura winced as she tightened her grip. Three more games, then she could get properly patched up. Fuji-senpai wanted to switch his racquet, so she waited patiently, shifting her weight from foot to foot.
"Ah, got it." She heard him say, and sure enough, he was by her side in a moment. "Much better." She nodded at his fresh racquet, the pretty one with the golden strings.
"Yes, I like it too." He laughed, poking her lightly in the shoulder. "It's more than just 'pretty', though."
"Like you, senpai?" She snickered at the look on his face. He wagged a finger at her. "Cheeky, cheeky Sakura-chan." The admonishment would have served its purpose if not for the giggles that accompanied it.
"St Rudolph's Takahashi to serve!" The referee called.
Takahashi's jumping serve was, as Sakura found, pretty damn impressive– it had a vicious side-spin that beat even Fuji-senpai a couple of times. He, certainly, was impressed.
But he wasn't a genius for nothing; his racquet found the third serve unerringly, and he all but punched it back to Mizuki.
Sakura glanced at Fuji. His eyes were open.
He winked.
I will freak out about that later, she vowed, as she obeyed.
"What are they doing!" Nomura yelped.
Sakura was gunning for the net- her weakest position- while Fuji was retreating to the centre of the back court.
"Heh." Mizuki's sneer, if not universally audible, was certainly visible. "How foolish, to allow us to exploit your weakness." His eyes locked onto Sakura's pounding feet.
Just then, Takahashi spied the beginnings of a grin on Sakura's lips. "Mizuki, don't!" She yelled- but it was too late.
Sakura ground to a halt, and stepped neatly to the side even as Mizuki's racquet made contact.
The play was obvious; the trajectory, expected.
Her weakness- bait.
With a yell, she slammed the ball back with a full-power, two-handed forehand slice- right on the line.
Furious, Mizuki jumped into it- too close.
A loud yell bounced around the court, and Sakura's own shout degenerated into a shocked squeak as Mizuki doubled over, clutching his crotch. His partner's eyes were wide with horror; she looked like she didn't know whether or not to approach him.
Every boy winced in sympathy; Sanada's lips twitched, even as he did the same.
Sakura clapped her hand over her mouth, her cheeks beacon-red.
Fuji… smiled.
"My, my, Sakura-chan," He observed the groaning Mizuki, now being helped off the court by his team. "Even I wouldn't have gone that far."
She spun around to face him. "I didn't do it on purpose!" Her face was still hot; she kept glancing back at Mizuki, a guilty look in her eye. "It was an accident!" His team members were now crowded around him, and the girls hung back, seemingly torn between consternation and laughter.
Yukimura shook his head. "He really should have been more careful… though I doubt she aimed for that. Poor Mizuki-san."
Sanada lowered his cap, and shot a disgusted look at Kirihara, who was laid out on the floor, clutching his stomach.
Niou wasn't much better, though. He was proposing kidnapping schemes to Yagyuu, who was patiently shooting down each and every one of them. Renji was writing, as usual, but there was the tiniest smirk on his face. Marui was snickering, and Jackal looked like he was re-evaluating his ideas of their former guest.
Sanada was doing the same, to be honest. Her tennis is like her first impressions– foot, meet mouth.
"Oi, oi…" Momoshiro was eyeing Mizuki with something like sympathy. "Kagawa's scary, huh…."
Echizen snorted. "Ne, isn't she usually pissed off with you, Momo-senpai?"
"I'm not going to get her angry now, really I'm not!" He liked his manhood intact, thank you very much!
Tezuka pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing. "Nomura, it's not really that funny." Trust her to split her sides over something was horrifically painful as that.
The girls' captain snorted. "Yeah, well, not for a boy." She countered. "Good aim, Kagawa!" She called, raising her fist.
Sakura whimpered. "Captain is nuts…" She hunched her shoulders, as though that would hide her from the gazillion eyes boring into her.
Mizuki's partner still looked like a deer caught in the headlights. All the boys were still crowded around him; Yuuta was trying very hard to maintain a poker face.
Although the inside of his cheek was really beginning to hurt. Yanagisawa didn't bother making the effort.
After a few minutes, the knot of boys around Mizuki cleared (thankfully his pants were back on), and he picked up his racquet. But nothing could stop the frisson of laughter that went through the spectators as he stepped back onto the court.
"He's limping!" Kirihara all but crowed, falling back down again. His face was pink by this point.
After that, the game was… simultaneously sad and funny. Sad because St Rudolph's game simply… fizzled out. Mizuki was markedly slower than before, and partly because Fuji was very disappointed that the unnamed person hadn't simply forfeited. Funny, because the sight of said person flinching away from every shot that Sakura landed close to his body was… Tezuka couldn't blame Nomura for laughing over that.
"Game and match, Seigaku's Kagawa-Fuji pair! 6 games to 2!"
Strange how some victories can make you feel… and how some can't.
"I'm really sorry." Sakura said, flushing as she shook the opposing pair's hands.
Mizuki shot her a withering look, and turned away, not deigning to reply. Sakura stared at his back, feeling a bit slighted.
"I might just do it on purpose if I ever see him again!" She fumed to Fuji afterwards.
Her partner only chuckled. "Do let me know beforehand; I'll always wish I had my camera today."
"Fuji-senpai!"
Da-da-da-daaaaan! (:P) Chapter eight is done! Man, writing tennis is really, really hard. And I have to do so much more of it! Oh, I'm gonna die.
Not gonna lie, I was really excited to write this part. Poor Mizuki; but he really is such an oily little weirdo. The Yuuta question will be settled in the next chapter, in which a conversation between brothers takes place.
Reviews are love!
Cheers,
Chilli.