Bildungsroman

Chapter 16

I know it's been forever, but hey, it wasn't two years this time! Mental health and work and academia have all been collectively kicking my butt, but I'm getting better. Hence, my longest chapter yet. I love all of you, and I hope y'all still love me and Sakura and want to read about her.

No Sanada in this chapter, I'm afraid, but he does come up. Another Rikkai boy makes an appearance, though. Sakura is not pleased.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, with no copyright infringement intended. I don't own PoT, which belongs to Takeshi Konomi.
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Mikabi rubbed Shizuka's heaving shoulders comfortingly. "You did your best, love." She murmured. Her hands slid a little on the sweaty skin and cloth, and she wiped them down the side of her skort with a grimace. "It's not over yet."

Rin nodded, a fierce expression in her eyes. It should have been funny on so slight a person. "We've got this one." She assured them, and Mikabi nodded, agreeing. "Leave it to us, Imako-senpai, Shizuka-chan."

"Start warming up when one team hits 4 games." Nomura instructed Sakura in an undertone, before nodding to the Doubles pair. "Good luck girls, and fight-o!"

"Fight-O!" The entire club echoed, as Rin and Mikabi stepped onto the court.

Imako and Shizuka hadn't gone down easy, but they'd gone down in the end. The score had been 7-6; they'd fought tooth and nail for every last point, and Sakura wondered just how Shizuka bore it, the sight of the ball mere feet from her racquet on that final point. Knowing she hadn't made it; seeing the evidence of her failure. She… she wasn't sure she'd have had the strength to keep from breaking down on the spot.

Imako's laptop and video camera were already out and whirring, even as she ran a towel over her face and neck and stripped out of her soaked t-shirt. Sakura stifled a laugh at the squawk (oh, Kikumaru-senpai) from somewhere behind that everyone, no doubt, had heard. Smirking, Imako adjusted the straps of her tank top and opened a blank note on her computer.

Sakura and Reiko exchanged a glance that conveyed to the other that no, neither had managed to catch the password. Imako typed like fucking lightning.

Come on, anyone would be curious! Sakura knew for a fact that Momoshiro had spent half his life trying to grab a peek at Inui-senpai's notebooks. Come to think of it, those shouldn't be too hard to break into…

She jolted her mind back to the court, where Mikabi and Rin had just won the toss and chosen to serve. Now that was odd; they preferred to serve second, so that Rin could tailor her strategies to the play style she observed in the first game. While Mikabi didn't necessarily like the long, drawn-out matches, they usually worked. So why the change?

Well, it wasn't like they were the only ones making changes…

Mikabi served, and the game began.

"Holy shit, what's the matter with Rin?!" Sakura exclaimed. The girl had just put away her third smash… in three rallies. Seigaku was leading 40-0 in the first game, and that was great, but this kind of play… Rin and Mikabi did not play like this!

Nomura was grinning, looking unusually carefree. "I don't know. But it's fun to watch, don't you think?"

That it was. As their team stormed to a 2-0 lead, Sakura relieved some of her feelings by shrieking support along with the assembled crowd. Ryuzaki-sensei shook her head at them from the bench, but she looked as amused as Nomura, who was laughing at Kazumi's impromptu celebratory batucadas.

The mood was great, the flow was all in their favour… so of course, Hyotei would pull even now.

It wasn't like they'd figured out some hole in Seigaku's combination, or had suddenly taken off power-wrists (they'd come onto the court without them, since Mikabi had built herself a bit of a reputation by now); they just—

"They're playing their game now. Their own game." Nomura confirmed. "They're not trying to outsmart Rin, or out-hit Takada. Acting, rather than reacting."

Sakura cursed. Even with Mikabi serving, Hyotei's pair was moving on their own terms… and moving Seigaku around too. The lead now shrunk from two games to none, as Hyotei broke Mikabi's serve, then kept their own. Two games all.

Rin whispered something to Mikabi, who nodded. The smaller girl lined up for her first serve, threw the ball up… and brought her racquet down in what could only be described as a pat.

The ball bounced just barely in the service box.

"I'm lost." Sakura threw up her hands. "I have no idea what they could possibly be thinking. Nothing. Zero."

"Join the club." Kazumi muttered. "Imako, any ideas?"

The tap-tap-tap of lightning-quick typing was her only answer. Sakura, Reiko and Kazumi all exchanged shrugs.

Nomura rolled her shoulders. "I'm a little lost too." She admitted, upon being asked. "But I do trust them… and you all should too. I'm not hearing any cheers!"

Mikabi's shoulders jumped when a lusty cacophony rent the air, drowning out even Hyotei's synchronized chanting. The surprise passed; she laughed, and returned another ball from the baseline… where Rin also was.

Both players were glued to the baseline, playing full-on defence; however, their returns carried so little spin and power that the Hyotei pair dared not risk returning in the same way, for fear that the ball wouldn't carry over the net.

It was nothing like Mikabi's usual style, and it was boring— but it was working, and that was all the two of them cared about. Another return, an attempt at a passing shot down the line, and Mikabi seized her chance.

"That's the shot from the St Rudolph match." Reiko noted, leaning forward. "The mixed doubles one."

So it was. As gracefully as they remembered, as liquid and flowing, Mikabi stepped aside and caught the ball on her racquet-strings in an unexpected forehand slice, pivoting like the world's slowest, surest top.

The ball skittered off her racquet strings, faster than it had all game, and bounced at the feet of the Hyotei receiver. And spun on the ground like an actual top.

Seven shaky beats later, it bounced straight up, and narrowly missed the opponent's flailing racquet.

"That's one hell of an irregular bounce." Sakura leaned forward, her interest piqued. "So difficult to predict, I guess?"

"You can say that again." Imako muttered. Mikabi hit the skitter-ball again, and this time, it was eight beats before jumping up off the concrete. "The question is, is she controlling the spin, or is she winging it?"

That was the question, wasn't it; Sakura secretly put (imaginary) money on Mikabi winging it, because that girl would, but there was no tentativeness anywhere, on her face, in her movement… she hit the ball with the certainty of one who knew how the story would end. And every time, she was right.

The Hyotei pair was starting to show signs of something approaching concern. Not quite panic, but by Hyotei's standards, they looked like cornered animals.

"It's like they're trying to find answers to a test they didn't study for." Sakura remarked. Kazumi threw her an approving glance; it was a good metaphor. "You can either turn in a blank sheet, or bullshit your way through."

Shizuka nodded. "And Hyotei doesn't give up. So bullshit it is."

"That's the chance." Imako muttered. "They're bound to make mistakes now… unless they're really good at crapping through tests."

"I have literally never met anyone who got more than a passing mark like that." Sakura scoffed.

Imako's eyes remained glued to the screen even as she raised her eyebrows. "Yeah, but this isn't a paper test. There's no single correct answer."

Sakura chewed her lip, unhappy with the burst of understanding. "Well, let's just hope they don't find any."

"You and me both." Imako replied. She adjusted the focus of her camera. "Inui's here, right?"

"Him and his notebook." Nomura assured her. "I think he went through twenty pages on your match alone."

Imako's eyes brightened. "That'll be a lot of excellent data." She sounded extra-pleased. "He's remarkable, the way he can observe and process almost simultaneously."

"What, you don't do that?" Sakura's nose scrunched in confusion. Imako shook her head. "I get some analysis in on the spot, but most of what I take home is observational notes and video. Raw data. Analysis comes later for me."

"And that's… bad?"

The elder girl tilted her head thoughtfully. "Not bad, per se; just less efficient. But having the raw data at hand always helps; it makes it easier to go back to the source with fresh eyes every so often."

Sakura hummed thoughtfully. "I guess there's an opportunity cost to everything."

The corner of Imako's lips lifted. "You got that right, kid."

"Oh, c'mon."

"Kagawa," Nomura interrupted. Her stern tone was belied by the quirk of her lips. "What did I say before?"

Sakura stared blankly. "Wha-" Her eyes slid to the scoreboard. 4-3, Seigaku's lead. "OH! Warm up, yeah, that, going!" She grabbed her racquet and a couple of balls, and scurried away.

"Kid." Nomura called after her.

The first stretch of wall she found was taken by Echizen; though what on earth he could be warming up for at this time, she couldn't think. Probably just bored. He got bored a lot.

Being a prodigy must be such a drag.

She found a suitable spot soon after- secluded, spacious, and smooth. Putting her things down, Sakura fell into her usual warm up routine.

Unlike a lot of players- unlike most players she knew- Sakura preferred not to listen to music while working out. She could focus on schoolwork while her favourite tracks blared in the background, but there was something almost meditative about physical activity, and music, even the trance crap that Nomura-buchou liked to work out to, just ruined the whole vibe.

I like to find my inner music, she would say, and stick her tongue out at the groans at her pseudo-zen stance. Over and over again, her playfulness served to hide the fact that she meant it.

She didn't need to be known as some sort of zen nut. She liked her 'girl-next-door' rep just fine.

An appreciative sigh escaped her as a near-full split stretched her hamstrings and groin. This dance training, on top of everything else, was really turning doing her body wonders. Of course, chances were that she'd gain back all the weight she was losing when the season was over, and next year she'd probably be twice as big, but…

..but she'd be able to eat anything. No sacrificing the last croissant to Ma, no calorie counting, no BMI references… It was going to be bliss.

Screw big. She was going to be fat, red-cheeked, and jolly. She'd be Mr Wobblyman if she wanted. And President or not, she'd be the best damn debater in the country.

Fat, fun, and smart. She'd waltz into law school.

"Apologies for interrupting you, Kagawa-san." A sort-of familiar voice broke into her happy little dreamland. She frowned, trying to place it as she pushed herself to her feet.

And almost groaned out loud when she received the answer upon straightening up. "Yanagi-san." She attempted a smile. "You're a long way from home."

If his eyes weren't weirdly closed (how did people like him and Fuji-senpai not bang into everything around them?), he'd have rolled them. She was sure of it. "I came to watch your matches."

"Boys' matches aren't till the afternoon." She pointed out, racquet and ball now in hand. Tossing the ball up, she served at the wall. "Unless you're extending your sphere of influence to the girls' team?"

An eyebrow rose. "I offered my services, yes."

She snorted. "C'mon, man. I'm not stupid. If you're good at something, never do it for free. Don't tell me Rikkai believes in altruism. Not buying it."

Yanagi regarded her carefully. She was definitely sharper than the 'girl-next-door' persona she unconsciously cultivated. Although unconsciously was just an assumption. It was a little difficult to believe she'd seek out Genichirou's acquaintance without an ulterior motive.

Genichirou was a fine person, and a loyal friend. But he wasn't the easiest person to befriend in the first place, and certainly not for a girl. Yanagi found the whole thing a tad… odd.

Not suspicious- yet.

At any rate, she seemed content to whack the ball against the wall at an increasing tempo, and paid him absolutely no mind. He would have to force an error.

"The girls' team from Seigaku has generated a fair amount of attention."

Kagawa threw him a grin. "Thanks."

"It's rather inconsistent, though. Especially your own performance."

Did she hit the ball harder? A little, yes. "Probably. I've been on a bit of a roller coaster since the season began." She threw him another look. "Pretty sure you saw some of that, though."

Hmm. An increase in mental resilience. Not unexpected. That seemed to be Seigaku's trademark.

"What do you want from Sanada?"

Bullseye. She looked over at him, eyes round as coins, and missed the ball completely. Extracting another from her pocket, she narrowed her eyes. "What d'you mean, want?" She demanded. "Is this… Wait, is this an intervention?"

"It's just a question, Kagawa-san." Yanagi replied smoothly. Sakura scoffed again. "Only technically. What you're really doing is interrogating me. I'm sure I don't need to spell out the difference, Yanagi-san."

"Genichirou told you that Urayama had been dropped." Yanagi pointed out. "In all the time I've known him, he's never divulged team matters to an outsider."

"What a fucking honour." Sarcasm oozed from her tone. "He tell you why?"

"I'm sure you will."

She swept a few flyaway hairstrands away from her eyes and glared, "Actually, I won't." She replied coldly. "Because it was a private conversation, better known as 'none of your business'. And as to what I 'want' from Sanada-kun?" She turned away, lining up for a serve. "That's also none of your damn business. Okay?"

Sakura didn't wait for a response. "Bye, Yanagi-san." She tossed the ball up, and served.

She waited until his footsteps faded away before letting out a ragged shriek. "I hate men."

"I hate men." Sakura seethed, storming into the dugout and only just refraining from flinging her racquet down. The balls went ricocheting among a very startled boys' team, though.

Nomura didn't spare her a glance. "You and me both. Need me to call security on a creep?"

Sakura flung herself down. Shizuka inched away. "I need you to order me a fucking air-rifle and some bullets. Or maybe a cannon."

"Fresh out." The captain turned to regard her quizzically. "You know I didn't mean this kind of warm-up, right?"

"I whacked the ball against that stupid wall no less than 630 times. Only 1 miss, and that was because some man decided—" Sakura broke off, biting back a curse with unexpected discretion. "Never mind. I'm stretched out, warmed up, and pissed off."

"Is that a good combination?" Kazumi side-eyed her.

"Not for them." Sakura jerked her head in the direction of the Hyotei dugout. "I'll pound their faces in."

"It's singles."

"Why discriminate?"

"Oh my god, stop. Kagawa, will you commit homicide if I tell you to walk it off?" Nomura demanded.

"Probably." She grunted. Kazumi snorted.

The captain rolled her eyes. Kagawa and her dramatics. Fainting one day, murder the next. "Then stay here and keep warm. Kazumi, make sure she doesn't sneak off and kill someone, she'll get us disqualified."

"They'd never catch me." Sakura interjected, smirking. Momoshiro, seated in stands right beside the dugout, exchanged an alarmed look with Oishi.

"Oh, because you're Yakuza?" Kazumi giggled. The smirk on Sakura's face grew. "No, but my friend's dad is."

"Oh my god." Oishi whispered.

"Game and match, Seishun Gakuen! 7-5!"

"Alright!" All the girls sprang up as one; the cheers were deafening, and only grew louder as Rin and Mikabi, sweat-soaked, exhausted, and exhilarated, traipsed out of the court and into the dugout.

"You-were-amazing!" Sakura shouted over the din, pounding first Rin, then a cursing, laughing Mikabi, on their backs. "Fuck, I've never seen you two play like that, but great fucking show!"

"Thanks, princess." Mikabi squeezed her arm. "Your turn now."

"Damn right." Sakura winked, swallowing down a sudden surge of nerves. "You guys did incredible, I'm not about to let you down, okay?"

"The Singles Three match between Hyotei Gakuen's Akitaka Mei and Seishun Gakuen's Kagawa Sakura will now begin. Will both players please enter the court?"

Imako's brow furrowed. "Akitaka… Not familiar. Must be new."

"Nothing from any junior high circuit? Or hell, abroad?" Nomura asked, surprised. Imako shook her head, and she whistled. "Must be a complete newbie. No competitive experience, probably."

"And yet, here she is. Singles 3, Hyotei." Kazumi finished, watching grimly as Sakura shucked her jersey and bounced on the balls of her feet, testing her sports bra. "She must be something."

"Definitely." Mikabi mumbled, eyeing the opponent, who was already at the net, and looking slightly peeved at Sakura's delay.

The peevishness melted away as Sakura strode onto the court; in its place was a hint of blasé arrogance, a copy of Sakura's own. "Sorry to keep you waiting." The latter offered carelessly.

Akitaka only replied with a faint smirk and a 'don't-mention-it' jerk of her head.

"Smooth or rough?"

"Rough." She replied. Sakura spun. "It's smooth. You can serve first."

Akitaka cocked her head. "Kind of ya." Her accent wasn't one Sakura could place, but it was certainly out of place. She probably stuck out like a sore thumb at school.

"It's in my nature." Sakura smirked, holding out a hand. "Let's have a good match."

"It's in my nature." Akitaka quipped, gripping it firmly.

Sakura's lips turned up at the corners.

"One set match, Akitaka to serve!"

Kazumi's mouth was twisted with worry as Akitaka served, and a rally began. "Pop quiz: why did Kagawa give her the first serve?" She demanded.

Mikabi hummed. "D'you know the answer? 'Cuz it's not really a pop quiz if you don't."

The other girl scowled. "You don't seem to be worried."

"M'not." Mikabi shrugged. "She's not exactly an idiot."

"No," Imako sounded just as nervous. "But it's definitely unlike her. We know nothing about Akitaka, but we can deduce that she's only been playing for 2 years at the absolute maximum, but she's already made it to this level in a system famous for its cutthroat internal competition. I hope giving her the first serve doesn't mean Kagawa's taking her lightly."

"Game, Akitaka, 1 game to love! Change court!"

"Hmm." Sakura shouldered her racquet, mouth screwed up in thought. "Helluva serve you got there." She remarked as she passed Akitaka.

The other girl slanted a smirk at her. "Well thank ya, beautiful."

Sakura tripped. Mei's airy chuckle rang in her ears as she took her position.

"Kagawa to serve!"

Cheeks burning, Sakura threw the ball up and brought the racquet down.

"Ooh, nice!" Kazumi cheered; the ball zipped flat and fast, bouncing precisely on the service line.

Akitaka had long legs, and she used them; three quick steps brought her comfortably within reach, with enough time to place her return at the opposite corner.

Four more steps, and she was at the net. Sakura twisted as she swung, then cursed as she realized how much court she had to cover for the inevitable dropshot.

Spinning, she sprinted for the net.

The return whizzed by her feet. Not a dropshot, just a regular groundstroke that she should've been able to return in her sleep.

She hadn't even seen it coming.

"Love-fifteen!"

Narrowing her eyes, she fished another ball out of her pocket. Akitaka smiled at her from the receiver's end, a curious lifting of one corner of her lips. She shifted her weight from side to side on the balls of her feet.

Sakura threw the ball up.

Her racquet flashed.

"Ace! Fifteen all!"

Sakura breathed, deep and slow. She needed more of these, as many as possible; and Akitaka was going to give her as few as possible.

"SEIGAKU! FIGHT-O! FIGHT-O!"

"The winner will be Hyotei! The winner will be Hyotei!"

She needed something else, something more than the technical tune-ups that had won her the Fudomine match. Sakura gripped the ball.

Squeeze (breathe in). Squeeze (breathe out). Squeeze (In). Squeeze (Out).

Sakura didn't need music; the burn and stretch and squeeze of bone and muscle was her meditation. Her fingers tightened on the ball- radius, ulna, humerus, bicep. She threw the ball up, raised her racquet.

"Look at that bend." Mikabi whistled. "That's new."

Nomura regarded the arch of Sakura's back with approval. "I see you've been working on more than just footwork." She bumped Kazumi's hip with her own.

The tightening of back muscles… Sakura felt, for a single, gathering moment, like a coiled spring.

And then uncoiled.

"Ace!" She breathed in, smiling faintly at the look on her opponent's face. "Thirty-fifteen!"

"Well, damn." Akitaka murmured, mirroring her smile. "I've got a battle on my hands."

"Game, Akitaka, three games to two! Change court!"

Mikabi's exhale was a loud hiss. "She's good." Nomura made a grim sound of assent.

"Game, Kagawa, three games all! Change court!"

"Then again…"

"Game, Kagawa, four games to three! Change court!"

"Game, Akitaka, four games all! Change court!"

Sakura sighed as she settled a cool towel on her nape. Sweat ran in rivulets down her arms and legs; her top stuck lightly to her back.

But she didn't look worried.

Nomura leaned forward. "She looks… happy." She remarked in a wondering tone. "Relaxed, almost."

"So does Akitaka." Mikabi supplied. "It's almost like they're playing. Just playing."

"Like two friends in a park." Nomura agreed. "They're remarkably evenly-matched, aren't they?"

Mikabi grunted. "I'll say. It's borderline creepy is what it is. Trust Sakura-chan to have fun with that."

Nomura shot her an amused look. Mikabi would probably find that situation highly infuriating. Kagawa, on the other hand, seemed content to go with the flow… but Nomura was sure that she had a trump card up her sleeve that she was just waiting to play.

She'd better.

Back on the court, Akitaka had lined up for her serve again. Flashing Sakura a cheeky grin (which the latter returned in full measure), she threw the ball up and brought the racquet down in an arc so clean, it had Oishi clapping softly.

Sakura was ready for it; after eight games, she knew to plant her feet firmly (like a tree), and use her entire body to absorb the spin and power, and return it to the opposite corner as though in slow motion.

She could feel Akitaka's mild frustration, mixed with amusement, as she ran back to the baseline from the net she'd dashed towards. A serve-and-volleyer, with typical bouncy feet. And Sakura had been working her hardest to keep her at the baseline. Not that Akitaka couldn't hold her own from there too, but why let her get comfortable?

Although why Akitaka wasn't working to keep her at the net, where she wasn't at her strongest, Sakura couldn't say. It would've made sense, logically speaking. Instead, she'd made her run around the court incessantly, which, while tiring, wasn't exactly impossible for her. She could keep doing this all game, probably.

Though not if the match stretched into a tiebreak. From then, it would be anybody's game, and frankly, Sakura didn't like her chances.

Right. She'd played around long enough; time to get competitive… more competitive.

"Bloody hell, yer accurate." Akitaka huffed, after chasing down yet another ball to the very corner of the court. "Ever considered archery?"

"Briefly." Sakura called back. "String hurts, though."

A breathless laugh floated over the net, with an accompanying thwack.

"This is getting interesting." Nomura braced her hands on the railing and leaned forward. "Kagawa's more aggressive; she's putting Akitaka on defence."

Mikabi was frowning heavily. "No comment on the fact that they're blatantly flirting?"

"Oh come on," Kazumi giggled. "Akitaka is, but Sakura-chan's just playing along. You know what she's like when she's really flirting."

"Still," Mikabi's forehead was a canyon of creases. "During a match?"

Both her seniors laughed, refraining from replies.

Sakura's feet drummed the ground in a steady rhythm. Change tactics, damn it; I have, she wanted to yell. Despite the desire to win, she didn't want the match to end quite yet. Akitaka was easily the best opponent she'd played so far.

She grunted while performing a baseline smash. Not a winner, but with enough power for Akitaka's teeth to come together as she returned.

The ball left her racquet with barely a sound. Sakura's eyes widened.

She pushed off from the baseline, running wildly, almost without balance.

The ball floated through the hair, just kissing the top of the net. If Sakura lunged, she'd touch the net, and the point wouldn't count.

Instead, she slid.

"Oh my god," Mikabi breathed, rising to her feet.

Her legs slid apart from the momentum, and in the blink of an eye, Sakura was on the ground, gently guiding the ball over the net from a full split.

Akitaka actually groaned, not even bothering to run for the ball. She'd never make it.

Nomura looked at Kazumi. "You didn't teach her that." It was a statement, not a question.

"I didn't teach her that." Kazumi agreed in a soft voice. Her eyes were shining. "You can't… you can't teach that sort of thing."

Sakura winced exaggeratedly as she folded herself upright, but there was a grin on her face that spoke volumes.

"Game, Kagawa, five games to four! Change court!"

"Game and match, Seigaku's Kagawa, six games to four!"

Sakura threw her head back, beaming up at the sky, so happy she could only laugh. When she met Akitaka at the net, the other girl was smiling, albeit a little ruefully.

"It was a good match." She said, and she meant it. "We should play again sometime."

Sakura's cheeks hurt with smiling already. "It was great, and yeah, let's do that." She agreed, clasping the proffered hand.

"That was one helluva move there," Akitaka pointed out, and Sakura knew she was talking about the split. "Y'always play things so close?"

How could she resist? "It's in my nature." She winked. Akitaka gave a snort of laughter. "Yer a piece of work, Kagawa Sakura." She said in reply. "I'm glad I played ya today, although…" She trailed off, looking impish. Sakura tilted her head, curious.

"I wouldn't have said no to playing that hot friend of yours- Takada, right?" Sakura's face must've been something to behold, because Akitaka laughed again. "If she's interested, could ya let me know? I like a woman with a short fuse; no offence, but yer a bit too calm for my taste. Though you are gorgeous, I stand by that."

Her bearings regained, Sakura shook with laughter. "And you called me a piece of work. You're smooth, Akitaka." They were off the court now. "And yeah, I'll try and let you know about Takada."

"Yer a gem." Akitaka ran a hand through her hair, looking pleased. "An' call me Mei. See ya 'round."

"See you." With a final smile, Sakura made for her raucous, whooping team, and the back-slapping, shoulder-thumping, deafening celebrations that awaited her.

"Genichirou, she won. And to be honest, she played well."

A pause. "Thank you, Renji. I hope she didn't notice you?"

Another pause.

"No. She didn't know I was there."

And that's that! Reviews are love, so please do let me know what you think!

Cheers,
Chilli.