Chapter 48j: Playing Hardball
Pant... wheeze... inhaaale... and out again.
Fuck.
Such merciless teaming.
This match isn't going at all like I anticipated.
I pick up the shuttle once again, and can only see Setty's beaming face as she wanders over to her Nii-san to give him a high five.
"As if I'll ever do you two a favor again.."
The words I mutter are barely audible, but Setty's radar-like hearing overhears me mumbling and is quick to inquire. "What'd you say, sis?"
I force a smile to my lips, shaking my head as I calmly walk back to slightly behind center of my side of the field. We're not really strict with the rules, and every second I can find to catch a breather is more valuable than whatever strategies I'm clearly not coming up with. This match is working up far more of a sweat for me than I'd like.
Were it not for Setty, I don't think Cain would be trying so hard. I think he's been holding back whilst playing with Setty for most of the day, clearly just trying to have a fun time with her... but since she wants to win... ugh.
"So this is what you two intend on doing for all of this game?"
I ask the question to stretch out my opportunity to catch a breath, and Setty offers me a merciless grin as she nods.
"Isn't Nii-san smart?"
She gloats like that.
You've got two people, pipsqueak! Tone it down!
I want to yell at her overly self-satisfied expression just a bit, but... ugh. It'd be better to win. If only I could come up with a plan.
My eyes wander to Cain again, trying to make more sense of the boy. Frankly, I had expected to cream them. A sixteen-year-old versus a twelve-year-old and a ten-year-old... obviously I should have the edge, right? Be it in running faster or by having more life experience: I've got them beat.
I toss my shuttle up suddenly, and serve a nasty serve close to the net. Unfortunately, Cain barely managed to cover for Setsuka's lacking sprint, and returns the shuttle to... the far left.
Here we go again. I sprint as far as I can, and reach the shuttle just before it would hit the ground. Ugh. Terrible return shot. I already run back to the center, because this is their entire strategy: to make me run back and forth and beat me through sheer exhaustion.
The return shot indeed ends up on the far right, and I make it there with half a second to spare. I aim my return a little bit more fancily, playing it so close onto Setty that I hope she'll fumble with the racket because she doesn't know how to position... oh, fuck you Cain.
That stupid kid literally jumped up at the net and used his length to intercept the shuttle right there before it could even trouble Setty in the back. And he didn't just serve it to the left side again, no.. he is serving it to just where I'm at this very moment!
But I'm already in a full sprint to make it to the other side again...!
I try my best to come to a stop, but the momentum and the need to turn around brings about yet another loss. Setsuka's cheer almost makes it a bit easier to bear, but then I remember how vicious this 'we need to win' tactic of theirs is.
Momentarily, I consider giving up. There's no harm in losing a two versus one, or in paying for dinner. But there's harm to my goddamn pride if I let these two smart-ass little dipshits treat me like I'm a fucking hamster in a wheel!
Fuck.
Maybe a rule change? Fuck no. I don't want no damn handicap.
Setty wouldn't let me live that one down for months.
One more serve on their part follows, and after a few back-and-forths, there's yet another loss for me. As expected.
"We can stop here."
That's Cain saying that as he gives me an empathizing smile. Ugh. Is even this kid pitying me now? I refuse. I refuse I refuse I refuse!
"We haven't played that much, though. Only for about twenty minutes. Or are you that hungry?" I inquire back of him with a competitive grin, thinking I figured him out.
He gazes away. "Nah. We can play more."
What is with that response?
"You sure?"
I tease him back like I would Setty. He's got to be hungry after playing all day, right.
"Nah. I'm fine. Let's.. play more." He looks back at me for just a few moments before looking back at Setsuka with that doting sibling smile he's always got in store for her.
That kid is acting so weird.
It isn't until I walk back to prepare for my next serve that the wind explains my problem.
Fuck.
I think.. I just found out how I can win.
"Cain." I call out his name, and he looks at me, wondering what the hell I'm up to.
"Keep an eye on the shuttle. Don't let your gaze wander. I'm going to get serious now, okay?"
I wink conspirationally at him before serving. Every bit of my own movements tells me I have to be right. Every bit of the eye contact he avoids confirms it. I am right in having another weapon. Right in knowing how to defeat the two-sibling combo..!
As expected, I win this round. And the next one.
Admittedly, it becomes a bit harder to focus though, knowing that my own attention is exactly where his attention is also trying to go, and how this is strictly considered a wardrobe malfunction...
But it is mostly satisfying. Knowing the power I wield over him.
Setty was never the weak one on their team.
It is the oh-so-perfect brother.
Alas, in the end... I still lose the match. But only by a few points.
As I move to the side of the field, I give Cain a knowing smile, and he blushes rather overtly, no longer in a position to think I don't know or have the non-stop activity keep his mind away from it. He may have won, but it is on a technicality more than anything. They were simply too far ahead by the time I figured it out.
I know the older brother isn't perfect. He's as much of a little perv as other boys his age are. Nah. It's probably guys in general.
The only down side is that I didn't bring a change of clothes. Well, I'll just put my jacket over it. It'll be fine, if chafingly uncomfortable during dinner. A shower would be really amazing right now. Heck, even a simple change of clothes would be killer.
Next time I'm going to challenge these siblings at sports, I need to make sure to wear a plain white top again. I never would have thought a bit of sweat could have given me such an edge.
If only I had realized sooner!
Still, losing like this... isn't bad at all. Because he isn't perfect. He isn't perfect, ha!
... I almost feel bad for feeling so happy over that. Almost.
"So Setty, what do you want for dinner?"