A/N: Cough, cough... Now, I just remembered why I made Fuji a girl. This is the god-honest truth! When I first watched PoT, and the regulars came out, I really did ask myself "Why is that person the only girl on the boys' team?" It's true! And it wasn't until some episodes later when Ryuzaki sensei said 'BOYS TEAM' several times that I gasped and accepted that Fuji was a boy... so there you go... and I made a story out of me believing Fuji was a girl.
Yay!
Edits: Yep, I found the time to check over this one. 23.4.09
Edited for honorific-thingy. 26/5/2009
Disclaimer: It's my fault I thought of a different story alternative. PoT isn't mine...
Chapter Seven
This is going to be an intense game from the start, Fuji thought as she tested the ball by bouncing it off the ground several times. She placed the ball on the strings of her racket and aimed towards Suzu. She tossed the ball in the air and swung the racket in the opposite direction to hit an average serve. A moment of disappointment flashed in Suzu eyes as she ran to receive the ball. Have a little patience Suzu-chan. Fuji ran across the court and hit the ball back. She noticed something strange immediately. The ball returned in Suzu's court but it wasn't strong, allowing Suzu to appear from the baseline and by the net to smash the ball across with a backhand. Fuji missed the first point and the first game. Oh I see, not saving anything for later. I might even lose this one.
Fuji positioned herself on the baseline and returned the ball Suzu served. She returned four balls that had no sound. No sound? Each of Fuji's returned balls landed outside the court or hit the net. Fuji lost the second game. Murmurs began to hover around the courts but Fuji didn't worry. There was more to a game then winning. Then again, she couldn't lose here either.
They swapped sides and the unsure expression on Suzu face kept Fuji smiling. They exchanged no words and continued into the third round. This time Fuji kept up a rally but didn't manage to score a point. Okay, she's able to hide the sound, so I cannot tell the strength of the ball. What else do you have?
"You're making this too easy, Captain."
"Maybe you're just that good Suzu-kun."
Suzu dismissed the compliments and served. Fuji headed for the right side and waited for the ball to bounce up towards her. She heard the recoil of the ball passed her right ear but when she swung to hit the ball, she hit nothing. The ball shot passed her left side and bounced away.
"Come on, Captain!" Were some of the random calls from the spectators.
Not yet. Fuji ran to the middle of the court to hit a backhand but the ball shot out to the far left of her. By sound, the approach of the ball was a lot closer. It was now 3-0. Fuji lost the fourth match by a combination of the two techniques. The fifth game, she lost to Suzu's over confidence. With over-confidence, Suzu displayed more power.
"Match point."
By now Suzu had lost that unsure glint in her eye and was sure she was going to win. Who wouldn't, with the score at 5-0 and 40-love! Anyone would believe the game was lost.
Fuji walked back to the baseline… she understood Suzu's moves and was really to play seriously.
"Ne, Suzu-chan?" Suzu peered up quickly. "You're good enough for tournaments, but lets see if you're on a National level."
The cocky stare lingered for about a second before Suzu served. Fuji knew Suzu couldn't put her technique into the serve but always the second shot. She hit the ball out of Suzu reach. An easy win. And that's how Fuji won her first game much to Suzu bewilderment.
Fuji served with a smash that made the ball land deep in the far corner of Suzu service court. Too far for her to reach. Winning her second game with sharp and accurate serves didn't disappoint Fuji. With Suzu serving again, Fuji decided she wanted to test Suzu's soundless shots. Suzu serve was returned and Fuji saw the slight preparation being made. She ran to the net for a soft volley. Whether hard or soft the ball was bound to hit in court. From the serve, Fuji waited for the ball to bounce. There was a heavy spin on the ball that reduced the sound, like, it spun it into a vacuum. But Fuji knew better then to rely on one aspect. Instead of focusing on sound she watched to see how strong or weak the ball landed. It was a gamble because it meant she had to run in court and to the baseline to get the right return shots. On this occasion she was able to return all shorts and win the seventh game, to Suzu dismay. Fuji took the eighth and ninth game with luckily bets.
By the tenth match Fuji wanted to try the projected sound. Before, the ball became mute – now the sound came before the solid object. Just a little more concentration was need for this move so she opened her eyes and watched the ball for the split second it moved, though her ears were used to going by sound. When the sound passed her ear she swung out. Two points were lost, but gained when she focused her attention with her eyes.
By the eleventh game Fuji could see Suzu's exhaustion. Suzu flapped the collar of her shirt and wiped her forehead. Fuji wasn't prepared to use any of her special moves. She didn't have to. The basics were good enough. The eleventh game seemed to last a long time. Despite winning it, Fuji noticed Suzu had enough energy to keep up a rally to which Fuji didn't know she got into, and it wasn't easily to get out of.
The twelfth game carried on where the eleventh game didn't finished and a rally grew. Fuji could see the comfortable motions Suzu had slipped the both of them in making it easy for Suzu to win a point if and when she needed to. Before that happened, Fuji needed to make that break in the motion of 'the bell'.
Fuji was impressed – very impressed that Suzu even had a 'wear-the-opponent' out technique, even convincing the other side that she was at her limit. Suzu made Fuji and herself the wall of the bell, and the ball the ringer. The only way to stop the bell was to stop the ball from swinging. Suzu was okay with basic returns but a mixture of low and angled shots that ranged from left and right brought the game to a final end, surprisingly, to Fuji's relief. The finally score was 7-5. Cheers came from those who watched and the two shook hands.
"Good game." Fuji congratulated first.
"It was a good game at the start."
"As long as you had fun. If I can tell you were your strengths and weaknesses lay, you'll definitely get better. Be ready to give me your measurements."
Suzu didn't register it at first but was delight at Fuji's constant hints that she'd be a regular.
Arai gathered everyone around so Fuji could dismiss them. Fuji also needed to remind everyone to be ready for more games tomorrow morning.
"That was a worthwhile game Fuji-san." Oishi and Sai commented when she walked out.
"Thank you. I'm sure Tezuka-kun does the same?"
They were both silent. "When he gives us a chance." Sai murmured while facing the other way.
"Everyone has their style. Thanks for watching. Oh and be sure to invited your team to our first few tournaments, okay?"
"You're something else Fuji-chan. See you after school." Sai said.
Sai placed his sunglasses on and with Oishi returned to their courts.
Fuji wiped her cheeks and across her eyes. She felt the irritated eyes of someone watching her. Before turning around, Fuji flicked her hair behind her ear. She turned to catch the person's gaze and Arai stood behind her with arms crossed.
"Enjoy your match?" Fuji greeted.
"Yes, it wasn't as embarrassing as yours."
"Embarrassing?"
Arai sighed and held her thumb and middle finger at her temples. "You have a horrible habit of allowing the opponent to believe they've won, then you destroy them."
Fuji began walking. "… no."
"Oh, come on! That's your game!"
Fuji's smile grew. "A captain has more responsibilities then embarrassing the members of her team. I was doing her a favourite, and remember it was 5-0 to Suzu. That was genuine. I registered her style and won back the points."
Arai turned from Fuji to face the changing room.
"Either" Arai concluded. "you're a cocky, unsympathetic player, or you wait until the last minute to win, you know, the type of person who needs a reason to win other then the simple fact of winning."
Fuji placed the racket behind her back and walked with Arai to get changed
"Maybe."
...tbc…
A/N2: I know, I know! I wanted some of the girls to have bizarre moves too!
Chapter 8: A walk home with Sai
