Wintersalad │ Disclaimer: I do not own "Prince of Tennis" or any referenced translations. │ Written: 10/02/10 │ Posted: 10/02/10 │ Last Edited: 05/05/11
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Genius 009: Trap
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Ryoma focused in on Kaido-sempai.
He didn't appear at all phased at her wide grin. Instead, he smoothly leaned his body forward into a bent position and started to sway his large frame, looking for all intents and purposes like a snake preparing to strike.
The first-year tucked in her lower lip slightly, as if to restrain herself from smiling obscenely. How strange! To find a guy who would take her seriously straight from the start, only to find herself more amused than anything! She supposed it was her overflowing feelings of relief and happiness that made her so elated. Of course, the second-year probably intended to put her in her place like all the others had before him, but to Kaido-sempai, it wasn't because he was a second-year and she was a first-year or any other similar boring reason. It was because he was a tennis player who aimed to be the best and she was merely another player standing across from him on the court that he needed to defeat.
She felt her heart clench at his pride.
How long? Ryoma wondered. How long has it been since she's faced someone with such gravity? Since then, the only games she participated in were tournaments. She didn't have time for anything else. She needed to get better- faster. There was no time for building relationships. And all her opponents saw from their side of the net was a cocky, young girl trying to fight her way through a sport that still recognized the differences between men and women.
For the first time in what seemed to be forever, Ryoma felt as if it was alright to believe in Nanjiro and Ryuzaki-sensei a little. Here in Japan, probably not many outside of her family knew she was a girl. And it's been twelve years since the Samurai retired. Until she has fought her way to the higher-level players, few would recognize him in her playing style. There was time for her to change. For her to evolve.
Because here in Japan, she can realize her dream.
This school, where Nanjiro graduated and Ryuzaki-sensei taught, suddenly felt much more welcoming as compared to the schools she's been in while in the states. And for the first time Ryoma felt that, given time, she could learn to return that embrace they've tried so desperately to reach her with. Because, and here she thought briefly of the one named Fuji and Tezuka, she had her monsters to defeat and, Ryoma kept her gaze on Kaido-sempai, she had possibly found what she had lost.
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Ryoma has found someone she could trust.
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Pock
Stepping back into the game, Ryoma relaxed her body to respond naturally. This was an important game for her. She needed to make sure. She needed to be absolutely positive.
Pock
Running to catch up with the ball's trajectory, the freshman returned the ball with a strong swing, hitting low and deep towards the line. With an angry tilt to his lips, Kaido glared at the first-year who dared to challenge him. Something like this won't stop him! Twisting his body to bring the full momentum of his swing, Kaido swung.
"It's the snake-shot again!"
Kaido watched objectively as the brat ran to return the ball. Indeed, being able to keep up with his snake-shot with such a short reach spoke of skill to be admired, but this was going to be the last shot!
Pock
"He managed to return it!"
The second-year retained his position on the court, catching the freshman's gaze as the boy righted his balance. They both knew that the ball was going to be out.
"Look!" Arai cried. "Both of them are not relenting-
-!"
Kaido glared at the worthless bastard with full force. He recalled what Kikumaru-sempai gleaned from the first-year's group of friends during Arai's disgraceful match with the first-year. A bastard without honor or pride couldn't possibly understand what it means to stand on a court.
Kaido returned his attention to his opponent. That's right. Tennis is a relentless sport. If you wanted to succeed, you didn't have time to worry about insignificant matters. You needed to push yourself to the fullest! The limits that everyone recognized should never be admitted by you yourself!
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All a tennis player needed to do was chase after the ball with all his might!
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"How… How scary…," Horio uttered as he shrunk away from the fence.
"Yeah," Kachiro agreed, scared stiff.
Snickering, Momoshiro called out in a loud voice, "Ha! What a dismal fellow!"
Panting, with her cap tilted over her damp bangs, Ryoma watched as her classmates tried to convince the second-year to lower his voice with a detached expression. The Momoshiro guy…
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He was too arrogant.
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Ryoma paused in her observation as she noticed Kaido-sempai watching her. With a puzzled crease to her brows, the small first-year turned fully to face her sempai. He wasn't being roused by his teammate's taunts and had long dismissed the stupid second-year with the headband.
Following his intent gaze, she glanced down at her hand tugging at her collar. Ryoma frowned. Stupid Nanjiro and his stupid insistence on chest bindings. Though she was at an age where such things were going to be needed, the stupid things were too troublesome. Nanjiro had to come up with an idea to make her accept this condition if she were planning to continue with cross-dressing. If only she didn't lose that bet! For now, all it did was make her uncomfortable, but soon, they were going to seriously restrict her breathing.
What tennis player was that masochistic?
Remembering the reasons her cousin softly whispered in her ear when she was frustrated with her loss, Ryoma's eyes dimmed slightly. It felt as if ever since that day, all she had been doing was losing things.
"Freshman"
Looking up from her chest, Ryoma blinked at the blank stare Kaido had fixed on her. Smiling dryly, she closed her eyes and made a show of loosening her collar. "It's hot today, isn't it Kaido-sempai?"
Giving the first-year one last hard look, Kaido turned and walked back towards position with a grunt. He had been watching the first-year clutching the base of his collar with a fist over his heart. Though the brat's eyes had appeared to be unfocused, looking as if affected by the afternoon heat and exercise, he had noticed the focus on Momoshiro. More than exhaustion or distraction, it looked to him as if the first-year was affected by something Momoshiro had said or done. From what he picked up though, it was just the usual taunting of the immature second-year at his expense. Seeing as how there was no reason for the first-year to be affected by such taunts, Kaido had dismissed his observation.
More than what caught the first-year's attention, he had been curious at the freshman's refusal to unbutton his collar. He had been wondering if it was stubbornness seeing as how the boy was panting and sweating slightly. Perhaps it was to make a statement since he himself had yet to take off his jacket. But, as the freshman noticed his gaze, the boy's grip on his shirt slackened and Kaido simply could not ignore his observation of the change in demeanor this time. The swift changes to the brat's emotions were quite disconcerting, especially seeing how he could not fathom from where they came. Annoyed at the worry he sensed arousing from within himself, he had called the kid's attention back to him. Again, the first-year appeared to have been moved by something he could not see or understand and had given him the most perplexing of smiles while loosening his collar.
But, Kaido turned swiftly and sank his knees into position, it didn't matter now. Eyeing the now exposed fragile collarbones, Kaido shook the troubled worry tickling the edge of his senses and returned his focus to the game. The freshman had already fallen into his trap!
"Game point 1 to 1!"
Pock
Pock
"Ah-h! That Echizen has completely fallen into Kaido's trap!"
Again, Kaido noticed the sharp glance the freshman graced Momoshiro with during their heated exchange on the court. He wondered if the shock of the news was enough to turn his attention away from their game. Even if it was just a split second, Kaido wondered if that second was something he thought he could afford. Aggravated for reasons beyond him, the second-year sent his returns further, faster, watching as the freshman was forced to run to reach the balls.
"A trap?" Horio exclaimed. They were thinking that Echizen was doing well, being able to return that fearsome shot!
"The snake-shot is only Kaido's bait," Momoshiro replied. Ignoring the undivided attention the three freshmen had on him, he stared out at the courts through the fence, watching Echizen run from run side of the court to the other. "His true intention is…"
Catching his drift, Kachiro cried out in worry, "Ryoma-kun's already sweating!"
Not to be outdone, Horio quickly interrupted, "I know! He's being forced to run around the court by the snake-shot! This way, he'll lose stamina rapidly!"
Smirking, Momoshiro leaned down to whisper dramatically to the freshmen, "That's right. This is his trap.
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"Causing his opponent to lose his stamina is Kaido's true strategy."
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Back on the courts, Kaido waited to see the freshman's reaction. There was an angry twist to the boy's lips. He was running after the ball with a distracted glare, panting, but not slowing.
He should be almost near his end now.
Pock
Bending his knees, Kaido sent a shot straight to the opposite corner of the corner. Righting his position, he moved back towards the line. Again? It felt as if the brat was returning to the same place every time…
Pock
Pock
'Strange…' Kaido bent for another ball. 'He should have lost his energy by now…'
Pock
"Tch!"
Why have his returns become stronger and tougher to return?
"…!"
Looking up and glancing at the first-year, Kaido silently raved. 'Damn! Don't tell me-!'
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"Hey, Kaido-sempai."
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Startled at the sudden direct address during their rally, Kaido widened his eyes to take in the smirk playing on the freshman's lips.
Pock
"You seem to be sweating a lot.
Maybe it'd be better if you take off that jacket?"
Pock
Dazed, the stunned second-year sent the ball back without much thought to it. 'It's not his returns that are faster, but my reflexes that are slower!'
Behind his side of the fence, Kaido heard his sempai comment aloud, "If he has to reach down and hit the balls aimed at his feet, as a result of having to bend low to return the shots, he loses up to two to three times his normal stamina."
Slam
Sweating heavily, Kaido lifted his eyes from the ground to confirm the truth gleaming within bright golden eyes that seemed to have finally focused on him. The brat was smirking, his racket held out in challenge as he tossed the next ball casually in the air.
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'The one falling into a trap… was me?-!'
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End Genius 009
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A/N: Thank you to everyone who's been reviewing and supporting this fanfic! I really appreciate everyone's feedback and I take everyone's suggestions into consideration. Your additional opinion can only help make this fanfic better!
I'm really starting to have fun writing this so I can only hope everyone's enjoying Genius as much as I am!