Wintersalad │ Disclaimer: I do not own "Prince of Tennis" or any referenced translations. │ Written: 10/03/10 │ Posted: 10/09/10 │ Last Edited: 05/05/11
.
.
Genius 010: A Contest of Wills
.
Letting out a shrill whistle, Momoshiro slumped back with his hands tucked in his pockets.
"That Kaido sure met his match."
The second-year turned to explain to the puzzled first-years with a disengaged expression. "By using the snake, Kaido made Echizen run around the court, making him tired. But Echizen overcame that by aiming the balls at Kaido's feet so that he had to bend down to return his shots.
"This way, Kaido loses more stamina."
There was a brief silence as the information was processed before the first-years all returned to the game with renewed vigor. There was still hope!
"Amazing! Go Echizen! Go, go, go!" roared Horio.
"Ryoma-kun!"
Tuning out her fellow teammates, Ryoma tried to remain focused on the game. She frowned in distaste from Momoshiro's brief regurgitation of what the bespectacled regular just said a moment ago. Really, wasn't he all confident earlier about her falling for Kaido-sempai's trap? Where was he coming from with all that detached self-reassurance? Switching from taunting one player to another? That cocky attitude when he didn't even recognize her strategy himself…
The first-year watched as her opponent appeared all the more worn-out as the critique kept pouring in. It appeared as if the second-year was more easily influenced than she first thought.
"The one who realizes the secret technique being used and the one who doesn't," the captain intoned. "That's the difference between them.
"Kaido has lost to his own strategy!"
Sighing internally, Ryoma felt the beginnings of disappointment stir through her. Perhaps he wasn't the one after all? To be so affected by something of this level…
.
The fangs of a snake are meant to paralyze with venom, but the fangs of a mammal are meant to tear apart the flesh.
.
Was he going to just let her rip him apart without fighting back?
She watched as the second-year gritted his teeth and sent the ball to her side of the court with dogged determination. But the straight shot down the center of the court spoke volumes to Ryoma. Was this it? Biting her lip, Ryoma gripped her racket and held it raised behind her.
.
"This technique," the first-year calmly spoke. "The snake-shot should be the 'buggy-whip-shot,' right?"
.
Kaido glanced sharply at the freshman. "What?"
If he was going to let her do as she pleased, then she'll shred him apart until there was nothing left. She thought he was someone who fought with himself, someone who strove to improve himself as a person, as a tennis player, first and foremost. Someone who wouldn't let the world define his failures and limits. And he might be. But while he might not let the world define them for him, she also had no need for someone who admits that failures and limits exist at all in the first place.
Because that is what she is fighting against.
She did not care for someone who would be defeated by himself. If he thought she'd die without complaints before the venom has completely set in, he had another thing coming.
She would never admit defeat.
In a contest of wills, she would never lose. Golden eyes filled with recrimination flashed through her mind. What a farce life was! Panting, she forced the weight of her attention on the second-year who dared give her hope. Strange, she thought distractedly, she didn't think the chest-bindings were this tight- she really was having trouble breathing now.
While he waited, she'd go straight for his jugular!
With a blank expression, Ryoma swung forward with a forehand shot, giving the ball an offset topspin that caused the ball to curve to the left corner of Kaido's court. Distantly, she noticed the uproar the gallery was in, but she didn't tear her eyes away from the stunned look on Kaido's face. She'll etch his memory inside herself along with all the rest. Proof of yet something else she was fighting against.
Pride was really such a volatile, yet fragile, thing.
In order to hold it, truly hold it, you must fully embrace it and never let go. Even if it should ever explode or cut you, no matter how much you bleed, you must grasp it in both hands and crush it against yourself. That is what it means to hold pride. Because pride is definitely not your friend. It is a treacherous beast you need to constantly discipline least it destroys you.
.
You must learn to be its master and not its slave.
.
"Sempai," she started, playing her trump card for all it was worth. "This shot was rather difficult.
"I recently saw an article which described the technique. After watching your demonstration, I decided to give it a try, but what a pity, I can't reach very far so the effect isn't as good."
Besides Tezuka, Fuji watched the events warily. The analytical gaze of the captain unnerved him and for all the amusement the child's match was bringing him, the worry was enough to tip the balance. No matter how the small first-year tried to play it off as mere technique and perhaps skill, talent isn't something you can just play off for long. And Fuji had no doubt the child was hiding much skill and talent- perhaps even genius. Fuji narrowed his eyes at the mad light streaking through the child's eyes.
Really, the third-year huffed slightly before closing his eyes, all this excitement was going to wear him out!
He smiled.
'The snake-shot? How did he learn to use it just by watching me?-!'
"The 'buggy-whip-shot' is a technique used by professional tennis players, such as Hingeise and Sempras. It starts with a loop from bottom to top, and using the centrifugal force, makes it spin," the same bespectacled regular recited to the second-year from behind the fence. "Kaido's snake-shot was derived from that technique. As it requires some skill, it isn't something you could learn in a day or two however."
His observation earned him a lazy glare from the first-year on the court. Fuji tittered at his fellow teammate's disgruntled look. Why was data so underappreciated?
While his friend groused, Fuji watched the remainder of the match. Kaido was pushing through quite commendably, considering the mental and physical shock dealt to him so unmercifully. The underclassman had just recently joined the regular ranks and so has had very limited experience with other players, especially of this caliber. Though…, the third-year watched the solemn freshman, it appears as if the child had little patience for paltry reasons or excuses. He crinkled his eyes.
How strict.
"Game set!
Match won by Echizen Ryoma, 6-4!"
Lips pursed, Ryoma stared down at her feet, her cap tilted to shade her heated blush. Gripping her racket tightly, she felt a small tremor ripple through her. Was this really it? Was Nanji and Ryuu-baa* wrong after all? Had she been carried away along with their false hopes and led astray by her compromised instincts? The past few days here in Japan had been one of the roughest sailing in emotional highs and downs she had ever gone through- it wouldn't be strange if she was more than a little lost without knowing it.
.
"Hey! Hey!"
.
Startled, Ryoma glanced up and was caught by what she saw.
"He… He's hitting his own knee!"
The world seemed to go on mute and the wind washed everything out besides the furious figure of the second-year hitting his knee with the full force of his racket. Repeatedly, the sounds of impact echoed through her ears until her own heartbeat synchronized.
Thump
Thump
.
Thump!
.
Her eyes wide and innocent, she dazedly watched the blood trickle in tiny streams down his knee, the crimson red diluting to dull rouge as it mingled with sweat.
"What do you think you're looking at, Chibisuke?"
There was dirt, blood, rain, tears, mud, snot, spit, and everything in between. Blazing golden eyes glared up at her from the ground. It was the last rumble of thunder, warning of the storm to come.
.
"Don't you look down on me!"
.
Sudden movement caught her eye and she ran to the edge of the net, catching Kaido just before he left. Steeling her resolve, she held out her hand.
"Handshake."
Kaido stared down the first-year. Through the red haze, he saw the brat's outstretched hand. Such a small frame. It didn't give the feeling that it could withstand even the smallest of angry winds. He narrowed his glare on the minute trembling of pale fingers.
Snarling, the second-year turned and slammed the gates open.
.
And so the lightning struck.
.
End Genius 010
.
.
Notes:
* "-baa" is a shortened version of the suffix for "grandmother." Here, where Ryoma is distinctly mentally and emotionally disturbed, she reverts back to what is to be assumed her childhood nicknames for Nanjiro and Ryuzaki-sensei. It's of interest to note the she calls Nanjiro by his name and in the context "Nanji and Ryuu-baa, "it can also be interpreted as "Nan-ji and Ryuu-baa," where-ji would be for "grandfather." Oh, the implications of Ryoma's childhood!
.
A/N: Thanks to everyone's reviews, I have been encouraged to edit the first few chapters. Many have voiced their opinions that the beginning of Genius is too similar to the original manga. I have reposted, but the only major edit was Genius 001, so please kindly provide your feedback along with this chapter. Let me know how you think the changes work! Thank you!
As for the relationship between Kaido and Ryoma, it is going to be a complex one to develop, so please be patient for a few more chapters as I flesh things out between them. They both have some flaws they need to work around with so the tension will be high for a while. I hope Ryoma's overlapping flashbacks or extreme mood changes aren't too confusing for anyone. She'll become more stable later on the story, I promise. Please look forward to future character development!