The Promise
"Ne, Fuwara-chan!" Kimiko called out as she ran towards Fuwara. Practice had just ended, and she wanted to ask her something.
Fuwara turned around and looked at her, confusion in her eyes. "Hai Kimiko-san?"
"Do you wanna try out for doubles? I mean you're good at singles, but I just wanted to know if… Never mind! Forget I asked. Hehe!"Kimiko trailed off at the end.
Fuwara looked at Kimiko before smiling softly. "I'll be your doubles partner, but I'm warning you. I'm not that good."
Kimiko's head snapped up from looking at the ground. "Honto? Arigato!" Her eyes were wide while she replied.
"Hai. It's no problem. But call me Nao. Doubles partners trust each other right? If we're becoming partners, you have to call me by my first name."
"Then call me Rin!"Kimiko winked. Kimiko got a thoughtful expression on her face before talking again. "Ne, Nao? Let's make a promise."
"What kind of promise?"asked Fuwara with a confused expression.
"Let's make a promise that we'll become the best doubles partners ever! We'll win Nationals, and everyone will know we're the best!"Kimiko's eyes twinkled as she said this.
Fuwara laughed softly before saying, "Hai. It's a promise?"
"It's a promise!"Kimiko laughed loudly with her eyes closed.
"One set match! Seigaku's Taki to serve!"
Fuwara's eyes sharpened just as Taki hit the ball. It passed Kimiko who was in front of the net, and she ran towards it and hit it to the corner.
"15-0!"
"Nice shot Nao!" yelled Kimiko as she turned around to look at Fuwara.
"Arigato Rin. We are here to win the match." Said Fuwara as she looked back.
Just as they said, Rikkaidai won the next 3 matches – 3-0.
"Will we lose buchou?" asked Hatake Kisame. She was looking at what was happening at her with a worried glint in her eyes.
Saori looked at her and said, "As long as they do their best it's fine if they lose. We still have singles to win."
"Hai. We'll win singles." Hatake looked more reassured at that.
Even though she said that, Saori couldn't stop worrying about singles. If it got to her playing with Shiki, what would happen?
"I hate you! I don't have a dad or sister! Only a mom!"
Saori shook her head and looked back at the match.
~x~
It was at 5-3 with Rikkaidai in the lead when Seigaku was getting desperate. At that moment, Lin hit a smash that jumped up and hit Fuwara's knee. Fuwara gasped and dropped down onto the ground. She held onto her knee with one hand while the other balanced her on the ground. Kimiko ran over to her with a panicky expression on her face.
"Are you alright Nao?"
"I'm fine. I can still play."said Fuwara as Kimiko didn't look satisfied, but she still went back to the net.
As Fuwara went after another ball, her knee spiked with pain, but she hit the ball and it gave them a point. They had only one game left to win so she ignored the pain.
When another smash came after her, Kimiko stood in front of her and returned it instead. She looked at her seriously and said, "Stand and rest. I'll return and wait for you."
As she had said, she returned the rest of the balls when one wicked shot went towards the opposite of Kimiko. She ran as fast as she could, but she knew she wouldn't catch up to it. 'Is this the end?'
'BAM'
At that moment, Fuwara had stood behind the ball, and hit it with all her strength. 'We made a promise. We'll go to Nationals. This one shot will make it happen.' The ball hit the net, and it looked like time had stopped. It was silent when the ball rolled over the net and dropped to the ground...on Seigaku's side. Then, the cheers came and it was deafening.
"Game and match! Rikkaidai Fuzoku's Fuwara-Kimiko pair! 6-4!"
~x~
Even though they were sweating and panting, Fuwara smirked while Kimiko smiled cheerfully as they high-fived. They walked up to the net to shake hands and then slowly walked back to their team.
"You both did good. Rest up." Said Mina as she smiled. "Rika are you ready?"
"Hai buchou." Said Watani as she stood up holding the racket.
"Seishun Gakuen's Shaki Ran vs Rikkaidai Fuzoku's Watani Rika! Singles Three!"
~x~
As Watani and Shaki were shaking hands, Shaki opened her mouth to say, " Let's-
"-have a good match…is what you were going to say." Said Watani as she stared nonchalantly at Shaki. Shaki blinked and smirked as she turned around to go to the baseline.
Shaki served the ball and it went very quickly, but Watani was already there and hit it.
"15-0!"
Shaki served again, but Watani would be there every time. 'Left corner. Right corner. Middle. Drop shot. Smash. Lob'
Watani knew what would happen because she had gotten data on Seigaku.
~x~
"Game Rikkaidai Fuzoku's Watani! 4-3!"
Saki slowly caught up to Watani because she knew that if she made it faster and stronger than usual, she would win. Data or not, if you don't have the physical strength to catch up, it won't help.
"Game and match Seishun Gakuen's Shaki Ran! 7-6!"
The courts were silent, but when someone clapped, it gradually got louder and everyone started shouting and clapping.
When Watani walked back to her team, she said, "I will gather more data and train more to win. I apologize Mina-buchou."
"It's fine. We still have singles two and one."
~x~
"Game and match! Seishun Gakuen's Minu! 7-5!"
Everyone was shocked, but they weren't too shocked because Minu was vice-captain. And even though technically, Minu was stronger, Shimoyama still won five games from her, so when Shimoyama went back to her team, no one was disappointed. It was obvious she would lose to a vice-captain, but they were glad she almost won.
~x~
It was time for Singles One. Everyone was on the edge of their seats for Singles One because it was the match that would determine the winner.
"Seishun Gakuen's Namikaze Saori vs Rikkaidai Fuzoku's Kobayashi Shiki! Singles One!"
AN: This story is about tennis, and I'm not describing the tennis matches well. Sorry about that! Please review, and tell me if I'm going to fast in the story, if I should change anything.. PLEASE! Thank You~