Well, that's that problem solved, and no way for him to decide that he would have figured it out as easily as Niou. To Yanagi's slight amusement, he can focus on what's truly important.
(He scans the crowd briefly for Genichiro. Is he properly distracted? At what point should number-three bring in number-two?)
But immediately, he starts cataloguing this revelation. If nothing else, this first year might be an interesting practice dummy. An extra left-handed opponent to scrimmage with would not be wasted.
That's the bare minimum. But he also thinks this first year is extraordinarily practiced in his sport. Who goes to all the trouble to not only get good in a sport, but to do it with the non-dominant hand? There's a goal to be reached, and a dedication to do it. There's a level of long-term strategy beyond even what he's displaying just working against Marui-- he might not be keeping a secret, but he is holding back information that would change the formulation of strategies against him.
Yanagi has never thought about what would happen to the tennis club after nationals this year-- Yukimura's dream was three years undefeated, after all. Some whispers and musings about Akaya's future cross his mind sometimes, about how great he might be if he learns what he needs to learn, but Akaya is Akaya, and it's normal to think about a friend's potential that way.
But this first year could last beyond Akaya, of course. They'd walked into a proud legacy three years ago and they'd brought it higher, but he'd never seriously considered it might outlast Yukimura's influence on the club...
no subject
(He scans the crowd briefly for Genichiro. Is he properly distracted? At what point should number-three bring in number-two?)
But immediately, he starts cataloguing this revelation. If nothing else, this first year might be an interesting practice dummy. An extra left-handed opponent to scrimmage with would not be wasted.
That's the bare minimum. But he also thinks this first year is extraordinarily practiced in his sport. Who goes to all the trouble to not only get good in a sport, but to do it with the non-dominant hand? There's a goal to be reached, and a dedication to do it. There's a level of long-term strategy beyond even what he's displaying just working against Marui-- he might not be keeping a secret, but he is holding back information that would change the formulation of strategies against him.
Yanagi has never thought about what would happen to the tennis club after nationals this year-- Yukimura's dream was three years undefeated, after all. Some whispers and musings about Akaya's future cross his mind sometimes, about how great he might be if he learns what he needs to learn, but Akaya is Akaya, and it's normal to think about a friend's potential that way.
But this first year could last beyond Akaya, of course. They'd walked into a proud legacy three years ago and they'd brought it higher, but he'd never seriously considered it might outlast Yukimura's influence on the club...