Yukimura almost feels weightless as reality closes around him and steals a piece of his pride that he'll never get back. It's a milestone in his friendship and rivalry with Sanada, one the selfish side of him wishes never to have seen, even as another part of him fights to remind him: he's also deeply proud of Sanada. How tirelessly he's pushed himself, how long he's strived to reach this moment where he could extend his hand across the net as the victor between them. He can't manage happiness for him, but he has so much respect for how hard it's been earned.
The stinging scrapes on his limbs barely register. Sweat-dampened bangs cling to his face and stripe his view of Aya removing the hair pins and shaking her braids loose.
"Me? This is doubles, you know," she winks at Sanada with an expression so full of warmth and fulfillment even he can't miss it. "I'm glad I could be a part of this with you. Congratulations, Sanada-kun."
Yukimura pushes himself up as Flayn dusts him off, then simply throws her arms around him like this must be the best day of her life. What a strange feeling to be so pleasant after defeat. At least she's happy with it all. That's who it was for, right?
He smiles at her, torn between ruefulness for the outcome and gratification for her pleasure in spite of the fact. "You have good spirit; if you keep playing opponents like Sanada and Fujimiya, your strength will grow rapidly. As for me, that was an embarrassing introduction to my tennis. Come watch me play singles, okay?"
Accepting Flayn's offered hand up, he gets to his feet and approaches the net with her, extending his hand to shake Sanada's with a smile.
"Don't think I'm going to let it end with this. Sanada."
'Congratulations' simply couldn't be voiced. It was too much like saying their rivalry was over.
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Yukimura almost feels weightless as reality closes around him and steals a piece of his pride that he'll never get back. It's a milestone in his friendship and rivalry with Sanada, one the selfish side of him wishes never to have seen, even as another part of him fights to remind him: he's also deeply proud of Sanada. How tirelessly he's pushed himself, how long he's strived to reach this moment where he could extend his hand across the net as the victor between them. He can't manage happiness for him, but he has so much respect for how hard it's been earned.
The stinging scrapes on his limbs barely register. Sweat-dampened bangs cling to his face and stripe his view of Aya removing the hair pins and shaking her braids loose.
"Me? This is doubles, you know," she winks at Sanada with an expression so full of warmth and fulfillment even he can't miss it. "I'm glad I could be a part of this with you. Congratulations, Sanada-kun."
Yukimura pushes himself up as Flayn dusts him off, then simply throws her arms around him like this must be the best day of her life. What a strange feeling to be so pleasant after defeat. At least she's happy with it all. That's who it was for, right?
He smiles at her, torn between ruefulness for the outcome and gratification for her pleasure in spite of the fact. "You have good spirit; if you keep playing opponents like Sanada and Fujimiya, your strength will grow rapidly. As for me, that was an embarrassing introduction to my tennis. Come watch me play singles, okay?"
Accepting Flayn's offered hand up, he gets to his feet and approaches the net with her, extending his hand to shake Sanada's with a smile.
"Don't think I'm going to let it end with this. Sanada."
'Congratulations' simply couldn't be voiced. It was too much like saying their rivalry was over.