Completely Rewriting the Plot of Tenipuri, Part 2

[volleygenius]

Kiddo seems to think he's free to leave after the vice-captain's dismissal from practice. This is his next lesson. Socializing is the last thing he wants to do if his face is any indication, and that's really too bad for him. Marui lassos an arm loosely around his neck and grins devilishly at his sputtering wet cat reception to the contact.

"What? Don't look so put off. Jackal's treating us to burgers and shakes."

Comments

[senselessness]

"Sit down and shut up," Jackal said quietly, while Akaya tried to figure that one out. It snapped him out of the thought.

"But I didn't even say anything!"

"Luckily for you."

[volleygenius]

Marui, who'd been in the middle of a bite of his burger, chokes on a laugh at Echizen's oblivious shoot-down.

"Okay?" He asks from across the table. Marui flashes them a thumbs-up as he coughs a couple more times and takes a drink to wash it down.

"Well, it might not be such a joke. It wouldn't surprise me if we have a first year ace everyone's heard about soon."

[senselessness]

"Wait, what?" Akaya exclaimed.

Jackal can see Akaya's brain split between confusion and anger at Marui's comment-- the initial response morphing into "Wait. What the hell?" The second year is more comfortable with the confusion, but Jackal figures anger would be a better motivator.

"He said every spot on the regulars is competitive and just because you're the only second year to make it now doesn't mean you will be forever. I seem to recall a time when three first years carried Rikkai to Nationals."

[volleygenius]

Jackal understood the assignment. Making Yukimura's dream come true for him is the absolute top priority. If the threat of being surpassed works to motivate Akaya to train harder, they should use it. Marui doesn't have any serious expectations for the freshman to get that strong that fast, of course. He was talented, sure, but so were all of them. They were Rikkai. But it was a good carrot for both of them.

Echizen himself has stayed quiet while all of this unfolds, but Marui can see the gears behind those big golden brown eyes are turning. He's paying attention.

"I don't really care who everyone is talking about," he finally says as he munches a fry, and with all of the aloof nonchalance of someone who means that. "If my senpai wants to be more heard-of, he can have it."

That's a little disappointing. Marui had him pegged as more competitive than that.

"But," Echizen lifts a smile as he meets Akaya's eyes with all of the intended rivalry Marui had misplaced in fame. "When the time comes for us to play, the winner will be me."

[bloodshotdye]

Akaya's eyes flashed.

"Big talk from someone who couldn't beat a doubles specialist in singles," he said.

He thought about last year. About how even training his ass off wasn't enough to close the gap between him and the three demons.

"Anyway, I'll play you any time you want," he said. "But only because it's what fukubuchou and Yanagi-senpai would say to me. You can lose to us as many times as you want, if it means you keep getting stronger. But that isn't enough to actually get into a tournament match."

[koshimae]

Echizen dead-eye stares right back into Akaya's eyes, not the least intimidated. And says absolutely nothing back at first.

Silent staring.

Silent staring.

Silent staring.

"Of course it's like that," he finally says, as though explaining something simple to a toddler. And he smiles with a glint of the challenger's spirit in his eyes, clearly none humbled by his loss a bit earlier. "It'd be boring if I didn't have to get stronger to beat the strongest."

Marui doesn't say anything, but the answer resonates with him. Echizen was right: most matches were boring because there was no challenge. If he's honest, the beatdown he'd given their newbie was one of the first interesting ones he'd played in a while. The skill difference was too enormous, but Echizen hadn't just been spitballing attacks in hopes of a point like most players. He really understood the game's strategy, and he analyzed factors about his opponent's play style and body type for a tailored approach. If he got stronger, he really might be able to put a little pressure on him sometime in the future. Wouldn't that be something.

[senselessness]

The smoldering remains of Akaya's chill are viewed by Jackal with a pensive interest. This Echizen is a cool customer. Akaya can't bait him. Though he doesn't yet have enough information to say if that's because Echizen is too smart to walk into the trap or if Akaya is just inept at setting it.

Still, there's a possibility forming in his mind. Akaya is a simple being, pulled forward by his determination to catch up to the Big Three.

How much stronger would he be if simultaneously pushed by an upcoming rival? His second year was the only year it was possible.

They were all proud of their ace. They expected great things of him. They wouldn't be drilling him on how to play against lefties if they weren't.

It was a jumble of ideas in his mind with no clear plan. He had to talk to Yanagi about it.

Meanwhile, Akaya seethed. For whatever reason, this new first year managed to avoid the humiliations he'd taken in his place the year before and he couldn't stand it.

"Promise you I won't let you be bored," he said, trying to find that undertone of menace that fukubuchou slipped under every word he said. "I mean, once the balls are picked up, of course."

[koshimae]

Echizen contemplates that for a moment over a sip of soda.

"Ah, will you? Then how about now?"

"Yameroi," Marui says dismissively, pausing for a hearty bite. "If you can't win a game against me, you aren't gonna take one from him."

"Hmmm?" Echizen wasn't a fan of that mentality. Anyway, he'd still be at the courts now if he hadn't been forcibly dragged along. This seemed like a good chance to get back where he wanted to be and face his next challenge.

"Well, you never know until you try."

"You don't understand..." Marui starts, but stops shy of the explanation.

[bloodshotdye]

"Practice is done for the day," Jackal said mildly.

"No, no, I beat as many of the senpai as I could my first day," Akaya said, pseudo-generously. "Isn't it my duty as a senpai to extend the same courtesy to my cute little kouhai?"

"Not unless you can spell it," Jackal muttered.

"I wanna go right now," Akaya added, but Jackal shoved his tray at him before he could finish.

"Go throw out the trash and order us some milkshakes," he ordered, handing over his wallet and trusting the prospect of dessert to change the subject.

Akaya huffed, but: "Fine. But you gotta come too, first year. I don't know your order an' I'm not carrying everything alone."

[koshimae]

That sounded like an opportunity to Echizen. Kirihara-senpai was clearly on board with the challenge. They just needed an escape plan.

"I don't mind," he says as he slips out of his seat, collects the trash from his side of the table, and follows slightly behind the second year to the end of the line after a detour to the bin.

"Hey," he says quietly, once he thinks the other two are out of earshot. "How're we getting away from the upperclassmen?"

[bloodshotdye]

"No way of knowing when fukubuchou an' Yanagi-san will actually leave the courts tonight, so we gotta start before morning practice tomorrow," Akaya said blithely. "Anyway, we won't get away from Marui-san and Jackal-san until they leave us at our doors at this rate."

He held a fist out.

"So if you're not gonna be there in the morning, tell me now."

He really doesn't want to get up that early.

[koshimae]

Wait for morning or find a different court, one. That wouldn't solve the problem of Marui and Kuwahara, though. Echizen isn't sure why all of these upperclassmen are such an obstacle to their playing a match. It also doesn't occur to him that perhaps he should find out why they're all such an obstacle to their playing a match before conspiring to circumvent them.

He scowls in frustration, because he'd really rather just do this now. But if this is the only option, so be it. He's not backing down.

Wordlessly, he outstretches his fist and touches it against Kirihara's. Game on.