Intentionally? Perhaps. Rise knows when she's being observed, because she's never truly out from under the spotlight, but there are usually expectations. Demands. Don't go out to eat, come straight home. Pose this way. Speak this line, with that little smile like you're thinking something mysterious. Keep smiling.
Souji had expected nothing but as much as he was willing to give his team, and that was the very best. Yukimura wasn't quite as subtle about it, but there had been something about him that had reminded Rise of her leader, and she'd respected him for that and his own credentials. He'd also asked - without really asking - for her best.
And now Yagyuu is doing the same. She owes him nothing, and could very well try a different tactic here, but they both know this isn't a match for the sake of just playing tennis. This is nothing like rallying on a rooftop with Fuji, least of all because she doesn't know Yagyuu, hasn't had a chance to witness him like this (in his natural element, her mind quips), and tennis with Fuji had never been akin to throwing herself into her first battle, armed with no experience whatsoever, just the instinct that there was something she needed to do, and the time to do it was now, exhaustion and inexperience be damned.
She lets him lead, curious and watchful, and he seems to have uncovered a strength. Choreography and the stamina needed to dance and sing simultaneously, to take each packed schedule at a run, the stuff she's been steadily working on, it's paying off with every twist and pivot and darting movement. All the while, she's watching, using every last ounce of perceptive ability to guess where the ball's headed next and doing everything in her power to hit it back.
Her initial thought was right, though. Yagyuu's interesting. Not as Niou's partner, not as a Rikkai regular, but as the person rallying with her right now. He's giving her the chance to see this side of him, and that's an opportunity she appreciates. ]
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Intentionally? Perhaps. Rise knows when she's being observed, because she's never truly out from under the spotlight, but there are usually expectations. Demands. Don't go out to eat, come straight home. Pose this way. Speak this line, with that little smile like you're thinking something mysterious. Keep smiling.
Souji had expected nothing but as much as he was willing to give his team, and that was the very best. Yukimura wasn't quite as subtle about it, but there had been something about him that had reminded Rise of her leader, and she'd respected him for that and his own credentials. He'd also asked - without really asking - for her best.
And now Yagyuu is doing the same. She owes him nothing, and could very well try a different tactic here, but they both know this isn't a match for the sake of just playing tennis. This is nothing like rallying on a rooftop with Fuji, least of all because she doesn't know Yagyuu, hasn't had a chance to witness him like this (in his natural element, her mind quips), and tennis with Fuji had never been akin to throwing herself into her first battle, armed with no experience whatsoever, just the instinct that there was something she needed to do, and the time to do it was now, exhaustion and inexperience be damned.
She lets him lead, curious and watchful, and he seems to have uncovered a strength. Choreography and the stamina needed to dance and sing simultaneously, to take each packed schedule at a run, the stuff she's been steadily working on, it's paying off with every twist and pivot and darting movement. All the while, she's watching, using every last ounce of perceptive ability to guess where the ball's headed next and doing everything in her power to hit it back.
Her initial thought was right, though. Yagyuu's interesting. Not as Niou's partner, not as a Rikkai regular, but as the person rallying with her right now. He's giving her the chance to see this side of him, and that's an opportunity she appreciates. ]