[As serves go, hers isn't bad by any means, but Yagyuu is also a person long since grown accustomed to receiving serves from Jackal and Sanada, so perception remains relative and he easily darts to return it, his mind yet again preoccupied with other considerations. He hadn't missed that look of frustration that flickered across her face as he'd taken the first game--understandable from anyone with even the least bit of competitive spirit--but almost more interesting still is what he found he didn't see: anger, or insult, or vendetta.
It's hard to pinpoint precisely why he'd thought he might see it lurking there; perhaps it's a small measure of projection of his own feelings, and how even to this day he loathes the sting of defeat. Perhaps it's that she's so close to his team, somehow integrated herself into them, and he's looking for that feeling they all share--are you Rikkai? Rivalries are a natural part of the game, even among friends; why else would they push Akaya so hard, handing him defeat again and again, sending him against players that would push him to his limits? Motivation to become stronger. Devotion to the law of absolute victory. Do you have that, Kujikawa-san?
But if she does, he didn't see it. It's natural, it's to be expected--but it's a line drawn between them just the same. One more factor of consideration in whatever ties build between them.
His return, when it comes, is a setup: he begins to drop back toward the baseline almost from the moment he's hit it, watching the ball fly back over the net to within her reach. He could never be so blatant when playing his teammates; they'd see through it in an instant, know exactly what was coming, go out of their way to avoid it. Rise, on the other hand, is newer. Inexperienced. Oblivious.
And this can hardly be called an introduction when Yagyuu hasn't used "that" yet.]
no subject
It's hard to pinpoint precisely why he'd thought he might see it lurking there; perhaps it's a small measure of projection of his own feelings, and how even to this day he loathes the sting of defeat. Perhaps it's that she's so close to his team, somehow integrated herself into them, and he's looking for that feeling they all share--are you Rikkai? Rivalries are a natural part of the game, even among friends; why else would they push Akaya so hard, handing him defeat again and again, sending him against players that would push him to his limits? Motivation to become stronger. Devotion to the law of absolute victory. Do you have that, Kujikawa-san?
But if she does, he didn't see it. It's natural, it's to be expected--but it's a line drawn between them just the same. One more factor of consideration in whatever ties build between them.
His return, when it comes, is a setup: he begins to drop back toward the baseline almost from the moment he's hit it, watching the ball fly back over the net to within her reach. He could never be so blatant when playing his teammates; they'd see through it in an instant, know exactly what was coming, go out of their way to avoid it. Rise, on the other hand, is newer. Inexperienced. Oblivious.
And this can hardly be called an introduction when Yagyuu hasn't used "that" yet.]