[ that's almost an odd thing to say, but if there's one thing Rise's learned, it's that this person doesn't typically make pointless remarks. And again, she's reminded of Naoto (except she knows all the ways to fluster her best friend), who never says anything that doesn't have some sort of meaning or purpose to it.

And maybe it's just that she's had plenty of experience with that sort of thing or that she's always remembered phrasing, word choices, the things that told her how to respond-- or maybe it's the knowledge that he didn't keep her waiting in this match at all. From the feel of it, he'd always been ready to react. But Rise can assume that he's talking about something else, and from the thoughtful way she releases his hand after a firm shake of her own, she's going to be thinking about it when she's taken care of everything else.

'Everything else' starting with making it back on weak legs, but she's already twisting the lid off her bottle. Regardless of his methods, she can't bring herself to regret this match. At last, she feels like she's starting to get it. At the very least, she's got a more solidified opinion on the mysterious gentleman now. ]

I've got a lot to work on, but you know... [ and she takes a deep, steadying breath. ] I'm gonna make sure I play even better next time. Thanks for the match, Yagyuu-kun.