Youthful Days (Book 1)

62. Rising

Ann timely caught Ayuna's elbow before she lost her balance. "Are you okay?!"

From the courts, Kirihara cried out another fake apology. "Sorry! I overdid the serve there!" With a hint of dissatisfaction, he asked, "But you're okay, right? I mean, you're still standing."

"Hey!" Ann yelled back, "What the hell's that supposed to mean?! You meant to injure her as you did to my brother and Fuji-senpai? Kirihara, targeting a girl, you've gone too far—even for you!"

"I'm okay, Ann," Ayuna tried to console her friend. That same odd sensation was filling her again. Although she felt the patch of skin under her chin grow raw, she was inexplicably detached from the actual, physical pain. She touched her chin once with the tip of her fingers as if to ascertain that the impact was real. "It's no big deal."

"What do you mean it's no big deal?" Ann's cheeks puffed. "I can't believe he's getting away with these physical assaults again and again. It's truly despicable!"

Ayuna didn't respond. Instead, she stared straight at Kirihara and forced their eyes to meet. For a fraction of a second, the crazed Kirihara felt stunned by the girls he'd struck. In her eyes, he saw indestructible strength and faith in Seigaku's victory.

From the eastern bleachers, Fumiko shaded her eyes to get a clearer view of Fuji's side of the court. "Ah... I think that Kirihara kid has finally done it!"

"What do you mean, sis?" asked Yuuta.

"Take a look at your brother's face."

Yuuta did as he was told. Fuji had briefly turned around to check on Ayuna. When he faced the court again, his expressions froze with pale indignation. His blue eyes locked onto Kirihara like he was something to kill.

"Brother... He looks pretty determined to take Kirihara down," Yuuta murmured. The violent anger was palpable even from a distance, making him shiver. "I've never seen him look so... vicious."

Yumiko shook her head. "I'd say you probably have. You just forgot."

"I have?"

"I certainly remember seeing Fuji like this once before. It was when both of you were still in elementary school," recalled Yumiko with a nostalgic smile. "Back then, a bunch of older boys bullied you and got physical a handful of times. When Shuusuke heard about it, he got into a terrific fistfight with all of them to defend you. He ended up in tons of trouble, of course, but he won and made them apologize to you."

Listening to his older sister's recollections, Yuuta fell silent as a deeper appreciation for his older brother settled in.

Redirecting her attention to Fuji again, Yumiko grew pensive. "But this time, his anger's taken on a more severe form than that of his childhood. I suppose I've underestimated his feelings for that girl. I didn't realize how much she means to your brother."

Yuuta listened, only half grasping Yumiko's words. "Kirihara did step out of the line by picking on someone who's got nothing to do with this game, and a girl at that, too..."

Their conversation was abruptly interjected by Fuji's icy voice, penetrating the summer air like a polished knife. "I thought you'd stop, Kirihara, I really did. I thought you'd eventually realize it's despicable to take delight in causing harm to others."

Pursing his lips, Fuji declared, "To think that you had a conscience, I see I'm the one who's wrong here. I suppose you simply can't forgo your vile ways until you lose."

Kirihara smirked. "And you really think that's going to happen, Fuji-kun?"

Fuji didn't reply. He stepped behind the service line, feeling the elasticity of the tennis ball in his hand. He bounced it against the clay ground several times before tossing it high over his head.