literature

The ball is in your court

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'I'll be waiting for you by the north entrance thirty minutes after the game - Karui.'

Kiba had gotten notes in his locker before, especially after big games, but this one was different.  He let out a sad laugh at all the notes he had just torn up, covered in hearts and written with all sorts of flowery love nonsense.  This latest note was rather plain in comparison,

"So what's different about it?" He asked himself.

By now all his team mates had packed up and left on the school bus back to town.  Winning a game at a rival school, being the star player, and staying afterward were all red flags that shot up in Kiba's mind.  Perhaps the shadow of danger was one reason he decided to see what the note was about.  Strangely, the instincts he always trusted told him not to be worried.

There were still several people out on the field, Kiba saw the familiar workings of the cleaning up that has to happen after big games.  The north entrance had one spotlight on, and by the look of it cleaning had already finished here.  The timer/clock on the scoreboard was still on, showing only twenty-five minutes had gone by.  Taking a leaning position against the gate wall, Kiba waited.

Kiba imagined how the scenario would play out.  He'd been confessed to a few times, nowhere near as often as the campus pretty-boy Sasuke; but enough to know how to act properly, such knowledge stemming from the admonitions of his older sister and the threatening of his mother.

"Let them down easy." The words came almost naturally to Kiba.

"So you come to this already planning to reject me?"  Kiba fought to keep his balance against the wall when he noticed the girl standing in front of him.  Past her head he saw the time was indeed now thirty minutes after the game.  "I'm not sure how I should take that."

The students at Kumo Gakuen have a reputation as a wild bunch, though you couldn't tell from the soccer team they field.  But the girl standing in front of him seemed to have more spirit than the entirety of the team he had played against earlier that evening.  Fiery hair framed a dark face set with amber eyes, Kiba momentarily mused that she looked like a tree on fire.

Straightening out Kiba decided to play this naturally; after all, he was still unsure what she wanted to talk with him about.

"I had no plan to do anything like that." He said as coolly as possible.  Giving her another look over, she carried herself very well.  She had a good figure and a very confident stance, overall she came off as bold but not overbearing.  "Karui right?" She nodded, "I'm all ears, what did you want to tell me?"

Taking a deep breath she looked Kiba straight in the eyes and said,

"You also play on your school's tennis team?"

"Yeah, I'm no star tennis player though."

"I'd like to challenge you to a game this Saturday."

'She's challenging me to a game of tennis after I single-handedly beat her school's football team?'  Kiba thought about that a few times until it actually started making less sense.  Quickly thinking of what his schedule was like on Saturday provided Kiba no good alternatives so he decided to agree, "Alright, this Saturday.  Where'd you want to meet up?"

"Can we meet here again at 2:30?"

"2:30 then."

As she turned to leave Kiba couldn't tell whether the smile on her face was one of satisfaction of mischievousness.  Still, the short encounter was not exactly what Kiba had expected it would be.

That weekend Kiba should have known better than to rely on his mother for a ride; Tsume rarely shared her travel plans with anyone and even rarer did she share the seats of her hot-rod Kuromaru.  Kiba was left with public transportation to make the trip out to Kumo's campus.

His presence on the campus was not unnoticed, Kiba noted more than one angry glare shot his direction.  Thankfully Kumo's bad reputation came from what the students did away from school, as Principal É ran an even tighter ship than Tsunade.  Arriving at the north gate, Kiba once again found that he had come early.  The field was busy, it looked like the track team was setting up for relay running.  On the far side of the field, Kiba saw Karui standing in an anchor position.

'Was Karui planning on playing me right after her practice?' Kiba's thoughts drifted, 'Why did she ask me out to play a game with her anyways?  … And why is she running with her long hair free?  Long hair like that must cause a lot of drag.'

With a shot the race begun, Kumo had enough girl runners to make four teams.  Unlike certain schools he had seen which would field training teams just to give the best runners competition in training, each team was running a well-balanced race.  When the runners finally reached the final leg of the run, the four anchor runners all looked like race cars revving in neutral.

Karui matched her pace to the third runner to accept the baton.  Relay races are finely tuned routines, Karui and the other runner knew exactly how many strides they would take, and where their arms would be for the exchange.  When the stick was firmly in her grasp Karui accelerated as though someone had set her soles on fire.  Where the rest of the race had been competitive, Karui made the other anchor runners look like amateurs.  She finished nearly a second and a half ahead of the others.

All the girls did their cool down, except for Kauri who grabbed her bag and walked over towards Kiba.  As she finished wiping the sweat from her face with a towel she said,
"Sorry to keep you waiting," then motioning with her towel to the upper outdoors level, she said in a tone half serious half playful, "the tennis courts are up there, you ready to lose?"

"Who do you think you're talking to?" Kiba said as he unzipped his racket from its case with a flourish, "Let's play."

The tennis team was using the majority of the courts, but their practice was winding down for the day.  Kiba and Karui set up one of the last courts and started playing.  Keeping their own scores only added to the spirited boasting and lively exchange.  Kiba returned her serve with his best moon ball and asked, "So, do you often play tennis right after track practice?"

Her volley return sent the ball to the far side of Kiba's ad court.  "I love tennis after relay; it's all about coordinating the arms, legs, and managing strength for the big bursts of energy."

Kiba lobbed the ball back again, which gave him time to get back into position.  After two sets, Kiba started to get used to the speed of her topspin hits.  After winning another set Kiba smiled at himself for figuring out her timing.  From across the court Karui was smiling at him as well.  She won the next two sets consecutively.

As they finished the game Karui came over to Kiba's side and sat down next to him as they leaned against the fence.  The both smelled of sweat and exhaustion; though others don't like the smell Kiba breathed deeply, he had always thought the reason he was so good at sports was because he loved the smell of sweat.

"Do you know why I asked you to come while I was still running the rally?"  Karui asked when she regained her breath.

Kiba took a gulp from his sport's drink and shook his head.

"Last night I was impressed with the way you played.  You played your best and I could see you were in your element; there's this wild side to you that I found fascinating.  I wanted you come early today so you could see me at my best.  What did you think?"

"Your school has a good track team, but you really stood out.  I thought your hair was going to be a burden, but you looked like the second coming of Flo-Jo out there."

Perhaps it was just Kiba's imagination, but when he mentioned Flo-Jo a light seemed to flash across her eyes.  Flo-Jo was apparently her hero and inspiration.  They spent the remainder of the afternoon talking about their sports heroes and favorite games.

As the sun set they walked down to the train station, as Kiba had to get home.

"I have to admit I didn't know what to expect when I came out here." Kiba said honestly.

"And?" Karui asked flatly.

"Same time next week?" Kiba asked hesitantly.

"Oh that delivery is no good."  Karui in her usual tone, half serious half joking, "Try it again."

The train rolled in and the doors opened.  Waiting for the crowd to disperse, Kiba boldly said, "I'll see you next week."  He entered the train as the last call was given.

A familiar smile crossed Karui's face as she said, "It's a date."
Kiba x Karui

"The deepest friendship often comes from a chance meeting."
- Akira Kurosawa

After an away game, Kiba decides to take a chance and meet someone new. Expecting a confession, he is surprised when he is actually given a challenge.

No relationship should be one-sided. Each person should carry their own weight. The dynamics are never the same, as no two people are, but it's always best to be upfront and honest with others. That bold, unapologetic, approach to life is one Kiba and Karui share.

Characters by Kishimoto
© 2010 - 2024 mistermadigan
Comments4
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creeper23's avatar
Love the even balance of the characters and each carrying their own weight in the story. Nicely done.