PoT fic: Seduction of Equals [NC-17; Hanamura/Sakaki] [1/2]
Title: Seduction of Equals
Author: Ria
Disclaimer: Not mine, really.
Rating: NC-17
Words: 11,500
Pairing: Hanamura/Sakaki
Warnings: ...het? (and sex)
Summary: He has her at hello and she will never tell anyone. She knows better than to believe that this is a fairy tale.
Notes: Written for solderini for santa_smex. With thanks to achiasa and veinvincere for all their help. This was quite a challenge to, but very enjoyable as well, and this would have been far worse without their help. Thank you both!
Seduction of Equals
He has her at hello.
It's never something she'll tell anyone, not even her mother when she visits a year later and demands to know exactly what is going on. Hanamura isn't particularly concerned about what her family thinks as she's always done the exact opposite of what they'd expected of her; going into the Sciences, getting qualified in Sports and Health Studies, and then abruptly deciding to teach and coach. Having them disapproving of her apparent relationships - or sometimes the severe lack of them - is only a furthering of a long-time disapproval.
No, what she is concerned about is how easily he has her at hello... and how it isn't even been a polite greeting at that.
She knows about him, of course; anyone with any desire towards getting their team to Nationals knows of Sakaki Tarou and his ruthless ethos of tennis and victory. Before Seigaku had found their genius freshman, Hyoutei and Rikkai Dai were the two schools to beat, the players who held the bar far out of the reach of normal students.
Japan's junior high tennis circuit is smaller and more intimate than it first appears, and it is brutally cut-throat as a result. Junior high teams who shine are noticed by the best high school teams; success from there may lead to university scholarships, to the best tennis programs, or even - at the highest levels - professional sponsorship. Any coach worth their salt is going to want their team to be noticed, and Hanamura is exactly like every other coach in that respect.
Coaches are respected and valued for varying attributes. Hanamura, eccentric though she may be considered, is well thought of in the Sports Science field, and sponsorship deals comes easier to Jyousei Shounan as a result. In three years, she has turned the school's sports success completely around, and its graduates are starting to slowly become noticed. She has high hopes for this year's final years, since the high school division had already begun noticing most of them in their freshman or second years.
Though most wouldn't notice it, Hanamura teaches her students to be as cutthroat as the system they are in. Most people underestimate the snake that smiles gently.
The first time she meets Sakaki, she has been in charge of Jyousei Shounan's sports curriculum for exactly forty-two days, thankful that she had read between the lines of her contract to recognise she had a shambles of a system to fix. Jyousei has always been considered a reputable school, though of only limited standards. She's determined to change this in regards to their sporting reputation within five years, newly appointed as she is. She's at a sports conference, waiting to listen to an authority in the field of the co-ordination method that she has recently begun advocating herself, when she's introduced to him through a mutual acquaintance.
She turns to meet a piercing, dispassionate gaze that makes her blink as her breath catches. His eyes narrow as he gives her a brief once-over.
"Jyousei Shounan," he says slowly, when the introductions have been made, and the faint sneer in his voice makes her hackles rise before she's been able to catch herself. "I see."
"A pleasure to meet you," she replies, not bothering to hide the icy edge to her voice, "I've heard a lot about you." Their mutual acquaintance twitches then, most likely from nerves due to their frosty reception of each other; most people - especially women - probably fling themselves at Sakaki's feet, Hanamura thinks. Of course, the rumour that he's filthy rich most likely helps, true to form for anyone who teaches at Hyoutei.
Hanamura has fought far too long and hard earning her place to be immediately dismissed by anyone, even a person who probably holds a lot of the strings and contacts in the junior high circuit.
The corners of his mouth quirk up as something almost like interest briefly gleams in his eyes; apparently, she has done something unlike most of the women he comes into contact with. "Likewise," he says, drawling, as his face lapses back into passiveness. And not much of it good is the unspoken remainder of his sentence. But even with a dreadfully cold attitude and closed-off expression, he's still been frustratingly handsome, and Hanamura fights not to grit her teeth even as she admits this to herself.
Handsome or not, it still doesn't change the fact that she is fast beginning to despise him.
Aware that her temper is quickly approaching breaking-point, she smiles - beware the woman who smiles - and says, "Forgive me, but I'm going to be late for a panel. It was a pleasure to meet you." She hurries off even before the responses are fully spoken, and she refuses to let herself hear them, determined not to listen to whatever rubbish comes out of his mouth.
At that moment, she tells herself that she will beat him. Her players will grind his into the dust, somehow, and she will beat him at his own methods. She just isn't sure how yet.
She has the fleeting worry that she is overreacting, but she quickly pushes that aside because it means that he has got to her. She has been affected by him, and that means that she is just like any other woman who has met him. She has heard the stories.
Hanamura had long ago sworn to herself that she would never be like the majority of brainless women out there. She is better than that; she deserves far better than that.
~*~
They're beaten by Seigaku this year, but, surprisingly, none of her team seems to mind. Even Shinjyou, when he recovers from the gall of being beaten by a freshman, is pleased with his progress, and Hanamura secretly sighs with relief that he has finally learned part of the lesson she has been trying to teach him. He still seems more concerned about making her proud than his team or himself, however, and she makes a mental note to discuss this with Kajimoto later.
Sakaki rings her the day after the defeat, and she grits her teeth when she hears his voice over the phone. Of all people, it would have to be him, of course.
"Your team has improved," he says abruptly, as soon as the polite necessities have been taken care of.
"Thank you," she replies after a moment, wondering what he means until she remembers that they now share something in common: Seigaku has beaten them both, and left them behind.
Now, at least, they share a common goal.
"But they still have far to go," he adds, his tone cool and dismissive, and she wonders how he still manages to make the words seem so damnably cordial when they are, in reality, purely insults. Any feelings of comradeship instantly evaporate, and she barely manages to stop herself from glaring at the receiver.
"As do yours," she says, reminding him that they, at least, had gone farther in Kantou than Hyoutei, despite Atobe's victory over Tezuka.
He snorts, as much as Sakaki Tarou allows himself to snort, and says, "I look forward to the Junior Senbatsu Camp," the barely masked goading clear in his voice.
Her fingers tighten around the receiver until her knuckles whiten, and she replies, calmly and sweetly, "As do I; it is assured of being very interesting, so many talented players together at once." She's almost brutal in her closing greetings, jabbing her phone off hard enough to break the button. And then, safely alone, she loudly swears, damning the male sex in general to an assuredly uncomfortable afterlife.
Hanamura brings Kajimoto into her office a few weeks later and tells him about the Junior Senbatsu Camp. They agree that Shinjyou and Wakato are the ones to bring along, despite the fact that Kantou has taught everyone, herself included, some valuable lessons. He is enthusiastic, as she has come to expect from him; grave and serious though he may be, he is still passionate about what he loves, and tennis is one of these things.
She explains the basic layout of the Camp and what to expect, and tells him that Seigaku's Ryuzaki and Hyoutei's Sakaki will be in charge along with herself. She doesn't need to tell him why - Ryuzaki for her experience, Sakaki for his reputation, and herself for her unusual methods - since any self-respecting student keeps track of rival schools, including their coaches, and she isn't surprised when his eyes practically light up.
"It will be a fantastic opportunity to learn from them both!" he says, his eagerness almost bubbling in his voice, and she smiles slightly.
"Yes," she agrees, and doesn't tell him about the phone call she had received from Sakaki.
Watching Kajimoto bow and leave her office, Hanamura cannot help but wistfully hope that at least one of her players will make some sort of favourable impression on Sakaki.
~*~
The opening day of the Junior Senbatsu camp dawns calm and clear, and Hanamura is already feeling optimistic about what the day will bring. Traffic isn't even as infuriating as usual and she arrives with time to spare, humming under her breath as she locks the car.
Turning, she realises that she's being watched and almost manages to swallow the urge to laugh when she sees Seigaku staring at her. Spotting Echizen, she smiles and says, "It's been a while, hasn't it, Echizen-kun?"
The boy visibly resists the urge to scowl at her, perhaps conscious of Ryuzaki beside them, and Hanamura ignores the others as she walks over to Ryuzaki.
"Ryuzaki-sensei, it's nice to see you," she says, still smiling. She feels mildly pleased when the woman blinks, before returning the smile and pleasant greetings. They make idle small talk, mostly for the benefit of Seigaku's players, before the other schools begin arriving and everyone starts assembling for the opening lectures.
- Except for one.
Hanamura tries to hide her frown as she checks her watch yet again, as Ryuzaki asks her what's wrong. "Well... there's still one person who isn't here," she explains, projecting a worried tone into her voice even as she fumes inside. It's utterly typical that he would pull this sort of the thing on the first day, but it's regrettably what she has come to expect from him.
Right on cue, a taxi pulls up, and Hanamura allows herself a brief laugh as she admires his gall. "Ah! Speak of the devil," she murmurs as Sakaki turns and regards them.
Ryuzaki says, "That's just like Sakaki-kun, isn't it?"
Absolutely, Hananmura thinks as Sakaki climbs onto the dais and stands beside her. There might as well be a stone wall between them for all the attention he gives her, even as they exchange brief nods.
In the very first meeting of her group, Hanamura has confirmed what she has expected all along: Atobe is most definitely the product of Sakaki's methods. She also wonders exactly what Atobe has heard, since he seems determined to publicly provoke and undermine her. But he's little match for her, and she can feel a smile stretching across her lips that she is positive doesn't reach her eyes.
"While you're in my group, you'll follow my methods," she tells him. But there is a blatant challenge in her words when she adds, "Got it, Atobe-kun?" and she's churlishly pleased when his eyes narrow as he laughs. The gauntlet has been thrown down.
~*~
Hanamura purses her lips, her fingers tightening on her cup. "I don't think that is the best course of action," she finally says, trying to keep her tone as neutral as possible for appearance's sake.
Ryuzaki shrugs, holding up the teapot; Hanamura nods and lets her refill her cup. "They wish to sort this out themselves," Ryuzaki says. "I admit that I have to admire their sense of independence and responsibility." Of course, Hanamura isn't surprised that this is the stance she's taking; Ryuzaki is known for her hands-free attitude towards tennis, further evidenced by the control Tezuka has over his team.
This isn't to say that she expects Kajimoto to tell her what was going on; as much control as she herself exerts over Jyousei Shounan's tennis team, she has also trained them all, especially Kajimoto, to consider themselves their own motivator. Shinjyou is the only one to have any severe problems with this attitude, but that also isn't very surprising.
Still, she isn't sure how much she approves of letting a set of teenage boys solve this situation. If her opinions of teenage boys in general are to be applied, violence is going to occur sooner rather than later. Ryuxaki had called the meeting after she had overheard the boys talking about Kirihara's accident during practice; none of them seem to realise that their coaches see and hear far more than they are given credit for.
"Sakaki-san," she asks at last, "what do you think?" She truly doesn't want to have to be the one to draw him into the discussion, but so far he hasn't shown any inclination to make his opinions known and Ryuzaki is far too complacent to even try and force him to.
He eyes her for a moment, before saying, "They are strong enough to have made it this far; they will surely be able to settle a disagreement between themselves." His tone, managing to be dismissive and sarcastic at once, stings almost like a physical blow; Hanamura recoils as if she has actually been struck, frowning.
"I see." She's eerily reminded of some of the friction that has already occurred between Hyoutei and Jyousei Shounan, specifically that between Kajimoto and Shishido, and Atobe and Wakato.
Ryuzaki finally seems to realise that there is something more than friendly rivalry going on, and looks between them with growing concern. "If there are difficulties between you that go beyond our coaching, I advise you to put them aside until after hours," she says sternly, forcing them both to meet her gaze. "Arguing amongst ourselves is not what we are here to do; we'll leave that up to the boys."
Hanamura looks away first, furious with herself for allowing her emotions to get the better of her. Sakaki appears almost personally affronted to have it implied that he has let anything get out of hand.
The meeting quickly adjourns, and it takes all of Hanamura's willpower not to go to Sakaki's rooms that night, stand in his doorway, and scream at him until he finally understands.
Instead, she writes a scathing email that she never sends. In the morning, she rereads it and immediately hits delete.
~*~
She takes a deep breath and taps her files neatly into a pile as she tries to gather her thoughts and rein in her temper at the same time. She can honestly say she has never met a man who can incense her quite as much as Sakaki can, simply by doing and saying nothing.
"Until Ryuzaki-san's successor arrives," she says, "we're going to have to work together. Therefore - " We're going to have to stop the snide remarks, she thinks, keeping her expression as carefully blank as her inward irritation will allow. "Therefore, I recommend you take over as general manager," she says instead. Perhaps he thinks she's mocking him by being as cool and aloof as he is; frankly, she has more important things to worry about, and so stops that train of thought before it even has a proper chance to take off.
He raises an eyebrow. "I see." It galls her to admit it, but he has been Hyoutei's coach for far longer than she has been Jyousei Shounan's and his reputation far surpasses hers; it is the logical decision.
"Tezuka-kun will be here shortly," Hanamura continues, flicking through the files of Ryuzaki's group, including Kajimoto's. "Oishi-kun seems to have taken temporary leadership of the group." Hardly surprising, considering Oishi's sense of responsibility. Watching him as they played Seigaku during Kantou, she had come to the conclusion that Oishi would never make a true leader himself, though his sense of obligation and responsibility meant that he would easily be manipulated into it on a temporary basis; there has to be a genuine reason Tezuka had appointed him as fukubuchou.
Sakaki takes a sip of tea, his expression thoughtful as he lowers the cup. Hanamura watches him, intrigued, as he says, "The reaction to Tezuka-kun being appointed as a coach will be interesting."
She nods; there's no point in disagreeing with him, since she's also been wondering about Ryuzaki's decision to appoint a teenage boy, even one of Tezuka's calibre, as her replacement.
Tezuka's unexpected reappearance naturally causes a flurry of excitement; however, since they are at a boys' tennis camp the excitement quickly turns to challenges that Tezuka prove himself to them. Watching Kajimoto stand and very politely demand Tezuka to prove herself, Hanamura allows herself to feel satisfied at his progress. Even given the fact that Tezuka is an almost ridiculously highly ranked player, Kajimoto takes his own game and potential place on the Junior Senbatsu team seriously enough that he refuses to simply accept the decision that has been made unbeknownst to the rest of the players. It's a relief to see that one of her players, at least, has taken her teachings to heart.
But this still doesn't mean that she isn't furious with him when she and Sakaki watch the players try their hand against Tezuka. Grimacing as Kajimoto falls prey almost immediately to the Tezuka Zone, she makes a mental note to discuss this with him this evening, even if he is not strictly in her group at this camp. If Kajimoto ever has any hope of advancing himself in the high school circuit, he's going to have to stop taking what people say at face value. Yes, Tezuka is still in the midst of rehabilitation; however, Tezuka's standards are so high that what he would consider practice, others would consider a fairly serious game.
"Disappointed in your prize captain?" Sakaki asks neutrally, without looking at her as he speaks. She's noticed in the day or so they were solely in charge, waiting for Tezuka to obtain permission to return to Japan, that she must have finally begun proving herself to him. She's reminded that their schools have never crossed paths in any tournament; he's never seen her actually coach except for at the camp, when she had been in the stands during Atobe's astonishing match with Tezuka. She had gradually noticed that Sakaki hadn't become flustered at any point during the game.
Or perhaps he's simply impressed because she's managing to handle Atobe.
"No," she says at last, after giving the question some deliberation. "I will admit that I am disappointed he fell under the Zone's trap so quickly," she continues as Shishido steps up to try against Tezuka. "I thought I had taught Kajimoto-kun better than that."
"It is nothing to be ashamed of," Sakaki says, his eyes still on the court. "All of those talented enough to play in Singles One fall victim to Tezuka Kunimitsu if they face Seishun Gakuen; he is of the highest standard, after all, and automatically dismisses second best. Even Atobe's victory against him in Kantou was unsatisfactory."
She still remembers that match, how her blood had thrilled at the playing skill on show before her. At that moment, if she had been forced to choose between Tezuka and Echizen, she still wasn't sure who she would have ended up picking to develop.
"Sometimes," Hanamura murmurs, "I think that Ryuzaki-sensei doesn’t realise how lucky she is to have been able to shape Echizen Nanjiroh, and then to have Tezuka-kun and Echizen-kun scarcely a few years apart."
"Oh, she knows," Sakaki says, something almost akin to superiority lurking in his voice. "Never underestimate her; she's being doing this longer than either of us, and there's a reason that she hasn't retired yet." Though now she is lying in a hospital bed suffering from exhaustion, and maybe it is the reality of her situation that causes them to fall silent for several moments.
Sakaki breaks the silence by saying, "Come to my office tonight; I wish to go through your early considerations for the Senbatsu team."
She raises an eyebrow. "Of course," she says at last. "That would be fine." She doesn't ask whether he's being friendly because he's finally realised that she's more than a pretty face, or because he wishes to undermine her in some way, or maybe because he possibly does believe whatever Atobe has been telling him about her.
In the end, she chooses to go because, at the very least, she'll be able to pick his brain about his possible choices for the team, and she most definitely respects his tennis sense above everything else about him.
~*~
Sakaki doesn't even bother to hide his amusement this time as he pours coffee into a cup for her and holds it out. "Hanamura-sensei," he says, smiling slightly, pouring another cup for himself.
"Sakaki-sensei," she replies, unable to pretend to hide the fury in her voice. She holds the cup to her mouth and the scent of the coffee calms her for a moment; she takes a long breath, and then sips, gathering her control as she decides where to begin.
"I do not appreciate being publicly undermined before all of the players," she says, eyeing him as she places the cup down. "Even the students picked up on the tension between us yesterday before Sanada-kun and Atobe-kun played."
"Ah, but you were the one who openly used sarcasm," Sakaki points out, unruffled, watching her for a moment before turning his attention to the contents of his cup. "And the players are not so stupid that they cannot pick up on sarcasm when it is being used right before them."
She grits her teeth. "I was not implying any stupidity; rather, I was pointing out that we both acted less than professionally." Sakaki raises an eyebrow. Hanamura takes a large gulp of coffee, attempting to steady herself rather than give into her primary desire to begin screaming at him.
Or possibly kiss him, as much as the desire infuriates her, but screaming at him seems like it would result in much more satisfaction.
Perhaps her anger is due to Sakaki publicly undermining her by granting permission for Atobe and Sanada to play their match, or perhaps it is because her group went behind her back to watch it - she is positive that, had Kabaji and Wakato not been playing a match, they too would have gone to see it. Regardless, her temper had been rising even before Sakaki had told Sanada and Atobe they were both chosen for the Senbatsu team without even consulting her or Tezuka.
As if guessing her thoughts, Sakaki says, "So you did not agree with my decision to accept Sanada and Atobe as Senbatsu members?"
"What else could I do apart, but agree?" she replies, furious with herself for how weary her voice suddenly sounds. Publicly disagreeing with Sakaki would have been disastrous for the entire camp and, since Sakaki was now also in the capacity of general manager, she needs a far better reason than overall irritation to disagree with him.
Or maybe she just doesn't particularly want Atobe rewarded for disobeying her to such a degree, but she isn't going to bring that up.
Sakaki frowns at her, opening his mouth, and then closes it at a polite knock at the door; seconds later, Tezuka walks in and sits down at the table with them. He politely declines the coffee Hanamura offers him (again; does the boy drink nothing but tea?) and they quickly get down to business.
Sakaki's abrupt decision is only briefly discussed, Tezuka either unaware of the underlying politics or deliberately choosing to ignore them. Sometimes Hanamura can only wonder at him, a boy who seems never to have been young. He is more serious than either of them at times, or gives a good impression of it, at least, and if he holds grudges, he hides them well.
She is slowly beginning to wonder that if she had ever been given the opportunity to develop Tezuka Kunimitsu, would she have succeeded even a little.
The meeting ends with Sakaki handing Tezuka a piece of paper with the names of those in his group neatly printed upon it. "Put a circle next to the members you recommend," he tells him, and his expression is thoughtful and considering as he watches Tezuka; clearly, his interest has been piqued by Tezuka's abilities and the question of who he will ultimately choose. Hanamura tries not to sigh as she rises and begins to tidy her own papers.
The door has closed after Tezuka and she is about to leave herself when Sakaki suddenly says, "Hanamura-sensei."
She turns to look at him and then blinks; he is standing right behind her and she has to look up to meet his gaze. It's one of the disadvantages to constantly being in sneakers, she thinks as she says, "Yes?"
He doesn't say anything for a moment, instead gazing down at her. She begins to frown, and then realises how close they are; she struggles not to take a step back.
It's an effort not to give in to her suddenly thumping heart, but she knows that succumbing to this utterly girlish notion, what could practically be termed a ridiculous crush, is possibly the worst idea she could have. There would be no better way for her to completely destroy the reputation she has painstakingly built during the camp.
He opens his mouth to speak; she suddenly cannot stand to hear whatever snide, or sarcastic, or degrading remark he will say this time, and she leans up on tiptoe to press her mouth to his, her hammering heart counting away the seconds.
Then she has pulled away, and they are staring at each other; his eyes have narrowed and turned calculating, and she suddenly realises that she has fallen into the trap anyway.
~*~
The players are chosen and the build-up to the actual Senbatsu Junior Tournament begins. Hanamura still doesn't understand why Tezuka only placed Echizen as the reserve, but she has heard hints and rumours that there is more going on under the surface than it seems, and she has to reluctantly admit to herself that she does trust Tezuka's judgement in matters such as these. Still, part of her still feels pity at the thought that Echizen will most likely have no opportunity to prove himself.
She and Sakaki have continued to maintain a distant, strictly-professional relationship; neither of them has been willing to remain alone together for more than a few minutes since the kiss. He has never remarked on it, or even alluded to it vaguely, and while she is relieved at this, part of her cannot help but feel indignant at his immediate dismissal of her.
Perhaps she is just like all the other women who have thrown themselves at him, after all.
Then, just as she is beginning to load the last of her belongings into the car for the drive home, he makes his move. In hindsight, she probably should have realised that he had been biding his time to catch her unawares, but it is a move so uncharacteristic of him that it had genuinely never crossed her mind.
Hanamura is about to lock the door of her temporary office when she hears approaching footsteps. Looking up, she blinks and then says, "Yes, Sakaki-sensei?"
"A word," he says, walking right by her and opening the door of her office. She stares at his back for a moment, somewhat blankly, before following him. She has the good sense to close the door after her, and the room is suddenly encased in a tense silence that tightens with every passing moment.
If Sakaki feels the tension, he does not show it. He sits down in the office chair, facing her with neatly folded hands and a piercing gaze. It almost feels like she is one of his disgraced players, awaiting punishment, and the sensation is ridiculous enough that she abruptly straightens, squaring her shoulders and meeting his eyes directly.
"Yes?" she asks, crossing her arms, not caring that it's a defensive gesture. If she's being honest with herself, not that she truly cares much about something like that right now, she needs all the help she can get.
He quirks an eyebrow, something faintly resembling a smile crossing his lips, and he says, "Dinner."
"Excuse me?" she asks.
"Dinner. Friday night, if it suits you. Not a particularly extravagant restaurant, but enough that you should dress up reasonably well. I'll pick you up at eight," he adds.
Hanamura finally realises that he is, more or less, asking her out. (Asking out being, in his book, apparently, telling her the details and expecting her to follow them.) Pressing her lips together, her eyes narrow slightly, and she says, "Eight isn't that convenient, I'm afraid."
His expression doesn't change. "Eight-thirty, then," and his tone makes it clear that it'll be no later.
She stares at him, and wonders what he would do or say if she showed up in a faded top and ripped jeans for what is clearly a more formal occasion.
"Eight-thirty, then," she says; he agrees after a pause.
He leaves soon after, and she does her best to ignore how her body reacts when he brushes against her. She sags against the desk when he closes the door, breathing hard and closing her eyes as she struggles to compose herself. Damn arrogant bastard.
A brisk knock makes her eyes snap open and, taking a deep breath and turning to face the door, she calls, "Enter."
It's Kajimoto, his expression troubled.
She frowns at him, saying, "You three haven't left yet?"
He shakes his head. "Shinjyou and Wakato have already left; I'm going in a moment." His frown deepens, before he says, "Have you heard about Echizen and Kevin Smith?"
Kajimoto's explanation confirms most of the rumours and snippets that Hanamura has overheard in the last few days. It also explains - to a degree - Tezuka's refusal to recommend Echizen as an immediate team player, and Echizen's consequent sulk.
It doesn't make her feel any happier about the mess, however.
"Thank you for telling me," she tells her team's captain. This is more than a silly squabble between team members; this has the potential to affect the entire tournament, and she and Sakaki had deserved to be told. She can't help but feel troubled that Tezuka wouldn’t bother mentioning it, but it also shows that he still, in effect, considers himself to be more Seigaku's captain than a Senbatsu coach. Perhaps he still has far to go, himself.
Kajimoto is at the door when he stops, his hand on the handle, and then turns to look at her, his expression doubtful.
"Yes?" she asks.
"Hanamura-sensei," he begins, stops, glances down at the ground for a moment. He begins again, his voice gaining confidence the more he speaks. "There have been... rumours about you and Sakaki-sensei," he says, stumbling slightly over Sakaki's name; for all his maturity, Hanamura is suddenly struck by the fact that Kajimoto has only recently turned fifteen. "Atobe has been saying things."
"Atobe cannot be happy unless he is spreading discontent," she says, sharper than she had intended. Kajimoto gazes at her, his expression carefully neutral though she is certain that he knows how much Atobe fought against her while he was in her group; the thought of Sakaki blatantly overruling her and giving him a place on the team still galls her.
"All right," he says, turning back to the door. He opens it, and then adds over his shoulder, his eyes suddenly worried, "Please be careful."
On one hand, Hanamura can only be incredibly touched that Kajimoto can feel so worried about her; on the other hand, she has to wonder about how effective her teaching methods are, after all.
continue onwards!.
Author: Ria
Disclaimer: Not mine, really.
Rating: NC-17
Words: 11,500
Pairing: Hanamura/Sakaki
Warnings: ...het? (and sex)
Summary: He has her at hello and she will never tell anyone. She knows better than to believe that this is a fairy tale.
Notes: Written for solderini for santa_smex. With thanks to achiasa and veinvincere for all their help. This was quite a challenge to, but very enjoyable as well, and this would have been far worse without their help. Thank you both!
Seduction of Equals
He has her at hello.
It's never something she'll tell anyone, not even her mother when she visits a year later and demands to know exactly what is going on. Hanamura isn't particularly concerned about what her family thinks as she's always done the exact opposite of what they'd expected of her; going into the Sciences, getting qualified in Sports and Health Studies, and then abruptly deciding to teach and coach. Having them disapproving of her apparent relationships - or sometimes the severe lack of them - is only a furthering of a long-time disapproval.
No, what she is concerned about is how easily he has her at hello... and how it isn't even been a polite greeting at that.
She knows about him, of course; anyone with any desire towards getting their team to Nationals knows of Sakaki Tarou and his ruthless ethos of tennis and victory. Before Seigaku had found their genius freshman, Hyoutei and Rikkai Dai were the two schools to beat, the players who held the bar far out of the reach of normal students.
Japan's junior high tennis circuit is smaller and more intimate than it first appears, and it is brutally cut-throat as a result. Junior high teams who shine are noticed by the best high school teams; success from there may lead to university scholarships, to the best tennis programs, or even - at the highest levels - professional sponsorship. Any coach worth their salt is going to want their team to be noticed, and Hanamura is exactly like every other coach in that respect.
Coaches are respected and valued for varying attributes. Hanamura, eccentric though she may be considered, is well thought of in the Sports Science field, and sponsorship deals comes easier to Jyousei Shounan as a result. In three years, she has turned the school's sports success completely around, and its graduates are starting to slowly become noticed. She has high hopes for this year's final years, since the high school division had already begun noticing most of them in their freshman or second years.
Though most wouldn't notice it, Hanamura teaches her students to be as cutthroat as the system they are in. Most people underestimate the snake that smiles gently.
The first time she meets Sakaki, she has been in charge of Jyousei Shounan's sports curriculum for exactly forty-two days, thankful that she had read between the lines of her contract to recognise she had a shambles of a system to fix. Jyousei has always been considered a reputable school, though of only limited standards. She's determined to change this in regards to their sporting reputation within five years, newly appointed as she is. She's at a sports conference, waiting to listen to an authority in the field of the co-ordination method that she has recently begun advocating herself, when she's introduced to him through a mutual acquaintance.
She turns to meet a piercing, dispassionate gaze that makes her blink as her breath catches. His eyes narrow as he gives her a brief once-over.
"Jyousei Shounan," he says slowly, when the introductions have been made, and the faint sneer in his voice makes her hackles rise before she's been able to catch herself. "I see."
"A pleasure to meet you," she replies, not bothering to hide the icy edge to her voice, "I've heard a lot about you." Their mutual acquaintance twitches then, most likely from nerves due to their frosty reception of each other; most people - especially women - probably fling themselves at Sakaki's feet, Hanamura thinks. Of course, the rumour that he's filthy rich most likely helps, true to form for anyone who teaches at Hyoutei.
Hanamura has fought far too long and hard earning her place to be immediately dismissed by anyone, even a person who probably holds a lot of the strings and contacts in the junior high circuit.
The corners of his mouth quirk up as something almost like interest briefly gleams in his eyes; apparently, she has done something unlike most of the women he comes into contact with. "Likewise," he says, drawling, as his face lapses back into passiveness. And not much of it good is the unspoken remainder of his sentence. But even with a dreadfully cold attitude and closed-off expression, he's still been frustratingly handsome, and Hanamura fights not to grit her teeth even as she admits this to herself.
Handsome or not, it still doesn't change the fact that she is fast beginning to despise him.
Aware that her temper is quickly approaching breaking-point, she smiles - beware the woman who smiles - and says, "Forgive me, but I'm going to be late for a panel. It was a pleasure to meet you." She hurries off even before the responses are fully spoken, and she refuses to let herself hear them, determined not to listen to whatever rubbish comes out of his mouth.
At that moment, she tells herself that she will beat him. Her players will grind his into the dust, somehow, and she will beat him at his own methods. She just isn't sure how yet.
She has the fleeting worry that she is overreacting, but she quickly pushes that aside because it means that he has got to her. She has been affected by him, and that means that she is just like any other woman who has met him. She has heard the stories.
Hanamura had long ago sworn to herself that she would never be like the majority of brainless women out there. She is better than that; she deserves far better than that.
~*~
They're beaten by Seigaku this year, but, surprisingly, none of her team seems to mind. Even Shinjyou, when he recovers from the gall of being beaten by a freshman, is pleased with his progress, and Hanamura secretly sighs with relief that he has finally learned part of the lesson she has been trying to teach him. He still seems more concerned about making her proud than his team or himself, however, and she makes a mental note to discuss this with Kajimoto later.
Sakaki rings her the day after the defeat, and she grits her teeth when she hears his voice over the phone. Of all people, it would have to be him, of course.
"Your team has improved," he says abruptly, as soon as the polite necessities have been taken care of.
"Thank you," she replies after a moment, wondering what he means until she remembers that they now share something in common: Seigaku has beaten them both, and left them behind.
Now, at least, they share a common goal.
"But they still have far to go," he adds, his tone cool and dismissive, and she wonders how he still manages to make the words seem so damnably cordial when they are, in reality, purely insults. Any feelings of comradeship instantly evaporate, and she barely manages to stop herself from glaring at the receiver.
"As do yours," she says, reminding him that they, at least, had gone farther in Kantou than Hyoutei, despite Atobe's victory over Tezuka.
He snorts, as much as Sakaki Tarou allows himself to snort, and says, "I look forward to the Junior Senbatsu Camp," the barely masked goading clear in his voice.
Her fingers tighten around the receiver until her knuckles whiten, and she replies, calmly and sweetly, "As do I; it is assured of being very interesting, so many talented players together at once." She's almost brutal in her closing greetings, jabbing her phone off hard enough to break the button. And then, safely alone, she loudly swears, damning the male sex in general to an assuredly uncomfortable afterlife.
Hanamura brings Kajimoto into her office a few weeks later and tells him about the Junior Senbatsu Camp. They agree that Shinjyou and Wakato are the ones to bring along, despite the fact that Kantou has taught everyone, herself included, some valuable lessons. He is enthusiastic, as she has come to expect from him; grave and serious though he may be, he is still passionate about what he loves, and tennis is one of these things.
She explains the basic layout of the Camp and what to expect, and tells him that Seigaku's Ryuzaki and Hyoutei's Sakaki will be in charge along with herself. She doesn't need to tell him why - Ryuzaki for her experience, Sakaki for his reputation, and herself for her unusual methods - since any self-respecting student keeps track of rival schools, including their coaches, and she isn't surprised when his eyes practically light up.
"It will be a fantastic opportunity to learn from them both!" he says, his eagerness almost bubbling in his voice, and she smiles slightly.
"Yes," she agrees, and doesn't tell him about the phone call she had received from Sakaki.
Watching Kajimoto bow and leave her office, Hanamura cannot help but wistfully hope that at least one of her players will make some sort of favourable impression on Sakaki.
~*~
The opening day of the Junior Senbatsu camp dawns calm and clear, and Hanamura is already feeling optimistic about what the day will bring. Traffic isn't even as infuriating as usual and she arrives with time to spare, humming under her breath as she locks the car.
Turning, she realises that she's being watched and almost manages to swallow the urge to laugh when she sees Seigaku staring at her. Spotting Echizen, she smiles and says, "It's been a while, hasn't it, Echizen-kun?"
The boy visibly resists the urge to scowl at her, perhaps conscious of Ryuzaki beside them, and Hanamura ignores the others as she walks over to Ryuzaki.
"Ryuzaki-sensei, it's nice to see you," she says, still smiling. She feels mildly pleased when the woman blinks, before returning the smile and pleasant greetings. They make idle small talk, mostly for the benefit of Seigaku's players, before the other schools begin arriving and everyone starts assembling for the opening lectures.
- Except for one.
Hanamura tries to hide her frown as she checks her watch yet again, as Ryuzaki asks her what's wrong. "Well... there's still one person who isn't here," she explains, projecting a worried tone into her voice even as she fumes inside. It's utterly typical that he would pull this sort of the thing on the first day, but it's regrettably what she has come to expect from him.
Right on cue, a taxi pulls up, and Hanamura allows herself a brief laugh as she admires his gall. "Ah! Speak of the devil," she murmurs as Sakaki turns and regards them.
Ryuzaki says, "That's just like Sakaki-kun, isn't it?"
Absolutely, Hananmura thinks as Sakaki climbs onto the dais and stands beside her. There might as well be a stone wall between them for all the attention he gives her, even as they exchange brief nods.
In the very first meeting of her group, Hanamura has confirmed what she has expected all along: Atobe is most definitely the product of Sakaki's methods. She also wonders exactly what Atobe has heard, since he seems determined to publicly provoke and undermine her. But he's little match for her, and she can feel a smile stretching across her lips that she is positive doesn't reach her eyes.
"While you're in my group, you'll follow my methods," she tells him. But there is a blatant challenge in her words when she adds, "Got it, Atobe-kun?" and she's churlishly pleased when his eyes narrow as he laughs. The gauntlet has been thrown down.
~*~
Hanamura purses her lips, her fingers tightening on her cup. "I don't think that is the best course of action," she finally says, trying to keep her tone as neutral as possible for appearance's sake.
Ryuzaki shrugs, holding up the teapot; Hanamura nods and lets her refill her cup. "They wish to sort this out themselves," Ryuzaki says. "I admit that I have to admire their sense of independence and responsibility." Of course, Hanamura isn't surprised that this is the stance she's taking; Ryuzaki is known for her hands-free attitude towards tennis, further evidenced by the control Tezuka has over his team.
This isn't to say that she expects Kajimoto to tell her what was going on; as much control as she herself exerts over Jyousei Shounan's tennis team, she has also trained them all, especially Kajimoto, to consider themselves their own motivator. Shinjyou is the only one to have any severe problems with this attitude, but that also isn't very surprising.
Still, she isn't sure how much she approves of letting a set of teenage boys solve this situation. If her opinions of teenage boys in general are to be applied, violence is going to occur sooner rather than later. Ryuxaki had called the meeting after she had overheard the boys talking about Kirihara's accident during practice; none of them seem to realise that their coaches see and hear far more than they are given credit for.
"Sakaki-san," she asks at last, "what do you think?" She truly doesn't want to have to be the one to draw him into the discussion, but so far he hasn't shown any inclination to make his opinions known and Ryuzaki is far too complacent to even try and force him to.
He eyes her for a moment, before saying, "They are strong enough to have made it this far; they will surely be able to settle a disagreement between themselves." His tone, managing to be dismissive and sarcastic at once, stings almost like a physical blow; Hanamura recoils as if she has actually been struck, frowning.
"I see." She's eerily reminded of some of the friction that has already occurred between Hyoutei and Jyousei Shounan, specifically that between Kajimoto and Shishido, and Atobe and Wakato.
Ryuzaki finally seems to realise that there is something more than friendly rivalry going on, and looks between them with growing concern. "If there are difficulties between you that go beyond our coaching, I advise you to put them aside until after hours," she says sternly, forcing them both to meet her gaze. "Arguing amongst ourselves is not what we are here to do; we'll leave that up to the boys."
Hanamura looks away first, furious with herself for allowing her emotions to get the better of her. Sakaki appears almost personally affronted to have it implied that he has let anything get out of hand.
The meeting quickly adjourns, and it takes all of Hanamura's willpower not to go to Sakaki's rooms that night, stand in his doorway, and scream at him until he finally understands.
Instead, she writes a scathing email that she never sends. In the morning, she rereads it and immediately hits delete.
~*~
She takes a deep breath and taps her files neatly into a pile as she tries to gather her thoughts and rein in her temper at the same time. She can honestly say she has never met a man who can incense her quite as much as Sakaki can, simply by doing and saying nothing.
"Until Ryuzaki-san's successor arrives," she says, "we're going to have to work together. Therefore - " We're going to have to stop the snide remarks, she thinks, keeping her expression as carefully blank as her inward irritation will allow. "Therefore, I recommend you take over as general manager," she says instead. Perhaps he thinks she's mocking him by being as cool and aloof as he is; frankly, she has more important things to worry about, and so stops that train of thought before it even has a proper chance to take off.
He raises an eyebrow. "I see." It galls her to admit it, but he has been Hyoutei's coach for far longer than she has been Jyousei Shounan's and his reputation far surpasses hers; it is the logical decision.
"Tezuka-kun will be here shortly," Hanamura continues, flicking through the files of Ryuzaki's group, including Kajimoto's. "Oishi-kun seems to have taken temporary leadership of the group." Hardly surprising, considering Oishi's sense of responsibility. Watching him as they played Seigaku during Kantou, she had come to the conclusion that Oishi would never make a true leader himself, though his sense of obligation and responsibility meant that he would easily be manipulated into it on a temporary basis; there has to be a genuine reason Tezuka had appointed him as fukubuchou.
Sakaki takes a sip of tea, his expression thoughtful as he lowers the cup. Hanamura watches him, intrigued, as he says, "The reaction to Tezuka-kun being appointed as a coach will be interesting."
She nods; there's no point in disagreeing with him, since she's also been wondering about Ryuzaki's decision to appoint a teenage boy, even one of Tezuka's calibre, as her replacement.
Tezuka's unexpected reappearance naturally causes a flurry of excitement; however, since they are at a boys' tennis camp the excitement quickly turns to challenges that Tezuka prove himself to them. Watching Kajimoto stand and very politely demand Tezuka to prove herself, Hanamura allows herself to feel satisfied at his progress. Even given the fact that Tezuka is an almost ridiculously highly ranked player, Kajimoto takes his own game and potential place on the Junior Senbatsu team seriously enough that he refuses to simply accept the decision that has been made unbeknownst to the rest of the players. It's a relief to see that one of her players, at least, has taken her teachings to heart.
But this still doesn't mean that she isn't furious with him when she and Sakaki watch the players try their hand against Tezuka. Grimacing as Kajimoto falls prey almost immediately to the Tezuka Zone, she makes a mental note to discuss this with him this evening, even if he is not strictly in her group at this camp. If Kajimoto ever has any hope of advancing himself in the high school circuit, he's going to have to stop taking what people say at face value. Yes, Tezuka is still in the midst of rehabilitation; however, Tezuka's standards are so high that what he would consider practice, others would consider a fairly serious game.
"Disappointed in your prize captain?" Sakaki asks neutrally, without looking at her as he speaks. She's noticed in the day or so they were solely in charge, waiting for Tezuka to obtain permission to return to Japan, that she must have finally begun proving herself to him. She's reminded that their schools have never crossed paths in any tournament; he's never seen her actually coach except for at the camp, when she had been in the stands during Atobe's astonishing match with Tezuka. She had gradually noticed that Sakaki hadn't become flustered at any point during the game.
Or perhaps he's simply impressed because she's managing to handle Atobe.
"No," she says at last, after giving the question some deliberation. "I will admit that I am disappointed he fell under the Zone's trap so quickly," she continues as Shishido steps up to try against Tezuka. "I thought I had taught Kajimoto-kun better than that."
"It is nothing to be ashamed of," Sakaki says, his eyes still on the court. "All of those talented enough to play in Singles One fall victim to Tezuka Kunimitsu if they face Seishun Gakuen; he is of the highest standard, after all, and automatically dismisses second best. Even Atobe's victory against him in Kantou was unsatisfactory."
She still remembers that match, how her blood had thrilled at the playing skill on show before her. At that moment, if she had been forced to choose between Tezuka and Echizen, she still wasn't sure who she would have ended up picking to develop.
"Sometimes," Hanamura murmurs, "I think that Ryuzaki-sensei doesn’t realise how lucky she is to have been able to shape Echizen Nanjiroh, and then to have Tezuka-kun and Echizen-kun scarcely a few years apart."
"Oh, she knows," Sakaki says, something almost akin to superiority lurking in his voice. "Never underestimate her; she's being doing this longer than either of us, and there's a reason that she hasn't retired yet." Though now she is lying in a hospital bed suffering from exhaustion, and maybe it is the reality of her situation that causes them to fall silent for several moments.
Sakaki breaks the silence by saying, "Come to my office tonight; I wish to go through your early considerations for the Senbatsu team."
She raises an eyebrow. "Of course," she says at last. "That would be fine." She doesn't ask whether he's being friendly because he's finally realised that she's more than a pretty face, or because he wishes to undermine her in some way, or maybe because he possibly does believe whatever Atobe has been telling him about her.
In the end, she chooses to go because, at the very least, she'll be able to pick his brain about his possible choices for the team, and she most definitely respects his tennis sense above everything else about him.
~*~
Sakaki doesn't even bother to hide his amusement this time as he pours coffee into a cup for her and holds it out. "Hanamura-sensei," he says, smiling slightly, pouring another cup for himself.
"Sakaki-sensei," she replies, unable to pretend to hide the fury in her voice. She holds the cup to her mouth and the scent of the coffee calms her for a moment; she takes a long breath, and then sips, gathering her control as she decides where to begin.
"I do not appreciate being publicly undermined before all of the players," she says, eyeing him as she places the cup down. "Even the students picked up on the tension between us yesterday before Sanada-kun and Atobe-kun played."
"Ah, but you were the one who openly used sarcasm," Sakaki points out, unruffled, watching her for a moment before turning his attention to the contents of his cup. "And the players are not so stupid that they cannot pick up on sarcasm when it is being used right before them."
She grits her teeth. "I was not implying any stupidity; rather, I was pointing out that we both acted less than professionally." Sakaki raises an eyebrow. Hanamura takes a large gulp of coffee, attempting to steady herself rather than give into her primary desire to begin screaming at him.
Or possibly kiss him, as much as the desire infuriates her, but screaming at him seems like it would result in much more satisfaction.
Perhaps her anger is due to Sakaki publicly undermining her by granting permission for Atobe and Sanada to play their match, or perhaps it is because her group went behind her back to watch it - she is positive that, had Kabaji and Wakato not been playing a match, they too would have gone to see it. Regardless, her temper had been rising even before Sakaki had told Sanada and Atobe they were both chosen for the Senbatsu team without even consulting her or Tezuka.
As if guessing her thoughts, Sakaki says, "So you did not agree with my decision to accept Sanada and Atobe as Senbatsu members?"
"What else could I do apart, but agree?" she replies, furious with herself for how weary her voice suddenly sounds. Publicly disagreeing with Sakaki would have been disastrous for the entire camp and, since Sakaki was now also in the capacity of general manager, she needs a far better reason than overall irritation to disagree with him.
Or maybe she just doesn't particularly want Atobe rewarded for disobeying her to such a degree, but she isn't going to bring that up.
Sakaki frowns at her, opening his mouth, and then closes it at a polite knock at the door; seconds later, Tezuka walks in and sits down at the table with them. He politely declines the coffee Hanamura offers him (again; does the boy drink nothing but tea?) and they quickly get down to business.
Sakaki's abrupt decision is only briefly discussed, Tezuka either unaware of the underlying politics or deliberately choosing to ignore them. Sometimes Hanamura can only wonder at him, a boy who seems never to have been young. He is more serious than either of them at times, or gives a good impression of it, at least, and if he holds grudges, he hides them well.
She is slowly beginning to wonder that if she had ever been given the opportunity to develop Tezuka Kunimitsu, would she have succeeded even a little.
The meeting ends with Sakaki handing Tezuka a piece of paper with the names of those in his group neatly printed upon it. "Put a circle next to the members you recommend," he tells him, and his expression is thoughtful and considering as he watches Tezuka; clearly, his interest has been piqued by Tezuka's abilities and the question of who he will ultimately choose. Hanamura tries not to sigh as she rises and begins to tidy her own papers.
The door has closed after Tezuka and she is about to leave herself when Sakaki suddenly says, "Hanamura-sensei."
She turns to look at him and then blinks; he is standing right behind her and she has to look up to meet his gaze. It's one of the disadvantages to constantly being in sneakers, she thinks as she says, "Yes?"
He doesn't say anything for a moment, instead gazing down at her. She begins to frown, and then realises how close they are; she struggles not to take a step back.
It's an effort not to give in to her suddenly thumping heart, but she knows that succumbing to this utterly girlish notion, what could practically be termed a ridiculous crush, is possibly the worst idea she could have. There would be no better way for her to completely destroy the reputation she has painstakingly built during the camp.
He opens his mouth to speak; she suddenly cannot stand to hear whatever snide, or sarcastic, or degrading remark he will say this time, and she leans up on tiptoe to press her mouth to his, her hammering heart counting away the seconds.
Then she has pulled away, and they are staring at each other; his eyes have narrowed and turned calculating, and she suddenly realises that she has fallen into the trap anyway.
~*~
The players are chosen and the build-up to the actual Senbatsu Junior Tournament begins. Hanamura still doesn't understand why Tezuka only placed Echizen as the reserve, but she has heard hints and rumours that there is more going on under the surface than it seems, and she has to reluctantly admit to herself that she does trust Tezuka's judgement in matters such as these. Still, part of her still feels pity at the thought that Echizen will most likely have no opportunity to prove himself.
She and Sakaki have continued to maintain a distant, strictly-professional relationship; neither of them has been willing to remain alone together for more than a few minutes since the kiss. He has never remarked on it, or even alluded to it vaguely, and while she is relieved at this, part of her cannot help but feel indignant at his immediate dismissal of her.
Perhaps she is just like all the other women who have thrown themselves at him, after all.
Then, just as she is beginning to load the last of her belongings into the car for the drive home, he makes his move. In hindsight, she probably should have realised that he had been biding his time to catch her unawares, but it is a move so uncharacteristic of him that it had genuinely never crossed her mind.
Hanamura is about to lock the door of her temporary office when she hears approaching footsteps. Looking up, she blinks and then says, "Yes, Sakaki-sensei?"
"A word," he says, walking right by her and opening the door of her office. She stares at his back for a moment, somewhat blankly, before following him. She has the good sense to close the door after her, and the room is suddenly encased in a tense silence that tightens with every passing moment.
If Sakaki feels the tension, he does not show it. He sits down in the office chair, facing her with neatly folded hands and a piercing gaze. It almost feels like she is one of his disgraced players, awaiting punishment, and the sensation is ridiculous enough that she abruptly straightens, squaring her shoulders and meeting his eyes directly.
"Yes?" she asks, crossing her arms, not caring that it's a defensive gesture. If she's being honest with herself, not that she truly cares much about something like that right now, she needs all the help she can get.
He quirks an eyebrow, something faintly resembling a smile crossing his lips, and he says, "Dinner."
"Excuse me?" she asks.
"Dinner. Friday night, if it suits you. Not a particularly extravagant restaurant, but enough that you should dress up reasonably well. I'll pick you up at eight," he adds.
Hanamura finally realises that he is, more or less, asking her out. (Asking out being, in his book, apparently, telling her the details and expecting her to follow them.) Pressing her lips together, her eyes narrow slightly, and she says, "Eight isn't that convenient, I'm afraid."
His expression doesn't change. "Eight-thirty, then," and his tone makes it clear that it'll be no later.
She stares at him, and wonders what he would do or say if she showed up in a faded top and ripped jeans for what is clearly a more formal occasion.
"Eight-thirty, then," she says; he agrees after a pause.
He leaves soon after, and she does her best to ignore how her body reacts when he brushes against her. She sags against the desk when he closes the door, breathing hard and closing her eyes as she struggles to compose herself. Damn arrogant bastard.
A brisk knock makes her eyes snap open and, taking a deep breath and turning to face the door, she calls, "Enter."
It's Kajimoto, his expression troubled.
She frowns at him, saying, "You three haven't left yet?"
He shakes his head. "Shinjyou and Wakato have already left; I'm going in a moment." His frown deepens, before he says, "Have you heard about Echizen and Kevin Smith?"
Kajimoto's explanation confirms most of the rumours and snippets that Hanamura has overheard in the last few days. It also explains - to a degree - Tezuka's refusal to recommend Echizen as an immediate team player, and Echizen's consequent sulk.
It doesn't make her feel any happier about the mess, however.
"Thank you for telling me," she tells her team's captain. This is more than a silly squabble between team members; this has the potential to affect the entire tournament, and she and Sakaki had deserved to be told. She can't help but feel troubled that Tezuka wouldn’t bother mentioning it, but it also shows that he still, in effect, considers himself to be more Seigaku's captain than a Senbatsu coach. Perhaps he still has far to go, himself.
Kajimoto is at the door when he stops, his hand on the handle, and then turns to look at her, his expression doubtful.
"Yes?" she asks.
"Hanamura-sensei," he begins, stops, glances down at the ground for a moment. He begins again, his voice gaining confidence the more he speaks. "There have been... rumours about you and Sakaki-sensei," he says, stumbling slightly over Sakaki's name; for all his maturity, Hanamura is suddenly struck by the fact that Kajimoto has only recently turned fifteen. "Atobe has been saying things."
"Atobe cannot be happy unless he is spreading discontent," she says, sharper than she had intended. Kajimoto gazes at her, his expression carefully neutral though she is certain that he knows how much Atobe fought against her while he was in her group; the thought of Sakaki blatantly overruling her and giving him a place on the team still galls her.
"All right," he says, turning back to the door. He opens it, and then adds over his shoulder, his eyes suddenly worried, "Please be careful."
On one hand, Hanamura can only be incredibly touched that Kajimoto can feel so worried about her; on the other hand, she has to wonder about how effective her teaching methods are, after all.
continue onwards!.