Arc: Hearts and Spades

Ebook cover for the arc

Mizuki and Yuuta both find a way to go on after the defeat at Prefecturals, Yuuta as a new captain and Mizuki as a different player. Manga continuity, mild manga spoilers throughout. Mizuki/Yuuta/Mizuki.

Foundations and Extensions

Mizuki studies the opposition, looking for the things he missed last time. Drama, I-3

He was starting to think that it wasn’t his facts that had been wrong, exactly. They just hadn’t been enough, and he’d been missing some pieces.

Especially some of those strange pieces that changed every time he looked at them.

Palm to Palm

Mizuki comes across Yuuta practicing and they have words; and a match; and maybe another epiphany. Drama with Pre-Romance, I-3

Using a shot that wore so hard on his body, Yuuta would never last three more years at this rate! What was the boy thinking? How was Hajime supposed to draw Yuuta back, year after next, if he went on like this?

Steel and Cypress

After watching the National semifinals, Mizuki wrestles with his ambitions and fears—at least until Yuuta gives him a push. Drama with Romance, I-4

Hajime’s mouth quirked. What a spot to put himself in, a sensible, logical person agreeing to go forward alongside this firebrand and push both of them to the edge and beyond.

Percentage by Volume

Yuuta puts some work into repairing Mizuki’s reputation among the St. Rudolph tennis club. Drama with Romance, I-3

“I didn’t do that with any special skill or talent,” he said, flatly. “I could do it because I’ve been working my ass off, according to a training schedule Mizuki-san made.” He paused to let that sink in, and to catch his breath. “Now. Do you want to be able to do that?”

Cotton Sheets

Mizuki and Yuuta have some pillow-talk about the ongoing tournaments and more about names. Romance with Light Porn, I-4

Once he made up his mind to something, Yuuta had no self-consciousness Hajime had been able to discover, and he seemed perfectly content to lie in bed naked and discuss tennis while Hajime’s hands wandered over him.

Patience and Concentration

A year and a half later, Mizuki and Yuuta have some more hot sex for very good reasons. Porn with Characterization, I-4

“So, I’m evil?” Hajime-san murmured against Yuuta’s shoulder, after a moment.

Yuuta laughed. “Yep. I like it that you are.” He tangled his fingers with Hajime-san’s and pulled his hand close to kiss the knuckles. “It’s fun.”