"So you think you are better than I am?"

"Absolutely."

"How confident."

"Of course, I have every right to be!"

"Oh? How so?"

"Because I am the best. Quite simple, really."

"What makes you think there is no one better than you?"

"You mean yourself? Forget it! I've never lost before and I don't plan on losing today either. And certainly not against you!"

"Hmm... We shall see."

"That, we shall. Take this!" Smack, swoosh.

"That, I can take." Smack, swoosh.

"Oh, nice return. But not nearly as nice as this!" Smack, swoosh.

"Such arrogance from you. Face it, yo-" Swish, thump.

"Ha! In your face, Byakuya! Told you, you can't take me!"

"It was the wind. This proves nothing." Smack, swoosh.

"Sure it was. And this, was this also the wind?" Smack, swoosh.

"No, that was you hitting like a girl." Smack, swoosh.

"I am a girl, you dumbass!" Smack, swoosh.

"And that excuses what, exactly?" Smack, swoosh. Swish, thump.

"Tha- that was… Ugh! That doesn't count; there was a hole in the ground!" Smack, swoosh.

"If you say so." Smack, swoosh.

And so they went on and on and on, throwing words at each other and arguing back and forth for the rest of the afternoon. With Byakuya pretending he wasn't letting her win and with her pretending not to notice – badminton was her favorite, after all.

But regardless of the end score, both emerged from the match with a feeling of victory. And it had much less to do with the sport itself than it had with the other person and being able to spend time together.

---

"I told you I would win!"

"So you did..."

"I was right!"

"If it makes you happy..."