When You Smile - Complete

Chapter Three - Instructor

Chapter Three - Instructor

"So, how was your afternoon, Miyako?" Kara asked.

"Rather dull. I felt so lazy for doing no exercise. I can't wait to play tennis this afternoon." Miyako replied.

"Nn, all those chores you said you were going to do...they sounded hard."

"Mum stopped me when I tried to clean the toilets." Miyako stated, still feeling a little annoyed. "And Kaiya's told her all about Tezuka-senpai and now for some reason Mum thinks I should talk to him more." She said, frustratingly shoving a piece of hastily made sushi into her mouth.

Kara giggled. "He is cute though."

"Whether he is or not isn't the point here, Kara." Miyako corrected. "He hates me. I know he does. He glares at me and he was mad that I couldn't keep a better eye on Kaiya. As if I didn't feel worse about it already..."

"I don't think he was mad...I think he didn't want Kaiya-chan to get hurt again." Kara said. "I mean, I can't judge because I wasn't there - but the way you said he looked over her injury and the advice he gave. It doesn't seem like the kind of behaviour of a person who would be at all cruel."

"But he is cruel. The guy who let the ball hit Kaiya, he had to run fifty laps."

Kara burst into giggling fits. "That's awesome; I wish I'd been there to see him suffer." She paused and suspiciously looked at Miyako. "Beyond that though, you didn't deny that Tezuka-senpai is cute."

Miyako splattered into her drink bottle, flushing red.

"Yo, Miyako-san."

Both girls looked up as Momo walked over and leaned one handed against Miyako's desk.

"Are you going to practice this afternoon?" Momo asked.

Miyako nodded. "I need to get two days worth of practice in to make up for yesterday, why?"

"This is from the Captain." Momo said, handing over a folded sheet of paper.

Miyako flushed darker as she carefully took the paper, as though she was afraid that it would burst into flames. "Tezuka-senpai?"

"Yup. He said something about wanting to talk with you about Monday afternoon." Momo replied, shrugging indifferently.

Dread filled every fibre of her being as she thought of what he could possibly say to her - or if he'd make her run laps. He probably would.

"Oooh~!" Kara cooed. "What does it say?"

"I'm not showing you." Miyako said defensively, holding the note away from her friend. "I'll read it later when you can't read it over my shoulder." She informed her and carefully placed it into her racquet bag, where it would definitely be safe.

That didn't keep Kara from insisting over and over again that Miyako should read it as soon as she should - in other words: right then and there so that Kara could know what it said. Miyako however wasn't going to fall for that. She'd had experience with this kind of thing when Kaiya was concerned and was very good at ignoring the persistent.

Once the bell for the end of class rang, Miyako stealthily slipped the note out of her racquet bag and opened it under her desk before slipping it under her book to carefully read it without getting caught by the teacher.

'Self regret will get you nowhere in life. Meet me at the half-courts after school. I expect you to have your racquet ready. Tezuka.'

How did he know....? She looked over at Momo who was slumped over his desk, hiding behind his text book as he slept. He must have told Tezuka everything. She glared in his direction, then sighed and reread the note. Then read it again.