Of Cats and Crows (Sugawara Koushi)

Red and White

Friday came fast. Mitsumi jogged to the train station after class. She was off to the training center to finish her hiring process. The butterflies in her stomach had been endless, and she wasn't even going for practice yet. It felt weird going out in the middle of the afternoon. In her mind, she was supposed to be in class. However, her Friday classes were all in the morning. And she had piano accompanying that evening right before volleyball practice.

Coach Momo was waiting in her office. Today was an exciting day. Each of her new team members was coming in to get their access badge and measurements taken for their uniforms. She heard a knock on the door and turned around in her chair. "Come in!"

Mitsumi walked in and bowed. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting."

"Not at all! You're right on time!" The black-haired coach beamed. "I'm glad you got here safely. Take a seat." Momo slid a folder across her desk. "I wanted to give you your badge and locker information before practice starts on Tuesday." She reached into a drawer and handed Mitsumi a white lanyard with bold red lettering with the team name. "Here's this for your badges, and I just need you to sign something I forgot to email to you." She pulled a paper off of the printer.

Mitsumi took a seat and stamped her signature on the paper after quickly reviewing it. It was a medical release form, something that was incredibly important. She looked through the folder and scanned over each of the papers in there. There was a map of the training center, the list of center facilities and their hours, the team and pay schedule, and where her locker was. She attached her plastic enclosed badge onto the lanyard before putting it on.

"Here we go." Mitsumi handed Momo the form with a soft smile. "Anything else?"

"That's all the paperwork. How is school going so far?" The Coach wanted to make sure that the three University students they had brought on were doing okay.

"It's been oddly quiet so far. I quit my office job, so I have more time to get everything done." Mitsumi was being honest. School life was going eerily well. It was as if the ultimate balance had finally been achieved. "I have some accompanying gigs tonight, but that's nothing."

The woman smiled back. "I can't help with music, but I offered the other two help if there is anything I can do." She remembered something and reached into her desk once again. "Oh, here is your pin for your TokyoU jacket." It was a gold globe pin that had the Japanese flag in the center. "The managers are in the uniform office helping to take measurements. Usui should be ready for you."

"Of course! Before I forget, you asked me for my class schedule." Mitsumi handed her a folder from her bag. "Let me know if you need anything!" She stood up slowly. Her legs were trembling from her anxious energy. This wasn't the first time she had done any of this. It was the same process as the youth team.

She bid farewell to the coach and walked through the familiar office building. Part of her was hoping that Saki was around.

Mitsumi Chie: Oi, are you guys here?

Sasaki Saki: I just finished my fitting.

Akira Momoe: Yeah, I just got here. I'm headed to the office right now.

Mitsumi Chie: Oh, I just finished there. I'm headed to my fitting.

Sasaki Saki: Madoka-san and Nagisa-san are down here too. Don't embarrass yourself by puking all over the place.

Akira Momoe: *sent a shocked expression gif*

Mitsumi Chie: I hope you get rekt on the way back to Miyagi.

Akira Momoe: Settle down you two. Let's go out for food once we are all done!

Mitsumi sighed and walked into the uniform office. She looked at the receptionist and held up her badge. "I'm here for a fitting."