Secrets, Socials, and Seigaku

Chapter 19

The next day I decided to take another trip to Seigaku. I figured that I had nothing else to do until this evening, when I have to go meet Nanjiro, so I would go support them in their training. Once again I skateboarded up to the gates of Seigaku and made my way around to the back. Only to be surprised by some bushes ruffling off to the side. I abruptly stopped and looked over to them. I saw the lens of a camera, so I did what any normal person would do in a situation like that.

I partially took one of my sneakers off my foot and kicked at the hidden camera lens. My shoe went flying through the air until it landed directly at my aimed target. “Goal!” I called out pumping a fist in the air. 

All I heard was. “Crap! My camera!”

“They’ve spotted us run!” I saw two boys about my age in school uniforms get up and make a run for it as if expecting me to chase after them. I was repelled at the thought. Although it looked like a piece of cake to win that game against Shinji yesterday that’s certainly not what it felt like today. My legs were absolutely killing me. As soon as I get to the team I would definitely have to search my bag for some painkillers. I forgot how hard the meticulous sport could be if you didn’t warm-up properly. I walked over to the empty bushes in front of me and grabbed my sneaker before lacing it back on my sore feet.  I then set out to the tennis club not even thinking twice about the previous encounter I had.

As I skated up to the courts I immediately stopped at the sight before me. There must have been at least fifty kids that were surrounding the tennis courts watching the regulars. Not to mention they were all boys that I had never seen before wearing our school uniform. I put one hand on top of my head. “What the heck is going on around here?” I asked to no one in particular.

But apparently ‘no one in particular’ wanted to answer back. “They’re all scouts from other schools.” A voice said in my ear.

I jumped and quickly spun around ready to kill whoever was behind me. I breathed out in relief when I saw who it was. I put one hand over my heart. “God, Inui, please don’t scare me like that. I almost had a heart attack.” I said still trying to recover my breath.

Inui simply fixed his glasses and opened his book to write something down. I heard him mumble something like. “Quick reflexes, but scares easily.” 

I twitched at this. “I do not scare easily! You just caught me off guard!” I said defending my pride.

He just nodded again. “Stubborn too.” He added to his data.

I was trying to hold myself back from killing him until Sakuno came up to me with Tomoko right behind her. Inui and me looked at her in question. “Can I help you with something?” I asked in a non-offending tone.

She just looked to the ground and started blushing. “Um, well, that is..” she said debating on what to tell her seniors.

Then Tomoko stepped up. “She wanted to say she was sorry about what happened yesterday! Captain Tachibana explained to her what you did out on the court and why you said that stuff to her when she started to apologize!” she said annoyed with the whole situation.

I glared at the ground knowing that Tachibana had let my secret out. He should really have kept that to himself it was none of his business anyway. He better hope i don't see him again. 

“T-thank y-you.” She stuttered out. “If it wasn’t for you stopping me then Ryoma…would have been…” she trailed off thinking about what could have possibly happened of I didn’t stop her. I smiled at the innocent girl before me and once again put my hand on her head before crouching down to her level. I was ‘5’6’ so I had to majorly crouch down to be eye-to-eye with the braided brunette.

“Listen,” I said. “You know the reason I said those things were so you wouldn’t beat yourself up about it later, like you are right now.” I pointed out. “Besides,” I said with a smile. “You were only trying to help him right? No wrong can come from that.” I said positively.

Sakuno stood there stunned at my lecture before smiling back. “T-thank you.” She said once again.

I gripped her head a little harder before shaking it a bit. I looked down at her playfully glaring. “Hey! No more ‘thank you’s’ either! I didn’t do anything to earn them.” I said before getting back up and patting her head.

She smiled at me. “Okay!” she said brightly.

Tomoko butted in. “Okay, okay we’re all friends again! Now will you show her!”? Tomoko pleaded.

I looked at her confused. “Show me what?” I asked. 

She just smiled and said, “Follow me.” Before grabbing Sakuno’s arm and dragging Sakuno with her. I looked toward Inui and nodded he returned the gesture before I ran off after the two of them.

I smiled at what I ended up seeing. Sakuno had bought a toy that I used to have when I was little. It was a ball with a string attached to it that was attached to something that went in the ground. What you did was you would hit it and then the ball would just come back to you. I smiled at the toy before me. “How long have you had this?” I asked excited.

“We just got it today” She replied shyly.

I bent down and grabbed the ball with my hand and tossed it to her. She caught it accordingly. “Well, give it a shot.” I said encouragingly.

She smiled lightly at me before nodding her head and getting into position with her racket. She went to throw the ball up and hit it, but instead she ended up swinging at this air. Tomoka scolded her. “Oy, Sakuno your ever going to be as good as Echizen then you’re going to have to be better than this!” she said. 

She looked down at the ground. “Sorry.” She said depressed with her work. 

I tried to cheer her up. “It’s fine you only just started, right? How about you watch me do it? Maybe you’ll grasp what to work on then.” I suggested with excitement at trying the childs toy. "besides, Rome wasn't built in a day."

She nodded happily and handed me the racket. I picked up the neon ball and threw it up in the air before swinging at the ball. Soon I was having a rally with myself. “Wow Clair, as expected of the person who beat Shinji, your amazing!” Tomoka cheered in delight.

I smiled at the compliment as I kept the rally up. I almost missed the next ball due to the white pair of shoes that my eyes came across. I looked up to see the owner. A guy about my age once again who was wearing a different uniform. Obviously scouting out the players. He smiled at me with crystal blue eyes. “As expected of Seigaku not only do they have pretty girls, but good tennis players too.” He said eyeing me.