Admiration, Respect, Tennis...And Love?

Chapter 5

"Mate, Inui!"

oh?

I look back in curiosity, pushing my glasses up my nose, Eiji run to catch up with me and Fuji head my way too, but on a more sedate pace, what would Eiji want with me?

Chances that he'd call after me once today's tennis practice was over, 20%.

He hunch on his knees, regaining his breath, then look at my face with a unusual smile on his face, "I heard that you were asking sensei about a especial someone, is it true?"

especial someone?

I blink in confusion and then tilt my head, "I am unsure what you are implying with your words, as a matter of fact I do not remember asking sensei anything about anyone in particular, besides she is the one who usually ask my opinion about different players"

He look at me with an unusually intense gaze, "are you sure about that?"

I quirk a brow, and push my glasses up, "100%"

"b-but Fujiko said-"

Fuji place a hand on Eiji's shoulder and turn to face me with his usual grin, "I overheard you talking with sensei about a girl, a second year if I am not mistaken"

sensei? a girl? from second year?

My eyes widen in realization and nod to myself, "right, I now know what you are referring to, I bring to sensei's attention that Higurashi Masayo-san, a female tennis player who originally joined for extra credit, and a regular and the best player on their team right now, from second year, should be given, if possible, personal training, that or been allowed to train with the male regulars a few days per week since her skill as tennis player has improved greatly and is far superior to her teammates, in fact she should be able to defeat any of the male second years, not including Kaidoh nor Momoshiro, with a probability of 98,5%, and that she is the best if not the only candidate fitted for the spot of capitan for next year, chances that she would be selected through is really low, after all in the female tennis club is not a matter of suitability what decide a capitan, but a popularity contest of sorts, in fact she should be appointed capitan right away, even if that is doubtful, since she seems to be the one that takes her training most seriously from the few girls that are, in fact, serious about their training"

Fuji humm in understanding, cupping his chin and nod, "I see, that make sense, I wonder how would she fare against us..."

I chuckle to myself and push my glasses up, "interested? she is good, but still not good enough to threaten us, chances that she can win a match against any of us, 0%, It doesn't mean it would've easy to defeat her, her tennis is...not a good match for any of us"

Especially for me...

I push my glasses up and shake my head, "her main problems currently are her strength and stamina, she does have above average stamina and very low to mid low strength using male standards, for female standards she has slightly high stamina and average strength, but even then she should be able, thanks to her style of play, to return almost any shot we would send her way without much difficulty, the only ones who would poise the threat to make her drop her racket are Kawamura and Momoshiro, and only once her stamina is starting to fail her"

Fuji nod in understanding as Eiji purse his lips, nod to himself and focus on my face again, "you...you do not like that creepy girl, right Inui? she is cute, sure, but she is...like a younger, nastier, meanier and wilder female version of Tezuka, she even has that creppy expression Tezuka use! besides she hate Tezuka and Fujiko, and there are no girl that hate Tezuka and Fujiko, sure, Tezuka is weird but girls like weird guys like Tezuka!"

I blink in surprise, creepy girl?

why would he call Masayo-san creepy girl?

I shake my head, frown in displeasure and nod to myself, pushing my glasses up, "I am certainly not interested on Masayo-san that way, however, you shouldn't call her creepy, she does have a excellent poker face, and her eyes are unusually sharp, she is also unbelievable blunt, but if anything, the word you should use to describe her is intense, there are not many people that focus with the intensity she does, and she focus that way on practically anything she does, you shouldn't call Tezuka weird either, the word you are looking for to describe him is stoic, and yes, Tezuka is incredibly stoic too, for my research his stoicism, more than his physical appearance, is the main reason that people had mistaken him for a teacher in the first place"

Besides, been intense is not a bad trait to have, if anything is the complete opposite, I do feel unsettled for Masayo-san's glares, and I will do anything on my power to not make her mad at me again, but I have to admit that if she hadn't behaved like that, if she hadn't snapped me out of my fenzy in the way she did, and didn't forced her help on me, my improvement wouldn't be half as much as how it is, because chances I would have been forced to rest for at least one week, possibly two, 100%, not to mention that if sensei learned about what happened or noticed the damage on my hands, sensei would have forbidden me to play ever again.

I push my glasses up and nod to myself, "if that is everything I should get going now"

I wonder what Masayo-san's reaction to Sensei's newfound interest on her is going to be like...

or maybe, she is not going to react at all? I wouldn't put it pass her.