Crazy Love

Chapter 9: Cheeky Girl

Seigaku wipes the floor with the Mizunofuchi team. They don't lose a single game. Kawamura and Fuji lead the first doubles match to a win for Seigaku, followed by the Golden Pair who also completely dominate. Kaidoh then finishes the job by ending it with a flawless victory.

"Alright! Just one team left to beat and we'll be the champions!" Akia exclaims.

She joins up with Akiko, Tomoka, and Sakuno who were waiting for her outside the tennis court.

"Hey, the match to decide which team Seigaku will be playing against next is being held in a nearby court," Tomoka informs everyone.

"That sounds interesting. If I look at them a bit I might be able to give our team some good advice."

"You're actually starting to think like a team manager now," Akiko giggles.

"I've always been the team manager!"

The two teams playing each other to decide who would go to the finals and face Seigaku are Kakinoki and Fudoumine. When the girls arrive there, they start observing from behind the fence.

"This is going to totally be an easy win for Kakinoki!" Tomoka says with an informed tone.

"What makes you say that?" Akia asks.

"Well, they've always been one of the best teams each time, only losing to Seigaku in the previous Tokyo District Preliminaries. As for Fudoumine, I've only heard rumours about them being involved in a lot of violent acts," Tomoka explains.

"That sounds kind of scary..." Sakuno softly says.

"Hmm..." Akia let out, lost in thought as she looks at the scores.

So far, Fudoumine won the first game flawlessly. The Doubles 1 is about to start.

"Hey! You four!"

A feminine voice from behind the four girls calls them out. They all turn around to see who the voice belongs to. Akia is kind of irritated that she was interrupted while trying to study the team that will be playing against Seigaku.

They see a slender girl who has light brown hair that's in a short bob haircut with dark blue eyes. She's wearing a light blue jersey top and white pleated tennis skirt.

"What? Make it fast. I don't have all day," Akia says in a defiant voice as a response to the girl's provocative glare.

"You girls are from Seigaku, aren't you? Trying to spy on the competition?"

"What if I am? I don't think there are any rules against that now, is there?" Akia grins.

Akiko, Sakuno and Tomoka are starting to sense the tension in the air. Akiko wants to calm Akia down, but she knows it won't be of any use.

"Are you too scared to fight fair and square? Does Seigaku need to resort to spying to be able to win?" The girl keeps provoking Akia.

Akia frowns and start getting riled up.

"Huh? You think my boys can't handle it? Well, they'll show you! They'll wipe the floor with any team that comes at them with or without my spying!"

"Akia-neeee!" Akiko tries to calm Akia down.

The girl chuckles.

"You guys are funny. I guess we'll see each other in the finals then."

The girl then leaves them there.

"What was that all about?" Akia mumbles.

"...Do you still want to watch the rest of the matches?" Akiko softly asks.

"Hell no! I'm not in the mood!" Akia retorts as she stomps away from the tennis court, not even giving it a second look.

She goes to a beverage vending machine and buys herself a soda. Without a word, she opens it and gulps it down in one shot.

"That really upset her..." Akiko whispers to Sakuno and Tomoka.

"Does she always get worked up so easily?" Tomoka asks Akiko.

"Not always, but she does have a bit of a temper," Akiko explains, still in a low enough voice to keep Akia from hearing her.

Akia then goes to an empty tennis court. The girls follow her, concerned that she might do something stupid. Akia then takes out her racket and a tennis ball from her sports bag. She then angrily serves at the wall while shouting out. She then keeps hitting the ball harder and faster as it rebounds back to her. Each time she does, she shouts out.

"Wow! She's so good!" Sakuno exclaims.

Ryoma and Momoshiro who were passing by, get closer because of Akia's loud voice.

"Ah. Nee-chan," Ryoma says as he notices Akiko there.

"Hey, Ryoma," Akiko says with a worried smile.

"What ticked her off this time?" Ryoma sighs.

"Long story..." Akiko sighs back.

"Hello, Ryoma-kun..." Sakuno murmurs.

"Akia's pretty darn good! It's the first time I actually see her holding a tennis racket," Momoshiro exclaims, overriding Sakuno's shy voice.

Akia adds a second ball to her rally with the wall. She stops shouting out and seems to be truly concentrating on just hitting the balls with her racket. She doesn't miss a single one. Her simple attire consisting of a white and hot pink t-shit with white tennis shorts which makes it easier for her to move freely. For once her sports attire fit her perfectly without being too tight, since she bought it back in the states where they had her exact size.

"Momo! Ochibi! Stop randomly wandering off like that! Our next match is going to start soon," a cheerful voice calls out.

"Eiji-senpai! Oh, and Oishi-senpai!" Momoshiro waves at them.

Eiji and Oishi reach Momoshiro and the others.

"What are you guys looking at?" Oishi asks as he looks at the court. "Akia-chan?"

"Woah! I've never seen her play tennis. She's rallying with two balls!" Eiji exclaims.

When Akia hears Eiji's voice, her concentration breaks and the two balls hit her in the head, making her fall backwards on the ground.

"Akia-chan!" Eiji exclaims as he rushes to her.

"Akia-nee!" Akiko runs to her as well.

The others also join up. Akia rubs her forehead and gets up with Eiji's help.

"Ow... That did not feel good," Akia mutters.

"Show me," Eiji says with a serious tone, which he almost never uses.

He takes her hand away and looks at her forehead, going in really close. Akia's heartbeat starts beating extremely fast. Her face turns completely red.

"Eiji-senpai! Aren't you a little too close?" Momoshiro teases him.

This causes Eiji to realize how close he actually is, making him jump backwards, starting to actually feel self-conscious around Akia.

"W-Whatever! Let's just go back!" Eiji exclaims, feeling suddenly embarrassed by the situation.

Oishi follows Eiji back while trying to calm him down. Everyone else follows suit as Akiko holds Akia's hand, leading her along.