An Angel With A Tennis Racket

Playing Detective

After having gathered all the now-dry materials up, I decided to walk home with the tennis team. Somewhat because they offered to. Mostly because I had wanted to find out who it was.

It didn't really go as planned as they had left their tennis bags in their lockers for the next early morning practice. The project materials were all divided equally to each members.So there was practically nothing heavy they each were carrying. I was the only one carrying nothing except my own bag.

I usually don't show much emotion and expression, but I must have been so frustrated at myself for not figuring out a problem as quickly as I have always been able to that I have been sighing along the way home. The tennis players noticed this but didn't really know what to say or do. It was probably because they were confused as to why I was so frustrated, and at what for that matter.

Seeing the looks of concern and confusion on their faces, I turned to them fully and told them to hand me all of the stuff, saying that I can carry them on my own. As some of them opened their mouths to argue, I just gave them one of my icy glare and held out my hands.

With a look of defeat, they each handed me the materials one by one. We weren't actually close to my house yet. There was also a reason as to why I let them helped me carry the stuff and now I was telling them to give them back. I had wanted to see how much of a fractured wrist the person had if they had been carrying the stuff as well as their tennis bag. That didn't work. So, another way to find out was to see how they'd react if I were to practically grabbed their wrists.

As Marui handed the cardboard to me, I reached out and grabbed his wrists beneath them. He looked confused but didn't seemed hurt by it.

'Not him...' I thought and moved on to the other players.

One by one, I tested each of them carefully, covering my actions and distracting them when needed in order to not reveal my intention of investigation.

Akaya Kirihara and Seiichi Yukimura.

They both insisted to helped up until my front door. It didn't seemed like there was anything I could do to change their mind.

'Oh boy...Nii-sama is not going to like this. Not one bit.'

Walking closer towards my house now, I glanced back to see the rest of the tennis team. They didn't want to just leave without making sure that I got back home safely since it was pretty late. Even if they hadn't come along, I was sure I could take care of myself. I did have a black belt and know how to shoot a gun. I had gone to classes for them in order to protect someone...but I failed. I had only been able to protect myself. If I had only been able to save him...If I could have saved him...If I had saved him...

"Then he'd be here..."

"Who?"

I blinked, realizing that I had suddenly stopped walking, lost in thought.

"I..." My eyes lowered themselves to the ground as I started losing focus and slightly tripped on my own feet. Fortunately, I was able to catch myself before anyone noticed.

'What's happening?'

Feeling slightly dizzy, I raised my hand up to my neck to feel my own pulse. It was quickening by the second.

'They had told me not think too much about it...or this will happened...but I..I can't.'

Suddenly, I could no longer breathe. I started gasping for air and reaching out.

'Nii-sama...help....Help me!'

Everything started getting blurry...

"Haruka!"

...then it all became dark
and I started falling.