Hidden Plays

27: There were still things I cared for

The meeting with Mizuno went smoothly. The executive discussed how Satomi will continue training in France and will be a pro signed under them for a few months and they'll see how it goes. Then the rest will be discussed. For now they allowed her to settle in Japan. She stayed with her mother again, but her dad knew she was in Japan. She just didn't want to face him just yet.

Satomi went to check out the games at the National tournament.

It seems like everyone was losing from Rokkaku. It was currently Singles 1.

"Sae-kun. Don't give up." I heard someone shouting. I looked over to see Nori. She had her wrist in a brace and bandaged. Saeki's eyes sharpened and focused. The Higa team was looking at Nori.

"Isn't that the Fire of the Ultimate duo?" One boy asked.

"This will make the match all more interesting. Kai-senpai defeat a junior pro's boyfriend."

"That's disappointing. Japan has the weaker one while France took the stronger one."

"You mean Tomi? She's prettier than Nori."

"How would you know? She hides behind a mask and visor."

"She has pale skin."

Satomi stopped listening and watched.

The old man started explaining how their technique worked and the Higa kid hit a ball and it hit the Rokkaku coach.

Satomi's teeth gritted, but Nori rushed to his side. The Rokkaku team brought him the the hospital. Saeki continued playing, but lost. He grabbed Nori's hand as he exited the courts and the two of them ran to the hospital the join the rest of the team.

Satomi showed herself from the tree and noticed Hyotei standing and leaving, Atobe and Kabaji trailing behind them.

She jumped on Atobe's back and covered his eyes.

"Huh?" Atobe asked. Suddenly she was picked up by Kabaji.

"Ya! Put me down Kabaji-san!!!!" Satomi complained. Atobe looked over in shock. The rest of the team turned around after hearing something. Including all the non-regulars.

"I said put me down!!!" Satomi complained kicking her legs. Kabaji placed her down.

"Chibi-chan?" Atobe asked pulling her face around to make sure it was her.

"Ow...Ow..." Satomi complained. Suddenly Atobe lifted her up and twirled her around before hugging her.

As soon as he placed her down Ootori, Shishido, Jirou, and Mukahi tackled her into a group hug.

"It's good to have you back!!" They shouted. As soon as they let her breath Oshitari ruffled her hair, and Kabaji just nodded. Hiyoshi came up to her before staring at her blankly. Before embracing her quickly before letting good.

"Good to see all of you too."

"What brings you back?" Atobe asked.

"My tutor caught me up on the french curriculum, and when I heard Hyotei made it into the final slot in nationals I just had to come back." Satomi said. It wasn't exactly a lie, her private tutor her aunt hired her did catch her up on the French curriculum, but that was a long time ago. The whole Hyotei team of all 200 something members cheered for their manager.

"Congrats by the way." Atobe mumbled. She nodded and smiled. He ran his finger across her eyepatch.

"I still don't know how you do it with one eye." Atobe said.

"You get used to it." She said.

"Come on, let's go." She said to the whole team. Other teams were watching them.

"She's back too?" Yanagi asked.

"She's here to flaunt her victory? Tch..." Kirihara said. Everyone except Sanada knew what Kirihara was talking about.

"No, or else she would have those disguises of hers." Yagyū Hiroshi said.
Sanada was looking at them confused.

"You'll find out soon enough." Kuwuhara said. Sanada nodded.

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"Is it really you?"

Satomi stood in front of Coach Sakaki with a bright smile.

"It's been so long, Coach!" She said before hugging him. Sakaki patted her head.

"Good to have you back. Now, lead Hyotei to victory." Sakaki said.

"Ooo, that won't be easy. Seigaku's Echizen experienced the U.S. Open for himself. It's time to see what he brought back, and training with him from time to time was quite interesting. We were never able to defeat one another, it always ended in ties. We'll have to see how Atobe can handle him when the time comes." Satomi said.

"You said he parred with you as an equal?" Sakaki asked. Satomi nodded.

A/N: Sorry for the slow updates, finals have been taking over all my time.