Youthful Days (Book 1)

15. Lucky Sengoku

With mounting hostility, accidents, unresolved and unspoken conflicts, the decisive match against Yamabuki to conclude it all finally arrived.

Ayuna considered cheering for the team, then quickly decided against it: the events leading up to the tournament left her with inexplicable unease, and she thought it would be the safest to sit back and hear the news from others.

With a stack of textbooks piled sky-high in front of her on Saturday, Ayuna was resolved to occupy her mind with studying until Umeko entered the room.

"Ayuna, a friend of yours is here. Your coach has called for an emergency practice. Your friend was out running errands when she received the call and came out of her way to get you." Always keen on helping her daughter cultivate responsibility and consideration for others, Umeko ushered Ayuna downstairs. "Sounds like an important meeting! You'd better go now so the team won't be left waiting!"

With a hastily packed tote slung over her shoulders, Ayuna found Momoko standing at the base of the staircase, a sheepish grin on her face. "Well, Hanamachi-san, let's go to practice, neh?"

Ayuna took one look at Momoko's wardrobe and immediately knew she was bluffing.

Forgoing her usual laid-back look, Momoko's ebony hair was carefully curled to soften her features. To match her new hairstyle, she wore a pastel pink sundress and tinted her lips peach. Ayuna was genuinely impressed with her friend's devotion. For somebody who resented getting coiffed up, Momoko certainly went all out today, ostensibly to impress a certain senpai.

"Thank you so much for understanding," Momoko bowed courteously to Umeko. "We'll be off now! The practice will be over this afternoon."

Oblivious to her scheme, Umeko nodded. "Not a problem. Work hard girls, okay?"

Ayuna barely had a chance to object or even bid her mother goodbye before she was hauled out the door. As soon as they shot out of the courtyard, Ayuna broke free. "Momoko, I know there's no practice. Whatever it is you're planning, I'm not coming."

"Oh, Ayuna, please please come with me!" Momoko pleaded, wide-eyed and sincere. "I can't go alone—it'll be way too obvious!"

"I thought that was the point. Don't you want Momoshiro-senpai to pay attention to you?"

"Well, yes, but I also don't want to look desperate, you know?"

"Can't you call up Rei-senpai?"

"No way!" Momoko shook her head vehemently, "If I call Rei, that'll be the end of me! She'll make fun of me for the rest of my time at Seigaku! So she's out! Besides you and her, nobody else knows my secret. This is top secret!"

Ayuna exhaled in resignation, realizing that once Momoko latched onto her, there was no way to back out. Grudgingly, she said, "I'm staying with you until the end of Momoshiro-senpai's game. That's it, okay?"

Momoko nodded like a bobble-head. "Yes, yes—until the end of Momoshiro's game, that's it, I promise!"

Snatching Ayuna's wrist, she dragged her towards the bus stop. "Now, let's get going! I want to be sure I see him before the games start!"

They boarded the bus heading south of the city. Once they were safely seated, Ayuna shot Momoko a look of disbelief. "I still can't believe you lied to my mom. You could've just told her we were spending a day out."

"I didn't know how strict your parents are," shrugged Momoko. "Don't try to play the honesty card with me, Hanamachi. I know my parents for sure will freak if they knew I was spending the day watching boys!"