Secrets, Socials, and Seigaku

Chapter 41

        “O-okay.” Sakuno replied wearily. I would have to ask her later if she would also say ‘okay’ if a stranger asked her to get into his van. Usual protocol states that you shouldn’t agree so readily when strangers ask things of you.

        I stepped forward with a polite smile on my face. “Actually that ball that your foot is on right now would be ours, so you can just toss it over the fence and we’ll call it a day.” I insisted of him with as much kindness as I could manage to force into my tone.

        The boy’s cruel eyes found mine and his smile seemed to widen. “Sorry, but we’re in the middle of practice right now.” He replied back easily.

        My eyes narrowed as the vehement words slipped out all too easy. “Then maybe you shouldn’t be wasting your time talking to us and–“

        Sakuno shot up from her spot on the ground, “Thank you! We’ll come get it now.” She said in an attempt to talk over me. “Please excuse us for interrupting.” She told them. I followed after Sakuno reluctantly, thinking that I would just offer to buy her some new tennis balls for free rather than walk onto these courts with these creeps that clearly spelled out trouble.

        “It’s okay to look,” the leader said haughtily, “but don’t interfere with our practice.” He finished off with a hand on his hip.

        The court was suddenly filled with students who I assumed had just gotten here or finished running around the school. “What practice? You’re all just standing around.” I muttered under my breath.

        Sakuno stiffened at my comment; probably hoping no one else heard it. “Okay!” She replied nervously to the apparent leader of the group.

        As she walked over to fetch the ball that sat by the edge of the courts I watched in irritation as the boy who had invited us on the courts in the first place accidently kicked the cart full of tennis balls to the ground; effectively making Sakuno loose sight of her ball. “Whoops, my bad.” He chimed out with a wicked smirk.

        “Was it?” I challenged. I outwardly glared at him, but all he did was smile. I didn’t condone violence in any sense, but I suddenly wondered if he would still smile if he had a tennis ball rammed down his throat.

        Sakuno turned back to look at me with an exasperated smile, “I-it’s alright Clair. I can look for it.” She stuttered out. The poor girl was all nerves and anxiousness. I stood still and fought against the annoyance in my chest.

        My eyes traveled back up to the surrounding tennis players who all watched with veiled glee as Sakuno struggled with her search. “That’s not the point.”

        “Please,” The change in tone caught my attention, ”J–just let me do this.” I looked back over at her and if their was such a look that could be determined and nervous all at the same time it was plastered on Sakuno’s face. The girl wasn’t stupid. She knew what they had done, but it was probably better to put up with it than start something when we were so clearly outnumbered.

        “Fine.” A small smile broke her lips as she got down on her knees and started checking each tennis ball for Echizen’s face. I watched in mild annoyance as the boys watched her look over each one with hilarity.

        “Hurry it up please!” One voice called carelessly.

        “We’re losing valuable practice time.”

        Sakuno paused in her sorting process and looked up at them with a nervous smile. I wonder if she could ever be annoyed with anything. No wonder she put up so well with Echizen. “I–I’m sorry.” She replied quickly before continuing her search. She was certainly more patient with people than I could ever be.