Youthful Days (Book 1)

39. Detention

The most feared team in the Kanto region was undoubtedly Rikkai University-Affiliated High School. Unlike Hyotei, Rikkai had always been humble about their prestige. Their high-profile tennis team rarely made an appearance except for attending tournaments. As a result of their no-nonsense focus, the Rikkai team upheld a startling winning streak and was deemed infallible. This winning record included holding the Kanto regional champion and national champion titles for fifteen and two years straight, respectively.

Seigaku, in contrast, was a dark horse within the region's tennis sphere. Once the afterglow from their semifinals victory wore off, it occurred to the regulars that the real war started now because they were up against a monster. Unlike them, Rikkai didn't struggle. They obliterated their opponents with ease and cruised into the finals.

To have a winning chance against a previously unsurpassed team, then, Seigaku would have to shatter their molds with next-level training.

***

Since the disastrous outing to Odaiba, Ryoma and Ayuna hadn't spoken beyond one-word answers. With the finals game encroaching, Ryoma's attendance also deteriorated with additional practice sessions during the week and various outdoor excursions jammed into the weekends. This period also being close to end-of-term tests, their homeroom teacher grew increasingly intolerant of Ryoma's sporadic absences.

When he showed up over one hour late to chemistry class on a gloomy morning, their teacher finally lost it. He immediately sentenced Ryoma to janitorial duties in the chemistry lab after school, no excuses allowed.

By the time Ryoma showed up at the lab, Ayuna had already stacked up half of the glassware. When she caught sight of him, she said, "So I see—the way you make amends for being late is by showing up late to detention."

Seeing Ayuna, Ryoma discarded the halfhearted apology he'd prepared for the instructor.

"If I knew you were supervising, I would've just skipped."

Ayuna kept her back to him, silently continuing the clean-up.

Ryoma examined her stiff back view, nonplussed. He couldn't believe they were having a stand-off because of Ryuzaki Sakuno, of all people. Out loud, he declared crossly, "If there's nothing to do, I'm gonna head out."

"If you think that's the right thing to do, then suit yourself."

The edge in her voice made Ryoma snap. "Are you seriously still mad on behalf of Ryuzaki?"

Ayuna spun around. "I was never mad—I was disappointed because I thought you were a better person."

"For your information, I've checked up on Ryuzaki already, and she's fine. Happy?"

"This isn't about me, Ryoma."

"Then what is it about?" he asked irritably. "Why are you suddenly acting like Ryuzaki's guardian angel?!"

Ayuna looked at Ryoma long and hard. Realizing he was utterly clueless, she sighed in resignation. "I'm sorry—I'm the one who's meddling. I just thought you should at least give equal treatment to someone who's been nothing but kind to you."

Ryoma said nothing. He couldn't tell Ayuna that he was well-aware of Sakuno's feelings for him and he didn't want her to be the one throwing them together. Instead, he snapped off his cap and said, "Forget it. Just go back to cleaning."

Ayuna grimaced. "You know, this is your detention and I'm supposed to be the one supervising."

"Our teacher might not get it, but you know I've got my hands full with practice."