A Trip to Japan (Ongoing)

Chapter 15

***The next day***

"Welcome to Toray's gymnasium, Mayu-chan." saad ni Kei ang makarating kami sa gymnasium. This is it, we're here.

Medyo kinakabahan ako kasi this is the first time I will meet all the members of Toray Arrows, pero na-eexcite rin naman.
Mga ilang pasikot-sikot pa, nakarating kami sa mismong court.

"Woah." it's my first time seeing an official team training. Na-amaze rin ako sa laki ng gym nila. There were three courts in all.

Lumapit naman kami ni Kei sa coach nila at ipinakilala ako. "She'll be our new manager, coach." saad ni Kei.

"Ohayo gozaimasu. Watashi wa Mayu desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu. (Good morning. I'm Mayu. I look forward to working with you)" ngumiti naman 'yung coach nila.

"I'm coach Ayumi, you can just call mre coach Ayu. I'm pleased to meet you, Mayu-san. We just need some of your personal info and then you're good to go. Let's see what you got. Keiji, help her, 'kay?" tumango naman si Kei.

Bumalik na uli si coach sa panonood ng training samantalang pumunta naman kami ni Kei sa locker room.

"Here's a pen and a notebook, exclusively from Toray." napairap na lang ako sa sinasabi niya habang umiiling.

"Gagawin mo lang 'yung mga sinabi ni Tozaki kahapon. Ganbare (do your best)." saad niya at ginulo 'yung buhok ko. Bastos lang.

"Huy anong ginagawa mo?!" tanong ko sa kanya habang nakatakip nang bahagya sa mata ko nang maghubad siya nang pang-itaas.

"Nagbibihis, obviously. Baka gusto mong maghintay sa labas o kaya baka gusto mo lang talaga makita 'yung abs ko." mayabang niyang sabi habang nakangisi. Sabi ko na eh, mahangin talaga siya.

"Asa ka!" kinuha ko 'yung water bottle sa upuan at binato sa ulo niya. As always, headshot. "Aray!" binelatan ko lang siya at umalis na sa locker room.

Mga ilang segundo pa, natapos na siyang magbihis at dumiretso na uli kami sa court.

"Everyone," pagkatawag ni coach Ayu, lahat sila luminya sa dulo ng court.

"I'd like you to meet Mayu-san. She'll be our manager in training from now on." sinenyasan naman ako ni Kei na 'kaya mo 'yan!' by raising his right closed hand.

"Youkoso (Welcome)! We are arrows! Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!" sabay-sabay nilang sabi at yumuko.

"Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!" sabi ko pabalik at yumuko rin.

"You'll have mock matches with the current groupings, alright? 2 groups will substitute 4 players every set. Sutato! (Start)" agad namang silang pumosition at ilang segundo pa, nagsimula na 'yung mock match.

Magkasama si Kei at Hiro sa isang group. The other group has a European guy, maybe he's the import. If I remember correctly, he's Antonin Rouzier. One of the great spikers of France. A few minutes later, the first mock match started.

First point was Tozaki's point, a clean straight court spike. Gusto ko sanang mag-cheer, but I have work to do.

The next point was a service error by their captain, Hoshino. Habang patagal nang patagal, lalong dumadami 'yung sinusulat ko. Nililista ko rin kung sino 'yung madalas makapuntos. The top scorers as of now are Rouzier and Tozaki.

While si Kei, he's doing well too. I can say na forte niya talaga ang pagiging middle blocker. Let's see... He has 8 kill blocks in this first set.

The way he celebrates though, napaka-exaggerated! I mean, kung makasigaw kasi akala mo nanalo sa lotto, eh basag naman 'yung boses. Kung makaikot sa court, kulang na lang pati 'yung cr ikutin niya. Pero, siguro ganoon talaga kasaya makapuntos.

"First set ended in favor of Takahashi and company's team." saad ni coach Ayu at nag-change court na sila. Nabaling naman ang tingin ko kay Ken.

Ngayon ko lang napansin na kanina niya pa pala ako tinatawag. Nag-thumbs up naman ako sa kanya at gan'on din nag ginawa niya at may kasama pang malawak na ngiti.

The second set started. Mas lalong gumagaling si Rouzier at padami nang padami 'yung puntos niya. He's got two digits now. Pero, 'di rin naman naiiwasan 'yung unopposed errors.

Tozaki's straightcourts are on point today. Good for him. Pero sana, 'di siya masanay na laging straightcourt, he has to use crosscourt too. I think effective 'yon lalo na 'kung cut shot.

Habang in-oobserbahan ko 'yung libero nila, I noticed na medyo mabagal sila maghabol ng bola. On point naman serve receives nila pero pagdating sa attacking, kumakaliwa 'yung bola.

I guess, that's their weakness. Para mapadali 'yung receive, kailangang ma-one touch ng blockers yung bola. Pero hindi ibig-sabihin n'on na kailangang maging ganon lagi play nila. Kailangan din nilang matutong rumeceive ng mga mabibigat na bola.

And the 2nd set ended. Sayang, 'di na nakahabol 'yung group ni Rouzier. But I'm glad na nanalo sila Kei at Hiro.
Again, todo celebrate na naman si Kei. Pustahan, magpapa-starbucks 'yan mamaya.

Pagkatapos kong i-summarize 'yung statistics ng match, ipinakita ko na 'to kay coach Ayu. "Here's the stats, coach Ayu."

"You have a neat handwriting and everything you wrote here is accurate, Mayu-san." natuwa naman ako sa complement ni coach. I'm just glad someone appreciated my effort.

"I also wrote down the top scorers and the weaknesses of every player at the next page." bahagyang nagulat naman si coach sa sinabi ko. What? I'm good at multi-tasking!

"Wow, you could actually apply for the National Team, Mayu-san. Thanks a lot. Oh, and you'll receive your salary every week. Otsukare (good job)." nakipag-apir si coach kaya nakipag-apir din ako sa kanya.

Nasa 30s pa lang 'yung coach nila kaya approachable siya. Not only that, he's kind too.

"Naks, manager na siya oh." saad ni Kei habang papalapit sa'kin kasama si Hiro.

"Otsukare (good job)." saad ko at nakipag-apir sa kanilang dalawa.

"Na-amaze ako sa cut shots mo, Hiro-chan." to be honest, napahanga niya ako doon. Sobrang nipis ng palo niya kaya mahirap basahin at i-receive.

On the other hand, nakita ko namang sumimangot si Kei. Ayaw niya talagang napag-iiwanan 'no? Gusto niya kasama siya sa lahat eh.

"You're kill blocks were great too, Kei-chan." 'di ko alam pero, nung pagkabigkas ko ng Kei-chan, sumaya na naman 'yung mukha niya.

Lagi siyang gan'on. Sisimangot tapos magtatampo-tampuhan nang wala sa oras, 'tas eto naman ako, gagawa ng paraan para pawiin 'yon.

But the real question is, what are the real reasons why is he upset all of a sudden and also,

Bakit ko ba siya laging sinusuyo 'pag nangyayari 'yun?