Escape By Wasabi Rolls
By Hu Edith
Sophie Landon has spent half a year under the prestigious Hoshi volleyball team. She's got the wicked short serve and digs to prove her play…and the team's nickname of Shove. Tennis is only a ball to mess around with back home in America and she is content merely watching as she is in Japan to play with the Hoshi volleyball team. Even if she does loves tennis more than volleyball. But Sophie doesn't want the solo attention the game comes with or her mother's cruel words. And so she uses the excuse of playing an actual match may ruin her love of tennis with the competition, which very much could happen. However, thanks to her outgoing roommate, some of Japan's local tennis guys have met and taken interest to the shy American girl.
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"I've got their numbers!" Kira crowed and found the rest of the team swarming her. Alone, Shove played around with a volleyball. Bump, bump, bump. "A few of Seigaku's tennis guys are cute."
"They aren't losers like those gangly volleyball players, are they?"
"No! Not at all! I'm amazed they come from the same school. It seems there are some real champion hunks there. Kunimitsu Tezuka, Shuichiro Oishi and his funny guy doubles partner Eiji Kikimaru, Shusuke Fuji is a dream to look at, and Takeshi Momoshiro is a pretty fair guy too. I've got all their numbers too!"
"Oh! A group date before we go to the next tournament! It'll be fun!"
Shove grew tired of bumping the volleyball up and down, and began to spike it repeatedly against the gym wall. The tennis matches had been really good and fun to watch. The Seigaku tennis team guys were more focused than her own team after all. Spike, spike, spike. They had some heart into their game. Shove caught the volleyball and stared at it. "No," she muttered to the volleyball.
"Ha ha," Kira said as she waved her cell phone around. "I've already called and set it up for after the winner's game of this Tournament."
"Pah," shot out the German girl on the team. "We're not the ones who can meet these guys again after the team splits up after our year together. Kira and Midori are the only two who this works out for."
"Don't be so grumpy Elsie. It's all in good fun. Whoever wants to join up after the winner's game can come with," Kira openly invited.
"Who says we're even getting to the winner's game Kira?" Elsie shot back at the Japanese girl.
Kira scowled at the taller girl. "Have more confidence in your team. We are going to the winner's game, just like every other tournament we've taken over. Our team has practiced and played together for half a year now. We have half a year left. Take pride in how good we are Elsie."
"You can take pride your own team…coach's niece," Elsie snapped back.
Shove hit the volleyball a bit too hard and the ball rebounded off the wall and into the middle of the group. "Sorry," she called out. She jogged after the ball. "Elsie, can you toss it back for me?"
Elsie glared at the American girl on the team. At least the American girl was all German blood, somewhat of a pleasant sight to see in foreign countries and tournament hopping. Kira was just…Elsie couldn't stand Kira half the time. The Japanese girl just rubbed her the wrong way. "Fine," she hedged out. She tossed the volleyball over to Shove.
"Thanks."
"Whatever," Elsie said shortly. She turned back to face Kira. "Pep us up all you like, I'm going to be prepared mentally in case we lose. It's all about trusting your hard work, your training, your team communication, and your form to the game than it is about mere hope. Sorry, captain, I'm going to begin warm ups now."
Elsie trotted off and began running her laps around the gym. Kira shrugged. "It's early, but oh well."
The group began their laps around the gym, chattering as they slowly paced the outer area. Shove followed close to the group and listened as the talk was still on the matter of a group date.
"What about you Shove?"
Startled, Shove blinked at Kira.
"Did you want to join us?"
"Ah. No, that's okay," Shove mumbled.
"You sure?" The other Japanese girl, Midori, on the volleyball team asked. "It depends but we may end up going to…uh…Takashi Kawamuri's family joint. You've enjoyed trying other Japanese foods so far."
"Mmm," Shove said slowly at the idea. Kira and Midori were not the only two giving her expecting looks. Shove blinked at the attention. She said the one answer that would leave her alone about the idea…at least for the time being. "Maybe."
They'd forget about bringing her later most probably.
