Chapter 2:
~Nanami's P.O.V
In the past few days, Ryoma was able to win his matches with several people from the tennis club and was going to be a regular if he wins this match… with Inui. "Your brother seems to be doing very well," I hear Fuji say from behind me, oh I forgot, me and Fuji has gotten closer the past few days too, we usually play that thumb wrestling game on our spare time. "Yeah, I can't believe home much he's improved! I mean, when he was still a little boy he kept missing the ball, now he catches it and returns it with much force," I say smiling at my brother who was now working very hard to become a regular.
I know his intentions in becoming a regular, and I also know that he does not intend to become a pro, yet. Then, Ryoma defeated Inui using his infamous line that has been passed down to us by our dad (although made into several versions), "Mada mada dane." "Beating two regular players, he's good," Fuji commented. "Sure is," Momo commented from behind us. "Ah… Momo-chan-sempai," one of the first years in front of us says. "I told you it was fine if you call me 'Momo-chan'," he replies. "It's because 'Momo-chan' is a stupid nickname!" Miyamoto Yuuna, a second year in the art club, commented. "Who are you saying that has a stupid nickname?! Look at yourself Yuyu-chan!" Momo yelled back annoyed at Yuuna. "Ne, Yuyu-chan, you shouldn't fight with your classmates!" I scold her playfully. "Gomen Nanami-sempai, but can you make this moron an exception?" she asks not ripping her glare away from Momo's face. I then cover a random 1st year's ears. "I will if you do not say bad words in front of the 1st years, shame on you two! Using violent language in front of innocent children," I playfully say, pretending to be upset.
Ryoma then came out of the tennis court and despite the fact that his friends were talking to him, he approached me and Fuji.
"Impressed onee-chan?" he asks cockily but I sighed back. "Mada mada dare," was my reply, it was true anyway, right now, he just seems to be like the shadow of our dad. "I'm calling mom," I say picking up my phone and put it on loudspeaker.
"Moshi moshi?" dad's lazy voice said from the other side of the telephone.
"Otto-san, I have great news!" I say excitedly.
"What?! Ryoma got a girlfriend?!" he yells through the phone.
My head dropped in dismay, can't this guy think about anything but girls? "No dad, Ryoma did not get a girlfriend, he became a regular," I say annoyed, somehow, I lost my appetite to talk.
"That's it? Why do you call on such small things Nanami?" he asked lazily.
"I was HOPING you would take into consideration, I don't know, maybe a CELEBRATION?!" I asked, annoyed by the old man's carelessness.
"What are you saying Nanjiro?!" mom's voice came.
"That's wonderful news sweetie, we'll celebrate later tonight," she says.
"Oh, and sweetie, Mr. Noburu called a while ago, he said you and your friends are going home late because you're going to finish 20 plates? Is that true?" she asks and I sigh.
"Yes mom, we had to… repay a debt," I say nervously.
"Ok then, say congratulations for Ryoma for me sweetie," she says.
"No need, he heard," I say looking at Ryoma who just pulled his cap down.
"Alright, bye sweetie," she says hanging up.
"Well, your party's all set," I say smiling at Ryoma.
"Whatever, it's gonna be no fun anyway," he says walking away. I sighed; he must be disappointed that I can't celebrate with them. "Ne, onee-chan, what's that debt you're talking about?" Ryoma asks stopping on his tracks and looking back at me. "Well…" I trailed off but then Watanabe Suzu, our president, just needed to come. "Irresponsible sister, not telling her brother things he needs to know," she joked. I then took a can of spray paint from the box that she was holding and sprayed it on her. "Hey! No fair, I thought paint fight is gonna take place in the art studio!" she yells annoyed at my sudden attack. "Aw, c'mon president-san, surely you understand my lack of discipline when it comes to paint fights," I say smirking at her, showing her the paint balloon in my hand.
"Now I know why our paint runs out fast, you kids are playing with it," Mr. Noburu said, popping out of nowhere. "It's not just playing!" Suzu and I protested. "Its art!" me, Suzu, and the rest of the club says. It sort of surprised me, where did they come from?! Why do people like popping out of nowhere right now?! "Oh well, you kids have fun and make sure the redecorating of our studio is nice and… clean," he says smiling at us which we returned with grins. "Oh well, bye Ryoma! Fuji-kun!" I wave at them running off with the rest of the club.
~Ryoma's P.O.V
That evening, we did celebrate but like I said, it was no fun without onee-san. After dinner, I sat on the couch with the intention of watching TV. "Ryoma," I hear mom call from the door frame leading to the living room from the kitchen. "I know your upset about your sister not coming to celebrate with us but I hope you understand that she has a lot of things to do, this is her last year in Seigaku Junior High school and Mr. Noburu is working them out a lot," mom explained to me, I get it actually… but I just cant help getting upset about it. "I know mom… thanks…" I say quietly, flipping through the channels. "You intend to wait here for her all night, huh?" she asks pulling me into a hug. Well… it was what I intended to do but how did she know? "Good night sweetie," she says kissing my forehead and retreating into dads and her room.
I try to stay up until she comes, but it was pass 11 already and my eyes got droopy. Bit by bit… my eyes closed.
The next morning, I woke up to feel something warm near me. I fluttered my eyes open, only to find my sister beside me with a blanket covering us. I smiled and woke her up so that we can both get ready for school.
~Nanami's P.O.V
That evening, I mean, morning, I did get home about 12am. I went inside the living room and smiled at the sight before me. The TV was on but the one who was supposedly watching was asleep. Ryoma must have tried to wait until I got back, I smiled at him. I went upstairs and changed my clothes and went back down with a blanket. I laid beside Ryoma and put the blanket over us, it was like before…
Flashback
It was late at night, about 12am, I was fast asleep until I heard my door creak open. I open my eyes a little and saw a small figure. "Onee-chan…?" I heard Ryoma's voice ask. "What is it Ryoma?" I say rubbing my eyes a bit. "I-I had a bad dream…" he says softly clutching a stuffed toy I gave him for Christmas once. "You… want to sleep here?" I ask him, he must be embarrassed to ask me such a thing. He nodded his head shyly and crawled into bed with me. He was first to fall asleep and I stared at his sleeping face before falling asleep myself.
He was so cute and soft before, now he's grown a little. I close my eyes and fall into a deep sleep.
The next morning, I woke up to Ryoma shaking me. "Ohayo, Ryo-kun," I say smiling. "Ohayo Nami-nee," he replies and I smile at his mention of his old nickname for me. We got up and headed for our rooms to get ready for school. We ate breakfast and went to school where we went out separate ways.
~Fuji's P.O.V
I wasn't able to give Nanami her pen yesterday, so I better remember to go it today. The whole day went by quick although Nanami and I do have a few classes together; I always forget to give it back to her. Tennis practice came and after that I was determined to give back her pen after practice. "Ryuzaki-sensei, I'm glad that you offered our club to join the regulars today, I hope it's not much of a bother," we heard Mr. Noburu say from afar. "Oh! That's no problem! I'm sure your girls are in great need of exercise, don't mind my regulars! I'm sure their thrilled!" Ryuzaki-sensei says with a blush visible on her cheeks. "Alright, listen up boys, the elites of the art club are coming to learn tennis with us so be polite!" Ryuzaki-sensei announces as the whole club including Mr. Noburu sweat dropped. The whole club knew perfectly that Ryuzaki-sensei has her eyes on Noburu-sensei. "Nnnnneeeeeeeee!!! Noburu-sensei! I don't want to do tennis today, I still have to finish my plates!" we heard Nanami whine as they approach the courts. "Now, now Echizen-chan, you know it's not polite to refuse," he replies. "Oh your such a gentleman Noburu-sensei!" Ryuzaki-sensei squealed hugging Noburu-sensei making everyone sweat drop again.
"But I still have to finish my pottery assignment Noburu-sensei!" Natsuki-san (Shiori) complained. "I still have to research about the Venus de Milo!" Harada-san whined. The other members of the art club started whining and complaining too but then, Ryuzaki-sensei snapped, "WHAT'S DONE IS DONE NOW ALL OF YOU GO TO THE COURTS!!!" she yells, frightening the girls making them run into the courts. "Now, boys, get a piece of paper from this box, each piece has a name of one of the girls here and whoever you get will be the one you teach," Ryuzaki-sensei instructed and so we all did, and here are the pairings.
Kaido & Yoshida Miyu
Momo & Miyamoto Yuuna
Inui & Takahashi Mariko
Kawamura & Matsumoto Chiyoko
Oishi & Kiyoko Sachiko
Eiji & Natsuki Shiori
Echizen & Harada Riku (not really one of the elites)
Tezuka & Watanabe Suzu
Me & Echizen Nanami
Yep, I got paired up with Nanami who still had her hair tied up by her pens and pencils. "Mah! Looks like you and I are partners again Fuji-kun!" she smiled at me and I nod. "What?! Why am I paired up with Tezuka?!" Watanabe-san complained. "Not again…" I hear Nanami mutter from beside me before approaching Watanabe-san and Tezuka. "Neeeeee Suzu-chan, stop complaining, it's just for now," Nanami said taking hold of Watanabe-san's arm as if trying to stop her from doing something. But then she jerked out of Nanami's grasp and turned and glared at Tezuka. Actually, I don't know what Watanabe-san has against Tezuka, I mean, they hardly talk let alone fight! When I ask Nanami, she just says it's, "Suzu-chan's personal hatred." "Now, now you wouldn't want to get stressed out again do you?" Nanami asked patting Watanabe-san's back. "Demo!" she tried to protest but Nanami cut her off. "You wouldn't let us have a new batch of red paint now would you?" she asked, and something about her question made every one of the girls flinch.
"Fine," Watanabe-san sighed in defeat and went ahead of Tezuka to a court.
"Well, let's get started?" Nanami turned back to me, but before I could answer, Watanabe-san called back.
"Oi, Nanami! You might want to take those pens out of your hair first," she smirked.
"But hair in your face is soooo bothersome!" Nanami complains.
"Then try using normal hair accessories that could actually put your hair up even if your running around," Watanabe-san suggested smirking at Nanami. She then went closer to Watanabe-san and pulled her pin out.
"Hey!" she yelled.
"Borrow!" Nanami yelled back taking out the pens in her hair and replaced them with the pin, not letting her hair fall down. I smiled at her.
"Why do I have to warm up?" we hear Kiyoko-san yell from afar. "Oooo, looks like things aren't going that nice… oh well, let's get started!" she smiled at me and so we did.
~Sachiko's P.O.V
Why was I paired up with this Oishi guy? He's such a wimp! I mean, he's too careful, he's making me warm up because I might get a muscle pull. Ugh, it's not like anyone would care if I get some broken muscles or anything.
"You should warm up before we practice Kiyoko-san, you might hurt yourself," he says worriedly.
"It's not like someone would mind if I do end up in the hospital anyway…" I say softly looking away from him, but his answer definitely surprised me.
"Of course someone will mind!" he snapped at me surprising me a little.
"Your friends would!" he says.
"Your family would!" he says, and this time a smirked.
"Family huh?" I say softly enough for him not to hear.
"I would!" he says, now really surprising me, but then I looked down and smiled a fake smile. "Of course… you deem me as your responsibility," I say in a mocking way and then went ahead of him to a court. "Let's get started," I say not looking back at him. He did take me back a while ago, but he doesn't know anything, thus he does not have the right to say anything but does have the right to stay silent.
~Shiori's P.O.V
"Where do you want to start Shio-chan?" Kikumaru-kun asked me making me blush. Yes… I do have a teeny weeny little crush on him, but that's just it! Nothing else! "U-Uh…." I somehow can't say anything. Well wont you feel this way if you were paired with the guy you like?! You can't blame me! "I know, let's start with your swinging!" he says handing me a racket and walked behind me, holding my arms from behind, this made me blush. "So, you swing like this…" and that was the last thing I heard from him, the rest was a blur since I was dozing off in my own fantasy world….
~To be continued…
Here are a few notes:
Here are the following meanings:
Oi- Hey
Ne- another term for hey
Onee-chan: older sister
Otto-san: father
Sensei: Teacher
Demo: but
Mada mada dane: No, not yet
Mada mada dare: the same as Mada mada dane