Hey guys! kur-chan here. I am SO sorry for the late update ( especially for those who have been waiting...if you're still waiting...). Midterms are near(next week already . ) and I've been SO STRESSED with school. So much requirements and blah...And stress makes me uninspired to write....So yeah. I apologize if this chapter is boring and I'm just wasting your precious time :)) Yes as you can tell my brain isn't functioning well and I'm just blabbing right now....OKAY !! STOP !!

Well, i hope you guys enjoy?


Heart Strings

Chapter Two: Disaster

I yawned for the nth time today. It was six o'clock in the morning….what was I doing in school this early in the morning? ASK HIM! Okay, let me explain. Today, we had morning practice and Kuni-chan, being the "oh so responsible captain of the team", decides to come to school earlier than everyone else, dragging me along with him.

It's been over half a year since my parents placed me in the care of the Tezuka's and I'm still not used to Kuni-chan's habits. My parents had to work overseas and since the Tezuka's were my closest living relative, they decided that I should stay with them. Of course I had nothing against them! I love Kuni-chan and his family! But sometimes Kuni-chan can be a pain in the neck…..like right now! Every time there was morning practice, which is every school day, I always end up waking up early and can I just say…..I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON!

No one was in school, not even the teachers. Classes start at eight o'clock and practice start's at seven o'clock. I already brought out all the materials we needed for practice and Kuni-chan went up stairs to do who knows what…..I sighed….what was I supposed to do for the next hour?!

"Miyuki-chan……Miyuki-chan….." I could feel someone shaking me. I sat up, rubbing my eyes as I did. It seems like I had fallen asleep. Everything was so blurry, I couldn't see who it was that was shaking me. "Miyuki-chan…."That voice, I know that voice. That dull tone, it was none other than my best friend Echizen Ryoma or as I like to call him, Ryo-chan. He hates it when I call him that but whatever!

"Hmm? What is it Ryo-chan?" I swear I think I saw him twitch when he said that and yes, I could see things more clearly now. I giggled as I heard him sigh. "Buchou said if you don't wake up, you'll be running laps for one whole hour…." I sighed after hearing that, it really got my attention. My cousin seriously needs a better hobby other than making people run laps. "I'm up, I'm up" I said standing up, yawning as I did.

I started walking around the courts, not knowing what to do. Practice just started and there was nothing to do. Everything seemed like it was in order. Everyone was practicing, including the freshmen. Ever since the club had a new manager, they didn't have to pick up balls and clean up stuff. That was my job now.

So what now?

"Takishima" I turned around as soon as I heard my name. I saw Inui-senpai behind me; he was carrying his green notebook as usual. I wonder what he wants. I hope he doesn't want to make me "test" his new drink. He usually asks me to do it, but I'd usually decline his …uh…"favor". But Inui-senpai is a very persistent person. No matter how much I decline, he'd always pester me into drinking that poisonous concoction of his. Good thing Kuni-chan's always there to save the day, if not, I'd probably be dead ages ago. "uh…yes senpai?" I asked, the tone of nervousness apparent in my voice.

"Takishima, I have a favor to ask . Don't worry, it doesn't involve any Inui juice this time…well, it won't if you agree to it." he grinned like a Cheshire cat, boy did he look so creepy. I wonder how Inui-senpai would be if he was as sadistic as Fuji-senpai? All hell would break loose if that happened. I could imagine all those Inui-juice. I shuddered at the thought.

So basically, Inui-senpai's favor was more of a DEMAND. Yes, that was it. I sighed. There was no way I could refuse it. If I did, I would have to drink that horrible liquid he calls Inui juice. No thank you, I'll just do whatever it is Inui-sempai wants. It can't be that bad can it? "Alright senpai, I'll do you "favor"" I said as I did "aerial quotation marks"

As soon as I said that, he looked so happy. He smiled like a Cheshire cat once again. It was weird seeing sempai smile like that. It was just weird and creepy. "Good choice. Here's what you have to do…" he started whispering in my ear. I listened carefully. At first I couldn't understand a word he was saying. But little by little…I did. And I did not like it….

On gosh…what have I gotten myself into...

I was having my third class of the day English. And, thanks to Inui-senpai, I couldn't concentrate well in class. Why do I have to do that? Why me? Why can't he just do it? I bet he was just too lazy.

Oh I'm sorry…. I'm probably confusing you right now. I'll tell you what happened. So as you all know, Inui senpai black mailed me into doing his so called favor and what was his favor? Well, all I have to do is spy and get some data about our next opponent. Inui senpai said that he has no data about them whatsoever. And since I'm their manager, the person in charge of taking care of the team, it was my duty to get some data. Pretty simple right? WRONG. For one thing, I don't know how to collect data, nor do I know how to be inconspicuous. If I get caught, I am so dead. And another thing, the school of our next opponent, Kojimachi Gakuen, was an all boys school. I was going to stick out like a red thorn. Well the good thing about doing Inui-senpai's favor was that I get to skip afternoon practice. He said he'll take care of everything.

I sighed for the nth time today. I wonder how I was going to pull this off. Oh well. Let's just hope that things work out.

I looked to my left and saw Ryo-kun sleeping. Typical. He's very fluent in English, coming from America and all. So I guess our lessons are just a piece of cake for him. I remember the time when he wasn't listening in class and the teacher made him translate something on the board. He actually wrote a whole essay! You should have seen the look on the teacher's face. It was hilarious! I giggled at the thought.

"Takishima, what are you giggling about? Why don't you come to the board and translate this page " the teacher seemed upset, pissed even. It seems like he was having a bad day…..

I went to the board and started translating. After writing what I thought was correct, I heard giggles and laughter erupting from the back. Was my English THAT bad? I mean, truth be told, English was not my best subject but still. I somehow managed passing last semester.

The teacher sighed. I guess he wasn't pleased with my answers. He corrected my mistakes and continued on with the lesson. It's strange… when you're enjoying something, if you want thing to last long, time moves so quickly. But if you want something to end, that's when time moves so slow. Time is never on your side is it…

The bell finally rang, meaning it's time to go to the next class. As I was about to leave the classroom, the teacher called my attention. "Takishima, can I talk to you? Right now."

I hope he wasn't mad at me for not paying attention in class. "What is it sir?" I asked him politely. He sighed. And started lecturing me about how I should listen to class more, blah blah blah, my grades are slipping blah blah blah he's assigning a tutor for me blah blah blah….WAIT what? tutor?! Did I hear him right?! A tutor ?!

"Excuse me sir, what was that you said?" I asked a bit shocked. I hated tutors, I'm just not good with them. They want you to do this, do that and blah. When I'm studying, I like to do things my way, in my very comfy pyjamas.

"I said…. I'll be assigning a student, probably one of your classmates, to tutor you…so that your grades will improve…" he was scanning through some papers, looking so serious as he did. He looked up to face me. "I'll tell you who it is some other time."

"A-alright…Thanks sir!" Even though I didn't like the idea of having a tutor, I was taught to always say "Please" and "Thank you". Yes, my parent's, just like Kuni-chan, are disciplinarians…..I guess it runs in the family! I sighed once more, wondering what Kuni-chan would do if he found out how bad I was doing in English. I mean, Kuni-chan's really good in English! Not just English, he's practically good at EVERY SINGLE SUBJECT! He even corrects the teachers sometimes! But you know what; Kuni-chan can be scary when he tutors you. Yes, I would know this since I asked for his help in math not too long ago. For some strange reason, you feel so tense when you're in front of him! It's as though a teacher is looking at you, just waiting for you to make that one mistake. I swear the only thing Kuni-chan does is stare at you and look at what you write…and once you make a mistake, he won't tell you what you did wrong! He'll make you figure it out yourself! Oh and he hates it when I fall asleep while working….If I was going to get a tutor, I just hope that he or she isn't like Kuni-chan when it comes to tutoring.

I went outside to go to my classroom and saw Ryo-chan just outside. Was he waiting for me or was he just eavesdropping…."Ne, What are you doing here?. Ry-o-cha-nnn…" I asked him in a very playful voice. And just like earlier, he groaned then sighed. "Come on, we're gonna be late for class…." He started pushing me, gently of course, from behind. I giggled at the sight of Ryo-chan. He really hated that name. Doesn't he know that the more he hates it the more I'll use it? Poor poor Ryo-chan.

Like I said, time is never on your side. If you want things to speed up, time slows down. If you want things to slow down, time speeds up. So there you have it. The day went by so quickly and the thing that I dreaded suddenly came. Yes it was now time to head over to Kojimachi Gakuen and spy on them. Whee….aren't I so lucky ?! Well, there's nothing I can do about it anymore. I already made a deal with Inui-senapi. What's done is done. As I got o the bus, a question appeared in my head…

WHERE IN TOKYO IS KOJIMACHI GAKUEN?! Was I even in the right bus?!

Oh dear me…why didn't Inui-senpai tell me where it was or why didn't he give me a map!? UGH! TODAY WS SO NOT MY DAY!!

So that's chapter 2....i hope i didn't bore you to death or wasted 10 mins of your life.

PLEASE REVIEW :3 Comments, Suggestions, Constructive criticisms and blah are VERY MUCH WELCOMED (constructive criticisms...not flames....though i don't mind flames ..... it doesn't bother me that much...but still...)

THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING !!

kur-chan