In the two days before their next class together, Rei kept her ears open for news and rumors about the transfer student. She wasn't usually one for being so furtive, but after what happened in PE, she felt like she was at a disadvantage. She had no idea what the transfer student had planned for her, and she wasn't about to face it unprepared.
Of course, there wasn't much to be learned in such a short time. After the initial flurry of outlandish rumors, things settled down, and Rei could pretty much tell the fact from fiction. It seemed the other girl had taken an interest in the volleyball team, and had attended one of their meetings. Her mother was English, though her father was Japanese. They were well off, both working for a large, international business, where they had met. She was friendly, was always laughing or joking around, and didn't seem to take class seriously. She'd made fast friends with Serena, a girl in her class who was remarkably similar to Minako herself- blonde, boisterous, and a little ditzy. All in all, she sounded like a normal high school girl.
Which was no help to Rei. While it was good to know that the other girl was harmless, it wouldn't help her deal with attention from the blonde. She'd just have to avoid any situations involving the transfer student.
So Rei spent the next PE class trying to avoid Minako. They were playing soccer again, but this time Rei moved around as the classes were split into teams, and ended up on a team that didn't face the transfer student's. She got to relax when she was out on the field, with no one rushing at her, or winking at her, or saying something suggestive to her. Though the more she thought about the blonde's antics, the more aggravated she became. The idea that someone could get away with riling her up like that didn't sit well with Rei. Still, it was much more peaceful than the previous class had been.
What she hadn't counted on was the time spent off the field, watching the other teams play. The team from her class was losing badly, and neither team were really enough to hold her attention. So her mind and her eyes wandered. Oftentimes they meandered over to where students from the other class were sitting, and, almost inevitably, to the transfer student. The other girl was usually laughing with Serena, her eyes shining and her hair reflecting the sun. The other girl shone like a beacon, naturally drawing Rei's attention.
Despite all her scrutiny of the other girl, it still surprised Rei when she was met, again, with blue eyes and a coy smile. She had been caught looking, and it seemed like Minako thoroughly enjoyed the attention, as she sent Rei a small wave and another wink. Rei felt her face flush at being caught again, which worsened when the blonde turned to her friend and whispered something the two tittered about. And even though they probably weren't laughing about her, Rei still saw red at the giggling girls, and decided to take action.
When Minako's team was up to take the field, Rei stood and grabbed Melvin, a small, nerdy boy with thick glasses and brown hair that stuck out in every direction. She told him she'd be taking his spot, a proposition to which he readily agreed, half intimidated, and half relieved he wouldn't have to take the field again. Rei then informed the other members of his team that she'd be marking the transfer student, since no one else seemed up to it. She ignored the whispers that sprang up behind her, and marched out onto the field with Melvin's former team, stopping outside of the center circle, just across the half-line from Minako. Rei did her best to not look at the other girl, but even out of the corner of her eye she could make out the smile that was directed at her.
"Rei, you came out to play," Minako said. "And here I thought you were avoiding me."
"Don't call me that," Rei grumbled. "We're not friends."
"Sure sure, Hino it is," Minako said dismissively. "I was wondering if I teased you too much last time."
Rei kept her eyes focused on the center of the pitch, where the teacher was getting ready to start play. "Of course not, the teacher chose the teams randomly. And I just got tired of seeing my class humiliated."
Before Minako could say anything else the teacher had whistled for the game to start. Rei's new team had the ball first, and they quickly pushed ahead. Rei wasn't used to being so far up, on the other team's side of the field, but she tried to make the best of it. Since she had said she'd mark the transfer student, she did her best to stay between the blonde and the ball, but even without Minako, the other team stopped the attack and started one of their own.
Minako sped up and cut back and forth, trying to shake Rei, but Rei just managed to stick with her. No one was willing to pass to Minako so long as Rei was so close, and the push faltered before anything could come of it. The teams kept pushing back and forth, with neither side holding an advantage for long. But Rei was getting tired, her body not used to expending so much energy in a class she usually didn't care about, and slowly but surely Minako pulled away from her. It didn't take long for her team to notice.
On the next attack, Minako's team finally got her the ball, and she took off downfield. Rei swore silently and drove herself harder after that flashing blonde hair. Minako dribbled past the half-line, then towards the goal, slowing down as she concentrated on keeping control of the ball. It was enough to allow Rei to catch up, and she moved to the blonde's side, pressuring her and trying to get the ball from her. Minako was forced to pass the ball away before Rei could get to it. The pass ended up at the feet of one of her teammates, who got off a shot that went wide of the goal.
The whistle blew, signaling the end of their turn, and the teacher checked his watch before waving everyone back to the gym. Class was over. Rei bent forward and puffed heavily. Beside her, Minako was also breathing harder, though she was upright.
"Hey that was pretty fun," Minako said. "You were really all over me."
Rei groaned and sucked in some more air to respond. After a moment she caught her breath and stood up to face the blonde.
"Do you always have to say something perverted?" she said.
"Hm? I was just saying you covered me really well. Hino, where is your mind taking you?" Minako said with a knowing smile.
Rei rolled her eyes. "I don't believe that for a second."
"Ah ha, you caught me. Sorry, I just can't help myself around such a pretty girl."
"Listen Aino, I don't know what you're trying to do, but I'm not having any of it."
"Oh, it seems like you will to me," Minako said, the smile never leaving her face. "After all, even though I annoyed you so much last time you still came out to play with me."
Rei frowned. The other girl had a point, and that troubled her more than anything. If the blonde was so annoying, why had Rei gone out of her way to interact with her? She wasn't sure, but Rei wasn't going to let her have the last word this time.
"Losing bothers me, that's all. After last class I couldn't have you thinking you could get away with messing with me like that." Rei started to walk back to the gym. "Besides," Rei said, throwing Minako a taunting look over her shoulder, "you didn't score with me today."
Rei enjoyed Minako's surprised face for a moment. She felt good about managing to surprise the other girl, and she looked ahead again with an extra bounce in her step. However, she looked away too soon, and missed the impish look that took over Minako's face.
