Chapter three: Seigaku's new Mascot

After that day Karupin came to practice everyday, and by the end of the week Karupin was announced their mascot. The regulars thought she was really cute, but a few people on the team thought it was stupid to have a cat, that always got in their way. (It's the ones who have allergies around cats that complained, sissies.)

Momo tried to pet Karupin once, but she wouldn't let him and instead went for Kaidoh and began rubbing up against. No one could figure out why the cat liked Kaidoh so much, but they were even more surprised at the fact that Kaidoh didn't mind the cat being around him. Echizen was just glad that Karupin stopped going onto the court during practice. He was getting tired at his heart stopping every time he saw Karupin almost get stepped on, or get hit by a ball, etc.

During one practice Karupin didn't show up, and Ryoma was getting worried. He continued with practice, trying not to worry too much, but his game was still thrown off.

"Echizen!! Get your head into the game that was an easy return. What's up with you?" Momo cried waving his racket around and yelling on the other side of the court. Ryoma replied 'hai' yet he still continued to look around the courts. There was no sign of her on the court.

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Once practice paused for a break, it was Saturday, so practice ran longer. They had two water breaks and a lunch break; this was the second water break. Ryoma took a big swallow from his water jug.

"RYOMA-SAMA!!!!!!! Ryoma-sama!!" Everyone in the tennis club was used to that yell. It was Tomo, and as usual she was dragging Sakuno along behind her. "Ryoma-sama, I was calling. Anyway guess what we found?" Ryoma raised a brow and then went back to drinking, Tomo was slightly affronted, but that didn't stop her. "Sakuno show him." Sakuno was semi-hidden behind Tomo.

"B-But Tomo."

"Don't Tomo me, show him." Sakuno's sigh was heard from behind Tomo. She stepped forward, and in her arms was a sleeping Karupin.

"I found her coming down the stairs." Sakuno handed Karupin over to Ryoma, and hid her hands behind her as fast as she could, but it wasn't enough to hide the marks and bruises on her arms.

"Sakuno-chan! What happened to your arms?" Eiji asked. Sakuno blushed.

"Nothing."

"Nothing, yeah right." Tomo noticed that Sakuno wasn't going to be forth coming. So she decided to tell Ryoma and the now interested regulars what really happened. "Sakuno found Karupin on the stairs alright. These two 2nd years were picking on her and almost tossed Karupin down the stairs. Sakuno and I were coming from the teachers lounge and saw them. Sakuno ran over to them and tried to stop them but, instead they pushed her down the stairs followed by Karupin. You should have seen the way she grabbed Karupin out of mid-air and protected her as they went down a flight and a half of stairs. I called for help but the boys ran away." They tennis group were stunned, and pissed off.

"Oksada-chan, who is the boys, we'll turn them in for this." Taka-san said. The others nodded their heads.

"I'll teach them what it feels like to be thrown down stairs." Momo popped his knuckles. Sakuno rushed forward blushing.

"NO!! It's okay, I'm fine and Karupin should be okay. Besides, I wouldn't want to get my senpais in trouble." Sakuno tried to smile, but the remnants of tears could now be seen too. Momo sighed in defeat; he couldn't do anything if Sakuno didn't want him too. A movement in the corner of his eye made Momo turn to Ryoma; he'd sat Karupin down and was moving towards Sakuno. She was looking at the ground so was surprised when Ryoma tipped her head upwards.

"Who were they?" Ryoma had such a demanding tone in his voice that Sakuno answered out of reflects.

"Hajimoto Sai and Keiji Satusuno." Ryoma nodded, and then walked past her. Sakuno stared straight ahead then realized what he was planning to do. "No Ryoma-kun, don't do it." She grabbed his arm to stop him, Ryoma just gently but firmly pulled his arm out of her grasp and continued around the corner. Sakuno brought her hand towards her breast and got a worried looked on her face.

"Don't worry about it Ryusaki-chan. Ryoma can take care of himself." Fuji said placing his hand kindly on her shoulders. Sakuno just nodded her hand.

"I know, I'm actually a little worried for Hajimoto and Keiji senpais." Making the group laugh; Oishi walked forward and said gently.

"Let's get those cuts and bruises treated." Sakuno nodded and walked over to the benches were Oishi treated her.

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