Chapter 02:
Disclaimer: I don't own POT, if I own it I would make Akaya the prince of tennis, Rikkaidai will be the champion and Hyotei will be the first-runner up, and Shitenhouji will make a sooner appearance than Fudomine. Oh, and Yukimura Seiichi will be the super awesome Child of God he is, and nobody will win against him, at all cost. Plus, I'll give Rikkai a background story. Oh, I'm rambling-Haha~
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ENGLISH CLASS~ ENGLISH CLASS~
Cherrim looked at her schedule in one of her designer notebooks. It seems that after their homeroom, they would have an English Class. English was pretty easy for her, she can speak like a real American, and write legibly in the language as well. Language lessons have always been a piece of delicious cake to her, be it French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Filipino, or Korean.
She just wished that it wouldn't be as annoying as her homeroom class, which took place minutes ago. She could still hear the arrogant remarks of Kirihara Akaya. Cherrim could understand, and knew, that he was talented. The only problem was the way he rubbed it in to other people. Hell, Cherrim could see almost everyone agreeing to him.
Nanako felt the same way, as Cherrim guessed when she looked at the braided girl. Nanako was rubbing her temples and pursing her lips, a sign that indicates both annoyance and irritation.
So, Cherrim decided to cross her fingers for luck, but then decided against it, if trouble is to arrive, why doesn't she take it head-on?
So, it was good at the beginning, Kirihara managed to keep quiet, if not a bit bored or sleepy or both. Cherrim, in the other hand, was drawing, a little portrait of her and Nanako absentmindedly, while still managing to listen to the lessons.
"-And so, I decided to pair everyone up for this exercise." The teacher announced brightly. At the mention of pair up, everyone managed to scan the room for potential partners.
Both Cherrim and Nanako met their gazes, and silently agreed to pair up.
"However, it would be by drawing lots." The teacher managed to bring out a box.
Cherrim was the fifth to draw her lot, and so the number 1. She looked around and saw Nanako who got her lot, too.
'I got one.' Cherrim mouthed when she saw the other girl staring.
'I got eighteen.' Nanako mouthed back in disappointment.
Cherrim patiently waited as everyone finished drawing lots. A few girls as well as a few boys kept on glancing in Cherrim's direction. The said girl mentally sighed, it was one of the irritating side effects of being the same classroom as her.
"So… let's start from twenty, down to one?" The teacher asked cheerfully.
Twenty was a geeky guy paired with some blonde girl, who obviously looked disgusted.
Nineteen were two girls who looked liked friends.
Eighteen was Nanako paired with a boy who… didn't give much of an impression to Cherrim.
Seventeen were two boys who high fived each other in greeting.
Sixteen was one of the more quiet girls paired with one of the most quiet boys.
Fifteen was a loud, bickering girl while her partner was a whining girl who was so sad that she wasn't paired up with 'Kirihara-kun'.
Fourteen was another nerdy guy with another nerdy guy.
Thirteen was a bored guy paired with a hyperactive one.
Twelve was a chubby girl with some obnoxious girl.
Eleven looked like a couple.
Ten looked like a nice guy with an equally nice girl.
Nine looked like best friends.
Eight looked like a child with his father, Cherrim was amused with the large difference in height.
Seven looked like the perfect poster boys for boys who couldn't care less about school work.
Six was a beautiful girl, who was obviously twitching, paired with one of the boys who didn't look as good.
Five looked like they hated each other's guts.
Cherrim twitched, why hasn't the troublesome Kirihara paired up yet?
Four looked like a gay couple.
Cherrim twitched once again, why couldn't Kirihara be paired with this gay couple?
Three looked like childish idiots.
Cherrim twitched twice, she notice that there were only four left: Her, Kirihara, and other two people who kept on glancing at her direction.
Two…
Cherrim began to softly pound her table.
…were the two other people who kept glancing at her.
Then at the mention of one, both Kirihara and Cherrim paired up.
"Hey." Kirihara grinned as he sat beside her.
"Hi." Cherrim could only return the greeting back, politely.
"So, what I want everyone to do is: make a pure English skit within a minute." The teacher happily announced, most students groaned in reaction.
"Pure English?" Kirihara looked at the teacher with pouting eyes. The teacher almost softened. Almost.
"Yes, Kirihara-san, pure English with conversations from both sides." The teacher smiled a little sadistically.
"So… When is it due?" It was Cherrim's turned to ask, her classmates were too busy groaning and whining and looking properly mortified, that she was the only one sane left to ask.
"The day after tomorrow, first period." The teacher happily quipped.
"Let it also be a reminder that anyone who fails will be taking this week's afternoons with me, in the detention room." At that happy note, the groaning escalated.
Cherrim wasn't particularly upset because she has perfect English, but, she gave a slight raise in her eyebrows.
"So…?" One student asked.
"So, if you would stop wasting both our times, then you may as well begin with your separate preparations." The teacher ordered with a sadistic smile.
"…"
Then as on cue, almost everyone talked to their partner, except Kirihara Akaya who looked a bit shocked or properly mortified.
"…I'll make the script." Cherrim immediately took a paper and wrote the script in incredible speed. She was finished in two minutes, flat.
Kirihara looked at her with a torn expression between amusement and respect.
The teacher noticed and went to Cherrim, kindly requested to look at the script and finished it with a small smile.
"This is wonderful, short but wonderful." The teacher exclaimed in English. She decided to mark Cherrim as one of her favorites, because within minutes, the girl manages to create a professional yet casual script. She can only sigh as she turned back, she would not have paired her with Kirihara, the worst of the worst in the English department.
"…?" Kirihara looked at the script, confused.
"Um… should we start practicing?" Cherrim asked patiently as she took in the weird expression of the boy.
"How can you read it? I can't even understand what it means." The boy shrugged as he continued to sigh.
"…You cannot read in English?" Cherrim asked, dumbfounded.
"Yeah, can't write one too." Kirihara shrugged.
"I don't want to waste my afternoons, though." Cherrim sighed.
"Me too, the Tennis Club is going to have try-outs this week. I can't miss it, or I won't be able to join." Kirihara looked worriedly.
"Aren't you exempted? I mean, you were the captain of last year's Rikkai junior High, right?" Cherrim looked with amusement.
"Yeah, I was, but… umm… Mura-buchou doesn't play favorites." Kirihara shrugged again.
"So… I guess we both need to do this." Cherrim grimaced a bit.
"Well, I'll translate it to Japanese first, so that you can understand the essence." Cherrim offered, and Kirihara beamed a little.
What Winning Really Means
Cherrim: What do you think about winning?
Kirihara: I guess, use all means to win.
Cherrim: So… You mean, you're one of those the end justifies the means?
Kirihara: Not exactly, winning is great and all, but, shouldn't we have a little fun?
Cherrim: Maybe so, but I disagree.
Kirihara: Then, what is winning to you?
Cherrim: Victory must be unconditional.
Kirihara: Eh, but, having fun and losing gives a chance for one to grow, too.
Cherrim: The things you are saying, such things are nothing but a child's insolence.
Kirihara: Losing gives you experience and the determination to be brought up again.
Cherrim: Perhaps, but within a match without victory, there cannot be even the least value.
Kirihara: That's quite…
Cherrim: Unsympathetic, cold, and merciless?
Kirihara: …
Cherrim: …
Kirihara: Well, determination is good.
Cherrim: Yes, but for me, as well I'm sure some other people are too, we cannot tolerate losses.
Kirihara: I guess that includes me. I don't like losing.
Cherrim: Yep, because…
Kirihara: We're Rikkaidai.
"This is…" Kirihara looked at Cherrim with wide eyes.
"Hmm..? Is it wrong, I think it quite fits your character?" Cherrim looked questioningly.
"No, it's really great." Kirihara tried not to gape. Reading the script, he kind of admired the girl. The girl's character was quite similar to his most respected buchou.
"Then, can we start practicing you into reading it?" Cherrim offered.
"In English? I'm really bad at it." Kirihara said, shrugging.
"But, you can just memorize the way how it is read." Cherrim advised.
"But, how can I put my emotion if I don't understand what I'm reading." Kirihara's green orbs clashed with Cherrim's black ones.
"Isn't that why I made the translation?" Cherrim asked, amused.
"Uh, yeah." Kirihara grinned sheepishly.
"So… Will we practice later, or something?" He added, a little anxious.
"You said that you have try-outs right? I'm going to look at the clubs, besides, shouldn't your prioritized your try-outs?" Cherrim asked back.
Kirihara nodded and took a little paper.
"Here." Kirihara smirked slightly, and gave the little paper.
It contained his number.
"And… here. The translation, as well as the English version." Cherrim gave another paper in return.
Kirihara nodded, and went out of the room.
