*** Chapter 7 - The Tutor ***

As the weeks went on, the members of the Nankatsu FC soccer team, and their fan club, gradually accepted me as one of their own, and in turn, I became very comfortable with all of them. Even the team members that didn't attend Nankatsu Elementary, like Kisugi and Taki, were used to me hanging around.

When my Nankatsu classmates discovered that I topped all my classes, they started using me as their reference for all things related to school work. Since the soccer team members needed to maintain at a minimum grade in order to stay within the team, I fell into the role of emergency "tutor," when the less academically capable team members were in danger of falling below the grade. Essentially, this meant Ishizake and Iwami. The rest of the members held their own, and only occasionally asked for advice or assistance.

Misaki, an intelligent and diligent student, always did well. I figured if he didn't play so much soccer, he probably could have rivaled me in school. Tsubasa stayed above the minimum grade, but his genius was clearly on the field. He spent so much time on the field, that for his weakest subjects, I gave him copies of my own notes, so that he could maintain his marks while spending less time studying. Sanae was a lost cause. If she spent half the time on studying as she did dreaming of Tsubasa, she'd probably have done quite well in school.

So, I was a familiar sight at soccer practices. I took to going through homework and studying on the bleachers, with the ongoing soccer practice as my backdrop. This enabled me to stay long enough to help some of the boys with their homework and studying after their practice. In a way, I was happy to find my own way to contribute to the well-being of the team, without having to make huge flags, or devise team cheers, the way Sanae spent much of her time.

One Saturday, before a particularly dreaded math test, I was helping Ishizake with a few of the problems I thought might be included in the upcoming test. It took a little while to get the concepts through his thick head, but things finally sank in. However, he was followed by Iwami. As I started to look over his question, Wakabayashi came over to the group of us huddled around our books.

"Really guys, don't the teachers at Nankatsu do anything? Or are you just as clueless in school as you are on the field?" he said jovially, poking fun at the boys.

Ishizake looked up, "Come on Captain, just because you're smart and can handle school and soccer well doesn't mean the rest of us can. Sometimes we just need a bit of help. Rai-chan has got plenty of brain cells to spare. If she gave us even a few of her marks, she'd still be at the top of every class, and at least we'd be able to make minimum grade. That's all we want. We aren't asking for much," Ishizake reasoned.

"Rai is intelligent all right, but more importantly she studies hard and I'll bet she listens in class. If you guys did that, you wouldn't be in such a state of panic over one little test," retorted Wakabayashi.

Finally, all questions were asked and answered, and everyone started to go home. As I started to pack my bag, Wakabayashi came over.

"Looks like you have a chance to breathe again. Are you going to become a teacher? It appears you are very good at it. I, for one, would never have the patience with those knuckle heads," he smiled.

I knew he was fond of the team, and took to calling them names just to joke with them. I returned his smile. "No. Maybe a doctor..." I started.

He raised his eyebrows. "Doctor! Yes, I can see you as a doctor. You've got that calm, reassuring personality that makes people trust and believe in you. You'd make a good doctor," he agreed.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence. But I know that it will be just as long a road as the one you're taking for soccer," I pointed out.

"I believe you can be a doctor, just as I believe that I can become a professional soccer player. People like you and I aren't afraid of hard work and sacrifice. We know what dedication is, and we get things done. I can see that in you," he said, as he looked at me approvingly.

Do you really think you know me that well, Wakabayashi? Can you see through me? Your eyes look like you can, and it scares the hell out of me. However, I'm not sure you'd like what you find if you could really see what's inside of me.