So I was reading the Eragon books last week, all the while writing this chapter. Eragon is a lot of politics. A LOT.
I feel like this chapter is really dicey to write, but I did it anyway.
But yeah, enjoy :)
Chapter 7
POK! "One more time Chotarou!" Shishido shot the ball over the net.
"Okay Shishido-san!" Ootori began running. It was afternoon practice and Shishido and Ootori were playing a match.
"Chotarou! Don't get so soft!" Shishido called, returning the ball. The ball went rushing past Shishido. He screeched to a halt. Shishido watched as the ball rolled across the court. Shishido gazed over at Ootori suspiciously.
"Have you been getting better on me?" Shishido folded his arms. Ootori gave him a sheepish grin.
"Well, it's all because of Shishido-san's help," Ootori admitted, still smiling. Shishido turned away, balancing his racket on his index finger.
"Don't say such lame and embarrassing things, Chotarou!" he didn't look at him. Ootori sighed with another smile.
"Yuushi! Prepare yourself!" Gakuto pointed his racket at Oshitari from across the net.
"I'm preparing myself," Oshitari tied his shoe.
"Don't make this a joke!" Mukahi slashed his racket in the air, "this match has meaning!"
"Why are you being so dramatic?" Oshitari looked up from his laces.
"Because," Mukahi pointed his racket in the air, "after this long awaited battle, I will be overthrowing you! I will be the one with the Gekokujou victory!"
"Isn't that my line?" Hiyoshi said dryly.
"Hiyoshi!" Mukahi recoiled, "you shouldn't sneak up on people."
"Sneak up?" Hiyoshi raised his eyebrows.
"Where is your sense of honor?" Mukahi faced him, still brandishing his racket like a sword, "you take your foes head on!" Hiyoshi turned to Oshitari.
"Did he smoke something?" Hiyoshi pointed to Mukahi.
"I doubt it," Oshitari stood up, "he's just in a weird mood." Gakuto proceeded to yell things at the two of them. Hiyoshi walked over and tried to calm him down, but Mukahi mistook him for trying to take his racket. Gakuto jumped away and pointed his racket at him.
"Don't try anything," Mukahi narrowed his eyes.
Hiyoshi rolled his neck with a gleam in his eye. Challenge accepted.
Hiyoshi took an enbu stance. Gakuto stabbed the air with his racket. Hiyoshi darted at him and Mukahi flipped over Hiyoshi. Mukahi struck out with his racket in midair and Hiyoshi ducked. Gakuto landed and turned to face Hiyoshi, only to have his wrist grabbed. Hiyoshi forced the racket out of his hand and it clattered to the ground.
"I believe the proper word for this might be Gekokujou, but," Hiyoshi let go of his arm, "you aren't quite ahead of me today."
"Bah," Mukahi scowled and picked up his racket, returning to his side of the court, "like you would ever be able to beat me." Hiyoshi said nothing.
Atobe sat on a nearby bench, observing practice. He chuckled.
"Everyone is fired up today, ne Kabaji?" Atobe commented. Kabaji was standing next to the sitting teen.
"Usu," his large friend responded. A large crowd of girls were cheering on different players.
"AHH! Oshitari-san is so cool!" Girls were squealing.
"SHISHIDO-SAN!"
"Atobe-sama!"
Even the fangirls are giving it their all, Atobe thought.
"Atobe!" Jirou said loudly from the stands. Atobe looked up at the usually sleeping tennis player.
"What is it, Jirou?" Atobe looked up.
"You have a visitor," Jirou pointed excitedly at the door of the clubhouse. Atobe craned his neck to see. Shizuka Miyori was standing there with her hair in her usual ponytail, but wearing a soccer uniform and no glasses. Atobe got out of his seat and strolled over to the clubhouse.
"Waiting for someone?" Atobe asked casually. Miyori looked up.
"You, actually."
"Ore-sama is flattered," Atobe opened the door, "do come in." Atobe shut the door behind himself as Miyori sat down on one of the benches.
"What can I do for you?" Atobe sat down at his desk.
"What time do you want me to be here in the mornings?" Miyori asked. Atobe raised an eyebrow.
"Why in the world would I want you to be here in the mornings?" Atobe asked complacently.
"For paperwork, of course," Miyori crossed her legs, "or do you keeps those stacks of papers as decorative items?"
"The folders do accentuate the lighting," Atobe sat back in his seat, watching her, "besides, paperwork can only be done by the captain or the team manager."
"I know," Miyori gave a nod, "and as soon as the coach approves the slip, that's exactly what I'll be."
"I take it that you have turned in that club slip Ore-sama gave you," Atobe swiveled slowly in his chair. Miyori had the ghost of a smile on her face before nodding.
"I have."
"Then Ore-sama can conclude that you've had no problems turning it in?" Atobe asked her.
She laughed bitterly, "if only."
"The school secretary?" Atobe asked blithely.
"She made a marvelous guard dog," Miyori said in an irritated voice, just at the thought of the overbearing woman.
"Well, one can usually ward off another if they are the same kind," Atobe watched her.
"Takes a fangirl to know a fangirl, eh?" Miyori sighed. Atobe gave a smile. "So... what time in the morning?"
"I'd prefer you getting here a 6:30 since our practices start at 7, but I can make do with something in between," Atobe skimmed through a few papers on his desk.
"That's fine, that's fine," Miyori checked her watch, "I'd love to stay and talk, but I have other places to be."
"Other places?" Atobe checked a paper on his desk, then set it back down.
"That's another thing I need to tell you," Miyori stood up, "I won't be able to work during afternoons."
"Oh?" Atobe raised an eyebrow, "do you have other commitments I need to know about?"
"I do have some other commitments, yes," Miyori nodded toward the window, glancing to the courts outside.
"Care to elaborate?" Atobe looked up at her.
"Not really, no," Miyori turned to face him. Atobe studied her for a long moment. Miyori shifted her weight, slightly unnerved at his staring.
"Does it matter what it is?" Miyori attempted at a cool voice.
"No, this is more for Ore-sama's curiosity," Atobe stood up.
"Maybe Ore-sama needs to keep his big nose out of other people's business," Miyori muttered.
"So I was right," Atobe gave her a smirk, "it is a job." The two stared each other down, sizing the other up. Miyori finally turned her gaze away, yielding to Atobe. He smirked.
"How about this," Miyori walked to the door, "you stay out of my business, and I will do next to everything you ask."
Miyori turned and disappeared from the room. Atobe's smirk faded into a frown as he watched her go. It wasn't in his nature to be prying and nosy when it came to other people, but how she had acted wasn't acceptable. It was probably just some job Miyori had that kept her family going that couldn't tell anyone about, and Atobe could tolerate that.
But if she was going to act as if hiding knowledge from him made her superior, she was going to be in for a real surprise.
[]
"You really don't have to do this," Ootori protested.
"Why not?" Shishido shrugged, "you deserve it." Shishido and Ootori has been going home, as usual, when Shishido had suddenly decided to stop at an ice cream shop. The cold room was lit with neon and decorated with bright colors. Shishido could see his reflection in the marble checkerboard floor.
"Then you deserve some too," Ootori told him, "you have been improving just as much as I have." Shishido felt the urge to chuckle.
"Alright. I'll get some for myself. What flavor do you want, Cho?" Shishido pulled out his wallet as Ootori looked through the display of ice cream.
"Ummm," Ootori frowned as he looked at all the flavors, "that one." he pointed to a pink batch of ice cream.
"One mint and one strawberry please," Shishido held out some money for the ice cream. The cashier took it and scooped out the ice cream into bowls. They sat down at a table to eat their ice cream. Shishido saw some girls in Hyotei uniforms whispering excitedly to each other at a table, but he chose to ignore it.
The stupid fangirls.
"So what's new with you?" Shishido took a bite of his ice cream.
"Not much, really," Ootori swirled the ice cream around in his bowl, "other than a physics project and the manager thing, nothing big is happening." Shishido nodded.
"So that physics project, did you have to partner up with someone random?" Shishido asked, taking another bite.
"Kind of," Ootori scratched the back of his head, "some girl took me by surprise, but she's really nice."
"You think everyone is nice, Cho," Shishido closed his eyes, the spoon still in his mouth. Ootori chucked lightly.
"Well everyone is, for the most part," Ootori tasted his own ice cream.
"Who did Wakashi get partnered with?" Shishido gazed over at Ootori, "he usually works with you, doesn't he?" Ootori nodded.
"He's working with Shizuka-san," Ootori scooped up some ice cream in his spoon, "though, he wasn't very happy about that."
"Ha!" Shishido snorted, "He's going to be very irritable when she starts working as the manager."
"Well they do get along a little better nowadays," Ootori slurped at the ice cream in his spoon, "they aren't openly hateful to each other anymore."
"He's still probably going to see her as one big distraction," Shishido looked down at his ice cream, "he probably needs it." Ootori looked at his senpai with a sideways glance.
"Do you know why Atobe wanted a team manager?" Ootori asked with a curious expression. Shishido looked back up at Chotarou with a frown.
Didn't he know?
"He wanted one for the paperwork, right?" Shishido pointed his spoon at Chotarou, "Shizuka was just a bonus because she could spot injuries or something." Ootori looked back down at his ice cream and tasted the cold metal spoon in his mouth. Shishido saw uncertainty plague Ootori's expression.
Shishido raised his eyebrows. Was there another reason he didn't know about?
"Yeah. Something like that."
[]
Miyori walked back in the clubhouse the next morning 6:20 A.M. It was earlier than Atobe suggested, but if she was going to keep Atobe away from her job, she would have to work relentlessly. She turned the knob.
"Good, you are here," Atobe looked up from a large stack of files he was carrying, "I have some work for you to do." He sat it down next to four other piles that were at least 8 inches tall. Miyori gaped at the stacks that were accumulating on her desk.
"These are all the files on the tennis team," Atobe pushed the stack on the last square inch of free space residing on her desk, "I want you to make sure they are up to date."
"Did the folders just decide in the middle of the night to have babies?" Miyori said in disbelief, "or do you breed professionally?"
"I took the liberty of taking all the files out of these cabinets," Atobe pointed to the large organizing cabinets behind the desks, "so you are free to arrange them in any way you want them." Atobe picked up a green folder off the top of his desk.
"This is the current years for all the tennis players," he flipped it open for her to see, "you can check the files to this." Miyori took the file and read down the list of names.
"Is there anything else you want me to do?" she asked, "neuter and spay them? Make sure they get walks and plenty of food?"
"Does someone think Ore-sama has given them an impossible task?" Atobe said in a patronizing voice.
"Think?" Miyori picked up a folder, "I know you have." She threw it back on its stack. Atobe smirked.
"As long as you have these done in a timely manner, we won't have a problem," Atobe began walking for the door, "preferably in a week."
"What? Aren't you going to stay and play?" Miyori gave him a reproachful look.
"I have other things to attend to right now," Atobe turned to the door, "but feel free to get this task done quickly."
"Uh huh," Miyori nodded, "I see how this is going to be. I'm the packmule, you're the figurehead. This is just lovely."
"I'm glad you think so," Atobe opened the door, "oh, and Miyori-san?" Miyori looked up at him. He gave her a knowing smile.
"Welcome to the club," he put a slip of paper on the bench next to the door. Atobe shut the door behind himself and left her in silence. Miyori walked out from behind her desk and picked up the piece of paper.
Her club slip had been approved.
[]
"Atobe! I was just wondering what-" Mukahi barged in the clubhouse. There were large stacks of paper on the second desk and a scritching noise most likely made by an air conditioning unit, but no Atobe. "Oh, Yuushi! It's empty!"
"That's odd, Atobe usually comes in during lunch hour," Oshitari slid on in. The two surveyed the room.
"Looking for someone?" somebody peered over the large stacks of papers. Gakuto visibly jumped.
"Ah, Miyori-san," Oshitari nodded, "I see you took the position." Miyori's head was poking out from behind the stacks of folders on her desk. It appeared that the noise Gakuto had mistook for the AC had been her. She seemed very busy.
"And I'm already regretting it," she sighed. Miyori threw her current folder in her hand back onto a stack, "I need to get organized."
"Have a plan?" Oshitari made himself comfortable on a bench. Mukahi followed suit and sat on an opposite bench.
"I was going to put it in order by year, but..."
"But what?" Mukahi asked.
"There is over 100 first years in here," she gestured to the files, "it's just too bottom heavy to do that."
"Hyotei is Hyotei, even in paperwork," Oshitari mused.
"How so?" Miyori tilted her head.
"We aren't exactly the most orthodox team," Mukahi folded one leg over the other, "I mean, second year captains are almost unheard of."
"Well how many teams have had a first year captain?" Oshitari pointed out. Miyori flinched.
"Atobe was the captain of the tennis team last year?" Miyori was alarmed.
"And three years before that," Mukahi scratched the back of his head with a frown, "too long of a time, if you ask me." Miyori was absolutely baffled that someone could lead a team that long and at such young ages. There would be mutiny on the soccer team if someone like Miyori or Yuuki just took over.
"When Atobe came to this tennis team, many things changed," Oshitari noticed Miyori's mystified expression, "personal power became the structure for our hierarchy. Whatever you did could bring you power. If you were defeated, you were knocked to the bottom. And I mean the very bottom"
"So one loss made it impossible to return to the top," Miyori understood the dread of losing one match. You were sent to the bottom of a 200 player team and you could never return to where you were.
"Not impossible," Mukahi said slowly. Miyori looked between the two of them.
"Shishido is a living testament to that," Oshitari agreed. Miyori wondered what other things Shishido had done to climb back up to the top. Then another thing hit her.
"I'm going to have to play a role in this hierarchy, won't I?" Miyori groaned.
"Probably," Oshitari chuckled, "albeit it will be a small one."
"I'm going to have to prove myself in some way or another to earn any authority," Miyori ran a hand over her hair, "sitting around doing paperwork doesn't exactly cut it."
"Not necessarily," Oshitari said politically, shifting in his seat, "as long as you have Atobe backing you, no one will question your authority."
"But Atobe isn't going to be around forever," Miyori was beginning to get frustrated, "and since this team is power based, what happens if someone overthrows him?" Mukahi and Oshitari exchanged amused glances.
"That won't happen," Gakuto shook his head.
"No really," Miyori stopped him, "what if-"
"You don't get it," Oshitari shook his head, "if Atobe were that easy to overthrow, he wouldn't be in power at this point. No one has the capability to, so no one is looking to overthrow him."
"Unless you count Hiyoshi," Gakuto rolled his eyes.
"Hiyoshi?"
"He and his Gekokujou, that guy," Mukahi shook his head in disgust, still peeved at what had happened the other day.
"He has plans to overthrow Atobe?" Miyori frowned at the thought of Hiyoshi taking over.
"I think you misunderstand," Oshitari chuckled, more at Mukahi's distate than Miyori's surprise, "Hiyoshi has always been Atobe's successor, but Hiyoshi wants to surpass him before that time comes."
"So that's his dream?" Miyori thought it through carefully.
"That's been his drive for the past four years," Oshitari informed her, "he only picked up tennis to defeat Atobe."
"He must work hard," Miyori rubbed the back of her neck, feeling bad for misjudging the guy. Oshitari's expression turned grim.
"He works too hard," Oshitari said darkly, "that's why we-" he stopped. Mukahi and Miyori looked at him expectantly.
"I just remembered, I need to find Atobe," Oshitari got up and left the room without saying another word. They watched him leave.
"That's..." Gakuto didn't finish.
"Yeah..." Miyori leaned over the paperwork to see any trace of her dark haired senpai. Gakuto turned back to Miyori with a frown.
"I still don't know who you are," Gakuto told her.
"We just talked for twenty minutes and it never occurred to you to find out who I was?" Miyori looked at him with incredulity.
"Yuushi knew you, so I didn't worry," Gakuto shrugged, "but who are you?"
Miyori rolled her eyes and picked up another folder, "ask Oshitari-senpai."
"Is it like some cult secret, your identity?" Gakuto asked, poking fun at her for not answering, "Do I need to do some kind of dance at the full moon for it to be told to me?"
"Of course," Miyori looked up, "but the full moon isn't for another 12 days, so I suggest the blood sacrifice. My priest will call your priest."
Mukahi eyed her warily as if she was some mentally unstable person. He hadn't expected a retort like that. Gakuto left in haste. Miyori shook her head again and continued writing.
"Honestly, if he couldn't get that I was the manager..."
[]
Shishido and Gakuto were sitting in the class, waiting for the teacher to come back from lunch. Shishido had his head propped up on his hands and Mukahi was practically lying in his desk, his arms crossed. They both were rather bored, Mukahi verging on lethargy.
"Ore-sama sees you two are happy to be alive," Atobe sat down in a nearby chair.
"Shut up Atobe," Shishido groaned as he let his forehead hit the surface of the desk.
"Lashing out will get you nowhere," Atobe let out a small chuckle as he began turning the pages of a textbook.
"Nowhere," Gakuto sighed, staring at the ceiling, "we have reached nowhere, doing nothing. We have become nothing."
Atobe looked at them in mock surprise, "I had no idea."
"No, he means tennis," Shishido didn't look up, "there's nothing left to do in tennis. We have reached the end of the line."
"Idiots! It's with that mindset that you are defeated," Atobe snorted, "you always have room to get better."
"That's not it," Shishido sat up to glare at Atobe, "I mean we are running out of reasons to push ourselves."
"You guys were all fired up yesterday," Atobe seemed to find this excuse less than satisfactory, "did you not get your revenge, Gakuto?"
"I was only doing that because I was bored," Gakuto didn't bother, "I needed something to do, so I hammed it up."
"The tournaments are coming up, aren't they?" Atobe folded his arms, "Seigaku and Rikkaidai should be more than enough reason to get ready."
"We don't even face Seigaku until Taikai tournament," Gakuto turned his head, "and Rikkaidai until Kantou."
"We still have districts," Atobe pointed out.
"I mean, yeah, the district tournament is in a month, but we don't even play in that," Shishido argued, "it's usually second string and only one or two of us." Atobe paused. They had a valid point. The team would get weary of playing each other for so long. Atobe could instill the passion they needed, but how long would it last?
The team needed an outlet.
"I'll see what I can do," Atobe began flipping the pages of his book again.
[]
Miyori rubbed her eyes. After getting the formidable job of filing the papers just yesterday, she felt rather accomplished. She had alphabetized all the folders and had filed away 4 of the 5 large stacks into the cabinet.
Her watch told her it was 7:15 A.M.
At least I can see the desk now, Miyori touched the surface. Miyori studied the last stack. She would just take it to an empty classroom and have Yuuki bring her lunch. There was another small stack acumulating of files that needed to be corrected, and that would take at least another day to complete.
I need a break, she ran a hand over her hair as she got out of her chair. Miyori went to the window and tugged down one of the blinds. Morning practice had started in full force. She leaned in to get a better look, but there was little she could see through the window.
Miyori moved outside and shut the door behind herself. She leaned on the doorframe to observe the practice from a distance. All the members were either running laps or on a court. She glanced up to the stands. It was filled to bursting point with fangirls except for an end section. Miyori squinted her eyes to get a good look. There was a blond boy sleeping all by himself.
She turned back to the fangirls and scoured the stands for her caramel-haired friend.
"Oh! Sorry!" a girl bumped into her.
"It's okay, Yuuki," Miyori held up a hand, "Yuuki?"
"Hey Yo-yo!" Yuuki beamed.
"Why aren't you up there?" Miyori pointed to the fangirl stands.
"Morning practice are for hard cores," Yuuki waved a hand, "besides, they have a schedule."
"Schedule?" Miyori was flabbergasted.
"Yeah, the tennis team isn't the only one who's organized," Yuuki beamed with two thumbs up. Miyori stared at her.
"But you can't go to afternoon practices," Miyori was unsure if she wanted to say this.
"I know," Yuuki nodded, "we have soccer practice at the same time."
"So... if you don't really watch morning practices," Miyori said this very slowly, "and you don't watch afternoon practices, how can you call yourself a fangirl?"
"How can you say that?" Yuuki was affronted, "Have you seen them play? How can anyone NOT-"
"Okay, okay," Miyori surrendered, backing up a step, "I was just asking."
"It's fine," Yuuki huffed, throwing her hair over her shoulder, "I come to tournaments."
"That's all you have to do?" Miyori looked affronted, "anyone could do that."
"Nooo," Yuuki rolled her head in a circle, "I know things."
"Oooh, she knows things," Miyori said dramatically.
"You're not funny," Yuuki swatted at her repeatedly. Miyori laughed as she shielded herself from these attacks. They calmed down and stared at each other.
"I'm really glad you got the job," Yuuki said encouragingly. Miyori smiled.
"Speaking of, I had better get back to work," Miyori checked her watch, "I still have-"
"What are you two doing over there!" someone yelled at them. They turned towards the tennis courts in confusion. A black haired guy in a tennis uniform was marching up to then with an angry expression. Miyori noticed a small scar by his right eyebrow.
"What are you two doing loitering by our clubhouse?" he asked haughtily.
"Your clubhouse?" Miyori was still at a loss for words.
"Fangirls aren't supposed to be over here," he continued glowering at them, "there is a place for you over there." He stabbed a finger at the stands.
"Umm, I'm not a fangirl I'm a-"
"Nerdy fangirl who is trying to break into the clubhouse," he pointed his finger in her face, "we don't need your kind around here." Yuuki looked worried, but Miyori narrowed her eyes.
She moved her hand deliberately to get the finger out of her face, "Listen bub, I don't know who you think you are, but if you think for one minute I'm-"
SLAP!
"Miyori!" Yuuki shrieked. Miyori was on the ground looking up at the towering guy. Yuuki ran to go get Miyori's glasses that had skittered way down the way. Miyori wiped the side of her mouth. Her cheek was burning
"Girls like you need to learn what respect is," the guys said with a menacing glare. Miyori rose to her full height facing the brute again. Even though she wasn't wearing her glasses, she could still see the two blurry eyes boring down on her.
"Guys like you need to learn how to hit," she gave him an equally foreboding expression. His face contorted with raged. He raised his right hand to slap Miyori again, but Miyori caught his wrist before he could reach her.
SLAP!
The guy had rounded on her with his other hand and sent Miyori to the ground again.
"Was that hard enough for you?" the guy asked with malevolent satisfaction.
BAM!
A large fist and laid the tennis guy out on the ground. Miyori blinked in surprise to see Hiyoshi standing over the boy.
"I certainly hope that was, Sato-senpai," Hiyoshi said in a low voice, "if not, I can do it again."
"Hiyoshi?"
"You brat, I'll teach you a lesson," Sato spat out blood and stood up. He took a swing at Hiyoshi which was dodged calmly. Sato swung again and again, only to be neatly dodged by Hiyoshi.
"Fight me like a man!" he called out, his fists swinging wildly.
BAM!
Hiyoshi laid him out on the ground again, only this time Sato was clutching his eye. Hiyoshi's face did not change.
"You disgust me," Hiyoshi said quietly, "I don't think I have any more respect for you."
"Who cares?" Sato stood up, grinning like a madman, "What are you going to do, go running to Atobe like the little dog you are?"
"You're an idiot," Hiyoshi turned away, walking over to help Miyori up.
"Why you!" Sato lunged for Hiyoshi while his back was turned. Hiyoshi whipped around and struck out at him with his leg. Sato skidded backwards. He stood up, holding his stomach.
"I'm gonna remember this!" he began running away, "you and your nerdy girlfriend will pay!" Hiyoshi watched him turn the corner with a satisfied huff.
"Are you stupid?" Miyori whacked Hiyoshi in the back of the head.
"What was that for!" Hiyoshi rubbed where Miyori had hit him, already irritated that he had been forced to intervene.
"I had it under control," she exclaimed, "I didn't need you to back me up!"
"Obviously," Hiyoshi said sarcastically, "and you have the marks to show for it." Miyori sent a fist flying at his face, only to have it caught. She threw a punch with her other hand and had it caught as well.
"You need to pick your battles more wisely," Hiyoshi leaned in, still holding her fists. His eyes were wild with anger and irritation at Miyori's inadequate ability to take care of herself. She couldn't even land a punch on him. Why was it that he went to bat for her every time?
She bared her teeth at him and stared him down. Hiyoshi did not yield to her, not even to her mysterious ice blue eyes.
"What the heck are you doing?" a shrill voice demanded. Both Hiyoshi and Miyori looked up. Yuuki was holding Miyori's glasses and wore an expression of angry disbelief. Hiyoshi loosened his grip on Miyori's fists and stood up straight. Miyori let her hands fall to her sides.
"Nothing Yuuki," Miyori reached out for her glasses as if it was the usual, "it's just a-"
"He defends your honor and this is how you thank him?" Yuuki was aghast. Miyori froze. Hiyoshi was at a loss for words. Honor? The stupid girl had gotten herself in trouble again and he had to go dig her out, there was no honor involved.
"Apologize to him," Yuuki demanded.
"For what?" Miyori said crossly.
"For being a prick," Yuuki told her.
"But he just-"
"APOLOGIZE."
"It's whatever," Hiyoshi felt a fresh wave of negative feelings coming on, "just... pick your battles more wisely." That way I won't have to clean them up.
Hiyoshi walked back to practice. Miyori watched him until he was a blue and white blur and realized she still wasn't wearing her glasses. She snatched them from Yuuki.
"You!" Yuuki puffed up, turning to her friend, "you!"
"Me!" Miyori said angrily, "and now that he's defended 'my honor' I'm going to have to work doubly hard to earn the respect of that team out there."
"No one saw you!" Yuuki contended, "Who exactly are you going to have to work hard for?"
"That Sato guy is going to tell everyone that-"
"That Sato guy," Yuuki interrupted, "just had a beating to his pride. I doubt anyone is going to know about it."
"That's not the point," Miyori swiped the air with her hand, "if Hiyoshi rushes around 'saving my butt' I'm never going to get anywhere with those guys."
"I don't care if you have to kiss them all to get anywhere, you don't give up common courtesies," Yuuki pointed out to the tennis courts, "he saved your butt, yes, so at some point you need to either thank him or apologize."
"This is such a fangirl dream," Miyori said darkly.
"Excuse me?" Yuuki glared at her.
"You heard me," Miyori crossed her arms, going into a high pitched mimicking voice, "the poor girl in trouble and tennis guy to saves her, and they both secretly like each other. The whole damsel in distress speil."
"LOOK," Yuuki pointed a finger in Miyori's face, "I won't deny fangirls live for this kind of thing, but he stuck up for you and that's what matters. You are going to thank him and or apologize to him even if I have to drag your butt over to him to do it!" Miyori muttered under her breath. She knew Yuuki was right.
"I'll apologize later," Miyori waved it off with a murmur, "I have to finish some paperwork." Yuuki eyed her, but nodded.
"See you later, Miyori," Yuuki put up a hand and walked on to her original destination, now will a less cheerful demeanor than before. Miyori went back into the clubhouse and sat down at her desk.
She didn't feel like doing any more paperwork.
"How far are you?" Atobe asked asked her, coming through the door, "almost done, ahn?"
"In one more day," she sighed.
"Very well," Atobe nodded, he turned to leave, but he stopped. "Wearing blush today?"
"Wha?" Miyori touched her cheeks, feeling the sting, "oh, something like that."
"Really? Because it looks like someone slapped you," Atobe didn't smile. Miyori shifted some papers on her desk.
"It's nothing you can take care of," Miyori lied. Atobe narrowed his eyes.
"Just choose your battles carefully," Atobe advised her. Miyori let out a laugh and nodded soberly.
She really did owe Hiyoshi an apology. At the very least he was right, she was biting off more than she could chew. Maybe she could have taken the Sato guy, maybe not, but she could have handled the situation a lot better.
"I will."
And we end it here.
I hope it was okay, for you guys' sake more than mine. I want this to be a good story.
Please tell me if you disliked this chapter and thanks again for reading. :)
