As Satomi entered classroom 3A, she found it out that no one from the judo club greeted her as per usual. In fact, every step she took, they seemed to scoot their desks to face away from her.
It was so childish. But Satomi couldn't help but to step forward and backward over and over again because they would scoot back and forth.
With a small laugh, Satomi approached the group that tried to scoot to the back of the room. "What's wrong, you guys?"
Then the members went to their feet with their arms crossed in front of them. Jigoro was in the front of the group with his hands clenched tightly.
"What's wrong with us? What's wrong with you?" he shouted.
This wasn't the judo team she remembered yesterday. "What are you talking about?"
"You cancelled the judo meeting because you said you had to study for the English exam, but Michi saw you laughing with Haninozuka! At a kendo match no less!" Jigoro seemed to be upset by this. "You're not even going to try to deny it?"
"Why would I need to deny it?" Satomi asked.
"Ever since that stupid birthday party, you haven't been the same Satomi we know!"
"I'm still the same!"
"The Satomi we know would never cancel a practice, lie to us, and fraternize with the enemy!"
"What enemy? We're a middle school club! If anything, our enemy would be other schools' judo clubs!"
"You don't understand." Jigoro's aura darkened and his fist was clenched even tighter. "I challenge you to a judo match!" The judo members gasped. They were upset with Satomi, but they would never challenge her in such a way. "If I win, I will take over as judo captain and you will leave the club."
"And if I win?"
"You can do as you please with whoever you want even Haninozuka and Morinozuka."
A shadow cast over Satomi's eyes and she became serious. "I accept then."
"Our match will be next Saturday at 10am."
"Fine." She withdrew the keys to the practice room from her backpack and handed them to Ichiro.
"Satomi," Ichiro called out softly. But Satomi just walked out of the classroom to cool down.
Between breaks, Satomi didn't glance at the judo club or at Satoshi and Chika. In fact, as soon as the bell rang, she rushed out into the library.
Ichiro still felt uneasy as he opened the practice room that afternoon. The room didn't seem the same without the captain and her bright smile.
"Jigoro, may I speak with you now?" Ichiro asked.
"Of course." The two stood outside the judo room, lingering in the hallways as the team rushed inside.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
"I know you've wanted to be judo captain since elementary school, but this isn't the way to get it. Don't you still care for Satomi-san?"
"Of course, I care about Satomi-san…I like her. I like her a lot."
"Then why are you trying to take away her title?"
"Satomi-san has never shown an interest in anything aside from her studies and her judo team. Then Haninozuka and Morinozuka show up and she's cancelling practices and running off with them. It's frustrating."
"Then you should talk to her."
"No, it won't help it. There's a reason why they are drawn to each other. Do you know what they all have in common?"
"They're all in 3A?"
"No."
"They're all extremely wealthy?"
"No."
"Don't tell me the three of them of related!"
"Of course not! All three of them are captains! Haninozuka is captain of the karate club. Morinozuka is captain of the kendo club. And Satomi is captain of the judo club."
"So?"
"That's what she wants in a boyfriend!" Jigoro shouted. "She doesn't want to date a lackey in her club! She wants a strong leader, a fighter! If I can beat her and become captain, I won't just be another face in the crowd. I'll be Inoue Jigoro, captain of the judo club."
"And what if you lose?"
"I'm not going to." Jigoro walked into the judo room, leaving Ichiro in the hallway shaking his head in disappointment.
