Bunta: Haha! We've finally got air time! * smug *
Jackal: Marui, watch yourself.
Akaya: Sneaking in feels terrible... * uneasy *
Alya: Don't worry! Alya used to sneak into the other divisions of school :D It gets fun sometimes * grins *
Melody: Yep yep, like how I used to sneak into Rikkai~ * smug *
Alya: Alright, Alya does not own any of the guy here other than Melody-chan~ And whee, air time for the ex-regulars~
10 - Sneaking into The High School Division
It was a boring afternoon the next day after we finished were finished with the Prefecturals. Everyone was still tired, but we still went for practice. Gathering at the courts, everyone dragged their feet tiredly. As for me, the injuries I had aquired did not hurt on the day itself, but hurt the next day. Limping and dragging my feet due to the pain, it was quite a sight to see. Even so, I tried my best to keep my body straight, and walked properly into the court.
Seeing me, Akaya got peeved and tried to carry me bridal style. Twirling out of his way, he scowled at me as I winced, feeling the throb at the wounds. Holding onto the fences at the side of the courts, I limped my way to the coach bench and sank gratefully into it. Noticing that everyone was eyeing me, I gave them my signature reassuring smile, that immediately put them at ease.
" Yukiko, you're off from practice today. Go back to the dorms," Akaya literally ordered me.
" Captain's orders?" I questioned.
" Yes," he replied.
" Come on, don't be such a meanie~" I pleaded.
" Go or else you're banned from this court for the entire week," he threatened me.
" Fine, I shall go to the high school division then," I huffed and limped my way away.
" Yukiko!" he chased after me, " I'll end practice early today okay? So wait for me. I don't want you getting more hurt that this. You're important to the team okay, so just be nice and wait for me won't you?" he held my arm.
" Then can I wait here?" I turned back to face him, with innocent puppy eyes.
" Argghhh!" he scratched his head exasperatedly before pausing for a while then saying begrudgingly, " F-fine,"
" Arigato! Kirihara Buchou~" I teased.
" Buchou-Tono, what are we doing today?" the twins asked.
" We'll get everyone to play a practice match. After that we'll be dismissed. Everyone's tired." Akaya said as Kikuchi helped me back to the coach bench.
As soon as the practice matches ended, I made a move first and went my way back to the clubroom by myself, hopping and limping. Sinking down onto the cushion with a sigh, I closed my eyes for a moment.
Reopening them, I found Akaya's eyes staring into mine, with his seaweed hair draping over his face. Shocked, I jolted up and crashed my forehead into his nose.
" What the?" he exclaimed, holding his nose.
" Oww..." I touched my forehead.
" That's my line!" he shouted sounding nasal.
" I'm sorry," I flomped back onto the cushion.
" Forget it. We're going to the high school now. Everyone's left." he told me and held out his hand to me.
Taking it, we walked to the gates of the high school division. Peeking, we saw that everyone wore the same clothes as us, and that we could simply slip in unnoticed. Walking in the gates as carefully as we could, we hurriedly found directions to the courts, where our senpais were practicing.
It was like a scene out of the past, where Niou paired with Yagyuu would play doubles against Jackal paired with Bunta. Then at the next court, would be Sei-chan versus Gen-chan, and Yanagi being the referee.
Staring at them from outside the courts, we were entranced by their skills. It seemed ever so flawless, compared to our own. However, looking at the other sides of the courts, we soon realised our senpai's skills in tennis seemed pale in comparison to the other high schoolers. The high schoolers were on an entirely different level, though it seemed like our senpai are already catching up to them.
" Akaya," Yanagi seemed to whisper, and everyone stopped playing, with the ball falling onto the other person's court.
" Uwahh, what a shock, you people actually sneaked in?" Sei-chan smiled.
" You what?" Sanada asked pissed already.
" Nice going, Yukiko-chan," Niou commented on my bandages.
" Let me have a look at them later," Yagyuu told me.
" Oh my, what happened?" Sei-chan asked.
" A little accident ne," I grinned.
" Don't you a little accident me, you're obviously limping," Sanada knocked my head, causing me to hold onto the place he knocked me, wincing in pain.
" Well whatever it is, someone's going to see us here. We'd better get moving first," Jackal said.
Walking with Gen-chan holding onto me, we were brought to under a huge tree near the courts of the high school division, and we all settled down on the grass. Upon sitting down, Yagyuu immediately came to have a look at my wounds. Propping my leg up, he peeled off the bandage. As he unrolled it, the stains of red grew larger and larger, until he finally reached the wound.
" Uwaahhh~ Looks painful hime [princess]~" Bunta said.
Looking at it, he said, " This looks bad, Niou, go smuggle some bandages," he told his doubles partner.
Running off on a low jog, Niou left, and Yagyuu continued looking at my wounds. Peeling off the plaster on my face, it revealed the red welt that was purpling. Sighing, he went on and had a look at the rest of my wounds.
When Niou came back, it wasn't just some bandages. It was the entire first aid box. Taking it, Yagyuu cleaned the wound, applied some medication before binding my knee all the more tighter. Once he was done, he slipped on a knee guard for me, and said, " This will prevent it from moving, allowing the wounds to heal faster. Akaya, ban her from playing for the next week at least."
" Uh, I've banned her already. Just now," he nodded.
" You've been careless, Yukiko-chan," Sei-chan said to me as soon as Yagyuu finished bandaging my wounds properly.
" Mm, I know," I leaned back against the tree, " I didn't take him seriously enough, I was careless," I grinned.
" Good that you know," Sei-chan ruffled my hair, " As soon as you can return to the courts, practice." he advised.
" Hai~" I replied.
" Saa tte, let's go finish up our practice match and then we can leave," Sei-chan got up together with the others, " Wait for us here, we'll be done soon. Then we'll show you around the high school division together. Let's go," he said and walked back to the courts.
True to their word, they finished in five minutes. Waiting for them as they went to change, I twirled the grass in my fingers as Akaya stared into the bits of sky that showed through the canopy of leaves from the tree.
" Hey, I won't ban you completely," Akaya said, " But you're only going to play with me. And you just need to keep feeding me balls." he turned towards me and grinned.
" That's still mean," I pouted, " But its better than nothing," I grinned.
As our senpai-tachi came, we went around the school, peeking into the classrooms like tourists visiting another country. Somehow, as we walked, we ended up at the roof of the school. Dumping down our bags, we sat down on the floor of the roof, and stared up into the sky.
" Hey, do you think we'd make it to the Nationals? I mean us, the high schoolers," Bunta said.
" We will make it," Niou said, " After all we have the three Demons of Rikkai gathered here," he took a dig at Sei-chan, Gen-chan and Yanagi.
" What about the middle school?" Jackal turned to ask Akaya and I.
" We'll make it. I'll see to it that we make it," I said staring into the clouds.
" Aa, we'll make it," Akaya echoed.
" Well, thanks for sneaking in today. We were actually planning to go find you all," Sei-chan said.
" We ended early today," I grinned.
" That's nice to hear," Yanagi said.
" Well, its getting rather late. Akaya, can we count on you to send Yukiko-chan back to the dorms?" Sei-chan asked, looping his scarf around my neck.
" Of course. She still has to tutor me for English," he said.
" Well then, see you some other time," Sei-chan ruffled our hair and left with the rest of our senpai.
Melody: Sei-chan's scarf is still the best~ * inhales deeply * Smells like Sei-chan~
Akaya: Its kind of gross * disgusted *
Melody: That's why I say you don't understand girls * shakes head *
Alya: * sighs * Reviews please :D