Most of the next day was overcast, and the clouds waited to rain until just after the pool session began. Kotoko quickly diverted the children into the lounge area and set them up in a video game tournament. After several rounds, she stood behind Saito when he complained because his sister was ahead of him in Racquet Warrior.
"Don't be a sore loser, Saito-kun," she admonished.
"Stupid game," he muttered, although he still kept maneuvering his game controller to play.
"Just because she's waxing your tail is no reason to diss the game," called out Ryota, sprawled on the floor.
"Yeah, once someone gets this far ahead, there's not much you can do," contributed Seiichiro, who for some reason was watching the screen upside down on the couch, feet dangling over the back.
"What do you mean?" Kotoko asked them suddenly. She leaned over Saito's shoulder. "Move towards the planet in the upper right corner." He gave her a doubtful look but obeyed. "Now fire continuously at that oval crater!"
"Wow!" Seiichiro did a back flip and spun around in a crouch. Both Saito and Saki's fingers paused as they watched golden tennis balls spew from the crater as if they were fireworks, racking up Saito's score considerably.
Kotoko straightened. "Never judge a game too quickly," she advised, then ruffled his hair. "Now, once this match is finished, go get yourselves ready for dinner. I've got to prepare for my evening work!"
After the dinner hour was over, Kotoko joined the children in the game corner again. "Give us a good game, Ai-san!" Ryota urged.
"Especially since you know all the hidden moves of Racquet Warrior," added Seiichiro.
"I'm not that good," Kotoko demurred, "although I have played it a few times." To the teenagers' mixed delight and dismay, that was modesty talking, for she beat them handily.
Because of the damp and gloomy weather, Sudo was in the process of lighting a fire in the fireplace nearest the lounge area where the adults had gathered. Naoki had been pressed into serving duty and handed cups of coffee to those lingering downstairs. The Hasekuras and the Kosakas sat together and chuckled as they watched the younger group on the other side of the tiled entrance way.
"They sure are enjoying that game," commented Mrs. Hasekura. "I should buy it, since it's so seldom that Saito and Saki can agree on what to play. I wonder what it is."
"Pardon the interruption, Hasekura-san," Naoki said. "That one is called Racquet Warrior Kotorin, from Pandai. It was a best seller last year."
"Well, there you have it!" Her husband patted her knee. "Thank you, young man."
"Kotorin," mused Mrs. Kosaka softly. "That name is familiar… Dear, where have I heard it?" She laid a hand on her husband's arm.
"I can't recall," he answered as he took a sip of coffee. "Although it does sound like the name of the girl that Kansai waiter at Busuta Yama was asking about."
Naoki paused in his retreat.
"You're right! What was it, Koto—, Koko—, ah, it doesn't matter, does it?" she laughed. "We wouldn't run into her anyway."
"Sudo-san!" Naoki hissed at the older man, who was staring glumly into the fire that he had finally succeeded in igniting.
"Hmph?" He turned. "Say, Irie, do you think Matsumoto would think it weird if I just happened to drive by her house tonight and have a breakdown?"
He stared at him and replied in a no-nonsense tone. "Yes. She would think it very suspicious and it wouldn't do the lodge any good if you deliberately sabotaged its vehicle."
"I thought so." His chin sank to his chest.
"Hey!" Naoki shook his shoulder and re-caught his attention. "Your aunt asked me to do the restaurant delivery tomorrow. Do you think you could make it instead?"
"Sure." He scratched his head. "But why?"
"It sounds like Kotoko's stalker is working there, and I don't want him to catch a glimpse of me."
"Right!" Sudo agreed then his expression turned crafty. "But only if you can think of a way for me to see Matsumoto before next week!"
"You're hopeless, you know that?" Naoki frowned as he looked at the other end of the open room. The current match had ended and the players were swapping out.
"Hey, isn't that the theme song from Aihara's game?" Sudo inquired, having been totally oblivious to the children's activity until now. "Wouldn't those kids go into hysterics if they found out that she was the original Racquet Warrior?"
A slow smile spread over Naoki's face. "Sudo-san," he clapped him on the back heartily, "just for that I'll see what I can come up with to get you and Matsumoto-san together."
"What? What did I say?" the confused man asked his receding back.
"Hi, kids," Naoki said at the edge of the rug. "Do you mind if I join you?"
"Sure!" Kotoko bounced up. "You can take my place."
"No, no, I was planning on challenging you!" he smiled.
"No way!" Ryota proclaimed. "She's great!"
"Maybe," Naoki smirked.
"Ooh, I've got to see this!" Seiichiro handed over his controller. "You can take my turn, but I bet you're going down!"
Kotoko looked at him hesitantly. "Naoki, you have one of those looks in your eyes…"
"Not afraid are you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
She set her jaw. "Not at all! Bring it on!"
The kids began cheering so loudly that some of the parents gathered to stand behind and watch. The Kosaka brothers grabbed brochures off the registration desk and scribbled notes in the blank spaces as fast as they could write. Even Sudo snapped out of his Matsumoto-inspired reverie and wandered over and sat down next to Naoki. When the credits finally rolled, Naoki stared at the screen in astonishment. "I don't believe it," he muttered.
"Serves you right!" Kotoko laughed, poking him in the forehead with a finger. "What do you think Yuuki and I did after you moved out? We didn't spend all our evenings sniping at each other!"
"If you played actual tennis half that well, Aihara, I'd put you on the first team!" Sudo congratulated her.
Naoki stood and made a medieval courtier's bow and kissed her hand. "But could I expect any less from the original Kotorin?" He winked and pulled her to him as he whispered, "Revenge!" then made a quick getaway. The sudden silence was broken by squeals and shouts from the children, and Ryota's voice forgot that it had already changed and rose to treble range.
"Thanks a lot, Irie Naoki!" she scolded as she entered their room some time later. She grabbed him around the neck from behind as he sat at the desk. "I had to take selfies and sign autographs after you left! Plus swear them to secrecy until they get home!" She released him and pounded his back before flopping down onto the futon. "Otherwise we might as well send up a flare that I'm here! I'm a celebrity, you know!" she reminded him with mock-arrogance as she threw a sock at him.
Naoki turned and tossed it back at her. "Let that be a lesson to you. Next time let me decide when I want a dip in the pool!"