Lucifer of Rikkaidai

Chapter 11: As a Second Year Ace

After the practice, Yanagi and Akaya walked home together. Akaya happily chirped, about school, about the team, and about the team as they walked.

"So in the end, Marui-senpai ate all my hi-chews! I only ate two!"

"Hahaha. When it comes to Marui and sweets, you can't stop him." Yanagi chuckled and said. "By the way, Akaya."

"Yeah?"

"I think you should reduce the training menu by half; you're going to pass out again at this pace."

"Actually, I don't think it's that hard."

"…Really?" Yanagi's eyes glistened in interest. "From my data, you were supposed to stop from exhaustion after training a menu of four times the regulars."

"Huh. 'Cuz I'm getting used to it pretty well. I don't feel that deadly tired when I finish." She said.

"That's good. We'll see what happens after a bit, and decide whether or not we should make it harder."

"Okay!" Akaya grinned. Yanagi ruffled her hair in response.

Days flew by and the regulars' practice was harsher and more intense than ever. Akaya kept doing her training menu; she woke up in the morning every day to jog 3 miles and went to the morning practice.

"Akaya-chan~!" The fan club girls (and guys) called her one time during the break. They swarmed into her class and surrounded her, handing her gifts and letters.

"Huh?"

"Good luck on your first match this week!" They said and squealed.

After school, Akaya had changed into her uniform and walked out of the girls' locker room to the tennis courts. Then a random boy stopped her.

"H-Hi, Kirihara!"

"Hi…?"

"I've liked you ever since I saw you… C-Could you go out with me?" He bowed and forced a bouquet of roses into her arms. Akaya was dumbfounded and bewildered as heck. She's only been there for 2 months and someone had already asked her out.

"Uh…" Akaya stared back and forth at the flowers in her hands and the boy.

"Not so fast!" There came a voice behind Akaya; she turned around and found Marui and Niou with sly glares.

"No~ no~ no~ this is not permitted." Marui waved his fingers and said.

"That's right. We can't have our second year ace be distracted by some trivial matters."

"Unless you want to have some nice talk with the Big Three… I'm sure Sanada's going to be pissed off about this!"

"Hieee! S-Sorry!" He gasped and ran away in blink of an eye.

"…Senpai-tachi!" Akaya yelled.

"What?"

"Don't scare people! I was going to reject anyways!"

"Well we need to let at least one person know our intentions so they'll never bother you, right?" Marui explained.

"But—"

"And what we said was true, in fact. The Big Three won't be happy about this, especially Sanada since you'll be distracted by a guy and stuff."

"Yup, yup. If you don't want to hear Sanada's 'TARUNDORUU!' again, then it's better off for us to scare people away." Marui said, and snickered a little.

"…Senpai, I think you're just enjoying this."

"No we're not." They said simultaneously, but had their signature grin. Akaya just stood there, staring at the two upperclassmen. So they did enjoy it. The three walked to the tennis courts; Akaya still had the bouquet of roses in her hands.

"I don't even like roses…" Akaya rubbed her nose after smelling the flowers. They snickered.

"Akaya…?" Some dark figure towered over the three from behind. Akaya slowly turned around and saw Sanada giving her the most deadly glares ever.

"C-Chi—su, fukubuchou!" Akaya squeaked and hid behind Niou.

"What is the meaning of this?" Sanada's voice rose as he was eyeing the bouquet in her hands.

"97% chance she got asked out by a boy." Yanagi also walked over to them and recited his data.

"Yup. Akaya got asked out." Marui said and snickered again.

"AKAYAAAAAA" Sanada towered over Niou and Akaya.

"Don't worry, don't worry~ we scared him away!" Niou put his hands up and explained.

"Yeah, we told him that Akaya shouldn't be dealing with superficial things, or else he has to face the Big Three's rage!" Marui added.

"Hou…" Sanada raised his eyebrows and the three grinned nervously.

"Hmph. Good work, Marui and Niou." He smiled (more like a smirk), and went to practice. Who knew there'd be a day where Sanada would praise Marui and Niou?

"Kukuku, he seriously is like Akaya's dad."

"I know, he's seriously like an old man!" They snickered.

"Marui! Niou! GIVE ME 20 LAPS!"

"Dammit…" They grumbled and started running.

"…" Akaya just stood there, not knowing what to do with the flowers.

"Akaya, you should get to practice too. The match is tomorrow." Yanagi said.

"Yeah."

"What are you going to do with the flower?"

"Good question. I don't know."

"Then may I have it?"

"Huh? Sure but why?"

"I want to experiment something." His closed, scheme-filled eyes seemed to glisten; Akaya gulped and handed him the bouquet.

"W-What experiment is it…?" She asked carefully.

"…Don't worry about it." He smiled mysteriously and walked away.

'This is bad! I better not irritate Yanagi-senpai…!' Akaya gulped in fear.

The regulars practiced with their utmost effort as usual. When it was over, Sanada and Yanagi called in the regulars.

"As you all know, we have the district preliminary tournament tomorrow. We will meet in front of the school gate at 10 o'clock exactly. You have the excuse from all your classes." Niou, Marui, and Akaya grinned widely at that. "You do not have to come to school until then." Everyone nodded.

"Everyone, get to sleep early and show up at your top conditions." Yanagi added.

After practice, Yanagi and Akaya walked home together as usual.

"Akaya, don't go jogging in the morning tomorrow." Yanagi said.

"Eh? Why?"

"We need you in top shape. You're going to be playing singles in most of the matches so don't squander your energy beforehand. So get plenty of sleep tonight and eat well for breakfast, preferably protein and carbohydrate-based."

"Yessir!" Akaya chirped.

"Are you that excited?" Yanagi smiled and asked.

"Yeah! I've been waiting for this for so long! I hope I come across some worthy opponents. I want to play Seigaku's Tezuka-san, Hyotei, and all those people that are strong!" She fisted the air and fumed through her nose. Yanagi chuckled and ruffled her hair; her spirit was cheerful and energizing.

"You will, Akaya."

Akaya stepped into the house, and immediately went to her mom who was preparing dinner.

"Mom, mom, mom, mom!" She shouted and ran into the kitchen.

"Someone's hyper!" Sachiko laughed and greeted her daughter.

"Yeah! So tomorrow's the day of the tournament at last!" Akaya beamed.

"Ooh, that sounds really fun. But honey, I have work tomorrow all day so I don't think I could see your matches."

"That's fine, as long as you come to watch nationals!"

"Nationals I will definitely go. But you have your mind set pretty out far."

"Of course, there is no loss for Rikkaidai! We'll win nationals the 3rd consecutive time."

"Huhuhu, that's very cool. So, when are you leaving tomorrow? Are you missing school?"

"Yeah. I have to be at the school gate by 10 o'clock. And don't worry about schoolwork, I'm doing perfectly fine." Akaya convinced her mother although she was still slacking off in some (more like half) of her classes.

"I'm going to be out from 9… you'll be fine, right?"

"Yes ma'am!"

"Alright then. Let's eat!" Her mom set up the table and said. The two ate dinner, and Akaya got ready to go to sleep early.

"Ah~ah, I wonder if I can even go to sleep…" Akaya lied down on the bed and mumbled. After shifting around a bit, she shot up and re-checked her contents of the bag to make sure she doesn't leave anything behind.

"1, 2, 3 rackets, check… strings, check. Extra grips, check. Towel, check. Sunblock, check. Wallet, check. Extra water bottles, check."

'I absolutely can't let down my teammates… and especially buchou.'