Of Tennis and Ice Prince
Chapter 12: Meanwhile
It was finally the last day at the U-17 camp, and Sora and Tokugawa tidied up the room before leaving. They had packed their bags and got ready to leave. Once they got out they each got on a bus that took them to the bus stops that players needed to go to.
Sora had already talked to Saitou the night before and said that she would soon call him again.
The two climbed up the bus and sat down together.
"Man, I'm kinda disappointed that I'm leaving…" Sora said.
"We'll come back next year, right?"
"Right."
"Ah, that reminds me," Tokugawa took out his phone and said, "I need your number so we could at least meet and play."
"Right." Sora dialed her cell phone number and called her phone. Her phone rang. "There."
"Thanks."
"No prob." The two saved each other's phone number. Then, Sora's phone rang. It was her friend Yui.
"Hey Yui." She picked up and greeted.
"You're coming back today!" Yui's excited voice carried over to Sora.
"Mmhm."
"Where are you right now?"
"I'm on the bus. I'll be there in about an hour." She answered.
"Huhuhuhu~ You sound so sexy when you try to speak like a guy!" Yui giggled on the other side. Sora flinched, slightly creeped out.
"Th-Thanks…?"
"Well anyways I'll wait for you at the bus stop! Call me when you're close."
"Cool. See ya."
"Girlfriend?" Tokugawa asked, just to have fun teasing her.
"N-No." Sora fidgeted a little. It would be awkward to say that her best friend was her lover.
"Hou~ Very well."
"Do you have a girlfriend?" Sora asked. "Seems like you would." Tokugawa was slightly taken aback by the question. He's never ever dated a girl before—16 years out in this world, he always focused on nothing but tennis.
"N-No."
"Ever had one?" Sora made a sly grin and asked once again.
"No…"
"HAH NOOB!" Sora laughed. Tokugawa turned slightly red from embarrassment.
"Well, have you dated before?" He asked back.
"Y-Yeah!" Sora stuttered. "Of course! Ahaha…'
"You did!?" Tokugawa exclaimed, almost too loudly. He cleared his throat a little, being conscious of the looks people gave him.
"Y-Yeah." She avoided his eye contact. She of course actually didn't. She's rather marry tennis than go out with a stupid guy in her school.
After about an hour the bus stopped at the bus terminal to the cities.
"Which bus are you taking?" Tokugawa asked.
"Number 14."
"…Huh. I need to take number 14 too."
"Really!? Ohhhh crap. Yui must be here too…!' Sora started sweating. It would be super hard to make her friend go along with the whole "I'm-a-guy" façade Sora was pulling.
"Let's go."
They walked towards the stop for bus number 14.
"SORA~!" Yui stood up and waved her hands from far away.
"Yui!" Nonetheless, Sora was happy to see her best friend again after a long time at the camp. Yui ran to her and gave her a hug. "AAH! You're covered in bandages!"
"Ehehe~" Sora smugly scratched her head.
"And… your friend…?" Yui looked at Tokugawa who just stood there like a log; he didn't really know how to react since he's never been around girls that often.
"Ah, yeah, he's my friend, Tokugawa Kazuya." Sora introduced.
"Nice to meet you." He greeted her.
"Nice to meet you!" Yui greeted. "How was Sora while sh—"
Sora's eyes turned wide and looked at Yui in terror.
"I mean—he was practicing at the camp?" Yui smiled nervously and said. Tokugawa knew exactly what was up.
"He's a good player. I guess." He answered normally.
Sora turned away and sighed. "Wait, what do you mean "I guess." I definitely am a good player."
"Uh-huh."
"That reminds me, are you two going out?" Tokugawa asked, slightly tempted to tease Sora a bit.
"I-I already told you we're not." Sora said and nudged Yui. Yui nodded along. "N-Now the bus is here! Let's get going!" Sora tugged on Yui's sleeves and headed over to the bus.
"Huhuhu~ You caught yourself a fine fish, gurl!" Yui giggled and whispered to her.
"S-Shut up, Yui!"
"My stop is here." Tokugawa said, standing up.
"Ah, okay. See ya Tokugawa." Sora said.
"Bye, Tokugawa-kun."
"Good bye."
"I'll call you to play tennis." Sora grinned, showing her teeth. "I think I'll be bored if we don't rally time to time."
"Sure." Tokugawa smiled and got off of the bus. When he got off, Sora looked out and waved her hand. He waved his hand and walked away as the bus drove.
As soon as Tokugawa was out of her sight, Sora sighed and relaxed her body entirely.
"That was hard…" She groaned. She no longer pulled the "manly-voice" and talked like she normally would.
"Hehehe. He's pretty hot!"
Sora gave her a weird look.
"What! He is!"
"Yeah, yeah." She groaned and slouched onto the seat. "He gave me nothing but troubles…"
"It seems like you had fun, though." Yui said, smiling.
Sora thought for a second and grinned. "Yeah, I did."
They soon got off at the bus stop near their houses. Sora opened the door to her house, went to her room, and plopped down on her bed.
"Man, this is nice…" Sora sighed and said.
"I guess now you're really really really strong then!" Yui sat on the chair and said.
"Of course, I am at the number one group in that camp." Sora said proudly. "I have to challenge the top 20 players that went overseas now. Then I'll be strong."
"Are you going to go to the camp again?!" Yui asked in surprise.
"Mmhm. Until I'm found out or no longer can hide it, I will keep going." She grinned and said. "After all, I am pretty famous in that camp for being a strong player."
"I see. Well good luck to that! Did you have any hard time when you were on your period?"
"Oh god. Yes. Stomach cramps were the worst."
"Oi, Shiroki! Your pace is dropping!" The coach yelled from the other side of the court as Sora moved around the baseline to hit the balls back.
'Yeah, no shit because I'm having a fucking stomach cramp…!' Sora gritted her teeth and thought as she ran around and chased the balls down to hit them back. 'God damn this hurts like a bitch…!'
"Coach, I think Shiroki's a bit sick. His condition has been bad since morning." Tokugawa raised his hand and said. "I'll take him back to his room."
"Aah, thanks Tokugawa." The coach said.
"What! I can still play!"
"Get some rest and get back out here, Shiroki! You won't get anything done at this rate." The coach scolded.
"But…!"
"Just go rest."
"Yes sir…" Sora put her racket away in her bag and walked over to her room with Tokugawa.
"You didn't have to do that you know…" Sora trailed off.
"It's better to rest up than force yourself." Tokugawa said. 'Besides, I know that girls get super bad cramps when they're on their period.' Tokugawa was able to tell that Sora was on her period. He had an older sister, after all.
"Lie down." He said as the two entered the room. Then he went outside after checking that she got in her bed. He came back a few minutes later with a pouch covered in a towel. "Put this on your stomach. It'll help."
Tokugawa handed her the pouch and Sora put it on her stomach. It was hot.
"Thanks, Tokugawa." She grinned. "That feels so much better."
Tokugawa smiled. "Then I'll see you after practice. Just be a good boy and stay in bed, all right?"
"Got it."
"Hmmm… but I guess I handled it well." Sora concluded, grinning.
"Huhu. It must have to do with Tokugawa-kun, right?"
"WHY DO YOU ALWAYS BRING HIM INTO THE TOPIC!?"
"Hehehe, sorry, sorry."
"Aaah… first week of school is always so boring." Sora mumbled and yawned. She headed downstairs after the bell rang.
"Sora-senpaaaai~!" While Sora walked out of the school building, a certain familiar voice called her.
"I-I know that voice…!" Sora turned around slowly in terror. It was Mouri Jyuuzaburou, the captain of Rikkaidai Fuzoku middle school the year before. They knew each other pretty well since Sora was the girls' team's captain and they lived near the same direction.
Mouri was ridiculously tall, 191 centimeters, had burgundy curly hair with brown eyes.
"Mouri! H-Hi."
"Hehe, I knew I'd run into you in high school!" He scratched his head and laughed nonchalantly.
"A-Aah. It's good to see you." She said.
"Aw come on, that's it after seeing me for the first time in high school?" Mouri exclaimed. "I was expecting a warmer welcome!"
"Ahaha, sorry. But I saw you time to time when I walked home." She smugly scratched her head and said.
"That's different… oh well. I almost didn't recognize you since you cut your hair so short!" Mouri frowned. "I liked your long hair…"
"Don't worry, it grows out."
"So! Where are you headed, senpai?"
"You're not going to the practice?" Mouri blinked and asked. For practice he meant the tennis practice.
"Umm… well you see… I'm not going to join the team this year…" Sora trailed off, avoiding his eyes.
"WHAT!? WHY!" He yelped in horror. "You're fricking kick-ass at tennis! You're even better than most boys!"
"Because I need to, uh, focus on studies more now that I'm in high school. Yeah." Sora rolled her eyes around and said. 'Although I want to say that I need to keep a low profile to get into U-17 camp again this year.'
"But… but… there are already people from the tennis team looking out for you!"
"Huh?" She didn't know that. Nothing much happened during the first couple days in school. "What do you…"
"See?" Mouri pointed behind Sora. She turned around and her eyes opened wide.
"THERE SHE IS!" A group of girls in tennis uniform were running over to her, leaving a sandstorm behind their trails.
"Shit, gotta run." Sora cursed and dashed as fast as she could.
"Me too!" Mouri laughed and started following Sora.
"What are you doing!? Go away!"
"Huhuhu, make me!"
Sora ran and ran and ran around the school with Mouri trailing behind her; those girls just had to come from the direction of the gate so that Sora couldn't leave. She hid behind the bush and shivered in fear.
"What now?" Mouri asked.
"I don't know…!" Sora nervously said. "Wait. 'I know!' She snapped her fingers. She quietly climbed the tree to go over to the other side of the brick wall.
"Aah~ Nice idea!" Mouri followed her onto the tree as well.
"SHE'S ON TOP OF THAT TREE!" Someone hollered, making Sora flinch.
"YOU IDIOT! YOU BLEW MY COVER!" She yelled at the boy right underneath the branch.
"Nice view." He whistled, grinning and looking under Sora's skirt.
"SHUT UP!" Sora blushed and yelped although she had shorts underneath.
"Hoooly crap." Sora gulped as she spotted more people running towards her. She jumped over the brick wall to the other side, where Rikkaidai Fuzoku middle school was. And Mouri was still following her.
"She's on the other side! Hurry, climb the trees!"
'Well aren't they persistent.' Sora smiled nervously and started running again. The nearest thing she saw was the boys' tennis courts.
She saw two of boys in Rikkaidai tennis uniform hanging around outside of the courts. She dashed towards them and hid behind them. Mouri, of course, hid behind them too.
"Wha—" A magenta-haired boy who was blowing on a bubble gum flinched. "MOURI-SENPAI!"
"Shut up and stand there and act naturally or I'll make you a woman." She threatened.
"What the lady said." Mouri winked.
"Mouri you idiot! Look what I got into because of you!" Sora exclaimed in whispers to Mouri.
"Hehehe~ This is kinda fun!" He just grinned.
"Ugh, just shut up, they're coming this way."
"Puri."
Then the group chasing Sora finally appeared out of the corner.
"W-Where is she?" The group momentarily froze on spot and everyone looked around, trying hard to spot Sora who was standing behind the two boys' club members.
"Oh no~ my shoelaces." A boy with a sky-blue hair in a rattail slyly said and bent down, completely revealing Sora's upper body.
"THERE SHE IS!"
"FUCK!" Sora cursed and once again ran for it.
"Ahaha, as expected of Niou!" Mouri exclaimed and laughed as he ran after her.
"…Niou, that was pretty mean."
"Puri."
She dashed at full speed, and turned the corner again, and found the tennis club's shack.
"STOP FOLLOWING ME!" She yelled to Mouri who was running next to her.
"I'm not!" He just grinned and said. Sora groaned; she did not know how to deal with this guy.
She ran inside and shut the door, disregarding the people who flinched in surprise due to the stranger that barged into their club shack.
"Who are y—" A black haired boy in Rikkaidai tennis uniform yelled. "MOURI-SENPAI!?"
"She's here somewhere!" A voice yelled from outside.
"Ah—ahh—shit—!" Sora fidgeted and flailed around. Then she looked around and a tall locker big enough to fit about two people came into her view. She opened it violently, turned to the people who looked at her in confusion, put her finger to her lips saying, "shhhhh!"
"You! Get in!" She yelled at Mouri.
"Huh?"
Without a second thought Sora shoved him into the locker, stepped in herself, and shut the door as fast as she could.
"Search this area!"
"S-Senp…!" Mouri blushed madly as Sora's body came into a full, tight contact with his. Her chest pressed onto his abdomen and her thigh slung over his leg.
"Don't. Move." Sora covered his mouth and whispered. After a couple seconds of surprised look, Mouri finally grinned.
A black haired boy and a blue haired boy looked at each other in confusion. Soon after, the door to the shack opened.
"Hey you guys, have you seen a girl with short, dark navy-ish hair? She's a high schooler and has a red-and-white necktie. Or a tall guy with a dark red hair. He's in a tennis uniform." While catching her breath, a girl asked the boys who were standing with confused faces. Sora peeked through the little slits on the metal door and looked around the room.
"You mean… Shiroki-buchou from the girls' team in middle school, right?" Yukimura asked.
"Yeah, her! Have you seen her?"
'T-Touda Reiko…!' Sora knew who the person was. The person scanned the room and even looked at the locker. Sora flinched and immediately removed her face away from the metal slit, and Mouri quickly pulled her by wrapping his arm around her waist, attaching her body closer to his.
Sora gulped. She definitely can't be found out here. She went through all that trouble to hide in the most perfect spot.
Mouri's eyes softened as he put his lips on Sora's head; the girl was too busy trying her best in hiding while eavesdropping at the same time to realize anything. He closed his eyes and sniffed on Sora's hair; the little bits of sweat made her hair give off a stronger shampoo scent.
Mouri's arm around Sora's waist tightened a bit. In his big, strong, sturdy arms, Sora's tiny and slim waist felt so fragile.
His heart was beating uncontrollably fast, so fast that he was afraid that Sora might notice as the beating transferred over to her body. His cheeks heated up and he could do nothing but hold onto her.
Sora's heart started beating quick when Touda kept on looking in Sora's direction. 'D-Did she see me…? Oh please god no please please please'
Mouri was just silent the whole time, his eyes closed as he felt every small movement Sora made.
"U-Um…" A black and curly-haired boy stuttered.
"If you're talking about a girl in a school uniform and a tall guy, they should be heading towards the back gate." A boy with black curly hair said.
"So she escaped…!" The girl who came to question them mumbled. "All right, thank you. Sorry for intruding."
And she left the club shack. Sora sighed in relief.
"…It's alright to come out, senpai-tachi." The same voice that told the girl a wrong direction said.
"Let's go." She said, and Mouri snapped out. Sora carefully opened the locker, letting out a long sigh. "That was close…"
"It was indeed!" Mouri, who hurriedly regained his composure, grinned and said.
Sora glared at the boy. "Ey. This." She pointed at his arm wrapping around her waist.
"Ahaha, sorry, sorry." Mouri let her go and Sora stepped out of the locker.
Mouri came out also with a huge grin on his face.
"Thank you so much, you guys just saved my life." Sora said, dusting off some dirt on her skirt.
"Aah. Thanks, Yukimura. Akaya." Mouri thanked them also. "Although I wish I could've stayed like that longer." Mouri leaned into Sora and said goofily. Sora punched him on the shoulder.
"Owie."
"Huhuhu, no problem." The boy with blue hair said. "Anyway, why were you being chased?"
"U-Um… it's a long story…" Sora laughed nervously. "Ah, sorry for barging in."
"Do you play tennis, senpai?" The black haired boy asked with sparkling eyes.
"S-Sorta. I was the captain last last year, yes.'
"She's an amazing player!" Mouri exclaimed.
"Akaya, when you weren't around in middle school, she was the girls' team's captain. Her team that year went to the nationals."
"Wow so you play tennis! Why won't you join the club then?" The boy in curly black hair asked, tilting his head sideways.
"I kinda have to focus on my studies, so…" She came up with the same excuse. "Well, I should leave now. Again, thanks so much. I know you guys are aiming for your 3rd victory at nationals. Good luck on that."
"Thank you." The blue haired boy smiled.
Sora made her way to the door and pulled on the knob. Then the same girl from before was standing right outside and their eyes met. Sora froze. Then she tried to shut the door. But the girl hurriedly held it. Sora then walked over to the locker, opened it, went inside, and closed the door.
Touda Reiko walked in, her hands shaking in anger.
"SHIROKI—!" Her voice pierced through the roof. Sora came outside slowly and shut the door to the locker very slowly.
"…" She held onto the door for a couple seconds in silence and turned around immediately.
"Wassup Touda-senp—YEEOWW!" She flinched in pain as Touda gave her a clout on her head.
"What do you think you're doing, Shiroki!" Touda yelled, fuming in anger.
"I was just wondering if this locker could fit my b—"
Then another clout came flying to her head.
"OOOW!"
"You, young lady, are responsible for being singles 1 player in the team! You can't just decide to not sign up for tennis!"
"But senpai, I really need to focus on my stud—"
"I TOLD YOU THAT YOU CAN QUIT AFTER THIS YEAR!"
"Mouri-senpai, who is she?" A black haired boy quietly asked the blue-haired boy.
"Sora-senpai was the former captain of the tennis team in her middle school 3rd year. She's one hell of a player. Better than most guys." Mouri whispered as Touda and Sora kept on arguing back and forth.
"I'll come back maybe next year. But not this year, senpai."
"Why not this year?" Touda crossed her arms and asked.
"I-It's a secret. But definitely not this year."
"Then you don't have to show up to practices; just join the team."
Sora couldn't answer that one. She stayed silent for a couple of seconds with a blank expression. Then she slowly turned to look outside the window.
"…Oh my fricking god!" Sora's face then overcame with a dreaded expression as she yelped in horror. Everyone turned to look; nothing was there.
"There's noth—huh?" When Touda turned back to face Sora, Sora was gone.
Then a sound of the door opening quietly rang out in the room. In a blink of an eye, Sora had brushed past Touda and already left the shack.
"BYE SENPAI! SO SORRY!" Hollered Sora, as she made a run for the gate. "I'LL DEFINITELY JOIN NEXT YEAR!"
"SHIROKI!" Touda chased after her, fuming in anger. The door closed slowly and made a click as it shut tight. The club shack was now dead quiet.
"AHAHAHAHA!" Mouri burst out laughing.
"Kuhuhuhu…!" Yukimura and Akaya also laughed.
"Aaah she is just too interesting!" Mouri exclaimed, wiping away his tears.
**Mouri Jyuuzaburou can be seen at New Prince of Tennis OVA 3 and the later chapters of New Prince of Tennis manga
