Chapter 12:
A/N: Ooooffff. Stupid raaiin. It flooded in our house, and my computer got busted. Seriously. So, I am really sorry that this is late.
P.S.: So, I'm going to write with the same form I used last time. Heehee ^_^!
P.S.S.: I'm starting one-shot relays, yeah. Though for the time being it's all Rikkaidai. Hahahaha.
P.S.S.S.: So, if you had read my latest one-shot, you should have heard that I have Prologue on my playlist. Well, I still do, and I'm all LSS on it. ~_~
P.S.S.S.S: Thanks to all you lovely reviewers and subscribers! Do continue to review, favorite and follow. Lots of cookies for everyone!
Disclaimer: The usual, I don't own POT, its Konomi-san's. I want to own it, but I can't.
"Urg..gghh." Cherrim silently muttered, rubbing her arms dazedly, oh was she tired. She was tired and she was very sleepy. After all, Keigo dragged her yesterday to some five-star restaurant dinner after her long and harsh tennis training the same day.
The tennis training was harsh, and she only managed to get a single game on the raging emperor, two on the data master, another one on the seaweed devil, and none from the resident child of god. There was no game with Atobe, since Atobe decided to rally only.
She only played her Rikkaidai schoolmates once, and rallied with Atobe for an hour, before she went to some other courts, letting the guys play by themselves. She headed for the other female courts and Atobe checked on her more than occasionally and needed.
"I am so sleepy." Cherrim continued to comment on the wind, even after she took her bath. As soon as she finished her bath, she immediately changed or rather put on her Rikkaidai uniform. She lets the maids help her up, since she was so sleepy and definitely not in the mood to protest, or at least try not to act like Atobe.
She went to the car prepared for her, now a little more awake than a few moments before. She took the seat on the car without much noise aside from some small greetings with the driver, and as she sit, she smiled blearily as she tried to imitate Atobe's catchphrase but making her very little adjustment "Oreo-sama no bigi yoina."
"Cherrim-chan!" Mitsu immediately yelled, her voice reverberating a little, as she saw the same familiar car of Cherrim's that pulled up on the driveway of Rikkaidai. She immediately sprinted to it, her legs moving by themselves.
"Oh." Cherrim's immediate reaction was impassive and unreadable, baring no emotions, though her voice is as soft as usual. Then her eyes surveyed the girl in front of her, judging from the voice, she has immediately noticed who it was, but she decided to drop a question to confirm it "Mitsu-chan…?"
The said girl sighed, making a cute pouting gesture as she immediately said "Of course it's me, who else can it be..?" She gave a little inquiring look, but nevertheless made her point, and Cherrim understands it.
"I really don't know…" Cherrim started, her eyes dangerously gleaming and her lips mischievously curling, as her black orbs began to survey her friend. Mitsu's long hair wasn't braided and her glasses were non-existent, revealing blue-green eyes. Then within a span of seconds, Cherrim's lips continued "…I really thought you were your twin or something, a doppelganger, perhaps?"
Mitsu's pouting lips formed into a smile as well as she said "Well, I thought that I needed a little make-over or at least one of my friends in my former school said, because I have such a gorgeous bes- close friend." She smiled slightly, as she tried to cover up her little mistake.
Cherrim inwardly smiled appreciatively, she knew as well that there was a sudden connection between her and Mitsu, but immediately being best friends would be certainly surreal. Cherrim smiles back as she starts to compliment her "Your friend have very good sense, you look wonderful. Though, I don't have any problem with your appearance before."
Mitsu nods and Cherrim went and exchanged pleasantries with her for a while. Cherrim managed to talk about squeeze some little trivia about the upcoming match today. The two immediately, and silently, walked towards their class as they heard the ring bell.
"Cherrim-chan." Mitsu's voice sounded so curt and polite, but Cherrim knew better, the girl was in her own fantasy world, probably fantasizing about the match that will be held about half an hour later.
"Mitsu-chan." Cherrim replied, almost as curtly and politely, but there was something in her voice that showed her amusement. She looks at her friend, currently residing in her daydreams, that was already prepared to kick the door yet she was gently grasping on her tennis bag. Cherrim adjusts her designer bag, a gift from Atobe, as she said with an amused tone "How's it going in your daydream land?"
Mitsu snapped out of her silent daydreams and snaps her head to Cherrim almost immediately, and she stutters as she says "W-well…" She clears her throat to keep herself from stuttering, but was unsuccessful, because she stuttered as she started again "I-i… I am not daydreaming."
"Of course you aren't." Cherrim replied back, a little snarky than she would admit, not with a hint of annoyance, but more of playfulness, and Mitsu recognized the softness despite the cold words. Cherrim swung her designer bag on one side and her tennis bag on the other, gently and carefully. She looks at Mitsu, and pokes her gently as she advised "I wouldn't mind you stuttering, and I would hate to interrupt your fantasy land, but there's no choice for me, but to pull you back to reality."
"E-eeh." The other girl stuttered again, as she stops herself from her trance. Cherrim gave her a little inquiring look, and Mitsu cleared her throat, took a deep breath, as she said "I'm so nervous about the match."
Cherrim smiled at her and she nodded towards the other girl as a gesture to walk out of the room. The other girl followed suit, and when both of them were outside of the classroom, Cherrim gave her a sunny smile, in a very soft tone she said "I know you can do it."
"Asuma!" Cherrim and Mitsu heard a soft yet silky tone heading for them as they walked past the Boy's tennis courts in their way to the Girl's tennis courts. Both girls turned their head to the source of the voice, and saw the resident Child of God walking, running, towards them.
"Yukimura-sempai." Cherrim greeted in a polite and respectful tone, and saw the enigmatic boy smiling at her. Mitsu nudged her at her side, and gave a small inquiring, if not curious, look, and Cherrim whispered very softly in her ears "We met during weekend."
Yukimura gave the two girls a serene smile, and staring softly and pointedly, he asks the girl "Why are you here at the tennis courts?" The girl only replied with a smile herself as she turned her head to the direction of the female tennis courts. Yukimura very slightly paused and asked "Tennis match?"
Cherrim smiled again as she affirms, saying "Yes, sempai. Our buchou asked us to compete amongst us first years, because," she stops, thinking of a slight explanation, and continues "it is a test for our tennis skills, probably. Or perhaps, it's a registration part..?"
"It's probably the latter," Yukimura answered Cherrim's inquiring statement, he smiles as he continues "here in Rikkaidai, registration aren't just forms and papers. It's a showcase of skill, of talent." He stops when he realizes he was talking almost fiercely passionate, and he smiles in his serene way and said "I don't think Hyotei have this kind of registration, but I'm sure that you'll be able to do it Pacify, based on what you showed everyone last time."
Cherrim momentarily blushes at the direct recognition and she says her tone, more polite and curt than soft and heartwarming, "Thank you for complimenting me." She smiles serenely, an almost perfect imitation of Yukimura's, and said "After all, Hyotei is different from Rikkaidai, whether the match will be for registration or test, it's fine with me, because this is Rikkai."
Yukimura beamed at the last sentence, and he smiled nostalgically and serenely at the statement. As he smiles, he says "I think you can do great, you and your friend," he stops and nods at the two in recognition, and continues "because I feel some sort of potential in you." Looking at the two's reaction, he suppressed an urge to laugh, and said, in a nice and not too proud way "I have an eye for brilliance, after all."
"Buchouuu!" A loud and whiny voice was heard, and the seaweed ace, Kirihara Akaya, materialized near his beloved buchou with a sheepish grin. When the older boy gave him an inquiring look, he gave a casual shrug and said "Fukubucho- sorry, Sanada-sempai, asked me to get you, because it's time to start the freshman registration."
Cherrim stared at the oblivious boy, and when their gazes met, Akaya went and screamed, manly. Cherrim raised her eyebrows, and she said, in her cold tone "Hello, Kirihara." Akaya looked at her some more "I think that we need to go..?"
Akaya's eyes fixed at the girl, then his stare went to the other girl, whom he could not recognize but remembered as a classmate, so when Yukimura lightly patted him on the back, a gesture that they should already go since he has given his farewells, Akaya shrugs and said "You're joining the Registration matches, right?" The two girls give a nod. Akaya nods back, and as he turned around, he said "Goodluck."
Yukimura inwardly smiled at the gesture of his little ace as they went to the male tennis courts, while Mitsu blushed even more and Cherrim went and gave a small and vague shrug. She motioned the other to follow, and the other did, nimbly yet dazed.
On the female tennis courts, Mitsu's eyes widen and Cherrim's lips curved into a smile as they saw the sight of the large groups of freshmen, already taking up their position in the court to play. Cherrim gently pulled her friend fast to the registration.
"Are you joining?" A blue-haired senior asked with a cheery voice. Cherrim's eyes scanned her and saw that she was quite tall, and she was wearing a regular's jersey. The girl has dark blue eyes, and she scanned the two freshmen, her lips curving into another cheerful smile.
"Y-yes." Mitsu said, stuttering, and her eyes widen at the recognition of the regular's jersey. Then, with a forced calm voice, she asked the older girl "Are you Hoshino Tsukoi-san?" Cherrim's straight lips turned into a blank smile, suppressing the urge not to laugh, while the regular gave a nod. Oblivious to the smirk forming on her friend's face, Mitsu exclaimed "You were a regular from last year..!"
Hoshino gave a cheerful giggle, and said "I was, and so are 3 other seniors." This statement perked up Cherrim's interest, who gave an inquiring look. Hoshino noticed it and said "Don't worry, Dea's a pretty good player, and so is Nami. They're the top two and three of the regulars based on skills alone."
The last bit of conversation picked up Cherrim's interest, and suppressing a smirk and some snarky comment, she asks "Then why isn't the number one the buchou..?" Mitsu gave her a surprised look, and even Hoshino looked surprised at the courageous question of the younger girl.
"She gave up the captain position, and she passed it to the juniors." Hoshino said in a light and soft tone. She then gave them a small smile and, reading the registration forms, she said "So, Asuma Cherrim, freshman and Nanako Mitsu, freshman, registering, right?" At the nod of the two, she continues "Asuma-san please proceed to Court A and Nanako-san please proceed to Court D."
Mitsu smiled at the announced courts, glad not to compete with her close friend, who she was sure might be merciless if angered. She noticed that the other person was glad too, recognizing the small smile on her face, and giving her friend a smile, she said "Goodluck, Cherrim-chan!"
Cherrim winked at her and gave a small, vague nod. As she turns around to the court she is going to play at, she turns around again, and saw the delighted face of her friend, urging herself to be polite and pay the felicitations, she says "Goodluck to you too, though I'm sure even without that you can do it." She gave a nod to the regular at the counter and to her friend, and turned around again with a small wave.
A/N: Hello! Sorry if this was late, too late, again. But the computer got busted, and I rewrite the story again, besides exams were coming up and they wouldn't let me write on the computer. I only sneaked out during midnight to finish and submit this.
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