-Afternoon Practice-
"Kiari-chan! Wanna watch practice?"
"Nah! I gotta go home early today. Sorry, Rei-chan!"
"It's fine, Kiari-chan! Oh well.. Better get going.." I said while picking my stuff and walking away.
"Rei-chan!" She said as I stopped in my tracks.
"Good Luck tomorrow!" She said while walking off.
Sheesh..I don't need luck.. I need a miracle..
I walked towards the tennis courts and changed to my tennis outfit which consisted of a white pleated skirt and a plain dark blue polo shirt. I went out and decided to my regular routine at the back of the building. I soon noticed that my arms aren't hurting as much as they do anymore.
Seems like my body's starting to get used to this routine...
Soo Cool...
I went back to Ryuuzaki-sensei's office and knocked in. Hopefully, I wouldn't see Ice-man. Closing my eyes hard, I opened the door and heard the creak of the wooden door.
Oh Great..
Ice-man and Ryuuzaki-sensei are having their usual "tennis" talk again.
"Uhmm.. sensei, I already did the usual routine.."
I waited for a few minutes but they were still talking in muffled voices.
Am I really that chameleon-like? It's not like I'm using a jutsu or anything! Maybe I can be a ninja someday and when that happens, I'll join Akatsuki..
No offense..
But I really want to be on the bad guys' side...
I coughed as loud as I can.
"Ah.. Reina.."
It took them soo long to realize that I'm here..
I walked to the middle of the office and stood there stupidly.
"I have something to tell you.." Ryuuzaki-sensei told while looking serious.
"Are you sure it's not grape ponta? I can get you another one.. Oh, I remembered.. they ran out of grape-flavored. Would strawberry be okay?" I asked.
"How bout you take a seat beside Tezuka? I have some concerns to tell you.."
"Is this something I have to be afraid of?" I turned my direction towards the door, ready to make a dash to turn the knob.
"Hinotoko, take a seat.." Ice-man said sternly with much coldness in his voice.
I ran for my life to take the vacant seat next to Ice-man.
"So..." I said while waiting for Ryuuzaki-sensei to start the "concern" that she wants to talk about.
"I would like you to..." She began when someone rudely interrupted.
"Rei-chan!! Ryou-kun is looking for you! We should go now! Ryou-kun would be mad!" Eiji said while dragging me off to the courts.
This awkward scene left sensei and Ice-man feeling weird.
"Oh well.. maybe fate doesn't want her to know yet.." Ryuuzaki-sensei said.
-Meanwhile-
I was constantly dragged by Eiji to the courts. When we stopped, I still felt dizzy and the spirals were constantly spinning.
"I was joking Rei-chan! Come on! Let's play tennis, nya!"
I quickly jolted out of dizziness.
It means..
"So you mean... You dragged me here, interrupting our conversation, pretending that Matsuda-san called me just to have a match?" I said while my eyes are darkening.
Eiji merely nodded.
"EIJI!!" I shouted as I chased him around the courts.
"Rei-chan!! Just have a match with me, nya!"
"Loser gets to treat the winner ice-cream for a whole week.."
"Deal, nya!"
"Well, what are we waiting for?"
-After a few minutes-
"Rei-chan! I'll have to sell my entire toothpaste collection to feed you with ice cream for a week, nya!!"
"A deal's a deal, Eiji.."
"Rei-chan's no fun!" He pouted.
-Ryuuzaki-sensei's P.O.V.-
"Did you see that, Tezuka?" I said while peering out the window.
"Hn.."
"She won against Eiji.."I said.
"...with proper motivation, she can win any match.." I finished as Tezuka stood up.
"What she does and what she can do is none of my concern.."He said while walking away.
"Excuse me.." He said while closing the door.
Tezuka seems colder than usual..
Wait...
Tezuka can't be colder than cold..
I silently laughed by the thought of it.
It seems that Reina's weird habituations and thinking rubbed off on me...
I continued to chuckle as I made my way down to the courts holding my hips as I do so.
I'm getting really old, much to my dismay..
-Back to Reika's P.O.V.-
I saw Ryuuzaki-sensei and waved to her while grinning from ear to ear.
"Sensei!! I beat Eiji in a match!! Yay for me!" I said while jumping up and down.
"Good work, Reina.."
"I'm really sorry for interrupting our conversation a while ago. What are you supposed to tell me again?"
"It was nothing.. Hey, Reina, Let's have a match.."
"Sure thing, sensei!"
I went off to my side of the court and started twirling my racket nervously. I mean, who wouldn't be nervous when you're facing the one who taught you everything you need to know?
I can do this! I believe in myself!
I thought more of those lines that the characters always say that annoys me so much but then again, under this circumstance, those words are all I can say.
Here it goes..
-After a few minutes-
I saw sensei panting hard, harder than ever. I've never seen her sweat that much even during our last match. I decided to play the good girl and asked,
"Sensei, you okay there?"
"I'm fine.." She said while hitting my shot with a backhand.
Apparently, that backhand took too much on her and she panted even harder. Before I could return the shot, Ryuuzaki-sensei collapsed. I rushed immediately to her side as all of the regulars did.
"Sensei!" I called out while shaking her.
"Can you guys carry her to the infirmary?" I asked.
Out of nowhere, Matsuda-san approached the scene and carried sensei towards the infirmary.
Who the hell knew he was in the vicinity?!
"Practice is over. First years, pick up the balls.." Ice-man commanded.
Things were happening too fast. Next thing I knew, my feet dragged me to where sensei is, the regulars following closely behind. We ran to the infirmary and saw Ryuuzaki-sensei resting on the bed with Matsuda-san standing bed side.
"Her condition's not too serious but it doesn't mean that it should not be put to consideration. Apparently, too much fatigue caused her heart to falter a bit. She might need to get transfered to a hospital so her needs may be provided." the school doctor said while walking off.
Matsuda-san bowed deeply. We rushed to her side and observed her.
"Ryuuzaki-sensei's working too much lately.." Oishi said.
"Saa.."
"Nya! Good thing Matsuda-san acted quick and carried obaa-san here!"
We all bowed and thanked him, "Arigatou gozaimasu.."
"Come on you guys, I was just doing my job!" He said while rubbing th back of his head.
"Saa, what were you doing at the courts anyway?"
"Anou.. I was just.. watching.. Hinotoko-san" He said while a blush crept on his face.
Damn sadist for bringing that topic up... Someday, he'll pay!!
"Well, we better get going, right?" Oishi said while shooing the guys out.
That practically left us all alone. Except for Ryuuzaki-sensei of course.
"Anou..." He said appearing more nervous than I was.
"Thank you for everything, Matsuda-san.." I said while bowing deeply.
"I told you it's nothing.. You know that I'll do anything for you, Hinotoko-san.." He said while his voice was low on the last sentence.
I blushed even though I don't feel any spark between us.
"I'll be waiting for your answer tomorrow, Hinotoko-san.."
Oh.. I totally forgot about that..
"Oh.. okay..." I said while walking off. Surprisingly, he walked beside me and even opened the door for me. That was when,
"Ow! O'chibi! You're on top of me, nya!"
"Momo-sempai pushed me!"
"Echizen! What the hell are you talking about?"
"Urusai!"
"Baka Mamushi!"
"Mada Mada Dane.."
"The reason why Momo pushed Echizen which is the reason why he fell on top of Eiji is because someone opened the door which is why.." Inui explained.
"They are standing right behind me.." He then stated-as-a-matter-of-factly.
"Saa, we'll be going now.."
"Wait, I'll come with you!" I said while bidding goodbye to Matsuda-san.
When we turned the corner, I saw another re-enactment by none other than Momo and Eiji.
"I'll be waiting for your answer tomorrow, my beloved, nya!" Eiji said while going all knight-in-shining-armor look.
"No need to wait for tomorrow, dear! Let's get married now!" Momo said in a high-pitched voice.
"Saa, and they lived happily ever after.." Fuji AGAIN concluded.
"Don't you ever get tired of doing that!"
"What?!" Eiji and Momo said in unison.
"Ugh! I'm going home! Let's go Ryoma.." I said while dragging Ryoma with me.
-Fast Forward-
Should I go tomorrow? What the hell should I do? How can I tell him that I don't like him? In the least blunt and least painful matter, that is.
What if I puked?
What if I tripped on a stone?
What if I got gum on my hair?
What if..
What if the aliens came back to get my brain for their study?
Oh well..
It'll all turn out good tomorrow..
Hopefully..