"Good morning, guys!"
"Morning, Rei-chan!" Eiji said while glomping me again.
Not that I hated it, I somehow missed his deadly hugs over the week end. Here I was, troubling a bit on how to break the news to the guys. I didn't want them to freak out even for just a bit. I hate people freaking out. Just then, Ice-man came in and the regulars gathered in.
"Ryuuzaki-sensei is not going to be present today due to her medical treatment in Kyushu. She requested Hinotoko-san to act as a substitute coach in her place…"
Now I don't have to trouble myself on breaking the news…
"Whaaat?! Rei-chan's gonna be the new coach? What if she turns into a meanie like obaa-san?" He continued to rant until Fuji interrupted.
"Saa, I don't think so, Eiji…"
"Rei-hime's the new coach? I hope she'll be gentle with us unlike obaa-san…"
Ice-man coughed and everyone's attention was brought back to him.
"Just like everyone else on the team, Ryuuzaki-sensei told Hinotoko-san to practice with the regulars and to participate in other activities…" After that, Inui ordered everyone to start running.
"Time limit: 55 seconds. The last one gets to drink the new and improved Inui Vegetable Mix…"
At the sound of the Inui's voice, the regulars didn't need to hear the rest of Inui's statement. Everyone, I mean everyone, Kachiro, Horio, Katsuo, Arai and his cronies and even Ice-man!
Am I supposed to run too? Ice-man did run after all…
"Hinotoko, you are included in such activities…"
At the sound of that, I made a mad dash and quickly caught up with the regulars. I don't need to be told twice. But that didn't stop there. The non-regulars tried in vain to catch up with us. After a few laps, we heard the first years' "thud" on the ground. Apparently, no one can really survive that… err… bubbling poison thing! Except for one though…
"Saa, don't you think it's tasty, Rei-chan?"
"Go to hell, Fuji! There's no way I'm drinking that!!" I said while running faster.
After a couple of seconds, we heard Arai and his croonies' "thud". I can see the horrible look on their faces that tells me to run even faster than I already was.
But if I run to my full extent now, what will I do if I ran out of energy on the last lap?
With that, I ran a wee bit slower but still fast enough to catch up. Ryoma used the old trick of giving Taka-san the racket. Just as always, Taka-san began running faster while shouting various English words. Of course, Momo never let anyone get pass by him and with that, he started running even faster. Kaido joined in too. Heck, even I find myself running faster!
Last lap…
Here it goes…
"Since only the regulars made it this far, I'm giving them a special treat… Inui Vegetable Special Remix…"
Apparently, that one looks more deadlier and plain gross. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Eiji and the others flinch. I started to use every ounce of energy on this one. I zoomed past them and in about 5 seconds, they began to pick up and they used most of their energy left.
They just don't run out of energy, do they?
We all turned around the last corner and saw Inui holding a bubbling pitcher that motivated us to run for our lives. I closed my eyes and run the fastest that I could. I collapsed as soon as I noticed that hell was over. The regulars soon fell down except for Ice-man who stood up but obviously tired, Fuji who still has that sadistic smile plastered on his face and Ryoma who put his hands on his knees trying to breathe as hard as he could.
"Since no one came in last, you all get to drink… Don't worry, it's good for you…"
I shuddered.
Is there a nicer way to put it rather than saying that it's healthy?
"Saa, ladies first…"
Curse you, Fuji!!
"Nya! Rei-chan goes first since she's the coach…"
"Do us a favor and let us live longer, Rei-hime…"
I stood up and faced them.
"If I drink a glass, you guys drink it too, okay?"
"Saa, that sounds a fair deal…"
"It's because you don't get affected by the juice, Fuji-sempai…" Ryoma said.
"Nya! I don't want Rei-chan to die!!" Eiji said while bursting into anime tears.
I stole a glance at Ice-man who gave me a reassuring nod. I took a step forward and grabbed the bubbling liquid from Inui.
Well, it's just a bubbling liquid… What harm can it do?
WARNING: Saying those actual lines always result to something very unfortunate. Let's just say that Reika experienced the same thing…
I took a sip and closed my eyes. I drank all the way and felt nothing. That was until my stomach felt funny that I wanted to vomit. I quickly dashed towards the drinking fountain and threw up. It wasn't really nice to describe.
There goes breakfast… (eww!)
I washed up and saw the rest of the regulars following in. I fell down and lay on the ground. Others followed my suit and soon, the drinking fountain was full of bodies lying on the ground.
It's complete remake of CSI!!
Bodies everywhere…
Oh well, so much for morning practice…
-After a few minutes-
I changed back to my uniform and went towards the classroom. Up to now, I can still feel that poison in my lips.
I wondered how the regulars survive this kind of torture…
I greeted Kiari-chan with the energy I have left and slumped down my desk. I fell asleep for awhile and woke up after I heard Mr. Fujima come in.
-Fast Forward to Lunch break-
After the bell had rung, which indicates that we are free of torture, I went over to Kiari-chan and went to the cafeteria. We went to our usual spot and soon the regulars came in. They were having a decent conversation when Kiari-chan dropped the bomb.
"Rei-chan, is it true that you dumped Matsuda-san?"
Everyone's ears perked up and turned to face me. I didn't budge for a few seconds since I totally felt the poison from morning practice seeping through my body. Kiari-chan poked me and then I came back to my senses.
"Dumped" isn't really the word, Kiari-chan… I tried to be nice… If there's anyone to be dumped, that would be me…" I said as a matter-of-factly.
Come to think of it, I wasn't the one who dumped Ryou-kun. He was the one who said that he'd let me go so it wasn't really me but then again, I didn't like him in the first place.
The regulars need not to pry further since they watched the whole through an oh-so-creative idea of hiding under the bushes.
"Rumors has it that you cried, Rei-chan…" Kiari-chan said quietly but still loud enough for the regulars to hear.
"Now, where did you get that?!" I stood up and shouted.
I sat back down since the whole cafeteria was staring at me.
"I didn't cry, okay? There wasn't a thing to cry for…" I lied.
I saw the regulars stiffen as they knew that what I said was a lie. I turned to look at Ice-man and saw him still the same, by which I mean emotionless. I figured just then that he wasn't there when the regulars were spying on me. Sensing the awkwardness, Eiji started a new conversation.
"Next week's the start of Christmas break, nya!"
"Really?! That's so cool…" I chimed.
"Saa, do you have anything planned for us? Like a training program for the holidays?"
I started to think but nothing came up.
"Nah, I haven't got anything in my head…"
"My family owns an onsen…" Kiari-chan said.
Everyone turned to her.
"Do you guys want to go there together?" Kiari-chan suggested.
"The hot springs ease tension and sore muscles. Ideal for rehabilitation since training can get really rough…" I said to no one in particular.
The regulars waited for my answer. After all, I was supposed to make decisions for the team.
"I'll think about it…" I said in a coach-like tone.
"Does the captain agree?" I asked referring to Ice-man.
It isn't my decision entirely. I still have to consider his. We waited for a couple of seconds before we heard his reply.
"I will think about it as well…" Ice-man said.
At that, Eiji jumped for joy. Just then, the bell rang and we went off to our respective rooms.
A/N: I would like to thank everyone who reviewed and to those who put my stories on their story alert... I would like to extend my gratitude even further to those who put me on their favorite authors list.. I so like wanna hug you right now but I couldn't.. Anyway, I'll be posting the next chappies soon! )
Reviews please!