A/N: Fuji's trollface is stuck in my mind.
Day 4, Mid-Morning
"…I beg your pardon?" Shizuka asked, blinking.
Okura Ashita gave a chuckle at her response. "My, my. Does this really come as a surprise?"
The professional trainer began to pace a semi-circle, looking out to the facilities he had personally designed and developed. "I have observed your progress for the last few days, as you worked with your group," said the man. "I can confidently conclude that you already have good foundations going for you."
"That is…" Shizuka felt at a loss. "I am flattered that Okura-san seems to think highly of me, although…" She didn't think she had done anything worthy of praise. "Seeing that the results of this camp wouldn't be out until tomorrow, this is a little difficult for me…"
"Kagami-chan," Okura-san said in a singsong manner, "There is a reason why I am telling you this before we know the results. Can you guess why?"
He snapped his fingers, pointing index finger at her in the same motion. "What did you think were the essential qualities in a coach? The skills to pass onto the trainees? The measurement of success obtained in the results? No."
"Openness to innovation," the professional trainer listed, "Willingness to bear responsibility for success or failure. A heart that places their well-being and advancement as priority. Do you think simply anyone can fit these criteria?"
"But, I…" Shizuka considered what he had said, and reflected, "Even then… I have been lacking as a coach."
"True." Okura-san folded his arms, advising, "It would do well if you give some encouragement, and learn to empathize with them a little more."
…
…Empathize…a little more?
Okura-san chuckled. "Nevertheless, the question I have asked every junior coach since the start of this project is this:
Is it really important how 'good' or 'bad' the coach is, or is it about what they can make the athletes become?"
To her inquisitive stare, the platinum blonde man smiled in response and asked, "Why don't you see for yourself, tomorrow?"
…She appeared to be absorbed in her thoughts, mulling over his words.
"Anyway," said Okura Ashita, "Do consider what I've said. My connections extend to post-secondary institutions overseas, as well, should you require a recommendation from yours truly. I, for one, would welcome a trainer such as yourself back here, once this place is in full swing."
…Her gaze lowered even further, toward the ground.
"There's no rush to make your decision, now, is there…?" Okura-san advised, recognizing the internal struggle that worked its way into her facial expression.
Even lower still.
…Her hands smoothed against her sides. Her eyes closed.
Slowly… The girl bent forward, to a full bow.
…It was the conferring of utmost respect…
…But, also a declination.
"I see," Okura-san said. "I have received your answer. You can relax."
She didn't speak. She didn't have to for him to understand her feelings.
"That is all I wished to discuss with you," the camp facilitator informed her. "You might want to head back."
She straightened up. She nodded.
"Kagami-chan," he called to her, seeing her turn to look back at him. "Which one, of those boys-...?"
The girl appeared puzzled by his barely contained laughter.
"No, it's nothing," Okura-san recovered enough composure to say, wiping one eye. "Go on." He waved his hand in dismissal.
…The girl turned away unsurely. "…Then, I'll be going…"
Seeing her retreating back, the professional trainer sighed.
It was a tad regretful. But, what can he do when young people have a passion of their own?
Truly regretful. The world of professional sports would have benefited from the talents of this girl. The talents of that remarkable lad from Rikkai University Senior High, too.
…Really, a shame…
She arrived at the scene of a most unusual sight.
The team of Seigaku regulars were running along the edge of the back courtyard. As she watched, the train of Hyoutei regulars encircled to this side of the main building.
"Tezuka-san…" Shizuka approached the professional tennis player, cautiously. "You're making them run laps even before breakfast…?"
His arms crossed authoritatively before his chest, Tezuka curtly replied, "It is necessary to be swift and consistent in administrating discipline."
…
Someone must have put Tezuka in a bad mood, was what she thought.
The girl found her eyes drawn to someone's amber hair.
…She wasn't certain, but if her suspicion were correct, he definitely shouldn't be running in his condition.
"Tezuka-san," she said to him, "I need to borrow Fuji away for a while."
His stately eyes regarded sidelong down at her, then returned on the two teams. There was no objection, it seemed.
"Fuji."
Seigaku Vice-Captain Fuji slowed, breaking from formation. He chuckled, aware that she had drawn attention to him with that yell. "You called…?" he inquired, heading in their direction.
The girl beckoned with the fingers of her downturned hand. "Come with me."
"Aa…" He could just feel the condemning stares boring into his side. Fuji chuckled his reply, "As you insist."
"…When I catch him alone," vowed an ill-humoured Atobe, at the head of Hyoutei's train, "Ore-sama will have him learn the consequences of crossing swords with kings."
"Forget finding alone," Oshitari inputted resentfully, keeping pace at the side, "As long as Tezuka isn't watching. Agree?"
"Oi," Mukahi said from behind them, "Do you two even realize that sounds like something Atobe's hardcore fangirls would say?"
Shishido seconded, "That's just seriously lame."
…
"38.2 degrees," the on-site doctor said, showing the reading to Shizuka, as well. "How late have you stayed out in the damp conditions last night?" the woman asked, using a chiding tone of voice.
Fuji gave an apologetic chuckle. "It is a tad embarrassing to admit…"
His elegant chuckle was interrupted by his quiet cough.
…So, the coughs have finally started.
"They're early symptoms of a cold," the white-wearing woman informed, placing down a bottle of medicine. She then reclaimed her rolling chair, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger. "Don't be moving around today, and don't pass it onto others. You should be able to make a swift recovery by taking the appropriate countermeasures."
Fuji was patiently waiting for the water inside his glass to cool, responding politely, "I am sincerely regretful for taking up your time."
"It's fine~" the curly-haired woman said with a languid wave of her hand. "It gets so boring here with little action. Why would I mind the company of a fine young man such as yourself?"
The woman was touching Fuji's hair again, as she made that comment.
…Shizuka couldn't help but notice that the on-site doctor didn't extend the same invitation to her, when she came to request for bandages in the morning.
"Is that so…" Fuji mused, and Shizuka was quickly discovering why Kawamura had described Fuji as a ladies' man. "Saa… Shall I make a visit to the infirmary, every now and again?"
"Oh my, oh my," the gorgeous and outspoken woman was truly blissful, "What an absolute darling! Say, have you got a girlfriend? If only I were ten years younger~"
…Why do the all the staff of this camp give off this kind of vibe…?
Shizuka sat down on the cot across from Fuji, thinking that this would take a while longer. So…this was what Kawamura had meant. Despite the way the woman kept touching his hair, and was saying things that might have caused another guy his age to fluster, Fuji didn't even as much as flinch.
"A girl for whom my heart beats…." Fuji answered quite simply, albeit elegantly and with a softened smile, "There isn't anyone like that."
"Ara?" That response seemed to have surprised the woman. "A boy at your age, and there isn't any girl who catches your interest?" She laid fingers against her glossy lips, chuckling kindly.
…Not a surprise, was it? Shizuka looked at the clock. If outgoing young women were habitually all over him like this…then wasn't it simply natural that his heart would stop palpitating nervously before them?
"Fufu… However," Fuji replied with a polite chuckle, "Even if there is currently someone…" he would care to admit "…I consider myself a bit of a pacifist."
"Oh my~ You boys are just precious~ Kagami-chan," the woman said playfully to the girl, "Let's switch places for a day, ne?"
"Pardon?" Shizuka snapped out her thoughts, lost in the current discussion.
Fuji chuckled, choosing to intervene then. "Saa… Speaking of fine men, the other group might just have more in its count," he notified the white-wearing woman.
"For instance, there is the charismatic grandson of the patriarch of Atobe Conglomerate," Fuji listed, "You've heard, the widespread business empire with multi-billion working capital?" Anyone who was involved with business in any way in Japan would have had come across that name before.
"Likewise, the multi-talented only son of the patriarch of Oshitari Group, the one that owns several state of the art private hospitals, and is overtaking rapidly in the medicinal technology sector despite its recent emergence."
Shizuka blinked in wonderment.
Fuji…he knows a lot. Or was it just that she was ignorant?
Fuji chuckled, and said, "They are both individuals who will soon rise beyond the reach of normal people. Is it not a coincidence to have met them here?"
"Ara?" The woman stood from her chair, mischief twinkling in her eyes. "In that case, I'm going to take a peek." A hand waved flutteringly at the girl she was leaving behind. "You can take care of the rest, right, Kagami-chan?"
"Ah…" Before Shizuka's words could even come out, the on-site doctor had already slipped through the door, the sound of her heels disappearing down the hall.
…
"Fufu…" Finally left by themselves, Fuji reached for the bottle of medicine, while answering her unspoken concern, "Tezuka can handle it."
She noticed how Tezuka didn't seem to want to be disturbed this morning.
Even the Seigaku members were avoiding him.
Fuji, through what she suspected was an effort to not pass on his cold to anyone else, found himself an empty table away from the teams.
After a moment of debate, Shizuka decided to take the empty seat across from him.
"Coach…?" Surprise briefly flashed in his startling blue eyes as she set down her tray and pulled out the chair.
"…Is there a coach who would avoid a player because she's afraid to catch a little cold?" she simply replied. The girl sat down with a sigh. "I'll leave if you'd rather not have my company."
"Not that…" His eyes closing amiably, Fuji answered with a light chuckle, "However, if you were to join me-…"
He didn't even need to finish that sentence before he found himself flanked by two tall, and—might he note—tense members of the Hyoutei team.
"Rejoice," Hyoutei Captain Atobe Keigo said tersely, dropping regally into the seat next to Fuji's, and flipping a deliberate hand through his bangs, "Ore-sama has deigned to grace this table with his presence."
"Impoliteness…" Hyoutei's Oshitari Yuushi said in mock apology, taking the chair on Fuji's other side, "Not interrupting anything, are we?"
Fuji himself laughed.
…
…It was a bit awkward, seeing three guys so closely together like that.
"…Why are the two of you here…?" Shizuka asked, concerned over their proximity to Fuji. "You shouldn't-"
"Maa… It's fine, is it not? Fufu…" Toward the two on his either side, Fuji smiled brightly. "How kind of you to care to keep me company."
However, his sentiment wasn't returned.
"Hmph." Atobe slid a nonchalant gaze his way. "Don't speak as though we're familiar, commoner. Or have you forgotten your rightful place? Ahn?"
"Eh…?" Fuji appeared crestfallen. "Is that right… Neither of you are glad to see me, despite coming over here…" A pause. "Could it be that you li-"
Both Hyoutei players' gazes shot to him. "—Lied about us being good friends regardless of our schools' rivalry?" Fuji asked charmingly.
A quick succession of expressions worked through Atobe's face. "Ha…hahahahah!" came his signature laugh. "Ore-sama doesn't hate someone who has guts!" the Hyoutei captain declared. "Fuji Syuusuke, Ore-sama will acknowledge you as a worthy rival-…no, as a comrade embarked on the same course—the best of rivals!"
And from the look of that refreshing smile on Fuji's face, one wouldn't suspect that he was suffering from cold symptoms at all.
Atobe silently clenched his fist, leaning his chin against it.
The number of players he wanted to crush on Seigaku's team had increased by one.
"That aside," Oshitari drew Fuji's attention to him with a smooth, practiced drawl, "Why sit from your team? Or, is it…" The blue haired Hyoutei regular folded his arms in an accusatory manner, quirking a challenging eyebrow. "Hope to not be disturbed by yourselves?"
"As I thought…" Fuji replied to him musingly, "To understand my intentions so well," he chuckled, "Oshitari-san, you also like-"
The Hyoutei regular's arms jerked abruptly.
"-Like spending alone time every now and again," Fuji continued smilingly without missing a beat, "Am I right? Fufu… I know the feeling."
Oshitari reached up to grasp his glasses, teeth clenched.
Hateful! He took back whatever he had thought before; this fellow was totally hateful! Talk about shameless abusing of one's innocent appearance!
"Saa…" Fuji said blithely, gracefully leaving his seat, "Toward my two friends, I wouldn't risk anything unbecoming. Hence…if you will excuse me."
"…Fufu…"
Shizuka watched him relocate himself to an empty table further down.
So…in the end…Fuji had to be the one who got up.
Dangerous. That guy was dangerous. "Oi, Shizuka," Atobe said to her directly, "You shouldn't be carelessly approaching a guy like that."
"I concur," Oshitari said in addition, "There is terrible cunningness behind that saintly visage."
…
If both of them were saying it, then it had to be true.
…Was what she normally would have felt.
Even if he were the vice-captain of a rival team…she thought this might be a bit much.
"You know," the girl said, sighing, "Fuji, he only spoke of both of you in praise. Is it really necessary to speak ill behind his back like this?"
Atobe stared confoundedly, disbelieving his ears. Oshitari rubbed his brow. "My lady," he asked, containing himself, "Am I correct to assume you are defending him at this moment? Really…" he sighed, "Why all the attention on him, today?"
She glanced at Fuji's turned back.
"Well, Fuji…" For the lack of a better way to put it. "Is delicate."
"Oi, Oi…" Oshitari protested this. What a top-notch manipulator that Fuji Syuusuke was. He had her in the palm of his hand! "I'm delicate, too; be kinder on me," he requisitioned.
…
The somewhat awkward silence was interrupted by the message alert from her phone. She got up immediately. "Excuse me."
…
"…I'm delicate, too," Atobe scoffed, glancing Oshitari's way once the girl was out of earshot. "Ho… So you can say illogical things like that."
The blue haired Hyoutei regular pressed up on his glasses. "Hmph. The best of rivals, you say? Yare, yare. Our Echizen-kun is going to cry~"
"Ahn?"
...
The Seigaku regulars faced back to their table.
"Told you, Fuji can handle it on his own."
"That's Fuji-senpai for you."
(Yo, Shizuka. Big news~!
Remember the captain of the boys' soccer team? The one with broad shoulders
Apparently Michi just confessed, and they're now going out!
We're throwing a party. 6 pm at the usual place. Coming?
-Nao)
…Sounds fun.
Shizuka laid her phone down on the outdoor table and rested her head down on her arms.
Sigh…
How could this be… It was the day just before the matches and Fuji had taken ill. Atobe and Oshitari don't seem to be on the best of terms. She didn't have an appetite. There was still no sign from the person she was waiting on, and it was plaguing her mind. On top of all that, she was getting a cramp.
…Ahh… It was truly miserable.
"They're like a bunch of kids who have their favourite toy given away, aren't they?"
She raised her head at the sound of Shishido's voice, and straightened up her sitting position.
"Kagami," the guy asked her while retying his hair, followed by Otori, "how're you holding up?"
Ahh… These two… What a sight for tired eyes.
She never had to worry about them provoking fights, about taking jokes too far, about slacking off or disappearing without notice. Regardless the circumstances, they were always doing what they were supposed to be doing.
"You two are heading off already?" Shizuka asked.
"Obviously." Shishido tossed his hair back over his shoulder. "We haven't got time to waste when we could be brushing up on our techniques," he declared, snorting, "Those guys must be pretty confident if they think they can afford to mess around."
Shizuka stood up, pocketing her phone. "Well, well. If only the others think like you," she commented. She must work harder, as well.
"Heh." Shishido balanced his racquet on his fingertip. "Besides, if they've got something to say, they can just wait 'til the matches tomorrow. Right, Choutarou?"
Otori smiled gently in response. "Hm…"
But, just because Shishido was his most respected upperclassman doesn't mean Otori necessarily agreed with him all the time.
"Kagami-san…" The silvery haired boy regarded her warmly with his lovely brown eyes. "Please try to consider the feelings the seniors bear behind their appearance."
She blinked, looking surprised. So did Shishido.
…To be more considerate…is it…?
It was the second time that morning she had been told something along those lines…
"Otori-kun…" She had never truly thought about this before, but… She had been doing a bit of reflecting. "Do you dislike it whenever I tease you?" Shizuka asked.
"Eh?" Otori's eyes blinked wide.
"U-Um…" He appeared a bit flustered. "To say it is a matter of like or dislike…that's…well…"
"I-It isn't-…"
She got the impression that she shouldn't have asked.
Otori-kun was a pure angel. He must be struggling for a way to spare her feelings.
"It isn't as though I hate it, but, I'd really like for you to see me as a peer sometimes!"
Two startled pairs of eyes went to Shishido Ryou, who placed his free hand on his waist. "Choutarou! At times like these, you have man up and speak out your true thoughts!"
"Ehhh-!?" Otori was a little embarrassed. "Kagami-san, that isn't-" he hastily held up his hands in denial. "Please don't mind-"
"That's not good, Choutarou!" Shishido shouted, already making his way off to train. "If you don't say it clearly, she'll never get it!"
"Eh-" The silvery haired boy noticed he was getting left behind.
"I'm sorry!" Otori bowed twice to her in apology, before running to catch up to his upperclassman, his eyes squeezed shut in awkward embarrassment. "…Shishido-san~!"
…So which is it…?
Author's note – please read~
Hm, I've been getting some questions about making multiple endings for this story, and I would like to address that here.
The level of depth I plan to take this story, in my opinion, cannot be reached without a certain degree of focus on one pairing for the remaining half of the story. Like mentioned in an earlier author's note, I'll do my best in making this transition as natural as possible when the time comes, so that there are no loose ends.
That being said, there are reasons why I have chosen to include reverse harem aspects in this story. While I understand this theme may be offensive to some readers, I hope to make this story entertaining enough to follow until these reasons are fully revealed.
Yeah, it takes quite the patience to read my stories. But, in return, I'm only focusing on this one story and in bringing out the chapters as quickly as possible. So, I hope to have your continual support! Thanks!
(By the way, if I can have some more votes on the poll on my profile, it'll help me with something. I'm curious to know what the current standings are.)
