A/N: Not mine.
Of course, not all were pleased with the rise of Class F's grade point average. After the girls blatantly ignored his words of advice, Kin-chan complained at great length to Dozo and Gintaro that Kotoko was under some sort of evil influence. He subsequently declared that, with her not being with him in summer classes, it would be harder to save her from nasty Class A-ers. When his tirade extended into a second hour, he failed to notice his friends inserting almost invisible earbuds and thought that their heads nodding to the beat of the latest Korean rap hit displayed their agreement. Beyond their apathy over his speech, they felt it was a wise move not to let him know that the results of Kotoko's efforts had more class members interested in her tutoring assistance; even they might avail themselves of it once the fall term began.
His interference in the studies had not gone unnoticed. After witnessing one of his tantrums after the grades were posted, Naoki confided to Watanabe that Kotoko had been forced to try and teach her friends in a variety of locations, and he thought that was the main reason one of them did not succeed fully in improving. The girl seemed to be easily distracted–well, more easily distracted than the other–and wasn't able to concentrate.
His classmate offered an observation. "Why were they trying to squeeze it into random moments? Why not reserve a meeting room at the library?"
"I did suggest that, but the location was not convenient for all of them." His brow wrinkled. "I'm not sure why she didn't just invite them to the house."
"She is a guest, you know. Perhaps she didn't feel as if she had the right."
"Of course she does, but she may not realize it. I'll speak to Mother about it so that it will be easier for them next term."
Mrs. Irie did not even wait that long. She embarrassed Kotoko with a long, drawn-out apology for not being aware of her inhospitality, much of which went over the girl's head as it was in French. As a result, in less than half a week Satomi joined her at the Irie house for a 'girl day'. In addition to facial masks and manicures, the matriarch insisted on serving them lunch and attempted to get them interested in more 'traditional' female activities.
"Satomi-chan," she began, "how would you rate your culinary skills?"
The girl grinned and jerked her head towards Kotoko. "A lot better than that one's. She was actually given a passing grade in home ec, provided that she stay away from the stove."
"Akimoto-sensei just over-reacted…"
"You set her hair on fire."
"It was an accident."
"Ah, yes," Mrs. Irie cut in, "we had a little incident ourselves with the rice cooker. And," she muttered, "the manufacturer's assurances of fool-proof operation was a total mensonge."
"But the one Otosan bought to replace it works just as well, right, Obasama?" Kotoko hugged the older woman.
"Indeed, but we digress. I thought, since Onii-chan was practicing with the tennis team, that you two would like to put together a basket of collations savoureuses. Um-m…" she saw Satomi's blank look, "snacks. Kotoko-chan can be in charge of the packing and presentation, but I wondered if you would like to assist me in the preparation."
"Sure thing, Irie-san." The girl rose. "What do you need me to do first?"
Tasty refreshments delivered by two attractive students were most welcome to the tennis team, even the female members. The tennis sponsor, realizing that the food was prepared by the captain's mother, permitted them an extended break, which was enjoyed by all. Young people filled the nearby bleachers, the area echoing with conversation and laughter.
With such a commotion going on less than fifty meters from the Class F room, it was surprising that it took Kinnosuke three days before he realized who had joined the players of what he had designated the most 'pansy' sport offered by Tonan High School. To his chagrin, all of his yelling the name of his 'beloved' and banging on the windows to catch her attention were in vain; in addition, he received what he thought was cruel and unusual punishment–detention during summer school.
Below the hated classroom, Satomi was channeling her inner spy. "Irie-kun," she inquired, "wasn't your friend Watanabe a member of the team last year?"
"He was," he acknowledged, "and had been my doubles partner since middle school."
"Yeah," another member laughed, "but chasing tennis balls couldn't compare to the pursuit of true love."
"I beg your pardon?" she quizzed.
"He got himself a girlfriend last year, and instead of spending quality time with us fine folks," the young man laughed, "he is visiting her for the summer."
"Really?" Satomi's eyes cut to Kotoko, who was momentarily frozen. She relaxed when she saw the other girl paste a smile on her face and continue passing out bottles of water but took the earliest opportunity to convey their excuses and leave.
"I noticed that you heard," she stated as they sat side-by-side on the bus.
"Yes." Kotoko swallowed. "It's not too surprising, I guess. He's very attractive, and I have no claim on him, since I turned him down."
"It wasn't exactly a turn-down, but it comes to the same thing, I suppose." The taller girl sighed and handed over a tissue. "Look, Kotoko, it's all in the past and the only thing you can do is look to the future. Speaking of which, the tennis team is all Class C and above, and you seemed to get on with them just fine."
"I did, didn't I?" Kotoko blew her nose loudly. "I suppose spending time with Irie-kun has had some sort of result. It's a shame it was too late…"
"Future, girl, future. Did any of them catch your eye?" And so the rest of the afternoon was spent talking about boys, with fewer sudden bouts of tears as the hours progressed.
Kinnosuke's initial failure to make contact with the campus visitors did not discourage him one iota; the very next day he requested a restroom break once he espied Kotoko and Satomi approach the courts and escaped the school building to once more proclaim his 'swotty egg-head Class A-ers' speech. This was not received with a great deal of pleasure by two of the three Class A members on the team; Naoki having decided to observe with a sneer hiding his inner laughter. Kotoko, involved in a deep conversation with a female team member over the most lasting brand of nail polish, hardly noticed his manly statements. Satomi, distracted from her flirtation with both members of a male doubles team, snapped, "Shut up, Kin-chan, before what is left of your brain drools out the corner of your mouth. You're an idiot, we're not interested, and Sensei is headed towards you with fire in his eyes."
"Nonsense," he retorted, "old Tanihara's not gonna leave his coffee break for–ack!"
"Old Tanihara," growled the teacher who had grasped his ear and twisted it, "did indeed leave his coffee break. And you, Ikezawa, will be the one held responsible for my temper the rest of the session without my caffeine boost. Come along, now."
As he dragged the boy away, Satomi grinned and called, "Sucks to be you, Kin-chan!"
One might have thought that the experience would change Kinnosuke's plan of action in dealing with Kotoko's (and that traitor Satomi's) interactions with the tennis team. One would have been mistaken. He did find ingenious ways to escape the classroom, the most amusing of which was descending by rope from a window.
"Aihara and Ishikawa," the beleaguered coach finally approached them after a week, "not that we are ungrateful for your snacks, but that young lothario is proving to be a major disruption. Plus I must mention that Tanihara has complained to the assistant principal that we are interfering with the education of those most in need of it."
"I am so sorry," Kotoko bowed and apologized in automatic reflex.
Satomi was not so complaisant. "Punishing the victims now? No one considers that we have not, do not, and never will invite him. However," she shrugged after a tug on her sleeve, "Kotoko and I will leave well before the idiot arrives today. Come, Kotoko, I believe we saw a flyer the other day about a new café, this one with cats."
The rest of the morning the tennis coach winced as he fielded accusatory stares and mutters from his team members as they realized that their supply of morning treats had been cut off by his failure to defend them. They'll learn, he thought morosely, that extracurriculars are always the ones to suffer when threatened by academics. Of course, they don't take into account that the team members have to maintain a high grade point average to participate. Hmm, maybe I should have thought of that, and just suggested that Tani simply change classrooms. Well, too late now.
T/N: Mensonge=untruth; collations savoureuses=tasty snacks.