Chapter 07 - Punishment

*Ryoma*

"Ahh senpai tachi. You're all here already. Did I miss something?" Ryoma arrived for early practice when he saw all the senpais lying all over the place panting. "BAKA YAROU this is all your fault Echizen!" Momo-senpai lashed out at me. "deh, nande?" he dropped back onto the ground. "Oh chibi!!" Kikumaru senpai called out menacingly to me. He crawled slowly up to me. I backed up against the fence. "Na-nani yo!" He stuck his face close. "We saw you. We all saw you yesterday."

No way! He must be talking about tennis training last night. "We saw you with Ryuzaki chan." Suddenly they surrounded me like a bunch of zombies. "Th-th-that was..uh" "IT WAS A DATE." they all stated. "Ma-maybe." I looked over at Tezuka buchou. He stood perfectly straight, arms folded and looked at me. I walked over to him. "So what do I have to do?" I asked. "Twenty laps." I ran off.

*Senpais'*

"Hidoii Tezuka! Chibi didn't do anything wrong." Eiji cried. "That's twenty laps of warming up. Do we not have practice soon?"

"Ahh nya.." "All of you off!" "NANI!!!" "Or is it 30 laps then." They looked at him stricken. "Or is it Inui's special juice?" "TWENTY!!" They bolted off at the mention of that horrible drink.

*Sakuno*

Yesterday was the last. It would be the last time I should allow myself to get that close to him. If only this had happened a long time ago. When I almost had a chance, there are things preventing me from it. Yada, what am I thinking. I'm far from a chance. He's just sympathizing for me. Yeh that's it. That's all.

I let all my frustration out on the arrow I was going to release. It's nice and cloudy today. No glares so that I am able to practice archery on the outside course. There is so much more distance from the target out here. Arrow after arrow. I wasn't through yet. It's best to practice here, where I won't be reminded of tennis or accidentally run into him.

*Senpais*

"Oi Echizen!! Why did you stop!" the crazy crowd reached Echizen who was standing rooted to a spot. They followed his gaze, and sure enough there she was. Perfect form, shooting her arrows. 25M? maybe 50 m at least from the target, and she was getting them. "Naiya, I never thought you'd get so so serious about Ryuzaki chan." Momo said putting his hand on Echizen's shoulder. He remained quiet. "Oi Echizen. Daijoubu kai." Usually he would have snapped back for sure. "Neh Ochibi." Eiji stepped up and put his arm around Echizen. "Wakannai. Everytime I try to clear my thoughts, she's there. I want to figure out this frustrating feeling, and everytime I think that I can figure it out. She's there and it makes me fall back to the beginning again." Echizen finally said quietly. "This is where you come in Oishi-mama" Inui said. They all snickered. He tried to ignore it, but they wouldn't let him. "Mama, help chibi! Where's your compassion for your kids now nya?" Eiji said. More snickering followed. "Ii yo betsuni." Echizen jogged off. They all just followed him and after they were done, they all lay on the ground panting. "Inui, make some deluxe juice." Tezuka commanded. "NANI!!" "You all stopped before. Don't think I didn't see. I won't forgive anyone who breaks those rules." "ECHIZEN!!!!" they all cried.

Think I'll stop here for now. If you have any comments just forward it.