"Everyone start running! Finish 50 laps in 50 minutes! Those who fail will run 50 laps on heels again and will have to finish the laps in 50 minutes!" Kenita shouted to everyone the moment she was changed and ready.
"Why do you waste your breath telling them the consequences?"
Kenita gave Arita a you-know-why-yet-you-still-ask-me look.
"That includes you, big sister."
"Ah, but of course."
Arita put on her heels and started running as Kenita followed suit and ran after her.
"Both of them are running on heels!" Tanya whispered to Rika, who was running along beside her around the middle of the crowd.
Rika shrugged. "Big deal."
"Ha, like you ever do well running on heels. You aren't that perfect, stop being so arrogant."
Kenita turned back and said, "Extra 5 laps for talking. No extra time."
Both victims immediately sped up. Especially Rika, who, like Tanya said, did not do well running on heels.
Soon, everyone was sitting on the ground exhausted, having ran 50 laps. Only Kenita, Arita and Hanajima were standing.
"Mingzashi/Kenrina against Shimaya/Tanya!" Arita announced in a demanding voice. "Court A! Now!"
Groaning softly as not to let it reach Arita's ears, they took their racquets and dragged their feet to Court A. Marashi was to be the judge.
"You'd better come up with a good story, Shimaya-chan. Or we'll definitely lose," Tanya muttered, irritated at always losing to the other pair.
"I'm trying," Shimaya replied, scrunching up her face in thought.
Tanya left her alone as she grabbed a bottle of water and poured all its contents into her mouth. Then she picked up a yellow bottle with cute little rabbits all over it and threw the bottle to Shimaya.
Shimaya caught the bottle and absent-mindedly drained the bottle. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. The game was theirs.
---
"Kenita against Rika! Court B! Hanajima will judge."
"Yeah, while buchou slacks," Rika muttered under her breath.
Unfortunately, "Rika, watch what you say," came a stern voice from right behind her.
"Hai," she dragged her answer.
"Ne, did you ask Ann-chan about the school we are playing against in the nationals?" Kenita smiled, putting her arms around Rika.
"Stay away from me," Rika moved away, out of her reach. "And yeah, I heard from Kippei."
"Are they any good? I mean, you can finish your cousin in about what, 20 minutes?"
"Hai. He said he did not want to tell us so much. He just told us to be prepared to be strong and never give up."
"Seigaku, isn't it?" Kenita smiled sweetly.
"Yes. Can we get started with the game now?"
"Of course."
---
"Game won match. Mingzashi/Kenrina. 6-4!"
"We lost again," Tanya sighed, her eyes already red from a bit of crying of Shimaya's story. "But the story was good, trust me. We would have won if they weren't so strong. Especially Kenrina, her ballet's just too good."
"You should not depend so much on your feelings to play tennis, Tanya-chan! I know I am a good speaker and very creative, but hey, I'm human too! I don't have super powers!"
"But I don't seem to get any kind of scared or nervous or whatever happy feeling there is when I get on court! I don't want to lose without playing my best! And the best way for me to feel is to have something touching or whatever going through my mind so that I get extra energy!"
Shimaya then caught sight of Arita waving a finger at her to go over. "You go rest awhile, Tanya-chan!"
Hurriedly, she ran towards Arita who was watching Kenita and Rika play. Panting slightly, she stood by her side and waited for the buchou to start talking.
It was after a while that Arita finally moved a muscle. She handed Shimaya a piece of paper but did not even look at her. On the top of the paper, it wrote: This will help you with your stories for Tanya. Save this for the nationals. No using it beforehand.
Quickly scanning through the paper, Shimaya smirked and fought the urge to laugh. Shooting one satisfied look at Arita and then Kenita, she hurried off, folding the paper neatly and safely into her tennis bag. Being a popular speaker has its advantage; she will always be the one to receive information.
---
"You lost again, Tachibana-chan sweetie. Why? I thought you were going to win, sweetheart."
"Why can't we have a normal judge?" Rika complained.
"Just admit you lost," Kenita smiled broadly at her, her white teeth shining.
"You're not human, always seems so perfect."
"You're too straightforward sometimes. You lost."
"Stop reminding me! Think about your age."
"Academically, you're only a year younger than me."
Rika decided to roll her eyes and walk off.
Great news! I have finished all the remaining chapters! The story is finished! Should I be sad or happy? I don't know, but I have another story coming on! Yay! Please review to let me know what you think! This chapter is about how Tanya and Shimaya play their tennis. As you can see, they rely very much of the emotions. Especially Tanya!
Alternate-Mysteries