When Mizuki arrived at the field, Nakatsu and the rest were waiting for her.
"Mizuki!" Nakao whined. "Thank God you're back! The only thing these idiots do around here is talk about girls and that dumb contest!"
"Hi, Nakao," she greeted, oblivious to the loud frivolity around her. She scanned the crowd for Nanba, until her gaze settled upon the tall, handsome upperclassman sitting on the bench, delivering a pep talk to those in their track uniforms. The breeze sifted teasingly through his long brown locks while he rose and began to pace the sidelines.
Nakao followed her gaze. "What are you looking at?" he probed warily when he realized who she was watching.
She tore her gaze quickly away, waving her hands frantically in front of her. "No, no, it's nothing like that," she assured the steaming younger boy. "I swear." I was just wondering how he was doing, after that incident…
She thought back to the other day, when she had accidentally witnessed his argument with his lover. The woman had slapped him – told him she was getting married to someone else and they could not longer see each other. Nanba had confided in her after that, telling her that the girl she had seen was the only woman he had ever loved. Mizuki had a hard time believing his story, the way he womanized with no remorse, but the look on his face as he held her in sadness had convinced her.
I wonder if he'll really be okay...
"Hello? Earth to Mizuki!" Nakatsu was waving his palm in her face.
"Oh, sorry," she apologized, flustered. I wonder if Sano and I will ever be like Nanba and his old girlfriend. True lovers who don't have to care about anything except each other…
"I was just saying that maybe we shouldn't stay to watch the practice after all," Nakatsu repeated to her. "Lover boy here has already started drooling, and I think we could have more fun elsewhere, at the moment."
"Elsewhere?" Mizuki echoed.
"Who's drooling?" Nakao was indignant.
"Come on," Nakatsu grabbed her and dragged her away from the mass of spectators gathered around the track members.
"Why is it everyone is always dragging me everywhere?" Mizuki mumbled to herself as Nakatsu brought her back inside the building.
The bleach-haired boy released her reluctantly and stood motionless. His arm is so soft…
"Nakatsu?" Mizuki inquired encouragingly, smiling to urge him on when he didn't speak.
A faint blush rose to his cheeks. No! Don't smile at me like that!
"Uh, I just wanted to know if you'd come to my soccer practice this evening," he managed to choke out, his nerves making him giddy. "You know, to root for me and the rest of the team."
"I've already told Sano I'd watch him train for the high-jump," Mizuki replied. "I'm sorry, Nakatsu."
No! Damn you, Sano! What do you have that Mizuki doesn't see in me?
"Really? You did?" He scuffed the ground anxiously with his toe. "Okay then. Another time." CURSE YOU, IZUMI SANO!
"I'll be sure to come, I promise." Suddenly a sharp pain shot through her midriff. "I've got to go, Nakatsu. I'll see you in class."
"You'll see me after school, too," he clarified on her behalf. "Pie eating practice. Training."
"Wh…What!"
But he was already long gone, sprinting down the hallway, tears streaming from his eyes. That crazy Nakatsu!
Without further hesitation she made her way down the abandoned halls. The other students were either in class or out on the field. She leaned heavily against a set of lockers and took in a deep breath, her hand clasped tightly over her stomach. Man, do I hate being a girl at times like these. I need to see the doctor. Maybe Rio left me something I can use…and I need pain killers…
She trudged her way to Umeda's office, pausing at the door and listening. It seemed like every time she had to speak with him, she walked in on some sort of highly involved physical therapy session that looked more like the doctor was indulging in wild sexual fantasies.
No sound reached her ears from within, but she threw open the door with her eyes squinted shut, just in case.
Umeda was sitting at his desk with his back to her. "What is it?" he called, spinning the chair around and adjusting his glasses. "Oh, Mizuki. Please don't tell me this is about your problems with your love life. I have better things to do, you know."
"What, like kissing other men when you're supposed to be working?" She was referring to the time when she'd walked in on him and his boyfriend, a handsome college student who lived nearby.
"That aside," he said humorlessly, rolling his eyes.
"I just need some tam —"
"GAH! Don't say it. As if hearing things like that from my elder sister all the time isn't enough. You females are disgusting. You know where they are. Help yourself."
"Pardon me for being human," she smirked, making her way to a small cabinet behind his desk.
"You know, you should be glad I'm covering your little blue butt," he said with a wry smirk. Mizuki thought she detected a hint of fondness in his tone, but it was gone in an instant, replaced with mild contempt.
"I've already thanked you multiple times!"
"Maybe so," he mused aloud. "But if anyone ever caught me with those in an all boy's school, I would hate to think of the consequences."
Mizuki drew out a flowered bikini top from the back of the drawer and dangled it in front of his nose. "What, with things like this hanging around? I don't think so."
"Hmmf," he grunted, folding his arms defensively in an attempt to scrounge up what little dignity he had left. "Make fun of it all you want, but I happen to think my tastes are well refined, thank you very much."
Mizuki stuffed a box of necessities into her bookbag. "By the way, what do you know of this renowned Pie Eating Contest?"
Umeda seemed to brighten. "Considering it, are you? It's quite the little event."
"Nakatsu wants me to team up with him."
"That one?" Umeda clapped a hand over his eyes. "Knowing him, he'll gouge himself silly until he can't stand up. Better not let him sucker you into it, or you'll lose for sure."
"I asked Sano, but…"
"Ah, why bother asking him?" the doctor eyed her with a sly gaze. "Your boy doesn't like sweets, remember?"
She sighed. "I just keep forgetting. How can he not like sweets? I love my peach juice…" She ceased her rambling without warning and threw him a mistrustful look. "Wait, how did you know Sano doesn't like sweets?"
"Oh, he was a frequent patient after his accident a while back." There was an evil glint in his eye.
Suddenly the image of a lust-ridden Umeda lovingly massaging an injured Sano imposed upon her thoughts and plagued her mind. No! It can't be!
"KYAAAA!"
Umeda erupted into a bout of laughter. "Relax," he said soothingly. "He's not my type."
"Doctor Umeda!"
"Hey, I had to cheer you up somehow," he straightened his white jacket in an authoritative manner. "But if that didn't work, I can always dance you a little strip tease…" He lifted the corner of his shirt.
"NO! No, really, I feel much better." Her hair stood on end, and she backed herself carefully to the door. "Thanks for the help."
"No problem." He spun around and resumed his work. "Good luck at the contest. I'll be there watching with the rest of the school."