Insert Self Here
Chapter Fourteen
Playing Games
X X X
"Well," Ryonami said as she took her seat and handed Chitase her orange soda, "we found out something interesting." She pulled the bag she had left at the bottom of her seat into her lap.
That sparked Hiroshi's curiosity. "Oh?" He looked over the group as they took their seats, completely forgetting that he had been promised candy. He had been going to hold them to that promise, too... but even a casual comment could distract him, it seemed. "Do tell!"
Daisuke was grinning. "Well, Ryonami's not going to have any problems getting the Judan's autograph, for one." After all, there was no way Kari's dad would say no to one of his daughter's friends.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hiroshi asked.
"Oh!" Ryonami felt the need to pipe in. "And we ran into Kari's dad!" She held in a giggle. Not only would it be out of character, but it'd give away that they were hiding something.
It was still cause for comment. And comment Hiroshi did. "Her dad? Really?" He looked over at the girl. "Didn't you say your dad lived in Sendai? What was he here for?" He paused a moment. "Better question; why didn't you bring him by to meet us?"
"Because he's busy playing in this match," Daisuke replied, ending his and Ryonami's little fun. He was grinning broadly as he said it.
As if the boy's words were the man's cue, the announcer took the microphone. "Ladies and gentleman, I would like to begin this day's match. Playing black will be Urameshi 7 dan."
There was silence as a somber man in a green suit took the stage, glaring at the crowd as he did so. He was obviously the 7th dan player. It was a high rank, so he was assured to be a strong opponent. But he didn't look very friendly.
"And then, playing white and taking a reverse five and a half handicap will be the Judan title holder, Judan Umikage."
As Shinzumaru took the stage, he bowed and waved, his eyes locking onto Kari's as he did so. He smiled and winked.
"I can't believe my dad's a title holder," Kari grumbled. "I didn't even know he was pro."
"Your dad's the Judan title holder?" Chitase said in shock.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Hiroshi demanded. "He probably could have gotten us free tickets!"
Kari was momentarily amazed at how Hiroshi's brain must have worked. Forego the shock of the revelation, move straight onto the money issue. "I didn't know!" she said defensively.
Hiroshi was skeptical. "How do you not know that your father is one of the top names in the professional circuit?"
The ninja thought a moment before responding. "I blame lack of communication."
"That's a real problem in families today," Daisuke agreed.
"Oh, be quiet," Chitase commented, "the match is going to start." She was just as shocked as could be expected, but wasn't about to let that ruin her only chance to see a title holder play a match. She turned and watched as the match began.
Of course, it was impossible for audience members to see the actual game board in an audience hall. To allow people to see the real action, that of the game itself, there was a large grid behind the two players, large enough for the entire audience to see. Every time a move was made, the announcer would tack on a white or black circle on the grid, representing where a stone had just been placed.
Shinzumaru seemed, at a stark contrast to how Kari ever remembered seeing him, dead serious during the match. His brow was scrunched in concentration as an unlit cigarette hung from his lips. Obviously, some rule was preventing him from lighting up like he would have wanted, though he was unwilling to lose his smokes so easily. Every time he dropped a stone into position, he would lean back a bit and look like he was trying to take a puff of his unlit cigarette.
During several points in the match, Kari would speak up, trying to predict a move for her friends. "He'll connect his stones in the upper-left," the girl said, convinced it was the best move. "It'll save the formation there."
As if to defy her, her father played a stone on the lower side of black's formation.
"He's attacking," Daisuke commented. "He's given his opponent a handicap, so he needs to play bolder moves to catch up in points. It's not enough to just play safe."
Kari pouted. Just like her dad to show her wrong. He was playing so much differently than he played her... at such a higher level than he ever played her. There was no fighting the apparent fact that he was really a pro. He had been holding back every time he played her, and never even told her that he was holding back. It didn't sit well with the young ninja.
The game played out at the pace on might expect. Some parts went faster, with the clicks of the go stone hitting the board audible in rapid succession as one player moved right after the last stone was placed. Other parts were slower as a player would carefully consider the next move.
The end result was clear, however. Slowly throughout the course of the game, Kari's father was acquiring territory and catching up with the handicap offered to black. In the end, with a lead of two moku, Shinzumaru was the victor.
"Good game," Shinzumaru said with a slight bow. He lit his cigarette, finally free to smoke. It felt good.
His opponent, Urameshi, didn't seem too pleased, but he gave a small bow as well.
As both players left into the back, Kari stood up. "I'm going to go see my dad," she commented.
The rest of the Furinkan High go club stood as well. "Let me go!" Chitase asked excitedly. "I... I want to meet your dad!" His game was incredible; definitely beyond anything the girl had ever witnessed before, since she didn't even watch professional matches on television.
Ryonami gave a faint smirk. "And I still need to get his autograph."
"Whatever," the blue-haired ninja replied. She didn't really care, and she doubted her father would care very much. She led the others to the back area.
Before they could enter it, however, a man in a suit stopped them. "Hey, audience isn't allowed back here."
"They're with me," a voice from behind the man said.
The man jumped. Spinning around, he saw Shinzumaru standing there, only a foot or two away. When had he gotten there? "Er, um, they are?" His eloquence was lost with surprise.
"Yep." Shinzumaru walked over and ruffled Kari's hair. "This is my daughter..." He crouched down to Kari's level and smiled, though she pulled away to avoid the smoke from his lit cigarette. Shinzumaru sighed, then, turning around toward the guard, he asked, "Can't you see the resemblance?"
Kari rubbed her head, irritated. "There is no resemblance," she said, annoyed. "I took after mom, thankfully."
"Your words wound me," her father said in mock pain. "Besides, you have my nose."
"I do not!" the girl shouted in protest, covering her nose.
Her friends stood back awkwardly. They felt out of place at the moment.
Shinzumaru looked over. "Ah, but let's stop standing around here. Come on, I got a room in the back we can all talk in." He led the group past the flabbergasted guard. In the back area, there was a small lounge. It was empty, and that's where Shinzumaru brought Kari and the rest of the go club.
"So," Shinzumaru said as he walked toward a vending machine to the side, "I take it you're all friends of my daughter?"
"Yeah," Hiroshi said in response. That was true. At least, he thought they could be considered friends...
"The five of us make up Furinkan High's go club," Ryonami supplied as she set her bag on the ground. She had brought some records of the Judan title holder's matches in her bag, hoping to get one of them signed, but didn't expect to be interacting so much with him.
"Ah!" Shinzumaru inserted a few coins into the vending machine. "A go club, is it?" He pressed the button for a Coke. When the can dropped, he took it out and tossed it to his daughter, who idly caught it with one hand. "I'm glad to see my daughter's taken more of an interest in the game. I've tried and tried to get her into go, but she never took it any more seriously than any other game." To see her following in his footsteps... almost brought a tear to his eye.
Kari opened the can of soda she had been given and took a sip. At least her dad hadn't forgotten what she liked. "And I still can't believe you never told me you were a pro... a title holder, no less. Unless you got the title after I left..."
Shinzumaru chuckled. "Well, to be fair, there was a short period when I lost the title."
The young girl knew what that meant. "So you had the title before then."
"Yep."
Kari snorted. "Figures."
The girl's father looked away from his daughter for a moment toward the assembled kids. He'd probably have more luck talking to them right now. "So, you all like go?"
"O-Of course," Chitase replied as the others nodded in agreement.
"Come on," Shinzumaru said, walking over to a small table in the lounge. There was bag next to one of the chairs at the table; his bag. He took out a small, travel-sized go board. "I'll play one of you."
"I'll play you!" The response came from his own daughter. "But you're not holding back on me this time."
The elder ninja took a puff of his cigarette, then extinguished it on an ashtray. "If that's what you want, hun."
Kari nodded as she took the seat opposite of her father. She wanted to see it for herself, her dad's strength in the game. In fighting, he was on a plateau higher than she could hope to reach... a plateau high in the clouds, higher than she could even see. But she played her father in go several times a week and he had never shown any signs of being better than she was. She had seen something different during his exhibition match, something she had never expected. So she wanted to see it... see where her own strength lay.
"This ought to be good," Daisuke said, walking over to watch the game.
"This ought to be a slaughter," was Hiroshi's response.
The match was closer to Hiroshi's prediction than Daisuke's. Shinzumaru really didn't hold back. Kari was forced to resign ten minutes into the game.
"Don't feel bad, sweetie," Shinzumaru said, lighting up a cigarette. As it was lit, he continued. "You're still pretty good." For an amateur, she was decent. He looked over at his daughter... she was pouting. "Don't pout," he said, ruffling her hair. "You do that every time I beat you, you know."
Kari pulled away, embarrassed. She regretted bringing her friends along.
Shinzumaru laughed. "Tell you what. To make it up to you, I'll treat you and your friends to something to eat, all right?"
Kari perked up. "Where?"
Her father contemplated a minute. "Um... what's close by?" He didn't want to walk far. Too much work... the train station he used to get back to Sendai was pretty close to the auditorium, so he didn't want to have to walk a distance, and then walk back to get to the train.
"There's a McDonald's down the street," Chitase suggested. "I saw it on the way over here."
"That's about it," Ryonami agreed.
"Sounds like we're going to McDonald's," Shinzumaru said with a grin.
"Great," Kari deadpanned, "meal of champions."
Shinzumaru frowned. "Aw, c'mon Kari... I remember when you begged me to get you a Happy Meal from there every day."
The girl blushed as her friends, even Ryonami, snickered. "Th-They just had a really good toy is all."
There was a moment of silence before Shinzumaru broke it. "No use standing around," he said. "Let's get going."
"All right!" Hiroshi said. "I'm hungry... don't think I ate at all today."
"Well, that's no good," Shinzumaru said. "Come on." He led the group out of the auditorium. As he walked, he noticed his daughter walking next to him. He threw an arm over her shoulder.
Kari leaned in to him. He may have been an irresponsible flake who never took her seriously... but he was her father. It was good to be with him again.
The man smiled. It felt good to see his daughter again.
X X X"I hate sprinklers," the redhead girl complained, kicking a stone as she walked. "I swear, those things were made just to screw with our curses."
"I'm sure the inventor of the sprinkler had Jusenkyo in mind when he built them," Akane replied sardonically.
Ranma didn't looked pleased. "Probably was," she responded.
She, Ranma, and Ryoga had been going to the market to pick up some meat for the dinner Kasumi was making. Akane had been perfectly willing to go alone, but Ranma and Ryoga, perhaps bored, insisted on accompanying her. Much to Akane's chagrin, however, Ranma had done nothing but complain since they got hit with a sprinkler on the trip. At least Ryoga was silent... but that may have simply been because he was a dog.
"Stop complaining, Ranma," Akane replied evenly. "Let's get this over with."
"Sooner it's over, the sooner I can go back to being a man," Ranma said. They were approaching the market, so she supposed she'd be a man again soon enough.
Akane hoped the redhead would stop griping now. "Exactly." As they entered the market, she spotted something. "Oh, is this what Kasumi wanted?" She trekked over to a nearby stall.
Ranma spotted something else. "Oo, ramen. Maybe I can get a cup of hot water!" With that, she jolted off.
Ryoga looked around. Hmm? Where was Akane? She was gone. Best to make sure not to lose Ranma, then. The dog trotted after the redhead. However, that proved to be a problem as the boy turned girl was quite a bit faster than the dog, and she was weaving through a crowd, no less.
"Damn you, Ranma!" If Ryoga had been human, those are the words he would have shouted. As it was, he let out a bark, then began to walk through the market, trying to find either of his friends.
He was so busy looking for his friends that he didn't even see what was right in front of him. With a small woof, the dog looked up at what he had bumped into. Or, rather, who.
It was a few minutes later that Akane found Ranma, once again male and smiling contently. "Oi, Ranma," she griped, "where were you?" She leveled a glare at the boy... how irresponsible to run off on her like that! "I bought the things Kasumi needed ages ago."
"I was fixing a small problem," Ranma replied. Stupid curse. He looked around. "Where's Ryoga? Wasn't he with you?"
Akane looked indignant. "You both ran off, don't look at me." She peered at the pigtailed boy. "Did you lose him?"
Ranma slapped his forehead. "Stupid Ryoga! He's gone and gotten himself lost again, hasn't he?"
"Don't blame Ryoga," Akane replied, "it's probably all your fault."
Ranma snorted. "Whatever." He looked around. "We'd better find him before he gets to far. If he does, there's no telling how long it'll be before we see him again."
"I don't think Mr. Suzuhara is going to like that if Ryoga misses class tomorrow," Akane said, "he's giving a quiz."
"Tomorrow? This is Ryoga we're talking about. He'll be lost for weeks." Ranma and Akane were making their way through the crowd, keeping their eyes peeled for the dog. Ranma continued, "He'll miss a lot more than just that quiz."
"Ryoga!" Akane called out. "Ryoga! Where are you?"
"Stupid idiot," Ranma complained. "He's going to make us late for dinner."
Akane felt like slapping the back of Ranma's head, but held it back. Then she paused. Why hold it back? She slapped his head. "Show some real concern, Ranma," she chastised him.
Ranma snorted, but didn't comment, letting it slide for once. He turned his attention away from the girl. "Ryoga! C'mon buddy, where are ya?"
After a half hour of fruitless searching, Akane was beginning to lose hope. "Where could he have gone?"
"Anywhere," Ranma replied. He scoffed his shoe. "Damn Ryoga, couldn't he have chosen a better time to get lost?"
"Maybe he found his way back home?" Akane asked, hopeful. It may have been a vain hope... but it was possible, right?
"Not likely," said Ranma, always the pessimist. "I guess it's better than just looking around here, though. It's obvious he's not here." He began to trek towards the Tendo home.
Akane followed, letting the arm holding the bag with the meat hang limp at her side.
Ranma stopped, however, when somebody was blocking his path. He looked up.. and up further. This guy was tall as heck. A foreigner, and a black foreigner at that. He must have stood six and a half feet tall. "Excuse me," Ranma said, stepping around the side.
The man turned, stepping to the side as he did so. Behind him was a black dog with a familiar bandana around his neck.
"Ryoga!" Akane cried, rushing toward the dog.
"Is he yours?" the man asked in unaccented Japanese. His voice sounded young, belying his height and appearance. "I thought he might have belonged to somebody, what with that bandana around his neck. I figured I'd look for his owners a bit more before I try to turn him in."
Ranma looked over at the guy. "Yeah, he's ours." No use trying to explain otherwise, after all. He was silent for a moment...
"Thanks," Akane said, saying what Ranma had been working up to say.
"...Yeah," Ranma agreed, "thanks."
The tall man laughed. "No problem." He pat Ryoga's head. "I'll be seeing you around, Ryoga." He turned and began to walk away.
"Hold on a minute!" Akane called after him. As he stopped and turned, curious, the girl continued. "Won't you come home with us? You can have dinner with us, as a thank you."
The man shook his head. "Thank you for the offer, but not tonight, I'm afraid. I'm late enough as it is, and I have things to do."
"Oh." Akane felt bad that she couldn't reward the man who had, most assuredly, kept Ryoga from taking a month-long trip. "All right, then."
The man waved. "See ya."
Ranma sighed as the man walked off. "Let's go home," he said. "I'm starving." He began to trek down the road toward the Tendo home once more.
"I hope Kasumi hasn't started without us," Akane mentioned, keeping pace with the boy.
"How?" the pigtailed boy asked as he walked, checking to make sure that Ryoga was following. Good, he hadn't run off again. "We have the meat." What was Kasumi going to do without that?
X X X
Nabiki frowned, leaning forward onto the dinner table. "Sis, weren't we having meat and potatoes tonight?" She idly poked the plate of cooked potatoes.
"I thought so, too," Kasumi said, "but they haven't come back with the meat yet."
The middle Tendo sighed. "Way to go, sis, way to go..."
X X X
Ryonami stashed the autographed paper into her bag. Kari's father left, but he signed the game records Ryonami had brought before leaving the fast food restaurant. It seemed weird, getting the autograph of a friend's father, but she wasn't going to pass up the chance, either.
"Your dad's a fun guy," Hiroshi commented, finishing the last of his fries.
"Fun," Kari commented. "That's not the word I'd use."
"So he teased you a bit," Daisuke commented, "I don't know a father who doesn't."
Kari perked up. "Really?"
The boy was silent for a moment. "...Um, actually, no. That's pretty unique to your dad."
The girl pouted. "I knew it."
Chitase smiled. "Well, he was certainly nice enough." He really was, too; he may have been a bit outspoken and embarrassed his daughter a little, but he never said anything bad and had even treated the entire group to food.
"I liked him," Hiroshi said matter-of-factly.
Kari looked over the group. "Well, are we done yet?" she asked, changing the subject. "It's getting dark out, so we should probably get going."
"I suppose," Ryonami agreed. She stood, picking up the tray she, Kari, and Chitase had used.
Hiroshi shoved the last fry in his mouth. "Done!" he said.
"Since you finished last," Daisuke said, "you can take the tray."
"Lazy bastard," the other boy said in response. He didn't argue though, taking the tray and trash on it toward the garbage.
As Kari led the group toward the exit, the doors opened and a boy entered. The redheaded boy noticed the group. "Well, what a coincidence," he said.
Ryonami blinked. "Kaga?" The boy was in her class; he was a loudmouthed jerk. At least that's how she remembered him.
"You," Kari seethed. "Are you trying to piss me off even out of school?"
"I didn't even say anything," Kaga commented irritably. "Some hello you got there." He rubbed the back of his head.
"Who's this guy?" Daisuke asked, irritated.
Chitase seemed to have some idea. "The president of the shougi club?"
Kari snorted. "That's him. Arrogant little jerk and president of the shougi club."
Chitase had to admit, even she didn't get along well with the shougi club. Their members made fun of the go club for being less popular, even going as far as ripping down the fliers that Chitase and Ryonami made for the club. Hard work ruined without a care.
Kaga looked over the group. "Ah, the whole go club's here, it looks like." He paused for a moment. "I saw you all at the Judan match. I figured you would have cleared out of here by now, though." He paused for a few seconds. "But I guess it's too much to expect you guys to have any sort of lives."
"You're the one who needs a life," Ryonami commented. "Or do you consider bullying and taunting to make up a decent life?"
"I don't bully anyone," the shougi player replied. "I just say what I see."
Kari, however, was stuck on something else. "You were there?" she asked. "At the go match?" Why would he be there? He was the shougi guy. "Don't tell me you're taking an interest in go now... or were you just there to make fun of the game?"
The redhead snorted. "I was just checking it out is all." He pulled out his paper fan from the sleeve of his leather jacket. He whipped it open, displaying the kanji for "King." He was silent for a moment. "You going to get out of my way, or do I have to find another place to eat?"
The group did seem to be blocking his way. They stepped aside, letting Kaga into the restaurant.
"I'll see you all around," he said. "Ryonami, see you in class."
"Whatever," the girl replied with a half-lidded stare. She turned. "Let's go."
"Yeah," the ninja agreed. She and the others left.
Kaga sighed. "What a nuisance." He turned to the cashier, pushing the group from his mind. "I'd like a number two..."
X X X
There was something to be said for taking a trip on a boat. For one, it wasn't short. For another, the swaying of a boat led to seasickness. Coupling them together meant many days of seasickness and unease for the young girl. She gazed out to the sea, trying to hold the contents of her stomach in.
"Are you feeling any better?" another girl asked in their native Mandarin. This girl was older than the first. While the seasick girl was around twelve, perhaps thirteen, the second girl's figure and mannerisms both suggested she was older, around sixteen.
Her long hair and figure were both something the younger girl would normally envy... if her attention wasn't solely focused on retaining her dignity. "I'm fine," the girl grunted. "Just... how much longer will it take?"
There was a laugh; more of a cackle, really. A old lady, perhaps half the height of the youngest, walked forward. "Another three days. Maybe four. You've got to get your sea legs... or put up with not having a full stomach for a few more days." She laughed again.
"Great grandmother," the buxom girl said sternly, "you should be nicer. This is Ranran's first trip to sea."
"Let an old woman have her fun, Shampoo," the old woman said with a chuckle.
"Why does it have to be so looong?" Ranran complained. "Do all boats take this long?"
The old woman chuckled again. "Not all boats, no. But this clunker is the only one willing to transport three Chinese Amazons from that dingy port on China's coast to Japan."
"If you're going to complain," a man said, walking up from behind the group, "I can always throw you all overboard."
The old woman took her staff, a gnarled wooden thing twice her height, and bopped the man on the top of the head. "Oh, do hush up."
The captain rubbed his head irritably. "Yeah, yeah." He snorted. "I owe you Amazons, so I'm gonna let that slide. But try to keep the grumbling down, it just makes the trip seem longer."
"We'll keep that in mind," the old woman assured him.
As he walked away, Shampoo turned toward her great grandmother. Whispering, she asked, "Why do you let him get away with that kind of talk?"
"It's just harmless talk," she replied. "Besides, he's useful. It is his ship, after all." As if teaching her great granddaughter something, she continued, "You'll find that you can't deal with every uppity male you see. Save it for the ones that matter." Turning to Ranran, she said, "You should remember that, too."
Unfortunately, Ranran was too busy hurling off the side of the ship to hear her matriarch's words of wisdom.
"Children these days," the woman muttered. She began to walk away, back towards the quarters she had been provided with. "Never listening to their elders..."
X X X
Ryoga dodged the kunai and closed in, going for a quick combination of punches. His opponent was too skilled, however, and dodged each blow. As she leapt back, pulling free another kunai, Ryoga pulled off a bandana. Before he could get the attack off, however, a kunai was already heading towards him. He dodged, dropping the bandana.
"Pretty good," Kari commented. "Your weakness is in mid-range, though. Too easy to get you if you try your bandanas, and too far to effectively attack otherwise." She lowered her stance.
"Yeah, yeah." The bandana-clad boy shook his head. "So, are we done for tonight?"
"Probably," the girl replied. "I'm tired. Long day."
"So I heard," Ryoga said. "I hear you ran into your dad today?"
Kari seemed surprised. "Akane told you?" She had told Akane when she had gotten back to the Tendo home, before deciding on an evening spar with her buddy, Ryoga.
The boy nodded. "Yeah, she mentioned it." He was silent for a moment. "Been a while since I saw him... I take it he wasn't in town for long?"
"Nah. He hopped on a bullet train back to Sendai before long." Kari walked over and picked up all of the kunai she had used in the fight. "It was nice seeing him, though."
"I'll bet it was." Ryoga sighed. How long had it been since he had seen his parents? A while. Longer than Kari, at any rate. Two years and some change... a long time. He wondered if he should take a trip back home... but shook the thought off. The odds of them even being there was so small it was unfathomable. It would be pointless.
"I heard you had an interesting night, too," Kari said, placing her kunai in their hiding places. "Snuffles lost in the marketplace?"
Ryoga snorted. "Something like that."
"Something a lot like that," Kari said, walking over to her friend and poking his shoulder. "Have fun?"
"Shut up," the boy replied in a huff.
Kari was giggling. "Ah, sounds fun."
"Not for me..."
"Oh, chill out." Kari began to exit the dojo. "Come on, we should probably be getting to bed. If you oversleep because you were up too late moping, I'll kill you."
"I'm scared," Ryoga said with a smile.
"You'd better be!"
X X X
The next day came and went. Wednesdays were usually boring, and this one was no exception. At least Kari had aced the quiz in math. Too bad the same couldn't be said for Ranma.
Well, she lamented, at least she could have fun now. She placed a stone on the board, hoping to take the lead over Ryonami. Nabiki's follower was playing black and had a substantial lead thanks to the four stone handicap that Kari allowed her.
Ryonami placed her stone down on the board. "It's kind of lonely without anybody else," she commented. The chemistry lab that held the club was a lonesome place with only two players.
"Yeah," Kari replied. She idly held a white stone between her index and middle finger, trying to figure out where to put it. After a moment's thought, she placed it in the upper-right. "Where is everybody, anyway?"
"Trying to recruit more members," Ryonami replied. She considered her move for a moment.
Kari let her opponent concentrate. She was going to ask the girl about it once she had made her move, but a better source of information came to her.
The door opened, allowing the three missing members entry into the club. "That was a bust," Daisuke groaned.
"Tell me about it," Hiroshi replied, slumping into an empty seat. He threw the handful of fliers in his hand onto a nearby table. "A waste of my afternoon."
"No new club members?" Kari asked.
"Nope," Daisuke replied. "I even talked to the two guys who quit."
Ryonami looked up. "Really? You could have asked me, they're in my class." She saw them every day; no need for Daisuke to ask when she was right there.
"Doesn't matter," the boy replied. "They said they won't come back." He slammed a hand onto a table. "That means we need to find another boy to join before Friday."
"Why?" Kari asked. She regretted it when all eyes turned toward her, their gazes piercing through her like knives. "Um, I'm sorry?"
"You don't know?" Chitase asked. "There's a high school tournament on Sunday. It's a team tournament, and divided by gender. So there can be a team of three boys and three girls competing."
"And since me and Daisuke here are the only guys," Hiroshi explained, "we can't do anything without one more guy."
"And registration is Friday," Daisuke finished. "I was hoping that I could find somebody, even if only to fill the third spot for the tournament. Like I knew those guys didn't want to rejoin, but I'd hoped they'd at least do a one-day tournament for us."
Kari looked thoughtful. "Hey, if it's teams of three..." She looked at Ryonami, then Chitase. "Are we going to be in it?"
Chitase looked nervous. "U-Um, I hadn't really given thought to that."
"We've never had enough girls to compete in a tournament before," Ryonami added. "I hadn't counted on competing myself, but I guess we could if we wanted."
Kari slammed her fist into her palm. "Come on! We've got to compete!" Fame and glory awaited her! Or at least she'd have some fun. "We have three girls. That's perfect."
"Yay," Hiroshi responded unenthusiastically, "me an' Daisuke can be your cheerleaders."
"Nah," Kari replied. "Tomorrow, for sure, we'll find you that third team member." She gave them a thumb up. "And then we'll all be competing."
Chitase smiled nervously. "Um, sure. I guess I can compete."
"Sounds good," Ryonami added. "Oh, Kari, it's your turn, by the way."
Kari's fiery determination disappeared when she realized it was her turn. "Oh? Is it?" She turned her attention back to the game.
"That ended quickly," Hiroshi commented.
Kari waved her hand dismissively. "We're gonna do it, we're gonna do it. But that's tomorrow. Right now I have to concentrate on my game."
"Daisuke?" Chitase looked over at the boy. "Would you like to play a game?" She looked around, then back to him. "If I'm going to be competing, I'd like to get as much practice as possible."
"Of course," the boy replied. "Let me grab a board and we'll get started."
X X X
End Chapter Fourteen
To be continued...
X X X
Author's Notes: Sorry for the wait, everyone. A lot of focus was on the club; sorry to those who don't appreciate those sections. It'll lighten up once the next arc comes into play.
And yes, you get to see the Amazons! Why is Cologne there? And Ranran? What's up with this? You'll find out soon enough.
I hope you readers will be able to see the next chapter sooner than it took to get this one out. I'll work on it, I promise you.