Chapter 12

Cheerleading

"Mai-chan!" Naotora calls while running toward her, holding up an application paper. "I-I'm sorry for yelling but...but...what is the meaning of this?" She holds it up to Mai's face. "Ch-cheerleading?"

Mai shrugs while giggling. "You need to boost some confidence. So I wrote both of our names down on that application~"

"You could have asked me first!" Naotora cries. "Ohhhh, this will be so embarrassing…!"

The brunette pets her like a puppy. "You're so cute when you're embarrassed, Nao-chan~"

"Uuuuu..." Naotora whines. She is not one for cheering, but something like this out of the blue is just surpising and embarrassing at the same time. She fiddles with her fingers shyly. "S-so ummmm...uhhhh...when do we start this...cheerleading thing?"

"Why, it's after school today~!" Mai replies. "And we get to wear sexy cheerleading uniforms~!" She raises a fist happily

The shy girl sighs heavily. It may or may not go well, but if Mai is going, so will she. "Alright...you win."

"Yaaaaaay~!" Mai hugs her beloved tighlty. "I love you, Nao-chan~!"

**Later**

Naotora is in the locker room, looking at herself in her red cheerleading uniform that says "I'm a Fighter" on her chest. This IS DOATEC Girl's academy after all, so their motto is "I'm a Fighter". But she is so red in the face that she feels like fainting right now. But Mai is completely different. She is wearing a light blue and white cheerleading uniform with the same motto written on her chest and doesn't have leg warmers like the rest of the girls. She strikes a sexy pose while leaning forward, winking at Naotora.

"Eep!" Naotora squeaks and turns her head away in embarrassment. "I-I'm so sorry for staring, but...c-could you stop?"

"Awww, come on~!" Mai says, grinning. "You can't help it, right? Besides, we're cheering together. That's the best part!"

"Y-yes, you're right about that." Naotora fiddles with her fingers, shyly.

"So come on! Stop being all whimpy and be happy! That's why I signed you up in the first place~!" She puts an arm around the shy girl's shoulder. "I'll be with you, don't worry. It's all going to be okay~"

Naotora smiles a small smile, nodding before walking with Mai to the gymnasium, where four other girls are present. They gather around the female coach who is teaching them the basics. They stretch first for warm ups and then grab their pom poms for some real action, just like Mai wants. She stays beside Naotora just to make her feel a bit more comfortable.

"Alright ladies!" the female coach says. "I shall decide on who shall lead the team! Hmmm..." She looks around for the right girl who is confident enough to lead the cheer and do what that leader does. Mai smiles a wide happy smile as the coach looks over at the brunette, waving her pom pom back and forth high in the air. "You there. Miss Shiranui, is it?"

"Yes!" Mai says. "I am the one~!"

"Good! I think you're fit to be the lead in the team," the coach says.

"Wait, wait a minute, coach," Mai says. "How about two leaders?"

"Why two? There always should be one leader to a cheerleading squad."

"Yes, but..." Mai turns to Naotora, who is looking up at her. "I feel that Nao-chan and I should do it together." She puts an arm around her shoulder. "We're best friends after all."

The coach just smiles and puts a hand on her hip. "Alright. Both of you."

"Mai-chan...!" Naotora gasps and the brunette winks at her.

"Ehehe! Told ya I'll stick with you the entire time~" she says.

The two of them go in front of the four girls, pom poms ready.

"Alright!" Mai shouts. "Ready to start cheering~?"

"Yeaaah~!" the rest of the girls shout back in reply.

"Grreeat! All of you, follow our lead! Right, Nao-chan~?"

"R-right! J-just smile and be yourself! And...and let's all do our best!" Naotora raises her arms high, smiling as best she can.

The rest of the girls cheer and they start their practice with the coach standing by the side, arms crossed as she supervises them. They cheer with loud and clear voices, raising pom poms and swinging them left and right and then doing acrobatic movements in the same direction as Naotora and Mai. They flip, do all sorts of tricks until they come to the grand finale, "The Pyramid". The four girls flip to form a line of three at the bottom, two on top, including Mai and then Naotora flips to the top, raising her pom poms in the air.

The coach applauds. "Very well done, girls! I'm impressed!"

The girls successfully flip back on the floor with happy smiles on their face. Honestly, they don't know that they had it in them, but at the same time, they are happy that they are working well together, especially with Mai and Naotora.

After another half-hour of practicing, it's time for them to leave. The girls go to the locker room to get changed, but Mai decides to stay behind for a bit longer until the rest of the girls leave. Naotora is confused why Mai hasn't left yet when she notices the girls already packing their things to head home. Mai sees the door close and approaches the shy girl.

"I-I'm not fully changed yet," she stutters.

"I don't mind~" Mai says as she gently hugs her. "You in your underwear makes you look cute and sexy~"

"Mai-chan...!"

Though embarrassed, she lets Mai hug her from behind, planting gentle kisses here and there, making her body feel warm because of her touch.

"Thanks...Mai-chan," she says softly. "You really know how to help me out with my problems."

Mai turns her girlfriend to face her. "That's what being your girlfriend means. I'm very happy to help you in any way~" She cups her hands on the shy girl's cheeks.

"Though...you can be perverted at times..." Naotora adds with a cute pout.

"And you know you love me for it~" Mai replies, nuzzling her girlfriend's nose.

"Yes...that too…"