Lunch 3
The next class was badminton again, and immediately Serena jumped to Rei's side and clutched her arm. Rei's glare seemed to have no affect on the blonde. Maybe she would have to rethink her behavior around Minako- clearly more and more people were getting too comfortable around her. That notion was reinforced when she felt Makoto clap her shoulder. She smiled down at Rei.
"Good luck today. You'll need it if you want to win even one game," she joked.
Serena stuck her tongue out at Makoto as Rei shook her off.
"Now be nice, not everyone can block a shot before it crosses the net," Ami said. Serena gave Ami an appreciative look until she continued. "Some people just just bring the whole thing down with their racket."
Rei shook her head and snorted as Serena began to defend herself. She couldn't help a wry smile until an elbow in her side took her by surprise.
"Is that a smile from the aloof miss Hino?" Minako's voice cajoled. Rei faced her and turned her nose up.
"I can enjoy a good joke."
"Really? I guess there's a first for everything," Minako said.
Rei saw an opening. "If you haven't heard me laugh, it's because your jokes just aren't very funny."
Minako gasped with mock outrage. "I'll have you know most people find me hilarious. You just have no taste."
"Most people have bad taste. I have refined taste."
"Ah, that must be why everyone thinks you're so hard to approach. You never laugh at their jokes."
"That's just the way I like it," Rei said. She committed to glaring at Minako until Serena latched onto her arm again. Minako slowly smirked.
"Yeah, just the way you like it."
"What are you two talking about?" Serena asked.
Minako opened her mouth but Rei cut in before she could say anything. "Nothing," she said. She pushed Serena off of her again.
Minako gave her a knowing look. "Yeah," she said, smirking. "Nothing."
Serena glanced between them, but shrugged and grabbed Rei's hand and pulled her towards a court. Rei let herself be dragged along, but for the entire trip she could feel Minako's gaze on her.
As she and Serena played, Rei kept meeting Minako's gaze. Whenever she did, the blonde would send her an infuriating smile. Rei didn't know what Minako was thinking, but she knew it was something bad. Sure enough, after class ended and they were in the locker room, Minako snuck up behind her.
"I know exactly how you like it," she whispered, and Rei whipped around ready to give her hell, but Minako was already laughing and running away.
The next day at lunch Rei was tempted to stay away from Minako's table. She wasn't sure what she would do if Minako had another remark, and it was a safe bet that the blonde would. But when Minako and Serena entered the classroom for lunch, Rei found herself picking up her lunch and joining them anyway. She didn't want Minako thinking she was running away after all.
Lunch was normal at first. Minako wasn't any worse than usual and she and the other girls were discussing how they were faring in their classes. Ami was predictably having no trouble, while Makoto was keeping up, but did lament how difficult the tests were. Minako and Serena on the other hand were moaning about everything: the lessons were too long, there was too much homework, and really, when would they need to use anything they were learning in the real world?
Rei had just finished eating when Minako started a dangerous conversation.
"So I was thinking, since there are a lot of tests coming up," she began. Everyone turned to her expectantly. "We should all get together and study."
"Oh what a good idea!" Ami said. "So you want to take your studies more seriously?"
"Yeah right, she just doesn't want to repeat a grade," Makoto said. Minako stuck out her tongue at the taller girl.
"Count me in," Serena said. "I need all the help I can get."
"And we know that's a lot," Minako said.
"Look who's talking," Serena fired back. Minako turned her tongue to Serena.
Makoto cut in. "So how much goofing off should we expect? I'm guessing at least half the time will be spent not studying."
"Hey, we can be serious when we want to be," Serena said.
"We just rarely want to be," Minako finished.
"Thanks for proving my point," Makoto said. She turned to Ami. "You know you'll be doing most of the helping. Think you're up for it?"
"They say you really understand something when you can teach it to someone else," she said. "So it'll be good for me too."
Rei stayed quiet throughout the conversation. She wanted to assume Minako only meant the girls aside from Rei, but knowing the other girl, Rei had a suspicion that she wasn't safe from being included.
"Where should we meet? My house is a little cramped," Serena said.
"Same here," Makoto said. Ami nodded as well. Rei's stomach dropped. She looked at Minako and knew she was doomed from the mischievous look she saw.
"Well I know a place that has plenty of room. Everyone can spread out, and we'd even have a gracious host."
"Oh yeah?" Makoto asked in disbelief. Ami seemed to know where Minako meant and glanced nervously at Rei. She winced.
"Yeah," Minako barreled ahead. "Hino's shrine."
Serena exclaimed 'oh' and clapped in excitement while Makoto glanced at Rei and burst out laughing. "She doesn't look okay with hosting," she said.
Minako waved her off. "I was talking about her grandfather. We really hit it off when I visited."
Serena gasped. "You visited Rei's shrine without me?"
"You've never been? It's beautiful. That settles it, it has to be your shrine," Minako said. She turned to Rei and smiled. "Come on, you know it's a great idea. We can all help each other with the material we don't know."
"What material do you know that I don't?" Rei asked pointedly.
Minako thought for a moment. "Well, Ami can help you and Makoto, then you can help me and Serena. After all, I heard that you only really understand something when you teach it to someone else."
"I wonder where you heard that." Rei said dryly. "Also no, you can't use my family's shrine to host a study group."
"Well of course, your grandfather would be hosting it," Minako said.
"You know what I mean," Rei said rolling her eyes.
"I'm serious here. We could all afford to study more, right?" Minako asked the table. Ami looked hesitant, Serena aggressively nodded, and Makoto looked like she wanted to agree, but didn't want to annoy Rei.
"I study better on my own," Rei said.
"Oh come on, it won't be that bad," Minako said.
"So it would be at least a little bad?" Rei asked.
"That's not what- guys, help me out here," Minako said, turning to the others.
"Please, Rei," Serena implored, hands pressed together and eyes big and watery. "I really need help so I can pass and stay in the same grade as everyone."
Rei had to look away. That girl was dangerous. "Don't call me that, we're not that close," she mumbled.
"I'm not in the same boat as these two, but extra review never hurt anyone," Makoto said. Rei wanted to point out that Serena and Minako seemed offended at the mere thought of extra review, but knew that she was growing closer and closer to giving in. Joking around, even at the expense of Minako, would be dangerous to her resolve.
"Well, I may not need the help," Ami said, still hesitant. "But I would hate to see my friends fall behind when I could help." She blushed, embarrassed at her own sentiment. Rei was struck by how different this girl was from the image she had had throughout most of her school years. She had always been famous throughout the entire school for always having the highest grades. But she had been so distant and quiet, and few people talked to her for anything outside of schoolwork. Yet here she was, surrounded by friends and trying to help them. Friends who had sought her out and helped pull her out of her shell.
Rei was quiet for a moment. She looked from Makoto, who was smiling gently and patting Ami's hand, to Serena, who was still staring at her with begging eyes, to Minako, who had a triumphant look on her face. Rei glared at her.
"Just this one time," she said. "Because I know I'll never hear the end of it otherwise."
Makoto cheered and Ami clapped. Serena snatched her hands and started thanking her profusely. Minako kept smiling at her. As they arranged a day that would work for everyone, Rei hoped she wouldn't regret allowing the blonde into her house- more than she already did at least.
