TR: Alright, so here is the third installment. I wish I could tell you all when four will be out, but I haven't even had time to start writing it yet so I can't make any promises. For the disclaimer, please see chapter 1. Kitamori Naoya belongs to me, so ask if you want to use him.
"Welcome to the National Junior Olympic Committee offices, my name is Kitamori Naoya. I'm sure that you're all very curious about why you're here, so we'll get straight to the point. You have been chosen as the Japanese team for the upcoming Junior Olympics. I realize that you aren't accustomed to a team of this size, so please allow me to explain. In the Junior and regular Olympics singles and doubles are completely different categories. Because of this separation, each competing nation is required to have enough players to hold at least five matches in each category. This way, the singles players can serve as alternates for the double pairs and the doubles players can be alternates for the singles games. There are several things that are different this year as well."
"Excuse me for interrupting, but according to my calculations this competition should have been held this past summer." Inui stared at the man in the front of the room.
"You are correct Inui-kun. The games were delayed by a year due to the unexplained natural disaster that Karakura experienced last winter. After much debate, it was deemed more efficient to postpone the games to next August in order for repairs to be made instead of selecting a new city entirely. Thankfully, none of the participating countries objected to having an extra year to train. I realize that all of you will only have about ten months to train as a team, but based on your performances in the school tournaments, I see no need to be concerned. The other thing that will be done differently this year is who the coach will be. Instead of having a professional coach, you will have a former competitor who is still in school himself."
"About that, what about support staff? You know, trainers and tutors- am I picking them or are you and the committee appointing people?" Ichigo asked from where he was leaning against one of the windows.
"It's been decided that you can select your own support staff, so long as you do not choose more than ten people. There is no requirement that says you must choose adults to be on that staff, as the committee understands that it would be difficult for you to be able to assert your authority in that situation." Kitamori replied.
"Ok that works. I have four friends in Karakura who have already volunteered to help out, so if you guys have anyone you want to bring along, that is fine by me." Ichigo told the boys in the room.
"So, the reason that you're back in Tokyo is to be our coach for the Junior Olympics?" Tezuka knew he sounded redundant, but his brain was having trouble processing that particular revelation.
Ichigo grinned in triumph; he had not forgotten how hard it could be to throw the other boy off balance mentally. As he looked around to see the faces of the rest of his team, Ichigo felt rather than heard Ogichi snickering at the stunned looks.
The next person to break out of their stupor was none other than Eiji. Feeling as energetic as usual, the red haired acrobat promptly glomped Ryoma before expressing his own excitement. "Isn't this great Ochibi? Senpai is going to be our Sensei! Now you'll get to see all of the awesome moves that he knows, and maybe he can teach me some new flips! Nya, I can't wait!"
Ryoma just rolled his eyes at the older boy before squirming out of Eiji's grip. Taking the uniform that Mr. Kitamori handed him, Ryoma walked up to Ichigo with a slightly troubled look on his face. But it wasn't his expression that alerted Ichigo to the small boy's concern, it was the way he addressed the oldest boy. "Oniichan, do you think it would be ok if I bring my cat with us? I get the feeling that we won't be staying in Tokyo to train, and I promise to feed her and clean up after her myself. Please?"
Looking down into desperate gold eyes, Ichigo smiled gently before letting out a sharp whistle. Once he had everyone's attention, he asked if any of the others were allergic to cats. When the rest of the boys indicated that none of them were, Inui piped up that he could also assure that the five support staff members they had chosen had no pet related allergies either. Looking back at Ryoma, Ichigo asked the beaming boy if his question had been answered.
"Eh? Are you bringing Karupin along?" Momo asked excitedly.
"Oh, Echizen is bringing his cat? I didn't even know he had any pets. But we do go to different schools, and it's not like we're best friends so I suppose it isn't surprising that I didn't know. I wish I had a cat, but I can't since 'Kaasan is allergic to them. I would ask Akira's parents if I could keep a cat at their house since I'm over there so often, but that might be considered rude. I guess I'll just have to wait until I move out to get a cat. I think I'll get a calico; I like all the different colors in their fur. I wonder what Echizen's cat is, I hope it's friendly and doesn't hiss at me. I-"
"Shinji." Tachibana interjected firmly.
"Sunmason."
Ichigo grinned in amusement, that Shinji kid was a hoot. Looking at Momo, he told the power player that Ryoma was in fact bringing his cat with them. As he then shifted his attention to Inui, Ichigo did not miss the look of excitement on his cousin's face at the news of Karupin's inclusion. As the data player told the young sensei about the five support members the team had chosen, Ichigo could hear Ogichi and Zangetsu planning in his head a way to train the two girls and three boys alongside the team.
Looking at his watch, Ichigo noticed that it was time to go if they wanted to be on time to meet Hisagi at the street courts. The group of sixteen boys thanked Mr. Kitamori for explaining things, as well as the chance to be a part of the Junior Olympics. As they exited the building, Ichigo spotted two familiar figures approaching. Waving in greeting, the teen picked up his pace just a bit so that he could talk to them. "Ohayo, Inoue-san. You on your way to interview the Junior Olympic team for that tennis magazine you write for?"
"Ohayo, Kurosaki-kun, it's been a while. I suppose you're going to tell me that my chance to do those interviews in a nice conference room is gone?"
Ichigo laughed softly. "Yeah, for today at least. We're headed over to the street courts though if you want to come along." Turning to look at the other person in front of him, Ichigo continued. "Of course you're more than welcome to join us too, Orihime. It'll give you a chance to get to know the boys while they aren't on the court."
Orihime looked up at the blonde man next to her. "See Mamoru-kun, I told you it would be a good idea for me to come with you today. I told you that Kurosaki-kun asked me to be part of the support staff for the team."
By this time all the boys had caught up to Ichigo, and Inui was looking back and forth between Orihime and the tennis reporter that he and the others had come to know in confusion. Quickly getting the drift, Inoue-san introduced Orihime as his younger cousin from Karakura. This revelation prompted several reactions from the tennis players as they walked to the street courts. Kaidoh, Ishida, and Kawamura all introduced themselves shyly before trying to fade into the back of the group as best as they could. Conversely, Eiji and Fuji were happily introducing the rest of the large team with smiles and excitement. Of course the auburn haired girl was the most amused when Momo and Sakurai began to flirt with her; after all, what girl doesn't like to be complimented.
Ichigo was torn between mortification and amusement as he watched his kohai hit on one of his closest friends. Sure, he remembered what it was like to be thirteen and discovering what it was like to be attracted to others, but that didn't mean that Ichigo was going to miss a prime chance for blackmail material. Apparently he wasn't the only person with that train of thought, since Inui was next to him writing in that ever present notebook. Ichigo could swear he heard the other teen murmur something about good data as his pen flew over the pages in his hand. Off on the other side, Ichigo caught a glimpse of Fuji and Eiji out of the corner of his eye. Had he not known who the two were targeting, Ichigo would have been concerned by the sight of the boys snickering whilst the tensai made good use of the camera that had appeared in his hands.
Alas, the group's collective amusement was cut short by Tachibana and Tezuka. In a show of impressive solidarity, Tachibana smacked both the second years upside the head while Tezuka steeped in front of them and began apologizing to Orihime. Naturally, the perky girl waved off such trivialities. "Oh, don't worry Tezuka-kun. I thought Sakurai-kun and Momo-kun were actually quite sweet. And really it's actually very flattering to be the one they can use to practice flirting with. I really don't mind at all, so please don't feel bad, ok?"
"I bet I can think if someone who would mind." Ichigo heard Kaidoh mumble. He knew his cousin was thinking of Tatsuki, and the younger boy was right. Ichigo snorted softly at the hilarious mental image of what the vicious girl would do to Sakurai and Momo for trying to put the moves on Orihime.
In what felt like no time at all, the group of eighteen reached the steps that led up to the street courts. Stopping abruptly at the head of the group, Ichigo and Orihime shared a concerned glance. Rushing up the stairs to get a better look at things, Ichigo mentally cursed at the chaos he saw. The street courts were full of players from at least three different schools; and where there should have been one Shinigami, he and Orihime spotted five. Bringing his thumb and forefinger of one hand to his lips, Ichigo let out an ear shattering whistle before speaking. And while the hot-headed teen's voice might have started out gentle, it didn't stay that way for long. "Now that I have everyone's attention, would somebody like to tell me exactly WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?"