Tenipuri belongs to the great and silly Konomi-sensei!

The School Kumiko Goes To

The Monstrosity That Is The Hyoutei's Tennis Club [I Hate Attention]

"So… this is it… I can even hear the voices from out here…" Kumiko said as she stood outside Hyoutei's tennis court. Kumiko decided to sit at the fountain as she listened to the girls cheering mostly for Atobe and the sound of the tennis club members doing their practice.

"Hyoutei sure got a lot of members… much much larger than any school does. It's amazing how they could keep everyone in line. I'm kind of glad I didn't enter the tennis club, I got recommendation for the art club too… and onii-chan doesn't seem to mind." Kumiko said as she looked towards the sketchbook on her lap and the tennis bag she now used as her everyday bag to school. She was praying that nobody from the third grade don't remember anything about the event that happened around two years ago, but the Hyoutei captain just had to confirm about it. What's interesting about a girl getting lost and was forced to play tennis with him anyway? While Kumiko was reminiscing, she didn't heard footsteps getting nearer and looked up when she saw shadows of people standing near to her.

"A~hn? Hime-sama, what are you doing here instead?" Kumiko saw that it was actually the Hyoutei tennis regulars and quickly stood up and bowed in greeting.

"Good afternoon, Atobe-san, everyone."

"Maa, you don't have to be so polite, ojou-chan." Kumiko laughed nervously and remembered about her first time being confronted by Atobe's fan club about her 'being close' to their 'Atobe-sama'. It's not that she hate Atobe, she just doesn't like it when he said 'ore-sama', 'ore-sama no bigi ni yoina' and the way he snaps his fingers to silent all those Hyoutei chants. So why does everyone think she's close to him? People are so confusing.

"Why are you all outside? Since I heard people cheering I thought all of you were inside…"

"Students used to watch us all the time, while all the ladies would go and watch Atobe all the time, it's pretty amazing that his ears aren't deaf." Oshitari chuckled.

"I heard that, Oshitari."

"Maa, Yuushi got a point about the screaming…" Kumiko then saw Shishido with his new haircut and smiled as the brown haired boy raised an eyebrow at her.

"What?"

"Shishido-san… changed. Shishido-san looked happier, as if being given a second chance." Shishido then stared at Kumiko's smile for a while before grinning and ruffling her hair.

"And what's with that face? It's not like you at all, gekidasa dase."

"Kumiko-san, don't you have club activities today?" Choutaro asked after Kumiko had managed to get Shishido's hand away from her hair.

"Well, we were given a free sketch assignment for this week. So now I was just thinking about what to do. And no, senpai, you better not ask me to play tennis." Kumiko quickly said when she saw Gakuto's smile growing bigger by the second before dropping down in a pout.

"Party-pooper."

"Nii-chan told me it's good to focus on something aside from tennis since he though I really need to do something else aside from tennis."

"Why would Tezuka say that anyway?"

"Okaa-chan told me that she thought it might be a bit dangerous for me to pursue tennis in the future, and I don't think I will pursue tennis in the future… Tennis is what I wanted to do to spend time with my friends, to spend time with onii-chan, but for a career, I don't think I might be serious in it…"

"Kumiko-san… has already thought about the future ka…?"

"Jii-chan told me it's necessary to know what you wanted to do, it's too early for me, but when I think about it, I felt a bit more reassured."

"I see… Kumiko-san's family sound very strict na…" Both Choutaro and Kumiko were talking to one another as the rest of the tennis club regulars watch with amusement as well as annoyance.

"You two are getting too comfortable with each other. Come on Ootori, it is already time to go back to practice." Atobe said.

"A-Hai, Atobe-san."

"If you'll excuse us, hime-sama." Atobe said as he placed a hand on Kumiko's head before leaving. Kumiko then waved at the departing tennis club members and quickly covered her ears as she waited for the impending…

*KYAAAAAAAA! ATOBE-SAMAAAAAA!*

"I guess it cannot be helped… Atobe-san is after all, a famous person in and outside of school." Kumiko said before she remembered what her art club teacher had said before in club.

"For this week, you are all appointed to make at least 2 drawings, the size and the object is all up to you. But most of all, I wanted to see your emotions on your paper."

"Emotions ka… I wonder if I can put it all into two parts…" Kumiko then looked towards the tennis court's crowd that was lessening and gave out a sigh.

"Maybe just this once…"

*KYAAAAAAAAAAA!*

"… All the things you'd sacrifice when you like something…" Kumiko said as she sighed when the girls started cheering again.

"But… it sure is lively here, you can definitely feel the excitement." Kumiko said as she watches all the tennis club members practicing.

"But… Hyoutei tennis club sure is big…"Kumiko said and was about to get her sketchbook before she quickly took out her racket and repel the ball that was heading towards her with a huff. Kumiko then quickly glared towards the culprit, which is the snickering Mukahi who was previously playing against Oshitari who shook his head and decided to stop scolding his partner since it fell into deaf ears. Kumiko knew everyone is staring at her at the moment, but who cares?

"Gakuto-senpai, that was dangerous! What if the ball hit someone else instead! You can't just do that on your own!"

"My precision is accurate! I don't even need glasses like Yuushi does! Come on over down here and play me before I decided to hit another one!"

"You know more about Oshitari-senpai's glasses more than I do, Gakuto-senpai!" Kumiko then stopped when she heard people whispering about him and sighed, feeling her mood went down drastically.

I don't really need this right now… I thought I could get a new beginning and this just happens, stupid Gakuto-senpai

"Oi, Kumiko! Where are you going? You haven't played against me!" Gakuto yelled to the quickly departing Kumiko before crouching down holding onto his head where Oshitari had hit him seconds before.

"Gakuto, you're being childish. Haven't jou-chan explained clearly that she's not playing tennis in Hyoutei? She already told us she's had enough people talking about her ever since Atobe confirmed everyone's suspicion about her playing the regulars few years ago. It was big news to everyone…"

"But Yuushi…!"

"Kumiko jou-chan doesn't really like being the center of attention, unlike our captain… which seemed to notice your childish act and is glaring at your right now." Gakuto turned his head and quickly hid behind Oshitari as he tried to avoid Atobe's glares.

"Ge?"

"Kumiko-san looks troubled, doesn't she Hiyoshi-kun?"

"It is her own responsibility, Ootori."

"I guess it can't be helped, right Kabaji-kun?"

"Usu."

"But Atobe-san looks worried… have you heard about those rumors about Kumiko-san, Hiyoshi-kun?"

"… I have…" Hiyoshi answered cryptically, but Ootori knew that his friend is as worried as he does.

"Kumiko-san did mention she always got into trouble… but it must hurt…"

"Usu."

Read and review everyone!

Next is Seigaku, wonder what should I write about that...

All that I know is that it's not as depressing as the others... I said not as depressing... okay, I have confused myself xD