Mini-Drama
Jude: (takes out paper) So, here are the results…
Pakura: (snatches paper):
Yukimura: 2 votes,
Sanada: 2 votes,
Anyone of the ITM champions: 1 vote
Ryoga: 5 votes
Jude: Hmm, so Ryoga wins, eh?
William: *whistles* I wonder what Pakura will wear on their dates.
Ryoma: (reading the script for future chapters) According to the story, we will get to see what Pakura wears for her date with Ryoga!
Tyler: Super! I can't wait to see what Princess will wear!
Pakura: ...
Philip: Hmm, well, anything is fine. After all, our Princess is naturally beautiful.
Chris: True…..anyway, let's get back to the story.
Training resumed the day after Echizen Ryoga appeared in the Training Center as a Coach for the ITM champions. The champions woke up early for their training. Ryoma went to the dining room to find Pakura already sitting there. "Good morning, Ryoma." She yawned. She had on a ribbon hairclip today. This time, the ribbon is pink outlined with white. She broke the rolls and dipped it into her hot chocolate. "The others are still sleeping. I couldn't handle my nightmares, so I woke up early." She hastened to explain. Ryoma nodded, and sat down next to her. While they were eating, the room doors opened and out came the champions. They yawned, rubbed their eyes and collected breakfast. "Our plan is, when we are training at different stations, the school teammates tend to stick together. All of us will go to different stations, and convince each of the teammates that Ryoma is the one being betrayed. If worse comes to worse, we'll use the CD with our evidence." said Pakura. The team nodded, before collecting their tennis equipment and going to the gym. When they arrived there, the coaches announced it was time for yet another round of private training sessions. First, they will train until 12pm, where after that, they will have lunch. During lunch, they will call them out one by one, and at 4pm, they will announce the scores. After that, they are free for the rest of the day. Tomorrow, will be the start of the practice matches.
During training, Pakura gave a nod to the team and each went to different stations. Ryoma stuck with Atobe (as usual) and they proceeded to the balance station with Fudomine. "Echizen." said Tachibana. "I must say you got us surprised when you beat the Golden Pair in the doubles match." Echizen nodded, as he tried to balance himself on the small board.
"Yeah." said Shinji. "I can't believe you are good at doubles. The last time I heard you are really bad at doubles. Man, I can't believe you improved to the point you surpassed us in just three years. You must have some sort of secret in order to be good at doubles. And your partner is so pretty. Man, I wish my partner is-"
"Hey!" said Kamio. "I can hear you, you know!"
Echizen did a back flip, and he landed on the floor on his feet. "Anyway, do you really believe Seigaku when they said about me betraying them?" he said to the team in general.
"Well…" said Tachibana. "That was the only side of the story we heard. Come to think of it, we didn't hear your side of the story, Echizen."
Kamio tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Yeah…"
Atobe sighed. "If Ryoma were the one who betrayed them and said he is going to take credit for being the creator of those moves, wouldn't he be famous by now? And he wouldn't come back for revenge, would he? Also, he might not want to come back because he's afraid of what Seigaku would do, wouldn't he?" The Fudomine team nodded. "Fair point." said Sakurai. "But, what evidence do you have to say that Echizen's not the traitor?" Atobe smiled. What evidence do you have to say Echizen's the traitor? And don't say Seigaku said so." The team fell silent. Come to think of it, they do not have solid evidence. Atobe went on. "After the private training sessions, we'll show you the evidence. His vice-captain, Pakura, unfortunately met with a little misfortune just yesterday. She got a little bit messed up while getting the evidence from us." The team perked up. "Really? What was it?" Atobe smiled. "I'll show you after the private sessions. Wait for us at your floor." Tachibana nodded. "Alright. I'll see you in our floor at 4.30pm. We'll be waiting." The rest of the team members nodded.
During lunch, Ryoma exclaimed, "Thanks a lot, Keigo, for doing the talking." Atboe smiled. "No problem. After all, Ore-sama was the Student Council President of his school." Ryoma gave a small smile, before pulling Atobe into a passionate kiss. "Ahem!" said a voice. Ryoma looked up and groaned. It was his brother. "Aniki!" he shouted to the older version of him, who suddenly appeared next to him. "Save your affections for later. You're putting me off my lunch." Ryoma huffed. "Then don't look!" Ryoga shook his head. "I expect Chibisuke to be more mature than that. I didn't know you are that immature." He wagged his finger at Ryoma, before returning to his stew. Ryoma shook his head, before turning to the other champions. "So, how was it?" Tyler spoke up. "Well, I think I convinced some of your teammates, Atobe. I still think it's best to show the solid evidence, though." Philip nodded. "Same here. Shitenhouji might need a little bit of push." Ryoma nodded. "Good job, Tyler. Pakura?" Pakura opened her eyes, and said acidly, "Jousei Shonan was interested in what I had to say. Wakato was especially ecstatic that a pretty girl was speaking to him. I spoke to Kajimoto, the captain. He seemed pretty mature and was willing to hear what I had to say, unlike the rest of them, who just stared at my face dreamily, and practically drooling over it. Ok, Youhei and Kouhei weren't so bad either. I think I will go to their floor to convince them before I come up for dinner." William nodded. "Yes, Rokkaku seemed skeptical at first, but then I told them they do not have solid evidence that you betrayed them. I'll give them one more push before dinner." Jude replied, "Well, Yamabuki wanted to hear more of what I had to say after their private training sessions. Perhaps I would use that evidence as well." Chris spoke up. "I think I can have St. Rudolph convinced. However, Fuji Yuuta, the younger brother of Fuji Syusuke, may not believe his older brother would do such a thing. I'll have to go to their floor and speak to them later." Philip nodded. "Same here with Higa Chuu." Ryoma nodded. "Good job, all of you. After the private sessions, do what you all have to do."
After lunch, they waited while the coaches call the players one by one. The sessions came and went. After his session, Ryoma went up to the 2nd floor with Atobe, where Fudomine resides. The whole team was already waiting for him. Ryoma spoke to the group. "As you all know, today I am here to prove once and for all I am not the traitor. I have the evidence my vice-captain helped me collect." He hesitated once, before putting the CD with the recording. He pressed the button play. The Fudomine regulars listened to the conversation. They widened their eyes when they heard the vice-captain say, "So, you are going to use me like what you did to Ryoma?" and they heard Seigaku sarcastically clapping and saying "You've caught on, Princess." After the recording, Kamio, enraged, jumped to his feet. "No way! And they dare to say you are the traitor? How could they? And here I was thinking you were…." He slumped on the couch, defeated. Tachibana spoke up. "No one blames you, Kamio. All of us thought that. I'm sorry, Echizen, please accept my apology." Echizen shook his head. "If you really are sorry, you will not speak to Seigaku about this meeting. In time, there will be the light version of the ITM to decide who will represent Japan. All I need you to do is to try and eliminate as many Seigaku members as soon as possible, but you have to leave Tezuka to me. Understood?" The Fudomine team nodded. They will help Echizen Ryoma, to redeem for their mistreatment and misunderstanding towards him.
Meanwhile, Pakura went to the twelfth floor, having finally convinced Jousei Shonan. She found Ryoga sitting on one of the couches. "Hello, Ryoga." She said, sitting down next to him. "Hey, Pakura. You have grown up." Pakura nodded. "Yeah." Ryoga narrowed his eyes. "You still have not got over his death, have you?" Pakura shook her head. "Thank you for taking care of my little brother."
"Yeah." She smelt something familiar and terrifying. She looked down at his hands, which was bleeding. "What happened to you?" she said, horror written on her face. "Oh, I just broke an urn accidentally and I cleaned up the pieces with my bare hands." Pakura shook her head, before running to get a first aid kit. She stitched Ryoga's wound, before putting medicine and bandaging it. "You're good at these things." said Ryoga. "Learnt when I was young." She mumbled. "Right, I'm done." She stood up, and was about to leave. "Huh, leaving already?" Pakura said, "My work's here done. I'm going to read a novel until the others come back."
Ryoga cocked his head to one side thoughtfully. 'You know, knowing you, after Natsuhi's death, you didn't go out anywhere correct? Unless it's to drive Chibisuke somewhere?" Pakura widened her eyes. 'He knows' she thought. "So, tonight, what would you say of having dinner with me? As mentor and protégé?" Pakura turned. "Really? What do you have in mind?" Ryoga smiled. "I know of a really good restaurant…."
Later, when they were seeing their scores…..
The others have already gathered, each of them bringing the good news that they finally got the others convinced. Now, the final part of the plan is not to let Seigaku know about this, and crush them in the light version of the ITM, but saving the captain for Ryoma (and Pakura). They will make sure Tezuka admits the plan in front of everyone. Anyway, they turned on the TV, and this time, Coach Levi sat before them. "The Coaches must acknowledge that this batch of players is improving remarkably, as you will know after we read out the scores. From Seigaku, Fuji Syusuke, with a score of 7. From Momoshiro Takeshi, we have a score of 8. From Kikumaru Eiji, with a score of 7. From Oishi Shuichiro, with a score of 8. From Inui Sadaharu, with a score of 7. From Kaidoh Karou, with a score of 7. From Tezuka Kunimitsu, we have a score of 8." The rest of the scores gone by in a blur. Atobe got a 10 this time, and Ryoma gave him a kiss on the lips as a reward for improving. "And finally, the ITM champions team, Christopher McKiddie, with a score of 10! From William Anderson, we have a score of 11! From Jude Harrison, we have a score of 10! From Philip Robinson, with a score of 10! From Tyler Clearwater, with a score of 11! From Derek Evans with a score of 10! From Echizen Ryoma, we have a score of 12! And finally from Pakura Goldstein, we have a score of 12!" when the scores were announced, Pakura checked the clock, and dashed to her room. She was late for her dinner appointment.
"As expected of the captain and the vice-captain! They got a 12!" said Tyler.
"You are not bad yourself, Tyler. You got an 11. Right, Keigo?" said Ryoma. Atobe nodded. "Yeah, you did even better than Ore-sama, who got a 10." Tyler smiled. "Oh no, Atobe you are good enough for us already. For staying with Ryoma until the very end." The other champions nodded. Just then, Pakura came out, and the boys gaped at what she was wearing. She was in a totally hot black minidress from Victoria's Secret (she hates shopping, unless it's for books, so she buys all her clothes from catalogs when she's soaking in a tub after a long day of training). Her bangs were styled in such a way that they hang sexily in front of one eye. "What happened to you, Princess?" said William. Pakura looked at herself worriedly in the mirror. "Why, do I look bad?"
Actually, she looked totally fine, in fact, she looked much better than she usually did, and that's saying something, because she is already very good looking in her usual sports outfits. She is way hot, as far as princesses go. "Where are you going, looking like that?" said Tyler. "Well, er…someone asked me out to dinner and I said yes. I just want to make a good first impression." She checked her watch. "Got to go, see you guys tonight!" with that, she went to the elevator.
Meanwhile, at the sixth floor (after Pakura's elevator passed them of course)….
"Echizen got a 12 again…" Inui mumbled.
Fuji sighed. "If only the vice-captain isn't good at fighting, we might have gone through with the plan…Tezuka, he got a 12, are you sure you'll be able to win the light ITM should you go against him?"
Inui shook his head. "The chance of that happening is only 3.2%. And 0.02% he will be pitted against BOTH the captain and the vice-captain, because as far as I know, the vice-captain may e targeting him too."
Tezuka tried to compose himself. "Look, only the champions and we heard about the deal that we made. When I lose, I will admit the truth. However, the others didn't hear it. All we need to do is, even if I lose, I can just pretend the deal never existed. Since we have most of the teams on our side, they can help cover for us. Then, the champions will have no choice but to give in." The Seigaku team nodded. "Hey, that's a good plan!" said Momoshiro. "That means, the truth will never be known!"
"Exactly." said Fuji. "I can't wait for that day to come. The day we will see to our victory."
Omake (Mentor and Protégé)
Ryoma: Hello, everyone! Today, I am going to explain the mentor and protégé relationship. As all of you know, a mentor is a victor of a past ITM who must train subsequent tributes from their school. There are no gender restraints; a male victor can train a female player and vice versa. There can be 2 male mentors or 2 female mentors, though usually there is one female and one male. However, Pakura mentored both Rachel and I because she was the last living champion of the ITM that hasn't graduated.
Tyler: That's right! Of course, the most well-known pair of mentor and protégé is Pakura and Ryoma.
Ryoma: Every mentor has their ways to train the protégé. When Pakura was mentoring me, she made me train and train and train. If I stop for even one second, slap! She'll send me flying.
Tyler: She also punished you by putting Japanese breakfast in front of you, and when you try to take from the plate, she snatches it and said, "Sorry, it's mine. Yours is over there." And will point to the plate containing American food, right?
R: Yes, she knew I hate American food.
T: And then she was so sadistic and strict a move that may take you one week to master, you took like only one day.
R: Yes, but in the end, I came out here alive. As all of you know, she also taught me the secrets behind doubles.
T: Only for you to find out the true objective is so that she wouldn't be lonely on the courts.
R: I can't blame her. After all, I did take them by surprise when I showed that I can play doubles very well. I am glad she taught me doubles.
T: Of course, speaking of which, she is feeling guilty of teaching you doubles for her own benefit. Have you comforted her yet?
R: Nope. Anyway, of course, Pakura was mentored by my Aniki. Not much is known about his tutelage, but it's speculated that his tutelage is less strict than hers.
T: We might find out more as the story progresses.
R: Right
T: Do review! The author is aiming for 110 reviews this time! If she didn't she might procrastinate updating this. She's quite the procrastinator. Just ask her parents.
R: Do note, she was watching HunterxHunter while writing this, so it may be bad!
T&R: See you in the next chapter! And we hope to see 110 reviews soon!