A/N: Hi back with a new chapter. From my last chapter, some people seemed to be confused about which year Riko was in. Echizen Riko is a first year, not a second year. I never said she was a second year, I only said that for the sake of fanfiction I would put her in the same year as Akaya, who is also a freshman. Also, you may notice that in Chapter 1 (or the chapter after the prologue) Akaya 'thinks' about his first year of high school. Sorry if any of you were confused about that, but hopefully this clears it up. Enjoy~
Previously on Devils and Demons:
"….to tire his opponents and drain their stamina."
"Wow, Riko's sweating quite a bit. The day seems to be really warm too," Akaya commented.
"Hm. It seems he's fallen into Kaidoh's trap," Yukimura murmured, watching the freshman girl dart back and forth, returning all of Kaidoh's shots.
Akaya frowned. The match was becoming pretty intense. But even in the short time he had known his roommate, he could tell that she wasn't the type to give up easily.
What will you do now, Riko?
Chapter 3: Trapping the Snake
Riko was sweating. Yes, she was sweating a lot. But she wasn't worried, because she definitely had a plan. In fact, her plan, if successful, would make Kaidoh sweat three times as much as her. She was well prepared, enough to return his snake the next time it came.
They began rallying again, and she purposely hit an easy ball to Kaidoh. Immediately, she saw him get into the odd stance. She pretended to dart out to the right. Seeing this, Kaidoh hit his snake. Predicting the sharp curve to the left, Riko darted out and managed to return the snake easily and casually.
"SUGOI! Riko-chan returned Kaidoh-chan's snake!" Jirou cheered loudly.
"…..Kaidoh-chan?" Oishitari puzzled, while everyone else sweat-dropped.
"Wow, that freshman is pretty good. Wonder what Mamushi will do now…" Momoshiro muttered, watching the intense game in front of him.
"Hm it is rather surprising that she managed to return Kaidoh's snake. Perhaps I errored in my calculations. Allow me to make a few adjustments… ah yes, I should change a few numbers here….." Inui murmured softly, his voice trailing off as he scribbled in his ever-present notebook.
"You must not be careless, Doctor." Yanagi watched the game, an impassive look on his face.
"Likewise, Professor." Inui's glasses glinted, Yanagi developed an odd aura, and everyone else not-so-subtly shuffled away from the two of them.
Meanwhile, the game continued. Riko would take a game, and then Kaidoh would somehow manage to take it back.
"Two games to three, Kaidoh lead," Oishi called out, sweating slightly from the heat of the sun.
Suddenly, to everyone's surprise, Kaidoh seemed to experience difficulties in returning Riko's shots. His returns were becoming increasingly sloppy as well.
"Ehh? What's happening to Kaidoh, nya?" Eiji wondered, bouncing up and down in curiosity.
"Ah. I see." Fuji smiled.
"Huh? What do you see, Fujiko? Come on, tell me, nya!"
"Ah yes, it's simply a matter of time before Kaidoh realizes it as well." Inui's glasses glinted again.
On the court, Kaidoh scowled. This freshman should be at her limit. This is the last ball. She won't be able to get it-
He frowned as Riko easily returned it.
Why is she not tired yet? How can she still find the energy? Wait wha- Her shots are getting stronger and faster. She keeps hitting it to these awkward, hard to reach places.
And then, he accidentally hit a lob. Shit!
Riko smirked and smashed it heavily. That's when Kaidoh realized.
Wait, she's not getting stronger or faster. Then that means… no… it can't be… I'm getting… slower?
"How is this possible?" he roared.
Fuji smiled, but his eyes (while closed) narrowed. "It seems like Kaidoh has figured it out. But it's already over. The mental burden of someone who knew their opponent's plan and laid one themselves is much different than that of someone who thought they held the upper hand but later discovered that they fell into their opponent's trap instead. It is over now."
In the end, Riko won the match six games to four. "Mada mada, dane!" She smirked.
"Fshhhhhhh! Kaidoh hissed, glaring piercingly.
"SUGOI! GOOD JOB RIKO-CHAN! SUGOI SUGOI!" Jirou cheered, bouncing up, down, left, and right with his excess energy.
All of the regulars from all three houses congratulated Riko, although it was obvious Kaidoh's "congratulation" was extremely forced. After defeating Kaidoh, Riko could see grudging looks of acceptance on a few faces and happy surprise on others.
"Well brat, ore-sama could have-"
"Save it, monkey king."
"SUGOI RIKO-CHAN! SUGOI!"
"Hush child," she spoke to Jirou, mockingly and sarcastically putting a finger to her lips as she said it.
"Oi, Echizen, we gotta go buy lunch," Akaya called. With that, the two freshman left, heading towards the lunch stands.
Yukimura chuckled. "That was rather interesting."
"But not completely unexpected," Yanagi replied.
About 10 minutes later, the group of regulars were waiting for Riko and Akaya to return, because Yagyuu, Oishi, Tezuka, and Oishitari, who actually had manners, insisted that everyone must be present before they could start eating.
"Oh come on Yeah-gyuu, I'm starving," Niou groaned, dragging out his double partner's name, much to the other boy's annoyance.
"Niou-kun, it is impolite and very… barbaric, not to mention uncivilized, to begin eating before all members are-"
"Present at the table, yeah yeah, I know. This isn't even a formal meal!" Niou was beginning to get impatient. So were a few other regulars. Momoshiro had taken to lying on his stomach and staring longingly at his food, while trying not to flinch under Tezuka's steely, hawk-eye gaze.
"It's unlikely for them to be taking so long. Why don't we go check and see what's up?" Choutarou suggested, looking rather concerned.
So that was how the entire group of regulars from all three houses found themselves wandering the lunch stands, searching for Riko and Akaya. At first, only Yukimura, Eiji, and Hiyoshi were supposed to go, but then Marui said he needed to buy some desserts for his next class, and Jirou just wanted to hang out with Marui, and then Oishitari was sent to go watch over Jirou, but Gakuto found himself in a dilemma ("I wanna go with Yuushi but I don't wanna be anywhere near that other Seigaku member who calls himself an acrobat!"), and one thing lead to another, until finally they decided to just all go.
"There is a 23% chance they are at the candy stand, which is to the right."
"No, I believe we should go to the left, as there is a 46% chance for them to be at the sandwich booth.."
In the end, they were at neither, and it was Niou, with his better-than-average observation abilities, who was able to locate the two.
There was a very notable air of hostility surrounding the two freshman.
"It's my bento, because I saw it first," Riko snapped.
"Well I got to it first, so you can curse your slow legs and short stature while you watch me enjoy my lunch," Akaya retorted.
He did not just insult her height. "Well actually, the owner of the stand likes me more so you can blame your hideous black hair when you have to find something else, Wakame!"
"HOW DARE YOU! IT'S MY BENTO AND THAT'S FINAL!" Akaya yelled, losing his temper.
"NO, IT'S MINE, NO ONE TOUCHES MY BENTO, MINE, M-I-N-E, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" Riko roared back.
Everyone else watching the event sighed at their childish-ness, while Inui and Yanagi frantically took down data.
And then…
"WE SETTLE THIS THROUGH TENNIS, CHIBI-CHAN!"
"BRING IT ON, SEAWEED HEAD!"
Suddenly, they both silenced as Yukimura chuckled and stepped between them.
"I would love for you two to have a match, but I'm afraid the bento you have been so aggressively fighting over was purchased by another student 3 mintues ago."
Silence.
And then…
"EHHHHHH? USO!"
Immediately both Riko and Akaya began emitting strange, dark auras. "Hey Wakame, what do you say, we find this kid and beat them up?"
"Yeah, who do they think they are, taking MY bento like that!"
"IT'S MY BENTO! WE HAVE TO GET MY BENTO BACK!"
"WAIT NO IT'S MINE!"
Everyone groaned loudly.
Compared to that, the rest of lunch was mostly peaceful.
As if.
Kaidoh and Momoshiro got into a fight over whether Momoshiro had spilled soy sauce on Kaidoh's bandana, or whether Kaidoh had dropped his bandana into Momoshiro's soy sauce. Marui was busy eating his cake, until he noticed the pastries that Jackal had brought, which resulted in him chasing the poor Brazilian around the large tree, pleading for 'just a taste'. To make matters worse, Niou had first impersonated Marui, tricking Jirou into throwing a tennis ball and knocking the Hyotei captain out clean. Then, he decided to impersonate Atobe, while hiding the real buchou behind another tree, and command Kabaji to "borrow" (without permission) Inui's glasses and Shishido's cap. Sanada ran around yelling "TARUNDORU", trying to discipline the unruly bunch. And Oishi was busy being a mother hen, trying to save everyone from the madness known as Eiji, who was challenging Gakuto to an acrobatics face-off.
On the side, sitting peacefully under the shade was Yukimura, Tezuka, Fuji, Oishitari, Yagyuu, and Yanagi (as well as an unconscious Atobe). While Tezuka, Oishitari, Yanagi, and Yagyuu were all looking very stressed, likely due to having to babysit such an unruly bunch, Yukimura and Fuji both simply smiled, discussing their gardens.
Riko, on the other hand, was definitely, definitely not smiling. She had been forced to purchase Western foods for lunch, and not having a Japanese lunch made her very grumpy indeed. She also couldn't figure out exactly what kind of sugar diet the regulars must be on, to behave to energetically all the time.
Finally, kami-sama took mercy on everyone in the school and gave a blessing, in the form of a ringing bell signaling the end of lunch.
A/N: Sorry for the short chapter but I have Spanish homework because school started again. Let me tell you skipping two levels of Spanish in high school is a bad idea.
This was basically just another "bonding" moment between all the regulars. And some tennis. I have almost finished the entire plot-line for this story, and I can say it will definitely be longer than 20 chapters.
Review, favourite, etc. if you have any comments :) Or if you are bored and want to talk to someone like me who has no social life. Yup.
Anyways thank you to everyone who reviewed my previous few chapters! Y'all are so awesome, inspirational, and moving :D
Bye :)
P.S. I recovered from my cold, yay!
Next Up:
"Ok now offense but I really question how you got into this academy. Did you know it's for the elite? I mean, your academic performance just goes to show that obviously your family pulled a few strings. Where are you from, anyways?"
"Che the "elite"? That doesn't explain how someone like you got in. Average height, average looks, average skills in sports, the only thing that's not average is your intelligence level, it's low beyond comprehension. Oh, and your- Hey, I'm not done yet, what are you doing? Why are you pulling me away, senpai?! Hey!"
"Echizen-kun, might I remind you that it is very rude to speak like that to someone, especially a stranger? And I also must congratulate you for remembering to call me your senpai."
"Yagyuu-chan, might I remind you that I really don't care? I was just teaching that person a lesson."
"Well I don't advise you to go around teaching people lessons, especially when you might encounter them again at the tennis club try outs this afternoon. Good day, I must take my leave, but consider yourself warned."
"Huh? Encounter them again at tryouts? Whaat? Senpai, I'm confused. Senpai? Wait hey don't just leave me here!"