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Chapter 6: Into Shohoku
Chapter 6: Into Shohoku!
"Well now, this is awkward." Koshino muttered under the coffee cup he was about to drink while smiling at the crowd of girls surrounding the table he and Sendoh were occupying. That's right, two star players from Ryonan were having coffee inside Shohoku's freshman building, Shin's classroom to be precise, but the girl who invited them was nowhere to be found. Instead, they were surrounded by a crowd of female students, and it seemed like, aside from the table they were occupying, the rest of the customers were male.
Two students in maid outfits appeared in front of them, barricading the dozen of fans with arms spread wide. "Customer-san! Please, these are our guests, if you wish to stay you should pick a table and order something, or else, we may ask you to leave so our other customers can come in!" a short-haired brunette yelled.
"Sorry for this," Koshino whispered from behind her,
"No worries senpai, Kogane-san asked us to look after you guys while she's away." she said before she and the other megane-girl hoarded the girls in a row of empty tables and chairs which they hastily occupied,
The moment Koshino and Sendoh stepped inside the gates of Shohoku, students stared and whispered. When news got out that Ryonan, Shohoku's #1 rival in basketball, were there, random students went to ogle them.
"A-ano, Sendoh-san, I'm a fan! I mean, I like Rukawa and the basketball club, but I was your fan even from Jr. High!" one female approached and shook his hand.
Sendoh smiled shyly while he let the girl shake his hand and then she went away steaming.
"I wasn't expecting this much attention" Sendoh mumbled underneath his breath.
Koshino looked outside the classroom window, Shin's friend seated them in the corner for which he was grateful, he scanned the school grounds which was buzzing with kiosks, banners, balloons and assorted lanterns. "Yeah, I bet you have to thank this month's issue of JBasketball Magazine for the extra attention."
"Hmm." Sendoh eyed and searched the vicinity for any interesting booths, "Well, good thing you're here, it'd be weird to be stared at alone."
"Hey, I'm not here for you," Koshino said proudly, "I was invited and I plan on asking her out today."
"Hold that thought. Where is she anyway? I called her that we're here but then her friend was the one who answered her phone."
"Speaking of, it's true what they say, hot girls hang out together." Koshino smirked, remembering the surprise he felt earlier when the red head in a maid uniform came to pick them up from the school gate.
From a distance, Sendoh spotted the red-head heading their way from the door. She was tall, taller than Shin's five-eight frame, her red hair made her look exotic and fiery but her blue eyes balanced it out making her look tamed at the same time sharp and edgy.
"Good! I thought you're gonna be swarmed by students, you two are quite popular since our basketball team wasn't very active last year, so a lot of basketball fangirls turned their eyes elsewhere."
"Including you?" Koshino smiled up at her,
"Nothing personal Koshino-senpai, but I'm a tennis fan." she gave them a sweet smile, "Speaking of, I can't find Shin anywhere, she isn't the type to just vanish on me... But I can see her doing that since she hates the costume very much."
"Wait? She's in a costume? Wasn't she the artist or something?" Sendoh suddenly spoke up.
"About that. I kind of talked her into it. There's a lot riding on this festival and everyone will benefit if we win."
"Ah, yes, she told me about that free-pass."
"Yep, my idea wasn't really original but it sells. Shin sells too." Kogane looked around the classroom and Sendoh saw male students everywhere, some holding Shin's photo-card.
"But every other class became competitive and now we're placed in 3rd." Kogane explained.
Koshino and Sendoh remembered they passed by the school field and there were all sorts of carnival games like pop the balloon, darts, fishing for the prize and somewhere afar they could see a mini pool with a girl in her PE swim suit sitting on top of a diving board and on top of her head was the sign "Splash", right beside a bulls eye. Koshino turned his head while walking and said,"Wow, you guys take festivals seriously."
Out of nowhere someone loudly croaked, "RYONAN!"
Sendoh turned to the familiar voice and saw the 6'1 forward dashing towards them with a formidable look on his face, "Yo, Hanamichi." he said in his usual chill manner.
"What are you doing here!? Spying and checking out what this tensai is doing?!" Hanamichi basically yelled in front of Sendoh's face, before Sendoh could reply, Kogane inserted himself between them and pushed Sakuragi away by the chest.
"Hold it! What are YOU doing in our classrom you red-head monkey! Don't lay a finger on our visitors."
"Who are you calling a red-head monkey!? You're a red-head too!" Sakuragi yelled at Kogane and now, all attention was on them with Sendoh and Koshino in the background.
"Whatever do'ahou, school fairs are open to everyone who's invited and Koshino-san and Sendoh-san are here on our account so backoff!"
"Ah! You Karate freak!" Hanamichi pointed at Kogane and Sendoh had to stand up and go between them,
"Hey, Hanamichi, don't yell at the woman." Sendoh raised his hands and smiled innocently at Sakuragi,
Hanamichi growled inwardly and closed the gap between them so that both 6'2 men were nose-to-nose, "Just stay out of the basketball gym! I'm keeping my eyes on you!" He said before stomping away back to his own classroom.
"Ugh, arrogant jerk." Kogane said under her breath then turned to Sendoh"
"I like you Yuki-chan!"
Shin's attention zoomed in on the senpai in front of her. She was just mentally complaining about how stuffy and hot (and not in a good way) her maid costume was, add being asked to come out and meet behind the building, and she was sweating profusely.
"Ah, senpai…" she bit her lower, not because she was shy but to prevent herself from blurting something offensive, 'Oie, oie, what do you want me to say…' she thought to herself.
Just ten minutes ago when she was called out by one of the customers, third year class-7 Shinohara Kisuke.
Medium height and medium built with highlighted-blonde hair, he was a member of the men's tennis club.
"Aren't you going out with that girl from your class?"
"What? I'm not going out with anyone, and from what I hear, you're not going out with anyone either." he paused, "So… please, consider it and go out with me!" he stared at her golden eyes with all his might that Shin stared back at him with a levelled gazed. He was a bit cocky when it came to tennis, whenever they had an away-game and the girls' team were asked to spectate, she noticed his overflowing confidence and the way he liked to taunt his opponent but seeing him now very flustered, it was a different sight for her.
Kisuke took a step towards her, "I, I wanted to ask you out before but everyone thought you were going out with Taiga, and then that Takagi came into the picture but then you broke up. I was waiting for the right moment but when I heard that you got back with Taiga was kicking myself for not making a move sooner, but I just had to confirm." he paused and took a step towards Shin so they were just a foot apart, he was a good three inches taller so Shin had to look up to meet his eyes, "If by chance it was just a rumour, I told myself I'd definitely tell you now."
Shin smiled at him after hearing his confession, "Thank you senpai. I enjoy watching you on the field and I learn a lot of girls admire you, but," she placed her hands behind her and tilted her head up at him, her blonde hair falling down her shoulders, "I never went out with either Taiga or Takagi-san, we dated for a bit but that's it and right now I'm focusing on the tournaments, that's the only thing on my mind right now." she tipped her toes and to his surprised she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Shin! Where have you been?" Kogane immediately cornered Shin when she entered the classroom and started to drag her towards the cashier side which was on the right corner of the entrance.
"Heh… something unexpected came up. Anyway, Kogane, can I change my clothes?"
"NO! Absolutely not! I sewed that one myself!"
Shin rolled her eyes. She was wearing the same thing as Kogane, but hers was a cotton tube top with a white lace choker around her neck, while Kogane's was haltered.
They all had lacy frills in front paired with the popular black short french-maid skirt. Her arms were bare except for the lace arm bands on her forearms matching the thin lace apron around her waist and the knee high lace stockings.
Kogane had Shin's hair curled down because she wanted to make her look like a porcelain doll.
"Wait a sec, something's different." Shin scanned the classroom and saw that there were female customers now, compared to the all-male customers they had thirty minutes ago when she left.
That means…
"She's here!" Kogane pulled her and stopped in front of a corner table where Sendoh and Koshino sat face to face on the two-seater. Swarmed by female students from various classes, Kogane had to squueze through, "Excuse us," the redhead said politely..
Two seniors gave the two of them a once-over, "Hey!" one girl, Shin recognized as a second year student frowned at them.
Kogane smiled apologetically "Gomenasai senpai.", she might've bitch slapped the girl in another situation but right then the challenger was a customer. "Ah, are you a fan of Sendoh-san and Koshino-san? You can take the table right beside this one," she motioned one butler to assist the girls, "I'm just bringing the maid to take their orders."
"Eh? Why does it have to be her?" Shin heard an anonymous nasally-voice comment behind her and shrugged while taking her notepad from her apron pocket.
She turned to Koshino with the too-bright smile she gave all their guests. "Welcome to Class Maid Cafe, I'm Shin and I'm gonna be your..." she unconsciously scrunched her nose, "Maid for the day."
Sendoh chuckled, "I'll have Cafe Americano with that strawberry shortcake."
"Okay, how about you Koshino-senpai." she turned on a sweet smile for Koshino whom she secretly checked out while his eyes were on the menu,
"A tall cafe mocha and squash cake for me," he said in his usual deep voice but then when he stared at Shin an almost shy smile appeared on his face.
"You didn't tell me you're also wearing a costume today."
"Oh this? I was held at gun point. I spoil my friend too much."
"Yeah who would've known, I didnt thin you'd be the cosplay-type."
"I think you look great in it." Koshino blurted.
"Hmm.. I don't know if I should be insulted that you think I suit as a maid or flattered that you think I can look good in this."
Koshino leaned in so he can stare up at her at a closer distance, "The latter."
"Oh, okay, thanks,"
At the background she could hear whispers, "Oh my gosh, she's making a move on them already?"
"Look at her acting close with them."
"Who does she think she is, isn't she dating-"
Shin rolled her eyes and got the menu from the table, "I'll be back with your orders," she smiled at them and walked away with a straight back.
She's developed a thick skin against people talking about her behind her back, and so, she just went to the counter to give Sendoh and Koshino's orders. Kogane went to her with a huge smile on her pretty face.
"The plan worked!"
"Really? How can his presence have that much impact?! It's… not possible." Shin said in a bland tone, studying the floor.
"Well…" Kogane's suddenly squeaky voice grabbed Shin's attention, just then a petite girl dressed in a zombie costume approached them,
"Kogane, here's the receipt for Y2,000 yen I get two ballots right?" the freshman girl from Class VII handed Kogane some tickets.
"Good work Hikari! Just get it from one of the butlers near the ballot box."
"When's the draw date?" the girl named Hikari asked shyly,
"At the end of the week."
"Ooh! Okay, I'll drop by then."
"See you,"
Shin smelled something fishy and stared sharply at Kogane, 'ballot box?' she recalled Kogane's earlier statement and scanned the room for the said box. She spotted one near one of the butlers and the sign on top of it caught her eyes.
"A DATE WITH A AKIRA SENDOH"
RECEIPT totalling Y1000 gets one one ballot.
Lucky draw winner gets to spend one whole day with Japan's Superstar!
Beside the sign was another banner this time with Koshino's name on it:
"A DATE WITH HIROAKI KOSHINO"
RECEIPT totalling Y1000 gets one one ballot.
Lucky draw winner gets to spend one whole day with the basketball hottie!
Questions flooded Shin's mind but she quickly blurted the most important one, "Did they agree to this?'
"After I told Sendoh-san that it's part of your agreement he said yes."
"He said yes?"
"He was a bit doubtful and hesitant but,"
"You pushed and told him I told you it's part of the deal we made. How did you get Koshino-san to agree too? He doesn't know about our deal."
"Oh that one's easy, there's a special agreement to that, you don't have to worry about it." Kogane said slyly which unsettled Shin for some reason.
Shin took in a deep breath, feeling embarrassed by her best friend's shameless action, "Who's gonna pay for the date?"
"Ohohoho! Do you know that our sales are skyrocketing plus profits from the beginning's 80% of the food cost…" Kogane sneered proudly.
"Sheesh, Kogane's plan worked again. I don't know if I should fear you or admire you." Shin said, still running over the answers that Kogane gave her, oblivious to the storm that's brewing over the coming days...
To be continued.
Thanks for reading guys! This update was way overdue! Hope you liked it!