First, I want thank these guys for the motivating me to write this chapter:
LeoniaOtaku: Thanks for your continuous support up until now. It's nice to hear a praise from someone for your work every once in a while (though most of the time, I don't think I deserve it (=.=)). Thank you very much. I too want to see what will happen next (since the next chapters are still unwritten).
AstridClaire: I'm sorry about Kikumaru's character. I forgot to watch out for him. On my part, I'm not really used to hear him use "Hoi!" or "Nya"since PoT was dubbed in our native language here in our country. But I'll try my best to return him to character. Thank you for that comment. *Bows*. That is very helpful to me and I really appreciate it. If you notice any more inconsistency (other than my grammatical errors, lol!) please tell me.
I dedicate this chapter to these guys who reviewed.
Minna-san, AKEMASHITE OMEDETOU GOZAIMASU!
HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!
Disclaimer: I wish I own the characters of PoT... but that's not going to happen. Oh well.
"Where's Sae!?"
Ryoma frantically ran downstairs that morning and asked the first person he saw.
"Good morning, Ryoma," Rinko greeted her son who obviously just got up from the bed.
"She left early this morning." It was Nanako who answered Ryoma while busily preparing the boy's breakfast.
"Damn it! Why didn't she wake me up!?" Ryoma immediately return upstairs to get dress.
"Sae said she needs to go somewhere before your camp." Nanako said not really sure if Ryoma heard her.
Rinko's eyes lit upon hearing Nanako, like she just remembered something.
"Did I make it in time?" Momo was huffing when he reached the train station. A few meters behind him is Ryoma who is running in the same direction.
"Who else is not here?" Coach Sumire asked while checking the time in her watch. There is only five minutes left before the departure time.
Tezuka scanned the team looking for a certain brown-haired girl. However, the girl is nowhere to be found.
"Sae is not here yet," Fuji answered.
Surprise look appeared on Ryoma's face upon hearing Fuji. He knew that the girl left early this morning so how come she is not with them yet? He cannot help thinking that something must have happened.
"I see." Sumire walked away from the group and dialed something on her phone.
"How did I fall asleep that long!?"
Sae immediately stood up and ran to the direction of the train station where the team is supposed to meet. That day is the death anniversary of her mom. Sae woke a bit early to visit her grave before the camp. However, she did not notice that she fell asleep nest to her mother's grave as she was waiting for the sunrise.
She stopped running when she heard her cell phone rang. An unregistered number blinked on its screen.
"Hello?"
"Sae, where are you?"
"C-coach!" Sae almost drop the phone when she heard Caoch Ryuzaki's's angry voice on the other line. Looking at the time, Sae knew she cannot make it in time of the departure. "Coach, I'm very sorry. I fell asleep and..."
"What!? You fell asleep!?"
Sae had to pull the phone away from her ear hearing the coach's reaction. It might sound like a lame excuse but that is the truth. She heaved a sigh. She does not want to hold back the whole team because of her carelessness, thus she made up her mind.
"I'm very sorry. Please go on without me. I don't want to cause any more trouble for the team than I already did."
There was a long pause on the other line.
"If that's the case, then I guess we don't have a choice," Sumire sighed, "I'll give you your punishment when we return."
"Yes Coach!" was all she answered before she heard the beeping sound from the other line. She knew that Sumire has forgiven her. It was like a heavy feeling in her chest was lifted after hearing her words.
Sumire put the phone down. When she returned, thirteen pairs of eyes are looking at her expectantly. Together with the regular team members, Tomoka, Ryuzaki Sakuno and the freshmen trio were with them.
"Ichinomiya cannot make it."
"Eh? But why?" Tomoka asked.
Before Coach Ryuzaki could answer the question, the sound of the train swallowed the other noise that can be heard nearby.
"We should be going." Sumire gestured the others to go inside the train.
"Shouldn't we wait for her?" Oishi asked.
"If we do, it will cause delay for the whole team."
"Coach, I'll wait for her here," Tezuka remained from his position while the others move inside.
"No, there is no need. It was her decision not to go."
"But, she must have a good reason not to."
"She chose not to go to prevent any holdup to the team. If you wait for her here, you will only make it pointless. Furthermore, it will only be a problem for us but for the others as well."
After hearing Coach Ryuzaki's words, Tezuka rode the train with the other members. He understood where Coach Ryuzaki was going to. This training camp is not just a simple training for them.
Sae sighed again. She knew that the training camp can go on without her, but still, she worries what the team will think about what happened. Are they angry at her decision? If she will explain, she knew they will understand but she feels bad for disappointing them somehow. What if she went there alone? But the next train will arrive in an hour or so.
"What to do now?" the girl asked herself as she try to figure out where to go next while looking around the area. But before Sae could even move a step, a car stopped in front of her. The window in the back seat slowly slid down revealing a familiar face Sae has not seen for a few months.
"It's been a while," the person inside the car greeted her with a smile.
"Yukimura-sempai!"
The door of the car opened and Yukimura stepped out. Sae ran towards blue-haired lad and hugged him.
"It seems like you've grown a little taller," Yukimura said as he ruffled her hair.
"It's really good to see you sempai," Sae said with her face still buried in his chest.
"Do you have anything to do today?"
Sae pulled away and shook her head.
"How about tomorrow?"
Sae shook her head again.
"And the day after tomorrow?"
Sae shook her head for the third time.
"That's good," Yukimura bend to her level, "can I borrow your time for three days then?"
Sae was surprise at the sudden invitation.
"Three days? What for?"
"Hmm, let's just say that we'll need your help for three days."
"We?"
"The team of course."
Sae thought for a moment. It has been a while since she watched the Rikkaidai boys' tennis team play. It will be worth watching especially now that the tournament is getting nearer.
"I guess I can use a breather," the girl smiled at Rikkaidai captain, "sure, I'll go."
Yukimura used to look after her during her days in Rikkai. She respects him a lot as a senior and as the captain of the boy's tennis club. He is a very kind person and he treated her no differently from his other junior, that is on her point of view. At times, when she watched their tennis practices, he would usually ask her opinion about certain matters regarding their member's performances and techniques. She would just nonchalant say what she thought, not that it mattered anyway, but Yukimura seemed to pay close attention to her opinions.
"Sempai," Sae spoke as the car started moving, "don't tell me, you went all the way here just to get me."
"Sort of. Sorry for the short notice."
"Well, it's fine. But what will you do if I'm not around? You will only tire yourself."
"I guess I got lady luck on my side today," then Yukimura noticed the bag Sae is carrying, "are you planning to go somewhere today?"
"Yes. It's just that, I got left behind."
"Is that so? Let me guess, you overslept?"
Sae flustered.
"It's not like what you think."
"Oh? Did I hit a bull's eye?" Yukimura chuckled.
"Where are we going?" Sae asked.
"You'll see." Yukimura sensed that the girl asked to changed the subject. Perhaps she does not want to talk about what ever happened earlier so he did not push it even further.
"Ochibi!" Kikumaru wrapped his arms around Ryoma whose seat is position in front of his. However, Ryoma did not seem to mind him as he continued to stare outside the window. When he noticed Ryoma's reaction, he slowly let him go and peeked at his face. "Ochibi?"
"What?" Ryoma's voice sounded irritated.
"Nyaa, sorry." Kikumaru immediately returned to his seat.
"Hn? It seems someone woke up at the wrong side of the bed this morning," Momo snickered after speaking. Momo moved closer to Ryoma and whispered "or maybe, you're sulking because Sae is not here with us."
A vein popped on Ryoma's forehead on Momo's comment but he did not said a word.
"Eeh? Is it true Echizen?" Horio spoke as he kneeled on his seat to look at Ryoma, who was seated behind him.
Another vein popped on Ryoma's forehead.
"Ryoma, don't tell me you like-"
"Stop it. You're making him feel uncomfortable." Tomoka's words were cut off by Sakuno. Sakuno instantly covered her mouth when she realized what she just said.
"Oh? Someone's jealous," Tomoka teased her friend whose face is now turning beet red. Teasing cheers we're heard from the other Seigaku members.
"Everyone, quiet down," Coach Sumire's voice was heard loud enough for them to hear, "remember that we are in a public place."
After the scolding from Sumire, the rest of the ride became relatively peaceful.
"Um, sempai, what is this?"
Sae asked without removing her eyes on the object in front of her.
"It's a helicopter. Don't tell me you haven't seen one before?" Yukimura said teasingly. He was amused on the girl's reaction.
"I know what this thing is but don't tell me we are going to ride this thing."
"What about it? We are going to be late if we use the train. Come now." The Rikkai captain held her shoulders and led her towards the aircraft.
"You don't have to go on this much trouble."
"Oi! You took so long." A familiar voice called out to them.
"Niou-sempai!" Sae ran to the trickster.
"What's this? I haven't seen only for a short while but you seem to have grown a bigger on this part." Niou pinched both her cheeks.
"A-ouch! That hurts!" Sae's cheeks turned red from Niou's doing. Niou, on the other hand, snickered while looking at the pouting girl.
"Where are the others?" Yukimura asked.
"They are already there."
"I see. Let's go then."
After riding a bus from the train station, Seigaku tennis team arrived in front of what looks like mansion.
"This is where we are staying!?"
"It's huge."
"One, two, three… there are four tennis courts over there. And there's a swimming pool over there."
"We will be staying here for three day! Yay!"
Sumire called her team's attention.
"Everyone, keep in mind that we are not here for a vacation but as a preparation for the tournament."
"A joined training with another team?" Sae asked after hearing what the three whole days is about.
"Yes. It was only decided a week ago. The coach from the other team agreed saying it will be a great opportunity to test the team members abilities."
"Who is the other team then?"
"It seems like they are already here," Marui said while looking outside the window.
"Coach Ryuzaki, it's nice to see you." A voice came from someone who came from inside the manse.
"It's nice to see you are doing well yourself," Coach Ryuzaki greeted the Rikkaidai coach, "this is my team."
"Nice to meet you everyone. I'm looking forward to see you're improvement in the next three days. Let's go inside."
The Seigaku team was surprised to see another group coming their way when they entered the lobby.
"Tezuka, good to see you," Yukimura offered his hand.
"Same here." Tezuka took Yukimura's hand.
Behind Yukimura is the Rikkaidai team along with a girl. Everyone in Seigaku did not expect to see her of all places. On the other hand, the girl herself was surprise to see the whole team in front of her.
"Sae!? What are you doing here?" Tomoka's loud voice echoed in the lobby.
"Um, that is…"
"You know them?" Yagyuu asked Sae.
"Yes."
"She is our team's assistant manager," Inui spoke in a matter-of-factly tone.
"So the one that left you behind is this team?" Niou turned to Sae.
"Hey, I don't like that tone of yours," Momo glared at Niou.
"Niou-sempai, stop it. It's not like that," Sae answered immediately, "I chose to be left behind." Sae walked in front of Tezuka and bowed deeply in front of him. "Captain, everyone, I'm very sorry."
There was a long silence. Then, the girl felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Lift your head." Tezuka said in his usual tone. On his mind, he just felt relieved to see his junior safe with them.
"Captain?"
"You don't have to worry about it anymore," Tezuka continued.
"Thank you so much," the girl smiled a genuine smile. Looking at her Tezuka froze.
"He's right. What is more important is that you're here with us now," Oishi said enthusiastically.
"About that-"
"Sorry, but she is with us," Niou suddenly placed his arms around Sae's shoulders.
Ryoma felt something churning in his stomach seeing how cozy the silver-haired boy with Sae.
Fuji's cerulean eyes showed themselves upon hearing Niou but he closed those seconds later.
"I hope you don't mind us borrowing her for the training camp," Yukimura said while smiling at Tezuka.
"Captain, you shouldn't agree to that. She is our teammate after all." It was Momo trying to persuade Tezuka.
"Tezuka, Momo's right. It may be a loss for us if we don't have her on our side. Remember why we asked her to join us," Inui added.
"So, they do realize her ability then." Yagyuu thought to himself.
"It's fine," Tezuka said to Yukimura. His eyes suddenly turned to the girl, "I trust her."
That's all... for now
(=^.^=)