Thanks to these guys for keeping this story alive:
LeoniaOtaku: Aww, it's good to hear you are still supporting this story (=^.^=). I want to heighten the conflict between Rikkaidai and Seigaku (even a little) so she was left behind, sorry. Don't worry, Sae will still have several encounters with the main characters.
AstridClaire: I also love Rikkaidai members :D! Sometimes, more than Seigaku members, lol! It's nice to hear that my OC doesn't act Mary-Sue because sometimes it's hard to judge especially when you read your own work. I'm planning to make their relationship platonic but… let's just wait how the story goes *wink*.
This is my longest chapter so far. I hope you enjoy reading this.
Disclaimer: I wish I own the characters of Prince of Tennis.
"Thank you, Captain."
Tezuka nodded.
"Ehem," Coach Ryuzaki cleared her throat to get the attention of everyone in the lobby. "Listen everyone. From today, we will be having a joint training between Seigaku and Rikkaidai. For three days, we will be having activities that will test your skills and improve your abilities. This is a good opportunity for each of you to encounter players with a different playing style. For now, we will be having a break from the trip we just had. These will be your room assignments." Sumire handed each team captain a sheet of paper. "Take a rest. We will meet here again in one hour for the announcement of today's schedule."
The paper in Tezuka's hand was soon gone as the other Seigaku team members passed it to each other.
"Hey , why am I in the same room with this guy!?" Momo exclaimed upon seeing his room assignment.
"As if anyone wants to be in the same room as you, fssshh."
"What did you say, Mamushi!?"
"I don't need to repeat myself!"
"You-!"
"Hey guys, settle down," Oishi intervened between Momo and Kaido.
Tomoka reached for the paper from Momo's hand.
"Hmm, let's see. Tezuka-sempai & Inui-sempai, Fuji-sempai & Kikumaru-sempai, Kawamura-sempai & Oishi-sempai, Kaido-sempai & Momo-sempai, Ryoma & Horio... Ah! Sakuno, you and I are roommates!" Tomoka cheerfully held Sakuno's hand.
"That's good then," Sakuno felt relieved.
"Don't you think that's obvious? You are the only girls here after all," Katsuo, the freshman with a semi-bald hair, commented.
"What did you say?" Tomoka's eyes narrowed.
"Ah, nothing." The Katsuo waved his hand in front of him.
"Okay everyone, go unpack your things in your respective rooms," Sumire clapped her hands as a signal, "rooms are located on the second floor."
"Sae, where is your room?" Yukimura asked the girl as she was looking in the direction of the Seigaku team. He asked only to check if Sae was listening. The captain just announced the Rikkaidai team room assignments but he noticed that Sae's thoughts are elsewhere.
Sae was surprised at the question. She immediately turned her attention to Yukimura.
"Um, I'm with Sakuno and Tomoka."
"Good," the team captain turned to his members, "everyone, let's meet here later."
"Ah, Marui-sempai! Please give it back!" Sae called out when she found her bag gone from where she placed it earlier and is now in the hands of her senior. However, a hand stopped her from running after Marui.
"Let him."
"Kirihara-sempai?" Sae looked puzzled.
"Let's just say that he just missed having you around, so just let him do something for you today."
Sae's eyes soften as her gaze followed Marui along with the other Rikkaidai members. Suddenly, Kirihaya poke her forehead.
"Hey, what was that for!?"
"Stop looking like that."
"Even if you say that, I can't help it," Sae said while her hands covered her forehead.
"Both of you, how long are you planning to stand there?" Yanagi called at his two juniors who are already left behind.
"Coming!" the two answered at the same time.
Marui, together with Niou and Kirihara, decided to take their youngest (temporary) member to her room first. When they arrived, the other Seigaku freshmen were already standing in the doorway of her room.
"You, what are you doing here?" Tomoka pointed her fingers to Sae. Sae, on the other hand, just stared at her in response.
"Um, Tomoka, it says here that she is also your roommate," Kachirou, the freshman with a short straight hair said.
"What!? Let me see that," Tomoka snatched the paper and read the list of names. Next to hers and Sakuno is Sae's name. "I can't believe this! I don't want to be near that – that traitor!"
"Hey, watch your mouth little girl!" Kirihara exclaimed.
"Sempai," Sae moved in front of Kirihara blocking Tomoka from his view, "I will be taking my things from here. Thank you very much." Sae smiled at the three Rikkaidai members. Her hand reached for her bag but Marui, who was currently chewing his bubblegum, hid it behind his back before she can even touch it.
Sae threw him a questioning look.
"There must have been a correction with the room assignments," Niou eyed the other freshmen.
"Sempai-tachi, please leave now," Sae gave them a serious look, "thank you for the concern but let me handle it from here."
The Rikkaidai regulars exchange looks.
"Don't worry. They are my friends. It's just that…" Sae trailed at the end of her sentence.
"Here." Marui handed Sae her bag. Sae was surprised but she took the bag anyway.
"T-Thank you."
"Kiddo, if you encounter any problem, you know where to find us." Niou ruffled her hair.
Sae nodded in response.
Kirihara glared at the freshmen before he followed the two who already went ahead. His looks sent shivers to the freshman trio.
Sae sighed before she faced Tomoka and the others.
"Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to follow them?" Tomoka asked with arms crossed in front of her.
"Tomoka…"was all Sakuno could utter.
"I can't blame you if you're angry at me. You must be thinking that I stayed behind to be with Yukimura-sempai and the others. It was really just a coincident that I'm here."
"I don't need your explanation. Rikkaidai is still one of our opponents and you choosing them over Seigaku make you an opponent yourself."
"But I already gave my word to Yukimura-sempai that I will help them in the training before I came here. He is also the person who brought me here."
"To think that you're friends with the Rikkaidai regulars…is amazing," Horio said aloud what he was just thinking.
"Hey, which team are you with!?" Tomoka turned her attention to Horio.
"It's not like that," Horio said defensively, "Rikkaidai has won the national tournament for two straight years. Isn't it grand to be friends with them?"
"Hey, what is the noise about?"
"Ah, Momo-sempai."
"You're being too loud so I came to check what's going on."
"It's nothing, right guys?" Tomoka answered immediately.
"She's right," everyone said almost at the same time.
"We're just saying how great this place is," Sae added.
"Really?" Momo look at them suspisciously, "if you say so. Anyway, who wants to go outside? The weather is nice. It will only be a bore if we stay here."
"I do!" the freshman trio said in unison, arms raised in the air.
"I'm going too!" Tomoka raised her hand, "how about you Sakuno?"
"I guess I'll go with you."
Momo noticed the other girl that stayed quiet amid the noise of her companions.
"How about you, Sae?"
"Please go ahead. I still need to arrange my things."
"Come on! We don't have much time before the assembly," Tomoka said aloud.
"That's right. If we want to have more time sight-seeing, we need to hurry."
Momo was pushed by his juniors.
"Okay okay," Momo turned his attention to Sae, "hey, follow us after you're done."
Sae only answered him with a faint smile. She knew that Momo asked them to go out to avoid being in the same room with Kaido. After all, Coach Ryuzaki did not allow them to exchange rooms with the others.
When Sae entered the room, she found the other two beds already occupied so she settled with the one next to the veranda. Outside, you can see the whole back area of the manse, including the tennis courts she saw earlier.
"Beautiful," Sae uttered under her breath. She was taken aback at the sight of the trees and mountains out the window. She took a deep breath smelling the fresh air around her. When she closed her eyes, all she can hear were the chirping of the birds.
She went back inside and sat beside her bed to start unpacking her things. The soft feeling of the bed caught her attention. An idea came to her. She stood on the bed and started jumping on it. It has been a long time since she last did that. She tried to reach for the ceiling on every jump. When she got tired, she lied down, still catching her breath.
Knock, knock
Fuji knocked for the third time but received no reply. He turned the knob and found the door unlock. He entered the room slowly. At first, he thought no one was inside, but when he looked carefully, he found the person he was searching for.
He moved closer. But then he stopped when he saw the girl's sleeping face. He ended staring at her. His hand unconsciously reached for the stray strands of hair from her cheek and placed them behind her ears. Sae nudged a little from the contact. Fuji smiled at her reaction.
"You're too trusting. To think you will leave the door unlocked while you sleep." Fuji thought to himself.
He sat beside her as he continued to watch her sleep. His face moved closer, closing the proximity between them.
"What are you doing!?" an angry voice rang across the room.
Fuji slowly moved away. But the other person walked rapidly towards him and grabbed his collar. The person gave him a deadly glare. Fuji, on the other hand, remained his compose self.
"Sanada-sempai? Fuji-sempai? What are you doing here?" Sae asked followed by a yawn. The girl was completely oblivious on the conflict that is happening between the two. Sanada let go of Fuji after hearing the girl's voice but his eyes remained fix on him. "Ah! Don't tell me it's time already." Sae looked at the clock but there are still a few minutes before the announcement of schedule.
"Sae!"
"Y-Yes?" Sanada's loud voice startled the girl.
"Get out of the room." Sanada spoke without letting his eyes off of Fuji.
"Sanada-sempai?"
"Get out of the room, NOW!"
"Y-Yes!" the girl stood up and frantically ran outside the room. Sanada sounded really angry and that kind of tone scared her. If her memories serve her right, the last time she heard that kind of tone was when Niou and Marui draw doodles on his face while he was asleep.
"I don't know what you're up to but if I ever see you touch her like that again, I will not hesitate to use violence," Sanada said loud enough for only Fuji can hear. The former followed the girl.
Sae did not wait for long. As soon as the Rikkaidai vice-captain saw Sae standing outside the door, he seized her arm and dragged her away with him. She did not dare ask for any explanation for she knew that look Sanada is showing right now. When she looked back, she saw Fuji standing at the door waving at her with his usual smile.
She got a hunch that something must have happened between the two, but what?
Sanada let her go when they reached the other Rikkaidai members.
"Hey, what happened? You look like someone who just got out of bed," Kirihara pointed her hair. The others tried to hide their laughter at Kirihara's words.
"Eh!?" Sae tried to fix her hair using her hand. As she was running her fingers through it, something was placed on her head.
"Use this."
Sanada just put his cap on the girl's head.
"Um, thanks Sanada-sempai."
"Since we're all here, let's go," Yukimura calmly said.
The Rikkaidai arrived at the lobby followed shortly by Seigaku. But even before the two teams came, Coach Ryuzaki was already there.
Sanada glared at Fuji as soon as he saw him but the latter did not seem to care.
"Listen, this moment will be the start of the training," the coach started, "follow me."
The teams were led outside the house.
"You see that hill?" Coach Ryuzaki pointed at the mountain not far from the manse, "each of you need to get a flag there and return here before sunset. Along with the flags, are weights that you have to wear for the remaining days of the training."
"I have a bad feeling about this," Momo whispered to Ryoma.
"What's the catch?" Ryoma suddenly asked aloud.
"Good question," Sumire smiled, "written on the flags are what you are going to have for dinner tonight. You have to finish whatever is written in it. Don't worry; everything is good for your diet. I'm not sure about the taste though. But of course, those who will arrive there first can get to choose."
Before Sumire realized it, the team members were already running towards the mountain leaving Yukimura, the three girls and the freshman trio behind.
"Sae, what are you doing here?" the coach asked the girl who was watching the teams disappear on her sight.
"Coach?" Sae looked at Coach Ryuzaki with a perplex expression.
"You're supposed to join them."
"Eh!? Me? But aren't I supposed to help around here?"
"Yes, that's the plan. But Yukimura insisted to let you join the training."
"Yukimura-sempai?"
"You better run now if you want to have something decent for your dinner tonight," Yukimura said with a smile that says he will not take 'no' for an answer.
"Eh? How did it end up like this?" Sae said as she started to run to the direction of the mountain.
The trail to the top had marks in it thus the teams did not have a hard time finding the course. However, since the road is inclined, running became a bit harder than usual.
After a few minutes of running, the girl still cannot seem to reach anyone who ran after she did. But then, she found someone sitting on a rock.
"Marui-sempai? What are you doing there?"
"I'm tired," Marui pouted.
"But if you stop now, you will have nothing for eat dinner tonight." Sae suddenly remembered something and reached for her pocket. "Here, eat this." She placed two candies in Marui's hand.
Marui's eyes lighten up.
"You saved me!" Marui ate the candies and he immediately stood up, "thanks."
Marui started running again.
"Hey, wait for me," Sae called out before the Rikkaidai member can get far.
"Huh? Why are you running?"
"Um, the truth is I'm not really sure how but it looks like I'm included in the training."
"Really? Well then, you better run fast. See you later." In a matter of seconds, the distance between them became large. "And before I forget," Marui slowed down and turned to her, "whoever in our team will arrive last, that someone will be punished by Fukubuchou. You do remember how he is, do you?" Marui winked at her before continue running.
Sae gulped after hearing what Marui said. She was planning to run in her normal pace and not to compete with them, but now, the situation changed completely. She changed her speed to that of someone running for her life. It did not take long for her to spot the other players.
"Who's that?" Oishi asked when he saw someone wearing a cap that just ran passed him.
"It's Sae," Ryoma answered.
"Here." Niou handed a bottle of water to the girl who just arrived.
"I'm not the last right?" Sae asked as she was catching her breath after reaching the top.
"Oi!" Marui arrived shortly after the girl. "Sae?" he was surprise to see the girl came before him, "to think that kind of joke really had an effect on you."
"What!? You mean that isn't true?"
"Of course it's not," Marui smiled sheepishly.
"What are you two talking about?" Niou asked feeling left behind.
"Nothing," Sae answered.
"You better pick your flag now. There are only five left," Yanagi reminded the new comers. He was about to return to the manse with the weights on his legs.
"Let's see," Marui picked the flag closest to him, "a curry rice and a penal tea. What kind of tea is penal tea?"
"Penal tea you say?" Sae's eyes widen. She can already imagine Inui with glasses shining once he hears Marui's inquiry. She immediately unfolded her flag. Only rice, fish and vegetable soup were written on it, much to her relief.
"Hey," Niou whispered to the girl as she was busily wearing the weights on her legs, "that kid's been staring at you for quite a while now."
Sae looked at the direction Niou was referring to. Her eyes met Ryoma's but the latter quickly averted his eyes.
"Tell me the truth. Are you going out with him?"
"Eh!?"
That's all for now
(=^.^=)