FALSE IDENTITY – Chapter Two

"Hey Shirley. Do you think Eiji was telling the truth about me being a good team manager?" I ask as we walk towards the tennis team's bulletin board during lunch.

Shirley looks at the list posted and grins like a Cheshire cat. "I made it! It's not like it's something new now, is it? The umpires were telling the truth after all!"

I look at the list as well. Being shorter than my sister my eyes reach the bottom of the list first. And there it is with all its glory – my name in bold letters under the coach's name, labeled TEAM MANAGER.

Shirley sees this and gives me an encouraging pat. "You go, girl! Now my sister's team manager. It seems like Eiji wasn't joking at all. Oh look! You're a reserve player as well."

I stand on my toes to get a better view of the list. I see my name once again as a reserve right under Echizen Ryoma's name. He made it to the last spot on the regulars. I look up and see that Tezuka Kunimitsu is the team captain while Shirley is the vice captain.

"Congratulations for being the vice captain," I say.

"No big deal," she replies. "As long as I'm on the team, it's cool."

Seigaku Tennis Team's Official Roster

Captain:

Tezuka Kunimitsu (3rd Year)

Vice Captain:

Charbonnet Shirley (2nd Year)

Oishi Shuuichirou (3rd Year)

Kikumaru Eiji (3rd Year)

Fuji Shuushuke (3rd Year)

Momoshiro Takeshi (2nd Year)

Echizen Ryoma (1st Year)

Reserve Players:

Charbonnet Annalise (1st Year)

Inui Sadahataru (3rd Year)

Kaidou Karou (2nd Year)

Coach:

Ryuzaki Sumire

Team Manager:

Charbonnet Annalise

"Hello, Manager," Ryoma greets as I sit down. "What's the training schedule for this afternoon?"

I freeze. "Training schedule?" I didn't know there was such a thing. I seriously thought Eiji was joking when he said he'd recommend me as team manager. Oh my gosh! I don't know what to do.

He chuckles. "Calm down. I was only kidding. Inui-sempai usually takes care of the training schedule. This is the first time we'll be having a team manager. Wonder how it'll be?"

"I'm sorry if I wouldn't be able to live up to your expectations. I'm new at this. So is Shirley but I guess her confidence is gonna help her get through."

"Are you saying you're not confident?" He ponders on this for a moment. "You're also a reserve player, right? You said you don't play tennis."

I laugh. "Shirley gave me a crash course an hour before the ranking matches. She's bragging about how good of a coach she is to me."

"Seriously? They said you were good. Why don't we play some time?"

"Eh!" I involuntarily tilt my head to the side. "I can't! I'm not good. You could play with Shirley. She loves a good challenge."

"Annalise Charbonnet is scared?" Ryoma teases. "It's just a game. It would be fun."

I rack my brain for a good excuse. "I'm the team manager," I squeak.

"The more you should play tennis with us regulars. If you're not that good, I could teach you."

My face lights up. "Really? That would be great!"

"It will cost you two boxes of Ponta," he says lazily.

I immediately grab my purse. "How much is a box of," I trail off. "What's Ponta?"

Ryoma shakes his head in amusement. "You don't know what Ponta is? Seriously? Where did you come from?"

My mind starts to panic. "Uh.. I.. Uhm.. Ah.." I stammer.

I totally forgot you come from America. I come from America, too. If I still remember correctly, they also sell Ponta in the local vending machines."

Suddenly, I think of a good alibi. "I was home schooled, see? I don't get to go out often." That's true in some sense. Our kingdom is located in a huge island between America and Europe. I still believe it's nearer to Europe than it is to America.

"I see. Two boxes of Ponta. I'll help you look for it after practice if you want. Will you be taking my offer?"

"I'm not sure how much Ponta costs but I do want to learn more. I guess I'll be taking your offer." I crack a smile.

I borrow some of Shirley's sports clothes and change into them. She tells me that we have to shop for mine this weekend and I nod.

"Shirley," I say, "how much do two boxes of Ponta cost?"

She purses her lips. "As far as I know, a can of Ponta costs ¥500 in the vending machine near the courts. A box usually contains fifty cans. If you buy two boxes, it'll be equivalent to buying one hundred cans. Assuming that the stores don't give discounts for buying in bulk AND there really are fifty cans in one box, two boxes would cost ¥50,000. That's the maximum price you could get because of they do give discounts the price would be much lower. Why'd you ask?"

"¥50,000!" I exclaim. "Isn't that too high?"

She shakes her head. "This is Japan! The prices here may seem high, but they're really just worth a few dollars in America. Less than $300, I guess." She shrugs. "Why'd you ask?"

"How much is my weekly allowance?" I ask meekly.

"Papa said we each have ¥100,000 per week. He also said we both have to buy food at our own expenses. The light and water bills will be taken care of. Why'd you ask? It's so unlike you to worry about money. What's with those two boxes of Ponta anyways?"

I squirm and tell her about Ryoma's offer. "So yeah," I finish lamely.

Shirley does the most unexpected thing – she hugs me and squeals in my ear. "That is so awesome, Anne! That's, like, an excuse to spend more time with you."

"We're seat mates," I say as I wriggle out of her death hug. "Anyways, that's absurd. We just met."

"Do you believe in love at first sight?"

"I do. But.." I look down on my shoes. "You know.."

She exhales loudly in frustration. "The royalty thing? There's nothing to worry about! Ned's obviously taking over Papa's place as soon as he finds a decent girl to marry. Mind you, she doesn't have to be royalty."

She says those things a little too loudly and I cover her mouth. "You're too noisy," I hiss. I let go of her and frown. "I don't care. It's impossible. He'll find out who we are and I wouldn't know I if could trust him."

"Annalise and her trust issues," Shirley grabs her racket and practices some swings. "She has to be gullible sometimes and rely on people other than her family."

"Could you not talk like I'm not here? So what if I have trust issues? It's normal."

"No, it's not. You have to break out of your shell. I know you lock yourself in your room and turn your problems into music. It would be so much better if you talk to somebody about it. It doesn't have to be me but someone you trust. Start trusting! You're a team manager now. Nobody wants an emo manager."

"I. AM. NOT. EMO." I glare at her. I grab my things and start walking. "Ryoma's taking me to the store after practice. Just go home without me."

She whistles. "I smell romance!" She turns serious again. "If he ever hurts you in any way, Ned and I will break his racket, wrists, AND face. Got it?"

Coach Ryuzaki grins at me. "Glad you could join us, Annalise. Eiji told me you'd make a good team manager and I could tell he's right."

I blush and bow down. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Please take care of me!"

"Of course I will. All you have to do is observe the players play and decide which position they will be playing in on the upcoming Kanto Prefecture Tournament. However, you have to joining them during warm ups like the other reserves."

"That's alright," I reply. "When will practice start?"

"In a few minutes," a creepy looking guy with glasses says. "I'm Inui, reserve player. I play data tennis and am in-charge of the warm ups. You must me Charbonnet Annalise."

"Nice to meet you," I say. "You can call me Anne."

"Nah! I'd rather call you Annalise. It's formal. You are the team manager."

I give him a weird look. "I'm not old. There's no need to be formal with me."

"Whatever." He shrugs and walks away. "We'll be practicing in five."

Coach sighs. "That's Inui. He's probably off making some juice. Anyways Annalise, welcome to Seigaku." She shakes my hand and approaches the ball boys.

Shirley walks to me with a huge smile plastered to her face. "Guess what, Anne?"

"What?" I echo in a bored tone.

"I met this really cute guy who happens to be one of the regulars. His name's Fuji Shuushuke. Neat, noh?"

I roll my eyes. "Like I care. He can walk you home if he pleases. I still have to go somewhere."

"Alrighty then. Have fun."

We hear a whistle being blown. "regulars and reserves, one hundred laps around the court. Now!"

"One hundred laps!" I exclaim, jaw dropping. "That's – that's too much!"

Shirley shrugs and runs around the court with the others. Good for her, her body could keep up with one hundred laps, or maybe even more. My body is only capable of running from one side of the court to the other in a game.

Someone grabs my shoulder. "You haven't done any stretching yet." It was Ryoma. "I haven't either. How about we do it together?"

I stare at him blankly.

"If you want to, that is."

I snap out of my trance. "No! I mean, I'm okay with it. It's just that I'm surprised. I've never ran one hundred laps before." Or even in my life.

By the time we finished our stretching, they were finished running one hundred laps and are currently taking a short break. I can't believe it! Was I that slow?

Inui approaches us with an evil smirk and two glasses of green colored liquid. I swear I saw some things float on those liquids. "Your punishment for missing the laps."

"I can be punished? But I'm the manager," I say.

"Then it'll be sad to put this glass to waste. How about we let Ryoma drink both?"

Ryoma's face pales. "I was just helping her out. She's new to this and stuff."

I take one glass from Inui and chug down all of its contents down my throat. "I never realized carrots and cinnamon make a good combination until now."

Ryoma twitches. "Anne, are you alright? There's a water fountain not far from here. There's a trash can a few meters away if you want to vomit."

"Why'd you think I would want to do either of those things right now? Inui's juice may look weird but it's actually delicious. I highly recommend you to drink this."

Inui grins. "Good for you, Annalise. Ryoma, why don't you take her advice and drink your share?"