A/N: Hello, minna-san. I am sorry for late update. I don't have any inspiration, but then, thanks to Kamaria Jay-sama, I got the energy to write.
To AcceleratorCupcake-sama, thank you too. Sorry if it has a lot of grammar mistakes. As I told everyone in the first chapter, the 'following chapters may have grammars mistakes and spelling errors'. But thank you for pointing them out, it will give me a chance to ask for a beta-reader. Minna-san, if you are interested to beta-ed my Amnesia, please contact me. Arigato gozaimasu~~
Atobe look up at the beautiful, blue sky. He raised his right arm to block the rays of the high sun. They are going to Seigaku this afternoon, and his hands are itching to hold a racket. He couldn't wait to play Tezuka or Echizen. Fuji is not also bad. He smirks. It is really fun playing with Seigaku, even after almost three years, those guys still hanging on the top. Oh well, there's many teams there that could break them, but Atobe would rather do it with his team. They were practicing and getting more skills this past few years, they will not back down.
Although he say that, it seems that even Seigaku were, are, getting stronger. He doesn't know their secret, is it lie on the members? Or the captain? Is it because of their coach? What he doesn't understand is that the members of Seigaku are intense. He remembers Fuji. Well, there is someone who is calm. Then that cat guy, Kiku-something, he's playful?
However, Atobe will stop thinking about them. Atobe doesn't have any time to dwell with them in his aching head.
"Oi! Oi!" Jiro jumped through the air and did a flips.
"What are you doing, Jiro-san?" Gakuto asked, "Are you trying to do acrobatics from now on?"
"What?" his brows furrowed, "No. It's to wake myself up."
"But you always sleep," Otori said.
Kabaji went to Atobe's side, his face is solemn even though his face is blank. Oshitari, Shishido, and Hiyoshi came up next to the other members.
"Is everyone here?" Atobe scanned the crowd, "Okay, let's go."
The sound of balls getting smash with a racket and the shout of the players echoed in the tennis court of Seishun Gakuen. The first years are picking up the balls that got toss around while the third years and second years have a matches against each other. Tezuka Kunimitsu, the captain of the Seigaku tennis club, watched as his kouhai, Ryoma Echizen, beat up a second year member. The brunette was constantly amazed by how much the first year evolves every game he played.
"You want to play him again, Kunimitsu?" his best friend and the team's prodigy, Fuji Sysuke, asked him.
"Hn," he mumbled. When they were in middle school, he had the chance to play the smaller guy, and even though he won on those games, he couldn't deny how his kouhai grew up this past few years. He was interrupted in his thought when they heard a second year member shout.
"Sempai! Sempai!" he heaved a gasp trying to breathe air. "The..the..Hyotei..gasp...are..gasp..here.."
Before he can continue, they heard a baritone voice, "Tezuka," Atobe Keigo smirked, "You should be feeling happy right now for oresama visited you."
"Oi, monkey king," Echizen said, "What are you doing here?"
The regulars of Seigaku gathered where they are, and the other members stop at what they are doing. Tezuka glared at them, "Why are you stopping? Did I say otherwise?" his voice is covered with poisoned. The members cringed at their captain's voice and glare, they continued their practice. However, the regulars didn't budge even though they were part of that glare.
"There is 76% chance that they are here to scout," Inui's eyeglasses glinted.
"Oh my, oh my," Atobe eyed the tall guy, "I wouldn't say it like that. Oresama would not going to stoop to such low tactics. I'm greater than that."
"What are you doing here, Atobe?" the other captain said.
"Don't you miss me, Tezuka?" he said in equally serious voice. If the regulars in both team doesn't think it's possible, they would think that the two are long time lovers, or are they?
Of course they will have their answer when the most forward Golden Pair of Seigaku, Kikumaru Eiji, asked bluntly, "Ne, Atobe-san, Buchou, are you dating, nya?"
Both captains glared and said, "No," at the same time.
"Hmm," the red-haired third year, "Then, why would buchou need to miss you?"
Atobe laughed and everyone has the urged to stop again, "That's a good question actually. Well, I have the craving of beating you, Tezuka."
"Sorry but Tezuka-buchou doesn't want to play with you," Ryoma look from his eyelashes, "So, what do you say, play with e instead?"
The Seigaku regulars smirk inwardly. Their little guy is always as cocky as before.
"Echizen," their mother hen, Oishi, said, "you shouldn't-"
"Oooh, I like the idea," Atobe said. "But I'm sorry, midget, I came here to play Tezuka." He look back at the said person, "What do you say, huh, Tezuka? Play with me. Or are you afraid I would beat you up."
The brunette's eyes glinted at the back of his glasses, "Sorry, but if you want to provoke me, then you need to do more than that. Now state what you are doing here."
"Didn't I just told you?" Atobe said incredulously, "Never mind that. You will not to tell oresama what to do."
"Che. If you do not want us to tell you what to do, then go away fro-"
"Echizen, didn't I say to continue your practice?" Echizen's practice partner was already playing with other member. "Take a lap. Twenty."
"Tsk," he whispered, then started running around the courts.
Hotaru went to the school that very the same day as always. While she walk in the corridors to her classroom, she heard whispers from the people around her.
"Isn't she the one who got engaged with Atobe-sama?"
"She's so plain"
"How dare she?"
"And she's only a first year?"
Hotaru dismissed them. She continue walking with her back straight and head high. Her long black hair flow in her back and a headband is keeping it away from her blank face. She went in the room labeled 1-A. The class is divided by four sections and a designated letter state the ranking of the students in academic. But that doesn't mean that the section 1-D has a dumb students. It's just mean that they are slow to catch up on subjects.
Because the school is girls only, there are a lot of competitions in it. Although the girls in the school should act as a proper lady, most of them are a wild dogs, they will pounce on you if they notice you, making you their prey. Because of the news of Hotaru's engagement to the number one bachelor of the political/business world, the 'bitches' antennae buzzed and all. They could not forgive the one who stole their precious Atobe-sama from them.
And they were leering and glaring at her for about two weeks now. Thank God it's Friday, she thought, one more day and I can escape from their sharp eye.
She sat on her seat and wait for the classroom to fill up. Most of her classmates are from the rich families like her as well, but like her, they concentrate on their studies and doesn't care about rumors and such. That's what she thought. Before the bell rings, a group of girls surrounded her.
"So you are Hotaru-chan," a girl with bangs that covered most of her face said. "I am Tanaka Reina*, nice meeting you."
"I-I.. nice meeting you too, Tanaka-san. I'm-"
"Kinomichi Hotaru," a tall girl, too tall for a first year, that is, said. "I am Mizuki Lovel."
Oh, so she's half-American? She thought. "Uhm, nice to meet you."
"You are the content of every rumor of this school. I am Oda Mafuyu," a raven-haired girl said, a notebook is in her hand and she has an eyeglasses.
"We are interested about you because of the rumors that are spreading the school. They are different from each other but most of them are not that great," another raven-haired girl said. "We are concerned. Most of the girls in this school, from third years to first years, are targeting you. Ah, my name is Murosaki Kame."
"We are your classmates since April, but we couldn't reach you even if we want to," Mizuki said. "Most of us came from different middle schools too, but we all clicked. We know that with you, our little group will be complete."
Before Hotaru can answer, Mafuyu said, "As she said, you are so hard to reach. After school, you went straight home. You study by yourself and you seem left out. When we heard the rumors spreading, we couldn't just let them hurt you."
"Thank you but I do not need any help," she said. "Please do not associate yourself with me."
"W-what the hell?" Murosaki half yelled, half whisper. "We are offering you to join in our group and you just turned us down like that?"
"Ne, Hotaru-chan," Tanaka said nervously. "We..we..just-"
"Stop that, Reina," Murosaki snapped at her, "Let's go. Those other girls were right. This one is a snob."
Hotaru felt like something stab her but ignored it. She carefully continue her blank expression, her eyes showed no emotion. The other girls went to their respective seats when the bell rang.
"There she is," a group of third years approached Hotaru in the cafeteria's entrance. "Hey, are you Kinomichi Hotaru?"
Instead of answering, she just glance at them in the side of her eyes and continue walking. "Hey, don't you ignore me, bitch." The leader of the group yelled at Hotaru's back.
"That bitch," she gritted when Hotaru continue to ignore her. She snatched a hamburger from a passer-by who just want to eat and throw it to Hotaru. However, the girl who play kendo dodged quickly with grace. Without turning her back o look at them, she went to the counter and ordered her lunch.
With the tray in her hands, Hotaru look for a place to sit. She scanned the room and her gaze stop at that little group in the corner. Tanaka is waving at her. She ignore the girl. When she couldn't find a place to sit, she decided to eat outside the cafeteria. However, before she could walk away, Mafuyu is by her side and dragging her to their table.
Murosaki glared at her, but the others continue to eat their food happily. "Ne, Hotaru-chan," Tanaka started, "You could always eat with us if you want to." Instead of answering, she took a bite at her food.
"I told you not to bother her, right?" Murosaki glared again. "She's a snob. A snob."
"Could you please quiet down, Murosaki-san?" Mizuki said.
"My brother told me to take care of her," Tanaka said quietly.
"How can you take care of her if you couldn't even kill a cockroach?" Murosaki's eyebrow went up.
"Brother?" that pick her attention.
"Shiro-niisama," she answered.
"You're that guy's little sister?" Hotaru asked, her face still blank but couldn't hide surprise in her voice.
The shy girl nodded.
"How did your brother knew about Hotaru?" Murosaki asked. She may never admit it but she has a crush on her friend's brother.
"They are buddies," the girl answered, they couldn't read her expression because of her bangs.
"Can you do something about that bangs of yours?" the Yankee scold the shy girl. "So, you are buddies with him? How did that happen?"
"Uhmm," Hotaru was uncomfortable with the question. How can she answer that? Tell them that she has an alter ego? No way. Thank God, Tanaka saved her by saying, "They met in our family's Plant a Tree campaign. She volunteered."
"Then why do we not see her?" the girl insist, "If she's there, then we should know about her too. We volunteer in your campaign too, right?"
"I do not always come," Hotaru answered for her. "Now, if you would please eat in silence. Thank you very much."
A vein popped on Murosaki's head but a look from the other girls stopped her from snapping at the new member of their group again.
"Kinomichi," Hotaru looked at Mizuki. The tall girl really look like a Japanese, except that she's too tall. Hotaru wonder if the girl has been bullied before, not that she wish she did. She's so tall, and Japan will bully a unique girl like her**. "Where are you going?"
She raised an eyebrow, then shrugged. "We are going to the café near the school before going home, do you want to come with us?"
Hotaru take a moment before she said, "No, thank you. I must decline. I need to go home."
"Che, boring," Murosaki murmured. Mizuki glared at her.
"Okay then. Bye Kinomichi-san," she said.
"Bye, Hotaru-chan," Tanaka said. Mafuyu nodded towards her while Murosaki glared.
"What a weird bunch," she said out loudly. Did she gain friends with them? She never know, not when she doesn't think them as her 'friends'.
"Good afternooon, ojisan," Hotaru said. Every afternoon, she have a kendo practice in her grandfather's dojo. She teach the younger ones while her grandfather teach the older ones. By adults, she means from age thirteen to twenty. While she teach kids from age five to twelve. The students has their own rank and their own schedule.
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday—Hotaru teach her students age five to eight. While Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday are for age nine to twelve. Sunday is her rest day. Even though she has a tight schedule because of her role in their dojo, Hotaru still feel glad because of it. It takes her mind out of everything else.
"Assemble," she called out. The small kids lined up in their formation. Ages five to eight are easy to control. There are those who still think of doing a prank but when she glares at them, they will behave immediately. "We are going to do our ranking today." She motioned to her assistant to bring the chalkboard. She showed them the pyramid she made last night. At the very bottom of the pyramid was their names. Each of them has different opponents.
"When you win the match, you'll move up. There will be eight matches in the first round, the winner in those matches will play with each other at the second round. In the second round, there will be four matches" She look at her students, their faces are solemn but she knew that will change when the match starts. "In the third round, there will be two matches. The last round, the two people who are left will going to fight each other until one is defeated. The winner will be rank 1 and his oppenet will be rank 2. Next week, the one who lose will have their matches for rank 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. The rest will need to do practice more for the next ranking."
Everyone nodded, "Hai, sensei!"
"Everyone take a break," she commanded them. She went through her pyramid and her notes. She's proud of her students, they fight each other without inhibitions, they really want to win. She glanced at her rank 1, then she smiled a little. Her smile grew larger when he started to move towards her.
"I should have finish it a bit earlier, oneesan," Ryo said, gasping for air.
"You did great, boy," he just glared when she start to ruffle his hair.
"Ryo-san," his opponent called him. He turned and saw Ken walking foolishly towards them. "That was a great blow. I couldn't even see it coming."
"Thank you," he laughed. "You did damage too, you know."
The two are best friends, and if not equal, their strength is really great. Every ranking match, the two always switch places in their rank, never going down from 2. However, their classmates respected the two, even though they are the one who start trouble sometimes.
"Hotaru-oneesan," Ken caught her attention, "Aren't you going to eat?"
"Ah, yes," her stomach answer for her when it growled. The two boys laughed, she smiled a little. "Come on, let's eat."
In the other side, the sound of the balls smashed around continued. The people who remained in the school swing their rackets like there is no tomorrow. The sun is setting down when the last sound of ball stop. "See you another day, Tezuka."
A/N: There you go :) BTW, Under A Cloud-sama, yeah. Well, you are the reason this story was born, you know. :)
I will tell you now guys, I am sorry for introducing more OC, I couldn't stop myself, she needs friends, lol. As for her another personality in front of her students, she needs to act like a teacher (I don't know if I got the feeling though): strict but understanding.
And yay! Ryo came out, even though it's only a bit. For the Midnight Tennis.. yes, I called them 'Midnight Tennis', although they do not meet at midnight (what about 'Twilight Tennis'?) I will write their profiles in my profile.. That doesn't sound right. Oh well.
*Tanaka Reina- yes, I got her name from the former Morning Musume leader. I just love her, and it's kind of cute. Both the name and the owner.
**I am not saying that Japanese are bullies. No, not really. But sometimes, there are really people who do some great job of bullying, and most of those I watch are from anime, or what I read on manga. So sorry if I offended anybody