Bribe me

By Jerui

Author's note:

Hello. It's been a while. I sincerely apologize because I promised I'd update June and now it's in the middle of August. (T_T)I got depressed because my friend said my writing was not getting better. I know my grammar sucks but she didn't need to put salt into my wound. Sniff. Anyway, please put up with my grammar for now because no one's applying to be my editor. Ha ha. And I easily get distracted so sorry about that. I have been reading Aoharaido (a manga written and drawn by Sakisaka Io), and fanfictions written by Tacuma (who captured my most favorite PoT character's dynamic personality, Fuji) and I must say that they are so awesome it kept me away from writing. Don't blame them though. I also have school to deal with and life is getting harder at the university. I am currently taking up math, science and technology electives and I must say that I also suck in that department. Lol. That's why I'm in the creative arts.

No Anji for now.

nertz, Enma20, Jaz-147, imnobeautyqueen, Silver Flyer, Nikooru-sama, and Kageriah, thank you for the reviews on chapter 5. Kageriah, I know my grammar is not good (T_T) because it is not my first language but please bear with me until I find someone to edit it. Thank you for pointing it out though.

Chapter 5 The Plan and the Persuasion

"Sakuno-san," Sadaharu Inui-senpai called out, Momo-chan-senpai, and Eiji-senpai behind him.

"Y-Yes?" I reluctantly answered.

"Can you help us with sometihing?"

And then I saw that glint that I ever get to see only when he hands out his weird concoction, and knew that I would not have the chance to refuse.

"The plan is very simple. We have gathered data of his favorites from Echizen Rinko-san, Echizen Ryoma's mother."

He gathered data that fast? How can that be?!

"We just need your participation. It seems that there is a ninety percent chance that Ryoma will obey after you hand him our offering. He accepted it after all. There is also a fifty-fifty possibility that he will ask you out" what the heck? "or he will just ask you to be his school buddy. To prove either possibility, we need you to carry this bugging device so that when the time comes, we can either blackmail him if he confesses or continue to bribe him if he becomes your friend."

"Why do you need him on the team anyway. We have a very good team that can reach the national using team work…"

"There is a 110 percent that the members aside from the regulars would work hard because they have a world-level rival for the regular's spot," Inui-senpai explained. And then he added sadly "It will be good motivation than drinking my energy juice."

"Sakuno-chan, ne, if he confesses to you, it's up to you, nya~. We won't tell your brother, ne," Eiji-senpai teased.

"Eiji-senpai!" I protested. As if I would go out with him!

"It can't be helped, it just can't," Momo-chan-senpai added.

I sighed. "I-I won't be able to refuse right?"

"We also got permission from Ryuuzaki-coach so… we are to help you cook and get the ninety percent flavors of Echizen Rinko-san's cooking."

"Ne, Inui-senpai, are you sure about that? We get the feeling that any food or drink you touch becomes Inui flaovored. Blech~" Eiji-senpai complained, and hid behind Momo-chan-senpai.

"Eiji, Momoshiro…" Inui senpai whispered and then he faced them. "I have this new juice that will surely leave you refreshed. It's the new concentrated Inui's kiiro power juice…."

"ah—a-a-ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Eiji and Momoshiro ran away, followed by Inui-senpai. I sighed again. I don't have any choice do I?

Beep, beeeeep.

I got my phone out and read the message: "See you tomorrow morning, Sakuno-san. –Inui."

I sighed for the last time.

"No way. There's no way I would join the tennis club," I stubbornly refused.

I was deceived and now I have to join them? No way. What a devious plan they have formed.

"Ryoma Echizen, you can't refuse. You ate two-weeks worth of bento which I prepared very early in the morning. Surely you wouldn't waste my hard work?" that twin-braided devil talked back, standing two meters away, enjoying the wind breeze.

I am pissed more to myself than to her. When was it again that I thought she looked good? I must have been hoodwinked into thinking that she liked me. She wasn't confessing. She was just embarrassed of what she was doing the whole time. Arggg!

"What do you say? Or do you want us to air this recording to the radio room and be done with it."

I stood up, my gaze blank, my voice robotic. "Do what you want."

As I open the door, I heard her say, "I'll wait for your reply tomorrow lunch. I know you won't refuse. You accepted our offering after all."

"MOM!"

"Ara, Ryoma, welcome back."

"How can you do this to me?" I complained loudly, throwing my shoes on the doorstep, producing a loud clack. I went to the kitchen, stomping my feet loudly and found my mom cooking.

"Do what my dear?"

"Don't play dumb mom! They had me fooled!"

"Oh? It worked? I was just worried you don't have friends so I—"

"I don't need—"

"You need it! You can't play tennis with your dad forever! You have to have friends to play with! I was worried why you never had friends to begin with. You can't hang around with Anji forever either. Have a life Ryoma."

"But I already have tennis!"

"And so as the team. It's a waste when you have those skills and not sharing them with others. You've got to experience other things."

I rolled my eyes. Yeah, right. Experience other things. I was deceived today. It was another thing… Where was I yesterday? Thinking about Sakuno Ryuuzaki's clear brown eyes. And now, I was thinking of how much of a devil she was.

And I don't think they need me either.

"Think about it son. They need you to motivate their team. They will be delighted to have a professional level tennis player. You will benefit by gaining friends and having a social life. You can't be alone forever. Here."

She handed me a plate of rice rolls.

"Think about it. Maybe you can bargain with what you want from them and they can also say what they want from you. Just compromise."

I sighed. I have a weak spot when it comes to my mom. I found myself considering my options.

To be continued…