Bribe me
By Jerui
Author's note:
I'm back! Happy Holidays! Read and Review. :3
EchiZaki, yukina-chan15, jewlygem and symbalin, thanks for reviewing last chapter.
Subscribers, thanks for the support although I took longer to update.
This is unedited. Any constructive criticism may be put in the reviews. Or you could help me with the grammar by being my beta reader. (;p)
Chapter 7 Silence
And so, starting today, Ryuuzaki Sakuno, the boy's tennis team manager and the coach granddaughter is Echizen Ryoma's girlfriend.
Well, not really.
"Then, we should start today by going home together," I told her. I really don't feel like being her boyfriend but I could think of one advantage from this: less confession from the girls in school.
"…as if…" I heard her mutter. I just sighed.
"I'll wait for you after club duties then. See you."
She stormed away.
This is all Inui-san's fault, I thought inwardly as I went down from the rooftop. Now, I have to pretend to be his girlfriend now. What am I going to say to my brother?
My life as a member of the tennis team started this afternoon.
We all know how it happened so I won't explain it anymore. But then it just doesn't feel so real for me. My plans for a peaceful high school life were messed up.
I wore my white polo shirt that has a red stripe on the middle, and my favorite white cap and black knee-length shorts to practice. The club wasn't that strict in clothing unlike in middle school.
I heard that the regulars today were out on a friendly match against another school. Gah. I don't even know why they need me here! If they can do things as much as they did in the past that guarantees them a slot into the national tournament, then what am I for? I just don't get it. It felt like I was made a freshman slave, like what those upperclassmen do with newcomers.
After the practice, first years carried out their duties.
"Oy, Echizen! You're a member now! Why the change of mind, ah?" Horio said out loud while we were carrying baskets.
I was collecting the balls when I saw Miss Twin Braids talking with, uh, I forgot his name. It was the cunning glasses man was showing her his green notebook. I guess he wasn't a regular this time or maybe he's training the other club members. The others are nowhere to be found now, although there were some seniors idling around.
I just shrugged without giving any answer. Why do I have to pick up these balls by hand?
"Echizen-kun, where are you going?" asked Kato. I went out the courts and headed to the lockers.
"I'm getting my racquet," I replied lazily.
"I wonder why he has to get his racquet for."
When I came back, there were still too many balls on the ground. I sighed and then grabbed a basket and placed it on the other side of the courts. And then I started.
"WOAH! That's awesome, Echizen!"
"Wow, Ryoma-kun!"
Pinpointing the basket I brought on the other side, I smashed each ball on the ground, as if I was playing golf, without the racquet touching the ground. It's much easier collecting it this way.
"Look at that freshman!" said a senior outside the court.
"Show off," said another.
Well, I don't care as much, but they were too loud. This way's faster and I could go home.
And then it's done. I placed my racquet inside my bag and walked my way to the locker to change my clothes.
The sun was setting when I went out the club room. I planned on waiting outside the gates so I headed out. There were people who greeted me goodbye but I learned to just shrug and take no notice or it would cause misinterpretations.
I stood at the gates for fifteen minutes. She was one slow girl. A few moments later, I saw her and her signature braids a few meters away, but she was with someone else.
I thought the regulars were on a practice match but apparently, the captain came back to school.
I saw the strangest expression in her face while talking to him and then I knew. I just knew.
"Echizen, take her home safely."
Tezuka Kunimitsu said it like a command. A captain even outside courts, huh.
"Yes."
Ryuuzaki's expression changed almost as quickly as a service ace. Her face looked sour now. I don't care. I must learn not to care any longer. But it was curious how much she must have liked him.
"I have to come back to the coach. See you guys tomorrow morning. Be careful." And then he turned away.
She stared at his retreating back a few seconds more. I turned. I must not care.
I tuned everything out.
Silence.
...
Without talking, I took her home. She didn't seem to have anything to say either. It was the most deafening silence I have ever experienced, but the expression she was wearing while talking to the captain kept flashing on my mind. The lights were bright when we passed by the town stores but it was like a cave to me, seeing nothing.
Just what is happening?
We still have a long way to go to her house and I saw at the corner of my eyes that she was shivering. Was it cold? It doesn't feel very cold to me. But all the same…
"Are you cold?" I asked her, nonchalant.
She didn't answer but she was shivering. I grabbed her arm and went to the nearest convenience store where there is a vending machine. I took some coins inside my pocket and bought a warm canned coffee. I let her go.
"Here, place this inside your pocket." And then I took out my club jacket and placed it over her shoulders. "This should make you warm, I haven't used it."
She took the coffee but still wouldn't speak another word after that so we continued walking. No complaints on the jacket either.
It was like I walking alone except that I hear her breathing. We are near her house now.
When we stopped at their front gate, she removed the jacket and handed it to me without saying anything. I turned to take my leave. She just stayed on the gates when I looked back as I took a few steps. At least she was looking my way.
I headed home.
All of our lights were on when I got home and I heard people laughing.
"I'm home!" I said as I took of my shoes and went to the living room. Hurried footsteps greeted me and I was hugged tightly, my view blocked by strawberry smelling curly red hair.
"I missed you!"
To be continued…