I've been so ill and busy with work that it pained me to update the story, knowing how long you guys have been waiting for chapter 24. Thank you for bearing with the sloth-paced update! And thanks as always for the lovely reviews, favs and alerts. It's little things like these that keep my day going and motivation running. So happy!
Chapter 25 is done and ready for uploading soon-ish. Hopefully before work gets really busy again. Urgh.
The last scene of chapter 23 in a nutshell: A visitor arrived at the tennis courts with an unpleasant surprise for everyone. What's that 'resignation letter' commotion about?
That night
10th Nov, Monday
"Do that any longer and you'll live to regret when the wind changes.
His companion grimaced with displeasure. Who wouldn't when that was the most patronising way of reproving a seventeen year old high school girl?
Then again, this was Atobe Keigo...
...He who poked fun at her gift earlier, calling it 'chunks of plastic sloppily thrown together'.
Audacious and bombastic in nature, the Hyotei captain gazed ahead as he led the walk. His back firmly straight and hands in pockets, Atobe raised a shapely-trimmed eyebrow into a flawless arch at the continuing silence, as expectation of a snarky retort dwindled.
Surely after all the various exchanges (ranging from harmless teases to firing childish insults down each another's throats), she's not taking this trifling remark seriously?
Over his shoulder, Atobe regarded his brooding companion trailing closely behind.
"Akemi?"
"..."
"Akemi!"
"..."
Atobe gave her ten seconds, which quickly ended on three. Patience was wearing thin.
"Oi, I'm talking to you here."
He turned sharply on his heels.
Absorbed in her muddled thoughts, Akemi unwittingly walked straight into him. She stumbled back a few paces from the impact, rubbing her nose where it hurt. A few choices of muttered insults slipped through her tongue.
Atobe scoffed, and the unflattering comments ceased. With an angry flourish, the penguin-face adorned novelty pen disappeared down the breast pocket of his impeccable black suit.
"Is that the kind of treatment you give to those who bring you to watch the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra?" Arms folded over his solid chest (or lumps of cast-iron as it's known to Akemi), he glared down at the noirette, reproachfully as though admonishing a child. "You've been nothing but 'mmm', 'ok' and 'no' tonight. Where's your enthusiasm? I thought you were looking forward to this?"
Hands dropped like deadweight beside her...
"Or have I wasted my time?"
...Akemi hung her head in shame.
Tantalising fingers of the cool breeze caressed the back of her exposed neck. Voices and boisterous laughter carried from the doors of Suntory Hall muffled into faint whispers on reaching their ears. The surrounding ambience of a typical, buzzing office complex was quiet and serene, perfect for an evening stroll through Akasaka – the glittering, influential business district of Minato City in Tokyo.
Tonight, nothing of that peace resided inside the fidgeting noirette.
A pair of hands engulfed her shoulders, the fingertips dug into the velvety fabric of her blazer concealing the black shift dress she wore. Not too deep that it hurt, but judging from the firmness of his grips, there's mounting certainty that the trip to the stately tower of Atobe Zaibatsu Headquarters located nearby would be adjourned.
Akemi kept her eyes averted. Her raven-black hair pulled up entirely into a high bun with the odd stubborn strands clipped behind ears, her face was laid bare for his scrutinising gaze. They roamed all over her contorted features searchingly, as though unravelling the secrets hidden in the folds of her skin.
Eyebrows furrowed together.
The night spent on coaching the girl on business conduct, Akemi had seemed rather perturbed. At that time, passing it off as pre-meeting jitters was logical. Her appointment with the editor had been the following day, after all. She shouldn't have any reason to fall back into that state where half her mind was badgered by worries.
Worries that she's being...
...tight-lipped about.
Dark blue eyes sharpened.
"Spill."
Akemi flinched sharply at the curt tone. Trust the eagle-eyed captain to see past her façade. A sigh of resignation whistled through her parted lips.
Where's the harm in it?
"Suppose." She paused abruptly for a moment of uncertainty, twirling a lock of hair around a finger. "Suppose, there is this club that thinks I fit their criteria with my expertise as a karateka. Do you think I should leave –"
A shadow of pure horror fell over his face.
"– the tennis club?"
Having dropped her gaze, she'd missed the look. Akemi studied the gravels beneath her court shoes with feigned interest until –
"Leave the tennis club?"
His face stiff as a statue turned into a disconcerting shade of blue that alarmed Akemi.
"Leave the tennis club?"
Like a tape-recorded on repeat, the murmurings gradually grew from its low and dull tone, rising through the dynamics. Akemi braced herself just as it reached a thunderous tenor that shook the night...
"LEAVE TENNIS!?"
...and left a strange buzzing in her ears.
But that's the least of her worries.
Witnessing the proud and dignified composure breaking down was quite spectacular. The sight of a hyperventilating Atobe lent much to be desired though. Hands slipping down her shoulders, the Hyotei captain grasped her upper arms into an iron grip. With every hot breath puffed out short and raspy on her face, her skin prickled unpleasantly.
Spectacular wasn't the word to describe it now.
"Leave tennis? What's gotten into you!?" Atobe shook her violently on the spot. "Where did that come from!?"
"S-st-o-oh-oh-op!" Akemi cried through clattering teeth.
Whether it was done intentionally or overwhelmed by madness, Atobe continued his relentless mission to (literally) shake some senses back into her head.
Akemi decided she had enough. Her hands wandered up the front of his blazer and wound around the lapels. Eyes clenched shut, she timed the movements. At the precise momentum, she tugged at the lapels with all her might.
Both ungainly lurched forward.
Pain beggaring descriptions penetrated their precious skulls.
XXX
Tuesday, 11th Nov
Akemi's free period
'Where's the harm in it? Where's the harm in it?'
Akemi slammed the cover down onto the glass and jabbed at the green button. A loud whirring noise, akin to a gasoline-powered hedge trimmer starting up, reverberated within the walls of the school library. Needless to say, it did nothing to ameliorate the excruciating pain growing exponentially with the noise of the printer from a bygone era.
She dragged herself to the windows and leaned her pounding head against one of the panes, feeling more tired than usual.
The fleeting excitement that came with the approval from the editor-in-chief of Classic Mori Publishing in the form of two cheery emails from the Human Resource department and Aihara had long faded into nothingness.
Relishing in the cold glass, a bleary-eyed Akemi watched as pages after pages of the contract churned out were stacked neatly in the tray, as if hypnotised by the methodical rhythm. Subconsciously, she ran a hand through one side of her fringe. Slowly at first, the movement turned frantic when she caught sight of her reflection on the window until the dark spot was safely tucked beneath the black veil.
Lips parted with a heavy sigh of despondent frustration.
Of course, she had several reasons to be.
The obvious being the lovely bruise acquired last night from smashing forehead with Atobe (not like he participated in the game voluntarily). Just at the mere recollection, her heart dulled to the point that if she hadn't been quick to pull herself together, the heavy feeling would have consumed her.
Silence returned to the library once the printing completed.
Akemi dawdled at the windows, eyes closed, foolishly wishing that all the problems in the world just go.
Another sigh.
Heaving off from the window, she begrudgingly trudged back to retrieve the print-outs. Contracts in hand, she glanced around the long table and supply cabinet for a stapler.
Akemi froze with a sharp twinge of fear. An eerie sensation crawled up her spine, causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand on end.
...someone's watching her...
She spun around on the spot, instinct ready for the confrontation.
But the aisles, each flanked by bookshelves on either side, stretching before her were endless, deserted passageways.
Eyes darted about the suddenly daunting place uneasily. Hidden in plain sight in the biology section, it protruded out between two books, as if the person who left it there had done so deliberately.
Despite her misgivings, Akemi took a few tentative steps forward the bookshelf. She recognised it at first glance, had an inkling of its content even before opening the letter to read.
XXX
Lunch
A new kind of disease must be spreading among the regulars.
Akemi was dead certain.
"I'll read through everything and hand it back to you signed straight afterschool." Yukimura patted the brown envelope, and managed to squeeze the copy of his contract amidst the clutters on the table. His lips curved upwards into a wide smile, his dark slate blue eyes glimmering vividly gazed at her. "You're diligent as always. I must thank you."
"Just doing my job."
It was pure flattery on the surface.
At least, that's the impression the noirette had as she eyed the fair captain suspiciously. Though she might not be the most perceptive person in town unlike some (i.e. Yanagi and Atobe), there was definitely something off about him today. For a person whose demeanour was mellow and placid outside the tennis courts, he was letting off more radiance than usual through the smile alone.
As if forced...
...just like the 'vibrant' atmosphere around her.
"So, what brings this sudden congregation to my table?" Akemi enquired dryly, frowning across the assortment of bento boxes at the Rikkai captain. His dazzling smile was starting to unsettle her. "I don't remember receiving a note about this."
They were here – all eight of them – sitting around her with chairs and tables 'borrowed' from her perplexed classmates. Equally so, the noirette studied each regular carefully, suspicion growing inside her.
Once adamant in giving her a wide, chary berth during morning practice, the whole lot of them were happily encroaching on her personal space.
Too happily.
Akemi sank lower in her chair with an almighty judder when an arm slapped down on her shoulders.
"Aww, don't sound as if you're not pleased to see us, Akemi-chan!" Marui quite unceremoniously ruffled her hair. "Since we hardly have a get-together lunch, we thought you might feel lonely without our company!" He threw his hand up into the air with a jubilant cry. "So here we are!"
"Hear, hear!" Kirihara threw his arms like his redhead senpai, completely unaware that a pair of chopsticks had pinched a hearty amount of meat cutlets right under his nose.
"I appreciate the kindness," Akemi retorted flatly, pushing the pesky arm off, and hastily brushed her dishevelled hair back to its former appearance.
She was lucky. The eight of them were too preoccupied to notice the bruise, or the sudden flare of panic.
Akemi put on an air of indifference. "I was going to eat with know? Just the two of us?" Said class vice-president insisted on sticking to her own seat at the far corner of the classroom despite the noirette's persuasion. All because of a certain Trickster was present in the throng.
Yanagi chuckled. "The more the merrier as they say."
A few eagers nods went around the assembly.
"Less is more. Therefore, less is merrier."
Like drops of melt water, the harsh sarcasm rolled down its dangerously smooth length and dripped from the razor-sharp end of the icicles clinging onto her voice with a crystal-clear resonation. Neither caught the glaring hints from her tone, metaphoric equation, or her peeved expression.
Swept under the carpet of oblivion instead, some grinned widely, others far more interested in their food than the ongoing gaiety.
Whilst the atmosphere around their little group seemed excessively bright and cheery, the same couldn't be said for that outside the circle. Akemi sensed them – the intense hunger and desire burning in the hearts and the covert glances thrown in their direction. They lurked on the edge, like big cats circling their prey, preparing for a strike, but faltered at the slightest chance.
"Come on! Give them a try!"
Because the classroom was more crowded (not to mention rowdier) than usual, Akemi felt the treacherous spike in the outer atmosphere with the sharp intake of breaths. Feeling the ravenous stares turning on her gained such sinister quality, it gave her more than enough incentive.
"I'm not extremely hungry," Akemi declined with an uneasy laugh. "You can keep them."
She tried to keep the refusal polite as Marui insisted/demanded she taste his cooking. Sanada, who sat on her other side, barked at the redhead to cease and desist. The vice-captain was indubitably ignored.
She tried to push his bento box away with some form of civility. Her ears were starting to hurt from the shouts coming from both directions.
She leant back as much as possible from the offensively enticing tempura dangling in front of her face.
"Umm...Marui-kun?"
A timid voice broke through the raucous noise. The girl – Akemi recognised from the next class – faltered when the three of them turned around in their seats. Blushing madly, she took a step back when her eyes made contact with Marui's violet eyes...and several more upon the look on Sanada's face. A couple of friends (she assumed) stood firmly close behind her, whispering words of encouragement.
Eventually gathered enough courage, the nervous girl retraced her wobbly steps and proffered her artistic creation to the redhead. It looked untouched. Akemi pondered on the girl's self-inflicted torture on her stomach. The food must have turned stone cold by now.
'Such waste,' the noirette tutted.
"M-Marui-kun, this – I made this myself." The girl bowed her head coyly, gesturing to her lunch helplessly. "Would you like to try some?"
"Oh, thanks! Don't mind if I do!" Unashamedly, the redhead poked his chopsticks into the bento box and pulled out a happy-looking octopus sausage. "Mmph! Good!" Marui exclaimed through a mouthful, gaining a gasp of delight from the timid girl and a heated glare of disapproval from the vice-captain.
Another stepped forward with her offering.
"What about mine, Marui-kun?" This one sounded more confident and proud than the first. "I made the marinade from scratch using an old family recipe."
The teriyaki promptly disappeared into the redhead's mouth. "This is good too!"
Unknowingly, his responses triggered a vicious chain reaction which was nigh impossible to inhibit once started. Freed from the shackles of incertitude, the eager fangirls descended on their tables like swarms of angry bees.
Soon, class 2-B was thrown into chaos.
Armed with bento boxes and chopsticks brandished like swords, they jostled around one another, trying to get closer to the regulars and screaming their names shrilly on top of their lungs.
After a close-call with an elbow, Akemi decided it was time to leave. She swept up the scarcely touched lunch into her arms and calmly rose to her feet. She pointedly kept her head turned away, even as the tell-tale sounds of her chair being turned into an object of tug-of-war rattled her resolve.
Ignore. Ignore.
Akemi grunted flatly, detouring to Hinata's desk as she headed for the exit, and pulled the bemused class vice-president from her seat. "Let's go, Chitose-san. There are countless places where we can eat in peace."
"Ah! Senpai is leaving!"
With a disarray of clatters and screeches, chairs were pushed back. The squeals and desperations intensified tenfold.
Alarmed by the storm of feet scurrying after them, Akemi lengthened her strides and upped her speed. Pulling Hinata along, she deftly wove around the odd students scattered throughout the corridor. In no time, they reached the second floor landing. But glancing up the stairs leading to the third floor –
"Yo! Noda!"
Grinning from ear to ear, a third year descended the stairs with one hand raised in greeting. Dark brown hair pulled into a high ponytail that swung with the faintest movement, and sea green eyes brimming with confidence, she looked like any other ordinary senpai.
Except as the noirette discovered it the hard way yesterday...
...this was no ordinary senpai.
"Such a coincidence, I was just about to drop by at your classroom!" Coming to a stop, she let out a hearty laugh. "See, it slipped my mind to tell you this. Come watch today's training session at the dojo. It'll definitely help you decide if my club is the right place for you."
That's right.
The girl standing before the flabbergasted juniors was Sugimoto Kotone of class 3-E, and captain of the girl's Karate Club since last spring. Under her leadership, her team had breezed through the ranks during the summer high school regional and national tournaments, toppling the crown of the previous winning team to much shock and amazement. Quick-witted, confident and resolute, it was expected coming from the first heiress to the well-revered Sugimoto Dojo.
Akemi never heard of such dojo until Yanagi mentioned it.
As a national champion, Sugimoto's eyes were fixated on the trophy. Which was unsurprising – to the Data Master at least – when the noirette fell under her radar.
The incident with Takeda back in late August?
Allegedly, she was one of those who witnessed (happened to be in the right place at the right time) the noirette taking down an ex-Rikkai student using a tricky (considering the precarious situation she was in then) manoeuvre. Observant and experienced enough to pinpoint the field of martial arts Akemi practised, Sugimoto sought to recruit her since then.
The tennis club's play?
Although those were acted out and put together with Sanada, the stage combat left a deep impression on Sugimoto.
But occupied with circumstances and responsibilities, the brunette couldn't set forth her plan until recently. Her unannounced appearance at the tennis courts yesterday sparked much furore. Fortunately, the regulars were the only ones left after club activity ended. Had the rest been present – no, Akemi didn't want to stray into that territory.
That letter she was about to give Yukimura yesterday?
It wasn't a letter of resignation as previously mistaken, but penned by the karate captain, exalting her prowess and urging her to join her club. Even in person, the brunette was exasperatingly assertive and direct.
"I need people like you!" Sugimoto had unabashedly declared to the stunned noirette and regulars."You can challenge yourself! Hone your skills! Learn new ones along the way! It'll be more exciting – and rewarding – than staying in this club as manageress!" A few boys had to be physically restrained by force following that rather presumptuous comment.
Recalling that event, the throbbing sensation returned. Akemi heaved a sigh of exhaustion. How long could her head stand this kind of abuse before the skull (and her sanity) cracked under pressure?
Before she could utter a word, Sanada appeared from behind and planted himself firmly in the line of fire. His arms folded over his chest as one would raise their hackles to challenge, back rigid and straight, dark brown eyes narrowed into a menacing glower.
They were drawing more attention. Curious onlookers were causing bottlenecks at the doorway and steps, but they wisely kept a distance from the domineering presence in the heart of the confrontation. Arriving at the scene, the rest of the regular pushed their way through the crowd to stand behind Akemi and Hinata.
"Are you asking her to shirk her duties!?" Sanada spat. There was an abrupt pause, as if the vice-captain suddenly remembered something significant. Akemi saw the conflicting emotions flickered across his dark brown eyes as he scrupled. Eventually, he dropped the defiant stance with a begrudging grunt, "Senpai."
Sugimoto cocked her head in puzzlement.
"Encouraging such behaviour, you –" Sanada stopped short from raising his voice, ears flushing furiously.
Another tense silence, punctuated by the sputtering of unintelligible words as the struggle to maintain a respectful conduct became awfully apparent.
Dealing with the seniors in the tennis club was different. Sanada was their vice-captain. And as a member and vice-president of the discipline committee, he possessed the authority to punish students regardless of their status and age. In fact, while on the way back from the toilet, Akemi once caught him blasting a group of third years just for lingering a couple of minutes past the bell.
What was about Sugimoto that caused the usually indomitable neighbour of hers to grapple for a single word?
It struck her.
Sugimoto was a girl.
Adopting a different approach, Sanada cleared his throat to hide his earlier uneasiness and steeled his gaze. "Sugimoto-senpai, may I courteously inform you that we do not tolerate truants in our tennis club irrespective of their stature as per club policy," he cited in a stifling, formal tone. He paused, this time with the intention of allowing the gravity of the situation to sink in. "Disciplinary action does extend to the instigator."
Underlying the tone of finality, there was much veiled pride, as if he had already won this fight.
The brunette burst out in hysterics...much to this chagrin.
"Aww man!" Sugimoto guffawed, hugging her stomach as tears trickled down her cheeks. "That was one of the best I've heard!" She slapped Sanada hard on the shoulder.
Akemi found herself gawking with the other students. That was an incredibly bold move.
"Quit being prim and proper for once, Sanada!" Sugimoto chided the appalled vice-captain with a light-hearted wave of a hand. "Lighten up a bit! You'll do everyone a good favour in the future. What have I been telling you since middle school?"
Wait what?
"Since...middle...school?" Akemi echoed dubiously.
"Oh, didn't you know?" Yanagi stepped up to the plate to enlighten the befuddled manageress. "These two have a history – oh, I don't mean that kind of history," he hastily added with a chuckle upon receiving an astounded stare.
"Then?"
"You probably won't believe me. In our second year of middle school, Sugimoto Kotone once headed the discipline committee."
Frankly, she didn't.
"Eh!? Do you mean to say that she," Akemi gestured wildly at said karate captain who seemed uninterested in taking part in the one-sided argument, "was the president of the discipline committee once upon a time?"
"And the then vice-president was yours truly," Yukimura nodded in the direction of their indignant vice-captain.
Akemi closed her mouth, scowling in befuddlement as her brain tried to make sense of this new revelation. She noticed something odd hovering beside Yanagi. "...umm...are you finding this whole situation amusing?"
"Whatever do you mean, Akemi-san?" Yukimura chuckled flippantly.
"For one thing, you're smiling too much."
"Ahahaha – oh, you."
Unnerved, Akemi edged away from him.
"I don't believe –"
Sugimoto cut him off with a raised hand. "Sanada, please – stop wasting your breath."
Eyebrows twitching madly, the vice-captain seemed to be struggling against a grimace.
"Encourage what behaviour?" Sugimoto raised an eyebrow until it disappeared behind her fringe. "I'm merely asking your manageress if she's interested in watching my club's training session."
"Our training sessions clash, senpai," Sanada grounded out. "She has duty as manageress to uphold. Coming to your club means skiving off."
"I'm not forcing her to," Sugimoto chuckled light-heartedly. "To see such potent talent go to waste is a shame though." She shrugged nonchalantly. "At the end of the day, it's up to her to decide if the karate club is better suited for her."
"Better suited?" An affronted Kirihara screeched. "What are ya implying!?"
"Kirihara-kun! Manners!" Yagyuu threw out an arm before the Junior Ace could lash out.
"B-but she –"
"AKAYA!"
Above the many heads, the bell rang out.
"GET OUT!" Sanada snapped his head around, glaring viciously for the benefit of those hesitating. "EVERYONE! BACK TO YOUR CLASS!"
The dismayed crowd begrudgingly dispersed.
Sugimoto hummed, lips stretching into a large grin. Green eyes wide with an excited glint as if finding the kerfuffle thrilled her.
There was a tug on Akemi's sleeve.
"Akemi-san, if I may?" Hinata's whisper trailed off in an uncertain manner. She glanced nervously around; the intimidating figure of Sanada, Yagyuu and the door where the odd students were leaving through.
"Oh, it's fine. I'm sorry for dragging you along," Akemi smiled ruefully. "Thanks for staying with me."
Hinata had plenty of opportunities to excuse herself from this quandary, but stuck around out of concern. With lunch period ended, she couldn't dawdle any longer though. Also, this was between Sugimoto and the tennis club from the get go.
Akemi watched her friend scurried from view, wearing a ghost of a smile. Inhaling deeply, she turned to Sugimoto and opened her mouth to speak.
"Senpai."
That clearly wasn't her voice.
Calm and persistently poised, Yukimura broke away from the formation. He motioned for Sanada to step back.
Unspoken messages flitted between captain and vice-captain, their unwavering gazes weighing each other's thoughts. As Sanada dithered, Yukimura's eyes seemed to darken into a tempestuous ocean caught in a storm. It happened in a flash that Akemi was unsure of herself.
Sanada heaved a sigh of exasperation and withdrew.
Yukimura turned back to Sugimoto, and bowed deeply from waist down. "Please forgive my teammates for their brashness." He felt rather than heard the incredulous stares. Unbothered, he straightened up, and the air in the stairwell grew heavy with an eerie animosity.
Rather disconcerting.
"Forgive me for being blunt," Yukimura continued candidly, wearing a frosted smile. "Akemi-san is an important asset we simply cannot hand over on a whim."
The brunette grasped her chin. Raising an eyebrow, she studied the dignified figure of Yukimura with mild interest before turning to the regulars assembled behind their captain. They stood their ground doggedly, as if daring her to deride.
Akemi was the last to be scrutinised. Since the younger captain interceded, the noirette hadn't uttered a word.
Sugimoto smirked.
Hand resting on the handrail, she turned around and paused halfway to look over her shoulder. The movement caused her high ponytail to swing wildly in the air.
A sense of familiarity struck the noirette like a bolt of lightning. 'That hair bobble...'
"Tomorrow, eight o'clock, rooftop garden," Sugimoto said. "I eagerly await your response, Noda."
XXX
Afternoon club activities
Akemi should have known better.
"Take five, Akemi-san."
"Oh ok," the noirette replied swiftly. "I'll just finish this up first."
"As you wish."
The scratching of pen on paper died when it dawned on her.
Akemi lifted her head. They looked at each other wordlessly. For a long while, they remained like that; brown eyes gazing straight into the glistening pools.
She tore away from the sight and blinked owlishly a few times; confusion and dubiety alight on her features. She tucked the clipboard under her arm and walked away in a daze from Yukimura and his bedazzling smile.
Since when did he start being acquiescent?
XXX
"Sakurai," Ishikawa whined, "you're fanning too slowly – here."
The otherwise comfortable breeze ceased for a brief moment and picked up again, but more intensely. Biting down on her bottom lip, Akemi narrowed her eyes against the strengthening wind. She was sat on the bench, bits and bobs – such as the can of deodorant and bottle of shampoo – lay scattered around her feet.
Really...Akemi should have known better than to wander into the tennis courts.
Rumours of Sugimoto's recruitment campaign and the entire stairwell confrontation spread around school like fire burning wildly in the ruthless wind. By the time first period after lunch ended, it had reached every ear and became the talking point in conversations secretly passed between phones, corridor and even staff room gossips. What with the main issue arising from the Sugimoto's behest, it caused quite a stir (in the lightest term).
Akemi ought to be on her feet and getting busy. In light of the imminent U-17 camp, necessary changes were made to the afternoon schedule and training programme. While the regulars participated in the more gruelling and vigorous pre-camp training, it was business as usual for the rest of the tennis club members.
Between training and daily club activities, the manageress had since worked tirelessly. Loitering on the far side of the courts wasn't part of the plan.
But as the group of third years – flanking her on each side of the bench – claimed, a rest was truly deserved.
Akemi thought otherwise. Her fingers twitched, yearning for the comfort of her trusty clipboard, which was presently in the custody of Yanagi Renji after it was snatched away. She sighed inwardly, shoulders sagging.
Another third year picked up the wrong signal from the gesture. "You're tired? Allow me."
No amount of good massage lifted the deadpan expression.
"Aneki, are you hot? Hoi, first years! Haul your butts over here!"
Despite the presently overcast weather, a cheerily rainbow-streaked umbrella was propped over her head. A scuffle broke out among the senpais, arguing on the angle of the tilt. Urayama and his two friends could only watch on helplessly.
"Aneki! Let me polish your shoes!"
Without waiting for consent, the loafers were slipped off her feet. As the cloth rubbed feverishly on the leather, a glossy sheen soon appeared on the surface. The hands didn't stop there, and continued its incessant pursuit to (perhaps) polish the shoes until it reflected the sky.
"Aneki! This particular blend is great for smooth and brighter skin!"
A hot cup of tea was shoved into her hands.
"Have a cool, refreshing drink, aneki!"
The tea was promptly replaced with a glass of iced latte.
"Aneki! Your nails will look more beautiful manicured!"
Emptied of the glass, her hands were yanked to the sides and files chafed at her fingernails.
Little by little, matches and calisthenics halted at various point. The boys dropped whatever they were doing and flocked to the bench, as if drawn by the restless crowd huddling around the flaccid form. The number of people grew tremendously within a minute.
'Operation Pamper' took a sharp, desperate turn.
"I'll do your hair!"
"Comb! Get a comb!"
"No! A hairbrush's better for her wavy hair!"
"I found a hair straightener!"
"Argh! Where's a socket when you need it?"
"Hey! Hey! What are you dweebs lazing around? Go get the extension cable!"
"UNDERSTOOD!"
"Biscuits for your hungry stomach, aneki?"
"Freshly made sandwiches from Café Stellar! They're the best, aneki!"
"Can I offer you a good book to read, aneki?"
"How about manga?"
"This has topped the charts for months! Read this one!"
"Aneki! Do you need help with your homework, aneki?"
"We'll help you with history, aneki!"
"Maths, aneki!"
"Aneki!"
"Aneki!"
Correction.
Akemi should have returned home straight afterschool.
Sighing heavily, the noirette heaved her back off the bench and rose to her feet.
The sea of vivid yellow and black obediently parted for the manageress. They were startled into compliance.
"Senpai..." Urayama piped up with an uncharacteristic helpless lilt.
"Enough."
Nobody dared to refute. Certainly, as the balled fists were in plain view.
"Akemi-chan!"
Nobody as foolish as a certain redhead dared to refute.
He bounded up the noirette, oblivious to the warning signals. Like a child presenting their parent with messy doodles of blown-up houses and happily grinning titans, Marui proffered a batch of cookies sitting hot and crisp on the baking tray. "Fresh from the ovens!" He swung his arm out, and fished Kirihara seemingly from thin air. "Akaya here made a batch too!"
Kirihara chuckled nervously.
"Oi! What about mine?" an indignant Jackal barked. "Lumps of charcoals?"
Footsteps faltered subtly.
"Come on, Akemi-chan!" Letting go of a relieved Kirihara, Marui waved his arm exuberantly to grab her attention. "Everyone wants a cookie from this genius!"
The heels of her lustrous shoes clicked to an abrupt halt.
The Troublesome Trio – Marui's arm suspended limply in the air – and company behind them stared at the rigid form of their manageress with growing confusion.
Her head moved, and with treacherous neck-breaking speed, swivelled around.
It was said that the single-eyed glare threw the bench and its immediate surroundings into a blizzard-wrecked realm. Thick coat of ice encrusted the cookies; even the confectionaries didn't survive the wintery storm unscathed. Such was the fallacious legend passed down through generations of members of this humble club.
Akemi resumed walking, strides lengthening with each step.
Sensing the air thickened with the crackling of electricity, Yanagi looked up at the same moment the clipboard was roughly snatched from his grasp.
Had she not been quick to evade, Akemi would have bulldozed the curious spectator hanging around the top of the embankment. Barely registering the white robe, she uttered a quick apology and stepped around the guy.
Yanagi watched the inclement weather system thundered down the path.
It took a second for everything to click in place.
"Oh dear."
XXX
"Wh-what are we going to do?
"At this rate, senpai will definitely leave the club!"
"I still say it's your fault, Jackal!"
"What!?"
"Calling your cookies charcoals must have evoked that bad memory! Remember the brownie catastrophe Akaya told us?"
"Well I-I – B-bunta, you're the last person to lay the blame! You probably reminded her of the embarrassment which you caused at the end of the baking competition!"
"Beg pardon!?"
"You called yourself a genius in front of her; that's like goading her publicly!"
There was a collective gasp and a wolf-whistle among them.
"Did he really?"
"Well I never!"
"What were you thinking, Marui!?"
"Foolishness!"
"I-I...erm –"
"Calm down everyone! Akemi-san being here and not over at Sugimoto-senpai's dojo must mean something!"
"Th-that's right! Perhaps we have a chance – a-a silver lining. We can turn things around!"
"But...what if senpai really thinks that staying at the tennis club as manageress isn't rewarding?"
A brief, stunned silence.
"Hahahahaha...W-what are you saying, Akaya?"
"That's right ahaha."
"L-ludicrous implication..."
"Theoretically, it is plausible. Her karate skills might suffer a backlash from the lack of practice, but she has the adeptness to progress well if her fortitude is set right –"
Akemi had heard enough.
Upon releasing the vice-like grip, colours rushed back to the previously pale knuckles. Quiet as a mouse, she shuffled away from the door. Her hand reached around the school bag for her skirt's pocket, and exchanged the heavily scrunched up letter for phone.
A few quick taps later, the phone was stowed away.
A pang of doubt caused her feet to waver.
Akemi gripped onto the knot of her necktie tightly. Feeling the hidden butterfly pendant pressing against her skin strengthened her determination. She upped her pace into a light jog.
XXX
Evening had well descended over the city by the time Akemi reached the park.
Blanket of clouds shrouding the sky for the most part of the day finally cleared away for the waning moon, hovering amidst glittering stars barely visible in the harsh light pollution. Moonlight cascaded down the atmosphere and melded into the light of the streetlights, chasing away the darkest of shadows from the solitary figure bathed in its silver-blue glow.
Given the time, the playground was empty – desolate without its clamorous discord of children running around. The night wasn't completely still. Traffic hummed lowly beyond the park's fences, the odd souls pitter-pattered down the winding cobbled paths, nocturnal critters chirruped in the autumn foliage.
A wistful melancholia settled in her stomach.
Rocking idly on her feet, the swing creaked as it swayed sluggishly back and forth.
With temperatures struggling to stay at 10˚c, the bitingly cold night prickled at her exposed skin. Unfurling her hands from the chains, Akemi wrapped her arms around her shivering body, and clinched her legs together in an effort to save whatever warmth she had.
Her body seemed to have accustomed itself to the warmer climate of Japan.
Her mind?
Not really.
Akemi was fortunate to have shoved the school-issued tartan scarf into her bag, but overlooked the need for the jumper. Her numbed fingers danced over the otherwise snug scarf clumsily as she readjusted it around her neck. Arms wrapped around her shuddering body again, she shoved her trembling hands into the folds of the scarf.
For once, her eyes never left her lap where the phone rested on top of her school bag.
How long had she been staring down at the blank screen?
Shaking her head furiously, Akemi berated herself for doubting, and clung onto that stubborn assurance – just as how her fingers curled around the pendant – that he would show up.
But she had enough of one niggling thing.
With a clatter that broke the tranquil silence, the swing rose and fell back on its chains.
"Show yourself – or I'll come over!"
Addressing questions regarding romance...yes, it does take some time to develop between characters. Perhaps it's already there - deep down the heart of a slumbering volcano - but not realised yet. And when it does and who those characters are...heheh
Keep your eyes peeled for any hints of chapter 25 update on my tumblr blog! ;)
Poll results:
Yukimura - 8 (added 1 from review)
Atobe - 6 (added 2 from review)
Kirihara - 1
Niou - 1
Sanada - 1 (added from review)
Others - 0
Poll is still opened for voting!
Review yes? :D