Chapter 21: Reunions
She sighs as she walks through the sweltering heat, finding the temperature to be too far hot for her own good. Maybe she should try to learn to drive and then get a car? Ah, but the school doesn't allow that- or so the handbook says. They don't allow students to have cars or even motorbikes on campus. What a shame. She grumbles as for the fifth time in the passed half hour she curses the sun and its determination to turn her into a dried corpse. Kind of like dried berries but with more flesh and bone. Why does the weather have to be so hot in Japan? Having spent her entire Elementary career in Germany, she misses its easier climate more than just a little bit a the moment. What she wouldn't do for something cool to drink. Or eat for the matter.
What she wouldn't do to not have to grocery shop.
She grumbles as she shoves her hands into the small pockets of her cargo shorts, having dressed in a tank top to go with them after slathering herself in sunscreen to keep herself from burning into a blistering crisp. Normally she wouldn't be going until Friday, today being Tuesday. However tomorrow she expects a rather important guest to show up and she'd really prefer to be fully stocked than not. She had opted to just get the most basic off things she needed- such as eggs and milk, from a near by convenience store rather than hitching a bus all the way to an actual grocery based outlit. But even so, just taking one step makes her body warm, the heat threatening to seer off her flesh if it weren't for the white substance she had rubbed into it impreparation for this situation. Tatsumaki shes as she throws her hands behind her head and looks to the sky.
It's been about five days since the camping trip that had lasted a total of three full days. On the fourth, they packed up that morning and headed back home. Agreeing that they would see one another later Aomine and she departed when his and Satsuki's stop came up, leaving a lingering kiss on one another's lips. It was a fun time, in all honestly. The tree climbing contest was only the beginning of their antics. After it was determined that she and Aomine had hit a tie- go figure- Tatsumaki opted for Imayoshi to never tell a scary story with her around ever again- his skills at picking just the right words and adding just the right tone still haunts her with the tale he told on the first night. After the tree climbing, they had all gone their separate ways, however Momoi had decided then was the perfect time for her to pester the Stride ace. Momoi claimed that it was bonding time between the two of them, though it was more like an interrogation seeing as the girl saw it as her job to make sure that any other female near Aomine was worth his time. In the mean time, Satoshi went on that jog he mentioned while Yuji and Kazefujin opted to spend a little time hanging out as well. That had left Imayoshi and Aomine as the black sheep- though before the Captain could even joke about bonding with the blue haired ace, he was rejected and threatened with violence. Smartly, the senior opted to stay away from the fiery basketball prodigy.
The third day was spent swimming in a near by lake or in the case of Yuji- as he has a fear of water- relaxing near it. Not wanting him to be alone, Kazefujin and Momoi opted to stay with him and watch as Tatsumaki and Aomine turned swimming against the current into a small competition. Satoshi, seeing is as another good training exercise, joined them as Imayoshi decided he would see who won. The first one to reach three meters up stream won. But the current was powerful, and as such there was no winner. Not surprisingly, the crazy ace duo had managed to out do Satoshi until his stamina ran out. And then eventually they gave upon losing their own. It wasn't until then, that Imayoshi struck, playfully grabbing the only swimming bikini clad girl around the waist and dunking her under the water. It had caused Tatsumaki to yelp and flail upon being grabbed, and Aomine wasn't pleased in the slightest as he made to grab the bastard, but surprisingly enough he ended up slipping on a rock and taking the two down again with him. This began a war battle between two males. Smartly, Tatsumaki and Satoshi chose to stay away. After they swam to their heart's content- which, for Aomine consisted of dunking his senior eleven times and nearly drowning him three- they agreed that it was time for dinner and relaxation. During the meal kindly made by Imayoshi- whom again tried to get Tatsumaki to repay him for feeding them all, which she promptly offered money again and in turn he turned down and suggested a different pay back which resulted in Aomine yelling at him again- Momoi suggested that they share some talents they could do.
It was basic talents that she was looking for, like knitting or dancing. She already knew too well that the others were highly gifted in the athlete world. She shared first, admitting that she could sing. She kindly demonstrated upon Kazefujin's request. Her voice, to Tatsumaki, was above average but nothing to get excited about. It was light and lilting, matching her normally sweet personality well. The girl had demonstrated her ability by singing a love song- which didn't make any real sense until Aomine mentioned to her the other girl's love for one Kuroko Tetsuya, or Tetsu as he called him. Kazefujin admitted that she could play the guitar, though unfortunately she hadn't brought hers in fear of it getting damaged. Yuji could actually is very good at puzzles, being able to complete the toughest of sudoku in mere minutes. Imayoshi's own skills laid in reading people and messing with their minds- he is a manipulator, and a damn good one at that which is probably why he and Yuji get along to a degree. Satoshi actually admitted to not having any other talent other than his running ability that was contributed to Stride. Aomine on the other hand told the group that he is oddly good at catching bugs- beetle types and the sort. Tatsumaki did not bother to admit that she too could sing, having never really found her voice anything of importance. Instead, she decided to show the lot of them just how oddly flexible she is- something she too contributes to Stride when she needs to. Being able to contort her body into such odd shapes, the others agreed that she is comparable to a contortionist.
On the fourth day, they packed up and went separate ways.
Pulling herself from memory lane, Tatsumaki glares at the grocery bags that now hang from her hands, not so much as slowing her down but being a burden all the same. Trudging her way all the way to the convenience store ten minutes away from her house was bad enough as it was. The store had been cool and refreshing and made her want to also buy a cold snack. But with the heat being extremely high as summer's last hurrah before it would give way to the chiller setting of autumn, she realized it would melt far too fast for her to eat it. A shame really.
"See? I told you she'd be here," the voice is ignored as Tatsumaki makes her way around a corner, opting to walk in the alleyway in exchange for the slightly cooler shadows. The person was probably talking about someone else and not her despite being awfully close and she didn't want to stick her nose where it didn't belong. However, "Tat-su-chan!~" The nickname brings her to a sudden and near painful halt while her heart leaps into her dry mouth getting stuck there. She stops, shoulders stiff, but shakes her head as merely a coincidence. The person they were talking about could be called Tatsuki or something. She isn't the only 'Tatsu-chan' in the world no matter the way it was called out. "Aww, come on Tatsu-chan, don't ignore us!" However, she is brought to a halt when the person chimes after her louder.
No. Not louder. But closer.
The female whirlwind stops again, but this time contemplates actually turning around to see whom is harassing her. An arm is thrown over her shoulders, however, so all she actually has to do is look to the side. The male whom has flung his arms over her shoulders is a monster of a man, standing at a huge height of six feet and seven inches tall out doing even her own boyfriend. His hair is messy in its spikiness, sticking out this way and that from his head but also at the same time looking soft somehow. His face is built with a strong square jaw and regally set nose, his neither full nor thin lips pulled into a beaming the form of a near childish smile despite his deeper voice. His eyes, however, are more striking than even her own vibrant emeralds. Being the color of blood on top of a flood light, they seem to glow even in broad day light whilst being rimmed with inky black lashes. A scar rests over the corner of his left eye, as long as the first section of her finger but faint to the point that only being up this close allows her to see it.
She spooks with a not so graceful jump and pulls away with a, "Wah!" Needless to say, she was surprised.
Now able to look him over in full, she takes note of broad shoulders and a deep chest coupled with long arms and legs and big hands. He is a monster of a man, wrapped up in a black pinstripe suit whose jacket hangs off his shoulders like a cape. The white dress shirt and red tie along with pinstripe slacks complete the look. He is a very handsome fellow. "Ah, finally, I got your attention," he chimes happily. "Man," shamelessly he looks the girl over, "Look at you! You're even prettier than you were back then!"
Tatsumaki's mind races. What is he doing here? Why is he here? The how he found her however is pretty obvious- damn tabloids. How he found her in this town though, so close to her home, is a mystery. She wonders just why he is approaching her now. She wants to know his motives. She shoves aside his charming complement, not daring to get tangled up in it now even as he looks at her as though she were a rare gem. To him, though, that's not far from the truth. This boy- no, man- has always had a crush on her and been blatantly obvious about it. Painfully so at times. She can tell just by looking into those both beautiful and terrifying eyes that he adores her even still. Even after all this time, he's held on to his feelings. It's both flattering and frightening. "Akihiko," she pauses, correcting herself. She isn't close to him any longer, "No, Shigeru, what are you doing here?"
Mentally he flinches and grumbles. Shigeru? Does she hate him that much now? He knows their parting words weren't that pleasant but that doesn't mean he feels any differently for her. The man dubbed Shigeru Akihiko lets his smile drop if only a little. "What am I doing here? That's a silly question. We wanted to see you!" With a grand wave of his arm, he gestures to the others that stand a small distance away from the two of them. There are five of them, though four of them are terrifyingly familiar. "Plus, we wanted to show our newest addition to you!"
Newest addition? Who? Why would they bother to show her? As though to tell her that she's finally been replaced? That she doesn't have to worry about them crying over her any more? Or maybe it was that they didn't care in the end at all. That everything was just a charade to keep her spirits up and let her continue to help them win. Distrusting even as Shigeru points to the others down the alleyway, her eyes narrow. They all look the same despite having grown a bit and filled out thanks to puberty. Their muscle mass has gone up, their shoulders are broader, their necks thicker and their heights taller. But other than that, none of them seem to have changed. She does easily enough spot the 'new addition' however while he seems to be fairly fit she cannot see him on the course. So they have a new relationer? "I see him. Can you leave me alone now?" She'd rather not deal with ghosts of her past so to speak.
"What? No way," Shigeru shakes his head, "We want you to actually meet him! Come on Tatsu-chan, for old time's sake?" Actually, honestly the others can leave for all he cares. Friends they may be, but this is the first time he's seen her in almost a month; he'd very much love some alone time with her. Just flinging his arm over her shoulders isn't enough contact for him. He wants to hold her, touch her, have her. "Come on!" holding her close by her shoulders, he guides her back the way she came to the mouth of the back road where she can better see the larger forms of her memories. "This is Izanagi Nao, he's a second year at Sabaku Gakuen and our relationer. We managed to scout him from the school's track team earlier on in the year; he's been doing wonders for us. Nao, say hello to Tensai Tatsumaki, the girl who can't be beaten when it comes to Stride".
Nao is a tall fellow, his shoulders broad but his body trim and made to be aerodynamic. Obviously even nature wanted him to be a track runner instead of a relationer for Stride. Defying this however, he stands in front of her at a total of six feet and two inches tall- just enough for her eyes to tilt up but keep her head level. He's dressed in simple attire, a short sleeved shirt and shorts coupled with sandals. His hair is long and well kept in a loose low ponytail that allows some of the tied strands to hang around his neck. His bangs center themselves on his forehead, where as a strand of long inky locks frame either side of his handsome face. Green meets a dark gray color, or perhaps merely just steel, as they look ever so slightly down to greet her gaze from behind glasses with square black rims. A smile lifts his lips across his handsome face but does not meet his eyes as he speaks. "It's nice to finally meet you, Tensai-san. I am Izanagi Nao- Sakabu Gakuen's relationer for their Stride team and second year". The gaze is cold and unfeeling, dark even as he looks down upon her as though she had murdered his mother.
Tatsumaki returns the smile with a grin of her own, "Pleasure's all mine, Inazagi. Have the boys been treating you well?"
"More than just that," he assures, "We get along magnificently. However, the reason I opted to come when they announced that they were coming to see you is this: I want to tell you personally that we will dethrone you. You've hurt these boys enough as it is; I won't allow them to suffer by your hand a second time. In order to do that, we must win. I'm afraid you'll be losing for the first time in a very long time".
A small chuckle escapes a pair of lips that are not Tatsumaki's own. Instead of giving her the chance to retort, a familiarly kind tone speaks up from two people over. Drawing her eyes to him, the young first year steps forward a little. His stature even with hers, his eyes are a stunning violet while his hair is a soft brown and neatly kept. His shoulders like the others' have gotten wider, his voice deeper. However, she could recognize him and his kind gaze anywhere. Even if she had amnesia. "Please don't mind him, Tatsumaki-chan," he greets calmly. For him, the smile does actually reach his eyes despite the terms she left them on almost a year ago. "He's just a little salty about what happened between you and us. It's wonderful to see you all the same; we saw the race at EoS. Your running is still as beautiful as ever. You seemed to be ghosting over the ground as you went".
"Thanks I guess," she replies with a slight sheepish smile while pride gleams in her eyes. "So, are you guys done here? You've seen me, I've seen you, everything's hunky-dory. I have to get home; my Uncle's coming to visit and I wanna clean a little while I've got the chance". In all reality, the house has already been tended to- she did that before stepping into the dreaded heat. However, honestly she wants nothing more than to run away at the moment. There's a reason they all came other than to just see her. There has to be. That alone is not enough or them to come all the way to her town, five hours away from theirs. However as she continues to meet Takahashi Sora's gentle gaze, she does not see a motive other than what's been mentioned.
"Tatsumaki-chan," the naturally booming voice announces from her left, bringing her attention to him. Built wide and strong is a young man whom looks older due to the muscles upon muscles that make up his figure. He would do well in contact sports like football, but it would appear that Stride is his thing. Who is she to judge? He had always been thicker, but she never figured he'd fill out this much. "It's more than just simply amazing to see you again!" as he grasps one of her hands with both of his, he knees and stares up into her green gaze. The young man Tsuyomi Yuudai, has windswept spiky hair, the locks pointing to the back of his head save for two that frame either neon orange eye. The actual hair color looks like fire, being red with natural streaks of gold. A grin lights up his face as he greets her, "Before we tell you why we're here, I feel it is best that I tell you now. You're even more beautiful than you were back in middle school though I do not know it is possible for you to be".
An eye twitches. Tsuyomi Yuudai. Even when holding a simple conversation that require indoor voices, he is the one to be loud and proud. The library at her middle school had hated him for his voice which naturally carries. Even for her, his boisterous attitude is a little annoying. She wonders how the rest of them ever got used to it. "It's great to see you again too, Tsuyomi," answers the well muscled freshman. None the less, she makes to tug her hand from his endearing hold, his neon orange eyes trying to pull her in as they've done before in the past. To let her guard down, to make her smile at him like she used to. However, his hands hold fast, his thick palms gently standing their ground. The corner of her lip lowers, her eyes carefully watching the noble male. However, he doesn't seem to mean her any harm in holding onto her rather than letting go. It roots her to her spot, sending her heart into over drive. Now she wants to run away even more, regardless of whether they could keep up with her or not. In the off chance that they could keep up with her, she has territorial advantage- she'd be able to lose them if she tried hard enough.
"Back off Yuudai," the deep voice intones from her right, bland and straight forward. This tears her attention from Tsuyoshi and gives it to yet another male- go figure. This one is tall as well. His shoulders are broad and his build slim, meant for running. Dressed in casual clothing, she would be lying if she didn't say that this lad is beautiful. With a strong jaw despite his slightly feminine features and long, silky straight hair, anyone would dub him someone fitting of the title 'prince'. The long hair of his is kept in a tightly tied high ponytail, his bangs covering his forehead and a strand each framing his face. A chilly silver-blue gaze meets her lively green ones, confident and strong. "You don't need to crowd her".
"Ah, sorry about that Norio," Yuudai realizes as he releases the girl's hand. He knew she was trying to get away by tugging her hand. However he had held tight. He wanted to be near her for a longer amount of time. It was selfish of him to do that, though
"Ask her next time to hold her hand," the young man named Norio, known better as Osamu Norio, merely releases a slow breath from between his lips. "I am assuming that you would like to leave now, wouldn't you Tatsumaki?" But just looking her over isn't good enough. He would very much like to hold her hand like Yuudai did. To hold her like Akihiko did. However, he cannot break his own composure even under the influence of the high he currently feels just from being near her. She has truly become quite the beauty. He wouldn't be surprised if she had to beat suitors off with a stick.
Now the corner of her mouth twitches in the form of a suppressed smile rather than a hidden frown. Norio has always been able to read her like a book and agreed with her wishes to not be too crowded. He often drove away various strangers or reporters that attempted to get close to her for whatever reason they dubbed innocent and pure. She had always been grateful towards him for that. With him helping her get free of Yuudai's hold, it reminds her of old times. And for a moment, because of this, she feels a bit more comfortable. A little...Okay with the fact that the people she abandoned in middle school are standing in front of her, talking to her as though she hadn't actually left of her own choice back then. Or perhaps that she was there for the race but just didn't go to the same school at them. However, this ease fades as she realizes that none of those things are what happened. She left them, abandoned them, and nearly caused them to lose the EoS for the middle school division. She had done a horrible thing to them, and they shouldn't be talking to her as though they were still friends. Because in all honesty, she's fairly certain that they're not. She wouldn't want to be friends with her if she were any one of them.
But, try as she might, she cannot hide the truth from them. "You're right. I really would like to go home and pretend that I never talked with any of you". She wants to put her past behind her, damn it. "So if you'll excuse me, I have things to do". Sending a glance to their new relationer, she allows him a small sneer. Best leave on a bad note. "Good luck beating me; soon you'll realize just why I'm untouchable by the likes of normal people". As she turns on her heel, however, a seventh voice calls to her. Just after she passes Shigeru, shoulder checking him as best she can with her shorter stature.
"I-It was very nice to see you again, Tatsumaki-chan!" His gentle voice calls after her, bringing her to a momentary halt. "I hope we see one another at the Winter Festival tournament finals! We...We'll run against you with everything we have, and beat you! So please give us everything you have too!" He jolts a bit when a vibrant green eye meets his own lime gaze, the blue flecks especially standing out against the surrounding green today. Scratching the side of his light brown hair covered head, his layered locks fall back into place as he continues, "And...And I hope you have a good day!"
Tatsumaki looks back to Raiden Tomio, probably one of the most gentle people she has ever known in her life. Kind hearted and unable to even kill a spider for fear that it may have a family, Tomio had always been someone she stood up for when it came to jerks and rude competitors at races. She took him under her protective wing from day one on forward, wanting nothing more but to ensure his safety. Unfortunately, she'll be one of those asshole competitors now and the lord knows that she hopes he has someone else around to protect his fragile feelings. "Whatever. Just get out of my town," she grumbles forcefully. It pains her to see him flinch at her words, but she dare not go back and apologize.
To her, Tensai Tatsumaki is a shameless creature whom does not deserve the kindness of her former team mates. And she never will.
As he watches her walk away, Nao's eyes narrow as he places an arm over kind young Tomio's shoulders. He can see tears collecting in the boy's eyes, threatening to brim over and hit the pavement below. Caring and warm, he holds the tender and emotional first year close, "It's okay Tomio. We'll show her that she's been wrong this whole time. We'll kick her ass to the moon and back. She'll regret ever being so mean to you". The poor child had worked so hard to buck up the courage to come to this infernal place to begin with. To be talked to like he just was does more than just irritate the relationer.
However, Tomio sniffles and shakes his head, "I-It's not like that...Tatsumaki-chan has always been rough towards her opponents. Even before she became the Tatsumaki-chan she is now. But that's not why I'm sad". Although her words certainly did hurt, they are not the reason for the stinging in his chest and the hopelessness sinking into his gut.
"I don't understand".
Placing a hand on his shoulder, Sora sighs and offers poor Tomio a kind smile and his hankerchief. "We're all sad, Tomio. Don't worry, we'll make her feel better. So don't cry, okay?"
Akihiko's bloody gaze watches as Tatsumaki's lovely form turns around a corner, disappearing onto a new street and away from him and the others- but mainly him. He looks to his friends, seeing most of them as they too watch after the girl's retreated figure as though hoping that she would come back laughing it all off. Wishing that she would turn around and state that this whole thing was a joke. Alas, they all know it's not. "Tatsumaki is suffering, Norio. Everyone aims to be the best of the best, we all know that well. But what happens when you reach that spot? Or what's closest to it? If you're the best, then you don't have any equals or people who can understand how you feel. It's a lonely throne that no singular person should have so sit in".
Norio looks to his Captain, his brows furrowing from behind his glasses, "So you're saying that-"
"Tatsumaki-chan is lonely," Yuudai answers, "Yes. She left us because she was too strong. She did not feel right standing amongst her subjects as the queen. So she pushed us away. We know she's suffering; we want to help her".
(Untouchable)
A smile flits across her face as she spots the taller male whom towers over person after person. His fully grown and filled out form is well muscled and robust if nothing else. His shoulders are broad, his palms large as they carry the small bag that holds his belongings over his shoulder, another holding a briefcase. He is dressed semi-casual, with his long legs covered by breathable jeans, his feet by boots and his torso by a button up whose top three buttons are left undone and whose sleeves have been rolled up to his elbows. He is a pale figure, with platinum blond hair kept in a long braid, his bangs parited down the middle and framing his face, the roots making almost an 'M' shape combined somehow- she chalks it up to either hair jell or defying logic though she likes the second one best. Despite being in his late thirties and having been five years older than her parents whom apparently had her at an early age, one would assume him to be in his mid-twenties instead. Eyes so very blue they could easily out do the ocean light up upon spotting her as she too towers over head after head. However his six foot eleven inch frame easily out does her mere six foot one stature any day.
Being tall has always been on her mother's side of the family, she learned a long while back. The whole Leonhardt family was filled with giants even for Germans. Her mother was a massive six foot three woman and built like a freaking clydsdale according to the man before her. Her father had just barely grown to the same height when he met her. With Tatsumaki still being rather young, she wouldn't be surprised if she ended up taller than both as is what tends to happen.
"Onkel Alric!" She greets with a beaming smile that could out shine the sun. Her heart flutters happily in her chest upon seeing the man who rose her up and permitted her to follow her dreams despite it meaning that they would have to separate from one another. Her words smoothly transition from Japanese to German, wanting to make him feel more at home. She hadn't had to speak the language in at least a year, that being the last time before recently that she got to talk to him over the phone instead of through email or text. However, is through those alternative communication abilities that her German is still crisp and easy to come. "It's so good to see you! I hope your flight wasn't too cramped for you". Taking at the very least his duffel that she knows has been packed for only a week's stay, she throws it over her shoulder much like he had it a mere moment ago.
Alric Leonhardt smiles down at the girl before him, the apple of his eye and the closest thing he could ever have to a daughter. She's grown into something so stunning, he hadn't recognized her at first. A mirror image of her own mother, may she rest in peace. "My dearest," she coos calmly, his baritone voice gently crosses the distance from his mouth to his ears, "It's more than wonderful to see you as well. Japan is still treating you well?" He hasn't asked that question in a long time, actually.
Tatsumaki nods as they leave the airport side by side, waiting for the bus that would take them to the train station about twenty minutes away from their current location. "Japan's been great to me. I love the weather here even though it gets a little warm for my tastes and it doesn't snow as much as I'd prefer. The people here are nice and I've made a few friends now that I'm in high school. I told you that I joined Touou's Stride club a while back. Oh, and the Winter Festival tournament will be starting as soon as summer break is over". Which is in a week; she would be seeing her uncle off on her last day of freedom as he would be going back to Germany to continue his work. "How have you been? We email every now and then I know but still". She steps onto the bus that stops in front of them first, ignoring the amazed gazes sent her and her uncle's way. The poor man has to duck in order to not flatten his head on the ceiling, but luckily the ride is not long.
"I'm glad to hear that. I was a little worried after what you told me about last year," he admits as he keeps his briefcase, which is actually a laptop bag, on top of his lap. He stretches his long legs out as best he can, shins knocking into the bottom of the seat behind him. This unfortunately doesn't allow him to stretch the poor cramped limbs very well, that in turn sending shock of irritation up his spine, but he supposes he'll deal with it all for now. When he gets to Tatsumaki's house, he'll be more than able to fully let his legs and arms spread out wide. "As for these friends of yours...I assume one of them is this Aomine fellow you've told me about? Your dearest boyfriend?"
The white haired girl's cheeks light up gently in the form of a blush at the mention of her favorite blue haired male in question. "Yes. If you'd like, I'll see if he's free some time this week so you can meet him". The elder male is after all the closest thing she has to a father and she and Daiki have been together for almost half a year now. To think it's been that long is more than a little bit surprising.
Aldric nods sternly, his once smiling lips turning into a thin line. "Damn right I do. Even just an hour is enough for me to figure the kid out. I gotta make sure he's treating my little girl right like a man aughta".
This makes Tatsumaki smile lightly. Her Onkel Aldric is the best man she has in her life right now, other than Daiki of course. She prays that the two will get along, wanting nothing more than for the man at her side to approve of the man whom is lowly yet surely capturing her heart in full. Never the less, she leans back into the seat of the bus and lets it take them to the train station that lay in wait for them. They appear to be ahead of schedule, so they should be able to grab something to eat if he doesn't want to wait until they get back home. As she shares a light conversation with her uncle about various things ranging from his work to the races she's run and her team mates to his coworkers, the stress from the other day begins to fade. Aldric has always had a calming effect on her, not even needing to say a single word as his mere presence soothes her raw nerves. Her mind doesn't even ponder on the fact that she saw her former team mates only three days ago. And given the fact that it is what she's been driving herself crazy over for the past couple days, the relaxation is more than just a little welcome.
Team Sakabara
Shigeru Akihiko- Akihiko is the Captain of the Sakabara Stride team. Being as large as he is allows him to be both incredibly strong and fast. With this in mind, his best skills are slopes and curves. His stamina is off the charts as well, making him the best at the more taxing portions of races. He is fairly flexible, a feat in and of itself for someone as big as he, standing at 6'7'' with wild spiky gray hair and stunning red eyes that out do even Yuji's and Satsuki's reddish hues- they seem to glow even during the day. He likes to imagine himself to be fairly classy, and as such prefers to dress in pinstripe suits and wear fedoras- occasionally he can be seen wearing black rimmed glasses for show. He is the son of a Stride Association Executive, and as such is powerful man in the world of the sport. He is a first year in high school and fought the hardest when Tatsumaki left just before the Winter Festival tournament. Despite almost constantly smiling and bubbly- which is an odd combination for his ikemen (handsome/cool guy) features, it is dangerous to anger him. He is quick to painful violence and is not afraid to threaten his enemies with dark torture for doing anything he doesn't like. He is not much of a strategist but it is said that it would be stupid to go against him in any way without a full proof plan for he is highly adaptable. Upon meeting Tatsumaki in her first year of middle school, he had fallen in love with her and her abilities as the top prodigy as well as her as a person. They had grown extremely close through the years though his love is one sided and still lingers to this day. One could call him- and be right- obsessed with her. He would do literally anything for her to be by his side, including kill.
Takahashi Sora- Vice Captain of the Sakabara Stride team. Takahashi is the only person other than Tatsumaki whom can stop Akihiko's anger. The adoptive brother of Akihiko, Sora is very kind and gentle at heart. He adores Akihiko, and is often seen at his side regardless of where Akihiko is going. Being as gentle as he is, he is a lover of all life and is not afraid to show his feelings towards others. He tends to keep people at arms' length, however, due to his darker past. Being from a mafia family and beaten by his father for being unable to take his father's place as a son should, he was abandoned shortly before he met Akihiko. That in turn was about a year and a half before he had met Tatsumaki. Knowing the darker laws of the world, he keeps away from strangers to protect himself from any sort of harm. At the same time, due to his gentle nature he cries easily. Much like Akihiko, he is in love with Tatsumaki. Unlike Akihiko, he is willing to see her happy with someone else- though he would adore it if she were to ever be with his brother although that is unlikely- if not with him. Sora is a master at straights and gimmicks and has average endurance. However his speed control is off the charts. Able to 'feel' the wind, he senses rather than sees how fast he needs to go in order to reach his goal. He stands at a total of six foot one, making him Tatsumaki's height. His hair is neatly kept and brown to go with his stunning purple eyes.
Osamu Norio- Norio is the curves master of the team. With superb speed control and balance, Norio can run on walls of curves when they are enclosed, and has more than often times run on walls to avoid gimmicks. However it is his fast mind and logical thought process that allows him to calculate just how much power one needs in order to handle most portions of the race. His endurance like the others is far higher than average, however his flexibility is a bit less than the others. Norio is a cold man, supported by his deep voice and his silver-blue eyes that have earned him the Prince of Blizzards back at school. Despite his colder personality, he has bishounen features, making him out to be beautiful as opposed to Akihiko's robust. Norio, to go with his blue-silver eyes, has long straight purple hair that he normally keeps up in a high pony tail with bangs and longer frontal strands to frame his pale face. Seeing him smile is rare, however Tatsumaki often got him to do so with either her antics or her abilities. Being a man of logic and wanting to be a doctor when he's older, he has used her body to study how muscles work and just how much energy a 'perfect' body can out put. Oddly enough, he too is in love with Tatsumaki, however he is far less straight forward about it compared to Akihiko or even Sora. Small things, he believes, are what win the heart over as that is what Tatsumaki had done for him in the past. He is selfish, however, and like Akihiko would rather keep her to himself forever if he could instead of let her have the outside world where other men could see her.
Tsuyoshi Yuudai- The fourth member of the Sakabara Stride team. Yuudai is a slope and endurance master, he is also excellent at blocking, however his gimmick skills compared to the others are below average. Compared to the common Stride runner, however, they are amazing. Yuudai is a rather loud- boisterous even- young man. Built like a brick shit house despite only being six foot four, most would assume him to be a football or rugby player. With broad shoulders and muscles upon muscles, many refer to him as Soldier Boy back in school. However, he likes to think of himself as a knight instead. He is a noble fellow, more than often going out of his way to help people be they acquaintances or plain strangers. Unfortunately this normally messes with his sense of time and more often than not sense of direction- both of which are near nonexistent. Yuudai had fallen in love with Tatsumaki at first sight, sharing the same class with her in middle school along with Yuji. He saw her friendly and playful nature and saw a goddess of beauty and kindness. When he saw her skills in Stride one day, he devoted himself to her even further and joined the team as well. Yuudai hates all other men save for his team mates, and as such has dubbed anyone not himself or on his team to be not good enough for Tatsumaki. He worships the ground she walks on, and in the past has more often than not offered to carry her like the princess he believes she should be treated as until one day she becomes his Queen. Anyone whom so much as looks at her wrong is on his black list. Yuudai dresses himself in simple clothing more than half the time, sticking to muscle shirts and cargo pants or shorts with boots. His hair is red with natural golden streaks in it, making it look like fire as it holds a windswept look, its natural spikes all gently pointing to the back of his head despite being shorter than Akihiko's and two strands dangle over his face near the corner of each eye. His eyes are a neon orange.
Raiden Tomio- Member number five of the group of friends Tatsumaki abandoned. Tomio is a shy young man with shaggy straight brown hair layered and long enough to reach the nape of his neck at longest. His bangs are short and parted to the left. To go with his hair he has pretty light green eyes that have blue flecks in them. He dresses conservatively in that he tends to wear pants even in the summer and nice short sleeved shirts when not wearing the uniform of Sakabara High. While Sora is gentle in nature, he is confident. Tomio however has low self esteem despite being a prodigy when it comes to gimmicks. Often times, he holds back against opponents because he does not want to anger them and make them want to hurt him. Having been a sickly child and grown up using Stride to make him stronger, though his body has grown out of that stage he still fears getting hurt. Tomio has Hyperthymesia, a the ability to remember everything and anything he sees with clarity far better than a simple photographic memory. He can remember every day of his past as though he had lived it five minutes ago. As a result, the day Tatsumaki saved him from bullies on his first day of middle school is his most cherished memory. He had fallen in love with her kind out look but ability to stand strong when the time came. Too shy to ever admit his feelings, he has always been soft spoken around her. However, when he knows she is not looking he cannot help but stare at her with adoration. Deep down, he would rather her be by his side forever than by anyone's- even if they are one of his friends.
Izanagi Nao- This young man has long straight black hair and bangs that center on his forehead whilst longer strands frame his slightly tanned face. His eyes are a steal gray-black which are hidden behind black rimmed glasses. This long hair is kept in a rather loose low ponytail, allowing some strands to dangle around his neck despite being tied in place. He is actually a second year at Sakabara High and is the relationer for the Stride team though he had at one time been the Track team's relay ace in middle school and his first year of high school. Nao is the kind of man whom is more like a mother hen than anything. Being gay as the day is long may have something to do with it. Despite only being a year older than all of them, he sees each of the Stride boys as his sons or younger brothers, and as such has taken on the duty of making their conjoined dream come true. Beat Tensai Tatsumaki and bring her back to them. As far as he knows, each of these boys love her with all of their being for various reasons. Whether it is because she did something for them, or it was simply because they got to know her. He honestly hates her, having had to work hard to get them to trust them with their shared secret goal. And upon finding the reason behind it, he worked even harder to make them able to beat her. This is why they hadn't competed in the End of Summer tournament- they were not ready. He wants nothing more than to see his boys succeed, even if it means that this Tensai Tatsumaki will cry.