Meanwhile, outside, in the change area, two gentlemen were frantically asking everyone where to meet for the legendary Momozono Miki.
"Sir, Ma'am, have you seen Momozono?"
Most of them shook their head until finally a young gymnast pointed to the first aid room. "I saw her being carried by a man. They got in there."
The two guys looked at each other. "A man…"
"She's got a boyfriend," the skinny guy decided.
"They're in that small room together," the chubby one added.
"Maybe we shouldn't disturb," the skinny one said again.
"But we've come all the way here to see her! Maybe we should wait out her until she comes out," the chubby one suggested.
Both of them sat on the bench outside the first aid room.
"Maybe we should go," the skinny one said after a while.
"WHAT? NO!"
"She probably has forgotten about us."
"No way. How could she forget about us?"
"She's injured. Maybe we should leave her alone."
"All the more we should see her to show our support."
"But…"
"You were so keen to come why are you backing out now?" the chubby one asked.
"Well, uhm…."
"AHA! I know! Because she has a boyfriend!" he said rather loudly.
"Ssh!"
Inside the room Miki and Akama exchanged look when they heard a loud voice from outside. "Let me check it out." He opened the door. "Oh my God!"
"Oh my GOD!" the two guys exclaimed in unison. "Chief!"
"It's only him!" Aoyama cheerfully said to Kijima.
"Kijima! Aoyama! How are you, man? What are you doing here?" Akama shook their hands cheerfully.
"The same reason you're here I guess," Aoyama replied.
"She's inside, come on in," Akama opened the door wider for them to go in. "Miki, look who's here."
Miki looked up. "Oh my God! It's the perfect 10," she said referring to Aoyama as 1 and Kijima as 0 because of their opposite look. "Hey guys! What a nice surprise!"
"Hey, girl! How are you doing? We came to watch you," Kijima said.
"Geesh, you guys surely chose the best time to watch me," Miki said sarcastically.
"It wasn't that bad," Aoyama said.
"Oh please, it was the worst ever," Miki said.
"Well, to be honest we've never had chance to watch you. We heard today might be your last time so we decided to come."
"Gee, thanks, I guess," Miki said.
"This is so great!" Akama said. "It's like a reunion."
"Yeah, everyone comes to see me fall," Miki grumbled.
"Don't be so sensitive, girl," Aoyama said.
"Oh what do you know?" she snapped.
"Hey!" Aoyama protested.
"Easy, easy, people," Akama said.
"Sorry, guys," Miki realised she took her disappointment on her old friends. She rubbed her ankle. Somehow it's getting worse by the second.
"I think your ankle is swollen," Kijima commented.
"You reckoned?" Miki asked. She tried to compare her two ankles.
"Let's take you to the hospital," Aoyama suggested.
"Yeah, that's a good idea," Akama agreed. "Come on!" he picked Mike up and carried her.
"Was it you who carried her in earlier?" Aoyama asked.
"Yeah," Akama answered.
"He thought Miki had a boyfriend," Kijima said.
Akama suddenly dropped Miki on the chair "Do you, Miki?" Akama asked.
"Ouch!" Miki complained. "No!"
"Oh," Akama picked her up again.
"What's that?" she asked.
"What's what?" Akama asked back.
"The dropping."
"Oh, I thought it won't be appropriate if you belong to someone else."
Miki rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right."
"So, Miki is still single, huh?" Kijima teased. He used his elbow to hit Aoyama on the waist.
Aoyama rubbed his hurt waist and glared at Kijima.
"Yeah, what about you guys? Anyone married with kids yet?" Miki giggled.
"Aoyama's single," Kijima said quickly.
"I supposed you're not then?" Miki asked Kijima.
Kijima grinned sheepishly. "I am also single."
"It's easier to point finger to someone else, huh?" Aoyama complained.
Everyone laughed.
"What about you, chief?" she asked Akama.
"Single and available, are you interested?" he teased.
Miki laughed. "I'll date all of you if I could."
"Greedy," Kijima teased.
"It's only fair," Miki defended.
"Miki!" a voice called.
Miki tried to peek behind Akama's shoulder to see who called her.
"Oh my! It's Kuroda!" Miki yelled. "Hey!" she waved. The other guys turned around.
"Oh wow, it's really a reunion!" Akama said. "Hey Kanpei!"
"Hey!" Kuroda was surprised to see the rest of the gank there.
"Hey man!" Akama, Aoyama, and Kijima called.
"Let me guess," Kijima said. "you came here to watch Miki's last performance because this could be her last."
"Yeah, how do you know?" Kuroda said between catching his breath.
"Because that's why we're all here. We still think the same way!" Kijima said cheerfully.
"That's so sweet of you guys. Thanks!" Miki said gratefully. She couldn't believe her worst day could turn out to be the best day by having all her dearest friends around her.
"You don't look too good there, partner!" Kuroda commented.
"Can't walk, but apart from that, I'm great!" she answered cheerfully. "Oh come here, you guys, let me hug you. Put me down, put me down."
Akama put her down.
"Group hug! Go!" she said. Everyone laughed and formed a circle around Miki and everyone hugged her at the same time. "Go!"
"Ouch! Watch for the ankle!"
"Miki!" another person called. Miki quickly counted the guys around her. "One, two, three, four. Who else could it be?"
"Oh Mr. Tanaka, it's you," Miki hopped towards her coach. The guys quickly took her arms and helped her out.
"Whoa, who are these guys?" Mr Tanaka asked.
"Meet my friends, Akama, Kuroda, Aoyama, and Kijima. Guys, meet my coach. Mr. Tanaka."
All the guys bowed to Mr. Tanaka. Mr Tanaka bowed back.
"Wow, I didn't know you have friends," Mr Tanaka said.
The guys looked at each other.
"They're old friends," Miki explained. "And I do have friends!"
Mr. Tanaka laughed at Miki's protest. "Well, it's just seem that you're a loner," Mr. Tanaka said.
"She's a loner?" Akama asked. "She's a very much loved girl."
"That's very good," Mr Tanaka said, still surprised. "I came to take you to the hospital."
"We'll take her," Akama said. "She's our girl."
"Oh, okay then. Take good care of her. Miki, will we see you at the club next week?" he asked Miki.
"Sure thing, see you Mr Tanaka. Sorry about today!"
The group left the confused Mr Tanaka. For a girl who just injured herself, Miki surely looked very cheerful. She's more cheerful that she had ever been. She was like a different person. "I really don't know that girl," he muttered.