It was just a month until the Inter High and everyone was nervous in their own way, their fearless leader Okamura liked to take the time to relieve some stress by talking to the little rabbit he'd befriended Hotaru. She in return would bring him sweets from the baking club for him to drown his nerves in.
Fukui had really quite taken to Gymnastics, or maybe it was just the girls in tight little leotards, but Eri apparently didn't mind because she never kicked him out.
Wei….Well, no one really knew what Wei did. No one was going to ask him about it say the least.
Himuro spent his evenings usually lounging with Shiori, who'd been officially his girlfriend for a while now and as long as she had no roommate to snitch on them.
And Atsushi didn't seem to give two shits about the Inter High; his days went about the same as always-eating everything. However there was nothing official between him and Chieko, she still wasn't sure he knew what he was doing most of the time, they were nearly inseparably. She just did not let him stay the night anymore after that…incident.
Shiori though, had been stressing to find a good affordable training camp…And she'd finally found one, she just needed some help.
"It's a good looking camp, seems like we could go there. However we'll need more volunteers to help with the boy's upkeep." Shiori understood that, they would need to have more help with cooking and cleaning so the team could focus more on the training rather than anything else. "So if I get more help we can go….?"
"Yes, how long until you can get some help?" Masako questioned with a raised brow and Shiori smiled. "Start applying to the Dean so we can go, I will have enough by then." Masako believed her, and so Shiori began her list.
Masako told her the bare minimum would have to be 5, and that was fine with her. She was sure that she'd come up with that amount in time, she already had two, herself and Chieko. Not that she was going to tell Chie that coming to the training camp she mentioned meant work….She'd probably be in charge of cooking, she wasn't half bad at that either.
The third member…May be difficult.
"Chinatsu-Senpai isn't going to agree to this." Chieko said immediately following after Shiori told her and the others on the roof of the school while they ate lunch together. "For one, she has Gymnastics practice but she also has school work and would only be allowed to come if her grades are good enough they don't think she'd suffer from the time off." Chie finished and huffed when Atsushi stole some of her meat from her bento. "I could imagine Chinatsu-Senpai having good grades, I am sure that wouldn't be an issue." At least Himuro was being helpful, Shiori thought with a huff. "I was thinking of getting Kensuke to talk her into it, they're kind of close…" Shiori trailed off and Chieko scoffed.
"Only because he's better at Gymnastics than the rest of the team, and teachable…." Chie shot a glare at Atsushi that made him look away with a pout. "Wei doesn't do too badly; it's just the muscly men of the team aren't that great yet…" Shiori mused and Himuro cocked a visible brow in reply. "Are you saying I am not muscular Shiori?"
Letting out a squeak she flushed in embarrassment and looked away quickly. "Of c-course not! I mean it's just that Murasakibara and Okamura-Senpai are both really-Why are you looking at me like that?" She quickly spluttered out when she saw the sly smile on his lips. "Nothing at all…."
Ignoring their little lovers quarrel, Chieko poked at her foot idly. "What about the other two?" She finally asked, and Shiori was happy for the distraction. "Hotaru-Chan and Ayano Minori, I think Hotaru-Chan could help with cooking." She quickly added when Chie shot her a glare. "Bad enough she goes off on her own with that Gorilla at school but to let her go to a training camp with him…." She grumbled and Shiori rolled her eyes some. "What would they do?" Atsushi questioned, expression rather deadpanned but curious all the same.
"…" Everyone was quite silent for a while before Chieko covered her face. "Let's not discuss that…." She muttered unhappily and left him looking adorably confused. "Poor thing," Himuro whispered to Shiori and got a nod in return, but was lightly red herself.
"Anyway, who's Ayano Minori?" Himuro asked as he resumed eating and Atsushi did the same, not paying them too much attention. "Part of the Photography Club, she's actually the founder they do a lot of stuff for the school newspaper and all that. I was thinking we could bribe her with an exclusive look on the team's training camp. It would give their club some good exposure it's still quite small." Shiori chirped as she shut her notebook. "I was going to ask her to come to practice today and take some photos, see if she goes for it." She added and Himuro hummed thoughtfully. "That would be good for the basketball team too." Shiori smiled and nodded softly in agreement, glad he liked the idea as well.
Chieko made a pretend gagging sound and shut her box swiftly as the bell rang. "Time for class, I'll ask Hotaru when she comes to bug me to bake with her."
Of course Shiori had to hug her for that but it made Chieko fall on Atsushi's lunch box by accident-
"….Alright I am out before he explodes." Himuro stated as he saw the shadowed look on Atsushi's face and the girls pale expressions.
"TATSUYA!"
Exiting class with a tired sigh, Shiori scratched her neck and tried to recall back to where the photography club was held and then turned to go there-but bumped face first into a giant's chest. "Ouch oh god-oops, sorry Wei thought you were Murasakibara…." She trailed off, shivering when she thought of that giants rage after they knocked his food everywhere. Wei merely blinked at her before shrugging. "Where are you going? It's time for practice and the gym is that way Shinju-San." He pointed out making her smile. "I know, I am stopping by the photography club to try and recruit some help for the training camp?" She was glad he didn't ask about mistaking him for Murasakibara, and looking worried about it.
"Oh, right Coach mentioned working on that last week…" He mused, trailing off before shrugging again. "Sure, why not."
While that was occurring for once Chieko went to the Baking Club of her own volition and stepped inside, eliciting gasps from its occupants. "Hisoka-San you've finally decided to join us!" Running toward her with arms outstretched, Hotaru was met with Chie's hand on her face to keep her back. "No, actually I am not. Can we step outside?" The odd request left Hotaru a little confused but she agreed nonetheless and slipped out into the empty halls with Chie.
"What's up?" Hotaru asked nervously, playing with the little braid in her hair unconsciously as she looked up at the much taller yet younger girl. "Shiori wants to know if you'll come to this training camp she's got set up two weeks before the Interhigh, she asked me to ask for her since she's looking for others right now." Chie finally got out with a sigh and Hotaru blinked rapidly in surprise and her mind immediately went to getting to spend more time with Okamura. "Ye-Wait…How would I do that I mean I have to take time off from school…." She trailed off and Chieko shrugged. "Shiori's giving me some paper work to get signed….If your grades are fine you'll be allowed an absence for it." She explained and Hotaru pursed her lip in thought.
"On one condition." Hotaru replied after a few minutes of annoying silence and Chieko rose a brow at the rather petite girl. "What?" Chieko asked quietly, eyes narrowed some and Hotaru managed a nervous smile. "Help us learn to bake better; we all want to be better at this…." She trailed off, expression a little thoughtful before she looked up at Chieko again. The much taller girl frowned, going silent for a while and Hotaru was a little worried she had pushed her buttons too much but then she nodded and pink hues lit up. "Let's go, I'll teach you guys some stuff…." She pushed past the happily squealing girl and sighed.
She hated teaching~
As for Shiori and Wei; they'd both gotten themselves lost among the halls looking for the damn photography club that they ended up going to the office to find the room. Apparently Shiori read it wrong and they went in the opposite direction of where it actually was. Wei was not pleased with her because of that to say the least.
But they found it at last and when they walked through the doors Shiori was surprised to just see a total of 6 people there, all with fairly nice cameras but one who had a very expensive looking camera around her neck.
She was kind of plain looking but still pretty, long raven hair was tied back in a high pony tail so the hair just gently brushed against her shoulder blades while kept up. Long bangs were tucked behind her ear but some rogue thick pieces fell in a set of chocolate brown eyes. She was quite slender and wore a thick set of headphones around her neck with a wire that likely went to an MP3Player in her skirt pocket.
Indifferently Ayano stared at the two as the other students there gaped at the tall basketball player gracing them with his odd presence.
Seeing Wei Liu wasn't something they were expecting, nor did they expect to see Shiori there either.
"Hi." She waved awkwardly before stepping in along with the taller Chinese man. "What brings the Manager and Small Forward of Yosen to my humble club?" Ayano drawled as she lifted her camera and took a random picture of the two's rather amusing expressions of confusion.
"You're….Ayano Minori right?" Shiori asked hesitantly and the raven haired girl nodded as she adjusted her camera lens. "That's right." She drawled and Wei rubbed his dark eyes since the flash blinded him briefly. "I was hoping we could discuss a deal that might benefit both our clubs?" At that, Ayano lifted her head and her lips barely curled to show the tiniest of smiles. "I wouldn't mind listening."
Wei felt like this was some sort of business transaction instead of just trying to get volunteers to help with the training camp, sitting across from Ayano as she sat at desk and adjusted her camera absentmindedly while she stared at them with a more indifferent expression than even he could pull off. Regardless, if this was who they needed Wei wouldn't question Shiori-he'd just question this odd girl.
"So what you want from me is to go to this training camp for a week and help cook and look after the Giants of Yosen in return for getting to take as many pictures of them as I like?" Ayano clarified and got a nod in return. "Yup, I imagine the paper would like an inside look at the training camp before the Interhigh, it would be a good exclusive and exposure for your club if you were able to get in on the private training camp." Shiori reasoned and Ayano hummed thoughtfully as she leaned back in her chair, kicking her legs up on the desk lazily.
"How about a celebratory photograph after making a lovely deal?" Ayano suggested as she raised her camera, and Shiori nodded with a smile. "Alright, smile." Ayano put the camera to her face and peered at them, but Wei wouldn't smile.
"I'll only smile if you smile as well." Looking a bit stunned briefly as she pulled her camera away, Ayano quickly composed herself and clicked her tongue. "….Touché." She mused, putting her camera down.
It was an odd moment but Shiori and Ayano exchanged numbers so Shiori could fully fill her in later, when they weren't already late for practice. At least they had an excuse for it though, so when they got there Coach Araki wasn't all that upset over it.
"I am just waiting on Fukui to talk to Chinatsu-Senpai and then I'll have them all." Shiori informed her after checking with Chieko to make sure that Shigeko-Senpai had also agreed to go along with it. Masako nodded and looked to their Point Guard, who looked a bit sheepish under their stares. "Well, I was going to ask her after practice…." He said with a weak grin. "Text me when you're done so I can let Coach know as soon as possible." Shiori insisted and Fukui nodded grimly.
He really wasn't sure how Eri was going to take this, to be honest. It was a very…selfish request to say the least considering her club activities. But nonetheless, he was going to ask and hope she accepted.
Fukui got out early, with the coach's permission, and headed right to the Gymnastics' team training room and when he stepped in Eri was dressed and talking to a few other girls he recognized as other regulars. However as soon as one of them noticed him they told Eri and she looked toward Fukui with a perplexed expression.
He merely grinned and waved as she excused herself and walked over to the pale haired man. "What the hell do you want?"
As polite as always, but still, it was strange seeing her in anything but a small tight outfit…
"Maybe I just wanted to walk you home like a gentleman." He retorted with a scoff and headed out with the small brunette girl. "I live in a dorm dipshit it's not like I am riding the bus or train home." She countered with a roll of his eyes and he sweat dropped some.
Well, he'd seen Himuro escorting Shiori to her dorm so…. "It's still the gentlemen thing to do." Eri didn't look convinced, but she also didn't tell him to fuck off either so he took that as a good sign.
"So have you been practicing your stretches and handstands?" After a while of silence Eri broke it and that made Fukui grin somewhat before nodding. "I am close to being able to walk on my hands now without falling over." He chirped and Eri's lips curled some. "Baby steps, but good all the same," she mused softly as she adjusted the strap on her bag absentmindedly.
"So when are you going to ask me what you came to ask me?" She asked bluntly and Fukui cringed at her perception. "Before we get to your room…probably."
"That'd have to be now because we're here." Cursing his poor luck the two stopped in front of Eri's room and he wondered if she roomed with someone when he heard music in the background and that made him hum thoughtfully before looking toward Eri calmly.
"Right, well I was hoping you might be willing to volunteer for going to a training camp with us and help the others out with cooking and stuff…." Truthfully he wasn't sure what they needed the help for besides cooking but whatever Masako needed to get it done. "How long is the training camp?" She asked calmly, hands stuffed in her skirt pockets. "A week, Shiori-Chan can give you a form to fill out so you'll get a pass from classes during that time…" He trailed off, expression hopeful as he watched the young girl tilt her head and stare at the ceiling.
"….Sure, but on one condition!" She quickly added when he suddenly grinned at her, making him puff his cheeks out unhappily, but she just rolled her eyes at him. "Name it." He drawled, stuffing his hands in his pockets to mimic her mockingly, causing her to narrow her eyes some but she didn't comment on it. "You have to hold a handstand for 3 minutes."
Before he could even say a word she slipped into her dorm room and shut the door in his face.
Oh he felt so fucked over right now, time to ask for Shiori's help.
Shiori was confused when Fukui came to her with the request to help him perfect his handstands, and for a moment she thought about telling him that Eri had already come to her with her paper work filled out and signed and she'd be helping them regardless….
But this was just too good to pass up, and agreed to help him in this situation he'd gotten himself into it.
So while everyone else was practicing for the Inter High, Shiori was helping Fukui stand on his hands for as long as he could. It was mostly the issue of helping him learn to handle all the blood flowing to his head.
"Alright….I am going to release your legs, do you have it?" She asked quietly and the pale haired Point Guard grunted, his face bright red from standing like this for so long. "I think…I have it…." He said quietly, and Shiori sighed. He decided to shoot for 5 minutes so he wouldn't look stupid when he collapsed from the head rush.
"Alright." She stepped away and watched as he held his legs up for a good few seconds, but then toppled over face first on the mat. "That looked a bit painful." She mused as he laid there rubbing his head furiously. "Well, let's try without me holding your legs up…." She said calmly despite the situation, and Fukui let out a quiet whine before pulling himself to his feet.
"What are they doing?" Eri asked as she stood beside Chieko, the taller girl grunting as she searched through her bag for her snacks. "Practicing hand stands so you'll come to the training camp." She explained, and the gymnast slowly cocked her head to the side. "Odd, I already agreed to go with Shiori….he took me seriously? Oh well, he'll figure it out eventually." Shrugging, she headed off to practice herself and Chieko watched Fukui with a blank expression, then bit into her candy bar.
"Poor idiot."
At the end of practice the Coach and Shiori wanted to make an announcement regarding the training camp—and it floored poor Fukui, who was dizzy from all the head rushes he had. "We have succeeded in getting all the volunteers we need; we leave for the training camp at the date previously given in the paper work we had you give to your parents and teachers. I hope you can all make it! Make sure to have your paper work handed in before the coming weekend. Clean up and hit the showers." Shiori said cheerfully, and everyone was quite confused at the painfully confused expression on Fukui's face.
"I was fooled…."
(This time I have a good excuse for being so absent, it was because early in the month a publishing company announced a contest, that whoever got a complete manuscript to them by June first would be considered to be published!
So I wrote a book in less than a month, required a lot of no sleep nights since I work 5 nights a week. Though really, seems like I cant get a chapter done in less than two months *Sobs* Sorry, hope you liked it. The training camp will be in the next chapter, and will likely be quite long so it may be a while with my busy schedule.
I do hope you like it, and thank you for all the reviews follows and favorites! I know it's not great, since I am horrible at beta work on my own stuff. xwx )