Chapter 2: Another Grom Bites the Dust
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. Nice to see this story getting off to a good start and I'm glad to see you all like it so far. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
After getting settled in Hiro decided to go check out his workspace.
Entering the back for the indoor pool wearing his swim trunks and a t-shirt, he looked to see huge stands on all sides, a huge Olympic-sized pool with right now only one platform floating in the water.
"Oh yeah, I am gonna enjoy working here all summer." Hiro smiles when he heard a rippling noise in the water.
Popping up onto the platform, Hiro saw a girl with short dark blue hair, blue eyes, and wearing a yellow one-piece swimsuit that clung close to her body. This was Rin Rokudo.
"Oh yeah I am gonna have some fun on this." She grins.
"Hey!" Hiro calls out getting her attention. "What are you doing out there?"
"What's it look like? Training. They said if we wanted to practice we should come here." Rin said.
"Yeah but you have to sign up with me first." Hiro said.
"Huh…oh you're that engineer guy. Sorry I guess I forgot. Uh sign me up for the next half hour. The name's Rin Rokudo." She calls out.
"I can't start training until the hotel is cleaned up. Didn't you listen during the opening ceremony?" Hiro asks.
"Aw but I don't like waiting." She groans.
"Sorry but the only allowed in here at the moment is me." Hiro said.
"Really?" Part of Rin's hair perked up like cat ears as a mischievous grin appeared on her face.
Diving into the water, Hiro watched as Rin swam all the way towards him and came up for air right at the edge.
"Wow, you're fast." Hiro said impressed.
"You should see my on the platform. Fastest Keijo player you've ever seen." Rin said.
'I bet Sayaka could give you a run for your money.' Hiro thought.
"So you got a name or should I just say hey maintenance guy?" Rin asks.
"It's Hiro, Hiro Aoki."
"Well Hiro you gonna help me out?" She asks holding out a hand.
Shrugging Hiro reached down to help her but Rin yanked him into the water with her causing him to gasp.
"Why you sneaky little!" Hiro said as Rin burst into laughter.
"Sorry I couldn't resist. You should see the look on your face. So cute and priceless." Rin laughs.
"Cute." Hiro blushes before shaking it off. "Come on, let's go."
"All right I had my life." As Rin climbs out of the water, Hiro got a look at her glistening body as the water dropped off her. "See when the tournament starts." She said waving goodbye.
"Man this tournament is full of interesting competitors." Hiro said wiping water off his face.
After unpacking, Nozomi, Sayaka, Non and Kazane had decided to use their free time to hang out and bond.
"So what should we do first?" Non asks.
"Not much we can do while everything is being repaired." Kazane said.
"Hiro should be around here somewhere." Sayaka said when they spotted Reef, Emma, Finn and Broseph walking out of the backroom, Emma was dressed like a serving wench, Reef was in a sleeveless shirt and trunks, while Broseph and Finn were in uniforms.
"Hey guys." Nozomi said getting their attention.
"Finally some friendly faces." Emma said as the four girls walked over.
"Non, Kazane, meet our new friends Reef, Finn, Emma and Broseph. They're working here as summer staff." Nozomi introduced.
"Hey nice to meet you." Non waves.
"Hi." Kazane said.
"Wassup ladies." Broseph said.
"Let me guess, Keijo players?" Finn assumes.
"Yep, they're also our roommates." Sayaka said.
"Hey where's your nerdy tech boy?" Reef asks.
"Hiro is not a nerd." Sayaka glares.
"We're kinda looking for him? You seen him?" Nozomi asks.
"Not yet, but if we do, we'll send him your way." Emma said.
"Thanks, so…what's with the costume?" Nozomi asks pointing to it.
"Part of the hotel restaurant. Everyone dresses like a pirate." Emma sighs.
"If it makes you feel better you look pretty good in it." Non said.
"Aw thank you." Emma smiles feeling much better.
"Sadly because of the party damages we have to wait a little bit before we can start preparing for the tournament." Sayaka said.
"Bro, that stinks." Broseph said.
"Tell me about it." Non said.
"At least you guys don't have to spend most of today cleaning it up." Finn said.
"So how you guys holding up?" Nozomi asks.
"Lousy, I just found out Reef got the job as Surf Instructor while I'm stuck in maid service." Finn groans.
"Yeah because everyone knows I'm the best surfer here." Reef brags.
"Uh I'll have you know my surfing rank is #56 in the world." Finn said.
"Yeah in the girl's category." Reef declared causing everyone to gasp.
"Oh no he didn't." Kazane said.
"He's dead." Sayaka said.
"Is that right? Well since I'm already in uniform I guess I better take out the trash." Finn growls throwing Reef into a garbage can. "One of you mind?"
As Reef tried to get out, Sayaka moves in and whacks the trashcan with her but sending him tumbling down the hall screaming.
As Hiro opens the door, Reef was rolling to him in a trashcan.
Screaming surprised, Hiro slams the door shut causing Reef to crash face first against the door.
Slowly opening it up, Hiro watched as Reef fell to the ground making the girls laugh.
"Uh what just happened?" Hiro asks.
"Nothing, just me doing my job." Finn snickers.
"Perfect timing Hiro." Nozomi smiles.
"Where have you been?" Sayaka giggles.
"Sorry was checking out our arena and ended up taking a dip." Hiro said.
"Well we're all here, so how about we go hang out and check out the beach?" Non suggests.
"Love to, can't." Broseph said.
"We have training and if we don't do well Bummer might fire one of us." Emma said.
"On your first day?" Kazane asks.
"Sometimes he does it to two employees." Finn said.
"Geez, no wonder everyone calls him Bummer." Sayaka said.
"Well good luck guys, you're gonna need it." Hiro cringed.
"What do you say we use today to check out our new home for the summer?" Kazane suggests.
"Sounds good to me." Non smiles.
"You coming Hiro?" Nozomi asks.
"You guys go on ahead, I'm gonna do some things around here. Try to make sure things don't get crazy." Hiro said.
"I won't." Nozomi said.
"I was actually talking to Sayaka." Hiro smirks causing her to giggle.
"Why do you two always do this?" Nozomi asks.
"Because we know you." Sayaka smirks making her groan annoyed causing them to laugh.
"Those three are pretty close." Kazane said.
"Well Nozomi said they grew up together." Non points out.
"I think it's more than just that." Kazane said softly.
Needless to say training from the groms was difficult, Emma was struggling with being a waitress, Finn was absolutely miserable cleaning rooms, Broseph had ways to go while trying to be a bellhop and Reef was too busy checking out girls on the beach to do his surf instructing.
Up front, Bummer looked to see a limo pull up and Mr. Ridgemont steps out.
"I just wanted to apologize for things getting a little out of control Mr. Ridgemount. You know kids." Bummer said nervously.
"Relax, it's not you I'm looking for." Mr. Ridgemount said walking past him.
"Thank you." Bummer said silently.
"The Keijo tournament is still happening right?" He asks.
"Yes sir, but we did have to push it back a few days to get everything back up to code." Bummer said.
"Good, this tournament is gonna make us a fortune in ticket sales and I want to make sure this makes it to the end of the summer." Mr. Ridgemount said.
Up in the penthouse, Lo was cleaning up the place making sure everything was clean before her father got in.
"Hi, honey." The door opens revealing Mrs. Ridgemount and their young son George. "How's my favorite grade 11 grad?"
Smiling Lo thought she was in the clear as George jumped on the couch.
"Hey I just fluffed those you little troll." Lo glares.
"Nice video." George said showing her a video of her partying last night.
"Where did you get that?" Lo gasps.
"My buddy sent it to me, found it on someone's MySpace Page." George said.
"Has dad seen it?" Lo asks.
"Duh and I thought I was in trouble when I set the boathouse on fire." George said.
"Where's daddy?" Lo asks.
"Firing Bummer hopefully." George said.
"Dad's not gonna fire Andrew." Ty said walking in.
"He should, he's a total loser." George said.
"So kids who's hungry? I can make my specialty, Room Service Buffet." Mrs. Ridgemount said trying to lighten the mood.
"So daddy isn't mad is he?" Lo asks.
"I wouldn't say that." Her mom cringed.
"Mad barely scratches the surface." George mocks.
"What do you know?" Lo glares.
"Enough to stay out of the paper." Goerge mocks as their dad walks in.
"I'll be in my office." He said walking away.
"He's just gonna talk to me, right?" Lo gulps.
"I don't know sweetie. He was pretty mad when he saw that boy drive your new car into the pool." Her mom said.
"LAUREN GET IN HERE NOW!" Mr. Ridgemount yells.
Gulping Lo went to his office.
"She's so grounded." Ty smirks.
"That's the understatement of the year." George laughs.
Entering his office, Lo saw her father at his desk.
"Hi daddy…how Tor—"
"I've been doing a lot of thinking about how to handle this little party of yours." Mr. Ridgemount interrupts turning to her.
Just outside the door, Ty and George peeked inside to see the action.
"You know I didn't always own a chain of hotels." He said.
"Uh oh, the golf caddy speech." Ty whispers knowing this all too well.
"I started as a golf caddy. Working my way through college on tips and built this fortune with my bare hands." Mr. Ridgemount said.
"I know daddy and it's a good story." Lo said.
"I realize something, my own daughter doesn't know the value of a dollar so I made a decision. You are gonna work for your spending money this summer." He declares.
"Oh like clean my own room?" Lo asks.
"No I mean work. For a paycheck with the other teenagers. All your spa privileges, credit cards and room at the penthouse are off limits until you prove yourself to me." Mr. Ridgemount declares.
"But daddy I need the summer to unwind. Maybe we should sleep on this and talk in the morning." Lo said as her dad got up and walked out.
"You're moving into the staff dorms tonight!" He declares.
"What?! But I need time to pack!" Lo runs out only to see the head maid Rosie had already packed her things. "You packed my things?!"
"Your dad called me up an hour ago to do this." Rosie smirks when the door opens revealing Johnny and Bummer.
"I'm here to move some bags to the staff dorms." Johnny said.
"And I'm here to give you your id badge." Bummer said giving it to her.
"Fine I can handle this." Lo scoffs.
"Oh and come in tomorrow at 7:30 to clock in." Bummer said.
"In the morning?" Lo said confused.
"Yeah for your breakfast shift at the DR." Bummer said walking out.
"What's that?" Lo asks still confused.
"The dining room. You know, the pirate ship." Ty points out.
"Come in a little earlier, you'll need to get your uniform fitted." Bummer said entering the elevator.
"I have to wear one of those uniforms? Ugh this is so humiliating." Lo groans.
Downstairs at gift shop, Hiro was looking around for a postcard to send home.
Looking around he saw tons of tacky and cheesy souvenirs of Wipeout on everything he couldn't help but cringe.
"Ugh is that stupid whale on everything?" Hiro asks.
"I'm afraid so." A female voice said.
Looking to the clothes rack he saw a girl with long blonde hair and blue eyes, this was Mio Kusaki.
"Look at this." Mio holds up a one-piece keijo swimsuit with Wipeout's face in the middle.
"Please tell me you're not planning on buying it." Hiro said making her laugh.
"As if, do I look blind and have no taste?" She giggles.
"So are you a player too?" Hiro asks.
"Yes I am, Mio Kusaki. Hey you're the guy I go to for training time aren't you?" Mio asks.
"Hiro Aoki." He nods.
"So Hiro to what do I owe the pleasure of this encounter?" Mio asks.
"Trying to find a postcard to send home but I can't find anything that doesn't have that dumb whale on it." Hiro said.
"Here let me help." Mio said helping him browse around.
"I don't think I'll be doing much shopping here." Hiro said.
"Me neither, if I walked around in anything like this I would laugh at myself." Mio said.
"Can you believe this cheesy stuff?" Hiro asks.
"I know, who would want a surfboard with diamonds on it?" Mio said.
"A dumb tourist with lots of money?" Hiro shrugs making her giggle.
"So true." Mio smiles. "I bet I could toss the board and sell the diamonds easy."
"Smart." Hiro teases.
"I'm more than just a pretty face, maybe you'll see me in action real soon." She teases back making Hiro look away.
"And I've seen that Wipeout mascot, they nailed his name. You can't help but feel bad for him." Hiro said.
"I would never be caught dead in something like that." Mio said.
"Well to be fair I don't think anyone would force a Keijo player to dress like that." Hiro said.
"I hope not. Here this one looks like the best." Mio said handing him a postcard with a sunset on the beach.
"Perfect, thanks Mio you really have an eye for this." Hiro smiles.
"Just remember that when I need to sign up." She winks.
Little did they know someone was watching them.
In the seating area, a girl with a short-sleeved hoodie over her head was pretending to read a book as she looks over at them. This was Usagi Tsukishita.
'Who the heck is this boy to think he has the right to get close to Mio. Acting all sweet and flirting with her, making her laugh.' Usagi glares. 'I guess I'll have to make sure he doesn't get anywhere near her.'
At the staff house, the groms were sitting down exhausted.
"That was the hardest day of my life." Reef said.
"Can't be worse than mine. I messed up so many times." Emma said.
"Come on guys, isn't this the time when we go surfing? Who knows when we'll get some time off?" Reef asks.
"Too tired." Broseph said.
"Way too tired." Finn said.
"I say we go for it, who knows when we'll get an hour off again?" Emma asks.
"Okay I'm in." Finn said.
"Cool." Brospeh said.
"Meet back in 5." Reef said as they all went to get changed.
However when Emma got to hers she saw the goth girl Martha packing up and a foul odor was in the room.
"Ugh what happened?" Emma asks.
"You were right, there was a skunk. It kinda got ticked off when I threw your flip-flops at it and sprayed your stuff. I got a friend in town so this place is all yours." Martha said walking out.
Sniffing her clothes, Emma cringed in horror and disgust before noticing the skunk hiding in the closet.
Going down to the laundry room, Emma puts her clothes in to try and get the smell off before she started to cry.
"Whoa, what's going on in here?" Brospeh asks walking in.
"What am I even doing here? I only came out here because I wanted to surf and I don't even have enough money for lessons and my roommate is a skunk." Emma said.
Seeing how sad and depressed she was Broseph got an idea.
"I know someone who doesn't charge for lessons." Brospeh said.
"Who?" Emma asks.
"A friend." Broseph said gesturing to himself. "Come on, let's get you to the beach."
"Really?" Emma smiles.
"Really." Broseph said leading her out.
Nearby, Reef and Finn were heading to the beach.
"Bet I catch the first ride." Reef bets.
"If you drop in on me, you're dead." Finn threatens.
"Stay off my waves and I won't have to." Reef smirks when Bummer runs to them.
"Oh good you're still here. I need you two to hall sit tonight." Bummer said.
"What? No way we—" Before Reef could finish Finn stomps on his foot.
"We'd be happy to sir. Uh what's hall sitting?" Finn asks.
At the staff dorms, Johnny helped Lo bring all her stuff over.
"This is the staff house." Johnny points out.
"I know." Lo sighs.
"And you're living here?" Johnny asks.
"Apparently." She nods.
"Does that mean you're working here too?" Johnny asks.
"Not for long." Lo said.
"So that means, I'm not technically your staff." Johnny realized.
"No." Lo said.
"Good then give me a hand with these bags. They're killing me." Johnny said putting a few down for her to take.
Leading her up to her room, Lo screamed in horror at the disgusting staff room.
"Wait! You have to take my stuff back to the hotel!" Lo said stopping him. "Just put me in one of the open hotel rooms. Daddy will never know."
"I would but I don't want to get fired." Johnny said.
"This is the worst day of my life." Lo groans.
"Welcome to the real world, wicked party last night though. Totally worth whatever punishment you got." Johnny said.
"Thanks." Lo groans as Johnny walks out.
"Hey Johnny heard your friend is going home." Ripper said.
"Who?" Johnny asks.
"The one keen on surfing, Emma." Lance said.
"Bummer came looking for her, she had the lowest evaluation." Ripper explains.
"Aw that's a shame." Marth said sarcastically.
"Real nice Martha." Ripper glares.
"What? Better her than me." Martha shrugs.
"I need to go check something." Johnny said leaving.
Around the hotel, lots of things were going on some fun, some relaxing and some none of those things.
At the beach, Nozomi and Kazane were playing horsehoes.
Narrowing her eyes, Nozomi throws it and it just narrowly touches the post.
"Yes." Nozomi smiles.
Pausing Kazane tosses hers up and whacks it with her rear making it hit the post dead on.
"I win." Kazane said making Nozomi drop her jaw.
"Hey you didn't say we could use our butts for this game." Nozomi whines.
"You didn't ask." Kazane smiles.
At the snack bar, Sayaka and Non were watching this while drinking smoothies.
Across from them Hanabi was eating some ice cream enjoying herself.
At the pool, Hiro was resting on a chair reading a book while Rin was swimming some laps in the water.
Getting a tan, Mio was laying down with Usagi watching her and Hiro closely.
At the water, Broseph was giving Emma her surf lesson and teaching her how to pop up.
In the hallway, Reef and Finn were annoyed as they were forced to hallway sit some kids in the room nearby while their parents were at the buffet.
At the bar, Hitomi was having a drink with Nagisa, Ayako and Kyoko while other players were watching Nami on Karaoke.
And finally, Johnny was on the computer switching Emma's evaluations with Martha's before walking away casually.
As the sun was setting, Brospeh and Emma return from practicing surfing.
"Can we go out tomorrow before work?" Emma asks.
"Check you out. You got the Surf Stoke. You bet." Brospeh said seeing everyone on the porch.
"Aw man you guys went surfing? Lucky." Reef whines.
"She's a natural." Brospeh said.
"Uh oh, here comes trouble." Johnny said as Bummer walks to them.
"Listen up people, as you may have heard I have the unfortunate duty of sending one of you home today." Bummer said.
"He's really gonna fire someone?" Finn asks.
"That's cold." Brospeh said.
"The employee with the lowest evaluation was…Martha Mccartney." Bummer said surprising everyone.
"What?!" She gasps.
"Aw such a shame. I hate to see such a nice person leave." Johnny mocks.
"Whatever, enjoy the bugs and lack of hot water." Martha snaps storming off causing everyone else to laugh.
"As of now you're all on 6-week probation if you make one small mistake that's a strike, 3 strikes and you're out. Do I make myself clear? The Keijo tournament and the summer start tomorrow, don't test me." Bummer declares before leaving.
"Well I don't know about you guys but I have had enough of people telling me what to do for one day." Finn said standing up.
Walking upstairs she saw Lo on one of the beds.
"Who are you?" Finn asks.
"You're roommate, Lo. The other room smelled like skunk." Lo said when Finn noticed her bags.
"That's a lotta stuff, you lugged all of it with you?" Finn asks.
"I only had to come from the penthouse." Lo said.
"Wait, you're the Lo who's huge party we spent all day cleaning up? We didn't get to surf all day." Finn realized.
"Isn't that your job?" Lo asks.
"How long did you say you're staying here?" Finn asks.
"Not for long, my dad went nuts about my party and is trying to teach me a lesson. I'm totally cut off and he's making me work in the Dining room." Lo said.
"Wow, he's hardcore." Finn said.
"I know right." Lo agreed. "So it's cool if I crash here?"
"Sure, knowing you're being tortured for crashing the place actually makes me feel better." Finn said when they heard Emma sob.
Looking down the hall they saw her room was closed off.
"Hey what's wrong?" Finn asks.
"My room has been declared an environmental hazard." Emma sniffles.
"Come on, you're staying with us." Finn said letting her in.
"Really?" Emma said walking in to see Lo. "Who are you?"
"Long story." Lo said.
"Man wait until Hiro and the others here about this." Finn said.
"Now that tournament is back on I bet they're getting ready." Emma said.
"Wait you know some of the people in that Keijo tournament?" Lo asks.
"Yeah, they seem pretty cool. We'll introduce you to them later." Finn said.
"Sweet." Lo smiles.
"Hey guys bonfire at the beach for new staff." Reef calls out.
"I can do that." Finn smiles.
"Ooh I can order room service." Lo said as both girls looked at her. "Oh I can't, can I?"
"No but I have marshmallows. Come on." Emma said as they went out.
That night, Hiro, Sayaka, Nozomi walked in to see Hitomi turn on the lights on at the completely fixed-up pool with tons of platforms lined up for running and matches on big round lands.
"Wow." Hiro said.
"This is where we'll be competing?" Nozomi said in awe.
"Amazing." Sayaka said.
"Yep I gave them your designs and they managed to get it ready. From now on the platforms will be brought to you when you finish your design and a team will be called in to help you assemble it. Plan your time wisely." Hitomi said handing him a tablet with all the information.
"I won't let you down." Hiro said.
"Be sure to make stages where I can really kick butt in." Nozomi said.
"I wouldn't mind some custom stages too." Sayaka said.
"Girls, Hiro can't play favorites. As the Engineer he has to be neutral when building the stages." Hitomi said.
"But I promise once you two are on these I'll be front row cheering for you both." Hiro said.
"But what if Sayaka and I face off? Who will you cheer for?" Nozomi asks.
"Uh…" Hiro pauses.
"For me obviously." Sayaka said grabbing an arm and yanking him to her.
"No! He'll cheer for me! He's been my friend longer than you!" Nozomi said yanking his other arm towards her.
"But we've trained together more than you!" Sayaka said pulling him towards her.
"He's cheering for me!" Nozomi said.
"No me!" Sayaka said.
"Girls not my arms! I need those!" Hiro said.
Laughing Hitomi still having a bit of alcohol in her decided to have a little fun of her own.
Grabbing her clipboard, she pulled out two erasers.
"I could separate them or…" Tossing them up, Hitomi swings her rear hitting the erasers hitting Nozomi and Sayaka in the back of the heads making them lean forward and kiss Hiro on both cheeks.
Turning bright red the two girls immediately let go.
"Uh…" All three tried to say something but couldn't figure out.
"I uh…I better get some sleep got a lot of work to do." Hiro said.
"Yeah uh I should probably get some sleep too." Sayaka said.
"Right behind you." Nozomi said following her out.
As the three left the room Hitomi burst into laughter.
"I am gonna have a fun summer with these 3." Hitomi giggles.