Secrets, Socials, and Seigaku

Chapter 29

Sweat dripped down my nose as I literally ran for the life of me. “Crap, crap, crap, crap! I’m so dead!” I cried while running towards the courts. An hour. one whole hour! How the hell does someone screw up like that? That’s right, when they have a dad like mine!

I sat up in bed, my hair frizzy and untamed, but I didn’t matter because I had all the sleep I could’ve ever hoped for now. I smiled like a little girl as I slowly got dressed into my new tennis uniform and got ready for my first official tournament. Me being a substitute last time didn’t count.

I walked out into the kitchen and smiled again as the wave of cinnamon French toast bombarded my senses. I grabbed a plate and put it in front of my dad’s cooking. ”Hook me up Pops.” I declared with a smile.

“No please?” he encouraged.

“Nope, not when it comes to food.” I said plainly. 

He chuckled a bit before handing me some. We both sat down at the table and turned on the TV; glancing at it every now and then. “So, can I come watch you today?” he asked smiley.

“Why would you want to do that? You’d be doing two of the things you hate: sitting in the heat, and watching boys taunt me.” I said openly. 

My dad and me shared almost everything, so when I said taun’ I pretty sure he could’ve taken it as flirting or underestimating. I was planning on leaving his mind to pick between the two. “But it also has one of the things I love.” He said. 

Any daddy’s girl would know where this was going. “Oh really? I wonder what that could be?” I said playing dumb.

He then smiled a bit pervy. “All those girls cheering in their short skirts.” I then proceeded to get up and just walk away. 

“Mood killer.” I mumbled, before walking away to clean my plate.

“C’mon! I was kidding! Just tell me what time to come!” He pleaded with me. 

I huffed in annoyance. “Fine, fine, just stop sniveling.” I groaned. “It starts at eight O'clock.” I said and continued to put my now clean plate away. 

It then got awkwardly silent. “Um, Clair?” he said

I made a sound of annoyance. “What now?” I asked like an on edge mother.

“It’s eight fourty-five…” He trailed off.

“I turned around with one of the sweetest smiles I could muster. “Daddy?” I asked.

A shiver ran up his spine.”Y-yes?” he replied unsurely.

“When were you planning on making me aware of the time?”

“Um, well, that would be….” He trailed off and the silence in the room could kill somebody.

“…now I guess?”

“….”

“….”

“When I get home later tonight you’ll wish that I could’ve been one of those cute preppy cheerleaders instead of the girls who’s going to leave a bruise the size of a tennis racket on your face.” I said standing over him, with a clear intent of harm floating around me. 

Before he could say anything I ran out of the room though. “I love you!” I heard him…cry? from the door.

Really how much of a child can my father be. I sighed at the thought of him being any worse. I soon arrived upon the tournament and must of ran over hundreds of fan girls…not that I regretted that though. I came to a stop and looked both ways. “Where the hell am I supposed to go?” I panicked. 

My brown eyes darted everywhere looking for some kind of sign for the team.

“Need some help?” A smooth voice said from behind.

I turned my head to meet dark grey eyes and held the gaze for a second. I smiled quickly and regained my thoughts. He was a pretty good-looking guy, young, but nice eye candy. “Sorry, I don’t know where to go do you think you could help me?” I asked politely. 

He put a hand threw his rather shaggy black hair and smirked? “I can actually, right this way please.” He said. 

Okay. So let me say right now that just because I partially grew up without a mother doesn’t mean I wasn’t aware of the don’t follow strangers rule. I was made aware of this rule, thanks you very much. 

“So,” I said trying to start a conversation. “St. Rudolph, huh?”

Even though I couldn’t see his face I knew he was smiling. “Yes, and let me guess, Clair Brown of Seigaku’s regulars.” I stopped cold.

He seemed to notice my lack of footsteps and turned around with that witty smirk plastered on his face now. I narrowed my eyes at him, this couldn’t be good. I looked around at our surroundings real quick and noticed we were in the forest part of the area, the tennis courts five feet to the right of us. 

I heard him giggle a bit. “Coming up with a strategy?” he guessed. 

I held my ground and tried to match his game. “Well, it’s not everyday a stalker baits me into a forest, I have to come up with something, didn’t I?” 

He laughed a bit more openly now, his grey eyes mocking me. I growled a bit, getting tired of this game. 

“It’s my job to stalk people. I am the new manager of St. Rudolph after all, but you can call me Mizuki.” He said confidently.

I grimaced. “Great, another Inui.”

“I’m honored that you would compare me to such a senior.” Just his eyes seemed to mock me; I didn’t like it one bit. 

“You’re a little cocky for a new manager don’t you think?” I pointed out.

He smiled like a child who had done nothing wrong. “Ara? Are you saying you don’t like me when I have Atobe’s attitude, I had heard you got quite annoyed with him.” He pointed out.

“What exactly do you want?” I snapped at him.

He was beginning to freak me out with how much he knew. I mean sure for Inui to know some things it would be fine, but that’s because he’s on my team and not a random guy from an opposing one.

“It’s simple, I just want information.” He said plainly. 

I watched him as his black hair blew in the wind and he made his way over to the fence of the court and leaned on it. “You see since your arrival on the team nobody has been able to get any information on you because apparently it’s mostly in English and would be a hassle to translate.” He explained eyeing me. "Not only that, but you've traveled the world! All of your information is in different languages. it's like you came here with a blank slate." He said suspiciously. "Which we both know can't be true, right?"

I don’t know why, but this guy bothered me. The way he looked at me and knew about me, almost like jus this much wasn’t enough.

“Fortunately though, I get to see those tennis skill’s everyone’s so interested in today. Then I’ll be able to fill in all the blanks.” He said sadistically.

 “So, this was your goal by standing around here, huh?” A new voice came from behind me.