RAN WOKE up early and do her rotten pace.
After she ate her breakfast which just a sandwich and milk. She went out for jogging to have a sweat. And since it's still early, there's no students yet. With her black sleeveless shirt and tight legging, She speed off.
Ran was just about to pass at the tennis curt when she heard a muffled sound of bouncing ball that keep hitting on the wall. She got curious and decide to take a look. She stunned to see Akaya at this early.
Ran stood there for ten minute as she watch Akaya keep hitting the ball in the wall, unaware of her presence. He's too focused to notice her.
"Good morning Akaya!" She greeted him with a smile. Akaya looked up at her and stunned. He knew that Ran was boarding at Rikkai dormitory, but it's still stunned him to see her early in the morning.
"What are doing at this early morning Ran?" Asked Akaya with a frowned.
"Look who's talking. I should be the one asking you that. Why are practicing on you're own this early?" Shae asked when she reach him.
"I've been neglecting my training." He said as he back hitting the ball. "Yukimura buchou's not saying anything. But I know that he was upset of my tardies this past few days." He said with abet of conviction. "National Tournament is getting nearer. I can't get sloppy of my training though."
"I made you lated this past few days.." it's a statement. She realized that she was the reason of Akaya's tardies.
"No! I didn't mean that way Ran." He retorted. "It's me.. was the problem. I can't finish my studies with you quickly because some of it, was hard to understand. All you did was be patient on me." He said with out looking at her. She walk beside him and hug him on his waist and pat his back since he was taller than her.
"I didn't know that Akaya Kirihara is dramatic person." She tease him. He just put his arm around her shoulder and also tease her.
"And I didn't know that Ms. Ran Asusagawa is actually sweet." He said and chuckled. She pinch the side of his waist because of his statement.
He winced.
"Why don't we play a match? Since it's still early. We can play a rally 'till six thirty." Ran asked.
"You sure?"
"Yeah," she grin. "don't tell me you underestimate me? I'm not a player but I know some moves you know."
"Will see about that." He then take his other racquet out of his bag. "But to tell you. I'm not an easy opponent, so get ready cause I won't give you a handicap." He matched her grinned.
"And I didn't need it anyway. So don't hold back."
Two started their rally as they played. However. They didn't know that someone has been watching them from not a far on the tennis court. He start writing something right down on his notes.
"I didn't know you were this good Ran!" Kirihara exclaim. "But you didn't see my true strength yet." He bragged and smirked.
Ran on the other hand also smirked. "Bring it on."
"Here I go!" And then Kirihara serve his knuckle serve. It's like he squeezed the ball first using his knuckle and serve. It give powerful spin and acceleration.
"0-15" Kirihara said and chuckled. A chauvinist one. "Knuckle serve."
"Hmm..knuckle serve huh?"
"Here comes another one!" Kirihara serve that serve again but....
"Sorry Akaya but... it won't work on me that serve twice!" She exclaim as she hit the ball. Stunned was all over's Kirihara's face.
"No way.."
"Yes way." She chuckled. "Now let's continue."
******
Lunch time. She and Akaya eat together at the cafeteria before toured her on some places that she didn't reach it yet and after that they went to their classes.
They exchange text to each other to meet the garden after practice so Ran will tutor Akaya.
When the last period end. Kirihara homeroom professor called him to asked to stay a bet. Ran bid goodbye to him since they agreed to study after his practice.
"Mr. Kirihara. I'm impress of you're development in you're academic. Specially the three major subject. You did a great job." The professor praised him. He slightly blush of such complement.
"I couldn't do it with out Ran's help."He said and vow his head to hide another heat.
"Oh! That girl. She's impressive at her academics. Good thing she got you're back, even though she's aloof to everyone." The professor laugh. "But you are an exception." Kirihara just smiled.
"She's not hard to understand Sensei. I really don't believe about her being kick out because of her drastic behavior." Kirihara said with a serious face. Ran can sometime cold and blunt to others but he never believe she can hurt people.
****
Kiriha was late again. But only ten minutes. He and his homeroom professor talked a-lot that he forgot the time.
***
"Hey Sanada." Yukimura called out Sanada of a sudden. They current waiting for the regulars and non regulars to start the practice. "My father and my new stepmom got arrived last night."
Sanada, the vice captain looked at Yukimura. "And? How was it?"
"She looks nice though but... I want to observe her more. I'll be cautious this time to prevent Sayaka's getting hurt." Yukimura explain.
"So how was you're stepsister. You should be wary of her too..."
"No need. She didn't want to live with her mother." Yukimura chuckled. "I think they having a conflict toward each other."
"Hm." Sanada didn't say anything.
"The funny thing is. My stepsister Asusagawa Ran was studying and boarding here in Rikkaidai." Sanada quickly turn to Yukimura. "And my Father asked me look after her because he was worried." He continued.
"So what did you say?"
"I said that, that's out of my concern anymore. I have a club to run and the National Tournament is getting near." Yukimura sight. "I don't really understand my father sometimes. Why he's not contented with us. Sayaka and I." Looked offended. Sanada understand him. He, himself don't get the logic that the Yukimura siblings don't need a second mother.
"So... you have no plan on finding you're stepsister? Rikkai is not that big." Suggest Sanada. He want to see what his friend's respond.
"No. I have no time for her. I don't really care if where she stay. That's not my concern anymore." Yukimura glanced at Sanada. "Rikkai will have another consecutive year of being depending champion. That's only matter to me." He said with conviction.
"Yeah."
After ten minutes. They start their practice. None regular o regular. Only one person didn't make it after ten minutes.
Kirihara.
"His late again huh?" Yukimura gently said and it gave the regular a goosebumps
"Yukimura buchou is furious. I can feeling the chill on my skin. Scary...." Niou.
"Kirihara will be a dead meat." Marui.
"Why the heck he keeps coming late! That idiot!" Yagyu.
"I think I know why." All the regulars--even Yukimura looked at Yanagi. "Lately. Akaya hang-out with a girl from his class. She is a new transferee student from tokyo." Yanagi said and it caught Yukimura's attention. "As I collected information. The girl kick out from her school so that's why she was transferred here at Rikkaidai."
"If I based my collected data from her for a short period." Yanagi looked at each of his team. "She not an ordinary girl."
"What's her name Renji?" Sanada suddenly asked. He had too because Yukimura had no plan.
"Her name is----"
"Sorry I'm late!" Kirihara exclaim while punting from running.
"Akaya."Someone dangerous called out of his name. Kirihara gulped in fear. Because.... Yukimura looking down at him with menacing gaze.
"Yukimura buchou!" Kirihara startled and unconsciously step backward.
"Who is this girl Renji was talking about and happened to be hindrances of you're practice." Yukimura said calmly but with chilling tone. Even the other regulars step away to avoid conflict.
They pitied Kirihara but they don't want to middle of the scene. Yukimura's dangerous aura was enough to scare them away.
"Don't you know that the National Tournament was so near?" He still calm when asking. "Do you... perhaps.. want me to pull you out from starting members?" This time. Yukimura is fuming mad.
"Wait buchou! I want to play to Nationals. I promise that this is the last time I'm gonna be late. I'm sorry!" Kirihara said vow down his head while closed his eyes tightly. Hoping that his captain will gave him a chance.
"Very will." Yukimura said and a sly smile appear on his lips. "In one condition. Let me have a word of that woman that Renji's talking about." Kirihara stilled. There is only one girl in his mind at the moment.
"Ran got nothing to do with this buchou." Kirihara reason in fear.
"Ran huh..." the name escape from Yukimura's lip and lit up afterwards.
"Call her. And I don't want no for an answer." Yukimura said in period. It means there's no room for an another excuse.
Kirihara took his phone dialed Ran's number.
"Hello Akaya?"
"Ran! S.O.S! Help."
Yey! Magkikita na sila hehe