"What the heck..." Momoshiro said when he saw Kamio upon finding his team mates. "You again?" He added in exasperation.
"I didn't want to see your annoying face here to, you know." Kamio answered, quite disgusted.
"We're in the same team!" Yuuji shouted as he looked at the number on the ball he was holding.
"Yeah, whatever..." Koharu answered, acting nonchalant.
"But we're not in the same cabin." Yuuji said as he saw the different colors of the pingpong-sized balls.
Names were listed according to the drawn lottery balls, and Ryouko, together with the girls started to get busy at categorizing the members of each cabin.
"There must be a mistake though." An commented as she listed out the names, each member of the camp showing their lottery ball to them.
"Why?" Ryouko asked.
"Well, there are seventeen members per team excluding us. Why would there be only three cabins? Where would the excess two reside?" She answered.
Ryouko replied by pointing at the ball in Sanada Genichiro's hand using her ballpen. He just went to have his name listed. He was wondering why she was pointing at him but otherwise remained as sober-faced as ever.
"White?" Miyako said questioningly.
"But there are no cabins designated with white." Mami commented.
"I'll explain it later." Ryouko told them.
"This should be quite exciting..." An said with a smile.
They handed the hand-written list to be organized by a secretary and in less than ten minutes, the list were categorized, typed and printed out.
"Here." Ryouko said, handing the hardcopies to each of the girls. "That's your team."
An scanned her blue eyes over the document and a smile curled at the corner of her lips. "This is a nice team... Very interesting. I'm getting more and more excited." She thought, a malicious glint in her eyes.
"Aww... So boring... I'm stuck with so many Seigaku members... And six of them are first-years..." Mami complained, her brown eyes scanning the list. "Of which three are in my class. Augh." She added in exasperation.
"Well, isn't it an advantage that you know almost all your members? I like my list. There are lots of Seigaku members too." Miyako told her.
"Ah, you got Tezuka-senpai! I wanted to get Tezuka-senpai!" Mami screeched out, pointing an accusing finger at Miyako's list.
Miyako giggled. "Too bad for you then... But Fuji-senpai is on yours. I hoped to get him on my team. So that is one-up on me too. We're quits." She shrugged her shoulders.
Tomoka was frantically searching her list for one solitary name. "Ryoma-sama, Ryoma-sama, Ryoma-sama..." She mumbled. When she stopped, her face was downcast. "He's not here." She whined.
Sakuno's heart skipped a bit. On the very top of her list was Ryoma's name. "He's on my team. We're on the same team..." She thought almost numbly. She couldn't believe her luck. A timid smile visited her lips. "Ryoma-kun..." She said under her breath.
Ryouko, on the other hand, was smirking at her own list, scanning the names with a burning spark in her rust-colored eyes. She got members from all the ten teams but the only Seigaku ones were two freshmen. None of the regulars were present. Anyway, she was more interested at how the members from the neighboring teams would fare. It was bad of her to think in such a way but she was anticipating some sort of fun fights among all these players. Many of them are quite famous for their strong and flawless tennis styles. And most importantly, for their queer personalities and nasty tempers. "This ought to be very fun..." She thought.
With the listings done, the girls filed onstage. "And now everyone, please be seated as we call out your names and designated teams and cabins." Miyako announced.
"This is cute. It's like we're MCs or something..." Mami thought. Aloud, she said, "The teams will be posted on the giant screen behind us. And we will also read the lists out loud."
"Among the girl representatives, Tachibana An will be leading Team 1." Tomoka announced. An bowed her head politely and smiled. "Fujioka Ryouko will be leading Team 2." She continued. Ryouko gave a slight nod.
"Seriously?" Wakato said in dismay. "I'm not in her team..." He added.
"I'm in hers." Kajimoto Takahisa, the captain of their club told him.
"I'm in hers too." Tanaka Yohei added.
"You are?" Kouhei said in surprise. He couldn't help feeling a bit jealous inside.
"Change teams with me." Wakato told them.
"I can't. Sensei said that ifever I wound up in her team, I should take advantage of the situation and observe her closely. She's not giving up on training Ryouko to be an instructor like her. And she's determined to make the Seigaku manager transfer schools." Kajimoto said.
Wakato turned to Yohei. "Change places with me."
"No way." Yohei answered. His reply was so sharp that the other team members stared. Yohei blushed under their eyes and swallowed hard. "I'm assisting Captain. If you're the one there, your first priority is flirting." He said matter-of-factly.
"Why do I sense as if there's something even more than that?" Ota Shou jokingly teased.
"Agreed." Kiriyama Daichi, Ota's doubles partner added.
"There is not." Yohei exclaimed.
"Shh. They're continuing the announcements, you know..." Kouhei said in annoyance.
"Ryuzaki Sakuno is for Team 3." Timid Sakuno blinked her eyes uncertainly. "Kurihara Miyako for Team 4." Bright and girly Miyako waved daintily, her eyes smiling. "Ayase Mami for Team 5." Mami made cheering gestures and a thumbs up with a wink. Some people from the crowd laughed at her goofiness.
"I'm the one getting embarrassed for her..." Masamune Jun, a Seigaku freshman and one of the three classmates that Mami mentioned so unwantedly said in a whisper near Horie Kubota's ear, another freshman in the same predicament.
Kubota laughed uncomfortably. "Don't let anyone hear you..." He whispered back.
"And last but not the least, yours truly, Osakada Tomoka will be the representative for Team 6." She didn't sound so pleased because of Ryoma's absence from her team but it was a relief that he turned up on Sakuno's.
"And now to announce the team line-ups, let's hear from Tachibana An-san." Sakuno said quite bashfully, almost whispering at her microphone.
"Team 1 Red Cabin: Kisarazu Atsushi of St. Rudolph, Wakato Hiroshi of Josei Shonan, Chitose Senri of Shitenhouji, Chinen Hiroshi of Higa and Minami Kentaro of Yamabuki." An said. There were muffled guffaws, stifled laughs and a few violent reactions over this.
"Why do I have to get stuck with them?" Chinen complained.
"Team 1 Blue Cabin: Shimizu Daichi and Momose Hayato of Seigaku, Tanishi Kei of Higa, Sengoku Kiyosumi and Akutsu Jin of Yamabuki." An continued.
"Akutsu?" Kawamura said, confused. Akutsu already quit from the Yamabuki team.
"He'll come. That's why we reserved a spot for him. After all, he also participated in the matches. I drew his lottery ball in his place." Sengoku said, overhearing him.
"I bet he was forcefully being made to come here..." Kawamura said in exasperation, thinking of Akutsu's young Mom.
"Yep. But only partly. Truth is, he can't leave Dan alone with no fun memories with him." Sengoku answered.
"I see..." Kawamura said but he doubted it.
Tanishi Kei bared his teeth at the two Seigaku freshmen that were unfortunate enough to have him as a cabinmate. The two cowered. "What are we gonna do? That one didn't look so friendly." Momose Hayato asked Shimizu Daichi.
"I dunno. I don't want to be eaten alive." The latter answered.
"Ryouko-san..." They whimpered.
"And for the Team 1 Yellow Cabin, we have Momoshiro Takeshi and Kaidoh Kaoru of Seigaku, Kamio Akira of Fudoumine, Akutagawa Jiro of Hyotei and Kirihara Akaya of Rikkaidai." An finished.
Nio Masaharu of Rikkaidai whistled. "Whoo. Sounds like a fun cabin, eh, Akaya?" He said teasingly.
"Shut up senpai." Akaya replied, irritated.
"As for the extra two members for each team, I'm sure some people are wondering where they will reside for the time in the camp..." An said. She nodded at Ryouko and the latter stepped forward.
"I did wonder about that. I almost thought that they miscounted." Yukimura commented.
"Those that have drawn a white ball, please stand." Ryouko said. Twelve guys stood from their seats.
"There you have it. These people would be the captains and vice-captains of your designated teams. Each pair will have to decide via another lottery whether who will stand as the captain and who will take the place of the vice-captain. You will be staying in the main building next to the coaches' building and will share a room together. The running of the team, designations and stuff would be handled by the captain and vice captain." She announced.
"EH???" Came the huge reaction from Horio Satoshi of Seigaku. "But... But... I'm only a freshman, Ryouko-san. How can I be a captain or vice-captain?" He said aloud, holding the white pingpong ball high up in the air.
"Rule number 2: There will be no discrimination among all camp members in regards to age, status, seniority or whatsoever." Ryouko answered.
"But—but..." Horio stammered. He couldn't believe it. What the heck was he supposed to do?
"And now to continue with the next team." An said, ignoring Horio's misery. "Let's get Ryouko-san to announce the names of the members."
Ryouko stepped to the front. She held up her list and began to read. "Team 2 Red Cabin: Seigaku, Shimada Ritsu, first year. Fudoumine Ibu Shinji, second year. Hyotei, Atobe Keigo, third year."
"Jinx. It's a jinx. How on earth did I end up there?" Atobe thought. There was about one in a hundred opportunity that he would pick a lottery ball from her team. His father must know some kind of sorcery.
Ryoma's eyebrow went up. "Atobe's in her team? Also Ibu?" He thought. It didn't sound so pleasant to him. And come to think of it, he was in Team 3.
"St. Rudolph, Mizuki Hajime, third year." Ryouko continued. Mizuki smirked knowingly and nodded his head in satisfaction.
"Rikkaidai Fuzoku, Yukimura Seiichi, third year." Yukimura smiled with his eyes. "Oh?" He said, lifting a finger to his chin.
"Wait a minute, wait a minute... Rikkaidai's Yukimura and Hyotei's Atobe in the same cabin? This is crazy stuff." Sakurai Masaya of Fudoumine commented excitedly.
"Things are going to be crazy in your cabin, Mizuki-san." Nomura Takuya commented, wide-eyed.
"Team 2 Blue Cabin: Fudoumine, Tachibana Kippei, third year." Ryouko read. Kippei nodded with a sober face. Ryouko saw him and bowed politely with a single nod.
"Why do I have the feeling that this team is going to be the strongest?" Ishida Tetsu said.
"St. Rudolph, Fuji Yuuta, second year." Ryouko said.
Yuuta sighed. To be in the same cabin as Mizuki-san inside Fujioka Ryouko's team. He had the intuition that it was going to be very tiring for him. Mizuki caught his eye knowingly. He immediately looked away.
"Josei Shonan, Kajimoto Takahisa, third year." Ryouko continued.
"Oh my, oh my... So many captains in that team..." Uchimura Kyosuke said, quite impressed with the line-up.
"Shitenhouji, Tooyama Kintaro, first year." Ryouko said.
"I wanted Koshimae's team..." Kintaro said, pouting. "But it's a comfort that the girl representative is that one. She has the same smell as Koshimae." He added, his facial expression brightening.
"Kintaro... Don't go around smelling girls. You'll look like a pervert." Shiraishi told him.
"Higa, Kite Eishiro, third year." Ryouko finished up the announcement for the second cabin.
"Okay. All hell just broke lose. She's taking all the captains and all the people with attitude." Rokkaku's Shudo Satoshi commented.
Kite heard him and looked sharply in his direction. "You were saying?" He said in a steel-cold voice.
"Nothing much." Shudo said, retreating.
"Team 2 Yellow Cabin: Seigaku, Kobayashi Senri, first year." Ryouko started on the last cabin.
"Waah, Kobayashi... I'm so jealous of you and Shimada. You two are the only ones from Seigaku." Hoshimura Shuu said, the jealousy evident in his voice.
"I know right... We got stuck in Ayase's team. We're sick and tired of seeing her face and hearing her obnoxiously loud voice in class." Horie Kubota added.
"We're in Kurihara's. I guess that's better than being in Ayase or Osakada's team." Hirai Keita, another freshman, commented.
"How about Ryuzaki's?" Honda Mitsuki asked.
"Oh, right. There's her too." Toshinobu Akihiro said, all of a sudden reminded. "She's too quiet. The opposite of her best friend, actually... And she doesn't have much of a presence." He added.
Yamada Daisuke nodded in approval. "Yeah. I can't even remember what her first name is."
"Isn't it Sakura?" Yoshida Azuma replied.
"I thought it was Kazumi." Ayano Keichi said.
"It's Sakuno." Kachiro interrupted. "And you guys aren't being so nice right now, you know..."
"Yeah. You shouldn't talk bad about people behind their backs." Mizuno added, reprimanding them.
"We're not insulting them or anything..." Masamune Jun answered.
"We're just stating facts." Kawada Yamato said matter-of-factly, shrugging.
"The best team to belong in, no matter what angle you look at it, is Ryouko-san's team." Sakabe Tsuyoshita remarked.
Kobayashi Senri smiled. "I guess I'm just lucky. Don't take it to heart. You'll be able to spend time with her even if you're not in the same team." He said in encouragement.
"I guess so." Ichinose Mamoru said.
"You're really nice, Senri. It's no wonder we notice that you're Ryouko-san's favorite." Iwao Keisuke commented.
Senri smiled humbly but he was smirking inside. "Yeah, that's right. Be envious... Of course, I should be placed in Ryouko's team. She's the only reason I even bothered with this stupid tennis and this annoying camp. I guess accompanying father in his business meetings with his tennis-freak boss had its advantage." He thought in evil delight. He told Ryouko that he was a complete beginner, but truth was, he already knew the basics.
Ritsu looked at him sideways. Senri might not be talking much right now but he's pretty sure that he's gloating inside. He had known Senri as a childhood friend. Senri's family was living in their neighborhood until the fifth grade. Ritsu didn't particularly like him and was just naming him as a 'childhood friend' to be polite.
Senri was double-faced. He looked like an angel, with those brown curls on his head and fine face with nice features that's always smiling, but his personality was not very nice. Only Ritsu knew it. Senri was popular since elementary and he's good at almost everything he does. Outside, he kept a cool and silent image so he doesn't talk very often.
Senri joined the boys' tennis team a month ago. Ritsu didn't know why the heck he joined the tennis team when he did not have the slightest interest in tennis. It irked him more because for a beginner, Senri was doing well and improving much faster than any of the freshmen. He wasn't like Ryoma who is on the genius level, but still, he was doing very well. Ryouko was pleased with his improvements and Ritsu didn't like that fact.
Senri waved at Ryouko as his name was called. Ryouko saw him and gave a slight smile. "So annoying..." Ritsu thought, half in loathing, half in denied envy.
"Hyotei, Wakashi Hiyoshi, second year." Ryouko continued.
Oshitari leaned sideward to whisper near Hiyoshi's ear. "You're the only Hyotei member in Fujioka Ryouko's team aside from Atobe. Remember the promise to the chairman. You know what to do."
"Yes, senpai." Hiyoshi answered but deep inside, he was rolling his eyes. "Why should I?" He thought rebelliously, quite irritated.
"Yamabuki, Dan Taichi, first year." Ryouko read.
"I'm the only Yamabuki member. I don't even know many people there..." Dan said, his tone a bit worried.
"That's alright. Ryouko-chan will take care of you." Sengoku replied.
"She will? But she doesn't even know me." Dan answered.
"Oh, lighten up. It'll be fine. Be glad that you're in her team. I didn't get the position even though I wanted to." Sengoku said.
"Josei Shonan, Tanaka Yohei, first year. Rokkaku, Aoi Kentaro, first year." Ryouko said.
"There you go... More first years in your cabin. You'll do just fine." Masami told Dan. Dan smiled in contentment.
"For the captain and vice captain position, Team 2 has Rikkaidai Fuzoku's Sanada Genichiro and Shitenhouji's Shiraishi Kuranosuke, both third years." Ryouko said finally.
"Shitenhouji's captain and Rikkaidai's vice captain? Waa..." Gakuto said in awe.
"I'm tired of being captain though. Maybe Sanada-san can take the place of the captain and I'll be the vice captain for a change..." Shiraishi commented.
Sanada and Yukimura heard him from the next table. Yukimura nudged Sanada with his elbow. "Why not do as Shiraishi-san said? You'll be a wonderful captain."
"Stop it." Sanada said in annoyance. Yukimura simply laughed.
"That is all." Ryouko finished and stepped back. As she went back to her place beside An, she glanced at the audience and caught Ryoma's eye coincidentally.
That's right. Ryoma wasn't in her team. She contemplated. "Oh well. It's a pity but there's nothing that can be done about that." She thought. Ryouko waved at him simply, in a way that no one would notice that she was signaling at Ryoma.
Ryoma was so annoyed at her nonchalance that he averted his eyes and scowled darkly. "She doesn't even care." He thought. Since they were children, they were never separated from one team. It seemed like a jinx, Ichidou always said, as if a spell was pulling them together or something. But it seemed like the spell was broken since they parted ways at age nine. Ryouko also changed. He wasn't able to notice it before but as the days passed, he saw that she had changed. Her world was wider, or to put it more accurately, she looked at her world in a wider manner. His world widened without him noticing too, with the nationals and the US Open. After all, they could not possibly get tied in one place too long if they wanted to expand their tennis experience.
Whenever they spent their time in the rooftop, Ryouko, with her pretty chin on one hand, gazed at the horizon with an inexplainable faraway look in her eyes. Ryoma had a sinking feeling that she was always ready to fly away to somewhere far if the thought hits her. Another feeling was that when that time comes, he might not be able to do anything but watch.
Somehow... Just somehow... He didn't like that.