After I got back to campus, I headed straight to my classroom.

Of course, I couldn’t start a conversation with Hiro. Well, it’s not like I’ve been talking that much with him before that. In fact, everything went back to normal. He’s now talking to other people and I’m talking to the people I’m friends with. It’s fine.

Class went on like usual.

The school bell rang again indicating the end of the school. Despite it being the end of the school, mostly third years go home this period, usually it’s because they need to prepare for university or college.

For the newcomers, the first few weeks of school are meant to find a club to join. I chose the tennis club. Yuri and Kaito joined the adventure club.

I don’t know much of what’s happening with Hiro, but I heard he didn’t join any club. Back then, the four of us would hang out almost every day. But after Hiro started to talk to Hinata Yoshikawa, that’s when Hiro started to spend less time with us. I wasn’t mad at him honestly, in fact, I always knew he would have other friends besides us. He’s so approachable and friendly. I don’t mind it. It was just because he’s so forgiving that he lets him get away with it.

I’m so tired.

Luckily, no one bothered me about what happened during lunch time. Though I was called by the principal’s office with Hinata Yoshikawa and Hiro after school.

“I’m sure you know why the three of you are here.” The principal said.

The principal of this school isn’t Hiro’s father but is still connected to him. The principal of this school however is a woman in her fifties. She has a short black hair. Her cheek’s skin are starting to loose. She has earrings on and is wearing makeup, probably to cover some of the wrinkles that old age offers. Her demeaner is calm and focus.

Is this what my mom would’ve looked like if she was still alive?

“For me personally, having an argument with another person is acceptable as long as nobody gets hurt. I’m grateful for the three of you that you had the ability to control yourselves in that situation. But! A warning from an old lady, words can be sharpest weapon to use to hurt someone’s mind and emotions. It’s a tool you can use freely but can have dire consequences if used improperly.” Even though her tone was calm it hit me like a wave, “Understood?” she said firmly.

“Yes ma’am.”

We were dismissed.

“Guess I’ll see you two around.” Hiro said.

“Sure.”

I left.

I arrived at the tennis club without any worries. I changed into my gym clothes and met up with the club on the court. The club has four girls and ten boys. There are eight first years, four second years and three third years.

Everyone was already practicing. Some were using the equipment, practicing on their receives and some are paired up and went against each other. There were also people resting on the bench drinking and wiping their sweats off and some practicing their swings. Overall, it is a very active club.

The coach called me.

“Sorry for being late, sensei.” I said as I approached him.

“I don’t care about that. I heard you did something that made you go to the principal’s office, is that why you were late?” Coach said sternly.

“Yes, sir.” I answered weakly.

“Unlike the principal, I’m not as soft as her.” He glared at me, “I don’t care whoever was right or wrong, if it is not needed don’t do it. I don’t care if you are good with the racket, but if you cannot control your behavior, I will not have you participate in any tournaments. Understand?!”

My body tensed up, “Yes, sir.”

“You can go ahead and practice with your peers. The objective today is to work on you weakness. Either you can work with someone or by yourself, you are free to do so. You may go.”

I was dismissed.

“Work on my weakness” Guess that would be playing against players who’re better than me. I can’t find any other weakness other than that. Also, serving! I need to improve on that too.

As I was stretching, someone approached me.

“Yo, Hana-san.” Yoshikawa-senpai greeted me.

Jotaro Yoshikawa is Hinata Yoshikawa’s older brother. He’s tall and big. Though he’s not too big, like a bodybuilder, he’s natural body structure are made to be huge. Unlike his brother, he’s well-mannered and diligent. Though not everyone likes him as a senpai, but those who do respects him. I respect this man.

“Good afternoon, senpai.”

He stood beside me, “I heard what happened earlier this day, I’m sorry that my younger brother troubled you.”

“No, senpai. This time it was my fault.”

“No, it’s not your fault. We’ve already warned him to not cause you any trouble. Which he ignored.”

I didn’t said anything, in fact, I could’ve said something but I’m too tired to talk about it.

“Well, what’s done is done.” I finished my stretching.

“Senpai, do you want to have a match?” I asked.

“Sorry, Hana-san. I’m about to have a game with one of the first years.”

“Oh? Who is it? Is it Suzuki-kun?”

“Nah, it’s Scott-san.”

There’s only one person I know who has that name.

“Scott-san? Are you talking about the transfer student?” I asked.

“Yeah, you know her?”

“She transferred to my class just this morning.” I looked at my surroundings to try and find her.

She was practicing with her racket. I recognized her even if she’s wearing her gym clothes. But that’s because almost everyone here is wearing their own personal tennis clothes, except me and her.

“Have you talked to her yet?” Senpai asked me.

“Not yet.”

This morning I wanted to talk to her, but after that small incident, I’m not so sure. She was the reason why Hiro asked for mine and Hinata Yoshikawa’s help which leaded to that argument we did during lunch.

Should I talk to her?

Isla’s Perspective

As I was practicing my swings on the side of the court, I caught a glimpse of one of my classmates talking to one of the senpais.

I instinctively looked at her because for the whole day, almost every single one of my classmates has called, talked or asked her about something, and it doesn’t matter if you’re a guy or a girl, this girl can talk to everyone.

Every single time that I would see her, she’ll be talking to a different person. Even now, in this club, she’s already jumping from group to group and has been talking to them. I’m impressed that this girl has such an amazing aura of ‘likable’, even I want to talk to her.

Her name is Hana Murakami. I know her name, because everyone has been calling her for something. It’s basically impossible not to remember her name if you’re in her class, which is the situation I’m in right now.

“Scott-san, are you ready?” Yoshikawa-senpai asked me.

Yoshikawa-senpai was the person who welcomed me in this club, because he’s the club president.

Wait, is this even a club? Isn’t this place more like a school team.

“Welcome to the team, we’re happy to let you join.” I remembered Coach Koji telling me after I joined the ‘club’.

“Scott-san?” Yoshikawa-senpai grabbed my attention.

I was apparently thinking too much that I stopped listening to him.

“Ah, I’m sorry, Yoshikawa-senpai! Yes, I’m ready.” I said.

“Let’s go.” He entered the court that we’re about to play in.

I wanted to say I wasn’t nervous because I’m an experienced player of almost all of the sports back home, but I’m super very critically nervous right now. My hands were cold and sweaty. I can feel the nerves from each of my fingertips tingling from the pressure of making a good first impression to everyone.

I took a deep breath, as I do every time I would feel nervous from a match.

“Whoever wins a set, wins the match, okay?” He said.

“Okay.”

“Heads or tails?” he asked as he hold a coin out from his pocket.

“Heads.”

He flips it out into the air making the coin rotate then catches it and slams it onto his forehand.

Tails.

We went to our side of the court and prepared ourselves.

He tosses the ball up and hits it down to the T; right between the service and middle lines are.

I easily did a backhand shot back over to his side.

He gets closer to the net and hits the ball towards my body which causes me to lose balance for my swing.

Then he slams the ball to the other side of the court from where I wasn’t able to reach. An ace.

15 : love: opponent.

“You’re good senpai.” I said.

“That’s because I’m your senpai.” He mockingly said.

So Japanese people can trash talk too huh? I’m already glad that I joined this club.

As I walked and positioned myself once again, I’m now fully invested in taking down this man with all I have.

He serves the ball with speed but ends up on the net. He takes another ball from his pocket and serves it towards the baseline. A wide serve.

I managed to slam it back to his side with a slice shot but he easily hit it right back at me.

30 : love

I got point after, making the score 30 : 15.

A 40 for the opponent

Then senpai got the first game.

First game, no biggie. I can easily get back up again.

It’s my turn to serve.

I tossed it up in the air and slammed that ball right through his court with a wide serve near the baseline

He couldn’t react to the speed of my serve which leads to an ace.

15 : love for me.

I accidentally smirked after that shot. I couldn’t help it; it was a pretty awesome serve.

A crowd started to form. Almost everyone’s eyes were on us. Some of senpai’s friends were teasing him that he’ll lose against me but some of them were cheering for him.

I also gained some reputation in the club because some of the members started to cheer for me. Hana Murakami was also watching us, but unlike the others who were watching because they were entertained, Hana was watching us like an eagle analyzing her prey.

The game started again.

I aimed at the edge of the court again with speed and accuracy but this time he caught the ball using his forehand.

When the ball was still in the air, I got close to it, and he positioned himself in the middle.

I hit it on the same spot right on the edge of his court.

He shot it over my head, a lob shot.

It was in the air for a long time, so I jog to where it was going to land and hit it with a tweener trick shot without looking at where it was going. But I know where it was going.

My point 30 : love

The crowd applause from the shot I did.

“You’re good.” Yoshikawa-senpai said.

“I know.” I replied with a little bit of sass.

You thought you’re the only one who can trash talk here?! Serves you right!

30 : 15

40 : 15

Then I finished the round with an overhead smash which caused the crowd to go wild.

We switched places.

It was his turn to serve.

I ready myself again for the third round.

He position was on my left; he aimed towards my right barely hitting the baseline.

A good shot.

I aimed towards in front of me and did a down line shot.

He went for the ball, but his racket didn’t meet it in time.

My point 15 : love

He serves again with the same aggression as before aiming for the baseline again.

I did the same down line shot, barely hitting his baseline.

This time, he got the ball using a slice shot, but it was easy to hit. I slammed it across the other side of his court.

30 : love

I love getting these points.

He serve the ball again and aimed it near the net and baseline. An underhand serve.

I quickly went after it and barely got it with a slice shot which made the ball lightly bounce off my racket down to his court.

He rushed towards the ball and slammed the ball using his forehand.

A point for Yoshikawa-senpai. 30 : 15

It was a good play. He’s not joking any more. This is getting fun now.

Then another point for him making it 30 all.

I got another point 40 :30

He ties the next again 40 all

I got the Advantage making the next point my win but if he gets the point, I he would take my Advantage. Ad : 40

He took my Advantage in the next rally making it 40 : 40 again.

We were both on toe to toe during the third round, but I won at the very end.

We continued playing for a couple more minutes.

The standing was now at 3 rounds for me and 2 for him. I currently have 40 love while he has 30 love making this my last relay if I win this round.

It was his turn to serve the ball.

He lifts the ball up and strikes it.

We did a few exchanges, then I changed the dynamic by doing a drop shot.

He had to go near the net and do a half volley shot.

I ran up to the ball and did a lob shot over his head. I wanted to tire him out by making him run all over his court.

He ran back towards the ball as I predicted, but what I didn’t think was him doing a tweener shot.

Oh shit!

Thankfully, my senses didn’t failed me by his sudden change of style. I instinctively blocked it before it hit my court, and it landed near the net from his side.

He couldn’t ran back to it because he was too far away from the ball.

I won the match!

I did a war cry as I won the match to celebrate my victory. Some of the students in the crowd went after me and started to praise me.

That was one of the best matches I’ve ever played. But before the celebration, I needed to give my thanks to my opponent.

I went to Yoshikawa-senpai and said, “So? Are you impressed?”

He smiled and chuckles, “Yeah. Good match Scott-san.”

He extended his hand for a shake. I shook his hand.

I walked with him to the bench.