Chapter 16 I Really Joined the Tennis Club
“You’re so lax!!”
Facts proved that the expectation of a certain kelp leader was correct. After learning the whole cause and effect, Senior Sanada got angry on the spot and directly gathered all the people who had instigated the booing and those who were booed together and gave them a scolding.
"You tricked an unrelated girl into coming to the tennis club. You should know when to stop joking! Akaya, you too! Do you believe everything your senior says?!"
Maybe it was because Kirihara was also one of the victims, so he didn't accept the Iron Fist punishment today, but he also looked a little aggrieved.
"But, but the atmosphere was really bad the past few days... and Jiu Jing also said it's okay."
"She said it was okay, so you just brought her to the tennis club?! And why didn't anyone notify me beforehand?"
Although no one said anything, judging from their expressions, I guess they were probably afraid of being scolded or punished with an iron fist.
"So is this possible, Vice Minister Sanada?"
"Well, I think there's nothing wrong with Akaya's choice."
"Renji?"
"That's right! Deputy Minister, let me tell you, Jiu Jing doesn't even know what the Minister looks like!"
"ha?"
Ahhh, stupid Kirihara, stop talking nonsense! ! ! ! "It's just that the face and the name don't match, okay? Don't make me sound like some caveman!"
"What? Aren't you?"
...It's hard, my fist is hard! I want to find a bamboo sword and hit this kelp head on the head!
"Is that really the case? You can't judge a person by his appearance, haha~"
"The face and name don't match? So before you came to the tennis club today—"
"Yeah, I don't know you guys. At most, I've heard some things about the tennis club from Kirihara-kun."
“This… this…”
Sanada-senpai frowned and looked at me: "Then why did you agree to Akaya's request?"
"Hmm... to repay a favor?" A sudden silence fell, everyone's expressions varied, and I suddenly felt a little embarrassed. "Because there were rumors about me in class some time ago, and it was Kirihara-kun who refuted them. We became acquainted because of that. I've always been grateful to him for speaking up for me, but there's only so much I can do to help..."
"Oh~ I see, Akaye, what did they say that made you so angry?"
"Stop nagging! I just can't stand those people talking behind my back, so... Seniors, please stop asking!"
It simply means that I walk with different men every day after school, and that I'm young and have chaotic relationships with both men and women.
"I just happen to not be participating in any club activities, and Kirihara-kun seems to be in trouble—"
"Huh? I didn't!"
"People who sigh every three minutes while hunched over their desks early in the morning have no right to say 'no'."
"Well……!"
"Pfft! Akaye, you've come to this day too."
"Marui-senpai!"
The others started joking around again, but Sanada-senpai and Yanagi-senpai remained silent. However, Sanada-senpai's frown had clearly relaxed a lot. "I understand. But Jiu Jing-san, for our tennis club, being a manager is not an easy job. If you're just thinking about returning a favor, then with all due respect, you'd be better off doing something else." As he spoke, he lowered his head and touched the brim of his hat. "Of course, I don't mean to blame you, and thank you for trusting Akaya."
"Hey, Deputy Minister, is it still not working?"
"Akaye, please listen to what Genichirō has to say."
"We're about to start today's practice. If you don't want to do it, you can leave immediately. But if you haven't changed your mind, I'll have Renji explain the manager's duties to you during practice. You can try to familiarize yourself with the job this week. It can be considered a test for joining the department."
"Okay." I didn't expect Sanada-senpai to be so easy to talk to. Well, it seems that the usual rumors are not very true. "Oh, by the way, Jinghua, do you want to go home first?"
"I'll go with you."
"Wow! Why, why is there a girl here?!"
"Huh? Izumi-san? I thought you were gone."
Ah, it seems Jinghua's presence is well hidden, and no one has noticed her existence. But she sneaks in, carries a knife, and her skills are not bad... What was she doing before joining the detective agency?
Anyway, with the consent of the deputy director of the tennis club, I stayed to learn as a trainee manager.
Senior Liu was in charge of the affairs, including some introductions to the department, and he explained them in great detail.
First of all, our school's tennis club has quite a few members. Besides the regulars, everyone is also required to participate in daily practice. Also, unlike other schools' tennis clubs, our club manager also serves as the coach. Managerial duties are split between Yanagi-senpai, Sanada-senpai, and the regulars.
However, despite this, Rikkai University still managed to win the national championship for the second consecutive year, and this year, they are aiming for a third championship.
...At this critical juncture, the minister is hospitalized due to a serious illness and has to undergo surgery and may not be able to recover. No wonder the entire department is under pressure.
Considering I was a newcomer, Senior Liu was considerate enough to assign me only the tasks of supervising practice and keeping score. Since he also had to practice, he also gave me a handwritten booklet containing the tennis club's rules before leaving.
"Take it and have a look. Field cleaning and equipment maintenance are tasks that other members will rotate through. Once you're familiar with the department's rules and regulations, if you decide to stay, I'll take you through attendance, funding, and training schedules."
Oh my god...it's written so densely that I definitely won't be able to finish reading it in this afternoon. And why is it in vertical font?
"Aren't you used to reading vertically?"
"Ah, no, that's not the case." Rather, I'm quite used to it. Many swordsmen in Honmaru are used to writing in vertical script. Xiao Wumaru can even write vertical cursive, which is much easier to read than that! "Senior Liu's handwriting is very beautiful. Are you practicing calligraphy?"
"Can you tell? Thank you."
Hmm, but this kind of work seems to be similar to arranging battles, cultivating the fields, improving the swordsmen's combat proficiency, and planning monthly funds to purchase supplies... It's, quite similar?
When I got home, I told everyone about my wonderful experience. I thought they would be a little reluctant, but unexpectedly, everyone supported me.
"Isn't this great? Now that the storm has been settled, you should experience school life."
"Hahaha, this is a good thing, suitable for celebration."
"Indeed, we can inform everyone in Honmaru and throw a party in style!"
"How's it going, General? Are you still getting used to being a manager?"
"Uh... I thought you would object to me joining the club."
The four of them looked at each other, and finally Yao Yan pushed up his glasses and spoke first, "No, we won't interfere with your decision. Besides... well, everyone has always felt that it would be better for the general to have more exposure to real life."
"As much as I hate to admit it...but when the General became our master, he was truly too young."
It seems... that's true. The Shinsengumi system of the current government wasn't perfect from the start. Besides those who died in battle, there were countless cases of those who suffered mental breakdowns due to the isolation of the Honmaru, developed feelings for the Tsukumogami and were subsequently annihilated, or pursued evil ways, ultimately corrupting the Honmaru's swords and losing their own lives. By my time, the appointment of minors under fourteen as Shinsengumi was rare.
But there are exceptions to everything, and I am that exception.
"If you continue to serve as a Shinsengumi, sooner or later you'll lose touch with the real world, right?" Yamaubakiri frowned slightly. "I didn't quite understand it before, but now I do... I hope you can be happy."
I was deeply moved by their words, and even felt a lump in my throat for a moment.
Look, even if I don’t have parents, I still have family members who truly care about me.
My heart was beating with joy. After hugging my important swords one by one, I took the time to send a message to Dong Shilang.
"I'm so happy—!"
He didn't reply immediately. When I returned to my room after dinner, I saw his belated reply.
'What's wrong? '
I immediately became energetic, typing away with my hands, and told him everything that had happened during the week, even the attitude of the swordsmen in supporting me.
'I feel loved.'
Finally, I added this sentence.
"So I'm very happy and feel very blessed."
This time, the word "read" appeared next to the message quickly, but for some reason, he didn't reply to me for a long time.
Uh, yeah, was I wrong? Or is he busy...?
'You working overtime again?'
"Yes, there have been some difficult things recently, but I'm not busy for the time being."
'It's good to feel happy.'
'I'm happy too.'
"Tough stuff"?
I suddenly wanted to ask so many questions: Is it dangerous? Is it busy? How difficult is it? But in the end, I deleted those questions.
"Then make sure you rest well and don't overwork yourself."
The moment I sent the message, I suddenly realized how little I knew about Toushirou. It wasn't just his job, I knew very little about his family, his friends, or even where he lived.
Do people who like each other really need to keep so many secrets?
Or was this just wishful thinking on my part from the very beginning?
With such doubts in mind, I didn’t sleep well for the first time.
When I opened my eyes again, I was standing under a bright red sky.
There is dry and cracked land under your feet, and you can see lava flowing in the cracks.
Felt the heat.
Hot, hot, hot—
There was a rumbling sound in my ears, like the low hum of something.
Someone was shouting, screaming heart-wrenchingly, and also sounding like crying.
Who is it?
Who am I?
The dry air filled my lungs. It was so hot and uncomfortable. I wanted to escape from here.
"General, it's time to get up—"
I rolled over suddenly and my shoulder hit something hard!
Ah——it hurts!!!
"General! What's going on...eh?"
When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying on the bedroom floor, and Yaoyan was standing at the door.
...It's okay to have a nightmare so bad that you fall off the bed.
Holy shit, what time is it?! The tennis club has a training camp this morning, I need to go!
The author has something to say:
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It's so funny. Yan thought it was just a formality but he actually went in.
But she won't slack off as a manager.
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